Who has a 2023 standard les paul?

Inspector #20 said:
Mine is a July 2021 build, Les Paul 50's Standard Gold Top, purchased brand new in November 2021 for $2,998.56 out-the-door.

@Don O - has played this one.

Since purchase, i have done no modifications except Dunlop Straplocks using the "correctly sized" screws by MojoAxe.

As far as adjustments are concerned, i set the pickup pole pieces to my preferred stagger and made a slight intonation adjustment, both to my tastes, but the guitar was simply perfect in every way the day i took it out of the case.
Click to expand...

Great thing I can see about Robert and any of us who play for pay, whether we buy a $200 guitar or a $5000+ guitar, typically whatever was spent gets earned back and pays for itself.

Others of us, if we buy 1 to 100 guitars, we play for fun and the price we pay usually equates to a debt never recouped. However, in some ways of thinking, the enjoyment and fun we derive from playing is a payment of sorts. I've heard it said, that drums, guitars, basses etc are cheaper than paying a psychiatrist and other doctors or even other vices like drugs and alcohol.
 
chilipeppermaniac said:
@gball, fill us in on the pups each of your LP's came with.

If others don't know it, I remember you saying how 490's are good pups that get a bad rep. People dismiss them before giving them the full test and time to adjust properly.

As for my LP's. EPI has 1979 T Tops uncovered Black Bobbins, '79 Km has Double Cream neck T Top and Dimarzio Dimeola Bridge Pup.

SG's P90 in the Classic, 490's in the Walnut Faded, Tarbacks in the Cream '76, and Bill Lawrences in the 3 Knob '89 Special. ES 135 I have 57's
Click to expand...

OK, so you mentioned the '79 Silverburst. That still has the original T-Tops, but I did finally change out the pots to 500s when one of the originals went bad. T-Tops are my favorite all-time pickup.

The Special has the stock Gibson P-90s in it. They are fine but I do think they are coming out of it - the P-90 sound is just not for me. It will probably end up with mini-hums in it.

2020 Standard is the BB1/BB2 set. I really like these, they have a very balanced sound and the neck pickup (BB1) is one of the best I have used.

Classic is the '61R & '61T. I like these pickups better in SGs. They are versatile but a little brash sounding in a Les Paul and they are unusually sensitive to height adjustments. I go back and forth on the idea of changing them out to something much hotter, like maybe some EMGs. I don't currently have any guitars set up with real "Metal" pickups and been thinking this one could be the one.

The Studio came with the 490/498 set. I bought this as my office guitar and it only gets played through practice amps in that environment, so for that the pickups are fine. Through a real amp at high-volume they are kind of brittle and a little tough to dial in. They are not bad sounding but would not be my first choice for anything other than high-gain styles (which they do excel at).

I also have a 2016 Traditional that has the '57/'57+ set. These are probably my favorite modern Gibson pickups. They just do everything well.
 
Last edited:
gball said:
OK, so you mentioned the '79 Silverburst. That still has the original T-Tops, but I did finally change out the pots to 500s when one of the originals went bad. T-Tops are my favorite all-time pickup.

The Special has the stock Gibson P-90s in it. They are fine but I do think they are coming out of it - the P-90 sound is just not for me. It will probably end up with mini-hums in it.

2020 Standard is the BB1/BB2 set. I really like these, they have a very balanced sound and the neck pickup (BB1) is one of the best I have used.

Classic is the '61R & '61T. I like these pickups better in SGs. They are versatile but a little brash sounding in a Les Paul and they are unusually sensitive to height adjustments. I go back and forth on the idea of changing them out to something much hotter, like maybe some EMGs. I don't currently have any guitars set up with real "Metal" pickups and been thinking this one could be the one.

The Studio came with the 490/498 set. I bought this as my office guitar and it only gets played through practice amps in that environment, so for that the pickups are fine. Through a real amp at high volume they are kind of brittle and a little tough to dial in. They are not bad sounding but would not be my first choice for anything other than high-gain styles.

I also have a 2016 Traditional that has the '57/'57+ set. These are probably my favorite modern Gibson pickups. They just do everything well.
Click to expand...

Maybe it was the BB1 and BB2 you mentioned that folks don't give a fair shake on.
I am definitely beginning to lose my once awesome memory and recall. Sometimes I think I am following in Mom's losing her memory footsteps.

Now for the Bridges. Hey, what bridge is in that 79 Silver? IS it a Nashville like in my 79 Std? Did they ever use Harmonica's like in my 76 SG?
 
gball said:
OK, so you mentioned the '79 Silverburst. That still has the original T-Tops, but I did finally change out the pots to 500s when one of the originals went bad. T-Tops are my favorite all-time pickup.

The Special has the stock Gibson P-90s in it. They are fine but I do think they are coming out of it - the P-90 sound is just not for me. It will probably end up with mini-hums in it.

2020 Standard is the BB1/BB2 set. I really like these, they have a very balanced sound and the neck pickup (BB1) is one of the best I have used.

Classic is the '61R & '61T. I like these pickups better in SGs. They are versatile but a little brash sounding in a Les Paul and they are unusually sensitive to height adjustments. I go back and forth on the idea of changing them out to something much hotter, like maybe some EMGs. I don't currently have any guitars set up with real "Metal" pickups and been thinking this one could be the one.

The Studio came with the 490/498 set. I bought this as my office guitar and it only gets played through practice amps in that environment, so for that the pickups are fine. Through a real amp at high volume they are kind of brittle and a little tough to dial in. They are not bad sounding but would not be my first choice for anything other than high-gain styles.

I also have a 2016 Traditional that has the '57/'57+ set. These are probably my favorite modern Gibson pickups. They just do everything well.
Click to expand...
Seems to me that the SG's that had the 24 frets came with those 61 Zebra pups in them. Memory serves that anyone who owned one loved the combo.
 
chilipeppermaniac said:
Robert/ Inspector #20 and gball have both purchased recent LP's. Maybe not 2023, but 2021-2022's I believe, and both of these guys are very happy with the instruments they got.
Click to expand...
Mine is a July 2021 build, Les Paul 50's Standard Gold Top, purchased brand new in November 2021 for $2,998.56 out-the-door.

@Don O - has played this one.

Since purchase, i have done no modifications except Dunlop Straplocks using the "correctly sized" screws by MojoAxe.

As far as adjustments are concerned, i set the pickup pole pieces to my preferred stagger and made a slight intonation adjustment, both to my tastes, but the guitar was simply perfect in every way
chilipeppermaniac said:
Great thing I can see about Robert and any of us who play for pay, whether we buy a $200 guitar or a $5000+ guitar, typically whatever was spent gets earned back and pays for itself.

Others of us, if we buy 1 to 100 guitars, we play for fun and the price we pay usually equates to a debt never recouped. However, in some ways of thinking, the enjoyment and fun we derive from playing is a payment of sorts. I've heard it said, that drums, guitars, basses etc are cheaper than paying a psychiatrist and other doctors or even other vices like drugs and alcohol.
Click to expand...

This guitar is back to working for a living.

Once my wife and i split, i went back to playing nightly with multiple bands.
 
chilipeppermaniac said:
Maybe it was the BB1 and BB2 you mentioned that folks don't give a fair shake on.
I am definitely beginning to lose my once awesome memory and recall. Sometimes I think I am following in Mom's losing her memory footsteps.

Now for the Bridges. Hey, what bridge is in that 79 Silver? IS it a Nashville like in my 79 Std? Did they ever use Harmonica's like in my 76 SG?
Click to expand...

Mine is a Nashville, thankfully. Some Norlin Customs did indeed have the harmonica bridges, which were not easy to convert to Nashville.
I hate ABRs for what it's worth.
 
chilipeppermaniac said:
Great thing I can see about Robert and any of us who play for pay, whether we buy a $200 guitar or a $5000+ guitar, typically whatever was spent gets earned back and pays for itself.

Others of us, if we buy 1 to 100 guitars, we play for fun and the price we pay usually equates to a debt never recouped. However, in some ways of thinking, the enjoyment and fun we derive from playing is a payment of sorts. I've heard it said, that drums, guitars, basses etc are cheaper than paying a psychiatrist and other doctors or even other vices like drugs and alcohol.
Click to expand...
My experience with Gibsons is they hold their value so the most I have spent was a $1000 on a used one. The new ones might not hold retail value but used will likely hold. Not that I would want to
sell it .
 
ibmorjamn said:
My experience with Gibsons is they hold their value so the most I have spent was a $1000 on a used one. The new ones might not hold retail value but used will likely hold. Not that I would want to
sell it .
Click to expand...
ibmorjamn, I was the same way until finding 3 particular instruments I really wanted and already knew their higher worth than my purchase prices.

Let's just say that my ES135, '76 SG Std, and my '79 LP Std KM were all worth what I paid for them. Much like Robert feels about what he paid for his Gold Top, each of mine are essentially my Gold Tops.

For Pips n Giggles, I feel the same way about my Gibsons as I do my Washburn HB30 I got off smitty_p. This guitar sounds amazing.
 
Last edited:
gball said:
OK, so you mentioned the '79 Silverburst. That still has the original T-Tops, but I did finally change out the pots to 500s when one of the originals went bad. T-Tops are my favorite all-time pickup.

The Special has the stock Gibson P-90s in it. They are fine but I do think they are coming out of it - the P-90 sound is just not for me. It will probably end up with mini-hums in it.

2020 Standard is the BB1/BB2 set. I really like these, they have a very balanced sound and the neck pickup (BB1) is one of the best I have used.

Classic is the '61R & '61T. I like these pickups better in SGs. They are versatile but a little brash sounding in a Les Paul and they are unusually sensitive to height adjustments. I go back and forth on the idea of changing them out to something much hotter, like maybe some EMGs. I don't currently have any guitars set up with real "Metal" pickups and been thinking this one could be the one.

The Studio came with the 490/498 set. I bought this as my office guitar and it only gets played through practice amps in that environment, so for that the pickups are fine. Through a real amp at high-volume they are kind of brittle and a little tough to dial in. They are not bad sounding but would not be my first choice for anything other than high-gain styles (which they do excel at).

I also have a 2016 Traditional that has the '57/'57+ set. These are probably my favorite modern Gibson pickups. They just do everything well.
Click to expand...
Wish I had a old set of t-tops.
 
ibmorjamn said:
Wish I had an old set of t-tops.
Click to expand...
Lots of winders build some good T-Top models, these days. I have a set from this guy…

www.manliusguitar.com

Humbuckers

Manlius offers a wide range of humbucker designs to help you dial in the preferred tone for your setup and style. All pickups are built to customer specifications with numerous customizations available to craft the perfect pickup. All pickups are hand-made in Syracuse NY and have shipped to...
www.manliusguitar.com www.manliusguitar.com

@SG John turned me on to this guy a few years ago, and I have been happy with everything I’ve purchased from him.
I have a few different models from him, but the set I put in my “The SG Deluxe” is my new happy-place. I put a ”Vinyl” (hot T-Top replica) in the bridge position, and his “T-Top” replica in neck position…and….WOW! Socks blown off, completely! I see he has a new “Shaw” model, he calls it “Mixtape”... Interesting.(Thanks for making me take a fresh look)
 
Thatbastarddon said:
Lots of winders build some good T-Top models, these days. I have a set from this guy…

www.manliusguitar.com

Humbuckers

Manlius offers a wide range of humbucker designs to help you dial in the preferred tone for your setup and style. All pickups are built to customer specifications with numerous customizations available to craft the perfect pickup. All pickups are hand-made in Syracuse NY and have shipped to...
www.manliusguitar.com www.manliusguitar.com

@SG John turned me on to this guy a few years ago, and I have been happy with everything I’ve purchased from him.
I have a few different models from him, but the set I put in my “The SG Deluxe” is my new happy-place. I put a ”Vinyl” (hot T-Top replica) in the bridge position, and his “T-Top” replica in neck position…and….WOW! Socks blown off, completely! I see he has a new “Shaw” model, he calls it “Mixtape”... Interesting.(Thanks for making me take a fresh look)
Click to expand...
I will check it out but my theory on pickups price wise is I won't ever pay much more than I payed for the custom wind I got from SD.

All magic sauce aside, original Gibson pickups are somehow mystical, not $500 worth, to me anyway.

A good pickup will sustain sweetly with a good tube amp.
I use my HX stomp more now than my amps to silent practice. I like the different tones I get. Even Friedman.
 
Last edited:
www.manliusguitar.com

Humbuckers

Manlius offers a wide range of humbucker designs to help you dial in the preferred tone for your setup and style. All pickups are built to customer specifications with numerous customizations available to craft the perfect pickup. All pickups are hand-made in Syracuse NY and have shipped to...
www.manliusguitar.com www.manliusguitar.com
Turns out Don, those are not priced to bad. Pretty fare.
I might need to try one in the bridge.
 
ibmorjamn said:
www.manliusguitar.com

Humbuckers

Manlius offers a wide range of humbucker designs to help you dial in the preferred tone for your setup and style. All pickups are built to customer specifications with numerous customizations available to craft the perfect pickup. All pickups are hand-made in Syracuse NY and have shipped to...
www.manliusguitar.com www.manliusguitar.com
Turns out Don, those are not priced to bad. Pretty fare.
I might need to try one in the bridge.
Click to expand...
I have several sets of those pickups in many different types of guitars. Mick is awesome to deal with. If you have questions, he will answer them. When I asked him if he could do a set of "Rory Gallagher" 61 Strat pickups, he said yes because he had a friend in Fender's Custom shop. They are awesome, btw. He did a great set of "Franken-Tele" pickups for my Broadcaster build. Then I have the "Fat Diane" PAF style pickups in my Flying V, and '69 SG Standard. "Landmark" PAFs in My '85 Les Paul Standard (they sound much better than the original Shaws). I also have his Hot Howling Goat P-90s in my '62 SG Special, and a Howlin' Goat in my '68 SG Junior. The two SGs I made for friends in England also have the Hot Howlin' Goat P-90s in them.

He makes a stellar product, right up there with Lollar and Frailin, but at a much more wallet friendly price.
 
Last edited:
ibmorjamn said:
www.manliusguitar.com

Humbuckers

Manlius offers a wide range of humbucker designs to help you dial in the preferred tone for your setup and style. All pickups are built to customer specifications with numerous customizations available to craft the perfect pickup. All pickups are hand-made in Syracuse NY and have shipped to...
www.manliusguitar.com www.manliusguitar.com
Turns out Don, those are not priced to bad. Pretty fare.
I might need to try one in the bridge.
Click to expand...
I just swapped out the V (Manlius Asphalt in bridge/Fat Goat- in neck- wound a bit extra hot to match up), for The SG Deluxe for tonight’s noodles…this was a very good time. I’m having a blast with it! Such a great guitar! And these pickups let it sing so well! Gonna hafta fire up a big rig tomorrow…and yeah….they’re fairly priced.
If you go for anything from him, I hope you enjoy…
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top