Gibson '58 Les Paul Reissue

All of this has been covered. Mine is a Washed Cherry version with great grain. Hand made in the USA.

I must say I bough this throught the internet and I was concerned that I would be dissapointed in sound. I was VERY pleased. I had a 30 day no questions asked return policy...I knew I would keep this due to it's warm tone. I have 5 LP standards ranging from late 70s to early 2000s. This makes them all look like LP copies tonewise.

Nothing short of perfect. I only had to touch up the string height as it was a bit too low for my liking...but never buzzed (even with action of 1mm at the 12th fret)

Every LP I have owned has been bullet proof. I expect this will be the same.

No Need.

I've been playing for 30 years and I have over 40 guitars. This guitar ranks as one of my top 2 guitars due to the fabulous tone and flawless workmanship. I really expected to send it back but once I played it...it was mine. I truly though the ratings on this site were too good to be true but I'm telling you...this is truly a nice instrument. Better than I expected. I think Gibson has their act together with the Custom Shop line...

I'm pretty sure everyone is familiar with the standard les paul features. It came with all the hang tags is if the guitar was being sold in a late 1950's store window, which i thought was a nice touch. The neck is by far the fattest one i've ever played, adding a very "solid" feel to the guitar although it is a bit uncomfortable for lead playing. The frets seem to be lower and thinner than on modern les pauls, which i like since i'm used to fender style guitars. Weight isn't really a big issue since i usually play sitting down. This guitar doesn't seem too heavy anyways. The tuners, while performing their job well seem to have too course of adjustment for tuning the instrument, always causing strings to go sharp or flat. Hard to rate the features here since its basically a replica of an old guitar produced in the 50's.

The neck pup which i believe to be a burstbucker I sounds great. Clean and distorted sounds are very clear even when playing 4 note chords with a variety of voicings. The bridge pickup however is not quite to my liking. By far the most treble heavy pup i've heard in an already somewhat bright sounding guitar. The lack of wax potting becomes very apparent under a bit of distortion when the guitar begins to squeal with uncontrollable unwanted feedback. After some deliberation i decided to replace the bridge pickup with a seymour duncan sh-4 jb model pickup. I figured having a guitar that gives a satisfying sound is far more important than preserving the vintage "purity" of a reissue model instrument. The sound with the jb is much better. Although the jb is known as a very trebly pickup the highs are never ear piercing or unpleasant. I do wish it was a bit lower output, but i guess nothing is perfect.

The guitar came setup with uncomfortably high action but thats pretty easy to adjust with a few simple turns of the thumbscrews. I prefer the plain top, since i find the excessive "Flame" finishes on some les pauls to be gaudy. The plastic input jack is pretty cheap and broke 2 years after playing in a casual home setting. The generous coats of nitro lacquer give the guitar a sticky feel with a shiny appearance. I think it's the lacquer which also makes the guitar feel "high quality" and classy compared to lower cost models with satin finishes. It should be noted however, that i get a similar feel from guitars with massive coatings of polyurethane. (such as fender japan guitars)

Seems like it would withstand live playing, although personally i would be quite hesitant to play such an expensive guitar live.

Overall a good quality guitar for an inflated price. Around a year after buying this Gibson raised the price of this model by around a thousand dollars. Whats worse is, the new 58' reissues i've looked at in stores seem to have finishes that have been artificially worn. I think my les paul with a shiny new finish looks much better, and i certainly wouldn't pay 1000 dollars extra to have someone beat it up. I received this guitar as a graduation gift and am very thankful for it, perhaps to the point of constantly babying it and sometimes being afraid to play it. It seems to have held up well after a few years of usage, and I doubt I'll ever sell it. I guess the guitar's relatively high resale value and gibson's tendency to raise their prices arbitrarily pushes the overall rating to a 7.5-8.

its a les paul--same features for over 50 yrs. not too many, not too few. perfect. has the bumble bee type caps (checked them) and the newer pleked neck. not sure the caps make a big diff but they are much larger than the cheapo's they put in the pre-VOS models. The VOS finish cras rubs off nicely leaving a nice soft finish.

i was really thinking about collings (new City Limits model) or one of the other super well made les copies, but found this one on sale a the local store and it was PERFECT...why pay more for a copy that doesn't nail the sound? i love distortion but also demand a good clean sound for jazz and blues--this one does it. pups are quiet until engaged and the sound is really rich--vermont syrup in the neck position clean and nice bite to the bridge. like i said, this was the sound i was after and the clone guys seem to always be a few degrees off.

my top is plain but amazingly pretty--no mineral flaws, real pretty grain and the bottom piece has some nice little bits of flame that shimmer in the light. the back grain--straight, tight and close. the neck had a tad of relief--so i left the truss cover off for a day after a string change and continued to do super mini tweaks to get it perfect. let it sit over night and now is dead on. finish gets a 9--okay remember i was looking at collings' CL--you can't touch that. BUT if you PLAY a guitar instead of leave it in the case, this one rocks. In a few weeks the Collings would have heart breaking nicks all over it. this one, who cares--it adds to the vibe. I love the rounded VOS edges and the neck is killer--tad thinner than other 58's in the shop but steal enough beef.

along as it doesn't fall over in a stand a do a 'gibson' neck snap, this thing should hold up. being a high tech guy, i opened the cavities and the solder joints were excellent and routing nice--should hold up. at 9 lbs almost exactly, the thing is a tank. strap buttons--well, nice to look at but not as functional as a $2k instrument needs when being played. anyway a 10, as i don't know that there are any guitars more robust out there.

no clue. other than a neck warp or truss rod snap, can't imagine what could happen to it that i wouldn't want to fix myself. again the nerd in me wouldn't trust a factory tech---oh well.....

like i said, i looked at the alternative vendors as i had a naging thing about gibson's quality in the past--which sucked. guess what, they still let losers out the door and you can find them at a dealer near you--so take your time and find a good one. but when you find a killer, no other builder can match it. if it were ripped off, i would have to start another long search to find a replacement--then hope i could get a decent price on it. guitar stores are okay, but i rather be somewhere else playing.

You all know the specs. This is a 58 plaintop in beautiful washed cherry.

The sound is beyond belief. Gorgeous crunch with sweet overtones. Cleans up beautifully. Through the clean channel it's all Dicky and Duane. The combination of the lightweight mahogany and vintage circuit really nails the Holy Grail sound. I'm in love.

The guitar is beautiful. The finish is flawless. Gorgeous grain patterns for the maple and mahogany. The action was decent but there was a little too much relief in the neck. That was fixed by a quick trussrod tweak. The frets were finished very well. Lowered the action a touch and it plays like butter. Only one problem found. The nut slots for the high E and B strings were not cut straight. The other slots were not wide enough. The strings were binding. I was able to clear it up with my nut files but C'MON!!!
For this kind of money I should have a perfect nut. This really dissapointed me. Unfortunately this problem drags the rating down to a 7.

I've had a Les Paul Custom for 20 years. I never needed a backup for it. The only thing I would change on the 58 is the strap buttons. They are too small for live playing. That's it though. These guitars are built solid.

NA

I've been playing for 26 years. I waited 24 of those years for this particular guitar. Ever since I saw Jimmy Page playing his 58, I've lusted for one. Obviously I could never afford a real 58 and Gibson's Les Paul Standards througout the 70's and 80's were butt ugly. When Gibson put the reissue program together, I knew one day I would have my 58. This is my dream guitar. I have a lot of good axes but this is number 1. Gibson really did a fantastic job re-creating the Holy Grail. I can't put this guitar down. I will be buried with it.

This is a '98/'58. Vintage features at least for what Gibson was doing in '98. No knob pointers (My preference anyway). Basic Les Paul Standard flametop guitar. Neck is nice and fat. '57 classics.

This guitar sounds amazing. I'm sure there are better out there so I will not give it a 10. It has that Les Paul chunk but with better highs and an airy crispness that allows more versatility. The 57 classics are strong but not terribly hot. This helps the tone come through.

I have played this guitar through many amps however my current favorite is a Fender Pro Junior running through a 2x12 open back cab with Celestion Vintage 30s. Don't laugh at the Pro Junior, it sounds incredible and gets that old school Marshall tone when cranked without blowing you out of the room. Actually it is quite loud through this spaeker cab. I have played and owned Matchless, Other Fenders, Marshall etc. and the Jr. just works.

This axe just has a nice chimey (for a Paul) sound that sings and reacts so nicely to your playing. Dig in and play hard and you sound heavy, play lighter and you sound lighter.

It's got nice bite that doesn't sound harsh. Sounds like chunks of meat coming out of the spaekers.

The setup on the guitar was just okay, my tech got it right for me. Fat neck is so nice to play. More comfortable for long periods than my ES-335 with the 60's slim taper neck.

This guitar is a '98 with a beautiful butterscotch very flamed out top. Better than most of the '59s they are making today.

A few oversprays on the binding that I cleaned up but overall, very good fit and finish.

This guitar is solid. I need better strap buttons. Don't care for straplocks, may put the oversized PRS buttons on it. They are big enough that it is very hard for the strap to come off.

Nitro finish is correct for good tone and is aging nicely. Nickle hardware tarnishes, but that's also normal. Looks vintage. I took the pickguard off to better show the beautiful wood in the top of the guitar.

Had a couple of interactions with Gibson about other items and the experience was actually very positive.

I have been playing 25 years. Sold two LP USA Standards to get this guitar and it was worth it. I would try to get another one if something happened but I probably couldn't afford it.

I wish it didn;t have the pickguard installed when I bought it.

burstbucker pickups . Aged binding , green tuners --standard les paul features . I need a tremolo any guitar without one only gets a 9

I play anything from metal to contempory christian . This is the best sounding guitar I've ever played and I've been playing for 32 years. It has a fat sound with screaming overtones . I'm totally blown away by this guitar . I own 2 other les pauls a 2006 deluxe and a 2001 standard .I love them both but they don't compare to the 58 reissue

Gibson has been getting a bad rap lately for fit and finish . I don't see it every gibson I own is jam up . I played a u.s.a. hamer for 20 years and it doesn't compare to the gibsons .
This is the 1st custom shop guitar i've owned and the playability is amazing . My other gibsons play like butter but this one is far and away the best.

I haven't owned the guitar long But i'm sure it will live up to the gibso standard.

na

The only thing I see I don't like about the guitar is the top hat knobs . I like speed knobs but the top hats go along with the whole reissue thing.
i wish it had a kahler tremolo but I'm afraid to retrofit one it might screw up the sound
The price is high for a new one but I feel like mine was worth every penny . I got mine unplayed off of ebay .

Burstbucker 2 and 3 pickups. Sounds absolutely phenomenal, for a less overdriven sound, I would suggest the 1's and 2's (or ceramics if you want a REALLY mellow sound). This guitar is a chameleon with amazing range. The tone is fuller than a stratocaster but not nearly so bright as a maple-fingerboard stratocaster.

The action was very good, but could have been a bit lower. No real complaints, though. The finish (butterscotch burst flametop) is absolutely stunning. I can't stop looking at this thing. My only complaint is that the finish on the back and neck leave a red, waxy substance. I've read that this is intentional b/c the original 58s do this too, but it's bothersome nonetheless. This is particularly problematic on the neck, which is lightly finished but tends to feel grimy if your hands are sweaty. Having said that... come on, it's a 58 les paul!

I've been playing for 13 years. I own a Fender Stratocaster '62 reissue, Gibson J-45, Fender Telecaster Am. Std., Marshall JCM900.

This is not only the best guitar I've ever owned, it's the best guitar I've ever played. EVER. I love the way it sounds, looks, feels... everything. Having said that, it's also incredibly overpriced. Brand new, this model was priced at $4200.

2005 58 Reissue Les Paul. 22 frets, maple top on mahogany body, Burstbucker 1 and 2 pickups. Beautifule Washed Cherry Finish plain top with a hint of flame bookmatched and done in nitro. ABR bridge. Standard 58 features all around.

I play classic rock and original music, and the Les Paul is the epitome of guitar sounds IMO. Thick, full sound in the neck pickup and plenty of bite from the bridge treble pickup. I play it through a Fender Blues Jr and I can get fat, full sounds when cranked with natural break-up as well as clean sounds.

Everything about it was perfect except for one gigantic flaw: the 10th and 11th frets were not leveled properly from the factory. I expect a little more care from a Gibson Custom Shop instrument, and I had to take it into my guitar tech for leveling. This was done under warranty, and my tech was able to do it in a day so I wasn't down too long without it, but it was annoying that I had to have work done on it after spending the cash I spent on it.

A minor nit was the ABR bridge was upside down, my tech corrected that problem too. Whoever was doing QC at Gibson that day must've been asleep.

The finish is my dream finish, the washed cherry sunburst as exhibited by Jimmy Page and countless others. The light cherry sunburst on this is gorgeous and there is nary a flaw anywhere on the guitar. The neck and fretboard are perfect (after the work that was done on it) and it plays fabulously with the action down real low. Nut was cut great.

If not for the fret and bridge issues this would be a 10, but I have to knock it down because of these issues. Because they were easily corrected I won't knock it down too much, I think a 5 is fair in this case.

This guitar is built like a tank and I can depend on it. I never play without a backup, but this one is rock solid.

Gibson's customer support is great. I bought this guitar from Guitar Center and they did not have the Certificate of Authenticity, and Gibson Customer Support stepped right up and sent me another one. The warranty on it was great (as mentioned in the Fit and Finish section) and was repaired quickly.

I own a Fender Blues Junior amp, a Fender Strat, and a Fender P-Bass. If it were stolen or lost I'd definitely want another one.

This guitar is the foundation of which rock was built upon. The Les Paul is the greatest instrument ever IMO.

No need to get specific, everybody knows what a les paul looks like. However, the neck is perfect,... They call it a fat neck but it is round, but comfortable!

I play (at least try and do justice) to blues & Ol' meat n' potatoes Rock & Roll! I go dry through a Marshall Slash Signature and 1960 vintage cab. Sounds awesome with burstbuckers, I swapped the regular buckers with the creme & black from the faded series (i hate those guitars). For some reason, there's regular Creme and then there's "Historic Creme". It's like comparing the switchwashers between an epiphone and a 57 Gibson Goldtop. One is very light and the other is warm and vintage. The new pickups really make it look like a vintage instrument. I tried the 57 Classics with the nickel cover and I feel it makes the sound seem thin and whiney. Burstbucker Pros make it warm and thick.

I don't know how it come from the factory, but there is some buzzing and the electrical braided wires seemed very short that I had to add an extention to rewire a switchcraft. I guess the toggle switch broke during the shipping. And now on to the finish....

Normally, 58s are plaintops. Retailing for $2,400 but $2,100 on ebay or the street. However, on this one I spent over $3,000. About $900 short of a 59 (street price). You may ask why?... This particular model had FLAMES GALORE. As soon as I saw it, I knew I had to buy it. I sold a 79 standard just to pay for this. This is one of the nicest flames I have seen on a gibson as of yet. It definately been any 59 that I have ever seen even on pictures. It is from the center of the guitar all the way past the ends of the guitar. The neatest flames I have ever come across. Completely bookmatched and Gibson took it's time on this one, Customer Service says it's a one-off Art & Historic.

Now on to the colour. It's a Sunburst guitar. Not quite a Cherry Sunburst, nor a vintage sunburst, nor an ice tea burst. If you where to merge all the colours, that is what we have here. Closer to a "Pageburst" selling for 5000 dollars. Nice and warm reddish around the ends. Not red enough to hurt the eyes, but not dark enough to hide the flames.

The back is a standard mahogony stain. however, the grain is different and unique, the stain is mahogany on the head and back but the neck is a tad lighter and "orangier" really makes it stand out among a line-up.

Since there is buzzing on my A string, It may need a nut file. That is the only downside, but I'll leave that to my tech.

Built like a tank. I also have a few other high end guitars, among them is a 97 Slash autographed slash signature (yes, autographed and with a cobra on the neck), and a 57 Goldtop. Normally, I feel guitars are meant to be played! Although some of them are really beautiful and I would consider some of them art! For me, playability is everything. No matter how nice it is., it's no use just dusting it on the wall. I have to play them, although I take good care of them. The 57 is definately a more cared for instrument because I feel it's more delicate, and with the gold face, you can really see all the imperfections. However, on this 58, even though it's a gorgeous guitar, it feels like my main one. I'm not afraid to get it a bit worn. it's built like a workhorse and will be treated like one!

Never contacted them other than specs. Most of the time they don't know much other than what the computer says. I can name every model they have created but they can't tell me what an elegant is.

2005 '58 Les Paul Custom Shop Historic Reissue. It has 22 frets, with a plain maple top in Washed Cherry finish. Has the usual Gibson set-up: 2 volume. 2 tone, Tune-o-matic Bridge and Stop-bar tail peice. I won't go any further, as of now everybody who knows what a guitar is should know the basics of a Les Paul.

Here is where this guitar shines. The tone, the sound, the very nuances of the instrument are great! Pure Gibson tone! This Guitar covers most styles well, from blues to country to rock and hard rock. The Burstbuckers have a great vintage sound to them when driven, think Zepplin or Aerosmith. One thing this guitar is not is a metal/thrash guitar. maybe with different pick-ups but come on... this is a Custom Shop Historic Reissue!! Your not going to ruin this guitar by tampering with it.

Now for the bad: I am getting a slight buzz from this guitar. Kind of like a single coil buzz when your distortion channel is on. I will have to contact Gison on that one. Other than that this baby sings with a life all it's own.

Surprisingly with all the bad rap Gibson gets for there set-ups and finnish from the factory, this guitar was perfect. The action was right where I like it. the attention to detail was shocking. Other than the collor bleeding a little onto the binding in a few very minute spots, I could'nt find a flaw. Great job Gibson Custom Sop!!!

Well as you all know Les Pauls are some of the heaviest guitars out there and this ones no different. It's built like a tank and I don't forsee any problems. If there were to be a nuclear fall out, the only thing left would be cockroaches, Keith Richards, and the Gibson Les Paul!

When I got this guitar it was missing the customer care kit. I contacted Gibson and they were very helpfull and have already made arrangements for me to receive one. I'll check back and let you know how that went.

Beware of guitar center, They gave me a great price and the salesman was very helpfull, but to not include the care kit that Gibson includes from the factory is shameful!!

I have been playing for 20 years as both a gigging musician and a bedroom warrior. I play thru a peavey ultra tube amp with a modest assortment of pedals. I have had everything from cheap 1x12 combos to full racks of dsp gear and halfstacks. I have bought just about very guitar under the sun looking for that Les Paul sound with out the Les Paul price. Let me tell you something, it can't be done! The copies just won't do. Save your money and get the real thing. It took me 20 years to buy this guitar and I'm glad I did. Maybe I got lucky and got a good one, I just hope Gibson puts the quality and effort into every guitar the way they did mine!

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.

'01,butter, has a 81 xxxx digit s/n, they were running out of numbers so they put the year behind the 8 on some of the '01s. Solid one piece mahogany body/neck with AA flame maple top, 2 57 classic humbucking pickups, indian rosewood,nitro cellulose, finish, kluson tuners, light weight @ 8+1/2 lbs.got the complete pkg. w/papers,historic case, flame better than the 40th ann. 59 i had. for tonal variety you need to spin the knobs and play with the switch

I can nail jimmie pages sound, paul kossofs,its there! i use a dist. box,chorus,wah.thru a jtm45. The classic 57 pickups loose the treble and most of the gain when you turn down at the guitar, I think a small cap on the vol pot will remedy this.if not i will be looking for some pickups. If you run your guitar wide open all the time and use channel switching for different sounds or effects rack you will still have full gain going to them, so pretty much the same sound unless you can decrease the gain and hold on to the treble, a hard feat to accomplish with the stock setup. It works with my explorers but i have ceramic pickups(waiting for the ohhs here)yes ceramic pickups that have un godly amounts of gain but they clean up as you turn down and maintain there edge, i can sound as clean as a strat (well good enuff to mimic the romantics what i like about you)and nudge the guitars volume and theres my nice bit of distortion, i run my guitar as low as 2 on the volume and 3-5 its got a great lead sound, the sound pretty much goes over the edge around 8 on the knob so i never turn it all the way up.( i know you dont believe me)i have not been able to accomplish this with any alnico magnet pickup, they just loose it all when you turn down. i did try ceramics in a LP but the maple top really gave it a harsh treble. so if you know a pickup that holds onto its treble when you turn down and works in a LP contact me.

the playing action is the best of any les paul models they make, nice even fret edges,smooth frets and low action, the string,pickup,bridge and stop tailpiece alignment is also the best, really makes the other les paul models look bad here. Also, i played 2 studios with nice flame tops i thought i would like them but unfortunately, they felt like the weighed 20 lbs.so the better lighter wood gose to the historic line.

the typical gibson finish flaws on the neck to top joint are a familiar trademark, it looks like buffer residue along the edge from buffing heat buildup and it gathers along this joint but thats been there forever and i see it on every single les paul i have played and owned, i have some pencil point size blisters on the back, also seen on others. some finish buffing burn thru on the edge of headstock

i have droped les pauls and they never broke where other guitars i have droped have. i screw the strap directly on to the guitar with big washers and screws, strap locks break and occassionally straps brake too, im use to folding my strap over the guitar when i put it in the case,only way to go.Les pauls always tune and hold it better than any guitar i have played i cant say for the thin neck ones as i like the chunky neck ones.

i emailed them and got a answer in a couple days-pretty good considering the flood of emails they get.

38 years! wow! several other guitars and amps, i would replace it if it were stolen as i have had 2 les pauls stolen on me before. Playing les PauLs since '71 or so, i have a explorers too. I love the way It holds onto a tune, i wish they would make a cherry sunburst time capsule that still looked like cherry sunburst, all the finishes they have on the 58s dont have any cherry in them, also dont need that goofy gold historic emblem on the case, why dont they make an historic case? if there is no flame top 58 again in '04 these will probably zoom in value

This is a 2001 model, with the '57 PAFs, purchased new in 2003. It's the Les Paul we all know with some unique features (see below). Regarding serial numbers - if it's '8 1 + 3 digits' (ex. 8 1675) it's a 2001 model - if it's '8 2 + 3 digits' (ex. 8 2235) it's a 2002 model - more info avail. at gibson.com. I'll add that all the '58 models have the 'early 50's' neck - fat, comfortable, smaller frets, fast and fantastic - just ask Dicky Betts.

Some pertinent info I picked up from Gibson customer support relating the the '58 Les Paul reissues:

The models produced in 2001 and the first 3 or 4 months of 2002 have '57 classic PAF pickups and standard 500K Gibson pots and capacitors. These came with AA figured maple tops.

In May of 2002 they changed the pickups to Burstbuckers, numbers 1 and 2, in an effort to more closely replicate the original guitar. At some point, possibly then, they switched to the CTS pots and bumble bee caps. They continued with the figured maple tops.

The 2003 models continued with Burstbuckers (I understand that some are numbers BB numbers 2 and 3) and the CTS pots and bumble bee caps. They switched to a plain maple top.

The '57 PAFs are warmer, deeper. The burstbuckers are a bit brighter with more 'attack'. The CTS pots and bumble bee caps replicate the original electronics. The 2003 models are offered in washed cherry, faded tobacco, and iced tea finishes on plain maple tops. My 2001 model has the butterscotch finish with the AA figured maple top.

The pickup differences change the sound of the guitar - thus, not all '58 LP reissues sound (or look) the same. Try them out before you buy (duh).

The best solid body electric tone I've ever heard. I prefer the '57 PAFs for the warm clean tone and creamy overdrive. I've played other LP models with burstbuckers - didn't go it.

Fine setup - I put on a set of roundwound 10's - that's it. The neck is simply fantastic - the best action I've ever found on any guitar. The guitar is not light, but at 8.5 lbs I guess it's lighter than some other LPs. This model has the butterscotch finish. The AA figured maple is nicely matched, with even lines from top to bottom. I prefer this to the over-the-top quilt or AAAA maple tops - just a preference.

Looks like it will outlast me. Being the original buyer I have a lifetime warranty - the warranty does NOT extend to 2nd-hand buyers.

Customer support was very quick with the above mentioned info. Based on that experience, they were great.

I've played guitar for many years and love jazz - occasionally detour to delta blues. My other guitar is a Guild X-150D (check review). I wanted a good solid body in addition to my archtop - didn't plan on something this pricey, but the action / tone / appearance blew me away. If stolen, I'd cry.

Bought it used for $1,900 - mint condition with OHSC -not a scratch or blem on it.
Killer Quilt top in Butterscotch
Made in "97
Fat neck - LOVE IT - all origional equiped

Play Blues, some Jazz, Classic Rock -Allmans Brothers , Southern Blues etc.
I use a Peavey Classic 50/410 with NO pedals, Sound like the old days, That old warm tone with a tad of reverb. This '58 screams on lead. My '75 LP was the typical boat anchor, sold it on ebay to a collector of LP's for $1,200. Absolutly NO complaints here

Had it set up by a local Authorized Gibson Service, Raised the action, I like it higher than most. I adjusted the pick ups a tad also. Frets smooth as silk, Top matched quilt - amazing.

I'll use it to gig, also have a Strat, but I can't leave this at home. I let my 17 year old play as long as I can watch him. He has his own LP Birdseye top.

Did not come with the Tri-fold tag, Gibson does not want to reissue one to me either. their kind of snotty about those things, I won't need it unlesss I want to sell to a collector, which I do not plan to do. This is my dream guitar, It kind of made me mad that I've had a '75 LP for 28 years and it was made from the wood scrap yard and weighted down with poly.

Been playing about 32 years, I have a recording studio and am BMI Publisher, I gig with my 17 year old son (guitar) and 14 year old son (drummer) who both love the old classic rock, dig that!
If it were stolen, the SOB better not let me catch them. I know this sounds like a endorsement for Gibson, but having a true to spec '58 replica is very exciting, and it plays and sounds like a dream.

This is an Historic '58 Les Paul out of the Gibson Custom Shop and I just bought it recently off of the Vintage Guitar Classifieds.
The year of manufacture is 1997 and it is in the 'Translucent Red' finish with a 'figured top' I guess is what you would call it. I'm not real "up" on all of the terms used to describe some of the tops on these. I just know IT"S GORGEOUS!!! This red finish is supposedly an original color although I've never seen one in any pictures and it doesn't matter to me anyway. It is a deep cherry red with all of the grain coming through...looks somewhat like a red sky/sunset with cumulus clouds everywhere...very three dimensional. I know you would not call it a 'flame-top' but 'quilt top' comes to mind. The back is a beautiful red stained mahogany and with the creme binding and creme pickguard it just always looks as if there is a 'spotlight' on it, a presence if you will...demanding attention like any 'fine looking woman'. OK,OK...I'm getting 'too far out there'....someone pull me back!!!
Anyway...lets just say 'she's a real beauty ok.
Came with the black Historic case...nice as well.
As for 'features'...'she's' a Les Paul. What other 'features' do you need!

This guitar handles just about every type of music I know how to play...Rock, Blues, Country and a little Jazz ( very little) with ease and grace.
When I got her I just tweeked the truss rod a touch, changed the strings and now she does everything I ask her to. WONDERFUL!
I'm assuming these pickups are the Gibson Classic '57's. I have not looked at those just yet. No need when they sound this damned good!
I play mostly an old Marshall and a few old Fender amps BUT it is a real kick to play this guitar out of my Two Rock Topaz amp....HOLY COW! Wow!!!! Roll off the volume knob and things go off in a completely different direction. Amazing!

The overall fit and finish on this particular guitar is virtually flawless. I mean I literally cannot find a flaw on this guitar. The top is bookmatched and the binding is a work of art! Oh yeah...never have I seen a better fit in the neck pocket! Beautiful! Almost forgot the best part...BIG ASS NECK on her ! YEAH!!!!!! The way ALL PAULS should be!
When did Gibson finally wakeup to all of this anyway? I'm still in "shock & awe"! It plays like a PRS BUT IT"S A GIBSON! I still can't believe it! I guess this is as good as anywhere on here to talk about WHY I am so amazed on what Gibson has done on this guitar. In 1991 I bought one of the first Les Paul Classics in bullion gold. You know the one, ALL GOLD and killer to look at. Well, I have not touched a NEW Gibson since that one because it was such a PIECE OF JUNK that I never gave new Gibsons another chance. The neck twisted on that Classic so badly due to the 'wood being GREEN' that Gibson had to replace the neck for me at no charge thank God. When I got it back I finally realized what my Dad had always told me was indeed true..."You can't polish a turd". It still would not hold a tune, it weighed literally A TON and it was TONELESS and LIVELESS all with a skinny assed neck!!!! I swore I would NEVER buy another new Gibson and I didn't until a month ago when this little gem showed up. Believe me, I was a nervous wreck waiting on a 'new Gibson' and I was 'shaking' tuning this puppy up and then I hit that one note and it just 'hung there' for what seemed like an eternity! Sustain like I've never experienced! The whole guitar vibrates in your arms when you are playing it. No, it's not just me that says this....I've had five other guys play her and they all ask me now..."how do you go about leaving a guitar to someone in your will".

The 'build quality' of this Historic Gibson is unsurpassed and will last a lifetime! No one in their right mind ever gigs without a backup. I'm in no hurry to play this guitar in the places I usually play in though. It's going to be awhile before I have the guts to take 'her' into a bar...She's a little too pretty for my kind of haunts.

You know, I've only dealt with Gibson when they replaced the neck on my Classic 12 years ago so I'm going to give no opinion here because I don't know a thing about their customer support these days.
I remember with my Classic, it didn't take but two minutes to hear that they were going to go ahead and replace the whole neck and of course, it was under warranty.

I've been playing off and on for over 25 years and in 12 years I never bought a Gibson younger than 1976. I truly felt that SOME of those seventies Les Pauls were pretty darned good BUT after getting this '58 Historic I stand corrected. The were 'marginal' guitars at best and all were 'boat anchors'!
The weight ( 8.7 lbs.), the feel, the craftmanship, the attention to detail all contribute to this guitar's tone and I only hope that EVERYONE WHO BUYS AN HISTORIC LES PAUL is as lucky as I have been on this one. Although from what I read on the Les Paul Forum I guess that's not always going to be the case.
If lost or stolen....heck, lets not even think about that ok. I own a few vintage pieces that I truly cherish but this Les Paul Historic is the one play when I just want to 'getaway'.......wow!

Nice big neck but plays extremely easy. Figured top. Excellent pickups. No short cuts were made on quality for these guitars.

With a Fender Deluxe Reverb and tube screamer, nothing can touch the tone and sound of this guitar. Extremely well balanced and just right for blues, classic rock, and newer country music. It has changed me from a strat player to a Les Paul. To bad they all don't sound this good. I'll give it a 9 because nothing is perfect.

To have such a large neck, I thought it would be pure hell to play but man was I wrong! I have a 1960 classic with the small neck profile and I can actually play the large neck on the 58' better. The finish is excellent. The top looks better than some 59's I've seen at at twice the price I gave for this one.

Never had a problem with any Gibson Les Pauls. They've always held up well from years of use.

Never had to deal with them.

I would definitely recommend one of these, if you can find a good used one. The price for a new one is out there but if you have deep pockets, go for it. You will be satisfied. I've been playing for 20+ years and I wish I had one of these back in the "Good Old Days" so to speak. I think they will be the one to have down the road as far as resale value goes. Great, great guitar!

I purchased this guitar in November of 2001, its a 2001 58 reissue. It has a two piece book matched quarter sawn maple top in butterscotch. Absolutely gorgeous! Second best top in the store (the best was a custom shop LP Standard). The guitar has 57 classic humbuckers, which was supposed to satisfy my Les Paul craving and complete my collection. I want to have eventually own at least one LP each with one of the available Gibson pickups. (I'm a tone freak). Since they came out with Burstbuckers I'll have to buy at least one more! (Sorry dear). This guitar was purchased at Vic Dapra's shop and he supplied it with a cool set of vintage style hang tags, polish cloth and high quality cable. By the way, other people have noted that these guitars don?t have metal pointers on the control knobs. Mine came with these knobs!

I play blues and love the sound of humbuckers. My 1999 Les Paul Standard has the best tone of all my Les Pauls. For slide I prefer the sound of the 58 reissue but the action is much too low for slide. I will not make any changes to the set up on the 58 reissue guitar as it is perfect for finger playing, bending and chording with little effort. This guitar came from the factory set-up with .010?s. The sound of the 58 is great! Much different from any other LP model. It has a rough raspy growl and when the tone knobs are turned down it becomes smooth and creamy and seams to sustain longer than usual. Tons of sustain make this guitar a dream to jam with. The bridge pick-up is especially bright and I usually keep the tone knob at 3 or 4 and the volume knob at 10. For rhythm playing through my Marshall Valvestate this guitar is hard to handle. The neck pickup is very powerful and when I back off the volume pot, rhythm chords get a little muddy. This may be a problem with my amplifier though. I?ve never tried it through anything else (yet). With a wah pedal this guitar sounds tremendous. This guitar is definitely a lead guitarist?s dream machine. I play in a band with two other guitar players and when I fire-up the 58 it blows the other guys away!

The set-up is fast and each note frets perfectly. The fat neck is great and with the perfect set-up you can really fly! I was shocked how fast this neck was considering the fat neck style. Each fret is perfect and polished extremely well with no sharp edges. The inlays are done much better than usual, there are no jagged edges on the rosewood and the inlays are flush with the fret board. The maple flame is great and book matched perfectly. I?ve seen LP's with the strings not centered on the fret board! This really bugs me, but the 58 is perfect. I?ve also seen pickups off center, but the 58 is perfect. The Kluson tuners seem to be working well and I have not noticed any problems holding tuning.

Nitro is a bummer. It's so soft and scratches easily. I have to keep the guitar in the case and I forbid anyone to play it without me being there. God forbid this guitar ever gets scratched. Not sure how long the Klusons will last. I?ve been playing for 30 years and only wore out 1 set of Klusons on a guitar I bought used. I prefer the solid metal tuners of my LP Standard though. I would use the 58 on a gig and not worry about a back-up, although I need a back-up for playing slide guitar. Be careful with guitar straps with plastic ends or metal rivets as they will scratch the Nitro finish.

I've never dealt with Gibson directly. The local shop has always treated me well and taken care of any complaints or made any requested adjustments on new instruments at no charge. Someone told me that Gibson was supposed to send a brown hard-shell case when the warranty card is sent in on 58 reissues. So far this hasn't happened, but maybe this isn't the case (pun). I don't have room for another case anyway!

I?ve been playing off and on for 30 years (since I was 9) My first electric was an early 70's Les Paul Custom copy. I sold it in 1977, but found it and bought it back about ten years ago. I had to rebuild the electronics, tuners and refinish it. It's still a piece of crap compared to the real deal. My first real Les Paul was a 77 wine red deluxe. I sold it in 84 but alas could not track it down to buy it back so I bought another brand new one just like it in 1999.

I also own a black Stratocaster and several acoustic guitars. Strat's are amazing, they can take a beating and still polish up and look like brand new. I prefer fat strats because they have one humbucker.

If the 58 was lost or stolen I'd buy another but what I don't know. When I bought the 58 I played 3-4 others and picked this one because of the tone and play-ability.

Someday I'd like to borrow a real 58 or 59 and play if for a week or so just to see if all the hype you read about is true. I am very skeptical about that. Guitar players tend to be very sentimental about their instruments just as I am. This may be where all the hype originates from.

Reissues are very expensive. The most expensive part of the guitar is the logo on the headstock. If you can't afford one and don't have a lot of disposable income, buy a used one or another less expensive model. I bought a brand new LP Deluxe for $1200. It can be done and is a good value as long as the workmanship is up to snuff. For the money, reissues are not a good value. Time will tell though as who knows what people will pay for these guitars 25-30 years from now.

All the best hardware and electronics. Great guitar.

Like a freight train in a banshee farm-excellant!

Gibson's are hand made and must be taken on a guitar to guitar basis. I've never played a bad one. Smooth action and big comfortable neck.

Les pauls are like Harley Davidsons-need I say more?

They are great! Just don't ask too many vintage questions. They would rather you bought a new one.

I have played professionally for over 30 years. I have tried other guitars, but always come back to the king of rock-Gibson Les Paul. They put extra mustard on these historic division instruments. Incredible tone, just incredible...indescribable really.