Volute redux

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Biddlin

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Modern Les Paul Axcess Custom Rhino
MLPXCPSL11092_MAIN_HERO_01.jpg

MLPXCPSL11092_NECK_SIDE.jpg
MLPXCPSL11092_NECK_SIDE2.jpg

"The modern player's choice is reimagined with new design elements and new skin in this limited Modern Les Paul Axcess Rhino Series. It features classy Custom appointments, the new Apex headstock carve for added strength, redesigned back contours for added comfort and a beautiful Rhino Gray finish created specifically for this model. The result is an extremely versatile, playable and fun Les Paul model unlike any other."
Belly cut and volute.
 
Love it if it makes the headstock less likely to break off. But I am a fan of Norlin-era Les Pauls, so I feel like all LP's should have a volute.

I also like the heel and belly cut but those are not as interesting to me.
That color is rad too.
 
I'm seeing some good ideas, lifted from other manufacturers, but mostly a dash of desperation blended with a pinch of missing the point.
 
At first look - I really like that.

I'd like it more for $2000 without the marketing garb...
 
DonP said:
I'm seeing some good ideas, lifted from other manufacturers, but mostly a dash of desperation blended with a pinch of missing the point.
Click to expand...

Can you elaborate? They've been doing the heel and belly carve on the Axcess models for quite some time (and on other models for even longer), and the volute is nothing new this is just an evolution of it. What seems desperate or in need of a point to you? Genuinely interested in your perspective, since I am kind of liking this model.
 
The volute is a case in point. It is a fix that simply doesn't fix the problem of the wrong headstock angle. It doesn't prevent the end snapping off when the guitar topples, and does nothing for the D&G tuning stability problem that has been known since the stone age. If they genuinely wanted to make a better guitar rather than a cynical piece of cosmetics, they would attend to both of these.
 
DonP said:
The volute is a case in point. It is a fix that simply doesn't fix the problem of the wrong headstock angle. It doesn't prevent the end snapping off when the guitar topples, and does nothing for the D&G tuning stability problem that has been known since the stone age. If they genuinely wanted to make a better guitar rather than a cynical piece of cosmetics, they would attend to both of these.
Click to expand...

Interesting observations. Having never broken the headstock off of one of my Gibsons (despite plenty of near misses) I am probably not as sensitive to the issue as some, so I never really gave much thought to the angle. I honestly don't know what angle wound improve it - what angle should that be in your opinion? They are 17-degrees now, right?

As for the tuning stability, I've heard people complain about it many times but this is not something I experience either. I've always made sure the slots were correct for string gauge and lube them at every string change and have really not had any problems. The Gibson that I have the most tuning issues with is not my Les Pauls or SG, its my Firebird which is a straight-pull to Steinberger gears, so should theoretically be superb.
 
I'm with Don on this.
I think Gibson is losing ground in the guitar marked because of poor QC and ridiculous prices.
They seem to be scrambling because they are becoming a company whose customers are
now driven by brand loyalty and a vague sort of snobbery. My first "good" guitar was an
ES 335, mid 60's, cherry, small block inlays, factory Bigsby. and I stayed with Gibs for
half a century (excluding the occasional non keeper Stratocaster or Guild Starfire).
In the last year and a half I have acquired 4 guitars, 2 from PRS and 2 from EBMM.
I feel that Gibson guitars are no longer worth the money they cost.
 
Biddlin said:
Modern Les Paul Axcess Custom Rhino
MLPXCPSL11092_MAIN_HERO_01.jpg

MLPXCPSL11092_NECK_SIDE.jpg
MLPXCPSL11092_NECK_SIDE2.jpg

"The modern player's choice is reimagined with new design elements and new skin in this limited Modern Les Paul Axcess Rhino Series. It features classy Custom appointments, the new Apex headstock carve for added strength, redesigned back contours for added comfort and a beautiful Rhino Gray finish created specifically for this model. The result is an extremely versatile, playable and fun Les Paul model unlike any other."
Belly cut and volute.
Click to expand...

I actually like the look of this guitar. The voulute/headstock carve/whatever doesn't sway me one way or the other. I like the volute. I realize it doesn't prevent breakage...my '74 SG has the volute AND it broke right across the volute! I just like the look of it.

Getting back to this Les Paul, I especially like the cutaway carve and the back contour. It also as speed knobs, which I prefer, as well.

All in all, I like it. But, where's the Floyd Rose like they have on some other Axcess models?
 
Tony M. said:
I'm with Don on this.
I think Gibson is losing ground in the guitar marked because of poor QC and ridiculous prices.
They seem to be scrambling because they are becoming a company whose customers are
now driven by brand loyalty and a vague sort of snobbery. My first "good" guitar was an
ES 335, mid 60's, cherry, small block inlays, factory Bigsby. and I stayed with Gibs for
half a century (excluding the occasional non keeper Stratocaster or Guild Starfire).
In the last year and a half I have acquired 4 guitars, 2 from PRS and 2 from EBMM.
I feel that Gibson guitars are no longer worth the money they cost.
Click to expand...

Indeed...
 
Tony M. said:
I'm with Don on this.
I think Gibson is losing ground in the guitar marked because of poor QC and ridiculous prices.
They seem to be scrambling because they are becoming a company whose customers are
now driven by brand loyalty and a vague sort of snobbery. My first "good" guitar was an
ES 335, mid 60's, cherry, small block inlays, factory Bigsby. and I stayed with Gibs for
half a century (excluding the occasional non keeper Stratocaster or Guild Starfire).
In the last year and a half I have acquired 4 guitars, 2 from PRS and 2 from EBMM.
I feel that Gibson guitars are no longer worth the money they cost.
Click to expand...

I can see that opinion. On the other side of it, I play Gibson's because they are the best tool for me to make the sounds I want to hear, and I prefer the feel of them to other guitars. I do own other brands (PRS and G&L) but play my Gibson's most of the time. There may be a bit of nostalgia involved too, but at this point I can play any guitar I want to and I keep going back to them so I am not going to argue with it.
 
Me too.
I have absolutely no intention of parting
with any of my Gibson SGs and ES 335s.
I just won't be getting any more of them.
(Well, maybe an SG junior and an ES 355...)
 
I like the choice of a gloss or satin finish. Here's the satin, showing the Apex neck design.
MLPXCPSL11220_NECK_SIDE2.jpg
 
Tony M. said:
Me too.
I have absolutely no intention of parting
with any of my Gibson SGs and ES 335s.
I just won't be getting any more of them.
(Well, maybe an SG junior and an ES 355...)
Click to expand...

May Manhattan Godzilla srtike you down and
smitten you down and strike you to ashes! Drink some cwoffee before that event happens.


;>)/
 
LOVE it ---too bad it costs more than my Triumph Tiger..........sorry Gibson I'll bet a Tiger can kill your Rhino ......

I really do like it though......love the color very original....Gibson getting "jiggy" ..........the neck/body thing has been done by many LTD ---AGILE--- CORT---- not really "innovative" Gibson copying the Gibson copies lol
 
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