Product: Gibson 1954 Goldtop Historic Reissue
Price Paid: US $1950
Submitted
09/12/1999
at
03:47pm
by
Mike
Email: mikeb53055<at>aol dot com
Features
:
8
Two P90 soapbars, 2 tone/volume, wraparound tailpiece, mahogany back and neck
Sound
:
10
Good Lord. I have played Strats all my life in every configuration they have ever come in. After playing this thing the first time, I haven't been the same. It sounds so good and is SOOO easy to play I actually have to force myself to play other guitars so I can have a challenge. Here's the strange part, I have always strongly disliked Gibson as a company and their overpriced products, but this guitar is so unbelievable, I have weakened. I have other Gibsons (335, V, Firebird, LP 59 RI, SG) and I hate em all. Wht do I have these guitars if I dislike Gibson so much, who knows.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
10
Unreal, spectacular, not a single flaw. So un-Gibson like. This is the part I love. On every Gibson I have with the tunomatic bridge, I can't get the G string in perfect tune, it is always a compromise. With this one, with the caveman-like wraparound bridge, it tunes perfectly. It may be haunted.
Reliability/Durability
:
No Opinion
Of course it will last
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Don't get me started on Gibson
Overall Rating
:
10
Playing for 36 years, bar band in the 70s. Yes I would buy another one but I would still find whoever stole this one.
Product: Gibson 1954 Goldtop Historic Reissue
Price Paid: US $1999.00
Submitted
04/05/1999
at
03:22pm
by
S. Hall
Email: none
Features
:
8
This guitar is part of Gibson's Custom Shop, made in the USA in 1996. It has two P-90 pickups, a 3 way toggle for pickup selection and volume and tone controls for each. Instead of the tuneamatic, it has the wraparound tailpiece. Simple but flexible features, very well done. Doesn't have alot of bells and whistles-- a no-nonsense guitar.
Sound
:
10
The sound of this guitar is fabulous. The P-90s do everthing well, clean and dirty. More clarity than a humbucker, more guts and power than a standard single coil. I play this guitar through a Demeter TGA-3, and it is quiet on all channels. I also plays blues gigs through a Victoria and it sounds incredible. This is the perfect marriage of a great pickup with good wood and solid construction. The neck joint and wraparound tailpiece REALLY contribute to the tone. I wasn't a Gibson player until this guitar, now I don't play anything else. The guys at the custom shop said in Guitar Player that this was their favorite guitar, second only to the 59' burst. Its because of the sound--the tailpiece and P-90s give it more clarity, ring and sustain than any other guitar I've played. My band plays everything from Steely Dan to Bare Naked Ladies and this guitar does it all with a vesatility and sound beyound my expectations. It still suprises me.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
9
The guitar was set up well, but I had to intonate it again when I put 11s on. Getting it properly set up can be a little tricky, but you are rewarded with the sound of the wraparound when you're done. I had one pickup that was tilted forward, the wire underneath was the culprit. I simply turned the pickup around and everthing eas fine.
The gold top looks great, with the deep dish of the 50 models. The back is mahagony in a nice gloss. The nut was cut perfectly. I've read others complain about some of the Historic stuff, but mine is extremely well done and looks worth every penny.
Reliability/Durability
:
10
Like I said earlier, this is all I've played for the last six months and it still looks brand new. This is a very sturdy instrument, and although I always bring a backup, I never use it.
The only thing I did was replace the strap buttons with bass string trees, a la Paul Reed Smith. These things really hold a strap and look good too.
Customer Support
:
5
I spoke with the company once and they were friendly, but really haven't had to deal with them for any repairs. Lifetime warranty.
Overall Rating
:
10
I have been playing for over 25 years, professionally for 20. If this guitar were stolen or lost I would be crushed. It has really filled a void for me--I used to alternate on gigs between a PRS McCarty and a Strat, but this guitar does it for me. I would definately try to get another, but guitars do vary--especially custom shop stuff. The quality is high, but it would be different.
I love everthing about this instrument. I would strongly suggest checking out the Historical guitars. At first I thought it was a lot of baloney, but I am sold. Plus, they don't cost that much
more--unless you want a sunburst. Those prices can be ridiculous.
