Gibson "The Paul"

[yucatown]

Studio-ish looking. I had the chance of picking one up for cheap and didn't. Wish I had, though. Definitely a different tonal flavor.

[SMark]

I had an early walnut version a few years ago that a previous owner had put Duncan 59s in and it played and sounded great. I should have kept it.

[david eaton]

I've got an SG firebrand that I bought new in 1980...was my main guitar for a long time. Now retired, though it does sit out on a stand.

[TaylorPlayer]

Cool thread, I came in today looking for opinions on "The Paul" as well. I just traded a 1967 Gibson LG0 (solid mahogany acoustic) for a 1979 Gibson "The Paul" a couple days ago and after cleaning it up and throwing on a set of D'Adderio 12's with a wound G string on her, I think I am in love!

Mine has T tops even though the guy who I got it from thought they were Dirty fingers. It only has 6 screws exposed on each instead of 12 like Dirty Fingers. I am OK with that as I like T Tops better anyway. They sound really vintage and the sustain in this guitar is to die for! I also love the location of the pickup selector switch. It doesn't get in my way like normal Les Pauls do. Here are a few photos of my new The Paul. It was built in June 1979, just a few days after I graduated High School... Wish I had it back then, but I am loving it now!!!

[Tone_Terrific]

Originally Posted by ajchance

I had an '81 (I think) - all mahogony. Also picked it up from a pawnshop. It was a dog. Couldn't get it setup worth a darn and it had a bland, muddy tone. Got rid of it as fast as I could. My contrasting $.02

I haven't encountered one in a while and had rejected them on this basis, myself, plus the cheapish feel vs a LP. So, try b4 U buy....another YMMV.

[candid_x]

It's my fav HB I've owned. I didn't know the board was ebony though? Thought mine was a dark rosewood. Not too bright nor dark sounding. I don't think it had a finish, just a natural buffing, using the natural black walnut oil. The lead player in a band I was managing in the early 80's also had one, played through a 50 watt plexi half stack - sounded great.

[TaylorPlayer]

Originally Posted by candid_x

It's my fav HB I've owned. I didn't know the board was ebony though? Thought mine was a dark rosewood. Not too bright nor dark sounding. I don't think it had a finish, just a natural buffing, using the natural black walnut oil. The lead player in a band I was managing in the early 80's also had one, played through a 50 watt plexi half stack - sounded great.

Definatly Ebony on mine.... Same as my 1993 Taylor 612C and my old 1969 Framus 12 string. Much different than the rosewood boards I own on my other guitars. I tend to prefer Ebony as it takes little to no maintenance and is a much harder wood that is more similar to Brazilian Rosewood than East Indian Rosewood which is more common today.

[candid_x]

I just remember it being a great value, new. Maybe ascetically it wasn't a 'real' LP, but I was surprised at the weight, balance, playability and warm sound. Loved the pickups. Funny cuz I typically don't like ebony boards. It was considered a budget guitar by Gib standards, so I'm all the more surprised they used ebony. Where they really saved was in the finish, or non-finish. Mine got shiny at the forearm from use. There was nothing I didn't like about it, but gravitated to single coils.

Taylor, the two samples I know of were both considerably darker walnut.

[TaylorPlayer]

Originally Posted by candid_x

I just remember it being a great value, new. Maybe ascetically it wasn't a 'real' LP, but I was surprised at the weight, balance, playability and warm sound. Loved the pickups. Funny cuz I typically don't like ebony boards. It was considered a budget guitar by Gib standards, so I'm all the more surprised they used ebony. Where they really saved was in the finish, or non-finish. Mine got shiny at the forearm from use. There was nothing I didn't like about it, but gravitated to single coils.

Taylor, the two samples I know of were both considerably darker walnut.

Mine is pretty dark in person, but I used my Iphone for the photos since my "Good" camera went on the fritz while I was cleaning up and shooting "The Paul". It may have affected the color of the photos somewhat.

I would love to see more photos of these babies though.. SHOW US YOUR "The Paul's"........

[EdMan57]

I picked up a clean '79 The Paul for $400 back in '95.The Dirty Fingers had lots of output but sounded rather muddy and lacked detail through my MKIIC+.I installed a set of Duncan '59's,which made it sound much more "authentic",at least to my ears.The neck was quite fast and it gave up great sustain,but it sounded more like my friend's Explorer than any "real" Les Paul that I have owned or played.Overall,I found it to be a pretty cool Gibson on the cheap.Anyways,I sold it after a couple of years for $500.



Ed

[TaylorPlayer]

Originally Posted by Blues Power

I Bought mine new in Dec of 1980. Paid $375 with the chain saw case. I owrked a lot of OT in them days ot pay for it lol.
Absolutly the best and most comfortable geetar I ever played, and light to. Kalamazoo built to boot
I changed out the T Tops in 82 and wish I hadnt and thyere long long gone to who knows where. she stays in tune for ions and the tone is big, clear and fat. The chrome is still shiney unlike my 02 which is dulled already

The neck is fast and still have the original un touched frets. you can see how flat theyve become but it still plays great

the only mod youll need is to change out the stock 100K vol pots for a pair of 300 and she'll be real sweet.
today i see them going for about $800-1000 and def worth it imo

EDIT: oh yeah the body i think is 7 peice and the neck 5 so its not like a real solid body guitar. that bothers some people but i guess thats why they cost what they cost back in the day.

You mentioned yours was Kalamazoo built??? The guitar dater project thing that I used (I know it is not always right) said mine was built in Nashville, TN. Were they still building them in Kalamazoo in 1979 or is it Nashville? Mine is dated June of 1979.

[hubberjub]

I've never owned one but have always loved the looks of them. Simple guitars appeal to me. I have owned a Gibson Les Paul Studio since 1993 and I have always disliked the fact that it had trapezoid inlays. Putting nice inlays on a Les Paul with no binding is akin to putting rims on a Honda Civic. "The Paul" has a great workhorse look to it.

[mill1341]

Growing up, my Dad had an '81 with a mahogany body and T-Tops (he actually still has it). It was super comfortable to play - great neck, decent body contours, and light weight. I think it sounded pretty nice too, but closer to an SG than an LP.

[MisterTV]

TaylorPlayer, I recognize that wooden bench from your Craigslist ads! I remember seeing your LGO posting; congrats on picking up The Paul.

I also got a '79 Walnut model through CL, but mine was in much worse shape that yours. I ended up replacing the bridge, the nut, the input jack,the caps and the pots. I'm sure I've sunk way more money into it than I can ever expect to get out, but it's a serious player's guitar now. Love the neck profile and the ebony fretboard.

I'll post some pics when I get a chance...

[TaylorPlayer]

Originally Posted by MisterTV

TaylorPlayer, I recognize that wooden bench from your Craigslist ads! I remember seeing your LGO posting; congrats on picking up The Paul.

I also got a '79 Walnut model through CL, but mine was in much worse shape that yours. I ended up replacing the bridge, the nut, the input jack,the caps and the pots. I'm sure I've sunk way more money into it than I can ever expect to get out, but it's a serious player's guitar now. Love the neck profile and the ebony fretboard.

I'll post some pics when I get a chance...

LOL!!! Yep, that is me... The 67 LG0 was a fun guitar but I preferred my 1964 LG1 which has a wider neck than the LG0 plus it has a bone saddle and rosewood bridge instead of the Gibson rosewood "adjustable" bridge. I think value wise we have to be very close and I am loving the tone out of "The Paul". The T tops sound great. I want to pull them to look at the back next string change but have never done that before and don't want to mess anything up. Any suggestions on the best way to check the back side of my pups without screwing anything up? (Excuse my ignorance, but I have played primarily acoustic guitars for the last 30 years. Electronics are still pretty new to me.... but I am loving the learning curve! )