Why am I thinking this??? Trad for Trad Pro?

[Shades of Blue]

I've had my Traditional Plus in Iced Tea since May now, but I can't stop thinking that the Traditional Pro would fit me better. I've even thought about selling the Traditional Plus and getting a used Traditional Pro and pocketing some cash, but I just can't decide because the Traditional looks so cool.


Opinions? Also, is the neck narrower on the pros?

[ledlover01]

I liked the trad pro better when i was going to buy a guitar and looked at both.I ended up with my 68 but it was close.

[KenG]

The neck should be narrower on the Trad Pro. It also has a chambered body vs weight relief so if the weight of the Trad is an issue the Pro would be lighter.
I personally prefer the Trad (Not that I had much choice the Pro is a special run for GC anyway I blieve) because I wan't something closer to the 59 styled LP but wasn't ready to go for a re-issue.

[Reeko]

Originally Posted by KenG

The neck should be narrower on the Trad Pro. It also has a chambered body vs weight relief so if the weight of the Trad is an issue the Pro would be lighter.
I personally prefer the Trad (Not that I had much choice the Pro is a special run for GC anyway I blieve) because I wan't something closer to the 59 styled LP but wasn't ready to go for a re-issue.

??
I thought the Trad Pro was NOT chambered.

[ledlover01]

hes wrong its weight releived,swiss holes to lighten it.Doesnt really affect sound a whole lot compared to chambering.

[Androo]

Originally Posted by KenG

The neck should be narrower on the Trad Pro. It also has a chambered body vs weight relief so if the weight of the Trad is an issue the Pro would be lighter.
I personally prefer the Trad (Not that I had much choice the Pro is a special run for GC anyway I blieve) because I wan't something closer to the 59 styled LP but wasn't ready to go for a re-issue.

Traditional Pros are not chambered but weight relieved just like the Traditionals.

[kirs]

BB3 in the bridge instead of the 57. Keep that in mind.

[Metlking]

I have both. While my Traditional Plus in Honeyburst is the better "looker", the Traditional Pro in Vintage Sunburst is the better player (to me) because of the satin finish on the back of the neck and because it's a 60's slim neck.

[Shades of Blue]

Originally Posted by Metlking

I have both. While my Traditional Plus in Honeyburst is the better "looker", the Traditional Pro in Vintage Sunburst is the better player (to me) because of the satin finish on the back of the neck and because it's a 60's slim neck.

thats my sentiments. I really think that the Trad's are much better looking, but the neck seems sticky on mine and is WAY fat for my hands.

[KenG]

Originally Posted by ledlover01

hes wrong its weight releived,swiss holes to lighten it.Doesnt really affect sound a whole lot compared to chambering.

<http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/Les-Paul/Gibson-USA/Les-Paul-Traditional-Pro.aspx>

Gibson say two piece body. And they include links to the chambering technology but MF says weight relieved. I did remember reading months ago from Gibson that the Pro was chambered but I am either mistaken or they've since changed the spec. I also noticed that now a Trad can have a one or two -piece body which wasn't true earlier so who knows.

Overall wieght will tell the difference anyway I think, chambered are < 8lbs.

BTW I hear chambered sound livelier unplugged but other than that it's apparently hard to tell listenig to the guitars.

[Shelbyblues]

I had an 09 Light Burst Traditional Plus. I sold it and bought an 09 Sunburst Traditional Pro. I liked everything about it except the fat 50's style neck. I was playing my Strat & Tele and hardly playing the LP because the neck just didn't work for my hand size. No point in having a guitar you don't enjoy playing. The slimmer 60's neck on my Pro feels great to me so it gets used almost every day.

[KenG]

Originally Posted by Shades of Blue

thats my sentiments. I really think that the Trad's are much better looking, but the neck seems sticky on mine and is WAY fat for my hands.

The Trad neck is 59'ish apparently but not overly large. I have two Elitists that are cross between the 59 & 60 profile and the Trad isn't that much larger.
The guy I dealt with has an R9 and he syas the neck is noticeably larger.

[01chaoy]

Keep your baby dude

[BlueHeaven]

Man, some of you guys must really like slim necks! I have hands on the small side of normal and the neck on my Trad is PERFECT. No hand fatigue at all. A couple of months with it now and I'm still in the honeymoon phase.

[Skintaster]

I love my Trad Pro, and chose it over a regular Traditional because I prefer the slim neck, and its satin finish, plus the locking tuners and coil split is cool. If you like those features, you won't be disappointed.

And as to it being chambered, I don't think it is. Gibsons site says it's weight relieved, and it feels different than the chambered Classic I used to own.

[DanW]

It is weight relieved and not chambered.

I have 2 one is almost 10lbs and the other is 9lbs.

I love them both and the neck for me is awesome with the satin finish!

Dan

[Howard2k]

The neck was the key decider for me too. The locking tuners and coil splitting does not hurt either.

[-=[Shifty]=-]

Originally Posted by KenG

<http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/Les-Paul/Gibson-USA/Les-Paul-Traditional-Pro.aspx>

Gibson say two piece body. And they include links to the chambering technology but MF says weight relieved. I did remember reading months ago from Gibson that the Pro was chambered but I am either mistaken or they've since changed the spec. I also noticed that now a Trad can have a one or two -piece body which wasn't true earlier so who knows.

Overall wieght will tell the difference anyway I think, chambered are < 8lbs.

BTW I hear chambered sound livelier unplugged but other than that it's apparently hard to tell listenig to the guitars.

The whole point of the Traditional line was to have an alternative to all the chambered Gibson USA Les Pauls.
They are weight relieved.

[Shades of Blue]

I'm leaning towards keeping the Trad Plus and adding coil tap. I would have to change the tuners on the PRO to vintage style, and those zebra HB's would be replaced for covers, so I guess the easiest thing would be to have a tech give me coil tap.

[Androo]

Originally Posted by Shades of Blue

I'm leaning towards keeping the Trad Plus and adding coil tap. I would have to change the tuners on the PRO to vintage style, and those zebra HB's would be replaced for covers, so I guess the easiest thing would be to have a tech give me coil tap.

And brush up the neck on the back to remove the excess lacquer (stickiness).

[jmg257]

I'm pretty sure the HBs are 2 wire - not sure how easy it would be to do a coil-tap on a Trad+.


Though its a cool idea/option, I found via a coil-tapped G&L that the tap really only makes the sound from the HB lower in volume - the "single coil" sound that results isn't all that much, to think you are missing something enough to go through major revisions. YMMV.

[Shades of Blue]

Originally Posted by jmg257

I'm pretty sure the HBs are 2 wire - not sure how easy it would be to do a coil-tap on a Trad+.


Thought its a cool idea/option, I found via a coil-tapped G&L that the tap really only makes the sound from the HB lower in volume - the "single coil" sound that results isn't all that much, to think you are missing something enough to go through major revisions. YMMV.

good point. I have come to find that also on my PRS with tapped 57/08's. It sounds cool until you pick up a strat and realize nothing beats that strat single coil sound.

[franciscomeza11]

trad pro is not chambered, it is a heavy guitar, believe me, I have one and I also have a chambered 2007 standard, the difference is noticeable

[KenG]

I think I was confusing what the differences between the two bodies were since it's been months since I did my inital research. I knew at the time something was different between them and it appears it was the 2-piece bodies on the Pros that steered me towards the Plus. I already have 2 two-piece body guitars (my Elitists) and really wanted a single piece for my next one, weight relieved was compromise I accepted below R series guitars. Now it appears that the specs have changed on the Pluses & some may also have 2-piece bodies!

[EasyAce]

Originally Posted by BlueHeaven

Man, some of you guys must really like slim necks! I have hands on the small side of normal and the neck on my Trad is PERFECT. No hand fatigue at all. A couple of months with it now and I'm still in the honeymoon phase.

I have a Studio with the '50s neck and a Classic with the slimmer '60s neck. I'm good to go with both necks---I don't have problems playing either one.

[Skintaster]

Originally Posted by jmg257

I'm pretty sure the HBs are 2 wire - not sure how easy it would be to do a coil-tap on a Trad+.


Though its a cool idea/option, I found via a coil-tapped G&L that the tap really only makes the sound from the HB lower in volume - the "single coil" sound that results isn't all that much, to think you are missing something enough to go through major revisions. YMMV.

I thought the same thing when I first got my Trad Pro... Just didn't notice a big difference when the coil tap was engaged. Then me and a band mate started testing it through different amps and at different volumes and the difference becomes very pronounced... At least to our ears.

[formula73]

Originally Posted by Skintaster

I thought the same thing when I first got my Trad Pro... Just didn't notice a big difference when the coil tap was engaged. Then me and a band mate started testing it through different amps and at different volumes and the difference becomes very pronounced... At least to our ears.

Really? I picked it up immediately. Perhaps amp settings/gain/etc have a lot to do with that. I mean, there are guys that play thrash on Teles!

OP: I picked mine for all the previous reasons, AND I liked the look of the plaintop. There's just something about it that speaks to me...

[Shelbyblues]

Originally Posted by Shades of Blue

I'm leaning towards keeping the Trad Plus and adding coil tap. I would have to change the tuners on the PRO to vintage style, and those zebra HB's would be replaced for covers, so I guess the easiest thing would be to have a tech give me coil tap.

I like the locking tuners but the coil taps i could have done with out. I never use them.
I have a 94 American Standard Strat when i want a single coil sound.

I thought about putting pup covers on my Pro, but have started to like the zebra's with the sunburst.

[Skintaster]

Originally Posted by formula73

Really? I picked it up immediately. Perhaps amp settings/gain/etc have a lot to do with that. I mean, there are guys that play thrash on Teles!

OP: I picked mine for all the previous reasons, AND I liked the look of the plaintop. There's just something about it that speaks to me...

I think that was it. I initially played it through one of my main 5150 half stacks, and at a relatively high gain and low volume. The differences became noticeable once I turned up a lot more, and when I played it through other "less gainy" amps.

[IvorTheEngineDriver]

Originally Posted by franciscomeza11

trad pro is not chambered, it is a heavy guitar, believe me, I have one and I also have a chambered 2007 standard, the difference is noticeable

My Trad Pro is very light. Dunno the weight, but it's much lighter than my Dillion LP, my ash G&L or my ash MIM Tele.