Gibson Les Paul Collector’s Choice

[KBMelb]

I have a CC#22 (3 pup BB) and I have a 2019 3 pup B7 that I will take all day over the CC. Not shaming the CC, they are just different.

Correction note I have CC#22 Colletti not #16.

 

[guitarhunter]

I had a CC16 that was ok. It was one of the few that Gibson got the top right according to Ed King after showing him a photo of mine. I think it was tough for them to keep the consistency of the models in which the specific guitars were based. You'll find some duds and some gems alike. Not too much different than any other run of guitars.

I'd love to get my hands on a Whitford

 

[Crotch]

CC7. Had @bossaddict 's. Should have kept it as my only Les Paul. Just kind of got disinterested with the Les Paul in general. But it was the best one I ever played.

 

[Sct13]

Another vote for CC#7, best damn guitar ever … I sold it to get into something lighter because it was heavy… but the Idea to reverse the pickups was a pretty distinctive sound … the middle position rocked and the neck position was out of this world…

it think it’s the secret sauce…

 

[Clint]

I have an early CC #24 Nicky and have owned a boatload of Historics from '98 - 2021. The Nicky is easily the best feeling Historic I've ever played.

 

[gdx65]

I have an early CC #24 Nicky and have owned a boatload of Historics from '98 - 2021. The Nicky is easily the best feeling Historic I've ever played.

It seems like one needs to find the chance to test few of them, probably not an easy task. Or when one find a deal just grab it and use it, they are all probably good as with all instrument you have to own them for a while it is not possible to go a try a guitar in a shop and make a decision. You have to have it at home, used it with your gear at your own pace.

 

[Clint]

It seems like one needs to find the chance to test few of them, probably not an easy task. Or when one find a deal just grab it and use it, they are all probably good as with all instrument you have to own them for a while it is not possible to go a try a guitar in a shop and make a decision. You have to have it at home, used it with your gear at your own pace.

Probably true. I remember first playing it and thinking it was a good one. Put it away for a while. Over the years I kept going back to it. It's never had a setup or anything and feels better than the rest of my herd. Truely feels dialed in and I've gone through a crapload of Historics from every year. Even the color is interesting the way it makes the flames pop:

https://imgur.com/dSSSjQM

 

[LeonC]

I've owned 3 CCs and still; own two.

CC14 - Wachtel - was my first. Love it.
CC28 - STP Burst - was my second, best sounding Les Paul I've played or owned
CC18 - Dutchburst - didn't love it. Custombucker in the neck pos just sounded like a generic Les Paul to me, where the other two CCs neck pickups sound distinctive, clear and just fantastic.

I also currently own one of the '54 Oxblood reissues, from that limited run "Benchmark" series. This is a fantastic sounding and playing guitar. It's almost as impressive as the CCs and absolutely sounds and plays as good...but without the "worn in" feel (i.e., no relicing).

I will say this: all Custombuckers are not equal. You need to check the specs on the individual CCs you're considering to see if actually uses Custombuckers. The PUs in the Dutchburst were notably hotter than my other two CCs.

May want to check out this spreadsheet I've been maintaining re: CC pickups:

Gibson Replica Guitar Database

Models --- COLLECTORS CHOICE GUITARS (created 2018) --- Model,Name,Neck PU,Neck r,Bridge PU,Bridge r,Notes,URL 1,Gary Moore / Peter Green / Melvyn Franks,BurstBucker 3,BurstBucker 3,Reverse phase 2,Goldie,BurstBucker 1 (alnico II),BurstBucker 3 (alnico II) 3,The Babe,Custom Bucker (alnico III),C...

docs.google.com

I've owned perhaps 6 or 7 other Les Pauls in the 50 years that I've been playing. The CCs are at the top in terms of construction, playability and tone. The '54 Oxblood and a '68 Custom that I had until about 2001 were next in line. Others weren't in the same league.

I've only played one other "Les Paul" that I thought compared to my two favorite CCs and it wasn't a Gibson; it was a replica made by a local luthier / repair person and the owner had '50s era PAFs in it. That was a fantastic guitar, right there with the CCs, IMO. I've played one actual burst as well (belonged to a very well known collector here in LA)...it was quite nice but I didn't see God when I played it... I don't see God when I play my CCs either...but I like them more than that one original burst I played.

Of course, this is just my anecdotal experience, FWIW.

 

[zdoggie]

I really appreicate the honesty I don't personaly believe that cc or historics are any better especially given the complaints about gibsons fit and finish on the line as a whole I have 3 lp's 59 ri burst 07 goldtop and a traditional I personally like the playability of the traditional the best my gold top's pickups sound like caterwall 59 just ok traditional has ox4 and sounds the best of all .I believe that most of gibson high end sales are collector driven ,how long would you have to wait till your cc or sig or historic or what ever , untill it worth double the money ,probably not in our life times.Years back I one of the guitar mags demoed a 2x4 with buckers next to a lp most people in a blind hearing test chose the 2x4 so this really shed a lot of light on woods ,aging and all of the hipe that goes with it , some between dollars and common sense there's a middle ground I think a orville with the right pickups ,that played to your satisfaction would be as good if not better.
this is just another opinion zdog

 

[Sharky]

CCs are not better than the regular run off the mill Custom Shop Lesters. There can be quite a difference within one series. I had 3 different of each CC2, CC7 and 4 different CC8. They were completely different in look, feel and sound. One of the CC 2s was completely off to me but found a very happy owner. CC4 wasn't my cup of tea, CC16 was nice

 

[Duane_the_tub]

If the particular specs of a CC click with you, it can be the best. Just like all LPs with variations in neck profile, weight, top carve, pickup specs, etc. Most of them, especially the early ones, had distinctive spec differences. You just need to know what they are, and exactly what you prefer and are looking for.

 

[gdx65]

If the particular specs of a CC click with you, it can be the best. Just like all LPs with variations in neck profile, weight, top carve, pickup specs, etc. Most of them, especially the early ones, had distinctive spec differences. You just need to know what they are, and exactly what you prefer and are looking for.

I have recentrly seen and felt a #44 Happy Jack, all good yes but the heavy relic behind the neck it is a NO for me, then this felt, for me, as a pure collector item,,,

 

[Jimty]

If the particular specs of a CC click with you, it can be the best. Just like all LPs with variations in neck profile, weight, top carve, pickup specs, etc. Most of them, especially the early ones, had distinctive spec differences. You just need to know what they are, and exactly what you prefer and are looking for.

Totally agree. I played a Greg Martin / CC 15 and although many love them I didn’t gel with it. The same happened with a Louis / CC 17 I tried. The owner swore I would buy it if I played it, but it didn’t work for me for some reason. That said, I did play a Montrose / CC 28 once. I didn’t buy it there and then because I wasn’t 100% on the worn neck at the time. After trying a bunch of others Custom Shop LPs I realised what a great guitar that one was. Called the shop and it was gone. That said, the two regular Custom Shop LPs I own now are really great guitars too - different to the Montrose and to each other, but both really great LPs too in their own way.

 

[mudface]

Totally agree. I played a Greg Martin / CC 15 and although many love them I didn’t gel with it. The same happened with a Louis / CC 17 I tried. The owner swore I would buy it if I played it, but it didn’t work for me for some reason. That said, I did play a Montrose / CC 28 once. I didn’t buy it there and then because I wasn’t 100% on the worn neck at the time. After trying a bunch of others Custom Shop LPs I realised what a great guitar that one was. Called the shop and it was gone. That said, the two regular Custom Shop LPs I own now are really great guitars too - different to the Montrose and to each other, but both really great LPs too in their own way.

This is my CC#28 STP Montrose.... it is my favorite Historic.... Tone and playability suit me perfectly. The flame and color ain’t bad either. Its my only “aged” Les Paul.

 

[gdx65]

This is my CC#28 STP Montrose.... it is my favorite Historic.... Tone and playability suit me perfectly. The flame and color ain’t bad either. Its my only “aged” Les Paul.

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That’s a nice one, congrats.

 

[gdx65]

what about the #10 1968 Deluxe #10Tom Scholtz? Nice combination with humbucker and an P90 but it looks like a modified Les Paul…

 

[jwehrman]

For the time they were made, they were very unique. Not many of the other reissues had specific finishes and/or aging. One could argue that they are in another league vs. other reissues pre-2014. I've played a few, and they were good. As someone else mentioned, they were a bit more unique given the extra work put into them. A CC# 1 is likely to be of better quality than other reissues pre-2014. Not necessarily guaranteed, as I know others would argue otherwise.

I had a Reeder for a bit. It was def the best of the lot I tried. And it had a killer curly, flammed top with a beautiful color, though I still believe it was a Goldie top repurposed. And I'm convinced the other Reeder's were repurpsed tops from the Frehely signature line - given the overly symmetrical, chevroned flame.

I traded it for a WW Painted and Aged, because it was something that was right for me. That being said, I would have never traded it for anything otherwise.

 

[Sct13]

You know what killed it for me?

I saw a Gold Top with CC#7 aging on it .. indicating that a template of some kind was used… not a problem it’s says that they mapped out the aged original and applied it to the Cc#7 …ok

but now you put it on gold top at a gold top price point….wtf?

Then!
I see other CC#7’s with a completely different aging setup!!! Again WTF?

So not a huge deal… just inconsistent and inconsiderate…

 

[gdx65]

Thanks. The seller had installed 57s (the photos are from the ad) and I could choose to have the OX4 installed which I did. The OX4 are alnico5 open bobbins
. I will post a photo.

Here is the guitar as received with the OX4 pickups. Really amazing tone for an unexpected/unplanned purchase...

 

[Jimty]

This is my CC#28 STP Montrose.... it is my favorite Historic.... Tone and playability suit me perfectly. The flame and color ain’t bad either. Its my only “aged” Les Paul.

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Very nice! I still regret not pulling the trigger when I had the chance....