Any love for the Les Paul Vintage Mahogany?

[frankencat]

I just scored one of these and I am really, really liking it!! Anybody else?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v293/frankencat/Guitars/LesPaulVM002Web.jpg

[Jhigley]

I was wondering about these myself. Looks like a good guitar for a good price.



Jeff

[Timmo]

A good friend of mine bought one of these for his son last X-Mas and everytime I have played it I had a blast!
Sustains forever and refuses to go out of tune, plays and intonates perfectly.
Whatelse can you ask for in that price range .......$799 I think and USA made..................:dude

[CitizenCain]

Ummm, I like mine just fine :D

http://www.visi.com/~sstolle/sundown/sun_paul4.jpg

[neilr11]

I've had one for about a month, love it. It is the best value in the Gibson line.

[frankencat]

Did you guys have to do any fret work on yours? I had to re-dress the fret ends as they were a little sharp but it's killer now and I can get the action down super-low without any buzzing. I wonder if they plek these things, prolly not but this one is nice. :)

[gkoelling]

I bought one in the emporium back in Aug. Nice guitar, plays great, stays in tune.


...

[frankencat]

Check out the grain on this thing. It's a 2-piece back and a 2-piece top. the matching is so close I thought it was a 1-piece back at first.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v293/frankencat/Guitars/LesPaulVM-008.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v293/frankencat/Guitars/LesPaulVM-006.jpg

I have been playing it allot and the neck is shining up real nice. It sounds great too. I am really digging this one :)

[neilr11]

Frankencat- my grain pattern is very similar, photos do not do it justice. I need to snap a few photos as well.

[SoCalSteve]

Here's my ex

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/SoCalSteve_2006/IMG_3145.jpg

[Caretaker]

Great guitars. I had one but a friend really wanted it so it lives somewhere else. LOL I prefer a maple top.

[Pearly Gator]

Count me in. I tried several and found a light one that must be chambered. When I need a 335 tone, this is my "go to" guitar because of it's semi hollow qualities. Yes, it got a little fret sprout as the wood cured. Nothing unusual for a new guitar. I wouldn't ever think of changing out the Burst Bucker Pros, either.

Has Gibson discontinued them?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/pearlygator/Guitars/100_3885.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/pearlygator/Guitars/100_3882.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/pearlygator/Guitars/100_3881.jpg

[Johnnytone]

I got mine a few weeks ago as a bonus from work. I was all set to trade/sell it, but I fell in love with it.

I added straplocks, a Historic truss rod cover, added black bell knobs, removed the chrome pickup covers, turned the bridge around, added pointer washers, added some vintage caps and wired it 50s style. It is a much more aggressive sound than my R8, which works out great for me.

I also put the guard back on. This pic was before most of the mods.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v84/Johnnytone/DSC03881a.jpg

[Roark]

Nice score, I had a "The Paul", it was my first decent guitar in the 70's, sold it later for $250...what a dummy!

Seller's remorse lasts forever man....:jo

[telest]

Yep, I bought one here a while back and was pleasantly surprised by it. :AOK Gives me some Lester action without the cost.

Steve

[cvansickle]

Yessirs, I bought mine last year. I love this guitar, it is such an absolute joy to play!

I like the Burstbucker Pro pickups just fine on this guitar, and see no need to change them. The only mods I made was to put a better cap on the neck pickup, and I replaced the bridge tone knob with a Stellartone ToneStyler. There are LOTS of sounds in this guitar.

[Birddog]

Here's my ex

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/SoCalSteve_2006/IMG_3145.jpg

Steve,
Where did you find that pickguard? It's great!

Joel
www.byrdsnestband.com (http://www.byrdsnestband.com)

[echale3]

I love mine. For a humbucker guitar, it sure sounds SUH-WEET!!!!

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g90/echale/006.jpg

[Grady]

Yeah, I still lovin mine.
Bought it on sale last year for $599.
The only thing I did to it was change the pickguard and put strap locks on.

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o12/henbomb/18152852.jpg

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o12/henbomb/01140942.jpg

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o12/henbomb/01193728.jpg

[SoCalSteve]

Steve,
Where did you find that pickguard? It's great!

Joel
www.byrdsnestband.com (http://www.byrdsnestband.com)

Thanks Joel. Here's where I got mine:

http://search.stores.ebay.com/Bruceweiart-Musical-Instrument-Shop_pickguard_W0QQfciZQ2d1QQfclZ4QQfsnZBruceweiar tQ20MusicalQ20InstrumentQ20ShopQQfsooZ2QQfsopZ3QQs aselZ106008313QQsofpZ0

[Birddog]

Steve,
Thanks very much -- and for the PM. I just emailed the guy, since he doesn't show that particular guard on his ebay auctions at this time. His horn guards are also really nice.
Joel

www.byrdsnestband.com (http://www.byrdsnestband.com)

[SoCalSteve]

Joel, he seems to have different designs all the time. When I got mine, I had never seen that one before and I had been watching the different types he had been offering for a few weeks.

[Jon Silberman]

Some of you may have read in prior threads of my seemingly never-ending travails with GC trying to cop one I could actually keep with no serious defects. Well, I finally succeeded. Returned from Phil Jacoby's shop today, we replaced the microphonic stock bridge PUP with a SD '59, installed strap locks, did some general going-over stuff (Fretdoctor on the 'board, filed the fret ends, dressed one particularly high fret, fixed up the nut a bit), set it up with 11s, and whoa baby: this sucker is one heckava keeper. Beautiful, too. P.S. Paid $671 for it new w/case, including tax and a set of 11s!

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1600/682310/1133497/293347032.jpg

[SoCalSteve]

Excellent Jon! Mine also had protruding fret-ends. With the SD '59 and the professional setup, I'll bet it's a killer guitar.

Congrats on finding an end to this travail!

[Jon Silberman]

Thanks, Steve.

I often find that a pro set-up and general going-over is at least half the difference between the top and budget models. I certainly feel that way now with this new Gibson LP. It's the cheapest USA model made but if you cherry-pick the cream of the litter and splurge for a pro set-up, wow, do you have yourself a deal!

[Birddog]

Steve, Jon,

Are you gigging with yours? I am 99.9% sure I'm going to pick one of these up, even took my wife to GC today for final approval. She approved, and even liked both colors. The only thing in MY mind holding me up is the finish. It looks like it would be really easily dinged. But man, they are nice guitars. GC in Buffalo had 3 browns and a red and every single one of them played like a dream, and I couldn't find any fret problems. The finish on 1 of the 3 browns was far superior to the others and I'll probably buy that one if it's still there in a few weeks (when some bonus money comes in). I do plan on putting it into the gigging rotation and have a little trepidation about that finish, though. It's not like our band is flinging our axes around carelessly on stage or anything, but just the nature of the cramped bars we play in, etc, etc, stuff does get knocked around from time to time as I'm sure you know.

Any thoughts?

[SoCalSteve]

Jon, I wish I could find a good tech in fairly close proximity. I've actually never had a guitar professionally setup - it would probably be an eye opener to have one done.

Joel, I'm just a hobbyist. I don't think they necessarily ding an easier than any other, but I did notice the finish can rub off in some areas.

I removed my pickguard for a couple of weeks because I liked the look without it, but soon noticed a light spot near the bridge pup where my pinky rests (I'm a pinky anchorer). That's when I ordered the rosewood/MOP guard. Curiously though, the finish became very shiny where I rest my forearm and didn't rub off there. Maybe it had to do with oil in my skin? I do remember reading here or at the LP Forum about a protectant that others have applied to theirs. I'll have to look into it.

I did end up selling it to purchase a G&L but have found I really missed the LP "mojo" so I ordered one of the Faded Studio's with the maple top on Thursday.

[CitizenCain]

Steve, Jon,

Are you gigging with yours? I am 99.9% sure I'm going to pick one of these up, even took my wife to GC today for final approval. She approved, and even liked both colors. The only thing in MY mind holding me up is the finish. It looks like it would be really easily dinged. But man, they are nice guitars. GC in Buffalo had 3 browns and a red and every single one of them played like a dream, and I couldn't find any fret problems. The finish on 1 of the 3 browns was far superior to the others and I'll probably buy that one if it's still there in a few weeks (when some bonus money comes in). I do plan on putting it into the gigging rotation and have a little trepidation about that finish, though. It's not like our band is flinging our axes around carelessly on stage or anything, but just the nature of the cramped bars we play in, etc, etc, stuff does get knocked around from time to time as I'm sure you know.

Any thoughts?

I've gigged with mine. It's no worse off than my other Les Paul in terms of dings and stuff. In fact, even though the other one is just a '78, it's getting to the point where I'd rather not subject that one to bars and just use the Studio.

Even before I put the Tru-Oil coat on it, I didn't notice any undue wear on the finish, and I do like to anchor my pinky.

[footpatter]

What are the differences between a 'Vintage Mahogany' an a 'regular' Studio?

[Dylan61]

I honestly think it is the same quality as my '56 Goldtop.

[Pearly Gator]

What are the differences between a 'Vintage Mahogany' an a 'regular' Studio?

Pickups: The VM has Burstbucker Pros
Top: The VM is carved mahogany, not maple
Finish: Well, you know...
Price: You know this one, too.

Gary

[cvansickle]

I honestly think it is the same quality as my '56 Goldtop.
I would say it has a quality all its own.

[Mike9]

I had one last year and kick myself for selling every now and then. If I ever find another one at a really good price I might buy it. I'm not much of a Les Paul guy, but that was a nice one - something about solid mahogany . . . :dude

[Pearly Gator]

I had one last year and kick myself for selling every now and then. If I ever find another one at a really good price I might buy it. I'm not much of a Les Paul guy, but that was a nice one - something about solid mahogany . . . :dude

Yes, the solid mahogany top is quite nice and the BB pickups configure it quite like a '57 Les Paul custom. Check out the specs... 1957 Les Paul Custom (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Gibson-Custom-Shop-57-Les-Paul-Custom-Black-Beauty-Two-Pickups?sku=517462)

PG

[footpatter]

Does the vintage mahogany have the same neck size and shape - supposedly a 50's chunky style - as the other Studios?

[frankencat]

It's got a nicer neck than any of my previous Studios. A little on the chunky side but in all the right places. I have had mine out 3 times now and it has been getting rave reviews. It is a real pleasure to play and I really like the BB Pros. I did have to do some fret dressing on mine, just the fret ends, I can do it myself so that's no biggie, and I changed out the volume pots for 500k's with treble bleeds and the 50's wiring mod. Not for everybody mind you but it does what I like LP's to do. FWIW, mine is a 2007 model and already had CTS pots in it. I bought a bunch of CTS pots and was going to replace them all and was pleasantly suprised to find that Gibson switched over to the good stuff for the newer ones. This axe does everything a good LP should, it does the mellow neck thing, the honky in-between thing, crunchy bridge thing, mellow jazz thing, super versatile. I have been using it for everything since I got it and I have not felt like I needed to pick up a different guitar yet. Very versatile. Can you tell I like it? :D

[monkmiles]

This is an old thread, but just curious if there are still a lot of fans and players of the Studio VM? I got mine in 10/2007 off the emporium here and have been happy ever since with it. I did have to file down a few fret ends, but that's no biggie for me. It's versatile, plays nice and looks and feels great.

[cvansickle]

I sold mine last year. Nothing wrong with the guitar, I just wanted something else more and it went on the block. Unfortunately, the resale was crap.