Gibson 1957 Les Paul Goldtop Dark Back VOS

USA Custom Shop.

UTILIZATION

Channel '50 perfect.

SOUNDS

Perfect.

OVERALL OPINION

First, a clarification: my model is not finished "YOUR" but "Gloss". That is to say that the guitar is absolutely new look and not "aged" (I am decidedly not a fan of "relicage") as is the case with YOUR finish.

We are entitled to expect the exceptional in this price range and in the Gibson Custom Shop. But having read some reviews on Les Paul Custom (broadly defined) that reported quality farication disappointing, I was, if not worried, at least very impatient to discover my new acquisition. No surprises: everything, absolutely everything is perfect on this R7. Whether at the general assembly, finishes (regularity and precision bending body and neck, pickups settings, handle and action, quality of paint and varnish), all is in perfection.
This is my 4th guitar Les Paul and facing the Lp '50 Tribute GT or Traditional Ebony I already have, there is a world in terms of manufacturing quality. My Traditional Premuim, meanwhile, is perfect. The course of the Tribute Gold Top '50 (a little less than 700EUR, it must still be remembered) is very pale beside the wonderful color of the Custom Shop, this has nothing to do-just normal you say in view of the price difference. My Traditional Ebony has a nice finish, so I was well down! But, it seems exceptional weight around 5 kg (4.9 to be exact)! For a guitar called "chambered", this weight may surprise you. My new R7 is more reasonable and displays "only" 4.3 kgs. But it has a massive body. We can deduce that the quality and selection of wood is not an illusion when the Custom Shop Gibson guitar factory, particular attention is focused on the choice of the body and the table. Finally, here is a guitar lighter and provides more sustain.
Mics react exceptional and we can observe that the violin superlative of '57 puts them in the best conditions. Compared to what I know-that is to say, to 57 and 57 Classic Plus-they give sounds more articulated, with more weight: the neck pickup is more creamy and flute, when at thomann pickup, it proves to be less aggressive with more body. Sustain, as I mentioned earlier, impressive and yet never missed Traditional: Again, it is clear that the R7 plays in another category, much higher. Goodness of heart, I will not go into the '50 Tribute as a chasm separates this Custom Shop model, but again, you have to be forgiving and to remember that the model "Special Thomann" costs 4 times cheaper and allows almost any guitarist become a legend Les Paul.
To return to the intrinsic qualities of the R7, I would add that excels in both its clear that big crunch or drive still remaining articulate and precise. The tone knobs are more progressive than my Traditional which allows numerous combinations of sounds. They have a volume race very different from what I knew: the volume drops faster in the first quarter of the race and then progessivement. It is neither better nor worse, just different.
Distortion in large and complex chords (power chords not so!) R7 shows a large superiority in maintaining intelligibility and accuracy: this is the first time I hear a guitar capable of such a definition in these conditions a bit extreme.
To conclude and summarize, Gibson will propose a non-standard instrument, an impeccable build quality, perfect playability (love handle '50) and sounds exceptional. 10 out of 10 without hesitation even though the price may seem high. But once acquired, it is not about to be separated! It is indeed the guitar of a lifetime.