mdme_sadie Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 Well, I finally broke down and got myself a Les Paul... strangely enough not one that I wanted (by looks or type), but once I played it I just knew I had to have it. Here is the as yet un-named lass, 2008 LP Standard Rootbeer top (look a bit wine redish here, but it's more brown in real life), 60's tapered neck burstbucker pros, scratchplate still not installed - Now I do have some really serious bones to pick though (so apologies in advance for the following rant) especially with Gibson quality control, firstly - Bookmatched A, AA or AAA my *** (whatever it's meant to be this is not A or above grade flamed maple), those pieces clearly don't fit together in any way shape or form, in fact I'm pretty sure that the right side is upside down or back to front! This is a $2300 guitar for crying out loud... and Rootbeer? Flaming Turd color more like, it's like a cheap walnut sideboard, mix your lacquers a little better please. And then onto the final and worst damnation of the lot, if I could have found another Les Paul with a better finish and as good playability, tone and sustain anywhere in the North Bay Area including custom shop guitars, 50's style, 60's style, lp+ lopsided style next, goldtops, cherry bursts, honey bursts, standards, studios... I would have got it, but no - instead the best playing, sounding and sustaining Les Paul I've ever tried and it's finish is a wreck for the sake of a little more care, it makes me weep, it really does. Gibson, please, you have the potential to make virtually perfect guitars consistently, but you don't and considering the price charged that's not really acceptable, it shouldn't be a random pot luck dance that gives you one or two awesome guitars from 49 OK guitars and 49 firewoods - get it together! So after all that you're wondering... ok so you don't even like this guitar why did you buy it? Well, three things firstly the playability is just outsdanging for a LP for me, it shouldn't but it does actually feel faster and smoother than the other 60's, 50's and new lp+ style necks I tried and the setup was great from the go, no fretbuzz anywhere, intonation good, tuning solid. In fact it played so good that at points I felt it was nearly playing itself, more complex patterns that I'm used to having to struggle over just flew off the fretboard with an additional musicality I wasn't expecting from my own kermudgeonly fingers, I've never had a guitar play itself before. Secondly sustain, this thing just does what a LP should do which is sustain for miles, again even the true solid custom shop LP's I tried somehow couldn't quite manage to compete, at this point of course I think I'm loosing it as more density should mean greater sustain. Third, tone, this guitar has harmonic richness that just speaks to me, it has bright clarity as well as that dark LP warmth that... well that you use a LP for in the first place, it sounds complex after playing my other axes (and the other LP's that I tried out there) and all this on 9's too! I can't wait to hear what it's like once I put some heavier gauge strings on there (though as it plays so good right now and sounds so good I'm tempted to keep it with 9's even though it goes against my better judgement of tone). So despite my not so happy Gibson LP (lack of) Quality Control experience I'm still giddy as a kid to have this awesome guitar (if only it looked as awesome as it sounds, but I'll sacrifice nearly anything for tone and playability). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlekenny Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 Dont worry about the looks, as long as it sounds/plays/feels good then I'd be happy. I think it actually looks pretty good, the finish and the flame. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolff Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 +1 on the 60's neck. I can't live without 'em. Welcome to the forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveinspain Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 Hmmm, don't know what your so upset about... Looks absolutely beautiful to me... Anyway welcome to the forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xdamerx Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 I have to say it's beautiful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flight959 Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 Nice guitar friend.. Did they state the guitar was book matched... It's clearly not.. Remember you rant may expand if you change to a heavier guage... I love the 60's neck too...Got one on my Goddess... Flight959 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluemoon Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 Hey, I think the guitar looks awesome. I really like the color. So it is the old-style 2008 standard, right. Good choice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeRom Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 That is a fabulous color, and it's sorta book matched (near the bottom). Looks like a strange piece of wood but I like it! Congrats, she's gorgeous. Enjoy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AS90 Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 I think its cool, is it just me or does pic 2 make it look like its a miniature LP in a dolls house? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flight959 Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 I think its cool' date=' is it just me or does pic 2 make it look like its a miniature LP in a dolls house?[/quote'] I thought the same thing! Strange picture indeed.. Flight959 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UnGauGeD Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 Strange picture indeed. But I guess it's just great photography skills! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChanMan Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 I chalked it up to GREAT photography, myself! Welcome to the Forum and gratz the new LP... I think it's gorgeous, as well. Sad that you found such a great guitar, and yet need to complain about the cosmetics, though. Just a bit of wisdom: if you never play an ugly guitar, you'll never own an ugly guitar....( but better than buying a beauty and it playing like crap!!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdme_sadie Posted October 6, 2008 Author Share Posted October 6, 2008 Thanks guys, it has to be said that the color isn't like the photos in real life, in the photos there's a lot more red, in reality it's really much closer to a walnut brown with no real red to it at all (not sure why it keeps coming out red in the photos). I am glad to have this guitar, but it's just a shame that the maple is so flakey, there's parts of okish though very wide flame and then large areas with no flame at all, it's definitely not AA grade (that they claim on the website) or even A grade quite regardless of the lack of bookmatching Gibson should be ashamed of this sort of workmanship. On the photo DOF that's Photoshop rather than straight photography, I don't have a macro lens capable of shooting from that distance, I just wanted to fade out the background a bit so the focus could be on the guitar. I'll see if i can try and get some photos that actually show the color, I'm still not sure if i should add the scratchplate either... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Plains Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 I'm usually pretty nice to people here on the forums. Firstly, welcome to the forum. Secondly, shut the h*ll up. You have a great looking Les Paul and from your own account, a great player...yet, all you've done is b*tch about how its top isn't perfect. It has less red and looks more like walnut in real life, you say? Have you ever seen a Walnut SG? Those are absolutely killer!! That's one of the nicer looking tops I've seen around here in a while and if you don't like it, send it up here to Ontario and I'll give it a good home. ...and yes AS90, it does look like a toy shot in the second picture. I actually saved that shot 'cause it's kind of cute. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeadCase Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 There's nothing wrong w/ that guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silverbursted Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 She is a beaut. Personally I love that shot, great bocca. What kind of camera are you using? Congrats, I know you will enjoy her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GuitarJunkie Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 Firstly' date=' welcome to the forum.Secondly, shut the h*ll up. You have a great looking Les Paul... That's one of the nicer looking tops I've seen around here in a while and if you don't like it, send it up here to Ontario and I'll give it a good home.[/quote'] She'd probably hate this one too, since the grain runs two different ways, the flame doesn't go all the way across, the two sides don't match, etc... You have a fantastic looking guitar. In fact, it's pretty much what I look for in a top. I like my wood to have a little character. If you're sending it to Ontario, sent it my way instead. Tim already has more LP than he can handle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flight959 Posted October 7, 2008 Share Posted October 7, 2008 Take the guitar outside (during the day), turn the flash off then take a picture.... Then you will have your true colour... Flight959 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluemoon Posted October 7, 2008 Share Posted October 7, 2008 I'm usually pretty nice to people here on the forums. Firstly' date=' welcome to the forum. Secondly, shut the h*ll up. You have a great looking Les Paul and from your own account, a great player...yet, all you've done is b*tch about how its top isn't perfect. It has less red and looks more like walnut in real life, you say? Have you ever seen a Walnut SG? Those are absolutely killer!! That's one of the nicer looking tops I've seen around here in a while and if you don't like it, send it up here to Ontario and I'll give it a good home. ...and yes AS90, it does look like a toy shot in the second picture. I actually saved that shot 'cause it's kind of cute. ^_^[/quote'] Tim, be nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlekenny Posted October 7, 2008 Share Posted October 7, 2008 Junkie, that classic is f'n beautiful Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GuitarJunkie Posted October 7, 2008 Share Posted October 7, 2008 Junkie' date=' that classic is f'n beautiful[/quote']Thanks. It plays and sounds great, but I think it's pretty ugly... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wild_Rose Posted October 8, 2008 Share Posted October 8, 2008 WOW, she's absolutely gorgeous!!! congrats!!!! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cajunman831 Posted October 8, 2008 Share Posted October 8, 2008 freaking gorgeous color man.i want it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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