Gibson '58 Les Paul Reissue

It has simple features,the Strats I play have more variations (like the Laurence S-1) but it has the right P'ups and the Custom shop appears to be doing it right with the finish and original spec's.

I checked out at least a dozen new LP's at various stores.I was looking for that classic tone,not metal or over-distorted.It sounds REAL good.......The original winding makes a difference I think compared to a stock LP.

Decent action,etc.It could use a minor tune-up for the upper fret action.Great craftsmanship,it's definately the custom shop thing.They thought this one out very well and came up with a well built guitar.I shopped around until I found that magic one for me.It has the plain top which is totally classic!

I haven't had a chance to play live with it yet but I have a feeling that I won't be playing my favorite Strat as much.My only complaint is that it does not have the locking strap system but I realize it is a '58.

I have not contacted them and hope that I never will.......

I have been playing for forever and a day.This is the first time that I could even come close to being able to afford a real LP,although I purchaced it on the 1 year credit plan.This baby was worth it and the re-sale value will only increase in years to come.I've always had Strats and LP copys so this should be interesting as far as which one I'll choose from now on.I'm sure this LP will be there with the tone and playibility although they are a bit pricey $$$.

2005, nashville tennesse. its looks as good as it sounds. sweet iced tea burst, big tree trunk neck. pure mahogany. finish has some nice grain visible through it. burstbuckers make the perfect match with the bumble bee caps. the volume and tone knobs are pretty precise. But you can't expect perfection from those when they were designed in the 50's.

perfect for jazz through hard rock. anything inbetween. With my jcm 800 and fulldrive 2. the sound is orgasmic. no noises you wouldnt expect. not to much feeback on hi gains but its there. TONS of variety. can get a sweet crunch and smooth cleans. the guitar sound only the 58 and 59 les pauls can acheice.

what can i say, gibson finishes always look spectacular. and as far as setup....what can i say, gibson setups are never great. had a local music shop dress a couple frets and lower the action and it was ready to roll. oh yea... Its heavy.

gibsons are very realiable. never had problems with them.

never dealt with them

If you want the tone of the les paul. look no further. the sweet golden deep tone is here. The 59 is also very good. i guees it comes down to whether your a flametop man or see through man. and the jumbo/ medium fret difference. well the 58 is the jackpot for me and if you like classic rock, jazz, blues... BUY THIS . if you have 2400 dollars to spare... yes this guitar like most gibsons is overpriced. luckily i found a bargain.

2005 "Custom Shop" '58 model of the Les Paul Standard
Mahogony body with plain maple top with some nice grain visibility
Washed cherryburst finish
Kluson tuners with ivoroid/plastic
Gibson black HSC
LOTS OF CLASSIC LP TONE!!!
You know the rest

Equipped with a Burstbucker 1and 2 in neck and bridge, respectively.
Thick and rich through a Carr Rambler and a Fullton OCD
Quiet as a can be.
I am convinced Clapton recorded Cream recordings with a Les Paul Standard.
Joe Walsh tones galore! Hotel California to Funk 49 tones in this classic axe, as well!
Whatever...this guitar has that 'magic and vibe' not present in the '57 Goldtop LP I compared it to.

Fairly good set up, although I believe the strings were originally 10's...changed to 9's. Action was a little close on just the 1st & 3rd strings.
Bookmatched top? YES
Smooth frets, but I still get all my 'keepers' Plekked...this axe will get the Plek treatment.
No major flaws and I check these guitars like they are my first born.

Owned Gibsons before...still built like tanks.
I have solid confidence with Gibson Les Paul "Custm Shop" axes
Once caled Gibson years ago to ask a question on my ES-335 Historic...I just recall requesting a "level two" technician.
The folks answering phones at Gibson are inexperienced, probably minimum salary, and young!

Answered already.
Warranty?...I would not trust sending anythin back to the mfr unless the finish was doing something unusual. Hardware and electronic issues? I let my tech handle those issues.

Been playing for about 40 years on/off/on
Came across a truly good salesman at Guitar Center who answered all my questions and helped me make a choice between the '57 Goldtop LP and this one...without insulting my intelligence!
Love the tone and fat wide neck
Hate? This cracks me up! If I hated anything about this guitar I would not have purchased it!

Comps: '57 Goldtop LP and the '59 LP.
the '57 (same price) sounded thin in comparison.
The '59 sounds identical, but is about $2000 more for a flame top that I really dont need nor am wild about.

The washed cherryburst makes this guitar plenty exciting to look at.
the tone keeps me coming back for more!

Mine is a 2003 Historic. Huge neck. Very comfortable to play. Plain top. All the standard LP stuff; no need to repeat what everybody else has written. I'll give it a 10 because it has all I need.

I play 60's thru current rock & blues thru a Boogie Mark IV. Sounds phenominal! I also use a few pedals: Teese wah, Captain Coconut 2, EH Memory Man, Real Tube, Bad Bob, George L's. Super fat tone but I do not like the pots; like other reviewers said, they're either full on or full off. Would prefer a smoother taper. Neck pickup (git has BB's) is total ABB/Santana thru my Boogie.

Gibson is well known for setup issues but this one just needed a slight lowering in action and was ready to play. Finish was flawless.

I have played it live since 4-04 and has not let me down yet. I do not use git stands; I've seen too set neck Gibsons fall and crack. It goes into the case after every set. A pain, but worth it.

Never contacted them.

THE sound of rock and roll! It simply cannot get any better! I'd buy another in a heartbeat!

Mine was made in Tenessee in 2000, with 22 frets ( as usual ) and solid top standard honeyburst. It has a Mahogany neck and is fitted with a Fishman Powerbridge (for extra variety in tone..) Thats about all really, and other specs are about the same as every other one...

This Les Paul is the best guitar i've ever played by far. I play a lot of Classic rock/blues (Guns N' Roses, Aerosmith and Led Zepellin)
I use a Marshall MG50( I know, useless) with Vox Valvetronix SE pedals, and using this I can easily, with the help of the powerbridge) I can easily achieve something similar to Slash's sound or whatever I want.. Phenomenal amount of feedback( when required) at loud volumes. The only thing I get annoyed with is the fact that I keep having to buy whole packets of strings whenever I want one E string .

Guitar was of course set up with perfect action, pickup height, etc. and the neck was as smooth and playable as possible. Everything else was very well set up.

Although I have never gigged it.. it seems like this guitar is extremely durable, just by rehearsing (just started new band). Strap buttons are on tight and secure and I can really depend on it. Of course, nobody gigs without a backup, but if you had only this guitar you would have no major problems, except maybe string breakage.

Never used them. But from what i've heard, they're really reliable.

I have been playing for three years and am a well developed, consistent player. I have owned many guitars such as squire strats epiphone sg, fender strat, Gibson les paul double cutaway, but none of them even contend with the reissue.. If it were stolen, I'd claim another two, I like them so much (just in case one got stolen again) My favourite feature is the colour, it is still as bright as ever, not to mention unique.

2004 Gibson Historic R8 Plaintop. Washed cherry finish. Same general '58 LP specs. I'll give it a 9 since it is a plain-Jane top. But I like the simplicity.

Here's where the Historics shine. That long neck tenon causes these babies to resonate so much more than a regular Les Paul. The whole guitar projects sound - neck, body, headstock and all. ALso has to do with the good lighter mahogany the custom shop gets. The Burstbucker 1 & 2 are very vintage sounding and let the essence of the guitar to be heard instead of an overwound firecracker pickup. You can make them sound mean, however, with the right amp/pedal. I like hoe the BB's make each note sort of mushroom after the note is played. Again, very reminiscent of real vintage Les Pauls. I do not like the linear taper tone pots. They are either ON or OFF - no middle territory. Minus 1.

OK this wqas a "Blem" from Musicians Friend. I usually do not but from the "Wal Mart" of the music industry, but I found this deal and it was hard tp pass up with a 45 day return policy. I had read sometimes they move backstock through blem items, so I took a chance. The only thing I found was a couple knots in the grain that I think adds character (like Jimmy Page's). It had not been played - not a pick scratch at all!
This particular guitar has more yellow than most washed cherry bursts I have seen, It is beautiful.
I had to get used to the baseball bat neck, but found the only thing slowing me down was the new gummy nitro feeling all new nitro guitars have for a few months. I have gotten where I enjoy the neck and the extra beef it adds to the guitar.

Considering it was a Blem and I knew it, I am not taking any points.

By the way, the guy who mentioned the fading of the finish color to the binding: that's what they are supposed to do! They did that in teh 50's and your guitar is doing the same. It will eventually fade back after a few years. It's all part of the vintage specs. It'll be OK!

I used it at a gig 3 hours after I received it and it delivered. Tone machine.
The finish is thinner than Standard production LP's and will wear through faster, but that is like 50's specs.
I used it without a backup the first night, but it was a small laid back show at a club. For a bigger gig, I'd bring a backline.

Only dealt with Gibson once through a dealer about a cracked speed knob. Got one a couple days later. It was the dealer, not Gibson though.

(rant) I hate Gibson's new business practices however - cutting out the mom and pop stores by upping yearly minimums to impossible levels and only allowing the big 3 to sell online with pictures. So they lose points here.

PLaying 24 years. If stolen, I couldn't afford another, so I would have to sell my wife. I sold a LP Standard and a LP Jr. to finance this purchase, and it was absolutley worth it. The R8 plaintop is wonderful for those who want an affordable(?) Historic without paying $4000.

Mine is a 2001 '58 burst. Made in the Gibson Custom Shop, complete
with Certificate, custom art case, and all of the vintage appointments. The top is an even amber color with a fiddle back style
of pin stripe. The back of the neck and body are stained a dark
chestnut color which looks nice in contrast to the top. Nice FAT neck, almost too large, but still nice and comfortable. Nice light weight to the guitar.

The sound is nice and warm in the neck position. Bluesy if you will, with a nice sustain. Not muddy at all. The lead pick up is a sharp bite, very crisp and clear

The top is a perfect book matched fiddle back, pin stripe. Almost too perfect and too even. I have only seen the real deal in books, but it appears this type of figured top is not authentic. The more broad wavey patterns are, I think, more like the real thing. The dark stain of the back of the body and neck bleed into the binding. It looks sloppy, and inconsistant with the too perfect detailing of the maple top. For a $6000.00 msrp guitar, I am disappointed.

the guitar plays great and is intonated well. I have no reason not
to depend on it.

Never had to deal with the factory, or customer service.

I've been playing since I was 15 (26 years now) and I have owned many
different guitars over the years, some I wished I still had. I have a nice collection built up, and play all of them. This Les Paul is nice, but not a keeper. The sloppy application of the stain to the binding really bothers me every time I pick up the guitar...I guess I'm not in love with the thing. I bought it at a good price, but will use it as trading material for something else. I have a 1987 LP
flame top I bought new for $750.00 (yes, that's what they went for just 15 years ago)in fact, a LP standard around then cost $600.00. And they were made exactly the same way, without the sloppy workmanship. The only difference was, you didn't get some pretentious
certificate with the guitar. I gues that's why the same guitar today
costs five time as much. Just utter bullshit if you ask me. Before Guns N Roses broke, Les pauls were a dime a dozen.

Just sat in a music store this afternoon for an hour checking one of these baby's out. Features? Your standard Les Paul setup: A hunk of mahogony topped with maple, solid baseball bat mahogany neck. Plain sunburst finnish, no flame. Two humbuckers, three position toggle, two voulme two tone. Nothing fancy, but of course totally functional.

I played the LP through both a Soldano and a THD amp. Having owned several LP's including a 54 custom (yes a an original that supidly I sold years ago),two deluxes and a later custom, besides actually having played an original 1960, I was very curious to hear what this thing could do. With a bit of overdrive, in a word, TONE. The burstbuckers are the real thing. The bridge has that Clapton bluesbreaker's growl, and the neck is the "woman" tone to the max. And with a clean sound it's just as good.

It's an absolute testament to how well Gibson sets up their high end models when you can walk into a music store and pick a guitar up that has had no tweaking and it plays in perfect tune with low action and zero buzzing. The neck sahpe is definitely not my cup of tea: It's a real baseball bat, and since I have small hands, I like the 1960 style slimmmer feel. That said, I had absolutely no trouble flying all over this thing.

This guitar feels like the rock of Gibraltar. The high end Gibson LP's are very well built and I am sure this model will last for years.

In all the years I've owned Gibson's, I have never dealt with their customer support, but I have heard they are pretty decent.

I've been playing too long for my own good, and though I'm not a pro, I take guitar very seriously. As much as I value the technical ability I've developed, getting a great tone is just as important a consideration. While I realize that a lot of your sound is in your hands, this guitar is a SERIOUS tone machine. Even though the neck is a bit too big for me, I really enjoyed playing this guitar and was fortunate that the salespeople just left me alone to give it a workout. There really is nothing like a good Gibson Les Paul for that serious humbucker solid body vibe. Gibson has a real winnner in this model, and it is certainly worth the difference in price over the usual Standard model. For my taste though I want to check out the 1960 reissue for the slimmer neck.

I bought this new in 2003. It's a rare bird, a Tobacco burst '58 reissue with a Brazilian fretboard and a factory installed Bigsby. I had gone through four different LP's before I found it, and I need to give props to Steve at Wildwood Guitars (best store ever) for bringing us together. Over the phone, I told Steve about my disappointments with other LP's, and after listening like a patient therapist, he suggested this one. Anyway, it arrived here in California and BLEW MY HEAD OFF.

I play in a touring band that does original rock. I went through a Fender stage when I was doing more funky/blues based stuff. But for this band, only a Les Paul would cut it. And this guitar sounds better than anything I've ever played. Tremendous sustain, rich tones with much more character and complexity than I?d experienced with other Pauls. I was nervous about the Bigsby at first, wondering how it would affect the tone and sustain, but even unplugged it sings. The BurstBuckers are a vast improvement over the 490/500 series. But even so, I did replace the bridge pickup with a Duncan Seth Lover, and that really opened up the tone (that?s why it gets a 9 here). I also believe that the Brazilian board really helps. If you have the means, I recommend you find one before they're out of reach. Recent Historics have also been updated with original spec CTS pots and Bumblebee caps, and you can really tell. It nails all of the classic LP tones: Page, Green, Allman, it?s all there. And as a bonus, the Bigsby gives me the Neil Young option. Anyway, it?s all there.

When you go to the big chain stores, you don?t really get to see the best of what Gibson is doing these days. They?re amazing. The one piece body is light and the grain is beautifully straight and uniform. Growing up as Fender guy, the big fatty neck was a pretty serious change, but it didn?t take long for me to become a total convert. I can?t put this guitar down. It?s superlative in every respect, totally beautiful. I like PRS?s as much as anyone, they?re wonderful guitars, but there?s nothing like a Les Paul, and now there?s no alternative. They?re making grails again folks.

It?s getting played hard regularly, and gives me a great sense of security. Even the vintage style Klusens are performing well. Yes, the nitro finish is soft, and the back will get some wear, but they?re made to be played. In 20 years they?ll say it has ?vibe.?

I?ve only dealt with Gibson to register the guitar, but they seem well organized for a company of their size. If I had any problems I would probably contact Wildwood first anyway.

My stage amp is a Bogner Shiva (get one), and for effects I use a Line 6 DL4. I also use a very nice Tom Anderson Strat, but since I got the Les Paul, it?s been pretty much benched. My home collection includes a real ?65 Strat and a ?66 Tele, but the Les Paul is not only the best guitar I own, it?s honestly the most inspiring and musical instrument I?ve ever played. It really IS that much better than the $1,800 Les Pauls out there. If it were stolen I wouldn?t buy another, I?d buy a baseball bat and cripple the dumb*ss that took it.

Gibson Custom Shop Historic 58 reissue. Mine has spectacular butterscotch flame top, nc finish. Vintage hardware with burstbuckers. Pleasingly fat neck. The rest of the usual LP features. 58 has lower frets than later mods., but very well finished and easy playing. Bought 10/03.

The tone of the gods. Think Bloomfield, early Clapton, any late 50s early 60s blueser. It's the sound so many try to emulate, and while they do get close, it can only come from a real vintage or reisue LP. Tone is thick, sometimes booming, up front, and always expressive. Played thru my Carr Rambler, it can melt souls. Easily lights up any drive boxes (I use a Barber DD). I play mostly blues, and this is an ideal choice for such.

The finished product is gorgeous, but has a few quirks. I don't understand why Gibson goes so far in finishing this guitar, yet doesn't use a bone nut! What's there is functional, but bone would look a lot better, and probably play better as well. For this price, one should expect that they'd follow through. I'll probably replace w/unbleached bone eventually. Again, the frets, while perfectly finished, are somewhat lower on a 58, but once you're used to them, it plays easy. The neck on this one is awesome. Pleasingly thick, straight as can be, and just tapered enough to feel great. The top is a well matched very flamey maple. Set up was near perfect, and all controls were smooth and sure. Binding looks super, and is applied as one would expect a real 58 was done. I made some minor adjustments to the pups, but that was to taste.

While this is a very stout and solid axe, I would never gig w/such a fine piece! That's what the less expensive modern LP's are for! Studio? Yes. Home? Yes. Gig? No way! Doesn't beer burn right though nitrocellulose?

Seems good. I called the custom shop where this was made and the builder was happy to answer all questions. No problems, but I wanted their opinion on a few things.

I've been playing feverishly for 5+ years, and already been through my share of high end axes. Currently own a PRS McCarty (great LP like vintage sounds), an Am. Deluxe Tele, and a National Reso. Play all through an awesome Carr Rambler. While all of my current holdings are keepers, this LP is the one that moves me the most. The Tele is oh-so-sweet, the PRS is incredibly refined, but the LP, quirks and all, is the one that would break my heart the most if lost or stolen. I wouldn't run to replace it, however, as I'd take the time to find the just the right one. You'll know if you should buy one of these when you play one.