Gibson Les Paul Standard Review – Are the New Changes Worth It?
The Gibson Les Paul is a part of music history, to say the least. Ever since the 1950′s, the Les Paul has been noted for its recognizable shape and the potent, thick sound. Through the years, however, numerous items (from the neck specifications to the pickups) have varied.
In 2008, Gibson introduced a Gibson Les Paul Standard that contained more than its fair share of alterations, some welcome and some not. Let’s take a look at these alterations.
There are numerous revisions to note, including a TonePros locking bridge and tailpiece, chambered body, Neutrik locking output jack, asymmetrical neck, Bourns pots, Grover Locking Tuners, Dunlop Strap Locks, and a Plek’d setup. Possibly the most apparent change, if you’re even remotely familiar with Les Pauls, is that the new Standard is much lighter, likely due to the chambered body.
We didn’t discover any want in tone due to the chambered body, and played acoustically, the Les Paul Standard had a balanced, deep tone. If you’ve ever gigged with a Les Paul for any extended period of time, you’ll prize the lighter weight.
We were pleased to see some of the hardware upgrades, especially the TonePros bridge and tailpiece. Likewise, the Plek’d setup resulted in a really playable and outstanding sounding guitar literally out of the box.
As you might expect, we did have to adjust the truss rod, but that’s common fare for a guitar delivered by UPS (or any carrier for that matter). Even without the truss rod tweak, we could’ve easily taken this instrument to a gig and played with nary a problem.
The finish was really lovely. Having opted for the flamed top in Heritage Cherry Sunburst, we tried to find some issues with the finish, but none could be discovered. We were also glad that they didn’t obscure this stunning top with the pickguard, but it’s included if you want it installed.
The neck profile has also undergone a transformation. It now has an asymmetrical profile, which is thicker on the bass side and thinner on the treble. Though it sounds a bit odd, the end result is a good one: increased playability.
Another way to look at it is as a hybrid of the 50′s and 60′s style neck. In addition to the enhanced neck profile, the fretwork was remarkable, especially for a mass-production guitar.
Since the Gibson/Marshall combo is so time-honored, I resolved to test the new Gibson Les Paul Standard with a JCM 800 half-stack. While it’s decidedly hip, the chambered body does add something of a 335-type sound to the mix. It may or may not be your cup o’ tea.
The Burstbucker pickups seemed to be a pretty good fit, since they are aggressive and dark by nature. There are unquestionably some classic Les Paul tones to be found here, though the chambered body/Burstbucker combination has its own particular flavor. To each his own. We liked them.
For all the beneficial modifications in the new Les Paul Standards, there are a few changes that we just didn’t get. For starters, we’ve never been a fan of locking input jacks. Granted, Neutrik jacks are as high quality as you can get, but that’s not the point. It’s more of a nuisance than a help, and we wish they hadn’t assumed all guitar players would want such a “convenience.”
Even worse are the control pots (volume and tone), which are all mounted on a PCB board. In fact, all the electronics (pickups, selector switch, and jack) are connected to this board. In some ways it’s cool, but it could make the once-simple act of changing a pickup much more complicated. We’d pass on the PCB, if left to us.
Despite these niggles, we found the new Les Paul Standard to be worthy of the name. If the modifications seem a bit too much for you, then Gibson has released a model called the “Les Paul Traditional” which is just a Les Paul Standard without the new changes. If you’re more of a traditionalist, then the Les Paul Traditional might be more your speed. Regardless of your preference, there’s a Les Paul for everyone in Gibson’s guitar lineup.
If you are searching for the absolute cheapest price on a new or used Gibson Les Paul Standard, then you need to visit Ray’s Guitar Shop, which offers the lowest prices on all used and new guitars. It doesn’t matter if you’re searching for a Fender Telecaster, an Epiphone Casino, or a PRS Custom 22, Ray’s Guitar Shop has what you’re searching for!
Tags: electric guitars, guitars, Music, musical instruments
