So, I'm going to build myself a 58 Gibson LP - am I fucking nuts? This is the Holy Grail of guitars! It is the ultimate icon of Rock n Roll, (used as the logo for Hard Rock Cafe), but it is so perfect in it's design, that it handles everything from classic jazz, to blues, to rock, and even some serious metal with ease. If you're going to get a guitar, this is it. As for building one... "If you want to play with the big dogs, you can't piss like a puppy." Go big or go home!
Some complain about the weight of the Les Paul, (averaging around 9-10lbs, as opposed to the average Strat, that tips the scales at around 7lbs), but so what? Do you want the tone, or not? The heavier the guitar, the better the tone, and for tone, nothing beats the solid mahogany body and maple top of a Paul - especially if you plug it in to a Marshall amp.
Some complain about the weight of the Les Paul, (averaging around 9-10lbs, as opposed to the average Strat, that tips the scales at around 7lbs), but so what? Do you want the tone, or not? The heavier the guitar, the better the tone, and for tone, nothing beats the solid mahogany body and maple top of a Paul - especially if you plug it in to a Marshall amp.
The real deal: A vintage 1958 Gibson Les Paul - the Holy GrailThere are many, many Les Pauls out there, with the main difference, (and topic of argument), being that some are made by Gibson in the USA, and some by Ephiphone, (owned by Gibson), under license in Japan. Some purists say that the Epi's are just about the worst thing out, when compared to a Gibson, while Epi users say there is no difference, other than about $2,500 in price. Personally, I don't care. It makes no difference to me whether you play an Epi or a Gibby - to each his own. If you're happy, so am I.
I barely have money to buy booze and cigarettes, so I know the frustration of wanting something and having to settle for something cheaper, so I wont bash the Epi - it's a good guitar for a good price. However, the purist in me prefers the Gibson, for no other reason than authenticity.
Obviously, mine wont be build by Gibson, or even Epiphone for that matter, but a home-build custom job, as close as possible to the original 1958 model. (Even the re-issues that Gibson build differs a lot from the original.) I will however kit it out with genuine Gibson parts, again sticking to what was in the original '58 models.
As far as year-models go, the Gibson Les Paul has been around since for ever. I'm sure there are some quality differences, but mainly the differences are cosmetic. The reason why I'm going for the '58 Standard, is mainly because it's as original as they come, and it's just about the only proper plans I could get online. That, plus it's been exactly 50 years since the first Les Paul Standard rolled off the line in the Gibson plant, so see it as a 50th anniversary special.
*PROBLEM: A few months ago the sole importer of Gibson to South Africa stoped importing them, so nothing is available here! No guitars, no parts, nothing. Luckily, some clever guy started e-bay, so guess where I'll get parts? (I've been told that the import issue is being resolved, and we will have a new importer soon, so lets hope for the best - popping down to the local store is so much easier than searching on e-bay)
I barely have money to buy booze and cigarettes, so I know the frustration of wanting something and having to settle for something cheaper, so I wont bash the Epi - it's a good guitar for a good price. However, the purist in me prefers the Gibson, for no other reason than authenticity.
Obviously, mine wont be build by Gibson, or even Epiphone for that matter, but a home-build custom job, as close as possible to the original 1958 model. (Even the re-issues that Gibson build differs a lot from the original.) I will however kit it out with genuine Gibson parts, again sticking to what was in the original '58 models.
As far as year-models go, the Gibson Les Paul has been around since for ever. I'm sure there are some quality differences, but mainly the differences are cosmetic. The reason why I'm going for the '58 Standard, is mainly because it's as original as they come, and it's just about the only proper plans I could get online. That, plus it's been exactly 50 years since the first Les Paul Standard rolled off the line in the Gibson plant, so see it as a 50th anniversary special.
*PROBLEM: A few months ago the sole importer of Gibson to South Africa stoped importing them, so nothing is available here! No guitars, no parts, nothing. Luckily, some clever guy started e-bay, so guess where I'll get parts? (I've been told that the import issue is being resolved, and we will have a new importer soon, so lets hope for the best - popping down to the local store is so much easier than searching on e-bay)
2 comments:
well baby, i can't wait to see it :P
and i gotta admit to giggling when i went to this link you sent me ;)
hi free
now that u mentioned it, im giggling at u giggling at me lol
the strat i made is called "cocaine", and i play that song on her often. althou i'll call this one "fat louise", i think her song will be "bad obsession" by guns n roses - wonder y?
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