Californiaman Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 I know there has been many reincarnations of this iconic guitar. What I need to know is what's the difference? I found a 1982 Custom Black Beauty that I like. What's the difference between that and say the newer incarnation? I read somewhere that the '82 had a maple cap whereas the 09 or 08 doesn't. Need help here fellows. As much information on the Black Beauty as possible so as to make an informed buying decision. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AXE® Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 There are too many variables with the B/B. They have changed specs at will since the conception of the beast. I'm sure DAS44 will chime in soon with the answers... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAS44 Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 I'll look it up... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAS44 Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 According to sweetwater The Gibson Custom Les Paul Custom 1957 Black Beauty : the body is all mahogany they "recreated the CTS pots and bumblebee caps" for the 57 early 50s neck profile I hope that's the model you were thinkin of.... only one I could find on sweetwater Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dem00n Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 I'll look it up... Well the pickups changed, the ones they put now arent better then the ones before the 90's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AXE® Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 Well the pickups changed' date=' the ones they put now arent better then the ones before the 90's. [/quote']Which ones were before the P-90's? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeoConMan Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 Got my eye on one with a Bigsby, made in 2002. Mahogany top, since it's actually a 57 reissue. Where's AreNine when ya need him? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
six-string Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 you mean like this one? its a 2007 Black Beauty 3 pickup 57 VOS reissue. with Bigsby. all mahogany body. ebony fretboard. its heavy but it has a tone you can't get with anything else. interesting to note that a lot of the classic Stones and Zeppelin recordings (68-72) were done with this model of guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeoConMan Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 Yeah, like that beauty you have but without the whole VOS thing. It's aging the natural way, gold hardware beginning to look ever so slightly like sh!t. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
six-string Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 funny thing about the VOS stuff i've found is that my sweat gets on the guitar and i wipe it down after playing and the guitar finish gets glossier as time goes by. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAS44 Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 WHOA!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Californiaman Posted October 3, 2009 Author Share Posted October 3, 2009 The one I played Wednesday was the two pickup model and I believe it was a '57, but not sure. I'm going to have to look at it again and get some more information on it. Maybe I'll call them now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveinspain Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 Hey CA.... I think the 82 might have a sandwich body. Over time you can see a line going around the whole body of the guitar where the two slabs of wood were glued together... I would suggest which ever carnation you get make sure it's a one piece body.... I love my 07 BB... It weighs a ton, one of the heaviest guitar I own but It plays like a dream.... If you do a Ebay search for Gibson Les Paul Black Beauty or Gibson Les Paul Custom you will find many listings. I'm not saying to buy on Ebay as I am sure you are a hands on play it first type of guy but you will see many versions with all the details listed of each one. That will help you find the year and exact model you want. Did you see any at TrueTone while you were there? One thing, it might be worth your while to look at a couple early seventies models. A 70 or a 71 in good condition is a good investment might cost you a bit more than an early 80's model. I think the early 80's they were doing the protector case, a molded plastic chainsaw looking case. Early 70's they were doing the very cool purple velvet lined regular case... My 07 Black Custom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAS44 Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 make that a florentine and you got me my dream guitar Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruznolfart Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 make that a florentine and you got me my dream guitar Dave Think about that, though, Dom. The main point BB pickers all make is what? It's freakin' HEAVY...AND it has killer tone. What's the attraction of the Florentine semi? The light weight. :- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAS44 Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 Think about that' date=' though, Dom. The main point BB pickers all make is what? It's freakin' HEAVY...AND it has killer tone. What's the attraction of the Florentine semi? The light weight. :- [/quote']lol of course my dream guitar will change to somethin else ridiculously expensive in about a week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Plains Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 Hey CA.... I think the 82 might have a sandwich body. Over time you can see a line going around the whole body of the guitar where the two slabs of wood were glued together... I would suggest which ever carnation you get make sure it's a one piece body.... Pancake bodies ended around 5 years earlier...and it's kind of hard to see through the black paint. :- Speaking of which, there's no guarantee yours (or mine) has a one-piece body. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfpup Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 I miss mine <----------- Though I never thought of it as a Black Beauty since it was a 2 pickup Custom (though it did have the gold hardware). I always thought BB meant the 3 pup version. Anyone? Anyone? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruznolfart Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 I miss mine <----------- Though I never thought of it as a Black Beauty since it was a 2 pickup Custom (though it did have the gold hardware). I always thought BB meant the 3 pup version. Anyone? Anyone? The 3 pup comes to mind for me when I hear BB. OTOH I just saw a CL listing for a DC standard that the owner called a BB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveinspain Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 Pancake bodies ended around 5 years earlier...and it's kind of hard to see through the black paint. Speaking of which' date=' there's no guarantee yours (or mine) has a one-piece body.[/quote'] I wasn't sure on the dates of the pancake body Tim, as I stated... I have seen BBs with the line going around the body and it aint pretty.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeoConMan Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 I have seen BBs with the line going around the body and it aint pretty.... Yeah, I've seen that too. Doesn't bother me really as long as it's painted, the whole pancake body thing. Now the natural finish that displays an awfully unmatched glue joint is different! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeVeeWee Posted October 4, 2009 Share Posted October 4, 2009 you mean like this one?its a 2007 Black Beauty 3 pickup 57 VOS reissue. with Bigsby. all mahogany body. ebony fretboard. its heavy but it has a tone you can't get with anything else. interesting to note that a lot of the classic Stones and Zeppelin recordings (68-72) were done with this model of guitar. Damn what a nice guitar!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeVeeWee Posted October 4, 2009 Share Posted October 4, 2009 Hey CA.... I think the 82 might have a sandwich body. Over time you can see a line going around the whole body of the guitar where the two slabs of wood were glued together... I would suggest which ever carnation you get make sure it's a one piece body.... I love my 07 BB... It weighs a ton' date=' one of the heaviest guitar I own but It plays like a dream.... If you do a Ebay search for Gibson Les Paul Black Beauty or Gibson Les Paul Custom you will find many listings. I'm not saying to buy on Ebay as I am sure you are a hands on play it first type of guy but you will see many versions with all the details listed of each one. That will help you find the year and exact model you want. Did you see any at TrueTone while you were there? One thing, it might be worth your while to look at a couple early seventies models. A 70 or a 71 in good condition is a good investment might cost you a bit more than an early 80's model. I think the early 80's they were doing the protector case, a molded plastic chainsaw looking case. Early 70's they were doing the very cool purple velvet lined regular case... My 07 Black Custom [img']http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd71/Daveinspain_PB/DSC02126.jpg[/img] Dave, I've never noticed you had a black beauty in your collection, ..........read this now in your signature(there signatures are great for, Jocko are your reading this?) Gorgeous guitar man, did you buy that in Spain or anywhere else in Europe? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Californiaman Posted October 4, 2009 Author Share Posted October 4, 2009 The Black Beauty True Tone Music has is a new '57 VOS. It has a Bigsby and played nice. I certainly liked the tone and the feel of the neck was comfortable in my hands. It was a VOS though. I like the gloss. I'd prefer to create my own VOS mojo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guitarfreak16 Posted October 4, 2009 Share Posted October 4, 2009 niiiiiiiiiiiice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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