Gibson Les Paul 101

[audiocheck]

R9,

You left out how you tell if your guitar was made in Kalamazoo or Nashville by the serial number.

Also I have a '79, 85, 89, 90 and 91 les paul and all weigh over 10 pounds. Where is the weight relief? The 89 weighs the most at 13 pounds, which I believe was a custom order because it is an OxBlood standard with gold hardware. So could be the person who ordered it asked for solid body. Anyway who ever ordered it didn't take it cause I got it new. Maybe he didn't like the weight?

Steve

[SKATTERBRANE]

Mid 1977 and up Kalamazoo SNs were YDDDY001-499 Nashville YDDDY500-999.


And remember the centennial year 1994 was 94DDDxxx. When Montana was opened it took on the YDDDY001-499 sequence. And since about 2003 Nashville/Memphis how has an extra digit YDDDYxxxx (for over 999 guitars per day)

[R9.]

Originally Posted by audiocheck

Also I have a '79, 85, 89, 90 and 91 les paul and all weigh over 10 pounds. Where is the weight relief? The 89 weighs the most at 13 pounds, which I believe was a custom order because it is an OxBlood standard with gold hardware. So could be the person who ordered it asked for solid body. Anyway who ever ordered it didn't take it cause I got it new. Maybe he didn't like the weight?

Steve

Yeah, you're right. Gibson is a strange company and doesn't (I guess) always follow the book. A custom order can almost mean anything...but on a side note, I have held an '05 or '06 LP Standard that was in the 13 lb range, if not more. It hurt my arm just holding it. It's always possible that you just got a heavy piece of wood, even with swiss cheese holes.

Take those old Customs, for example - the ones that weighed 13 - 15 lbs - how much weight do you think swiss cheese holes take off? 1, 2, maybe 3 lbs. So, a 13 lb Les Paul with swiss cheese holes isn't impossible.

[audiocheck]

Thanks R9 and Skatter

it's funny, I never thought mahogany was that heavy of a wood.

[Creature]

Ok im new to this site and i loe les pauls i currently only have an old beat up epiphone les paul but its alright i am buying a gibson usa soon and a 59 reissue has caught my eye and so has a traditional les paul in iced tea finish... now my question is how come on the 59 the pickups are so flush to the pickup rings and is the neck and body at the same angle as the traditional or is it just the pickup rings? please help im prety stumped ive been staring at them playing them both everyday at music stop for a few days now.

[audiocheck]

creature,

I think it's the pu rings.

RIs have some different plastic pieces.

[SKATTERBRANE]

Originally Posted by audiocheck

Thanks R9 and Skatter

it's funny, I never thought mahogany was that heavy of a wood.

Depends on how much mineral content it has, it can easily double the weight.

[freddarl82]

Originally Posted by Creature

...a 59 reissue has caught my eye and so has a traditional les paul in iced tea finish... now my question is how come on the 59 the pickups are so flush to the pickup rings and is the neck and body at the same angle as the traditional or is it just the pickup rings? please help im prety stumped ive been staring at them playing them both everyday at music stop for a few days now.

It's likely the difference in the neck angle. The historics have the shallower neck angle, more like the originals. When you are comparing the two, also note the bridge and stopbar height (assuming they are set up reasonably well). On my 57 Goldtop historic, when I got the action down to where I like it (bridge adjustment wheels are only about 1/8" off the body), I actually had to sand down my pickup rings because the strings would vibrate against them. Also, due to this, the tops of my pickups sit a little BELOW the tops of the rings (set to whatever height yields the desired sound for me). When you look at the modern guitars (with the sharper neck angle) the bridge adjustment wheels are often 1/4" or more off the body (and the stopbar is either raised a corresponding amount OR screwed down tight to the body and top-wrapped).

Regards,
Fred

[JBranch]

83 Custom-weight relieved?

If so, that was one heavy SOB beforehand! It is 10.9lbs!

[-=[Shifty]=-]

Originally Posted by JBranch

83 Custom-weight relieved?

If so, that was one heavy SOB beforehand! It is 10.9lbs!

Yup. I've heard about Customs from the 70s that weighed in at 13-14lbs.

[JBranch]

What a beast! I love it though

[tonzutonz]

nice guitar....does any1 no how to fade the colors on a les paul

[tonzutonz]

can some plzz help me...ok so i just rectently got an epiphone les paul...i love it. its realy nice but the color is cherrysunburst and i think its too bright..is there anyway i can fade the color easily? and inexpensively?

[tonzutonz]

??

[R9.]

You typically fade red colours by suntanning the guitar.
Post your question in the Epiphone section...just because the guitar has a different finish.

[Mr Insane]

Is there a difference between Vintage Burst and Tobacco Burst?

[Raethoven]

Hello Everybody!

New here. So i am not even sure if i am posting in the right area of the site so please forgive me if i am. Maybe you can help. I am a guitar tech and every time i tune the Custom Les Paul or the 335 it's dead on with my strobe tuner. Then i hand it off to the artist and it's out. It only just started happening the past two shows. Any ideas, i am losing my mind over here.

R

[Ride on a Pony]

Originally Posted by Raethoven

Hello Everybody!

New here. So i am not even sure if i am posting in the right area of the site so please forgive me if i am. Maybe you can help. I am a guitar tech and every time i tune the Custom Les Paul or the 335 it's dead on with my strobe tuner. Then i hand it off to the artist and it's out. It only just started happening the past two shows. Any ideas, i am losing my mind over here.

R

Probably try posting this somewhere else, this thread doesn't get a huge amount of traffic.

[-=[Shifty]=-]

Originally Posted by Ride on a Pony

Probably try posting this somewhere else, this thread doesn't get a huge amount of traffic.

Yup. It's also not the 'Strobe tuner 101' thread.

[Shred Astaire]

Great read. Thanks for posting that!

[Eleven]

Hey Everyone,

Noobie here. Just a big thanks to everyone for all the great information...and of course, a quick question.

Just barely purchased my 2005 LP Standard Root Beer Flame (it's been in the store since mid-2006). The store could not find the case and paperwork to go with it. They finally figured out that they accidently gave to someone who purchased a LP Studio in Root Beer.

They will give me the correct case that goes with it, a manual, and a pick guard (which is not installed).

From what they tell me, the only thing I'm missing is the warranty card which they say I don't need. Called Gibson and they said I only need the receipt for warranty. Do I need the paperwork? Does it really matter? Is there anything else I am missing and should be getting from them?

I think I'm getting a pretty good deal at $1775, new, but I'm also a bit anal retentive. Like all my ducks in a row.

Thanks for all your help!

LD

[Eleven]

Cancel the last post. They found the correct case with pick guard and paper work. I'm all set.

[R9.]

Eleven, to be honest, I think that's a terrible deal. $1,775 for a 3-year old Standard seems OK but considering you can buy a used (but even newer) Gibson R8 for the same amount of money, I'd return that Standard.

[Eleven]

Originally Posted by R9.

Eleven, to be honest, I think that's a terrible deal. $1,775 for a 3-year old Standard seems OK but considering you can buy a used (but even newer) Gibson R8 for the same amount of money, I'd return that Standard.

Thanks! I appreciate the input. Unfortunately, I already closed the deal. I've had it for a week. I know their cost was $1725 and it is absolutely perfect. I'm also hesitant to purchase sight unseen, and I live too far away from major areas where I could go see a guitar before I purchased it.

I quickly checked around and it seems that 2005 LP Standards seems to be going for what I'm paying or more and they are used. I looked for R8's but they seem to be quite higher in price. I probably just don't know where to look.

Thanks again!

LD

[R9.]

Originally Posted by Eleven

I looked for R8's but they seem to be quite higher in price. I probably just don't know where to look.

Right here, Les Paul Forum & the Gear Page...classified sections. Some have sold for $1,700.

[moodyedge]

That 50s style wiring mod and oil and paper caps made a big diff to my 97 standard. The tones and vol work way better.

[thrawn86]

Hey this thread is great R9. Learned something new!