Tell me about the 2018s...

[burstone]

Some 2018s that got posted recently in various threads and seen elsewhere have caught my eye. I like the paints on the flametops as well as on the goldtops. How are they as les pauls? Some good, some not so good just like any other year? I haven't tried any newer ones since 2013, which I didn't like as much as the older ones (2009 and older), so didn't bother checking them out since then. What have your experiences been? Post the pics if you got some. Thanks.

 

[1allspub]

Like any year there will be good ones and bad ones. I am very happy with my 2018 R8. It was very good from the factory, but even better with a new ThroBak harness and some Brandonwound 59 clone PAFs.

 

[Duane_the_tub]

My '18 R9 is the best of all the Historics I've owned (including my R8, which has been called the best by several of its former owners). Looks amazing, plays and sounds even better.

I've played a few other '18s that were also very good. I just think it's "one of those years," for whatever reason.

 

[mjross]

I‘m not sure why but my 2018 CME Spec R8 Plain Top is probably my best Les Paul! Please don’t tell the others

.

 

[strat1701]

I agree the '18's are really good. My personal view is, I feel that sub 2010 with all the changes that Gibson put in the historics since this time, even at bargain pricing I can't see myself buying a historic from that time, ONLY BECAUSE the market is flooded with historics from 2013+ which have all the more historically accurate appointments the previous ones don't. I don't mean that they're not great guitars (sub 2013 historics) but the purist in me kinda goes /meh' when I realize they aren't as accurate as the tons of one out there are. For instance I have a 2011 but it's a case queen. It was my fist historic. But, it rarely gets playtime. It's my 18 and 16 CC model that get the most playtime. Before I got rid of my 19 that was my go to player for the most part after getting it. I'd personally put the 19's ever so slightly ahead of the 18 but that's just probably my 18 vs 19 guitar speaking.

 

[guitaroholic]

Some 2018s that got posted recently in various threads and seen elsewhere have caught my eye. I like the paints on the flametops as well as on the goldtops. How are they as les pauls? Some good, some not so good just like any other year? I haven't tried any newer ones since 2013, which I didn't like as much as the older ones (2009 and older), so didn't bother checking them out since then. What have your experiences been? Post the pics if you got some. Thanks.

I look at it this way...

2018 is the 59th Anniversary of the '59 Les Paul.

There'll be plenty of 10s and 5s anniversaries, but only one 59th.

I was checking out a 2014 back then and didn't like the neck. The neck changed in 2018. I like it.
Plus, the pickups were still potted I believe, which I actually prefer. Screw historic accuracy on that one (IMO). And on the other hand 2018 adopted all the 'True Historic' specs for those who care.

 

[NightShift88]

My R8 (avatar) is a 2018, it’s a stunner in every way!