Gibson '60 Les Paul Classic

2003, 1960 Les Paul Classic Gold Top (Bullion Gold) with Hardshell Case, purchased online from zZounds.com for $1499 with a subsequent $200 price match reduction. Total paid was $1299 including shipping!

Two high-output 496R and 500T ceramic humbuckers, vintage tuners with pearl buttons, greenish-tint anvil fretboard inlays, amber tophat tone & volume knobs, '60s slim taper mahogany set neck with rosewood fingerboard and medium-jumbo frets. Bullion Gold finish on carved maple top on a mahogany body. Back, sides and rear of neck and body are light-stained.

A very pleasing buying experience from zZounds.com! Guitar and case were shipped in a sealed, factory-fresh Gibson cardboard box which was inside a zZounds-packed cardboard box. No outward dents or scuffs on the box! Both UPS and zZounds are to be commended for quick and pleasing service. Ever notice how sometimes when you receive shipped items the box looks like hell and you wonder if someone along the way opened it? With this shipment, everything was perfect!

I play Blues, Rock 'n Roll, and Country Rock through a Peavey Delta Blues 1 x 15" combo tube amp. My new Les Paul Classic can sound clean and warm or nasty and dirty depending where you set the tone and volume controls on the guitar and amp. Frankly, I don't see what the negative comments are about regarding the 496R and 500T ceramic humbuckers on this guitar. My feeling is that Les Pauls, in general, and this guitar, in particular, with its ceramic-based humbuckers MUST be used through a reasonably good-quality tube amplifier. Why would anybody use anything but a tube amplifier with a Les Paul? The Peavey Delta Blues 1 x 15" is the best tube amp you can buy for the money ($425 to $490) and is representative of a good starting point to consider for an amp to use with this Les Paul or any other model Les Paul. The 15" speaker lets the lows, midrange, and highs of the Les Paul Classic sound out whether you're playing clean or dirty.

If you feel the output of the ceramic-based humbuckers is overloading your amp input, just turn the guitar volume controls back a bit. The Peavey Delta Blues has a good amount of input headroom to keep things clean, and then of course it also has the overdrive channel if you want to get real dirty.

I wouldn't hesitate to use this guitar for most kinds of music. It has the tonal versatility to adapt to almost anything.

I love the gold finish on this guitar! I've always wanted a Les Paul Goldtop and now I have one at a fraction of the cost of an original 1950s/1960s model!

My guitar came from Gibson reasonably well setup. The guitar fit and finish are FLAWLESS! Now that I've had the guitar for two weeks and decided it's a keeper, I will adjust the bass side of the Tune-O-Matic bridge down a half to a full turn. Also, I will bring the bass side of of the 496R pickup up about a turn on the screw. Also, I'll change the strings to Elixer 1046E Nanoweb. The only negative comment I have about this guitar is the Gibson Brite Wire strings that came on this guitar exhibited a bit of shredding of the D-string wrap wire above the nut. I've read other comments about Gibson-installed strings not being in the best of shape when getting a new guitar. These widespread comments are, apparently, with merit. If the strings were in excellent shape, I would have given the guitar a 10. Of course, every guitarist changes the strings on a new guitar soon after receiving their axe so this is kind of a moot point.

Along with my Les Paul Classic, I ordered a set of Schaller Strap Locks. I feel these are a necessity as the Gibson-installed strap buttons are a bit small for peace-of-mind playing.

The guitar is quite heavy, about 9 pounds, and seems very solid and well-built. With a little tender-loving care, I'm sure it'll stand up to the rigors of home and club use. All hardware is solid and electrical components are smooth and noise-free. If you're a hard-working, gigging musician, you may consider changing the old-style Kluson tuners to something more rugged.

The finish is nitro-cellulose lacquer and seems fairly thick so I think this guitar will last as long as any quality guitar out there.

I've had other Les Pauls over the years but this Les Paul Classic is my first in almost 20 years. I've never dealt with Gibson, so I don't know how well their service is. I've heard some good and bad things about them, and I suppose, like most companies, a great deal of a customer's perception of a company's support depends on who happens to pick up the phone when you call.

I've been playing for about 40 years and had many guitars, both electric and acoustic of all major brands. Currently, along with my new Les Paul Classic, I own a Martin HD-28 acoustic, a Takamine J-15E acoustic/electric jazz arch top, and a Fender Squier Stratocaster. My amp is a Peavey Delta Blues 1 x 15" combo tube amp.

If this guitar were lost or stolen, I would rush to get another. Simply put, with this guitar selling for anywhere from $1299 to $1679 depending on finish color and dealer, there is no excuse not to purchase a Les Paul Classic! Why go for an Epiphone Elitist Series Les Paul when you can have the real thing for as little as $250 more? Why buy a Les Paul Standard for $2000 when the Les Paul Classic is quality-wise a Les Paul Standard? The only real difference is the Les Paul Standard has Alnico 5 based humbuckers and lacks a pick guard. If you really prefer the sound of the alnico 5 based humbuckers, you can buy them for about $80 a piece and swap-out the ceramic humbuckers that come with the Les Paul Classic.

To summarize, if you're looking for the sound, looks, and feel of a real Les Paul at a bargain price, buy a Les Paul Classic! You'll be very pleased!

bought brand new in 91. i have two black customs as well, an 84 and an 88.and a 78 deluxe. the classic has the thin wide neck that only a 1960 lp has. not the round fat 59 neck like on the standard and customs.it has a maple top, but not figured. this was the way these guitars were supposed to come. very very few real 1960 lp's have a highly figured top. mine looks very authentic.the newer versions have classic written in where it says les paul model on the head stock. i removed the pickguard and put in a blank truss rod cover . this also said classic on it.

nothing sounds as good as a les paul.NOTHING. its the guitar all others are compared to,and aspire to be like.however. when i got this guitar it didnt sound as good as my other les pauls. so i didnt play it as much. after about five or six years, it really came around. now it sounds better than all my other guitars.(i have 12)it takes a guitar a few years to become itself,as the wood ages, and nerons or molecules whatever, become placed .scientific? yeah well its true. thats why a 59 les paul sounds the way it does. years of playing and vibrating. at first i changed the pick ups for some seymour duncans. a jb and a jazz neck. but i have since put back in the originals. they sound great.the neck on this guitar is what i really love.thin and wide. the other lp's feel like a baseball bat.

fit and finish is typical gibson . good but not great.the frets still needed a decent dressing, which is pretty sad for a brand new instrument of this value.

12 years of heavy club and studio use. this thing is built to take it. mines a little beat up, but i dont baby my guitars. its a work horse, i make my living playing guitar.its had two fret dressings, just from so much use. other then that no problems .

never called em.

been playing for over 20 years. i use a rack set up.typical 80's style. marshall JMP-1 preamp, ADA MP-1 preamp, el-84 power amp, quadraverb, intellifex, 4x12 cab with green back 25 watt celestions. midi controller.i love this guitar ,its been a real good friend over the years, i couldnt imagine not having it. these are the guitars that ya can leave to your son when ya die( not like leavin a jackson or an ibanez behind). the Gibson will increase in value and get better with age.if it was stolen i would hunt down the prick that stole it and rip his head off.you can get one of these les pauls for quite a bit less than a regular standard and way less than a custom. its a real deal when ya start pricing LP's.im gonna be get a new one in the next a couple of months.

2003 model heritage cherry sunburst
standaqrd gibson set up 2 humbuckers 4 knobs yada yada yada.....

I have read several of these reviews and i keep hearing the same thing my ibanez is better it sounds like crap through my amp etc... First off a les paul is well a les paul it is probably the best all around guitar save for drop tuning death shread stuff. However; in its element which is hooked up to a all tube amp and the gain settings are set for something reasonable this and all les pauls will sing like an angel. It was not meant to be a dimbag darrel shred machine. and yes there are guitars that do that sound much better and if that is your sound by all means more power to you and look at those guitars that do that well. The les paul is and always will be all about tone and sustain. There is probably not a ibanez, jackson, bc rich alive that can compete with a les paul in that catagory just plugged into an amp with no effects , no processors, no active pickups, just an amp and cord.

its a les paul its been rocking and gigging for more than 40 years its reputation stands alone

limited lifetime warranty, gibson has always been great to me and everyone else i have ever met.

I am not knocking all the other players out there who hated this guitar. It just may not have been the right guitar for their style of music. I have been playing now for over 25 years, I play everything from classic rock (which this guitar was made for), blues, country, eighites metal( for which i use an early eighties Bc rich custom shop warlock loaded with semour duncan screamin deamons) Martin d-45 accoustic, carvin x100a tube amp, laney Aor Tube head, marshall JMP 50 watt head, ampeg and marshall cabniets. 1987 custom shop stratocaster (loaded with semour duncan little 59's and JB jr's) for getting that classic cream, lynyrd skynyrd, allman brothers, zztop, kiss, nugent,sabbath, tone you got to have a gibson and tubes.

Ok being a bit of a sucker for Les Pauls I've got hold of a LP Classic and it goes with my other two LPs (a Special and a Standard). I read some of the reviews on this database before making my mind up. Yes I thought the comments on the pick-ups were like picking on the nits a bit! However, I digress. A lightburst with a great finish. It's a tad ligher than my Standard. Of course the p.u.s have a bit of gain, but it's a useful contrast to the LP Standard. Overall, a good guitar. Some have suggested that the Classic needs the '57 p.u.s that are on the Historic series, I'd point out that the price goes with that improvement and I think that the price is right and if you really want to buy a retro, and yet be up to date get a pre-2002 LP.

There are a lot of things to like about the Classic. The sound is rock and my particular one has enough sustain for me to go and have a pee and come back! Even on a clean setting on the amp it bites. I have set-up on my amp EQ so that I get a subtle variety of sounds from the selctor switch choices. I have to admit it would have been better to have had the covers, but more down to the fact that they would give an authentic feel in the retro dept. I may decide to get them covered later.

When I got this guitar I got home and found the selector switch was a bit loose, no problem just tighten it up. The maple top looks fantastic and has a few dark spots I assume are filler, they just add to that aged 'been around' look. The action is spot on for me, then again I have yet to fit my choice of strings (Ernie Ball Hybrids) and that will change the action a bit. Overall the tuners, pick-ups, neck and finish are good.

Like any guitar if you play hard, it's going to suffer. I have fitted Schaller strap locks, as I always do, on all my guitars. I bought it because I didn't like the idea of a new LP with burstbuckers (I'm not Gary Moore), I wanted a retro. It is also an investment as LPs slowly gain value, plus I want to leave something behind for my daughter. But other than that it will be used for studio and live work. In regards to the finish it will wear away slowly and unless you go for that fresh out of the bag everytime look a working guitar is for me.

I have only ever contacted Gibson to check serial numbers on my guitar and they always get back the next day, which is nice.

Taking the building angle, yeah I'd try and save this guitar, if not the LP Standard, if I can't save anything no worries they are insured! If it got nicked then I pray the thing loses it's voice until I get it back. If I had a choice (who can say anything different) I'd get an Historic, but a small budget means getting the same again, no problem. My rather humble collection of guitars and my modest set-up means that I am happy and no longer in need of going guitar shopping anymore. As for my choice, it's a Classic in finish, but with a modernish sound. I have read people moaning about fret dressing this, pick-ups that, and nit, nit, nits the other c'mon guys it's not a Standard and it's not an Historic, it's compromise, but a bloody good one. If you want something a bit different and cannot afford either the Standard or Historic then the Classic is a good choice.

Les Paul Classic. Originally purchased used in 1993 in immaculate mint condition. Date stamped inside of body under the p/u dates her at 1991, but serial # dates her as being one of the first 500 made in 1990! It says Les Paul Model on the headstock and not 'classic'. The only place Classic appears is on the pick-guard (now removed) and on the truss-rod cover - which is written is THIN gold script instead of the heavy gold now used. Standard Les Paul layout with 2 humbuckers, 2 tone, 2 volume controls, three-way switch. Nothing out of the ordinary for a Paul. Originally came with the standard '60 classic 490 and 500 series ceramic pickups - more on that later. Finish is non-flamed top with cream-binding, in tobacco-burst finish. Wished it could have been a nice flame-top, but it was used and I wasn't complaining about the cheap price tag. Housed in the classic pimping-pink-plush Gibson case. Originally came with standard strap buttons but out of necessity I replaced them with strap-locks which SHOULD be standard equipment on high-dollar guitars like this. Go ahead and drop your $200 Mexican strat, but most people get pissed off when the strap slips off their $1000-plus Gibson!

Originally I purchased this guitar in my lust for a Les Paul and found that the ceramic p/u's were nicely suited for the high-gain, harmonic-laden, alt-punk-grunge type of music I was playing back in 93'. But as my music taste moved to more classic rock and my tonal palate matured I realized that the original p/u's were just not giving me the full Les Paul sound I was looking for. Especially the 500T bridge p/u that sounded distinctively nasally and prevented me from getting a truely clean and smooth sound from ANY amp I tried. I eventually got fed up and switched over to a set of genuine Gibosn 57 Classic PAF's, mounting a 57 Classic in the neck position and a 57 Plus in the bridge. Ever since then my Les Paul has turned into my Pearly Gates of all my guitars (13 and growing). Everything you read about the 60' Les Paul Classic stock p/u's is true (they suck!) - DUMP THEM and put a set of Antiquity's or Classic PAF's in to replace the ceramic crap that's in there. The sound NOW is full-bodied and resonant and just SINGS. The overall tone of the guitar rich and vibrant thanks to the lighter-than-usual weight at 8.25 lbs, making the whole guitar just resonate with every chord. This is how a truely great instrument should be. So if I were to rate her I'd say out-of-the-box she was a 7 but now with the PAF's she's an 11! That might be a good marketing tool for Gibson, you never know. So I'll have to rate this a 9 simply because it didn't originally come that way.

When originally purchased in '93 she was a pristine example of the top-notch quality that Gibson put out. The finish can only be described as "Fine Furniture", not a music instrument, with a finish you dive into!. Just beautiful. And now, especially after 10 years of bars, gigs, partys, rehearsals, recording and jam sessions the finish has worn to a beautiful, truely-vintage look that compliments the yellowed bindings and p/u rings, making the guitar look like a real 40 year old relic. The frets are dressed nicely and the binding is smooth and even over the entire body and neck. The action is absolutely butter with a set of 9's on her and playes like a dream. Originally a gorgeous 10 she's only improved with her vintage vibe.

Electronically the hardware has performed flawlessly over 10 years of hard abuse and wear and tear. Even the three-way toggle switch is still amazingly tight despite years of slamming the switch back and forth quickly for on/off tremolo effects. The pots are smooth and have remained crackle-free all it's life. I'm very impressed with the quality of parts that Gibson has used. The neck however has suffered the not-to-uncommon problem of head stock breakage when it fell off a stand in a studio back in 96. After a beautiful repair job done by Elderly Instruments in Lansing, MI, the head stock has performed better than usual and has stayed strong and true. So for Electronics and hardware I'll say a 10 but as far as neck strength goes, Fender blows this one out of the water. Don't bang into ANYTHING with her and watch that headstock!! The case that all nice gibsons come in is nice but it's not exactly something that's road-worthy. The leather-wrapped handle has come undone and there have been lots of other chips and nicks taken out of it in the past years. I wouldn't change the case, just for original-vintage sake, but if I ever went on the road again I would get a nice thick road case instead. the frets have held up beautifully and have never needed any work.

Never used. Still have the original hang-tags and warranty card!

I have been playing guitar for 14 years in several working bands, playing two nights a week now for the past 8 years. I've gone through alot of gear, some good, some bad and feel that my setup has finally reached a nice stage where I have my perfect sound and setup with a guitar I'll take to my grave. Of my 13 other guitars, ranging from American Strat's, Tele's, Kramers', ESP, Ibanez, Dano's, Washburns... this is my Pearly Gates of my herd. My amps range from Fender M-80, Ampeg VL 1002, Crate, a vintage 55 Gibson Les Paul amp, and now to a Line 6 Flextone2. If I had a fire at my house this is one thing I'd take with me out the door and save. If I had to replace it, I would definately look for another one of the same vintage (early 90's) since I do NOT like the newer models. The binding on some of the newer classics are un-even, the guitars weight almost 2 lbs more in some cases, and the price has gotten outrageous for one. I would definately get one used through a dealer and replace the pickups again with PAFs'. Used Classic Reissue's are very resonably priced and I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one. I have compared it to many new Les Pauls - from classic to standard to historic series and I have to admit that the early 90's series is on par with the BEST that Gibson ever made. As a testiment to this is the staff at Guitar Center drools over this baby whenever I bring her in for something. Everyone raves about how light and resonate it is and how easy the action plays and the tone! Everytime I see one on Ebay I bid... Simply put... skip the Historic and get an older (early 90's) Classic and put the money you save into a better set of pickups - sell the old ones on Ebay for extra cash. So dispite the extra cash for new p/u's it's still an incredible value.

LesPaul dold top 1-60 re-issue. Made in 1994. It has 500T and 496R pups, although they were changed, too harsh for my taste. Maple top, Mahogony body and neck, Rosewood figerboard, 22 frets. Nice guitar very solid accoustic sound.

I play Blues - Rock, and it siuts me just fine. I play through a modified Traynor YSR-1. I only use a little delay, and a wah wah. Has a nice sweet and creamy sound now that I changed the pickups

I always change the factory set-up to suit my playing style. The finish is perfect, and for 9 years old, it's mint. The only thing I didn't like about the guitar was the 500T pup. I tried the Burstbucker 3, still not acceptable. I finally installed "The Filmore Set" pups made by Jim Wagner of Wagner Custom Rewinds.

It has Nickel hardware, and it's wearing nicely. I use Dunlop locking strap buttons, because I don't feel like dropping it. I always use a back up because the strings aren't guarenteed :)

Never had a problem. I take it in to my friend who is a guitar Tech for an ocasional set-up.

I have been playing for 38 years, I also own a 1963 Firebird Reverse re-issue, Traynor/Plexi 50 watt head, with a 2X12 cabinet with Celestion G12T-75 speakers. I also have a couple of pieces of firewood that I made :)I just love the look of the LesPaul guitar, especially the gold top. It now has Wagner Custon Rewind "Filmore Pickups" Nothing sound better that these ups!

Well my guitar has the 496 and 500t humbuckers, comes in an ebony finish with its case.

I have 5 years playing electric guitar and 10 playing classical and let me tell you that this guitar is the worst shit around for playing powermetal, neoclassical metal or anything that requires that smooth and powerfull overdrive for leads,in my opinion.
I think this guitar would work out pretty well for british rock or hard rock also for blues and jazz.
In this moment I own an Ibanez s470dx and let me tell you its fucking amazing, if you play things like rhapsody, stratovarius, yngwie, cacophony, man thats the guitar you need.

The frets are small(that suck), the rosewood fretboard has a poor finish for being a guitar of 1600 bucks, the fucking paint on the neck sucks its better without it as zakk wylde les paul also its pretty heavy.

If you would like to have one in perfect conditions you will get nuts, this thing scratches almost with every move you made.
By the other side its body is solid as a rock.
I give it a 10 because is solid but its paint its really delicate.

I sell the fucking thing in 1500 bucks almost new and buy myself an ibanez s470dx the better guitar you can have.

2002, USA made les paul classic 1960. FIRST OFF the dealer intsalled strap locks for free. If you buy a les paul...Get strap locks end of story. Honey burst colour, 'artificially aged' inlays and binding is different, but it is a new guitar. It is only the colour which personally, I like it because it is not too bright. It looks very mellow. However I can see how some people would feel like they are buying a pair of 'pre-broken in jeans' and not like it. The neck is a matter of opinion, it is slimmer than the typical LP standard. Myself, playing on SG's for so long leads me to prefer this slim neck. This feature was my primary motivation for choosing the classic over a standard. The ceramic 496R / 500T pickup combo is very nice. It has a warmer more mellow sound than a LP standard, but again this is only my opinion. Install whatever pickups you want in it, that's the beauty, you are not limited. In my opinion it is a great sounding piece of work whith these pickups. Now....We all know about the Gibson dual system right? Volume / tone for each pick up. Three way selection: Rythm, trebble or both. Fortunately it has become the standard now to wire the volume for the centre selection (both) in series. If you recall older models with the pickup selector knob set in the middle (both pickups) would require the movement of both volume knobs to turn down your gain from both pickups which is a pain in the ass. No longer as now you can adjust either volume knob as a sort of master when receiving from both pickups, a well needed modification. I play it through a marshall avt 150h and a 2x12 cab. I tried it through a mesa boogie and a marshal avt in the shop....Mesa sounded really nice.....Oh, and I nearly forgot, a black on black case? No more pink on brown? Fabulous!

Rich, distinct and warm. All Les Pauls are as a rule very versitile. The ceramic pickups give a very deep bottom, maybe too much for some, but set up with 10 - 52 strings I really like it. The sustain is unmatched. This is a guitar that was conceived before distortion was used and its cleans are deep to brilliant depending on which pickups you draw from. Distorted the ceramic pickups shine. Really thick, you have to hear it. Enough said. From blues to classical to raw detuned metal. This guitar excells in all aspects.

Factory set up? Who the hell cares? I hope if you are spending 2G+ on a guitar that you can at least set it up to your likings. The finish is lovely. Hand buffed nitro cellulose. Thick, but very consistent. Some may not like the buildup on the neck which tends to get sticky if you do not wipe it down now and again. From the factory as far as condition goes, it was tip top. No flaws to be found. The nut looked good, the binding was smooth and the finish was even. Just a note, even though a shop carries gibson, they may very well be factory seconds. Always buy from an authorized dealer. When I did my set up, I tightened the truss rod about 1/8 of a turn to compensate for the heavier strings and I got a very low action with no buzz - anywhere. Everything is wired tight and true.

The Les Paul guitar has withstood live playing since longer than I have. I do not play live much these days, but I will say this: Dependable, durable and solid. You get guys on here that say things like: "Well I jumped on it and it broke," It is a beautifully finished precision piece of equipment and it should be treated as such. Taken on tour, under 'normal' conditions I will say that you should have no worries.

I have owned 3 gibsons prior to my LP Classic. Never needed them. I know the guy at the store where I bought it deals direct and promised me the world if anything ever went wrong, but fortunately I cannot say that I have ever had any problems and have never had to deal with anyone at gibson for help. All in all N/A

I have been playing for the better part of 13 years. It would be replaced if stolen. I compared it to a LP Standard prior to purchace, this was my only other consideration. I own a fender cheapy 112 amp, a marshall avt150h played through a celestion 2 x 12 custom cab, a 2000 sg standard, a taylor 415 jumbo, a liscombe custom made electric and a roland dr rythm 770 drum machine as well as a cry baby wah, and a digitech effects board. Overall this guitar shines within my collection.

I am submitting this review to tell everybody who has this guitar that they need to change the pickups... those high output ceramics are horrible and really drag the guitar down. More on this below... but as for features a couple comments are:

- Mine has a really nice chevron flame top... almost as if this was a mistake at the factory... all the other ones I've seen had real plain tops.

- Unlike some other reviewers, I tend to like the little gold "1960" logo tastefully inserted on the pickguard... I think it adds a bit of class and speciallness

- I do think that Gibson went overboard with the dye used to make the tuners and the fretboard inlays look vintage... the tuners are almost green and the fretboard inlays are also a bit overdone in the discoloration department... don't know why they wouldn't take the care to get this right.

Like others I am mystified why they give this guitar a historic 1960-style look and then outfit it with these horrible modern high-gain trebly ceramic pick-ups. I had this guitar for almost 2 years now and loved the look of it, but could never get excited about the sound... it just didn't seem to produce the classic Les Paul sound I was looking for no matter what amp I used. This week I swapped out the pick-ups for a pair of Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates PUPS and the difference was night and day for the better! The original pick-ups are very high output and yield a very nasal, modern, sound that might work well for the Mesa Boogie Triple Rectifier crowd but is definitely worlds away from any kind of "classic" Les Paul sound. If you want your guitar to sound like Joe Satriani's Ibanez, then by all means leave it stock, but if you are after vintage PAF-type classic rock-style Les Paul tones, (i.e. Allman Bros, ZZ Top, Zep, Creem, etc), then you need to replace those guys.

The guitar played atrocious off the shelf with wicked high action; the clerk at the store said the guitar just came in a few days prior and hadn't been set up yet. Gibson makes a big deal about including a card in the case which shows that the guitar was inspected and verified to be set-up to factory specifications before shipment... but look at the specs they use... outrageously high action compared to how these guitars are mormally set up by most players. Anyway, this is easily rectified and it plays great once adjusted.

I think they sent me a "Congratulations/Welcome" letter when I mailed in the warranty registration... that was a nice touch... shows they are at least trying to be customer oriented to some degree.

Just wish I would have changed the pick-ups sooner.

I have two of these guitars - one is a '94 in cinammon burst with a Plus top and gold hardware, the other a 2000 Premium in Trans Amber. Both were purchased on-line, sight unseen (yeah, I know......). Typical factory Les Paul features - nothing new here, but if you're looking for more bells & whistles, you're probably not gonna buy a traditional LP, anyway. Both guitars have the slim-taper 1960 neck profile, which I prefer, even though my hands are pretty big.

Both guitars sound great to my ears. The pickups are definitely hot (but not overly harsh, as some reviewers have stated), but if you're looking for a more traditional LP sound, you'd probably be better off with a Standard or Custom. I play through a Line 6 Flextone II, so you can get an idea what the guitar sounds like through many different makes of amp. These guitars are fine for metal, blues-rock, alt, etc.

The 2000 was brand-new (NOS) when I got it, and the set-up was just ok. When I restrung it with .10's, it needed to be tweaked a bit, anyway. The top on this guitar is absolutely awesome - lots of flame! The finish is flawless - no sags or orange peel, and the frets were well polished and free from shap edges, etc.. On the other hand, the '94 was used, so it had some buckle rash and other miscellaneous scratches. Plus, the fretboard wasn't finished very well, and was somewhat rough and uneven in places. This wasn't from playing - it was certainly like this from the factory. The gold hardware also shows the typical discoloration from use.

A lot of folks downgrade Gibsons because of the headstock angle and tendency for it to break. Hey, just be more careful with the thing! It's not a Fender!!

People are still playing LP's from the '50's, so I'd expect these guitars to hold up just as well. They'll only get better with age.

I haven't had to deal with Gibson at all.

I've been playing for 30 years. If the 2000 was stolen or lost, I'd be pissed! It's easily the best guitar I've ever played or owned, so if something happened to it, I'd try to find another just like it. The '94 I'm going to sell - the neck isn't as nice, and I don't really need two LP's of the same model. I also play a '50's Telecaster reissue with Texas Special pickups.