All user reviews for the Gibson 1957 Les Paul Goldtop VOS

The model I have date of 2011.
As the review above, not being a fan of relicage or VOS treatment, I opted for a model finish "gloss", with clear back and I must say I do not regret my choice.

For the rest of the details, everything has been said on other reviews.

The finish is beautiful and at all levels, really!

UTILIZATION

So actually, the handle is sturdy and a Les Paul that weighs his weight.
However, the playability is omnipresent. I played on a Stratocaster for 12 years prior to this Les Paul, after a short time to tame I must confess that I feel great on this guitar, to the point that I found it easier to play than my Strat.
Yet it is really good at this level.

Hooping is absolutely perfect.

In short, do not be confused or influenced by opinions that you speak of the handle as a log, for he is thick, but a test is needed to make his own idea.

For access to acute, not giant but we are talking about a Les Paul ...

SOUNDS

I am a lover of vintage sound and I play mainly in registers Blues, Rock, Soul and Funk and frankly we can do anything with this guitar.

Already empty, the resonance of this instrument is awesome!

My amp is a copy of a Marshall 18w and the sound is present, warm and not aggressive. More sustain is up to the reputation of the Les Paul.

My config most frequent: guitar, amp, and Reverb.

To give you an idea, here is a video in which I play in this configuration:
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZeRtIOgZ5I

The clean sound is hell, and it is also the main reason that I fell for it.

Then crunch, it's simple: you have the sound you hear on the discs of the 60's and 70's and all that the knobs on the guitar.
THE brief his Les Paul!

Here is another video more crunchy, and with a little more effects (wah and delay):
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Tf53RqZb_aw

Regarding more saturated sounds, this is not my registry and give you an idea, my limit is with songs like Whole lotita love.

Side microphones, these are Burstbuckers, which to my taste, do a very good job. The output level is not very high as other references, which suits me quite well.
Electronics provides access to many sound combinations and therefore some versatility.
To go from light to crunch, I do not even use pedal. All the knobs and it is incredibly efficient.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for 2 years, and especially more.

I hesitated with "Traditionnal" also in Goldtop finish, and it is important to note that although these guitars look aesthetically, they do not have much to do in terms of gaming experience and especially his.

Not that "Traditionnal" is not good, far from it. But 57 is still a good step up, and at all levels.
Sometimes I just open the case to watch. The finish is really serious and very nice to watch, especially in "gloss".
The Custom Shop GIBSON it is assured access to a high-end instrument.

Issue price, it is not cheap but it is also justified. The kind of instrument that we keep for life. You want the sound of a good Les Paul in a vintage spirit, and well you.
Unable to regret such a purchase!

U.S. manufacturing, this Les Paul is part of the range "Historic Reissue". As its name suggests, this is a reissue of the 1957 model. And like all Reissues, it is made by the Gibson Custom Shop.
The essential characteristics:
Body-Solid 1 piece Mahogany
-Mahogany neck, rosewood fingerboard and '50s profile
-I Burstbucker Pickups in the neck position, Burstbucker II in the bridge position
Historical Gold Finish-
-2 And 2 tone controls volume
Mine has the back in black.

UTILIZATION

See below

SOUNDS

The amps I use:
-Combo Fender Supersonic 60
-Combo Fender Hot Rod Deluxe U.S.
Marshall Class 5-Head
Head-Ampeg VGT15H

The speakers:
Eminence Governor-Palmer
Palmer-Eminence Man O War
Palmer-Jensen C12Q
Palmer-Jensen C12N

OVERALL OPINION

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

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 were state of quality Farication disappointing, I was, if not worried, at least not wait to see my new acquisition. No surprises: everything, absolutely everything is perfect on this R7. Whether at the general assembly, finishes (regularity and precision bending of the body and neck, pickups settings, handle and share quality paint and varnish), everything is 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 production quality. My Traditional Premuim, meanwhile, is perfect. Obviously the Gold Top of the '50s Tribute (a little less than 700EUR, we must still recall) is very pale beside the wonderful color of the Custom Shop, it just has nothing to do-normal you will say to me in view of the price difference. My Traditional Ebony has a nice finish, so I was well fallen! But, and this seems extraordinary, its weight around 5 kg (4.9 to be exact)! For a so-called "chambered" guitar, this weight may surprise. My new R7 is more reasonable and displays "only" 4.3 kgs. But it has a solid body one piece and full. 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 lighter guitar and provides more sustain.
Microphones react outstanding and we can only note that the superlative violin 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 the pickup he reveals 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. Out of kindness, I will not go '50 Tribute as a gulf separates this Custom Shop model, but again, you have to be forgiving and to remember that the "Special Thomann" model costs 4 times cheaper and allows almost any guitarist to enter the legend Les Paul.
To return to the intrinsic qualities of the R7, I will add it excels in both its clear that crunch or large drive still remaining articulate and precise. The tone knobs are more progressive than my Traditional which allows for large sound combinations. Those volume have a very different race from what I know: the volume drops faster in the first quarter of the race and then more gradually. It is neither better nor worse, just different. The presence of capacity Bumblee Bee is here feel, electronics is high.
Distortion in large and complex chords (! Not so power chords) R7 shows a large superiority maintaining intelligibility and precision: this is the first time I hear a guitar capable of such a definition in these conditions a little extreme.
Finally, and summarize, Gibson offers here an extraordinary instrument, an irreproachable manufacturing quality, perfect playability (I love the '50 neck) and exceptional sound. 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.

The Custom Gold top guitars are fantastic instruments but they do stretch of the large amount of money for their price point. These guitars are outrageously expensive and the new little ones don't really hold up to the older models. I've played a number of Gibson custom shop Les Paul's and many of them just don't carry that same weight and feel that you found in many of the vintage style guitars from Gibson. Although this is a great guitar and it does carry that same tone that you would find in many of the older guitars but it just doesn't have that feel that some of the 70s and early 80s guitars had in my opinion.

UTILIZATION


This guitar features to humbucking pickups two volume control knobs and two tone control knobs as well as a pickup selector. There isn't whole lot features that come with this guitar other than it's simply a six string guitar that has a nice warm juicy tone.


SOUNDS


This guitar features mahogany wood and the body in the back as well as rosewood fretboard. The nice pearl block inlays give this axe a great-looking appearance. This is a historic 1957 to reissue goal top and it looks just as good as it sounds. Some of these guitars can vary from feel so I suggest playing a few of the Gibson custom shops and getting an understanding of what you're getting into. Overall this is going to sound great and pretty much any musical setting that you put it.


OVERALL OPINION


These guitars fetch for $3000 new, but you can certainly find them in many used sections of classifieds or auction sites. If you have the means to spend several thousand dollars for a guitar that I suggest looking around and finding an older used Gibson goal top because it'll serve you right to play a few and get the right perfect one that matches your playing style.

This guitar is a total throwback to the old school Les Paul days, and it happens to be a throwback to my favorite era of the Les Paul Standard -- the 1957. On top of that, it even has my favorite finish on a Les Paul -- the (cliché) Gold top. The guitar features a mahogany body with a maple top, mahogany neck with a rosewood fretboard, 22 frets, trapezoid inlays, pickguard, binding, hard tail bridge, two humbuckers, two volumes, two tones and a three way switch.

UTILIZATION

The guitar was pretty much perfect in ever way you could think of. The weight was the first thing I noticed. It seemed to have the absolute perfect weight for a Les Paul, as it was in the 8 lb range. I find this to be perfect as the super heavy ones tend to be back killers and don't resonate like the lighter ones do, but the super light ones seem to lack girth. The frets on this were nicely done. The ends were rounded nicely so they don't cut your hand every time you move up and down the neck. The frets were properly leveled, and I was able to get some really nice action with this. The nut was cut nicely, although I added a bit of graphite to it to help with tuning stability.

SOUNDS

These had the "old school" Gibson PAFs in them. I say old school in quotes because they're not exactly old school... they're recreations of the PAFs, and they don't sound quite as nice as the older ones do. I've never been a fan of Gibson pickups, save for a few out there. These are pretty much the same. They can deliver a very cool blues and rock tone, but considering I'm actually more of a metal player, they tend to be a bit lacking to me. I wish the neck pickup was fatter sounding as I prefer fat, warm lead tones with some great character on the wound strings. The bridge pickup doesn't have the tightness for metal, and it doesn't have the output I'm looking for, either. That's not to say I want some super high output pickup in these, but something like a JB would be nice.

OVERALL OPINION

These guitars are awesome if you're looking for that real old school Gibson look and feel. Be sure to play a few out there to find the one that really speaks to you. There are a few of these that have some issues despite coming out of the Custom Shop, and it's a bit of a shame. If you buy used, be prepared to potentially sell it, and be very careful if you buy on eBay due to all the fakes out there.

United States, 2004
Gibson LP 57 RI (it is not a "YOU", there is little output range)
Finish "Antique Gold" aaaaahhhh ....( more shades of Gold in one)

See the first review for more precision

UTILIZATION

As yet habitu my Fender Stat Clapton signature, the handle of the LP 57 me more now.

The handle has a profile associated with pronounced C in step short of the LP gave me a great sense of ease in the game

Indeed the handle size V of Clapton, it is certainly pais C profile but that it fits comfortably in the palm of your hand (I do not have a hand in glove) .

While the handle is accessible without much effort then .... with the small print dtenir "ultimate weapon" in the hands when playing.

Access to acute is for me ais small exception if you hold the guitar in the down position, the boxes 19 and older may indeed ask gymnastics lgre.

The weight is consquent (as heavy as my Fender Jazz bass Highway) .. well personally I had noticed aps beginners because it is well balance.

Tuning: can indeed rvler FBRIL in case of change of temprature or play supported.

Otherwise it's a great tool, a must in the LP Or

9 / 10 because of some unwanted detuning

SOUNDS

Same first notice.

I play jazz with its many deep are clear (extra!!)
I play blues / light as crunch
I play heavy rock / hard rock

Big Foot.

ThE Burestbuckers 1 and 2 are superb mountain home. Warm vintage sounds superb.

All possible settings (tonalitswitch microphones) REALLY bring versatility ds pleasures.

I tested in my JCM 800, a Fender Blues Deluxe, a Mesa Triple Rectifier ...

All suits, ca sends heavy as subtle. A sound that a "safe" indniable
A must. What to say more ...

OVERALL OPINION

3 months of use.

The price is trs lev unless like me you come across a serious opportunity for US on eBay and have the chance to not be tax on arrival. (And yes I am a cuckold) live below the dollar!

+: A legend ds hands, subtle and powerful sound that pierces both a mix without the fuck up, sounds vintage die for, an instrument of a class crazy + super box.

-: Price, tuning fickle, fragile

Manufactures in the United States in the workshops of the violin Gibson Custom Shop. DCID brand a few years ago Redi models built in the 50 and 60. Your exact is more than satisfactory if you do not think the price (a wallet hurts).
The handle is a 22 frets rosewood inlaid with mother of pearl trapzodaux again. Profile is the same as the guitars produced by Gibson in the 50's. This team is Goldtop two humbuckers coils Burstbucker 1R and Burstbucker 2T, a 3 position selector, two volume pots, two of Tone knob respectively for each mico: a Les Paul.
The violin is treated. It does not justify the price. However what can justify such a price is the quality of wood utiliss to make these guitars, selected among the best pieces. Unlike the LP SERIES Custom Shop are manufactured by hand! (In part)..

Note that there are two types of colors for the back of the guitar (back of neck and back of the case), the table remains well Obviously Gold. There are indeed Goldtop 1957 natural color back (most common) and "DarkBack" brown (which blends better with the Gold of the table, got history).

UTILIZATION

The neck: a profile on apprciera C trs pronounced! It surprises THE FIRST grip. One has the impression of having a pickaxe handle and not smaller. That said, I who used to the silent profile 60's and sleeves kind of tele, Start or Les Paul 60's profile I Discoveries unparalleled comfort to play on this guitar. The growth of the left hand (right for left) is constantly cal I would say even "reposquot; on BChE. It is in no pert in a fast and short APRS apprivoitisation we gain comfort, dexter and precision. sr Well, fans nomtal seven strings will not be satisfied by the gear.
For 10 years I searched handles comfortable to all beginners on a Tele and a Les Paul Std, a Start, Ibanez sleeves (some are like floor boards), the profile "C" Gibson's 50 m has always scared. ENTSO I have been so prjugs and not having more jou tt. J'inciste but it's important, it's totally subjective, but it is extremely comfortable!

The guitar is heavy compared to other products of other brands. We know it's bad reputable. But the wood of the Goldtop t appear to have chosen to allger the instrument without losing its sustain, So we have a Les Paul lgre relatively more than others. That said, I compare the two mine. (A 1957 Goldtop Standard Ressuie and 80s). 5kg for STD and for 4Kg Goldtop.

Obviously the mcaniques are the same as those that were found on the era of models: rsultat dsaccorder the guitar can be faster or slower depending on the style of play only Remde is to replace mcaniques by Grover oil bath, put the pencil in the nut ... With oil baths and a well cut nut holding agreement should not pose any problem. Alternatively, let it age a little instrument, after three years the agreement will not move.
The use of strings "Ernie Ball" can enable a better place.

In résumé: This Goldtop is a remarkable instrument, one that I enjoy playing legends and trs ages well, even if we find the main criticisms that are often used with respect to all Les Paul: weight first.

SOUNDS

In terms of sound: It's my opinion: a wonder! = In his clear is crystal-clear and warm, clear and round. Crunch into a warm without ever becoming rough, though ... adpend also used the amp and that's its charm. In heavy saturation, fuzz, distortion and other super overdrive, dynamics, sustain, and output level are standards!

In résumé she can do everything well: Blues, Twang, Pop, Rock, Hard.

OVERALL OPINION

The more you play, the more we love, we soon became dpendant.
The first steps are Drout if it comes from other brands is an impressive instrument, but this guitar has the characters, and all prjugs trs SPEED fall to make way comfort and excellent music.
For 50 years the guitar so few volumes ...
PRICE: 2490 EUROS Paris today. (It was trading at 3690 euros in 2004 ...) The dollar fell sharply!
NB: The original 57 Goltop are often found in chests and worth a fortune today.

NB2: For info, the version "aged" model of the Historic 1957 is nothing less than a 1957 Goldtop prdfonse, fiddles, oxide factory and sold a lot more.
And it is better to be old in your hands you can not find?

The Gibson Les Paul R7 is designed to be a very accurate and high quality reproduction of an original 1957 Les Paul Goldtop down to the last detail. It features high quality mahogany for the body and neck with a maple top, rosewood fretboard with 22 frets and the classic trapezoid inlays, vintage style Kluson tuners and a tune-o-matic bridge with stopbar tailpiece. The pickups are excellent reproductions of the classic Gibson PAF that came out right around this time, and they have a great vintage quality that is open and airy, great for many different styles of music ranging from blues to jazz to rock. It is capped off with the typical Les Paul control layout, and inside the guitar are some vintage type capacitors to really round out the tonal spectrum. It also features the gleaming gold finish that captivated many an eye in the '50s and still does today... the sign of something done right the first time.

UTILIZATION

The Gibson R7 Les Paul is a very weighty and solid guitar to hold and play. It is not chambered like many of the USA division Les Pauls are and it can be a bit cumbersome to play for long hours. However, being used to a non chambered Les Paul myself, I was prepared for the heavier weight of this guitar. Otherwise it is designed and feels like a regular Les Paul, just to a higher quality level. It has the same ergonomics and upper fret access of every other LP that Gibson makes (save for the Axcess models).

The tones in this guitar are of a much higher quality than many of the USA guitars. I'm not sure what specifically causes the better tonal spectrum that this guitar offers, but it certainly has a superior sound to many of the USA Les Pauls I have tried over the years.

SOUNDS

I've tried this guitar through a multitude of rigs and have concluded that it sounds best through a proper Fender or Mesa Boogie amp. The clean tones are extremely rich and GREAT for jazz and R&B tones. The neck pickup has a wonderful low end character that is perfect for playing bebop lines, and the bridge pickup has a great spongy feel (not too bright and harsh) that works really well for classic rhythm and blues sounds. Putting it in the center position (both pickups on) provides a sort of quasi country sound that is great for chicken pickin' textures.

The drive tones are really quite good as well. They're far more refined sounding to my ears than most USA Les Pauls. It sounds smoother and clearer, without that abrupt and jarring quality that a lot of modern pickups have. The tone is natural and allows the guitar tone to really come through the pickups. This is an excellent quality to have in an overdriven Les Paul and as a result all the tones are thick, syrupy, viscous, and a whole bunch of other synonyms. It never sounds thin, weak or compressed, and works perfectly for classic rock and hard rock rhythm and lead, especially when put through a smooth high gain amp such as a Mesa Boogie.

OVERALL OPINION

All in all I think the Gibson R7 Les Paul is a great buy for someone who wants a great no compromises Les Paul that also happens to be a near dead on reissue of a real 1957 goldtop! It sells for about $3,400 new, so it isn't cheap. However you're paying for the quality and tone that you're not going to get anywhere else other than PRS or a custom build like David McNaught or Nik Huber. Well worth it!

The 1957 is probably one of the more sought after years of Les Pauls, so it's no wonder that they did a re-release of this guitar. It's got tone for days, and it sounds absolutely huge. The guitar features a mahogany body with a maple top, mahogany neck with a rosewood fretboard, 22 frets, trapezoid inlays, pickguard, binding, hard tail bridge, two humbuckers, two volumes, two tones and a three way switch.

UTILIZATION

These models are put together very well. The first thing you notice is that the finish itself was pretty much flawless. I couldn't find any drips or any issues where the binding meets the paint. The nut itself was cut perfectly, so there were no tuning problems to worry about. The frets on this were nicely leveled, and I was able to get some nice action going. The ends were also not sharp, so it didn't hurt your hand every time you went up and down the neck.

SOUNDS

The guitar sounded pretty good. The pickups aren't really my thing, to be honest. The pickups are standard Gibson pickups, but they seem to work for most. The bridge pickup has some nice bite to it, and it has some decent output. I find they lack the character for heavy metal, but they can work for 80s metal. The neck is a bit too bright for me. I like a thick, fat sounding neck tone, and these generally have a bit too much bite for me. However, they're clean sounding, and that works awesome for clean tones.

OVERALL OPINION

These are some of the more consistent Les Pauls out there, but they're a bit expensive. If you can afford this, go for it. However, if you need something a little cheaper, check out the Les Paul Classic. There are a few killer Classics out there, and if you can get past the ugly green inlays, you can get a real solid guitar.

The Gibson Custom Shop Historic 1957 is a replica of the original guitar made back in 1957. The guitar has a mahogany body with a maple top, mahogany neck with a rosewood fretboard, Tune-o-matic bridge, 22 frets, block/trapezoid inlays, a pickguard, two humbucker pickups, two volumes, two tones and a three way switch.

UTILIZATION

This is the Les Paul that most of us know and love. It has the familiar tune-o-matic bridge, and it has humbuckers in it. This year is probably my favorite just because it solidified what Gibson Les Paul really is. The neck on this thing was pretty chunky, so if you're not a fan of thick necks, stay away. The upper heel access is the same as any other Gibson out there. The fretwork was really good on this. The frets were properly crowned, and it had some nice binding nubs going on. The nut was also properly cut on this model.

SOUNDS

This is basically what the Les Paul should sound like. It's got this awesomely fat and thick PAF tone going on. The bridge has just enough bite to cut through, but it's super thick and vintage sounding. The PAF is extremely clear and clean, which I love. The neck pickup was especially cool. It had some bite to it, which I generally am not a fan of, but the vintage vibe was just oozing out of this guitar. I'm more of a metal player, but this guitar really brought out some of the best playing in me.

OVERALL OPINION

This is easily my favorite out of the entire lineup of the Historic bunch. It's what solidified the Les Paul design, and it's the guitar we all know and love today. The guitar comes with a premium price, but it's definitely worth it once you realize how much attention was put into this guitar. Definitely go and check this out.

(Originally written by rhum66/translated from Audiofanzine FR)
Les Paul Gold top 1957, Historic Serie, VOS (Vintage Original Specifications), made in 2008.

22 frets, Burstbucker 1 and 2 (neck) pickups.

C-profile neck (called 50's Gibson neck).

Aged finish that gives character to the instrument.

UTILIZATION

In the beginning the neck seemed to be enormous, especially for someone used to Fender like me... It felt like a baseball bat in my hand.

Afterwards you'll like its comfort and the short scale... The neck is easy to play when you come from a Strat.

Every blues rock player will like it (even people with short hands) unless you are a crazy shredder. Notice: I don't own this guitar but I tested it twice under exceptional conditions (I spent a long time alone with it and a tube amp in an isolated booth).

Maybe the neck can become tiring if you play it for a very long time (rehearsals, studio, etc.). Based on my experience, I can say that the Fender V-profile neck is more tiring than the C-profile for my short hands.

SOUND: Once again, being a Strat player I can't compare different Les Pauls but I can recognize an exceptional guitar when I play it. It provides Michael Bloomfield's 60's sound (listen to Great Sessions with Al Kooper), John Lee Hooker's twangy sound (even if he never played a Les Paul), and the biting and wild sound

required for rock music.

The bridge pickup has some very sharp highs I had never heard before on a Gibson (which is why I play Fender guitars). The twang of this Gibson is powerful and it can cut through every mix.

It's wonderful with a Tube Screamer.

I find that the center position is less interesting than the two others. It has not enough "quack". If I owned this wonderful guitar I would wire it like Peter Green.

Neck pickup: the sound is like an uppercut with a velvet glove... It doesn't sound too dark and it provides biting low-mids for dirty boogie à la ZZ Top.

It's easy to play pinch harmonics (although harder than with 498T-type pickups, but they sound better) and the balance with the bridge pickup is perfect when you switch between both pickups.

From John Lee Hooker to Gibbons and Bloomfield, the sound is warm, biting, aggressive and always vintage.

It's not the soft vintage sound of the Classic '57, it sounds more aggressive but very sixties.

I give it a 10 for the sound but 8 for the baseball bat neck, which is surely tiring after a while.

SOUNDS

This guitar is a MUST HAVE for blues rock, like a custom shop Strat or a Tele.

I messed around with the neck pickup's tone control a while and I got a very nice sound for jazz bossa rhythm parts. Its clean sound is exactly the sound of Chicago blues players of the 60's. It shows the sound quality of these pickups...

Regarding crunch sounds: Listen to Michael Bloomfield's "Stop" as well as other songs from the Great Sessions with Al Kooper and you'll hear the spirit of this guitar.

I started making numbers and I would have to sell six of my guitars to buy this one!

OVERALL OPINION

- I tested it a long time in an isolated booth with a Marshall Anniversary and a Brunetti amp.

- The neck could be more modern like some custom shop Fender models...

- The price for this legend is very high, but there's no need to change anything, this guitar is just perfect.

- I would like to buy it but I would have to sell six guitars so it's not something for the near future...

Hats off Gibson.

From a Fender fan.