Regular 60s Standard or Faded 60s Standard?

[1allspub]

Which and why?

 

[gball]

Gloss finish all day, every day. The "faded" finishes are really "unfinished" IMO. They are not like matte versions, they omit a crucial final step and are a huge step down that should result in a much bigger price differential than it does.

 

[Bobby Mahogany]

The 2000'ish faded I have played (2) had their own tone
even when played unplugged. More "woody" for lack of better words.
If I could have I would have bought one at the time.
But I had just moved into a new house so I passed.
I always recommend to play them and see/hear if they "hook" you.

 

[Leee]

Gloss finish all day, every day. The "faded" finishes are really "unfinished" IMO.

Bingo.

If I bought the faded Les Paul, it better be cheap enough that I can afford to have a clear gloss sprayed on it.

 

[Blues scale]

My Faded is due to arrive tomorrow.

I like the satin feel and don’t think of it as unfinished, just different. I also like the idea of owning what is effectively a special edition. I’ll always be able to get a glossy LP if I want.

But the main reasons were that I tried it in the store, it played perfectly, and I got a good price.

 

[Christosterone]

It’s a Gibson Les Paul Standard….faded or otherwise kicks ass

i personally like shiny things but my faded sg is the meanest looking guitar I’ve ever owned…

-chris

 

[Blue Blood]

Are the faded ones grain filled properly?
A satin finish can be buffed to glossy normally, but no grain fill then nah

 

[Christosterone]

Are the faded ones grain filled properly?
A satin finish can be buffed to glossy normally, but no grain fill then nah

les paul standard faded is pore filled
but is more flat than satin imho

-chris

 

[InTheEvening]

Regular for me, I feel like the flame pops more with a gloss finish and I prefer that over the look of the faded. The $300 discount isn’t big enough for me to choose a faded model over a full gloss. BUT, I do like how the necks feel on a faded or satin finish, the full gloss can get sticky.

 

[K Dub]

I am biased, as I already own a Standard 60's in Unburst. Also the back of the Faded is a natural Mahogany as opposed to the red dyed Mahogany of the Unburst.

 

[Christosterone]

I am biased, as I already own a Standard 60's in Unburst. Also the back of the Faded is a natural Mahogany as opposed to the red dyed Mahogany of the Unburst. View attachment 666602

that thing is gorgeous
Love unbursts

-chris

 

[BDW60]

Which and why?

I might be inclined to give a honeyburst Faded a go - my real issue is that many of the tops are in some cringy middle ground between very weak flame and non descript plain. There are far better plain tops on Tributes at half the price.

I love an interesting plain top … just not seeing many on the Fadeds.

 

[BadPenguin]

My answer to questions like this is simple: What plays and sounds better?

 

[rjwilson37]

The Unburst if you find a nice top is just super sweet. I love the faded more, but not the cherry burst, I wish they reversed it and had the 50's with the Cherry Burst and the 60's in the Vintage Honey Burst.

 

[Christosterone]

Here’s my problem….
i love them all….been eyeing antique bursts too which are kinda unbursty

the problem is I need around a zillion dollars to get all the guitars I want…

so I’ll go back to saving literal dollars and cents in my quest to own an es custom of some sort

here’s to all the NGD posts in 2023…I wont be joining the ngd club in 2023…but chasing is 90% of the fun…

plus I have a bunch of chinese crap unfinished bodies to play with…
thank u eBay and ambien

-chris

 

[01GT Eibach]

I also vote gloss ... even though there is a theory out there that satin resonates better -- and there very well may be something to it. They are both great in the end, but get the gloss if all other things are equal.

 

[DaveSG]

I'm going to say gloss as well. I would have voted faded if it was at a more affordable price, but its as much as a Standard was less than 2 years ago.

 

[Blues scale]

I'm going to say gloss as well. I would have voted faded if it was at a more affordable price, but its as much as a Standard was less than 2 years ago.

I agree that trying to save a couple of hundred dollars isn’t a good enough standalone reason to buy a Faded.

But comparing prices to two years ago is a mistake imo. Does anyone expect prices to come down? If not, the ship has sailed.

 

[Peter M]

I prefer the traditional glossy finish - however I do like the "faded"... which is merely a satin finish, as a change of pace.

 

[K Dub]

Faded does not include pickup covers and pickguard.