View Full Version : LP Custom versus LP Standard....difference?
The primary difference is the carved mahogany versus carved maple top, and the ebony versus rosewood fingerboard. I would expect the mahogony top to be darker and the ebony board to be brighter...do these effects offset each other? Do the top and fingerboards differences result in a noticeable tone difference between them, or do they cancel each other out? Thanks in advance for any insight. :rockin
GCDEF
08-25-2009, 09:15 AM
Both have a maple cap
Ebony neck vs rosewood
Different binding and inlays
Depending on the year, different pickups.
cutaway
08-25-2009, 09:18 AM
should just be called Les Paul "Different" because there's nothing custom about it unless you asked them to make it like that
gkoelling
08-25-2009, 09:22 AM
Historically, it was an all mahogany body.
This is a 1957 RI
http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/2/0/7/448207.jpg
Pushead
08-25-2009, 11:04 AM
should just be called Les Paul "Different" because there's nothing custom about it unless you asked them to make it like that
Since 2003 they've made them at the Custom shop.
Rock Johnson
08-25-2009, 11:07 AM
Being made at the Custom Shop, unfortunately, doesn't make them truly Custom.
SgtThump
08-25-2009, 11:09 AM
Being made at the Custom Shop, unfortunately, doesn't make them truly Custom.
This guitar was a "custom built" guitar for Les Paul the man, wasn't it?
Ud Reks
08-25-2009, 11:15 AM
Customs do not have maple tops. They have mahogany bodies no tops.
Unless we're talking about the Historic models, the Black Beauties, etc.
For me the main difference is the long neck tenon. I have AB'd a lot of LPs, and the difference in neck tenon is stunning in terms of its impact on the sound. The Standards have a ton of glue holding the neck joint together. The Customs and Historics have some glue, but the long neck tenon makes for a much tighter fit.
Fixxxer
08-25-2009, 11:16 AM
For what this is worth,
I was a les Paul Standard guy for the longest time as the tops were mesmerizing etc, however if you want a rippin guitar there is something to be said for the Customs.
I know customs can have the nicer tops, but an ebony custom just looks right, and more importantly than looking the part, the customs really cut and nice.
All things equal, I love my 2002 R8's, but man the customs are allot of fun. To be more specific the '68 customs with the fat necks are my guitar of choice.
The 57's with the Mahagony tops are nice, but I just prefer the maple cap with the ebny boards.
:banana
Fixxxer
08-25-2009, 11:19 AM
Customs do not have maple tops. They have mahogany bodies no tops.
Unless we're talking about the Historic models, the Black Beauties, etc.
For me the main difference is the long neck tenon. I have AB'd a lot of LPs, and the difference in neck tenon is stunning in terms of its impact on the sound. The Standards have a ton of glue holding the neck joint together. The Customs and Historics have some glue, but the long neck tenon makes for a much tighter fit.
customs have maple caps, not the long neck tenons...
The productions customs are now made in the custom shop and have a CS in the serial number.
The '68's have long neck tenons and maple caps
The 57's have long neck tenons and mahogany caps
rmconner80
08-25-2009, 11:20 AM
should just be called Les Paul "Different" because there's nothing custom about it unless you asked them to make it like that
We'd need to change the name of the Tele Custom and the PRS Custom 22 and 24 while we're at it. :rolleyes:
SgtThump
08-25-2009, 11:24 AM
customs have maple caps, not the long neck tenons...
The productions customs are now made in the custom shop and have a CS in the serial number.
The '68's have long neck tenons and maple caps
The 67's have long neck tenons and mahogany caps
And don't the '50s Reissue Customs have mahogany tops and the long neck tenon? I think the answer is "of course."
Fixxxer
08-25-2009, 11:26 AM
And don't the '50s Reissue Customs have mahogany tops and the long neck tenon? I think the answer is "of course."
good catch... typo on my part.. is should be 57 not 67.
Sloop John B
08-25-2009, 11:41 AM
Do they all have small frets? Or is it just a certain time period that gave them the nickname "fretless wonder"?
SgtThump
08-25-2009, 11:48 AM
Do they all have small frets? Or is it just a certain time period that gave them the nickname "fretless wonder"?
Definitely only a certain timeframe, but I'm not exactly sure of the years. Without a doubt, the '71 and '73 LP Customs I owned had the super short "fretless wonder" frets. Hard as heck to bend on those.
Not sure if it was from the late '60s to the mid '70s or what. I don't think any of the current LP Custom models have those frets and I'm thinking they only did that for a few years?
SgtThump
08-25-2009, 11:49 AM
good catch... typo on my part.. is should be 57 not 67.
Ahhh, I see. Also the '54 Reissue or whatever that one is with the black single coil pickups.
Fixxxer
08-25-2009, 12:08 PM
Ahhh, I see. Also the '54 Reissue or whatever that one is with the black single coil pickups.
P90's and I think that is a 54 custom.:crazy
GCDEF
08-25-2009, 12:14 PM
Customs do not have maple tops. They have mahogany bodies no tops.
Unless we're talking about the Historic models, the Black Beauties, etc.
For me the main difference is the long neck tenon. I have AB'd a lot of LPs, and the difference in neck tenon is stunning in terms of its impact on the sound. The Standards have a ton of glue holding the neck joint together. The Customs and Historics have some glue, but the long neck tenon makes for a much tighter fit.
Today’s Les Paul Custom is based on the model from the mid-1950s, but with several modern appointments. The body is crafted with a hand-carved maple top, which is fitted to a body made from a solid piece of mahogany with strategically routed holes to lessen the weight of the guitar, resulting in a Les Paul with enhanced acoustic qualities and improved resonance.
http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/Les-Paul/Gibson-Custom/Les-Paul-Custom.aspx
Jim S
08-25-2009, 12:58 PM
P90's and I think that is a 54 custom.:crazy
on the right, not to be confused with the R4 goldtop on the left
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v170/IntenseJim/Jim%20guitar%20bass%20amps/R4%20%20Les%20Paul%20Custom/p90GIBSONS.jpg
Bankston
08-25-2009, 01:45 PM
I have an '07 Custom and an '04 Standard.
The Custom is heavier than the Standard, although both are weight-relieved. The Custom has a very chunky low end and singing highs, making it ideal for heavy rock. The neck plays fast for an LP and I find shred-style licks to be easier to play on it. Factory pickups are 498/490 combo but the 498 has an alnico V magnet. As stated before, the Custom is a standard production model for the Custom Shop and current models do have maple caps.
Standards have more midrange to my ears and the factory pickups are Burstbuckers.
Nu18F
08-25-2009, 03:25 PM
Did any of the Custom's slip through with a mahogany body and maple neck ?
Mikey2201
08-25-2009, 03:44 PM
I have one of each and love them both however i prefer the custom in playability and sound. It just feels right and absolutely screams.
http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/367/lp004qj1.jpg
http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/6959/guitar015ur6.jpg
SgtThump
08-25-2009, 03:48 PM
P90's and I think that is a 54 custom.:crazy
P90s ARE single coils and of course I meant a 54 Reissue "Custom." :rolleyes:
Pushead
08-25-2009, 08:21 PM
Did any of the Custom's slip through with a mahogany body and maple neck ?
Les Pauls from the era from late 76 until about 83 or 84 had maple necks (except for a few special made models like the Heritage 80 or "reissue" models).
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k71/Pushead_cic/Guitars/77cream_21.jpg
Fireball XL5
08-25-2009, 08:35 PM
The primary difference is the carved mahogany versus carved maple top, and the ebony versus rosewood fingerboard. I would expect the mahogony top to be darker and the ebony board to be brighter...do these effects offset each other? Do the top and fingerboards differences result in a noticeable tone difference between them, or do they cancel each other out? Thanks in advance for any insight. :rockin
I own an all mahogany Historic R7 Custom as well as a few Historic R9's and an R7 Goldtop with maple tops. I can't say with any certainty how much of their differences are attributed to the all mahogany vs. maple top, or the ebony vs. rosewood fingerboards (???)... but to my ears, my all mahogany Custom is more midrangey whereas the R9's & R7 with the maple tops have a more full frequency sound with more highs and lows.
They have a different feel and response to their attack as well. The Custom has a very immediate attack whereas the maple top/rosewood board guitars have a somewhat more relaxed attack.
Best analogy I can give is it's sort of like the difference between playing an amp that is solid state rectified as opposed to one thats tube rectified. The maple top/rosewood board models have more of an elastic feel and the notes bloom after the attack. The Custom doesn't have that bloom -but punches harder.
Both are GREAT guitars yet different enough to justify owning both IMO. :beer
Man, there is some really good info in this thread....I really appreciate the feedback! I have only owned R7/8/9 Historics and Standards in the past, never really owned a Custom. I am definitely going to check out some Customs now...I really like the solid-state versus tube-rectified analogy.
gkoelling
08-26-2009, 05:24 AM
Les Pauls from the era from late 76 until about 83 or 84 had maple necks (except for a few special made models like the Heritage 80 or "reissue" models).
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k71/Pushead_cic/Guitars/77cream_21.jpg
more pics, please!
Pushead
08-26-2009, 06:01 AM
more pics, please!
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k71/Pushead_cic/Guitars/77cream_17.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k71/Pushead_cic/Guitars/77cream_18.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k71/Pushead_cic/Guitars/77cream_19.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k71/Pushead_cic/Guitars/77cream_16.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k71/Pushead_cic/Guitars/77cream_14.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k71/Pushead_cic/Guitars/7_single_cuts_04.jpg
It's a 77, oddly enough, made on the day I was born (I had been looking for about 7 years). She wasn't original when I got her, she had a Super Distortion at the bridge which was horrible, and all of the hardware was badly corroded. I like the changes I made to it, and won't sell it, so I don't worry about value too much.
RJLII
08-26-2009, 06:19 AM
Yet another opinion.....................
In my experience, LP Customs have been available with both Maple caps and all Mahogany bodies. I've seen them with both Maple and Mahogany necks as well. My favorite recipe for the LP Custom is all Mahogany like this:
http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/2/0/7/448207.jpg
You get a crisp attack from the Ebony FB and a nice warm tone from the Mahogany neck and body. I do not like the sound of the Maple capped versions, as they sound "brittle" to my ear. Maybe that's just me. In either case, I prefer the sound of the Rosewood FB Standards over the LP Customs of any flavor. Again, maybe that's just me.
explorer76
08-26-2009, 07:01 AM
Pushead....I've never cared for the goldtop look but that particular guitar is bada$$ looking!!
Jim S
08-26-2009, 07:10 AM
Pushead....I've never cared for the goldtop look but that particular guitar is bada$$ looking!!
Is it a goldtop or a yellowed, aged artic white?
,
Pushead
08-26-2009, 07:23 AM
Pushead....I've never cared for the goldtop look but that particular guitar is bada$$ looking!!
Thanks, but yeah it used to be whatever they called "white" back then (Alpine White, or Arctic or something). You can see in the shots of the back of the neck, and the bottom where the clear has worn away or chipped off. The yellow has come through a long life in clubs and on tour.
I don't know the exact lineage of the guitar, but the case has "Luther Vandros World Tour 1982" stickers on it, and the guy I bought it from was in an Atlanta area Punk band for several years. I know the guitar itself had a sticker on the front for quite a while, as it's a slightly different shade of yellow than the rest of the guitar.
g-mane
08-26-2009, 08:19 AM
I own an all mahogany Historic R7 Custom as well as a few Historic R9's and an R7 Goldtop with maple tops. I can't say with any certainty how much of their differences are attributed to the all mahogany vs. maple top, or the ebony vs. rosewood fingerboards (???)... but to my ears, my all mahogany Custom is more midrangey whereas the R9's & R7 with the maple tops have a more full frequency sound with more highs and lows.
They have a different feel and response to their attack as well. The Custom has a very immediate attack whereas the maple top/rosewood board guitars have a somewhat more relaxed attack.
Best analogy I can give is it's sort of like the difference between playing an amp that is solid state rectified as opposed to one thats tube rectified. The maple top/rosewood board models have more of an elastic feel and the notes bloom after the attack. The Custom doesn't have that bloom -but punches harder.
Both are GREAT guitars yet different enough to justify owning both IMO. :beer
+1 Great description of the differences between standard and custom.
Definitely only a certain timeframe, but I'm not exactly sure of the years. Without a doubt, the '71 and '73 LP Customs I owned had the super short "fretless wonder" frets. Hard as heck to bend on those.
Not sure if it was from the late '60s to the mid '70s or what.
I had a '75 Custom and it had the tiny frets. I bought it some time in '78 and got rid of it very quickly due to the fret issue.
Fixxxer
08-26-2009, 09:18 PM
Man, there is some really good info in this thread....I really appreciate the feedback! I have only owned R7/8/9 Historics and Standards in the past, never really owned a Custom. I am definitely going to check out some Customs now...I really like the solid-state versus tube-rectified analogy.
Definitely get a custom. If you can, get a '68 Reissue. Its not weight relieved, and has a maple top, mahogany neck and body.
Also get black.... or white....:D
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