Les Paul Deluxe

Koa

How would you describe the sound of a Les Paul Deluxe? I always though they were like meatier Telecasters but are the pickups closer to P90s?

ICBM

No, they're not really like P90s - more like halfway between a PAF and a Tele bridge.

I really like them, they have a real bite and 'ring' to them that's pretty much what I always look for in a guitar.

Voxman

ICBM said:

No, they're not really like P90s - more like halfway between a PAF and a Tele bridge.

I really like them, they have a real bite and 'ring' to them that's pretty much what I always look for in a guitar.

Agreed - they are a little brighter and snappier than full-size HB, with a less dark bottom-end. I always think of them in amp terms like a 2x10 cab v a 2x12 cab.  At the time I bought my 1969 Strat with (non-original) case for £187.50 in 1977 the (then) Bell catalogue were selling brand new Gold Top Deluxes for £239 (case extra). In those days the difference was a lot, but I always wished I'd had a bit more money and could have bought one.  

Iamnobody

The guy out The War on Drugs was playing a deluxe on live performances a couple of years ago...

https://youtu.be/SkHwBVnutjM

fandango

Scott Gorham (of Thin Lizzy fame) had a Deluxe ...

Whitecat

Dan from Soul Asylum played a Deluxe. Pretty monstrous tone actually on their rockier tunes. 

ICBM

fandango said:

Scott Gorham (of Thin Lizzy fame) had a Deluxe ...

But hated it. He wanted a Custom, but the management thought it was too expensive!

impmann

ICBM said:

fandango said:

Scott Gorham (of Thin Lizzy fame) had a Deluxe ...

But hated it. He wanted a Custom, but the management thought it was too expensive!

This.

Gives me an excuse to share this again - solo starts at 1:40. 

https://youtu.be/dq6fCOGyVJg

guitars4you

far more brighter than a regular humbucker - more articulation and less fat mids - so yes some fat single coil voice about them

Bridge pick-up has something of a fat Tele voice about it - neck is crisp and clear with good depth and again far less fat mids than a humbucker

Neil

Voxman said:

ICBM said:

No, they're not really like P90s - more like halfway between a PAF and a Tele bridge.

I really like them, they have a real bite and 'ring' to them that's pretty much what I always look for in a guitar.

Agreed - they are a little brighter and snappier than full-size HB, with a less dark bottom-end. I always think of them in amp terms like a 2x10 cab v a 2x12 cab.  At the time I bought my 1969 Strat with (non-original) case for £187.50 in 1977 the (then) Bell catalogue were selling brand new Gold Top Deluxes for £239 (case extra). In those days the difference was a lot, but I always wished I'd had a bit more money and could have bought one.  

 The SG Standard was dearer than the Les Paul in those days. 

I used to get the Bells catalogues, went over there once or twice but sadly could never afford anything. 

mort

Same here re the Bells catalogue. Too young to afford anything but used to drool over the Fenders and Gibsons. Never visited the shop.

Its hard to imagine that was kind of our ‘internet’ back then!  

Koa

mort said:

Same here re the Bells catalogue. Too young to afford anything but used to drool over the Fenders and Gibsons. Never visited the shop.

Its hard to imagine that was kind of our ‘internet’ back then!  

Same here too. A well thumbed copy was passed between a few school friends.....sadly wasn’t in a position to buy. Who and where were Bells? 

57Deluxe

couldn't resist - another atrociously homogenising-all-guitar-sounds-into-one video from Gregor Hilden!
'Enjoy' those Minis!

Neil

Koa said:

mort said:

Same here re the Bells catalogue. Too young to afford anything but used to drool over the Fenders and Gibsons. Never visited the shop.

Its hard to imagine that was kind of our ‘internet’ back then!  

Same here too. A well thumbed copy was passed between a few school friends.....sadly wasn’t in a position to buy. Who and where were Bells? 

A musical emporium in Ewell Road Surbiton.

Eric Clapton bought a guitar there and it was patronised by the West London/Surrey art school lot like Jimmy Page and Pete Townsend. 

The big deal was that they produced a large catalogue FOC and did HP terms too.