NGD - Gibson Content

Joined: 27 Sep 2005 Posts: 1413 Location: Dallas, TX

Been having gas for a Gibson Les Paul for awhile now and then Sweetwater just ran a smoking deal on 59' Studios so I couldn't resist. Gold top studio w/ 490/498 pickup combo which I really like. First thing is Sweetwater is an awesome company to deal with. Guitar came in a nice Gibson gig bag and triple boxed. They also do 55 point evaluation on every guitar they ship out so they are really gone over. When I pulled this one out of the box it was perfectly in tune and setup awesome. I always have to do something to a new guitar when I buy it but I have to admit this thing is literally plug and play with no adjustments needed which is almost unheard of so props to them in that regard. I will probably buy all my new guitars from them from this point forward I was so impressed.

These new Gibsons are not the Gibsons of old. You used to pick up the Studios and the fit and finish was really terrible. Looks like Gibson listened and stepped it up big time because this guitar is really put together well and I can't find one flaw on it anywhere, I was blown away. They plek their guitars now so it looks like it has really improved the fretwork and the nut is perfect on this guitar. Medium action and not one dead fret or buzz anywhere. Pretty impressed with the baked maple fretboard....looks darker like ebony and with the tight maple grain, very smooth and fast. Fret ends were also dressed nicely and smooth. Has the nice chunky 59' profile neck and even with smaller hands feels great. Guitar is chambered and very light! Weighs in between 6 & 7 pounds on my scale. Always liked the idea of heavy Les Paul's but being chambered has no effect on the sustain....guitar really rings out and it's full of tone. All in all I'm 100% satisfied with it especially at this price, you can't beat it for under $700. If you have any interest in the Studios check them out because they are really solid built instruments now. Probably the only thing I will do is add locking tuners and strap locks but that's it. Anyway....enough rambling.....pics!

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Joined: 09 Jul 2007 Posts: 340 Location: cali.

Very nice , I recently played a 05 studio and was not as good as what you describe on this one.

Joined: 09 Jan 2005 Posts: 1827 Location: KY

Nice score. I've been gassing for a gold top for a little while.

It's good to hear that Gibson is stepping up their QC. i've played some studios that just made me sad. They weren't awful guitars, but they damn sure weren't what a 1000$ guitar should be.

Joined: 09 Jul 2007 Posts: 340 Location: cali.

redneck wrote:

Nice score. I've been gassing for a gold top for a little while.

It's good to hear that Gibson is stepping up their QC. i've played some studios that just made me sad. They weren't awful guitars, but they damn sure weren't what a 1000$ guitar should be.

I couldn't agree more. I have always associated Gibson with high quality USA made products it is about time they stepped up !

Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2012 3:25 am

awesome gibson i am gassing for a les paul similiar to that one

Joined: 27 Sep 2005 Posts: 1413 Location: Dallas, TX

Thx guys. Yeah on the quality I used to see alot of fit and finish issues....alot of extra glue where the fretboard mounted to the body, bad fretwork, bad nuts, sharp frets, and even nicks down the sides of the fretboard where the side markers are, bad playability, etc. This guitar has none of that goin on. Those are the reason's I wouldn't buy a studio in the past and I never had the cash for a standard so I just stayed away from Gibson for awhile. Really nice to see some consistency with them again. My Father bought this exact model a couple weeks ago and when his came in I was like hell....I'm ordering one right away. They ran out of them for a few days and then had them back in stock so I pulled the trigger immediately. They still have the cherry burst but I'm just more of a gold top guy.

Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 13396 Location: Earth

Awesome guitar, I really like the gold top Gibbys. My local shop has a gold top with a black back that I have been lusting after! I almost pulled the trigger a few times but I don't think it's in the cards... Someday though. Premier guitar did a great factory tour video that's on YouTube. It shows how hard they are working to make great guitars these days. They are my favorite mass production guitar company. For the price of a high end Korean guitar you can get a killer Gibson now.

Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2012 4:06 am

Nice !!! I like goldtops with humbuckers, can't stand the P-90 versions look though they sound great. P-90s on a Les Paul just look wrong, same goes for minibuckers

Joined: 27 Sep 2005 Posts: 1413 Location: Dallas, TX

Lanning is Killdozer wrote:

Awesome guitar, I really like the gold top Gibbys. My local shop has a gold top with a black back that I have been lusting after! I almost pulled the trigger a few times but I don't think it's in the cards... Someday though. Premier guitar did a great factory tour video that's on YouTube. It shows how hard they are working to make great guitars these days. They are my favorite mass production guitar company. For the price of a high end Korean guitar you can get a killer Gibson now.

Cool Lanning....have to watch it.

Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2012 4:26 am

Soooooo jelly!
Congratz!

Joined: 30 Mar 2009 Posts: 4705 Location: Dayton, OH

Nice Gibby, congrats!

Joined: 09 Jan 2005 Posts: 1827 Location: KY

Northwinds wrote:

Nice !!! I like goldtops with humbuckers, can't stand the P-90 versions look though they sound great. P-90s on a Les Paul just look wrong, same goes for minibuckers

I any time i think of a gold-top, I see P-90s. I just looks so right with that finish. I know everybody's entitled to their opinion, but yours is just wrong Laughing

Joined: 28 Apr 2011 Posts: 1737 Location: in the past

+1 on the p90s looking good on a les paul. in fact ive been looking for an epi black beauty so i can put some black soapbars in it and get that early les paul look. anyway congrats on the goldtop, next to the black beautys the goldtops are it man!!!

Joined: 09 Nov 2009 Posts: 71

The Gibson Les Paul Standard is the king of the hill...Wahi'

...wisdom

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Joined: 28 Jan 2007 Posts: 4749 Location: Indiana

redneck wrote:

Northwinds wrote:

Nice !!! I like goldtops with humbuckers, can't stand the P-90 versions look though they sound great. P-90s on a Les Paul just look wrong, same goes for minibuckers

I any time i think of a gold-top, I see P-90s. I just looks so right with that finish. I know everybody's entitled to their opinion, but yours is just wrong Laughing

I used to want an LP Goldtop in the very worst of ways! The shop that I did my dealing with, in my early years (1981?) had one with the mini-humbuckers that I thought was built just for me! Cool

I never did get it though. I eventually, during that time periiod, walked out of that store witha brand new, baby blue ML! Shocked

Anyway, congratulations on your beautiful new guitar!

Joined: 19 Aug 2008 Posts: 4622 Location: UP of Michigan

Gold Tops rule. I want to get one of those, maybe this winter.

Joined: 25 Dec 2004 Posts: 1949 Location: NY

They only have the cherry ones left. If they still had the gold top I'd buy it right now. Nice score!!

Joined: 27 Sep 2005 Posts: 1413 Location: Dallas, TX

Powerglide350 wrote:

They only have the cherry ones left. If they still had the gold top I'd buy it right now. Nice score!!

Keep an eye on em man.....my Father bought one and then I went to grab one myself and they were out of the gold tops. Few days later they had em again and then right after I pulled the trigger on mine they sold out again. Maybe they'll get more in.

Joined: 25 Dec 2004 Posts: 1949 Location: NY

emunder wrote:

Powerglide350 wrote:

They only have the cherry ones left. If they still had the gold top I'd buy it right now. Nice score!!

Keep an eye on em man.....my Father bought one and then I went to grab one myself and they were out of the gold tops. Few days later they had em again and then right after I pulled the trigger on mine they sold out again. Maybe they'll get more in.

will do, thanks Very Happy