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MGR/J. Heffner « Gibson Les Paul Classic »
Published on 07/09/02 at 15:00I purchased my Les Paul Classic Goldtop from an individual on Ebay. I payed $1,600.00. New the Goldtop has a $600.00 add-on charge. Although now you can't get a new Classic with a Goldtop.
I've always wanted a Goldtop. I've had lots of Les Pauls but have always felt the Goldtop was THE best looking finish.
Another reason I specifically bought this model is that it has the Slim Taper neck. I have small hands and the Slim Taper neck is just much more comfortable for me to play. I have less problems with hand cramps and fatigue.
I love the finish. Gold really is the "Classic" Les Paul finish. Say what you want about "bursts". Gimme a Goldtop everytime. I can't wait to see how it ages.
The 496R and 500T pickups were a pleasant surprise. I was prepared to replace these before I even listened to them. However, after playing them through several amps I found them to be great sounding and quite versatile. They're clear and have plenty of high end. I hate most of the stock Gibson PU's. They tend to be a little muddy. These are great PU's. I'm keeping 'em.
As expected the neck is comfortable. I just don't understand the appeal of the '59 baseball bat profile. The Slim Taper has it going on. It's very manageable and fast.
I like the vintage style slim headstock. It definitely looks better than the oversized newer headstock.
The "1960" embossed pickguard is cheesy. It had to go...sorry. Personally I think Les Pauls look better without a pickguard anyway.
The binding in the cutaway is the new style where it gets wider instead of staying a uniform width. Wish they'd used vintage style binding here.
The pickups should have covers. I don't like the exposed coil look. Luckily you can order covers for about 10 to 12 dollars each.
Strap buttons on Gibson guitars are a joke. As a general rule I ALWAYS replace these first thing with Dunlop Straploks. The standard Gibson button WILL NOT hold. Don't take the chance.
The bridge is a vintage style small posts bridge. After a while I've noticed it seems unstable. I've done a couple of things to try yo improve stability. However, ultimately I believe I'll end up replacing it with the more stable Nasville setup.
Construction is what I've come to expect form Gibson. No major problems. Only minor gripes I've mentioned above. Paint job looks great.
Overall I love the guitar. The pickups were definitely a nice surprise. I'm used to changing things on a guitar to get it how I want it. I'm not a collector. I play my guitars. I have no qualms about changing the bridge. Some people may. For me it's not that big of a deal.
This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com
I've always wanted a Goldtop. I've had lots of Les Pauls but have always felt the Goldtop was THE best looking finish.
Another reason I specifically bought this model is that it has the Slim Taper neck. I have small hands and the Slim Taper neck is just much more comfortable for me to play. I have less problems with hand cramps and fatigue.
I love the finish. Gold really is the "Classic" Les Paul finish. Say what you want about "bursts". Gimme a Goldtop everytime. I can't wait to see how it ages.
The 496R and 500T pickups were a pleasant surprise. I was prepared to replace these before I even listened to them. However, after playing them through several amps I found them to be great sounding and quite versatile. They're clear and have plenty of high end. I hate most of the stock Gibson PU's. They tend to be a little muddy. These are great PU's. I'm keeping 'em.
As expected the neck is comfortable. I just don't understand the appeal of the '59 baseball bat profile. The Slim Taper has it going on. It's very manageable and fast.
I like the vintage style slim headstock. It definitely looks better than the oversized newer headstock.
The "1960" embossed pickguard is cheesy. It had to go...sorry. Personally I think Les Pauls look better without a pickguard anyway.
The binding in the cutaway is the new style where it gets wider instead of staying a uniform width. Wish they'd used vintage style binding here.
The pickups should have covers. I don't like the exposed coil look. Luckily you can order covers for about 10 to 12 dollars each.
Strap buttons on Gibson guitars are a joke. As a general rule I ALWAYS replace these first thing with Dunlop Straploks. The standard Gibson button WILL NOT hold. Don't take the chance.
The bridge is a vintage style small posts bridge. After a while I've noticed it seems unstable. I've done a couple of things to try yo improve stability. However, ultimately I believe I'll end up replacing it with the more stable Nasville setup.
Construction is what I've come to expect form Gibson. No major problems. Only minor gripes I've mentioned above. Paint job looks great.
Overall I love the guitar. The pickups were definitely a nice surprise. I'm used to changing things on a guitar to get it how I want it. I'm not a collector. I play my guitars. I have no qualms about changing the bridge. Some people may. For me it's not that big of a deal.
This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com