Electric guitar compare Gibson Les Paul custom shop guitars

Tim Plains · 07-18-2009, 09:06 AM

I came across this video and thought I'd run a poll. Have a listen, which guitar sounds better to you?
Nothing but talk for the first 3 minutes. I voted for the white one.

YouTube - Electric guitar compare Gibson Les Paul custom shop guitars

Silverbursted · 07-18-2009, 10:52 AM

I'm thinking the burst. For some reason the 05 just sounds a bit brighter. I'm just glad you did't ask us to vote based on looks. That would have made it really hard.

Deftone · 07-18-2009, 11:04 AM

The burst sounded a bit more crisp to me. Personal preference. You could probably just turn up the tone and equal things.

I have two identical LP's and it's the same. My black '87 is a bit brighter than my '88 cherryburst.

BTW, nothing but talk for the first FOUR minutes.

VastHorizon · 07-18-2009, 11:12 AM

I don't know what to vote for. I liked the neck position of the white custom and the bridge of the burst...

kspeed · 07-18-2009, 11:26 AM

'05 for me. It's crisper with clearer highs. Not a fan of muddy-ish jazz tones. The '92 has a little too much "quack" for me.

guitarfish · 07-18-2009, 12:51 PM

Very cool video, thanks for posting! I found the guitars very similar. He describes them as "quite different", but to my ears they are pretty close. I'd give the tonal edge (my preference) to the burst. On looks, the white one is killer. I probably wouldn't be able to tell one from the other in a blind test.

Guitarfreak4 · 07-18-2009, 01:11 PM

I saw this same video a week ago. I LOVE both of them, but if I had to choose I'd say the 68RI. The white one sounds so damn awesome too, I love a nice heavy sound on a guitar (which is why I play LPs).

EtriX · 07-18-2009, 03:50 PM

I'd take the custom 92' I like the darker sound it makes and it is a truly stunning guitar.

Zoso101 · 07-18-2009, 04:08 PM

burst is a bit more bright and crisp

Boleskinehouse · 07-18-2009, 04:14 PM

Of course, I like the '68 best.

KitKat · 07-18-2009, 04:26 PM

Was very hard to vote, was leaning towards the white one for a while, but the burst edged it in the end.

I guess a "both" option defeats the purpose of the poll? ;p

hibernative · 07-18-2009, 06:34 PM

i play les paul for the dark, warm tone, so i voted on the cream one. the burst sounded great too, but i like the deep bottom of the cream one.

dennistruckdriver · 07-18-2009, 06:41 PM

I can't tell any difference that would matter from a Youtube video.

Ace Warslave · 07-18-2009, 06:49 PM

umm is it a good thing that both guitars sound so simular i voted the white one,the sound is very simular to my 90s standard and the same as my obg standard..

slither · 07-19-2009, 02:31 AM

Thanks for posting the clip R9. On looks I prefer the 05, white Customs just dont do it for me, but the 92 sounded better, and between the two thats the one I'd go with. I'm not sure if it's the pickups or the full mahogany body, but it just sounded warmer, a little bit darker. The full mahogany body is the difference I look for in a Custom, just like the one's from the 50's.

WBLP90 · 07-19-2009, 07:59 AM

For me it is the burst all the way. I would think all he would have to do to get some of the white's tone out of the burst is roll back the tone knob just a smidge. Although, it won't be exact at all. It is interesting to me because I hated the 57 classic p'ups in a ES-135LE I used to own.

It is really cool to see how differently he plays in reaction to the 2 guitar's tonally qualities. With the white, he holds onto the notes just a bit longer feeling that creamy tone flow out. With the burst, he is quicker with the attack as if he would really rather add a bunch more notes to the solo. I found it akin to how Les Paul players differ from Strat players. With a LP, you can sit back and relax in the "Amazing Tone Pool" that forms out of the amp. With a Strat, the lack of sustain and the raw biting nature of the tone, I have always found myself aggressively looking for the next note or allowing there to be a lot of dead space in my playing.

Thanks for the thread! It opened my eyes to how different Hog tops can sound. My VM sounds nothing like that white custom.

Rock On!

Boleskinehouse · 07-19-2009, 01:46 PM

My Tri-burst '68 sounds better than that one though.

Bing17 · 07-19-2009, 11:14 PM

The neck on the Burst sounded better, bridge on the white. On clean, the burst was the winner.

I'd like to hear the difference with both guitars using the same pickups. I would like to know if the guitars sound different, not the pickups.

diceman · 07-19-2009, 11:18 PM

I like them both. The slightly brigher Burst tone was a lil' nicer to my ears.

View Poll Results: I prefer the...
white one from '92	15	46.88%
burst from '05	17	53.13%
Voters: 32. You may not vote on this poll

07-18-2009, 10:52 AM	#2 (permalink)
Silverbursted Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 1,480 Thanks: 53 Thanked 63 Times in 14 Posts	Re: Electric guitar compare Gibson Les Paul custom shop guitars I'm thinking the burst. For some reason the 05 just sounds a bit brighter. I'm just glad you did't ask us to vote based on looks. That would have made it really hard. __________________ Gear 2007 Gibson Les Paul R9 (Modified with Dimarzio PAF 36 Anniversaries) 2004 Gibson Les Paul R7 (Modified with Wolftone Marshallhead Double Creams) 2007 Taylor 654ce Acoustic 12 String 2007 Fender YJM Strat 2007 Ibanez RG550 RI 2009 Jackson Soloist 2008 Fender American Deluxe P-Bass 2007 Traveller Speedster Marshall JVM410c Rocktron Voodu Valve Laney VC15

07-18-2009, 11:04 AM	#3 (permalink)
Deftone Bartlett Retrospec Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Rocklin, CA Posts: 11,955 Thanks: 1,368 Thanked 303 Times in 76 Posts	Re: Electric guitar compare Gibson Les Paul custom shop guitars The burst sounded a bit more crisp to me. Personal preference. You could probably just turn up the tone and equal things. I have two identical LP's and it's the same. My black '87 is a bit brighter than my '88 cherryburst. BTW, nothing but talk for the first FOUR minutes. __________________ *"If gun control is the path to public safety, then Chicago should be the safest city in the nation … right?"* -Led Zep Fan

07-18-2009, 11:12 AM	#4 (permalink)
VastHorizon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 7,369 Thanks: 55 Thanked 313 Times in 87 Posts	Re: Electric guitar compare Gibson Les Paul custom shop guitars I don't know what to vote for. I liked the neck position of the white custom and the bridge of the burst...

07-18-2009, 11:26 AM	#5 (permalink)
kspeed Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 1,473 Thanks: 30 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Electric guitar compare Gibson Les Paul custom shop guitars '05 for me. It's crisper with clearer highs. Not a fan of muddy-ish jazz tones. The '92 has a little too much "quack" for me.

Today
Les Paul	Sponsored Links __________________ This advertising will not be shown in this way to registered members. Register your free account today and become a member on Les Paul Forums

07-18-2009, 12:51 PM	#6 (permalink)
guitarfish Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Milford, PA Posts: 2,498 Thanks: 17 Thanked 87 Times in 7 Posts	Re: Electric guitar compare Gibson Les Paul custom shop guitars Very cool video, thanks for posting! I found the guitars very similar. He describes them as "quite different", but to my ears they are pretty close. I'd give the tonal edge (my preference) to the burst. On looks, the white one is killer. I probably wouldn't be able to tell one from the other in a blind test.

07-18-2009, 03:50 PM	#8 (permalink)
EtriX Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: The great lakes of Sweden Posts: 2,337 Thanks: 99 Thanked 13 Times in 7 Posts	Re: Electric guitar compare Gibson Les Paul custom shop guitars I'd take the custom 92' I like the darker sound it makes and it is a truly stunning guitar. __________________ "No Mr. Page, it's not malignant. Seems you have a rabid fan attached to your left testicle". "No one can give 100%! Thats physically impossible!" - Daffy Duck Chasing AXE-Tone® since 2008 Southpaw City My Vintage V100 Refin - In Progress

07-18-2009, 04:08 PM	#9 (permalink)
Zoso101 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: LI,NY Posts: 392 Thanks: 6 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Electric guitar compare Gibson Les Paul custom shop guitars burst is a bit more bright and crisp

07-18-2009, 04:14 PM	#10 (permalink)
Boleskinehouse Banned Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Next to Raleighwood Posts: 27,153 Thanks: 91 Thanked 673 Times in 114 Posts	Re: Electric guitar compare Gibson Les Paul custom shop guitars Of course, I like the '68 best.

07-18-2009, 04:26 PM	#11 (permalink)
KitKat Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 15 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Electric guitar compare Gibson Les Paul custom shop guitars Was very hard to vote, was leaning towards the white one for a while, but the burst edged it in the end. I guess a "both" option defeats the purpose of the poll? ;p

07-18-2009, 06:34 PM	#12 (permalink)
hibernative Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: sweden Posts: 166 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Electric guitar compare Gibson Les Paul custom shop guitars i play les paul for the dark, warm tone, so i voted on the cream one. the burst sounded great too, but i like the deep bottom of the cream one. __________________ gibson les paul standard ('57 classics) cuenca nj10 jumbo wave bw-20n dreadnought hughes & kettner edition tube what i listen to

07-18-2009, 06:41 PM	#13 (permalink)
dennistruckdriver V.I.P. Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 25,418 Thanks: 365 Thanked 816 Times in 168 Posts	Re: Electric guitar compare Gibson Les Paul custom shop guitars I can't tell any difference that would matter from a Youtube video. __________________

07-18-2009, 06:49 PM	#14 (permalink)
Ace Warslave Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 945 Thanks: 8 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Electric guitar compare Gibson Les Paul custom shop guitars umm is it a good thing that both guitars sound so simular i voted the white one,the sound is very simular to my 90s standard and the same as my obg standard..

07-19-2009, 02:31 AM	#15 (permalink)
slither Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: The Shire (aka God's Country), Sydney, Australia Posts: 1,250 Thanks: 31 Thanked 8 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Electric guitar compare Gibson Les Paul custom shop guitars Thanks for posting the clip R9. On looks I prefer the 05, white Customs just dont do it for me, but the 92 sounded better, and between the two thats the one I'd go with. I'm not sure if it's the pickups or the full mahogany body, but it just sounded warmer, a little bit darker. The full mahogany body is the difference I look for in a Custom, just like the one's from the 50's. __________________ Minds, like parachutes, only work when they are open. Guitars 2009 PRS Howard Leese Golden Eagle #88/100 2010 PRS McCarty Shootout #12/50 2003 Les Paul 1957 Reissue Brazilian (Goldtop) 2007 Les Paul 1959 Reissue (Washed Cherry) 2007 Les Paul 1958 Reissue (Iced Tea) 1978 Hamer Sunburst 1974 SG Special (Cherry)

07-19-2009, 07:59 AM	#16 (permalink)
WBLP90 Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Vegas Posts: 59 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Electric guitar compare Gibson Les Paul custom shop guitars For me it is the burst all the way. I would think all he would have to do to get some of the white's tone out of the burst is roll back the tone knob just a smidge. Although, it won't be exact at all. It is interesting to me because I hated the 57 classic p'ups in a ES-135LE I used to own. It is really cool to see how differently he plays in reaction to the 2 guitar's tonally qualities. With the white, he holds onto the notes just a bit longer feeling that creamy tone flow out. With the burst, he is quicker with the attack as if he would really rather add a bunch more notes to the solo. I found it akin to how Les Paul players differ from Strat players. With a LP, you can sit back and relax in the "Amazing Tone Pool" that forms out of the amp. With a Strat, the lack of sustain and the raw biting nature of the tone, I have always found myself aggressively looking for the next note or allowing there to be a lot of dead space in my playing. Thanks for the thread! It opened my eyes to how different Hog tops can sound. My VM sounds nothing like that white custom. Rock On!

07-19-2009, 01:46 PM	#17 (permalink)
Boleskinehouse Banned Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Next to Raleighwood Posts: 27,153 Thanks: 91 Thanked 673 Times in 114 Posts	Re: Electric guitar compare Gibson Les Paul custom shop guitars My Tri-burst '68 sounds better than that one though.

07-19-2009, 11:14 PM	#18 (permalink)
Bing17 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Somewhere Between Hollywood and Hell Posts: 1,770 Thanks: 25 Thanked 26 Times in 5 Posts	Re: Electric guitar compare Gibson Les Paul custom shop guitars The neck on the Burst sounded better, bridge on the white. On clean, the burst was the winner. I'd like to hear the difference with both guitars using the same pickups. I would like to know if the guitars sound different, not the pickups. __________________ a boat.

07-19-2009, 11:18 PM	#19 (permalink)
diceman V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Montana Posts: 29,930 Thanks: 1,212 Thanked 419 Times in 83 Posts	Re: Electric guitar compare Gibson Les Paul custom shop guitars I like them both. The slightly brigher Burst tone was a lil' nicer to my ears.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode