The Gibson 1959 Les Paul Standard Southern Fade Burst Ultra Light Aged

I was looking for a different guitar to round out things and maybe get rid of some others, and a few months ago the time to pull the trigger came around. Since I have an SG, I figured my Gibson fix was quelled and something like a telecaster would be the right move.However, an advertisement for a Les Paul Trad Pro V sale on Guitar Center caught my eye, and it seemed like quite a good deal. Talking to a guitar playing friend, I remarked that I liked the Classic quite a bit more than the Trad Pro V, and would consider that instead. Naturally, I began looking at everything else, and it kind of went in that same pattern from there.I haven't played many Les Pauls, mainly Epiphones in the only music shop around here. From what I saw and heard of these though, I was ... MoreI was looking for a different guitar to round out things and maybe get rid of some others, and a few months ago the time to pull the trigger came around. Since I have an SG, I figured my Gibson fix was quelled and something like a telecaster would be the right move.However, an advertisement for a Les Paul Trad Pro V sale on Guitar Center caught my eye, and it seemed like quite a good deal. Talking to a guitar playing friend, I remarked that I liked the Classic quite a bit more than the Trad Pro V, and would consider that instead. Naturally, I began looking at everything else, and it kind of went in that same pattern from there.I haven't played many Les Pauls, mainly Epiphones in the only music shop around here. From what I saw and heard of these though, I was hooked. Maybe it was just listening to too much Jimmy Page and Joe Walsh lately, but when I found the right looking one I couldn't pass it up. I was a bit worried not being a Les Paul guy, but when it arrived I was pleasantly surprised.Aside from the strings which were quickly replaced with 11s, everything was right. Even with 10s, out of the box it played beautifully, it just felt right over my shoulder and in my hands. Plugging it in, I thought my SG sounded nice before, but this was something new. Everything was much broader, a lot sweeter than I expected. I haven't really stopped playing it since.Now, there were some problems other people might have sent it back for. When I picked it up out of the case, one of the metal plates on the knobs fell out. I don't care for the reflector knobs anyhow and will replace them, but even if I did a quick dot of glue would fix it. Much to my dismay later I noticed that the hard case had a separation in the seem along the bottem edge. I've been trying to resolve this, but I love the guitar so much I couldn't return the thing just for the case. It's been frustrating, particularly dealing with TKL, which is the only reason for my four star review. In every other respect, notably the guitar itself, its a five. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this guitar.

HhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhkkkkkThe new Standard 60s that I received was was being waited for like a scene in a movie when parents are waiting for a stork to bless them with a bundle of joy. Well the stork for me was gruff lookin FedEx driver that was delivering my new Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s. After it was delivered I placed it gently before me and began to unwrap the newest member of the family. So, you know those movies when you expect to see elation on the face of the actor after they open something up but instead it turns to the face of horror, well, that was me. As I opened up the the lid of the case I saw bits of gold flakes and plastic. It was the volume knob that had been smashed. I then looked at the case and the bottom of the case ... MoreHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhkkkkkThe new Standard 60s that I received was was being waited for like a scene in a movie when parents are waiting for a stork to bless them with a bundle of joy. Well the stork for me was gruff lookin FedEx driver that was delivering my new Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s. After it was delivered I placed it gently before me and began to unwrap the newest member of the family. So, you know those movies when you expect to see elation on the face of the actor after they open something up but instead it turns to the face of horror, well, that was me. As I opened up the the lid of the case I saw bits of gold flakes and plastic. It was the volume knob that had been smashed. I then looked at the case and the bottom of the case appeared to be damaged. After pulling picking up the pieces and placing them in a bag i played the LP and it was amazing but had obviously been knocked around too much for me to keep. It was tough though, the low end on this guitar was hypnotizing and the highs were like blissful chimes that rang clean yet without shrillness. The weight is amazing and the thus the sustain is like the Energizer Bunny. Anyway, I called AMS, they offered a replacement but I wouldn't be able to choose the serial number for the replacement, so I would have no idea what it looked like; I want to choose what guitar I am buying. So now I have a prepaid return shipping label in my email and a trip to the "stork" in my future. It's very unfortunate that this guitar was not packaged better because it is an amazing sounding guitar. I am buying another one.

Also check out the 50s standard.

Just bought a 50s standard at the Manchester ct store. Compared and played both in store. Went in for the 60s , left with a 50s. 50s have thicker neck and warmer tone. Didnt think I'd prefer the thicker neck, but it simply felt better for me, which is odd as I also have a fender ultra stratocaster that has a thin neck but longer scale length, perhaps why they both feel right for me.. Joe Bonamassa plays a 59 standard, Jimmy Page I think too, think theres a reason for that. Both 50s and 60s are fine instruments.

Amazing Guitar

I had a great experience with Musiciansfriend. I called my gear advisor, Scott, and he went the extra mile to answer all of my questions over about a two week period. My guitar weighs just under 10 pounds. The set up was superb with a low action and near perfect intonation. Phenomenal sound. Just amazing. Each string rings out clear and balanced. This is my first Gibson. I am a Fender player ('69 Jaguar, '97 Strat) so I was afraid I wouldn't like the warm tones of the humbuckers (nearly went with P90 because of this), but I can't compliment this guitar enough. It's a legend for a reason. The only bad thing is the case. It's obvious that Gibson doesn't take as much care in quality control for their cases. Pea sized bubble on the exterior and lining already coming ... MoreI had a great experience with Musiciansfriend. I called my gear advisor, Scott, and he went the extra mile to answer all of my questions over about a two week period. My guitar weighs just under 10 pounds. The set up was superb with a low action and near perfect intonation. Phenomenal sound. Just amazing. Each string rings out clear and balanced. This is my first Gibson. I am a Fender player ('69 Jaguar, '97 Strat) so I was afraid I wouldn't like the warm tones of the humbuckers (nearly went with P90 because of this), but I can't compliment this guitar enough. It's a legend for a reason. The only bad thing is the case. It's obvious that Gibson doesn't take as much care in quality control for their cases. Pea sized bubble on the exterior and lining already coming unglued. However, musiciansfriend is working to right this for me.

Beautiful guitar with minor issues

This is a beautiful guitar, but for the price, I expected a little more. I went through three Les Paul before settling on this one. The first two were floor models and had cosmetic issues from being handled. I ended up getting this one new, directly from the Gibson factory. Unfortunately, I have high expectations for quality when I purchase something new and that's especially true if it's a guitar well over $2000. The guitar was set up great and played sweet right out of the box. My only complaint is cosmetic and it's not super noticeable. However, there are several areas along the binding of the body that have a small shelf where it appears to be too small or perhaps needed something filled in. Like I said, not a huge deal, but I would expect it to be perfectly ... MoreThis is a beautiful guitar, but for the price, I expected a little more. I went through three Les Paul before settling on this one. The first two were floor models and had cosmetic issues from being handled. I ended up getting this one new, directly from the Gibson factory. Unfortunately, I have high expectations for quality when I purchase something new and that's especially true if it's a guitar well over $2000. The guitar was set up great and played sweet right out of the box. My only complaint is cosmetic and it's not super noticeable. However, there are several areas along the binding of the body that have a small shelf where it appears to be too small or perhaps needed something filled in. Like I said, not a huge deal, but I would expect it to be perfectly smooth unless this is a normal thing for Gibson? I might add, the binding on the neck is perfect. Other than this, it plays and sounds fantastic.

Gibson Les Paul ‘59 Reissue

This guitar checks all the boxes. Gorgeous to looks and sounds even better. Sustain for days! There's nothing like a Les Paul. Gibson hit it out of the park with this one. Build quality is impeccable. The picture doesn't do it justice. The maple top is beautiful. Best neck I've ever held. Playability is awesome.

Gibson's Back

Overall:For too long, manufacturers have strayed away from the things that made them great in the first place. It was no difference for Gibson, with their fascination for robot tuners, and other tweaks, aimed at making their classics "better," they strayed from the things that made them great. Well, they're back! I just purchased this guitar and I must say that it is fantastic, right out-of-the-box! It sounds awesome, it plays great, and the finish is outstanding! My only criticisms, and they are pretty minor, is that they have opted for a machine head, far inferior to the original. It functions okay, but it is not a smooth as the original and frankly, feels cheap and the cord doesn't feel like it locks into the jack as securely as in the past. These are fairly ... MoreOverall:For too long, manufacturers have strayed away from the things that made them great in the first place. It was no difference for Gibson, with their fascination for robot tuners, and other tweaks, aimed at making their classics "better," they strayed from the things that made them great. Well, they're back! I just purchased this guitar and I must say that it is fantastic, right out-of-the-box! It sounds awesome, it plays great, and the finish is outstanding! My only criticisms, and they are pretty minor, is that they have opted for a machine head, far inferior to the original. It functions okay, but it is not a smooth as the original and frankly, feels cheap and the cord doesn't feel like it locks into the jack as securely as in the past. These are fairly nit-picky things and certainly not enough to stop me from recommending the guitar but rather, little nuances that could easily be improved by Gibson with little impact to the cost of the product.

Incredible Piece of Modern History

Playing mostly high output Jacksons and an ESP Lynch Kamikaze, I had wanted a Les Paul again for a more traditional sound and shape but I never liked the feel of any I had tried out in store off the rack over the recent years for the price.I finally decided to pull the trigger on this one and I was able to trade in/trade up at Guitar Center with some nice gear that I didn't use as much anymore which made the 59 VOS Custom Shop Historic Reissue a bit more "affordable" to me.The Gibson custom shop has created an amazing instrument with these 59 reissues. I have never played an original burst so I cannot make a comparison in that context but this guitar is flawless with an incredible build quality and attention to original detail. The custom buckers have an amazing ... MorePlaying mostly high output Jacksons and an ESP Lynch Kamikaze, I had wanted a Les Paul again for a more traditional sound and shape but I never liked the feel of any I had tried out in store off the rack over the recent years for the price.I finally decided to pull the trigger on this one and I was able to trade in/trade up at Guitar Center with some nice gear that I didn't use as much anymore which made the 59 VOS Custom Shop Historic Reissue a bit more "affordable" to me.The Gibson custom shop has created an amazing instrument with these 59 reissues. I have never played an original burst so I cannot make a comparison in that context but this guitar is flawless with an incredible build quality and attention to original detail. The custom buckers have an amazing warm sound to them and the volume and tone controls really work well to adjust the nuances of your sound. I love playing guitars with low action and this one was set up that way on delivery so I didn't have to make any adjustments. It felt and played perfectly right out of the box and I knew I would have no remorse buying this high end instrument.I picked the dirty lemon color which to me is beautiful in and of itself and reminds me of the original bursts that have faded out over time. The appearance really captures the vintage vibe that Gibson is presenting here. The maple top is a little more subtle than a lot of the top of the line figured maple tops you might you see today but that is consistent with many of the original 59s. The VOS (vintage original sheen) finish adds to the historical appearance of the parts and body.The guitar is priced at the higher end for sure, relative to your own individual situation, however, this will be one beautiful instrument that you will want to keep for a lifetime and it is harder to put a price on a guitar like that. You certainly get what you pay for here in my opinion.

Roll of the dice

I have a collection, mainly Gibson guitars, and when I saw this new 60's burst repro I thought wow, that's a good price for that guitar. However, that guitar in the photo is probably the best one they made at this price. The one I received had very little of that book matched tiger striping that makes bursts so cool to look at. So, I remembered that Guitar Center and Musician's Friend are the same company and just drove down to the store with it. They had just one that looked a lot better, so I traded it out. Again, the photo here is still nicer than the one I settled for, so don't be surprised when this happens to you. Latches on the cases also vary. Gibson is outsourcing these, and the first one I had looked more classic than the second one, which has more modern ... MoreI have a collection, mainly Gibson guitars, and when I saw this new 60's burst repro I thought wow, that's a good price for that guitar. However, that guitar in the photo is probably the best one they made at this price. The one I received had very little of that book matched tiger striping that makes bursts so cool to look at. So, I remembered that Guitar Center and Musician's Friend are the same company and just drove down to the store with it. They had just one that looked a lot better, so I traded it out. Again, the photo here is still nicer than the one I settled for, so don't be surprised when this happens to you. Latches on the cases also vary. Gibson is outsourcing these, and the first one I had looked more classic than the second one, which has more modern looking latches. It's also not so cool that there's a modern-looking Gibson logo on a brown case that's trying to look classic... That kinda' sucks, especially if you already have some classic brown cases next to it against the wall. In terms or quality and playability, it's good to go. Pickup selector was loose, so had to tighten it, but otherwise plays and sounds great. It would be nice if Gibson would pay more attention to wood selection for the tops on these, though. I have a LP Std from the early 80's (cherry burst) with a far nicer top on it that I bought new for less than 1/3 the price. Don't tell me it's only that I bought it that long ago that I lucked out. Tea burst is a nicer color in my opinion, and hoping it won't fade as quickly as my older one.

Why Gibson? Why?

Overall:I have been a longtime fan of the Gibson Les Paul Standards since I was a child, but never have been able to afford one. While in Afghanistan me and a buddy of mine talked multiple times about our fascination with Gibson guitars and how we both love classic rock, but neither of us have never owned one and how fun it would be to purchase a couple of Les Paul's when we get home, cranking our amps to11 and just lighting it up with some American made classic rock. He died Sept. 13th, 2013 in combat and never made it home from that deployment (Army Sgt. Kyle Osborn for those who wish to pay your respects to a fallen hero and one of the greatest men I have ever known). I would eventually end up medically retired shortly after the deployment and find myself ... MoreOverall:I have been a longtime fan of the Gibson Les Paul Standards since I was a child, but never have been able to afford one. While in Afghanistan me and a buddy of mine talked multiple times about our fascination with Gibson guitars and how we both love classic rock, but neither of us have never owned one and how fun it would be to purchase a couple of Les Paul's when we get home, cranking our amps to11 and just lighting it up with some American made classic rock. He died Sept. 13th, 2013 in combat and never made it home from that deployment (Army Sgt. Kyle Osborn for those who wish to pay your respects to a fallen hero and one of the greatest men I have ever known). I would eventually end up medically retired shortly after the deployment and find myself disabled and homeless on the streets.After 5 years of battling to get back up on my feet I was finally in a financial position to be able to afford a new Les Paul Standard. Much to my excitement Gibson has landed into what is being referred to as the "JC era" thanks to the new CEO and the improvement over their quality control. I could not imagine a better time to finally own one. I tried several at local shops and found the 60's model to feel and play the best in my hands. So I ordered one from zZounds in Burbon Burst.When the instrument finally arrived I was greeted immediately with that all to familiar twang of a string snapping. The B string arrived broken. Luckily I had thought ahead and was ready with a set of 10's. The cover for the switch was broken and had shattered into several pieces. I found one piece wedged under the pick guard and had been grinding on the finish. I have yet to remove the pick guard and see if anything has been damaged, but I am hoping for the best. The binding around the fretboard down past the 22nd fret is over the fretboard and it looks as though the bottom of the fretboard where the binding has gone over is either dented or chipped off. The setup on the guitar was pretty bad and had some fret buzz. I raised the action to stop this, but it has made the instrument feel less comfortable to play. The finish however is gorgeous and it is a beautiful instrument. It sounds great when plugged in. I am going to have to bring this guitar in to a tech to get it set up and some of the issues with binding etc. fixed.I am just disappointed with Gibson because this is not a cheap guitar. The quality was expected to be that of exceptional according to many reviews from owners on several different websites. This is my first Gibson. I have owned Jackson's, Fender's, Ibanez and ESP guitars and not a single one of these manufacturers has ever sold me a guitar with any issues. Why is that "big American made" Gibson is almost guaranteed to show up with issues? I am not saying American quality is less than it is just if your trying to hide behind the fact that your instruments are of a better quality being manufactured in the United States please live up to that motto and standard because all your doing is bringing shame and devaluing the term "American Made" when you are notorious for not living up to the standard. I will probably never purchase another Gibson guitar. The same quality of tone and playability can be had by other manufactures that will live up to the standard of "American Made."