Topic: Real '59 vs Reissue '59 VOS Les Paul

Here's a pretty cool set of videos showing a couple of guys playing a geniune '59, then playing a reissue '59. Same song, same amp.

Which do you like better?

http://www1.gitarrebass.de/magazine/ind … =200803270

2 (edited by NPB_EST.1979 2008-06-06 16:08:34)

Re: Real '59 vs Reissue '59 VOS Les Paul

the VOS seemed to have more "drive" or "attack" or "gain" just something that made it sound dirtier. The actual was creamier and smoother.  In a pinch, I'd probably go for the VOS. IMmfHO


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Re: Real '59 vs Reissue '59 VOS Les Paul

Yes indees, the real 59 seems a tad warmer sounding. But the VOS is very close!!
That brings me back to the question why people pay 500.000$ (is that enough..?) for a real '59 LP to put it as collectors item into a safe? Or 25.000$ for pre CBS strat. Thats insane. To me, I always would go for the VOS. I have a '57 VOS Goldtop LP from 2003 which I love to bits. It has such a warm sweet tone and plays like a dream. No wish to buy a real one so I can keep my half million bucks...:D

Alex

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Re: Real '59 vs Reissue '59 VOS Les Paul

I would most certainly go with the VOS.

Sure, it would be nice to have a real 59, but I wouldnt dare to gig it.

What did you expect to see out of a Torquay hotel bedroom window? Sydney Opera House perhaps? The Hanging Gardens of Babylon? Herds of wild beasts sweeping majestically over the fields?

Re: Real '59 vs Reissue '59 VOS Les Paul

I guess the R9 was recorded with stock pups? They don't do that guitar justice. The one I owned I added some WB Vintage Tuned PAF's to it, and it really opened it up.

Check 'em here: http://www.wbpickups.com/pup02.php

Was a great guitar.....but ultimately I sold it and kept an Edwards Jimmy Page relic with Lollar Imperials.....despite being 1/10th the price. It sounded just as good, played just as well, and I didn't feel like hiring security guards everytime i leave the house with it.

6 (edited by ken 2008-06-07 06:01:39)

Re: Real '59 vs Reissue '59 VOS Les Paul

When I first watched it, I thought I liked the real 59 just a tad better (a little more open sounding maybe?), but then I pulled up both videos and watched a couple of seconds of one, then the same couple seconds of the other.
Doing that, there were parts that the guitars sounded almost exactly the same. 

Bender wrote:

I guess the R9 was recorded with stock pups? They don't do that guitar justice. The one I owned I added some WB Vintage Tuned PAF's to it, and it really opened it up.

I'm sure they were using the stock burstbuckers on the historic (which are supposed to be Gibson's version of PAFs). I was thinking along the same lines about the pickups. I'm sure you could spend a few hundred extra on some boutique pickups, and get the historic to sound however you would like it to sound (more or less gainy, more open, more midrangy etc).
http://www.wcrguitar.com/
http://www.wbpickups.com/
http://www.bareknucklepickups.co.uk/
http://voodoopickups.com/
Each one of these guys have 10 or more different models that all sound a little different, and all sound great.