Historic 56 Goldtop Les Paul Vs. Custom Shop 51 Nocaster Relic ??

[Madcap]

Hello everybody,
a kind help from Your part is really needed.
Mostly I play "clean" Blues, Jazz (à la Wes) and some Progressive-Rock.
I usually play through a Bruno Cowtipper 45 matched together with a Clark Piedmont.
I already own 3 Strats and an Ibanez AM 200 (semi-hollow, humbucking-equipped).
I would like a guitar "richer", "rounder", "thicker" (fatter) sounding than a Strat but still more dynamic, more detailed, harmonically richer and sweeter than an humbucking-equipped guitar.
Tone-wise I read great things about two totally different "beasts": the 56 Goldtop Les Paul and the 51 Nocaster (the relevant Custom Shop versions).
Unluckily I have no chance to test any of them.
So, please, I'm asking for a kind help from someone who tonally knows them both.
Tone-wise, how would You compare them ??
(I'm talking about the CLEAN sound of the relevant neck pickups ONLY)
Looking forward to hearing from You, thank You so much indeed in advance for any precious help You'll be kind enough to give me.

[Marty s Horne]

Judging by what you're looking for, I'd go with a P-90 Paul.

[Ville]

+1 on the p90 les paul

[RichSZ]

I am going to suggest the Goldtop Les Paul Deluxe that Musician's Friend is selling for $1499.

I had one myself (sold it due to an R9 purchase...I miss it!), and likened the tone to (warning!! cliche' on the way --> a "Tele on steroids".

The minihumbuckers really had the clairty and bite of a tele with a rounder, thicker tone. This was with both pickups on.

I eventually put P90's in the Deluxe, but preferred the minihumbucker tone, which was very similar to the P90 tone, but much quieter with only 1 pickup selected.

The guitar needed a pro setup up when I received it, but other than that it was constructed really good and was very toneful.

-Rich

[DrJamie]

I love the tone of my Historic '56. If you get one, just be prepared to replace the plastic nut, and properly set it up, including a possible fret dressing. Mine is a 1996, and maybe Gibson has improved on the build quality since then, but I doubt it. I do get alot of positive feedback on the tone of this thing when I take it out. I would also like a mini-humbucker LP, someday.

[RickC]

I always think of Teles and LPs as cut from the same cloth; they both have a very articulate character to the sound.

That said, I would go against the tide here and recommend the Tele. To me, Teles have a clearer voice and more variety to their sound; LPs are a little more one-dimensional.

I don't think you'd be unhappy with either choice; that's just the way I would lean.

/rick

[Dave Orban]

Originally posted by Ville
+1 on the p90 les paul

...and another +1

[tuna]

I would look at a Historic 1960 Les Paul Special with the wrap around tailpeice and the P-90's. That all mahogany body with that set up will growl and it has a great tone. If you really want the Goldtop though, I'd go with the '54 (wrap around tailpeice).

[aeolian]

You're basically talking about the two guitars RF used for most of the recordings that folks consider his holy grail tone. Except that he used real ones, and the LP is a 54. I found one new '54 reissue that has the magic, but just don't have the spare change for that toy. The few '56 reissues (new and older) that I've played don't really have the same responsiveness. Played a couple of older '54 reissues that were better, but not as good as that new on up in Redwood City. I think there's something to the single stop bar tailpiece that gives it a more solid sound on the bridge pickup, and a quicker attack. For a voice inbetween a Strat and 335, it would be a great choice.

[Mark Robinson]

As much as I love Telecasters, the neck pickup on them is frequently nothing to write home about. An aftermarket pickup with a less lossy cover, or no cover, will remove the wet blanket effect. Many vintage neck pickups really are dark. Your Strats are going to be more satisfying IMHO.

P-90 Les Pauls are great. The neck pickup is usable. I also really like the sound of the two pickups together. The combination can get a tonality through a clean amp, that reminds me of the footprint of a Fender Rhodes. IMHO Gibson's P-90's can be inconsistent, so it's a shame you cant find a way to audition some guitars. Also be prepared for quite a bit of hum in playing situations where there are florescent fixtures or neon signs.

[59burst]

Originally posted by aeolian
You're basically talking about the two guitars RF used for most of the recordings that folks consider his holy grail tone. Except that he used real ones, and the LP is a 54. I found one new '54 reissue that has the magic, but just don't have the spare change for that toy. The few '56 reissues (new and older) that I've played don't really have the same responsiveness. Played a couple of older '54 reissues that were better, but not as good as that new on up in Redwood City. I think there's something to the single stop bar tailpiece that gives it a more solid sound on the bridge pickup, and a quicker attack. For a voice inbetween a Strat and 335, it would be a great choice.

aeolian -

can you say more about the '54 with the magic? I assume it is/was at Gelb Music? Can you remember what they were asking for it? I'm kind of on the lookout for a nice one.

Thanks!

[aeolian]

Yeah, ask Erik. It was there when I picked up my Fuchs last year and we both played it. Was there the last time I looked. They had it marked down at the private sale in the fall to under $2K but I just couldn't justify it. My hand cramps up playing those kind of necks too long so I wouldn't use it as a gigging guitar, and unlike some folks here, I can't justify long dough for something to plink around the house with. But this one has the open, agressive yet solid neck tone with a solid bridge that doesn't get thin and piercing. Ultimate BlueLine tone with the Fuchs. Erik plays with his fingers and he was nailing it too.

[59burst]

aeolian -

Thanks for the info. I'll try to get down there soon and check it out. Do you remember if it was light/medium/heavy?

[malabarmusic]

I'll toss in my $0.02 as I happen to own both an R6 and a relic'd Nocaster Thinline built by Chris Fleming.

The R6 is a Les Paul. I state this obvious fact because while the P90s offer a slightly different flavor, it's still the same *fundamental* sound. Just as Cabernet and Pinot Noir have very different nuances, but at the end of the day they're both red wine.

To me the LP is a rock machine, first and foremost. It certainly meets your criteria of "richer", "rounder", "thicker" (fatter) sounding than a Strat but IMO it is not necessarily "more dynamic, more detailed, harmonically richer and sweeter than an humbucking-equipped guitar." An R6 is basically an R7 with the humbuckers swapped out for P90s, so if we use the R7 as a reference for a "humbucking-equipped guitar," then I don't believe the R6 is not going to give the meaningful difference you seek.

If you like the idea of a Nocaster, I'd strongly recommend seeking out the Nocaster Thinline. It's a "reissue" of a guitar Fender never made -- basically a melding of the earlier Nocaster appointments and the later Thinline body style and pickguard. David Grissom owns one, and in a VG interview he described it as "Tele meets 335," and I think it's an apt characterization. This guitar has the dynamics/detail/richness/sweetness mojo in spades. Compared to my Strat, it has a much bigger and clearer low end, and (like most Teles vs. Strats) a more extended and sparkly top end that can be tamed with the tone knob. I'm not a blues/jazz guy, but I would think that it would be a monster in that application. I can vouch that it brings on the rock as well as any solid Tele I've heard, but it "breathes" in a way that a solid plank cannot.

From what I've heard, the NC Thinlines were only done as a limited run by Chris Fleming, so like all Masterbuilt Fenders they're an upcharge over standard CS fare. The other thing worth noting is that I've played four of these and the necks vary quite a bit.

Here's a pair of pics of mine:

Good luck with the quest.

- DB

[pbradt]

Can you tell?

Let me know when y'all figure it out.