Clump
Senior Member
- Joined
- Aug 28, 2010
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I haven't had a Les Paul for a while and started looking at the Tribute Gold Top as a relatively cheap way to get 1. Of course, that led to looking at some other guitars. I've been intrigued by Firebirds for a long time and when I saw Pelham Blue it was over pretty fast. I guess the Les Paul can wait.
As usual Sweetwater treated me good and the enormous box arrived yesterday. The body shape is really different, but it didn't take long to get used to. I got to spend quite a bit of time with it and really like the way it plays.
Through my Fender Bassbreaker 15 I really like the sound. I was concerned about the pickups from some stuff I've read, but I'm real happy with the stock pickups. The neck PU is really smooth. The bridge is kinda brittle sounding, but in a good way. Combined is a pretty unique and really ballsy sound. I don't have vintage minis to compare it to, so once that happens who knows.
The finish is pretty good. The paint isn't as glassy as it looks in pictures - you can still see some grain. There's a couple of minor imperfections on the back. My biggest concern is the paint at the joints where the "wings" attach. It's kinda funky, as if it needed some detail sanding between coats that didn't happen. It looks kind of like a tiny caulk joint. You have to look really close to see it. It's consistent on both wings front and back. Looking at zoomed in shots on line it looks like they're all this way, including the sunburst. I guess it's just how it is. Hoping it doesn't flake off or crack.
So 1 day in really happy with the play and sound with a couple of finish concerns that don't bother me nearly enough to send it back.
Sweetwater takes better pictures than I do
Pictures don't do the hugeness of the case justice.
And it comes with this Gibson swiss army knife tool. First time I've seen this thing.
As usual Sweetwater treated me good and the enormous box arrived yesterday. The body shape is really different, but it didn't take long to get used to. I got to spend quite a bit of time with it and really like the way it plays.
Through my Fender Bassbreaker 15 I really like the sound. I was concerned about the pickups from some stuff I've read, but I'm real happy with the stock pickups. The neck PU is really smooth. The bridge is kinda brittle sounding, but in a good way. Combined is a pretty unique and really ballsy sound. I don't have vintage minis to compare it to, so once that happens who knows.
The finish is pretty good. The paint isn't as glassy as it looks in pictures - you can still see some grain. There's a couple of minor imperfections on the back. My biggest concern is the paint at the joints where the "wings" attach. It's kinda funky, as if it needed some detail sanding between coats that didn't happen. It looks kind of like a tiny caulk joint. You have to look really close to see it. It's consistent on both wings front and back. Looking at zoomed in shots on line it looks like they're all this way, including the sunburst. I guess it's just how it is. Hoping it doesn't flake off or crack.
So 1 day in really happy with the play and sound with a couple of finish concerns that don't bother me nearly enough to send it back.
Sweetwater takes better pictures than I do
Pictures don't do the hugeness of the case justice.
And it comes with this Gibson swiss army knife tool. First time I've seen this thing.
. I have bought exactly the same some weeks ago and still love it so much 
