NGD GLP Custom Classic Gold Top 2011

[TXOldRedRocker]

This is the follow-up thread for the Incoming NGD thread I started a few days ago.

Absolutely love this guitar. I'll admit I'm not the biggest fan of Gibson pickups. But these 2011 '57 Classic sound great. I'll be leaving this guitar completely stock.

It's stunningly beautiful. Only two very small imperfections and small scratch on a pickup cover. All occurred after purchase, but this 10 year old guitar is 99% factory mint. Plays great. The baked Maple fretboard feels like Ebony. Very smooth, grain is hardly noticeable. The action is a bit high for me. The neck needs just a slight bit more relief. The pickups have never been adjusted. I'll give the guitar a few days to acclimate to my house. Once it does I'll put on new strings, clean the frets (which have nearly no wear) and fretboard, set the action and then begin to adjust pickup height and pole heights. I currently have 8 Gibson Les Paul's, with one about to go up for sale. This is going to be my #2 probably, and certainly tied for first with other LP's of mine as my favorite looking and feeling. I'm trying to be realistic, because I'm still early in the Honeymoon phase, and could certainly let my emotions tell me this is now my favorite all around guitar.

And now, pictures...

 

[mvenuti1980]

Nice!

 

[j_ambitious]

Beautiful! What was the final price on it? Those CCs range from 1800 all the way to 3k.

 

[Central Scrutinizer]

Dang, that is beautiful!

Congrats!

 

[rjwilson37]

Wow... Beautiful! Congrats!

 

[DADDEO]

Yabbadabbadoo!

 

[endial]

Those things are killer, man.

Congrats!

 

[Cjsinla]

Are you sure it isn’t ebony? I can’t remember but I don’t think they did baked maple until 2012. Was your guitar made before August 24, 2011? That’s when the raid was and they didn’t use baked maple until after that date.

 

[fretout]

Are you sure it isn’t ebony? I can’t remember but I don’t think they did baked maple until 2012. Was your guitar made before August 24, 2011? That’s when the raid was and they didn’t use baked maple until after that date.

Yeah, these “Classic Customs” are spec’d differently than the normal LPCs. This series was an update to the previous Classic Customs that had a bound headstock and a Flower Pot inlay, and Trap inlays.

This series has the following differences from the LPCs of the same era…

- have a slightly shallower body thickness than a normal LPC,

- they feature no back binding,

- no Ebony fretboards,

- acrylic inlays in place of the MOP,

- Enhanced Weight Relieving,

- Chrome Hardware.

I remember when these were released, they were killer looking guitars! They essentially provided a USA Shop made Custom at a price point of $1,600; but they only came in four colors (Ebony, Gold Bullion, Wine Red, and Natural), but I think I remember special runs in limited colors (GOTW Classic White).

I’m reciting this all from memory, but please feel free to correct this if I’m wrong.
Congrats OP! Looks great!

 

[musicmaniac]

Very nice congrats!

 

[TXOldRedRocker]

Are you sure it isn’t ebony? I can’t remember but I don’t think they did baked maple until 2012. Was your guitar made before August 24, 2011? That’s when the raid was and they didn’t use baked maple until after that date.

Here's an Anderton's video from November 2011, comparing a Custom Classic with Baked Maple to a Les Paul without, though same pickups.

 

[Gibsonrocknroll]

Beautiful congrats

 

[Cjsinla]

Ok. So it was probably made after the raid. Nice looking guitar

 

[Ted Pikul]

Love the gold top, love the natural wood on the sides and back. Ideal.

 

[Christosterone]

 

[BlueCajun]

Beautiful! My first Les Paul was a Tribute model (I want to say made in 2012) with baked maple fretboard. I wasn't sure what to make of it at first but really grew to love it...just so smooth. HNGD!