No weight relief and no nibs - which year Les Paul Traditional?

[Smedley Smorganoff]

If I'm not mistaken, there was a year (or two) in which Gibson made the LP Traditional with no weight relief and no fret nibs. Which year was it?

Getting confused with the research because a lot of sources are stating the same specs regardless of year.

Thanks

 

[guitaraddict]

I think 2013 was the only year with no weight relief but they have nibs. I believe it was 2015 with no nibs but I think they were weight relieved. I could be wrong though.

 

[Juan Wayne]

2015 would be it. They had no weight relief but the came with the wide nib-less bretboard.

All the other years have had nibs, all of them being swis cheesed except for 2013-14.

 

[Smedley Smorganoff]

Thanks guys. Did the 2015 have the fat 50's neck as well?

 

[Juan Wayne]

Thanks guys. Did the 2015 have the fat 50's neck as well?

It is indeed fat, ancient tree cut in half fat, as far as what I laid hands on (well, maybe I'm exaggerating).

It's often referred to as 50's neck. However, I wouldn't compare the two. They're slightly wider than traditional necks so they feel quite different to the couple of chunky (non-2015) 50's necks I have, and the overall profile and feel is different. Depth is comparable, but it's a different animal. As always with necks, you're better off trying for as long as you can to get over the firs impressionl, before laying down some cash.

 

[Smedley Smorganoff]

Hmm, not sure if I dig the "zero fret" nut, robot tuners, and the "Les Paul 100" on the headstock. And they seem to have gotten rid of the caramel burst finish - that color was gorgeous. Although the tobacco burst looks cool, kinda like Duane Allman's "Hot Lanta".

 

[skelt101]

I think 2013 was the last year of Caramel Burst. What's your beef with the nibs?

 

[gball]

Those "improvements" aside, you should really find one to play before buying, or go through a retailer that has a bullet-proof return policy. I can't stand the 2015 necks, personally. The width is just not right and I was never able to reconcile the feel of them, although they may work for you and there are people that like them. I ended up waiting and getting a 2016 Trad Plaintop with no weight relief and glad I did.

 

[Smedley Smorganoff]

I think 2013 was the last year of Caramel Burst. What's your beef with the nibs?

I think the nibs look nice and all, but if the frets aren't perfectly level with them or there's even the tiniest gap, I find the high e string gets caught in between. Especially during pull offs and wide vibratos. I don't know if it's because of Gibson's fretwork or due to humidity causing the frets to shift, but it's annoying regardless.

My 2010 Traditional had this problem. I fixed it carefully with super glue and filing, but I may just have the nibs completely removed when I eventually get the guitar refretted. Warren Haynes did the same thing to his LPs.

 

[tzd]

Les Paul Traditional Flame Top 120 but you'll probably complain about the 60s neck.

Gibson.com: Les Paul Traditional Flame Top

 

[Smedley Smorganoff]

Les Paul Traditional Flame Top 120 but you'll probably complain about the 60s neck.

Gibson.com: Les Paul Traditional Flame Top

Hmm, that does look nice though. I don't hate the slim 60's neck, but the fatter neck is just perfect for me. I'm not crazy about the banner inlay at the 12th fret though. Haha, there's always something...

Looks like my best bet would be to get a 2013 Caramel Burst refretted.

 

[guitaraddict]

You could always buy a 2013 and get rid of the nibs?

 

[Mr. Satchmo]

Just get a 2013 Les Paul Traditional in Caramel burst, and then have a luthier refret it for you. no need to get a 2015 trad unless that's what you really want. I have a 2013 and it's by far the best traditional I've ever owned.


The 2013 tops I've seen have been so nice and many have 1 piece backs like mine.

 

[Smedley Smorganoff]

There's also the tribute Epiphone LPs with the real maple tops.

Larry Corsa is a little more than an hour north of me. I could ask him if he'd build me an LP with no weight relief. Less labor for him. He can keep his pickups too.

 

[LesPaul86]

Considering it's only a 2013 guitar, the pickups, bridge and tail piece look filthy mr satchmo

 

[1allspub]

I think 2013 was the only year with no weight relief but they have nibs. I believe it was 2015 with no nibs but I think they were weight relieved. I could be wrong though.

2013, 2014 & 2015 were all non-weight relieved. 2013 & 2014 had nibs... 2015 had no nibs. All had fat 50s necks with the 2015s also being wider (like all 2015 LPs).

 

[guitaraddict]

2013, 2014 & 2015 were all non-weight relieved. 2013 & 2014 had nibs... 2015 had no nibs. All had fat 50s necks with the 2015s also being wider (like all 2015 LPs).

Thanks for the correction. That's right, I didn't pay much attention to the 2014-2015's because I didn't care for the anniversary inlay on the 2014's and the wider neck and no nibs on the 2015's.

 

[jstarr823]

A Traditional without nibs is like a woman without boobs. Yeah sure, sometimes they get in the way, but they're nice to look at.

 

[Smedley Smorganoff]

A Traditional without nibs is like a woman without boobs. Yeah sure, sometimes they get in the way, but they're nice to look at.

Well, good thing I'm an ass man