LP Standard vs Traditional? (Page 1 of 2)

Woo boy, for the price of a new LP Standard I would MUCH rather have a used Custom Shop '57 or '58 RI.  I'm not dogging Gibson, but I had a very hard time finding a magical Les Paul in their standard USA line.  There were some good ones, some average ones, and some absolute lemons.  When I started picking up some custom shop stuff mojo was there for almost every guitar...no lie.  They are much more consistant and better built.  Used '57s and '58s can be had for between $2400--$2600 used at places like The Gear Page or Craigslist.

That said, the now discontinued Les Paul Classics can be great guitars.  I have stumbled across numerous examples that look the part, sound the part, and would only put you back like $1200.  Again you'd have to play a few to find a magic one, but they do exist.  Older the better for most USA Gibsons IMO because some of these new guitars feel like Les Paul shaped eggshells.  They are so light and fragile feeling without any of the sustain and harmonics of the older solid guitars.  YMMV this has just been my experience.  When I was in the market for one it took me over a year to find the right one at the right price so be patient.  Everyone who plays my '58 comments on how insane it sounds.  I guess it doesn't really matter which model you get as long as the guitar speaks to you.  Unfortunately for me I have extremely discriminating tastes. 

I must have tried two dozen LPs last year before deciding on my Traditional.  Before I found this one specific guitar I would have swore up and down that I wanted a thinner 60s neck, but the neck on the Traditional felt great.  It doesn't seem quite as beefy as some of the reissues, but it's still thick.  I like the 57 classics, too  The bridge 57 sounded just a bit more raw to my ears than the burstbuckers, without getting too metal-ish.  The neck 57 is really round and smooth with just the right amount of bite.  I found huge variance between different LPs, to be honest, even within the same model.  I can't disagree with stratpaulguy86's advice to check out some used ones, though.  The overall thing though is to make you you find the guitar that feels and sounds right to you, and keep your mind open.  I didn't even think about getting a Traditional until I happened to try one on a whim, and I fell in love.

You might also consider some of the "off" models.  I originally wanted a Faded Standard.  They were significantly cheaper than Standards/Traditionals.  The finish looked a little bit weird, but man, it played great.

I picked up some Big Bends Nut Sauce and it's definitely helped my tuning stability.  Worth a shot for about $10.

Thanks guys - I have read many favourable reviews about the Traditional. I may have to seriously consider it as I can't afford a new VOS and the wife is convinced that I buy new (due to technical issues I've had with used amps in the past).I wanted a 'burst but then played a Goldtop that sounded HUGE unplugged. Will a Standard be worth more down the road? Will the Traditional models be of less value?

Thanks man - great advice. I will wait until THE ONE appears. I will search everywhere. I must not let my emotions get the best of me. I am such an impulsive buyer that I once popped into a guitar store for picks (car running, wife inside) on the way to a gig and walked out with a $1500 strat - true story. My dream guitar is a '57 VOS Goldtop Dark back model. Maybe I will hold off, sell the Studio or Bluesbreaker and do it right.

I'm digging my dads LP Traditional pro.  I tried out LP Traditionals but for $200-$400 less you can get a pro with a 60's slim tapper neck and coil tap pickups.  The pickups are hotter Burstbucker 3 and a 57' Classic plus in the neck so you get a great difference between two of Gibson's top pickups.  Last I like the option of buying a pain top.  Yeah VOS guys will always say the cream of the crop is that 59' reissue due to the flame top and neck but give me a pain top.  Everyone looks different and check out how much you save with not getting flames.  I've yet to see a plain top that I thought looked ugly, how many flame tops have we seen that don't have much flames or mismatched flames?  You won't get that with a plain top or Gold top or Ebony.  Thats the kind of guy I am the plain Janes type. 

I would save for your dream guitar. I bought my 58 RI for 2650.  It was a steal considering thats what the standards are going for. DONT get tempted to buy a cheaper Les Paul because in the back of your head you will always want that other guitar and you may end up trying to buy pedals and amps to get a tone that you think the other guitar would sound like.

Its a vicious expensive cycle.  If you save 400 dollars on a traditional you'll spend a thousand on pedals and amps to try to make that guitar as much like your dream guitar as you can.

GO BUY A USED GIBSON 57 Reissue darkback.  Be careful who you buy it from.  Be smart. And go pick it up. I drove from Western MD to New York City to pick up my 58 RI.  I inspected it before I payed and drove it hope safe.

And I am not saying not to trust Gibson standards or Traditionals. They are all amazing Les Pauls. If you want that guitar then buy one.  But if you really want a 57 go get that.

Save up and buy the guitar that you truly want, because you will have it for the rest of your life. Do yourself a favor and buy yourself a vos historic les paul.