NGD NDC

Joined: 20 Jul 2007 Posts: 1742 Location: NJ

Les Paul Classic Plus in Heritage Cherry Sunburst.

I have been looking for one of these on sites like Sweetwater, Music Zoo, Rainbow Guitars that show actual pictures of the guitar ever since I bought my Vintage Burst 6 months ago. I love my Vintage Burst, it is such a sick guitar that I also wanted one in this color.

I didn't really see one that was exactly what I wanted. I wanted the burst pattern to be as close to my Vintage Burst as possible, thin around the edges and fade into the corners of the neck pickup ring and have some unique flame not just straight stripes.

Unfortunately, these have been discontinued, but the cool thing is to get rid of them the price has also dropped $300.

So last week I took a chance and ordered one from Musician's Friend hoping when I got it it was what I wanted. Nope, I didn't like anything about that guitar, the flame was pretty symmetrical, the burst was very thick, there was little yellow in the middle. And I didn't like the way it sounded, it was very light compared to my Vinatge Burst an sounded very bright and a little thin.

So before I sent that one back, I figured I'd order one from another store and keep the better of the 2. So today this one arrived from Sam Ash Direct and it is ABSOLUTELY PERFECT!!!

First the guitar sounds and feels great, it is about the same or maybe even a little heavier than my Vintage Burst. Also the burst fades into the corner of the neck pickup rings like I wanted, it's a little thicker around the edges, but no biggie, I know how completely insane it is that I want to find matching burst patterns!!!! Laughing

And I dig the flame, it's not as asymmtrical as my VB, but there is some uniqueness to it I like, especially between the pickups where my VB is really unique.

Super happy I lucked out on the second shot because the price to ship the other one back to MF was pretty insane.

Now on to the pron Very Happy

Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 13396 Location: Earth

Awesome! Looks sexy!

Joined: 13 Jul 2005 Posts: 2503 Location: Houston, TX

Very nice! Great pair! Congrats!

Joined: 23 Nov 2005 Posts: 8257 Location: Ontario, Canada

That tobacco burst is awesome. Too bad they discontinues them. I'm glad you found the one you like.

Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 10203 Location: New Jersey USA

Dude, you suck! Nice score bro.

Joined: 30 Nov 2003 Posts: 10593 Location: Canada

Sweet!

Joined: 28 Apr 2011 Posts: 1739 Location: in the past

nice. she is a beauty.

Joined: 20 Jul 2007 Posts: 1742 Location: NJ

Thanks guys Very Happy

'87 sherwood wrote:

Too bad they discontinues them.

Actually the dude at Sweetwater said they are not completely discontinued, but more like the colors are. I called and asked about these because I really dig the "Traditional" weight relief and the baked maple and he said that their Gibson rep said that the colors will change each year. So the Manhattan Midnight, Blackburst, Vintage Burst, and Heritage Cherry Sunburst are discontinued.

I would LOVE one of these in a Gold Top finish with either a dark back or the walnut like my Vintage Burst.

I'm curious to see if Gibson does continue the Classic Plus with the same specs just different colors in 2013.

And here is the one I sent back, thought I deleted the pic, but I still had it. Like I said the flame was too symmetrical for me and it was light in weight. But if someone wants to snag the Open Box MF will have, this is it.

Joined: 20 Jul 2007 Posts: 1742 Location: NJ

Steinmetzify wrote:

HNGD dude. That's a NICE complement to the tobacco!

Thanks Stein,

I think so too, I think they look great side by side. They both have a wide, more open flame and burst. I'm so glad I lucked out that this one looks and sounds better.

The one I sent back the grain was just too tight and the burst was thicker and not as defined, they didn't look good together at all.

Joined: 23 Nov 2005 Posts: 8257 Location: Ontario, Canada

They do look great together. I see what you mean about the one you sent back. The edging was way to wide. That tobacco burst is the one color I'd still like to have. Depending on the day I want gold top too.

What pickups are in the Tobacco bursted Classic? I see Seymour Duncan on there I believe.

I'm OK with the manhatten blue and black going. Unless thgey double stain them like my Red LP they're not going to pop. I can't get the Tobacco right now since I have a custom starting really soon. Hopefully the used market will have some popping up.

Joined: 20 Jul 2007 Posts: 1742 Location: NJ

'87 sherwood wrote:

They do look great together. I see what you mean about the one you sent back. The edging was way to wide. That tobacco burst is the one color I'd still like to have. Depending on the day I want gold top too.

What pickups are in the Tobacco bursted Classic? I see Seymour Duncan on there I believe.

I'm OK with the manhatten blue and black going. Unless thgey double stain them like my Red LP they're not going to pop. I can't get the Tobacco right now since I have a custom starting really soon. Hopefully the used market will have some popping up.

Cool, at least I know I'm not crazy, just anal Laughing

Right now it has a Duncan Distortion and a Pearly Gates, it's alright, bridge is ok, neck is too bright, so it's still not what I want. I also tried a Super Distortion and a '59, that combo was too dark.

I was switching between that and the Cherry today and think out of the 3 combos I have tried so far, I actually prefer the 500T for the bridge, and none of the three in the neck, but the 500T is still not what I want, I want something in between the Duncan Distortion and the 500T.

I want to keep the bridge ceramic in that one, and find an A5 neck pick up, and then the Cherry I want to go A5 bridge and A2 neck.

I just wish these guitars had 500K volume pots. I remember I emailed you about your AFD and the Slash set and you said you said changed your volume pots.

I love Blackouts and have some long shaft pots, so I might try a set of those in it before I go tearing th factory wiring harness apart and buying new pickups to try.

If I like them (which I have them in just about every guitar anyway Laughing

), I could put a Blackout neck in the bridge and a Live Wire Classic II in the neck of the Cherry.

I didn't really care for the black, but I dug the blue, just wish the burst was in a tear drop shape like the VB and HCSB.

Like I said, if they continue these in different color I can't wait to see what they are.

Joined: 30 Mar 2009 Posts: 4710 Location: Dayton, OH

Congrats! You have an amazing collection! Smile

Joined: 23 Nov 2005 Posts: 8257 Location: Ontario, Canada

I would get rid of those 300k linear pots. I did it on my AFD and my LPC came with 500k all around anyway. Put a towel or blanket on your speaker and thats what the 300k are doing for you. The super distortion's are a little darker but with 500k they scream.

The AFD VOS ($3000 more expensive) comes with 500k. I bet people played them both back to back and thought the standard model was lifeless. I fooled them. Laughing

Joined: 20 Jul 2007 Posts: 1742 Location: NJ

rzbk 777 wrote:

Congrats! You have an amazing collection! Smile

Thanks Michele Very Happy

'87 sherwood wrote:

I would get rid of those 300k linear pots. I did it on my AFD and my LPC came with 500k all around anyway.

Yeah, I don't know why they use those and don't just use 500T all the way around.

Joined: 30 Mar 2009 Posts: 4710 Location: Dayton, OH

There are some killer deals on Gibsons right now, this thread makes me want another. Razz

Joined: 06 May 2007 Posts: 4140 Location: southern ohio

I am gassing so damn Hard!

Joined: 30 Mar 2009 Posts: 4710 Location: Dayton, OH

Steinmetzify wrote:

Was at GC this weekend and saw a buncha Trad Pros brand new down at $1199. I left ASAP. Laughing

I'll be staying away from GC this week. Laughing

Joined: 30 Mar 2009 Posts: 4710 Location: Dayton, OH

Steinmetzify wrote:

rzbk 777 wrote:

Steinmetzify wrote:

Was at GC this weekend and saw a buncha Trad Pros brand new down at $1199. I left ASAP. Laughing

I'll be staying away from GC this week. Laughing

I'll be staying away until the New Year. Laughing

+1