Gibson Les Paul Double Cut Discussion

JerkMoans

Comrades!

While trying to purify myself of the fiendish diktats of GAS addiction, now Game of Thrones has finished I find my fickle attention straying towards these lovely looking artefacts: not the LP Junior types, but rather the Les Paul Standard Doublecut models that seem to have been in production only sporadically.

I'm pondering whether for improved upper-fret access and weight relief, while preserving 'proper' Gibbo tone and appointments one of these might be the ratherest thing.  Has anyone got/had/played one that can pass comment?  I suppose for something that looks like a fantastic compromise, my biggest question is why they haven't been in production regularly and why to they seem so uncommon.  Is there some major flaw in the recipe that I'm missing?

As ever, all observations gratefully received.  Here's a pic of one I'm perving over, to add interest and dramatic tension.

stickyfiddle

Following with keen interest. Aside from the 24 frets I've always thought they look basically perfect. I'd maybe have the control layout more LP Jr and less PRS, but that's hardly a dealbreaker.

I assume LP Standard guys are a bit too "singlecut purist", DC Special guys want P90s, SG guys want lightweight and contouring and PRS guys don't care about Gibsons? 

I guess this new one is the closest - quite similar spec apart from the lack of carved top. I want one! 

JerkMoans

@stickyfiddle is that one of the new Custom Shop jobs?  Looks vaguely reminiscent of the ?1960 ish LP SG thingie that Keith Richards had.  Gorgeous either way.

The 'Standard' jobs I'm looking at seem to be between about £1200 - £1400 ish used, based on the 3 or 4 that are available from a cursory interweb search.  Time to start selling, again

stickyfiddle

Yeah, they look a really nice spec. I'd love a goldtop or blacktop one. A chunky bit more than 1200 though  

TINMAN82

Goldtop looks fantastic. The custom shop is let down by that ugly pickguard.

richardhomer

I reckon a PRS DGT or double-cut McCarty 594 would be a much better guitar....

FastEddie

I've always loved the DC LP. Even though I can't find a LP I can comfortably live with, the DC is my fave body. 

I have sated myself with a Martyn Booth Special which I see every day. 

DC all the way and the Gold Top is very nice indeed.

SlopeSoarer

JerkMoans said:

.... my biggest question is why they haven't been in production regularly and why to they seem so uncommon.  Is there some major flaw in the recipe that I'm missing?

I've often wondered this to as to me they look the perfect design.

I still ponder how Fender and Gibson got it so right, so long ago: )

goldtop

I've got one of the ones from that run in 1998. It's my go-to guitar, but the neck pickup position is different (obvs), and the lighter weight - while welcome - means it doesn't feel the same as a traditional LP at all. But with Voodoo PAFs in place of the original ceramics, I love it.

On the neck pickup position, it's not that it sounds 'wrong' it's just that being closer to the bridge pickup, there is also less tonal difference when switching. Add the fact that there's shared Tone and Volume pots, and some of the things you are used to on a traditional LP are not so readily available.

Ron Thorn's Artisan series were LP Jr derived and more like a LP layout (although you could order just about any pickup/bridge combination): http://www.thornguitars.com/galleryhtm/dcgroup001-050.htm - he used an especially long tenon to compensate for the pickup routing and neck joint.

ICBM

Just buy a PRS and be done with it.

These don't feel or sound any more like a single-cut LP than a PRS does. The combination of the longer neck, different neck pickup position, and only one set of controls (which changes the pickup loading in the middle position drastically, as well as meaning you can't blend the pickups), make it further away from a classic Les Paul than a 22-fret PRS is. Neither one thing nor the other, there is a reason why they never sell well and are only produced sporadically.

The one in your pic also has snot green inlays, which are foul.

lovestrat74

stickyfiddle said:

I think this ^^^ might even sway me to the dark side !!

ICBM

lovestrat74 said:

I think this ^^^ might even sway me to the dark side !!

It certainly is much nicer.

abw1989

If I had more money and space I'd love to have this guitar back again:



A Tak Matsumoto DC Custom albeit the Epiphone version. I liked the none symmetrical double cut aesthetic and the weight loss over a single cut Custom.

ICBM

abw1989 said:

A Tak Matsumoto DC Custom albeit the Epiphone version. I liked the none symmetrical double cut aesthetic and the weight loss over a single cut Custom.

QC isn't up to much though - someone totally forgot to fit the bridge pickup tone control. Friday Afternoon job...

SteveRobinson

ICBM said:

lovestrat74 said:

I think this ^^^ might even sway me to the dark side !!

It certainly is much nicer.

Not nice enough for the £3.5K asking price.

This is how you know you are old isn't it, when you start complaining about the price of things?

JerkMoans

ICBM said:

The one in your pic also has snot green inlays, which are foul.

mgaw

long shot but I have a rather tasty Novo Serus J in the classifieds

rivercider

Have a look at the Trogley's video that appeared on youtube this week for discussion of the DC LP....

antonyiv

If I were you, I would buy Hamer DC which is the real deal: 

https://reverb.com/item/22890459-hamer-sunburst-archtop-studio-custom-1997-like-new-ohc

OR 

https://reverb.com/item/17005669-hamer-karina-special-2008-vintage-korina

Rabs

I LOOOOVVEEE double cuts..  a lot of my builds are DCs..
With Gibson DCs, I like them when they are based on the original DC where the last fret is in line with the body (like the flamey one and the DC Special (which I have).. They play really well..  Gibson have done many different versions now.. Sometimes the fretboard goes further in making those last few frets really hard to get at which I also think doesn't look as nice either and makes the pickup be a bit nearer to the bridge one.

As for why they don't make more.. Im not sure.. If they made a USA version of that flamey DC I reckon they would sell a boat load.. As far as I am concerned its the best shape. Its probably the same reason that they don't make as many Explorers and Firebirds..  Cos Les Pauls and SGs sell more.. 

sweepy

You want a late 70's early 80's Hamer

https://i.imgur.com/oyXX0sW.jpg