2019 Les Paul Special vs ‘50s Goldtop Standard

[Knightrich]

I do mea

Does the OP mean '54 style gold top or is there an actual model called 50s p90 gold top?

I have other brand MIJ versions of the 54 gold top and special. The wrap tail bridge and p90 combination has some sort of mojo that the regular tom bridge doesn't. If the 50s gold top is not the wrap tail, I would say go for the LP special...

I do mean the new Standard 50’s Gold Top with P90s without the wrap tail.
that is one thing I think about as a plus on the Special. Sounds like it’s got a lot of fans around here.

 

[Knightrich]

Maybe slightly more mid focused, not necessarily heavy.

I would put the decision down to two points:

1. Looks. Which can't you live without or might you regret not buying?

2. Price. Is the Goldtop worth the ~$900 extra $$$?

Because from a tone standpoint, both will deliver, hugely. From AC/DC to Led Zeppelin to funk and R&B, to jazz. You won't miss the maple cap if you went for the Special. IMHO. You might might the Gold finish or the carved top if that beauty is calling your name. I love the stripped down nature of the Special. No pretense. And the TV finish is its own "special" kind of goodness, on par with the Goldtop, which I absolutely love, too. (I own one).

This makes for a pretty good pair of LP's.

I see what you mean. With a mortgage and student debt, the Special is definitely more within reach, too! I also like the idea that I wouldn’t necessarily “baby” it as much as I would the gold top.

 

[endial]

I see what you mean. With a mortgage and student debt, the Special is definitely more within reach, too! I also like the idea that I wouldn’t necessarily “baby” it as much as I would the gold top.

Trust me, behind a Special you'll feel (and be) more of a badass.

 

[CB91710]

P90 Gold Top is on my "will buy" list.

 

[Slashperryburst]

P90 Gold Top is on my "will buy" list.

Been on my will buy list for ten years, since I was forced to sell my last one. But if there's one thing I love as much as a goldtop, it's a Les Paul custom. Three times my quest for a p90 goldtop was set back because I bought a nice custom.

Now the only thing that can stand in my way is if I somehow manage to find a 3 pickup custom with a bigsby at a reasonable price.

 

[Knightrich]

Trust me, behind a Special you'll feel (and be) more of a badass.

Is it the same thickness body wise as a standard Les Paul?

 

[endial]

Thicker mahogany, I believe, but the carved maple cap adds dimension and thickens at the peak of the carve on a standard Lester. (As best I can answer this. Check specs. Wait for more informed peeps to chime in)

 

[captdan61]

I do not vote as I have to tell you to try the guitars above first and not only play/try the ones you've mentioned.

When I finally had the money to buy the R9 that I've been dreaming about for years I brought my own amplifier to the music store I didn't bring any pedal's but I brought my own amplifier so I would know that the tone was the thought I would get when I got home and I simply tried six or seven guitars until I found the one that I love I picked it up when I hit two chords on it and my son and his friend that came with me both turned around and said by that one so I did.

 

[captdan61]

My one concern was that I’d get a P90 equipped LP and think man I should have gone for Th e humbuckers, but my Dot with Seth Lovers really is my perfect humbucker sound.

The only reason I play my R9 more than my black pro deluxe i bought in new in 1980.(besides the flame and sunburst being so darn pretty.) Is the fact that the burst weighs 8.5 lb and my old black one weighs 10lb. At a gig i will feel that difference after a couple sets. An ill switch to a Esquire i have that only weighs 6.4lb. Maybe I'm just getting old but weight matters.

 

[captdan61]

When I finally had the money to buy the R9 that I've been dreaming about for years I brought my own amplifier to the music store I didn't bring any pedal's but I brought my own amplifier so I would know that the tone was the thought I would get when I got home and I simply tried six or seven guitars until I found the one that I love I picked it up when I hit two chords on it and my son and his friend that came with me both turned around and said by that one so I did.

For my style of blues rock the most badass guitar that I've ever been allowed to play with a 1957 Les Paul junior if I could afford one I would own one and I would play at 90% of the time lightweight super badass sounding it's all in the volume knob

 

[Knightrich]

The only reason I play my R9 more than my black pro deluxe i bought in new in 1980.(besides the flame and sunburst being so darn pretty.) Is the fact that the burst weighs 8.5 lb and my old black one weighs 10lb. At a gig i will feel that difference after a couple sets. An ill switch to a Esquire i have that only weighs 6.4lb. Maybe I'm just getting old but weight matters.

I’m glad you said this. I need to think what will still feel great down the road for me, too. The lightest weight new gold top standards seem to be right around 9lbs.

 

[no jimmy p]

I had a 96' double cut Special , great guitar , it had THE neck profile for my hands . Sold it to buy my 86' Studio Standard . Buy the one you want . If you feel the Special is in some way inadequate, you will not be satisfied , whether it is or not . Buy the best one you can afford , but play them all , and different ones of the same model , as they are all different , feel differently, sound somewhat differently, and play differently .

 

[joedonner2001]

A Special is absolutely not a lesser guitar. Over the past few months I've found myself playing my 2016 Special way more than my all time favourite full fat Les Paul.

PS. You really need both.

 

[no jimmy p]

Is it the same thickness body wise as a standard Les Paul?

minus the Maple cap , but yes , it is the same thickness

 

[Knightrich]

minus the Maple cap , but yes , it is the same thickness

Ok good deal. Seems like I’ve seen Keith Richards rockin a TV Yellow Jr a lot more than usual recently.

 

[Deathray]

I called Wildwood Guitars today, and bought a 2020 LP Special in Vintage Cherry. It will ship on Monday, after they set it up with EB reg slinkys. Happy 56th Birthday to me! Here’s a pic of it:

 

[PauloQS]

I think this is one of those instances that when in doubt just go for looks. I have a Gibson Custom Special that is absolutely phenomenal. Before then pandemic I put it against a Gibson USA Original Collection Special. Although I preferred the feel of the Custom Shop a little bit better and the sound of the Custom Shop very marginally better, the Gibson USA special had noticeable more sustain. I was so taken aback by that that I literally started timing the sustain of a few notes and confirmed my initial impressions. That’s to say that those Gibson USA Specials are something something special (no pun intended).

On the Standard ‘50s side I have nothing but praise for them. These are some fantastic guitars that are really making me question my intention of getting an R6. That’s coming from someone with some experience on reissues. Reason being my R9 will likely continue being my main guitar so maybe I don’t need to go all out on an R6.

Thus I think at the end of the day, just go with what you think looks better. If a guitar gives you that fizz on the pit of your stomach, who cares about the marginal rest, for the one with that gives you the fizz will make you play more.

 

[Knightrich]

I called Wildwood Guitars today, and bought a 2020 LP Special in Vintage Cherry. It will ship on Monday, after they set it up with EB reg slinkys. Happy 56th Birthday to me! Here’s a pic of it:
View attachment 477374

Very nice and happy birthday!! You’ll need to post some clips when you get it in!

 

[mdubya]

I called Wildwood Guitars today, and bought a 2020 LP Special in Vintage Cherry. It will ship on Monday, after they set it up with EB reg slinkys. Happy 56th Birthday to me! Here’s a pic of it:
View attachment 477374

Congrats and Happy Birthday, Deathray!