Vintage LP v New LP (Page 1 of 2)

Huge huge argument here, and it depends who you ask.

Do they make a faithful recreation of the '59 burst? Most say it comes close, but no. Now those guitars (1959) are worth close to a million dollars, so for the price you pay, I would argue that is the closest you'll ever get to the vintage one.

So that's the stereotypical argument. Now for my opinion. 

I like my LP's used and broken in. New ones are harder on my hands and the edges are sort of "hard" and not rounded as well as used ones. THAT SAID, people "poo-poo" on LP's from the 1970's-1980's productions. I simply LOVE my 1973 Black Custom. It has a small neck on it, and it was great for when I started playing. I thought the 90's ones were good. But the current line people have been ragging on again.

I think the bottom line is you get what you pay for. Just make sure you like what you "feel" and "hear" if it drops your jaw, and you can afford it, the price doesn't matter. If I was in the market for a LP, I'd look at BOTH new and used ones... you don't want to pass up "the one" for you.

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping.

Current Historic series Les Pauls are some of the best instruments they've ever produced.

Lets not forget that amongst those $500,000 58'/59'/60's LP's there are most definitely some tone turds.  Look at the ones that have changed hands more than a few times.  There are more magic ones than tone turds, of that I'm sure.  But there's dogs in every run, of that I'm sure as well.  The real appeal is the lack of numbers available, and like any collectable item supply vs demand will drive that price.  The million dollar examples quoted by and large are LP's that have been owned by superstars.  I had a chance to play a real 58' and a 59' back to back.  The 58' was just sort of meh in all aspects (blasphemy but my R0 was a better player and sounding guitar all the way around..) The 59' on the other hand was scary good - in that moment I got it 

So, if you've got the real big bucks- buy vintage.  If real World bucks buy a current Historic reissue...or one of the underground replicas that are out there ala Max.

Ahh this debate.... Well I have played a lot of les pauls, about 30 to 40 before I bought last year a new Les Paul Traditional Plus its an 09 and hands down one of the best guitars I have ever played. I owned a 91 Studio Les Paul for almost 10 years and it was a great guitar but the Traditional kills it. I have played custom shop guitars and Les Paul Customs. All the Custom shop guitars where amazing, I just couldn't afford one and the difference to me wasn't worth the extra $$$ For years I wanted a Les Paul Custom, I have played a few and those guitars are amazing but I got to say my Traditional has as much tone and mojo as they do.

But really each guitar is different, I played my brother in laws 76 custom it was amazing, I played an 80 custom it was amazing I played an 83 custom and it was a total dog. I played some Traditional pros that I thought where total dogs and some that where amazing, each guitar is different so make sure you play as many as you can. Also I think weight has something to do with it, I didn't like the sound on any guitars that weighted less than 9 pounds and anything that weighed over 10 pounds also sound dead to me as well.

Yes:

Traditionals and the Traditional (Plus - the plus model is just a flame top) have Classic 57 and Classic 57+ and a 50's- 60's profile neck, Swiss cheese weight relieved body

Traditional Pro has Burstbuckers and a Classic 57 not sure the positions are and a regular top, the Pro also has a 60's neck profile and push pull knobs for  spliting the coils and is a guitar center exclusive guitar.Swiss cheese weight relieved body

Customs usually have 60's necks and different pickups, old ones have the T480 or something, I think the new ones have burstbuckers but I am not 100%sure. Not sure on the body

Historic Reissue or (Custom shop as I call them) Have different neck profiles based on the year the reissue is modeled after, and I think they have Classic 57's but I am not sure, someone that owns one could chime in, Not sure on the body.

New Standards have new necks that are semitrical or tear shapped so fatter at the top lower strings and thinner at the bottom high strings, these have chambered bodies and are lighter, I think they have burstbuckers and coil splitters in them.

Right... the right anything will take some time.

Heritage guitars are really nice and I may get one in the future there 535 which I think is a Gibson 335 is amazing, I let one slip through my fingers because I didn't have the money I regret it so much!

Bingo!

    They make a great $1,000.00 Guitar.

    The only problem, is that they charge $6,000.00 for it! 

I actually just spent the past few months looking for the right LP.
Truthfully no matter what they say no LP even a reissue will ever be the same as the originals.
WHy?
Different wood and time.
The woods that they use today are of a different caliber.
The way you imagine a vintage 59 to play and sound , you will never find one to sound like that now.
You can't recreate 50 years of playing. It's like the old saying goes "nothing beats experience"

You definitely get what you paid for. My new LP i am totally in love with and it is the most professional quality instrument I have ever had the pleasure of owning.
I wouldn't mind a vintage one but I dont have that much money.
The only instrument that I would be willing to go into serious debt for is that Billy Gibbons "Pearly Gates"