Les Paul Customs

WezV

I am enjoying this one at the mo, but have to give it back soon

guitars4you

richardhomer said:

I played a black LPC at a guitar show on Sunday - it was a 70s one in lovely condition. The gold hardware was beautifully worn, the binding nicely yellowed and the ebony board was really smooth. It had clearly been played a lot - but obviously cherished by its owner.

It would be a privilege to own it, even if only to look at.... 

could have been a great birthday gift - who was selling it

richardhomer

guitars4you said:
could have been a great birthday gift - who was selling it

That’s a very generous offer Mark!

I don’t know who the dealer was, unfortunately. 

NelsonP

guitars4you said:

If ABR-1 is high on your list then I think your only option is the VOS rout

What's so good about an ABR-1? 

guitars4you

NelsonP said:

guitars4you said:

If ABR-1 is high on your list then I think your only option is the VOS rout

What's so good about an ABR-1? 

I've not actually said it is so good - it can have its faults as well - But it is traditional as used on many Gibson Guitars during the 50's and 60's 

The actual build and materials will have an impact on the tone and many replica ABR-1 bridges from the likes of Faber IMO are better built/engineered - some purest  will tell you a compound change in materials results in a different voice - So there are ABR bridges and ABR bridges - they can rattle, easy to loose saddles when changing strings and on slim support posts they can tilt forward over the years

Gibson with help from the likes of Schaller and later other suppliers set out to build a more sturdy option, but again a change in the compound/material used changed the voice - Engineers will tell you it is better built

lewism

ICBM said:

impmann said:

I had an early 90s three pickup with gold hardware... flippin boat anchor that had the tone of child's piano. 'Orrible thing. I just thought it looked the bomb until someone said it looked like a cheap hooker's handbag... and they were right of course.

The guitarist in my band has one, and although it is really quite heavy - just under 11lbs - it sounds absolutely massive. We did take the pickup covers off which made it sound better as well as look a lot less tarty , but it was pretty good before anyway. Also tried a Bigsby (with Vibramate) but it took something away from the tone and made it uncomfortably heavy.

I’ve got a Bigsby and Vibramate on my ES345 and the problem is that the Vibramate plate moves the Bigsby tension roller off the face of the guitar by about 4mm and ruins the break angle and string tension (but I’d guess you’d figured that out!). I had to go from 10s to 12s to get it feeling similar.

Anyway, courtesy of the Manics, New York Dolls, Sex Pistols and Randy Rhoads, the correct colour for a Les Paul Custom for me is yellowed Arctic White.

roberty

57Deluxe said:

I decided to give my white Studio the CUSTOM Vibe... subtle details but big result!

Multi-ply pickguard on Studio LPs is a winner.  Adds back a bit of the geometric flourish that goes missing with the binding

CHRISB50

I had a 1993 Ebony LP Custom. 

It was really light, sounded huge, and played like a dream. It was my first decent guitar. 

Sold it and have regretted it ever since. 

Definitely the best sounding electric guitar I've ever owned. It played much better than the R8 I bought at a later date too. 

WezV

NelsonP said:

guitars4you said:

If ABR-1 is high on your list then I think your only option is the VOS rout

What's so good about an ABR-1? 

I aged a gotoh Nashville style bridge for the 70’s custom above.  It had already eaten two ABR-1s so it made sense to try something slightly sturdier.  

NelsonP

guitars4you said:

NelsonP said:

guitars4you said:

If ABR-1 is high on your list then I think your only option is the VOS rout

What's so good about an ABR-1? 

I've not actually said it is so good - it can have its faults as well - But it is traditional as used on many Gibson Guitars during the 50's and 60's 

The actual build and materials will have an impact on the tone and many replica ABR-1 bridges from the likes of Faber IMO are better built/engineered - some purest  will tell you a compound change in materials results in a different voice - So there are ABR bridges and ABR bridges - they can rattle, easy to loose saddles when changing strings and on slim support posts they can tilt forward over the years

Gibson with help from the likes of Schaller and later other suppliers set out to build a more sturdy option, but again a change in the compound/material used changed the voice - Engineers will tell you it is better built

Thanks. I only ask because I only recently bought a guitar that has one. It works just fine but i hadn't realised that they were sought after by some.

Voxman

Mine ways around 10.5lbs. It's a 1990 Les Paul Custom in Tobacco Sunburst which was always my favourite finish - it's not a minter that's left sat in it's case but is a 'proper' well-loved and well-played gigging Les Paul that's completely stock original (other than strap-locks, but I still kept the original buttons) and plays & sound great.  For me the pick-guard and p/up covers is a MUST and the speed knobs are more practical than top-hats.  I hate open p/ups on a LP (I barely tolerate the 'Zebra's' on my PRS Cu24) and with no pickguard they look naked ...and I need it to rest my little finger on it when I play for greater picking stability and control!  And I also much prefer the tulip tuning keys to the kidney shape...much nicer looking and more special in my book.  One of the best LP's I've ever played and I'd never sell it. 

mudslide73

My drummers dad has a 74 Custom in yellowed white I'm keeping tabs on. Very much gigged - it's a monster. 

guitars4you

mudslide73 said:

My drummers dad has a 74 Custom in yellowed white I'm keeping tabs on. Very much gigged - it's a monster. 

best colour IMO - that puss yellow - off white/custard - a white Ricky goes a similar way

stickyfiddle

guitars4you said:

mudslide73 said:

My drummers dad has a 74 Custom in yellowed white I'm keeping tabs on. Very much gigged - it's a monster. 

best colour IMO - that puss yellow - off white/custard - a white Ricky goes a similar way

They do go a beautiful “not white”, but too many go into custard territory, which is not a good look. 

I do also wonder if a white LP is actually too cool for most

Philly_Q

guitars4you said:

best colour IMO - that puss yellow 

darthed1981

Apparently, my father-in-law has an LP Custom he bought in the 80s under his bed that he never touches, and an old Mesa amp he never uses.

Frankly I think he should give me both.

welshboyo

My 70's Custom (together with the other oiks in the family..), it desperately needs a set-up, in 2 minds to de-cover it, T-Tops etc, sounds great and definitely different to the the other 2 (88 Standard and R7)

richardhomer

welshboyo said:

My 70's Custom (together with the other oiks in the family..), it desperately needs a set-up, in 2 minds to de-cover it, T-Tops etc, sounds great and definitely different to the the other 2 (88 Standard and R7)

Any chance you could lend me that R7 forever, please?

welshboyo

richardhomer said:

welshboyo said:

My 70's Custom (together with the other oiks in the family..), it desperately needs a set-up, in 2 minds to de-cover it, T-Tops etc, sounds great and definitely different to the the other 2 (88 Standard and R7)

Any chance you could lend me that R7 forever, please?

haha, not to derail the thread but that R7 has been on the chopping block a few times and I see sense at last moment and keep it - its got a tree trunk neck which could put a few people off but its so comfortable to play and that neck gives it a real wide sound - its the brute of the 3 for certain - its one of those guitars that should never get away and I think I realise that now..

In fact the 3 of them are the same in that respect, all keepers -  they are all great guitars..to me...

stickyfiddle

Just seen this in Gruhn Guitars, where I will be making a stop in a few weeks. Let's see if it's still there by then...