tinman1
Senior Member
- Joined
- Apr 22, 2013
- Messages
- 176
- Reaction score
- 224
Been waiting to buy a Les Paul for a while....was going to wait for a 2015 traditional until the price hike and spec changes were announced. Have been avoiding 2014 as I prefer a plain 12th fret inlay.
So this was a bit of a panic buy online I must admit. But I found this brand new 2013 traditional- one of the last 2013 traditionals available online in the UK- and took a leap of faith.
Its been sulking in the corner of a shop in England for almost 12 months unbought. I was expecting a dud for that reason.
Its a beauty. The photos below were taken in artificial light so they kind of kill the flame top and don't do it justice...but the flame is quite subtle anyway, almost like a plain top in places. That suits me fine as I'm not into fancy tiger top type levels of flame and would run a mile from a quilt top Les Paul.
The honeyburst edges are slightly redder than I expected. Looking at pictures online 2013's "new honeyburst" is consistently like that- its almost like 2012's iced tea but with a brown instead of red mahogany back. In contrast the 2012 honeyburst appears more brown and is probably closer to the caramel burst or light burst versions in 2013. I'm happy with the colour- it was after all from a choice of 1 guitar!
Having read about all of the recent quality control issues I was almost expecting a dud given it had been unsold for so long. Not so- generally excellent standard of finish and no binding problems. The only minor quality control issue is that the jack plate has been applied slightly "squint" in relation to the edge of the binding (see photo below). Not a big deal and probably reflects someone in a rush at the very end of the production line. All else in superb condition and no fret problems. Shop setup has the action marginally too high but that's adjustable.
I was also kind of expecting a tonne weight LP, maybe over 10lbs. Not so: on bathroom scales its 9lbs 6oz, on electronic food scales its 9lbs 4oz. Splitting the difference its probably about 9lbs 5oz which for a Trad with zero weight relief is acceptable. Feels heavy though compared to my 6lbs 9oz Flying V!
I have to say as well that the 57/ 57 plus pickup combination is the best humbucker combo I've ever heard through my rig (currently an Orange amp). I've not tried loads of pickups but the ones I've had include 59/ 59, 59/ SD Custom, 490r/ 498t, 496r/ 500T, Pearly gates bridge, generic Ibanez pups. The 57s win hands down for articulation, depth, growl and everything that a Les Paul tone should be. They handle high gain pedals (including a recently acquired Rock Box Brown Sugar) very well too.
The 50's neck is pretty big- a shade fuller than the "59 rounded" neck on a 2008 LP studio I used to own. Its comfortable though and for some reason actually feels a shade narrower (although deeper) than a 2013 LP standard I tried in a shop recently. The standard for some reason felt a bit too wide and had a stickier neck....maybe that was due to the asymmetrical profile I'm not sure. Nice resonant body too and sounds full acoustically.
Price not bad at £1529 including postage and set up. Significantly lower than a 2015 Trad will be (and with a nicer headstock logo
)
So it is possible to strike it lucky and get a really nice new guitar unseen from an online shop. It has to be said though the last 3 guitars I bought online in this way were all returned to sender with 24hours so I was due a score!
So this was a bit of a panic buy online I must admit. But I found this brand new 2013 traditional- one of the last 2013 traditionals available online in the UK- and took a leap of faith.
Its been sulking in the corner of a shop in England for almost 12 months unbought. I was expecting a dud for that reason.
Its a beauty. The photos below were taken in artificial light so they kind of kill the flame top and don't do it justice...but the flame is quite subtle anyway, almost like a plain top in places. That suits me fine as I'm not into fancy tiger top type levels of flame and would run a mile from a quilt top Les Paul.
The honeyburst edges are slightly redder than I expected. Looking at pictures online 2013's "new honeyburst" is consistently like that- its almost like 2012's iced tea but with a brown instead of red mahogany back. In contrast the 2012 honeyburst appears more brown and is probably closer to the caramel burst or light burst versions in 2013. I'm happy with the colour- it was after all from a choice of 1 guitar!
Having read about all of the recent quality control issues I was almost expecting a dud given it had been unsold for so long. Not so- generally excellent standard of finish and no binding problems. The only minor quality control issue is that the jack plate has been applied slightly "squint" in relation to the edge of the binding (see photo below). Not a big deal and probably reflects someone in a rush at the very end of the production line. All else in superb condition and no fret problems. Shop setup has the action marginally too high but that's adjustable.
I was also kind of expecting a tonne weight LP, maybe over 10lbs. Not so: on bathroom scales its 9lbs 6oz, on electronic food scales its 9lbs 4oz. Splitting the difference its probably about 9lbs 5oz which for a Trad with zero weight relief is acceptable. Feels heavy though compared to my 6lbs 9oz Flying V!
I have to say as well that the 57/ 57 plus pickup combination is the best humbucker combo I've ever heard through my rig (currently an Orange amp). I've not tried loads of pickups but the ones I've had include 59/ 59, 59/ SD Custom, 490r/ 498t, 496r/ 500T, Pearly gates bridge, generic Ibanez pups. The 57s win hands down for articulation, depth, growl and everything that a Les Paul tone should be. They handle high gain pedals (including a recently acquired Rock Box Brown Sugar) very well too.
The 50's neck is pretty big- a shade fuller than the "59 rounded" neck on a 2008 LP studio I used to own. Its comfortable though and for some reason actually feels a shade narrower (although deeper) than a 2013 LP standard I tried in a shop recently. The standard for some reason felt a bit too wide and had a stickier neck....maybe that was due to the asymmetrical profile I'm not sure. Nice resonant body too and sounds full acoustically.
Price not bad at £1529 including postage and set up. Significantly lower than a 2015 Trad will be (and with a nicer headstock logo
)So it is possible to strike it lucky and get a really nice new guitar unseen from an online shop. It has to be said though the last 3 guitars I bought online in this way were all returned to sender with 24hours so I was due a score!
