Gibson Les Paul Classic

2005 Guitar Center exclusive model made in the USA. 22 fret maple gold top on mahogany with a natural finish (not red stained) back. You know what this guitar has if you're shopping. Thin wide neck with ceramic pick ups that smoke! If you're looking for the Allman Bros sound, DO NOT BUY THIS GUITAR but if you're looking at a guitar with infinite sustain and that oh so sweet crunchy lead, BUY THIS AXE! The best feature after the kick azz pick ups is the wide thin neck. This is one fast smooth instrument.

THE SOUND IS AMAZING AND I'VE HAD EVERY BRAND OF GUITAR MADE AND THIS ONE SMOKES THEM ALL. When I saw this guitar I said I'll take it without even playing it (gotta love GC's return policy). The finish and everything else was flawless and then I plugged her into the El Diablo and WOW!!!!!!!!!

I always have to set the action up on my guitars because I like it low but I didn't have to make any changes with this guitar at all. It came with a perfect set-up for me. The only thing I did was put .09 guage strings on....

Gibson guitars last lifetimes. I'm not sweating this one!

They are excellent!

If you like rock music from old Zep to Slash to Hoobistank to Megadeath, this axe is for you. I've been playing guitar for over 30 years and have played and owned Les Pauls before but none compare to this one. The Standard has a baseball bat neck and those Burstbuckers that are way to bright for me. Try the Classic out and you'll see why so many are happy with it!

What I have is a 2003, American, Gibson Les Paul Classic in Vintage Sunburst. It has 22 frets on the rosewood fretboard, green trapizoid inlay, binding, mahogany neck, 2 ceramic buckers (498R & 500T), simple Maple Top, mahogany back, 2 Volume, 2 Tone, 3 way pick-up selector, tuneomatic bridge, soapbar tail peice...this puppy's STOCK. But lets face it coil tapping would be nice, tremolo might be cool, you need strap locks, possible a active/passive option...LP's are not known for options they are known for tone!

My style is Rock, Blues, Funk, Heavier Country, Alternative, Punk, basically all but Classical and Reggae...not that it's bad but I am. I use a JCM800, Vox Valvetronix AD120VTH, Fender Combo's and an assortment of 10" or 12" cabs.

It's a little noisy for a humbucking guitar...but a lot of that's do to how resinating the body and bridge is...but no doubt that this guitar is BEEFY and HOT! Some say it's a little to hot for their tastes but I like it. I own a Paul Reed Smith and this LP is definitely a more toneful and beefy than the PRS.

Neck pick-up is real calm and rythum friendly, middle pick-up takes it up that extra notch for a more bright rythum or a neat jangly sound and the bridge pick-up is pure raunch an bright distortion.

All and all the sound rocks and I am very pleased...but there could be improvement.

I bought the guitar used and it was profesionally set up so I have no idea on that...but the action after set up is awesome!

Cosmetically beautiful for a non-flame top sunburst.

My main complaint is that this is a supposed 1960 re-issue but really its more or less a nice Les Paul at a nice price. Where's the pick-up covers? Where's the tennon joint? Where's the true 60's bridge?

Also, like most Les Paul guitars the tuning pegs have a slight problem with staying in tune...unfortunatly they just look to cool to change out...they are functional until I can re-tune between a couple of songs.

I give it an 8 simply because I like everything about this not so re-issue, re-issue except the tuning pegs.

I play shows 3-4 times a month and practice with bands another 2-3 times a month so I have given this puppy a little work out and hope to wear it out some day.

With that said, it stays in tune alright, hardware is great, nice finish that has a vintage vibe without looking worn out, strap button suck and couldn't hold on to anything, I can mostly depend on it...I'll probably change the tunners to locking ones, unless I do that I would not play without a backup.

Never dealt with

I've been playing 11 years, and have owned multipule PRS guitars, Fender American Strat's and Tele's, an Ernie Ball Axis Sport, a Parker, Taylors, etc...I play Marshall, Vox, and Fender amps. If this guitar were stolen I'd buy another in a heartbeat!

Ilove the 60's neck, looks and sounds. I hate the tunners, am okay with the aged look, and wish it had the tennon joint.

I played multipule Gibson Les Paul's (Standard, Custom, Re-issue, Special, Signature) and by sound and playability this model is easily my favorite under $3400.

I recomend this guitar to anyone who has a budget and a few other guitars. Good #1 guitar, excellent backup. (unless the tunners get changed)

2003 Les Paul Classic Honeyburst. Bought off Ebay for 1,000.00, case is junk. Finish on guitar is gorgeous. One of the lighter Les Pauls. Pickups are HOT! Maybe too hot for some people. Tuners are kind of cheezy.

This guitar sounds like a million bucks. I have owned a Les Paul Studio/Jackson SLSMG/Ibanez SZ520/ESP LTD MH400 and this guitar is by far the best that I have played. I owned the Studio and hated it because of it's weight and the muddiness of the guitar. Then I thought I would be smart and sell it to buy 2 lower end guitars. I was able to achieve "decent" sounds out of my 2 cheaper guitars...but my sound was just missing something. The Classic has finally gotten me to where I want to be. I play it through a Peavey XXX head/Carvin Legacy 2x12 Cabinet w/Vin 30's. The cleans are so smooth and milkey when using the neck pickup and shimmering and shiny when using the bridge pickup. Mix em up and you are in heaven. Distortion...forget about it. Put it on the bridge pickup....look out. This guitar screams. You can't hit harmonics and solos with ease. Flip the switch to the neck...some serious low end...almost too much. I have no dislikes about the sound. AMAZING. I will never dog Gibson again for their pricing. You pay for what you get.

This is the easiest guitar that I have ever played. The action is perfect. The neck is so thin and wide...unlike most Les Pauls. I have not had to do anything. The guitar was set up Perfectly.

Like all Les Pauls...built like a tank. You do not need a back up. The only thing that scares me are the tuning pegs.

If you email them or call them...they will give you support on any matter.

Been playing for 6 yrs. Sold some things to buy this guitar. I don't own much any more except what was listed above. I do have a Taylor 410 CE and a 1982 Ovation. This is the only electric I want and need. I may upgrade my amp and cab soon, but I'm very happy with my sound right now. If you are torn between what Les Paul to buy...try the Classic. You won't be disappointed.

2004 Les Paul Classic in Cherry Sunburst. See other reviews for features. This guitar is basically a non flame top standard with hot pickups.

I'm using this guitar with a ZVex Nano head and a Pignose 1x10 combo as a speaker cab. I'll experiment with speakers later. The combination of the pickups and a 1/2 w tube amp means very little headroom. I bought this guitar for high gain as I have a 57ri Strat.

I've been able to get sounds I've wanted for years and tried various overdrives with my Strat to get. Pinched harmonics come out at will and I'm a hack player (and proud of it).

I've rated it a 10 but I dont want or need clean sounds from this guitar.

I was able to spend an hour with four Les Paul Classics and narrowed it down to this one. I personally dont like Cherry Sunburst but this instrument was had the best feel, weight and sound of the four. I checked each instrument with a tuner and this one stays in better. It always needs a slight tuning adjustment from the case.

I have not had it long enough to comment. Also my Strat is well battered so that's the dodgy gig guitar.

I've been playing various guitars since 1980. IMHO Les Pauls are like Musicman basses in that you have to put up with everything else to get that sound.

I wasnt actually looking for a LP. I was after a 'superstrat'. I'd tried various Fenders and an Anderson Drop Top. I tried a Les Paul as you do and decided the sound complimented what I do. I'm not in a position where I need identical guitars.

The Classic compliments my other guitars and fills in a hole. I dont know if I would be happy with it as a sole guitar. I've given it a 10 in context of the above.

If you are after a Les Paul, please try as many as you can.

This is my second Classic. Its a 2004 in Lightburst. My other is a 98 in Honeyburst.
This newer one is pretty much the same except they have changed the bridge to one with inserts for the bridge posts to thread into instead of threading right into the wood. I have'nt had any problem with the 98 made this way but the inserts are an improvement.

The 98 and the 04 sound pretty identical. No change there seeing they both have the same features. In other words it sounds great. Typical Les Paul with hot pickups.

Compared to the 98 the o4 was set up much better from the factory. The 98 had to have a lot of tweaking done to it for a nice setup. The o4 was right on out of the box except for a slight tweak on the G strings intonation.
No finish flaws were found anywhere and the frets were a little better than the usual flat crowns Gibson is known for.
Its a plain top but theres no wierd marks in it and it looks real nice.

I've played the crap out of the 98 and its held up quite well with only a fret level done and the usual string changes and periodic setups to it since new. I expect the 04 to be just as reliable.

Never used them.

This is my 7th Gibson and my 4th Les Paul. I also have a Norlin era Custom,2000 Standard, 61 SG Reissue,Faded SG,and a koa Explorer. The only dog of the bunch was a 68 Custom that would'nt intonate and stay in tune worth a hill of beans. I sold it long ago. Besides that...I've always been satisfied with there products. I was going to go for a historic this time but cant justify the price....ecspecialy since my guitars do get played alot in the bar/cover scene and could'nt feel comfortable putting a beating on it.

Spec as Below. Its a Gibson Les paul so same ol' same ol' But with higher out put pickups, and a very ver fest neck.

I tried a standard and a classic together. I tried them both through a boogie F50 (Not the best of amps I know, but just your basic vavle amp) no reverb, no pedals, on nothing. Just the guitar and a dry amp. For me the classic won easily. The tone of it was far better, and the slim taper neck was so much faster to play than the standard. Yes the standard it very pretty with its flame top, but is it really worth the extra #300 ($500). I myself really don't think so. After a few years the grain will fade any way.

The tone pots work well, giving large variations in the general tone.

General sound is very thick and full. Back off the pick-ups and it cleans up quite nicely.

9/10 bacause only a real 59' would get a 10/10.

The truss rod cover is a little shody. It just isn't finished as good as the rest of the guitar. The selector switch was loose.

But on the whole the guitar is very well made. After all it is a Gibson.

Only thing I really hated was that horrible tacky cream scratch plate, with "1960" printed on it in gold. Removing that was the first thing I did to it when I got it home. Now the guitar looks much better.

Some have said the yellow/green inlays look terrible , I would agree but only think they look bad on the wine red, and cherry burst.

But they do go very well with the honey burst and vintage burst. They seem to match each other very well.

It does need a set-up and the frets are too high but thats only my preference. Overall it is very playable from stock.

A 7/10 only because of that vile scratch plate! Otherwise an 8/10.

Built like a tank so you could drive a car over it and I recon it would still play. The strap buttons are typical of most guitars, I wouldn't trust 'em. So I'm gonna change 'em for strap locks.

The finish is very thick, so should last quite a few years.

Never used 'em

Great, very pleased to have one atlast. I'm a bit of a purist, I only use valve amps, and guitars with a good name on them. I've got a Standard strat, and a standard tele. This LP finishes off the trio quite nicely. I've been looking for a number of years for a nice LP but couldn't quite justify the cost. Also over here, in the UK, new prices keep going up so when I tried this one I loved it and I loved the price even more.

sadly there is only a little flame on the maple top but the colour (Honey burst) and finish more than make up for that.

If your looking for a 1959 stanrard this isn't it. I know I've played one. They're awesome.

But if your in the market for great quality Les paul at a great price. Then If I were you I'd go and try one of these.

2003 i think, just bought second hand. usual les paul stuff but oh so crappy yuky green colour inlays, disgustingly cheap looking pick up selector tip, stupid rubbishy "1960" engraved on the pick guard and i really hate the "clascic" engraved on th truss rod cover. reag rest of reviews for specs, its a les paul with all usual standard les paul features.

wassamatter with the les paul people that they stick out a supposed replica of a 1960's spec guitar which we all kinda crave for and someone in that company makes em stick on hot pick ups!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! unbelievable is not a word big enough for here! i kinda imagine the line of thinking here, goes something like this............." i got this great idea, we'll make our guitars to the old specs so all the people who want an old classic les paul can buy one from us! lets make it sound like those old guitar greats like jimmy page and that fella from black sabbath, kool eh?" everyone would want one right? course they would! one big flaw......... thos guys back in the seventies had guitars that didnt have a hot pick up, what did they do? they used a pedal! something like a fuzz face or tonebender etc. what ireckon gibson have tried to do is make their classic sound like those guys from the seventies but by pluggin the guitar straight into an amp! thats two totally different things fellas and it dont work. so boys and girls (girls feel free to e-mail me by the way)get this guitar cos it plays a dream (apart from the frets which are too high like most guitars today, get em stoned down by someone good), seriously it plays a dream and all you gotta do is change the pick-ups to something not as hot, hey how about a 57 paf which the 1960's guitars most probably would have had and then you got yaself a fine machine! then you can get a proper marshall head like a superlead, play through a 4x12 with your guitar plugged intoan effects pedal (bit like those guys in the seventies did) and whoah baby, this boy can play!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
it' so simple really1

okay as mentioned the frets are silly, too high. get em stoned. finish is okay. pick ups crap! didnt get it from factory so cant really blame gibson for final set up. had 10;s on it, put skinnytop/heavy bottoms on it, lowered action after stoning and i play all night!

snash down doors with it

dunno, dont expect much after they read this from me

bet a lot of people buy these and are dissapointed but seriously dont be put off cos they are only a step away from being fantastic. plus your only other choice is to buy a real old les paul and thats gonna really hurt the pocket. get one, change the small niggly things cos it is worth it plus you got to remember cos this is really important, all those guys in the seventies nearly always mucked about with their gear from amps to effects to guitars, thats why we get signature models mister! thats what gave us originality in music. what do you expect from the music world when if all you can do is walk in a music shop and some drogo sells you off the shelf products that everyone else has got? you gonna sound like the next guy that walked in before you. weird out kids and muck things up!

2003 Les Paul Classic. I'm sure you know what it is.

The stock pickups are way too hot for my taste. I should have bought a LP Standard or a PRS. The stock pickups have a ceramic magnet, and ceramic magnet pickups are screamers. Perfect for metal or very hard rock, but not perfect for other types of music.

I installed a set of Burstbuckers. Much better.

The store set up the action, and they did a fine job. The finish could have been better. Where the neck meets the top, it looks like they painted over some dust - not much, but enough for me to see it now.

I should have considered a PRS.

This is where Gibson goes downhill in my opinion. The crappy vintage tuners they are using belong on a $160 guitar, not a $1600 guitar. I bought a set of Gibson sealed tuners, made by Grover, but what do you know, they don't fit in the same size hole as the vintage tuners. Great thinking Gibson - use different spec'd products so your customers get frustrated.

I should have bought a PRS.

I replace the strap buttons on all of my guitars with strap locks. Better safe than sorry.

Gibson customer support - now there's a real conflicting title. In calls to Gibson concerning replacement parts and tuner problems, I found them to be unconcerned for the most part. I really don't think they care.

Next time, I'm going to buy a PRS.

Gibson is a screwball outfit in so many ways. They could have the guitar buying public eating out of their hand, but they just make it tough to do business with them. I sincerely hope their arrogance puts them behind the eight ball.

No pictures of current guitars for sale on the internet.
Cheap ass "vintage" tuners instead of a solid, sealed Grover tuner. Hey Gibson, there's a reason they are "vintage" - ie - OUTDATED. Get a clue.
If I ever decide to get another dual humbucker guitar, I will not buy a Gibson. I'll buy a Guild Bluesbird or a PRS - hell, I'd put two 'buckers in a Tele before I gave Gibson another penny.

Am I a bit pissed? Sure I am, and why not!

2 humbuckers 4 nobs, blah blah same like all the others

SOUNDS GREAT for the price my friend paid it better sound good. my friend has a roland 60watt amp and has a fender 40watt amp.

set up wonderfully, damn its set up nice, sunburst finish, nothing scrwed up or anything.

he gigged with this occasionaly. it lasts

N/A

i also play guitar, i have a an original 60's strat. it sounds better than the les paul cuz i modified it and stuff, ye les pauls r good, but i dont know y everybody makes a fuss about them, of course they sound but they feel bad in ur arms, everything is so flat sided, the body shape is UGLY it looks like a giant log, as for the looks it sucks the sound is great, but i HATE the way it feels, MY STRAT IS A LOT BETTER, I DONT GIVE WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THINK.

If you are reading this, then you most likely are researching this guitar because you are most likely interested in having one some day. That or you already have one and you are interested in knowing how other owners feel about their's. That being said, you most likely know that a Les Paul is one of the most honest, no-frills, musical instruments money can still buy. I say musical instrument because in the 25 or so years I've played, I've owned many "guitars". I waited a long time to finally pick up a Les Paul, and I can honestly tell you that this thing is beyond a mere "guitar". I wasn't built by a machine in Korea, and I'm sorry if you disagree, but there is a huge difference. The next time I hear somebody bithching about the price of a Les Paul, I'll walk them over to the Schecter section of the music store and simply tell them, "There you go rock-star, shred for us"!

I've always been able to coax decent sounds out of cheaper guitars, but now I'm going to have to get used to the boomy tone of this log. The pick-up's are so responsive that you can really hear all of the nuances in you playing with this axe. The bridge P/U is "aggressive" to say the least, but a volume back off will tame it right down. the neck P/U is woody as hell, warmer than Aunt Jemimah's Doo Rag. Through my Marshall DSL 100, this guitar screams, sings, roars, bellows, honks, cries, whistles. I've noticed that I'm dialing the presence and treb into the amp a little more with this guitar that with the Strat, but this is like comparing apple's to Gorilla's really... I'm playing in a psych-rock band, Floorian, www.floorian.com. This guitar will no doubt round out our sound nicely. Loooooong sustain with overtones/harmonics, smells of heaven.

The guitar set-up from the factory was not good as the strings were set waaaay too high. Perhaps Sasquatch was doing the set-ups that day, and I know he's got big hands, and feet too. I lowered the bridge, but I can tell the truss is causing a slight bow in the neck. This fine instrument will be going to my good friends at J. Thomas Davis Luthiers next week for a complete professional set-up. There was a microscopic ding below one of the volume knobs which helped tremendously with price haggling. No one would see this unless I pointed it out to them. There was a small red fleck in the neck binding, again, microscopic. Overall beautiful finish on this guitar.

So far this LP seems extremely solid, but I worry about smacking the headstock into something. The guitar has mass like a cinder-block, but it feels as if the overall finish and adornments are delicate. this is the first guitar I've ever owned that I'm "fanatic" about. I don't know, that will probably fade with time. I try to keep the sweat and finger acids wiped off and the Nickle plating on the bridge and stop piece scratch easily.

Haven't dealt with them, hope I never have to.

I've been playing for around 25 years. I currently own a sweet little Mexican Fat Strat, (one of the best budget guitars on the planet). An Epi SG, and old Kramer Pacer Series with a Floyd Rose,(nice old axe from 82). A 100W Marshall DSL with a Peavy M412 cabinet. ProCo Rat, EH Big Muff Pi, (American), an MXR Phase 90, (and no, I haven't cut r28 out of the circuit), a Line 6 DL4 delay, Dunlop Crybaby wah, A goofy-ass Dan Electro Back Talker reverse delay, (fun for atmospherics). E-Bow. I just play and go nuts! I wish it had a sister... Try not to pay to much attention to the hype, good or bad about Gibson right now. Save up some bread and go play a few of them, if you like one, buy it and make beautiful music.