Sooo, at the risk of throwing water on your enthusiasm, let me toss out some thoughts...
Noise. As you have described for us on this forum and the other one, you went through a great deal of effort to shield your SG. Very possibly (or very likely) you will have the same shielding issue with a Les Paul. I have a 2007 Les Paul Custom. It's a silverburst, like your mom's. My Custom is not shielded. In the right environment and under a lot of gain, my Les Paul will get a little noisy...not nearly as bad as a single-coil guitar. But, it still can happen.
Sound. You commented in another thread how you compared your re-worked SG against some Les Pauls in the store, and found them to lack the clarity that your SG has. I suggested that adjusting pickup heights could help that. That statement is true. However, there is the possibility you still will not care for the sound after adjusting pickups. I would listen very carefully to the instruments you try out. Bring your own amp in and see how it sounds. Unless you are prepared to replace pickups...again...I wouldn't buy the guitar unless you are prepared to accept the sound, as built.
Wiring. I know you don't care for the PCB. I don't think the Customs have a PCB, but you should find out for sure. I know mine doesn't have one, but they are wired with the modern wiring scheme. You may decide you want to change it. That of course, is really minor.
The reason I bring these things up is not to talk you out of getting a Les Paul. But, as you well know, getting a Les Paul Custom is an entirely different matter than getting your SG. The price point makes this something that requires some serious consideration. I've spent less money on cars than what my Custom cost. So, before you jump into getting a Custom, you really need to be brutally honest with yourself and determine if you are willing to go through some of the same work and effort as you put into your SG...especially considering you will pay thousands of dollars for the guitar...not hundreds. You've commented how your Schecter was pretty much perfect for you, right off the wall, requiring no work. A new Gibson Les Paul Custom may require you to do some of the same things you did with your SG. Are you comfortable with that idea?
I do wish you luck on your search. Lately, I've taken a renewed interest in mine and pretty much play it exclusively right now. I really love the thing. I'm finding the fret access issues that I used to complain about are becoming less of an issue as I work on it. Honestly, I feel humbled to have it. It's more guitar than I ever thought I could ever have when I first started playing. Aesthetically, I think it is the most perfectly proportioned, single cut-away solid-body guitar design out there. Just my opinion, of course. I am not a "Les Paul guy", but I really like the guitars. So, I really do understand your interest in getting one.
Again, I'm not trying to talk you out of this. But, I know the frustration you went through with your SG.
Then again, when GAS strikes, well.....!
SMITTY!!!!
You are so observant and wise, Bro!!! You bring up very valid points here...and have correctly pointed out my OCD tendencies as well.
Yes, my recent marathon of Gibson playing revealed just how good the SG has become after all the work and time invested. It was head and shoulders above the PCB equipped Gibson's that I played in terms of clarity and tone knob adjustability, as one would expect from a custom harness with premium and K40Y .033uf/.015uf tone capacitors. HOWEVER, the best observation I can lend to you is that, in spite of all we gained on the SG, it lacks something....a certain nuance.
Thinking back, I have realized that that certain "thing" only ever seemed to be captured with the dreaded Les Paul. For years I avoided them because I did not like their weight and the unbalanced feel when seated. Recording is almost all sitting, so this was important to me. In some respects, I believed that I could change anything enough to get a particular tone. While I am able to silence the signal, improve clarity and tonal adjustability, that "certain something" was missing.
After playing a lot of Epiphones, and many, many Gibson Studios, Standards and Faded's, I came to a conclusion that the more expensive Gibson is not necessarily better sounding, but in every instance, the $3,000 - $5,000 Gibson's were clearly better made overall. Speaking in terms of fit, finish, fret dress, action, intonation, saddle placement, nibs, binding, inlay, etc., there was a significant difference and it is a difference that could be felt. While it is true that a 2017 Faded Goldtop Darkback recently took the tonal prize, it was neither well constructed or well finished. In some respects I think the old adage "you get what you pay for" still holds true.
My observation has led me to the conclusion that my pursuit of a certain "tonal nuance" will only be achieved in a Les Paul. I firmly believe that the weight and mass of the wood has a direct bearing on the vibration of the strings and it is this factor that influences the tone of the instrument.
I think that, my recent struggle with the Gibson SG, is a main factor in why I am considering a used instrument or one that is missing parts. I'm fairly certain that, like you have pointed out, the noise/RFI/EMI will bug me and my new Les Paul will require another 10 foot roll of copper tape. Wire Harnesses' are also super subjective and misunderstood. I see (hear) no difference with cloth covered wire and regular strand wire. Thicker AWG comes into play only when high current needs to be transmitted and this is not the case with a guitar. I think the small wiring we have seen for years is adequate and a huge improvement over the PCB.
Pickups, as we know, are probably the most subjective. I bought three sets of genuine Gibson pickups and they were simply lacking in every respect. Fortunately, I sold them and recovered my money. I found that the GFS pickups were by far quieter and had better tone. In fact, I even tried some Epiphone pickups from a buddy which were quieter and had more clarity than the Gibson's. Fortunately, there are so many varieties of pickups out there that we have a vast array of tonal possibilities to choose from.
Yes, I have some concerns about embarking on this Les Paul Custom quest. Probably the biggest issue, for me, is how to correctly attach the straplocks without glue and toothpicks!!!
I guess it is completely possible that I will have to do some work to a "stripper" if I go ahead and purchase this one, or one like it. However, the possibility also exists that I might have to rework a brand new one too:
Gibson.com: Gibson Les Paul Custom
I am not 100% sure that I want to start taping and soldering on a $5,000 purchase. And money isn't my consideration in this. It's the time. The frustration that I went through to try and "conquer" my Gibson SG when any intelligent soul would have just sold it off and been done with it.
All your points are valid and I appreciate you pointing them out, because it reinforces my belief that I am not totally crazy...yet.
I'm looking at a couple of Customs right now and I am only considering the most pristine examples...nothing beat up or abused.
I will keep you guys posted...
