Advice Re: New 2007 LP Standard and Traditional

[Mr. Robot]

In my search for a Lester, the shop I went into yesterday has heaps of new guitars that are old stock.

 

So, he had good deals on;

 

2007 Standards with 50's neck profile (Note no "standard" on truss rod cover)

2007 Traditionals

 

I am interested in any views on either guitar.

 

The interesting thing was, the weight difference between the Trad and Standard was massive and off-putting. The guy told me the Traditional was not weight relieved. It felt it, but I thought they were RL. Perhaps only on the 2008 model? (he didnt have an 08 Trad to compare with).

 

I've checked the 2008 model comparison and the weight difference between the two seems marginal.

 

Any advice appreciated guys, as always.

[Tim Plains]

This topic has been beaten to death.

Here read this: http://forums.gibson.com/Default.aspx?g=posts&t=18137

 

Traditionals are weight-relieved. I don't think there's such a thing as a 2007 Traditional.

Honestly, some people don't know what they're talking about and still believe that all LPs that aren't chambered are solid.

From the early '80s 'til 2006, the Standard was weight-relieved. Then in 2007, Gibson introduced chambering and chambered the Standard. In 2008, Gibson released the Traditional, which is exactly the same guitar as the pre-07 Standard. The only differences are the Traditional has '57 Classics and the benefit of being pleked.

 

Views on either guitar. They're both great. You played them, didn't you? What did you think of them?

[Mr. Robot]

Yeah I apologise if this is tiresome. But what I was really fishing for was comments on the quality of both 2007 models and how they differ from 2008.

 

Also, a recent review on both 2008 models had the weight differences as marginal. The weight difference I experienced yesterday between the 2007 models for both was considerable.

[Tim Plains]

Quality, in terms of finish & fret work should be the same on both guitars.

A Standard won't be higher quality than a Traditional and vice versa.

They're both Gibson USA. You're getting a Gibson USA guitar with Gibson USA QC, Gibson USA fretwork, etc.

 

Chambered guitars are lighter because, obviously, the guitar has been gutted...but if Gibson is using heavier & heavier slabs of mahogany for the body, even the chambered ones will become heavier.

 

Are you sure you didn't play two 2007 Standards? Again, I don't think there's such a thing as a 2007 Traditional.

Actually, I'm sure of it.

[Mr. Robot]

Thanks R9. I will chase all this up. That is a great explanation and certainly explains the 2007 Standard that I played.

 

I definitely played a Standard and a Traditional, so perhaps it must have been an 08 Traditional (the Standard was definitely pre 2008 - no snaplocks and standard input etc.)

 

Perhaps I just stuck a really heavy Traditional. I'll also chase up a review I have at home by Guitarist Magazine which compares the two 08 models and includes their comparative weight. The Gibson site does not include weight specs.

Thanks again.

[Bluemoon]

Quality' date=' in terms of finish & fret work should be the same on both guitars.

A Standard won't be higher quality than a Traditional and vice versa.

They're both Gibson USA. You're getting a Gibson USA guitar with Gibson USA QC, Gibson USA fretwork, etc.

 

Chambered guitars are lighter because, obviously, the guitar has been gutted...but if Gibson is using heavier & heavier slabs of mahogany for the body, even the chambered ones will become heavier.

 

Are you sure you didn't play two 2007 Standards? Again, I don't think there's such a thing as a 2007 Traditional.

Actually, I'm sure of it.[/quote']

 

Traditionals came out mid 2008.

[Bluemoon]

Thanks R9. I will chase all this up. That is a great explanation and certainly explains the 2007 Standard that I played.

 

I definitely played a Standard and a Traditional' date=' so perhaps it must have been an 08 Traditional (the Standard was definitely pre 2008 - no snaplocks and standard input etc.)

 

Perhaps I just stuck a really heavy Traditional. I'll also chase up a review I have at home by Guitarist Magazine which compares the two 08 models and includes their comparative weight. The Gibson site does not include weight specs.

Thanks again.[/quote']

 

 

When you find the article, post the results of their test.

[Mr. Robot]

As Promised:

 

Guitarist Magazine road tested and compared the Traditional with the 08 Standard.

 

Its weight comparison was as follows:

 

Traditional: 4.3 kg (9.5 lb)

Standard: 4.1 kg (9 lb)

 

So, doesnt sound like much of a weight difference.

 

By the way, they gave both guitars are real good rap, with the Standard marginally ahead only because the sample they had had marginally better build quality, particularly the fret finish. Sounds like more of a set up issue.

 

On the broader issues, they thought the 08 Standard was moving into a more 'boutique' area, whatever that means and that the tone was actually closer to the original 50's LPs than the Traditional. All subjective of course.

 

The main differences were pickups, neck profile and to a degree, weight.

[TattooedCarrot]

Traditionals are weight relieved. They are not chambered.

 

All the production models since the 80's have been weight relieved, until they started chambering in 2007.