Gibson Les Paul Gothic

Black satin finish, moon & star inlay at 12th fret. Black hardware & humbuckers. All wrapped up in a Les Paul, what else could you want. And the best feature is the lack of a tremolo system like on every other guitar out there.

I have owned several guitars through the years (70's Strat, 80's Kramer, Peavey etc.) and have been playing more than 20 years. When I first plugged this thing in, it simply blew me away. I suddenly realized why Les Pauls have been so popular for so many years. The humbuckers are crystal clear on clean and full of balls on distortion. I play it through a Marshall VS65R using either Monster Cables or Goerge L cables. In my opinion, if you own a Les Paul, you need to invest in some good cables to get the most out of your sound.

The action took a little getting used to considering I used to play mostly Kramer's and the neck is much fatter. But this is just a typical Gibson neck. Once you get used to it, your a badass. I have read a few reviewers complain that the finish seems to rub off a bit and it does ever so slightly. Mostly on the fingerboard. This seems to go away with time. But this is basically the only flaw I have found and I don't consider it to be a big deal. But I guess I will have to give it a 9 because it is not perfect.

If this is your first Les Paul like it was mine. You will be very impressed with the way this thing is made. It is solid as a rock and nice and heavy. There is no screw on neck on this fine piece of wood. Can your guitar say that? If you can't count on this guitar then you can't count on anything.

I haven't dealt with support but I have heard of others who say it is excellent. They go out of thier way to solve your problem.

I have played for over 20 years, this is my first Gibson. I am now a "Gibson For Life" guitar player. I love this one so much that I want another Les Paul, maybe even an SG. You can't go wrong with a Gibson. Les Pauls simply put Fender to shame.

2001, 22 fret, typical LP configuration, EMG 81/85-active pickups (installed after I bought it), Grover tuners,

This thing sounds bad-ass!! I run through a Marshall jcm800-50watt, using only an EQ and compressor/gate in the effects loop and it sounds AWESOME! I did replace the original alnico 490's series to the EMG 81/85--that alone made a HUGE difference. It lacks a bit on the low end... gets a little lost in mud there. Mid and high range cuts right through though the EMG's helped clean up the lows. I use drop C tuning. Def has a FULL sound. I have also a POS practice amp that I thought nothing could sound good through, but in the neck position in clean tone it sounds beautiful.

I bought the guitar used. No problems though. It is set up very well. Intonation right on, action exceptional.

I use 12 gauge strings and the low E doesn't work well with the bridge. If you use heavy strings, the E string will easily pop out of the groove and (as I found out on stage)really mess up the tuning. I'm sure there's a way to thicken the size of that space.

There is also an odd "taper" on the ends (top and bottom) of each fret. When your using 1 and 6 it's easy to find yourself fretting the top(or bottom) of the neck! IOW... The string will slide off the board when it hits that tapered area. Annoying to say the least!

I played on stage last night, looking at it now... looks decent. The finish will easily look dirty, but hey, it's a GOTH! The finish seems strong and durable, hardware strong and durable, the pick guard seems a bit flimsy... may want to consider removing.

The neck-side strap peg is totally useless. But that's with every Les Paul. I bought a strap lock to remedy the strap coming off every time I stood in an awkward position. Replace the original peg before you smash the headstock on the floor.

i dunno, not applicable!

I have been playing 16 years. Own a BCRich Mockingbird NJ w/EMG 81/85's not quite as awesome as the LP Goth. Woulda asked the dealer more about using heavier strings, I like to use 14's but new I couldn't go higher that 12 w/o adjusting the t/r.

If it were stolen, I'd cry like a baby then go and buy another!!

I LOVE the way the guitar looks!!! It is soooooo BAD! The markerless frets is so cool, and even better the halfmoon on the 12th makes it!

Don't know why they put "treble/bass" on the pickup switch, in bright white letters??!! tip-- loosen the whole switch assembly and flip arounds the whole plastic disk... The opposite side is plain black! That's a no-brainer!!

I used it on stage last night(for the first time live)... everyone said it sounds awesome/it looks awesome!!! This guitar is awesome!! Minus some oddball flaws, I highly recommend this to any hard rock guy who is looking for that classic 'hard-rock/Marshall' sound!

Body
Carved maple top, mahogany back

Neck/Profile
Mahogany, 1959 rounded Les Paul

Fingerboard/Inlay
Ebony, 22 frets, moon-and-star inlay at 12th fret

Scale/Nut Width
243/4"/111/16"

Binding
None

Bridge/Tailpiece
Tune-o-matic/Stopbar

Hardware
Black chrome

Pickups
Rhythm: 490R Alnico magnet humbucker
Treble: 498T Alnico magnet humbucker

Controls
Two volume and tone, three-way switch

By the way the ebony finger board is usually only found on the gibson customs and the are awesome

Ok first i have to say man the sound that i get is down right great. The style of music i play is a cross between pearl jam meets counting crows. The neck pick up is so warm and cleen running through my marshall avt 150 combo. Then switch to the bridge pick up and dude you have the typical les paul lead tone with out the use of a overdrive foot switch

Great out of the case the only thing i had to do was adjust the hight of the pick ups and the frets took a bit getting used to not as smooth as a STD or custom

Ive droped it, kicked it, knocked it againt other guitars and no damage only to the paint.
I would play with out a back up but i would not risk it you never know

Never had the pleasure

ITS ROCKS \m/

black hard wear grover tuners standard gibson studio pickups which were changed cos they suck
perfect except for the pickups and cheap finish which is easily damaged

i changed the bridge pickup to a dimebucker which made it sound a whole lot better great for that old slayer sound

the fretting isnt the greatest you can feel the edges as you slide yoru hand up the guitar but you get used to it i guess

the finish i know will not last i also changed the stap buttons because the guitar likes to jump out of the strap i recomend a straplock system

if it was stolen or lost i would replace it or switch to esp ec-1000 which i think fairly chalenges this guitar but i do love this guitar and sweat blood to get it i think it would be great if it came with a kahler tremolo

First of all, let me point out that I bought this guitar from a major chain (guess!) the thing was messed up. But unbelievably, it still sounded pretty darn rockin' out of my new Marshall Valvestate 2000 (twin combo). Features...just that Gibson tone...what else do you want? Not infinitely flexible, but very nice....

Stands up to more expensive Gibson guitars at half the price. Still, a bud and I played a custom and MAN there was a difference. But I still love this guitar and wouldn't trade it. Guess I'm not willing to spend 4K on an axe yet...

Well, it doesn't have the "cool factor" of a custom, but I laid out the entire Gibson line in front of a bunch of hot 20 year old women and they ALL picked the gothic, saying it was "hot sexy". So who you trying to impress? The choice was easy for me....

Like I said, the thing was in pretty rough shape when I purchased it from G***** C******. I had to take it to a shop to get it fixed. Fortunately, the harsh damage was covered under warranty ( a filed out nut) but I had to pay 50 bucks for the tune up. It was worth it, I guess.

Well, thier rep was kind of a jerk, but he does good work. I can't say I like getting copped an attitude by the certified repair dude, but as long as he does the job, I'll pay my money and move on. Too bad he was so unfriendly.

I've played guitar for about 20 years and I've always bought really cheap guitars. This was my first major purchase. I find it worthy. If you have the extra cash, buy a custom and have your girlfriend break up with you. It's worth it. But keep in mind that this guitar will keep the woman happy as long as you buy her a ring that costs as much and play it in front of her. Alone. Naked...

2002, USA.

It's an instrument I closely associate with Keith Richards. It doesn't suit my music style at all. That's why I choose it. I tend toward a more brilliant sound (such as Rickenbackers). I was ready for a change and the Les Paul provided that, a rich, almost melancholic sound. Even though I'm characterizing this as a "dark" instrument it is very flexible.

The stripped-down matt black appearance is as no-nonsense as a Steinway concert grand. Unfortunately, the matt finish shows scratch marks right away. Glossy areas appear over time. The guitar looks fabulous in a shop window but deteriorates quickly in the real world. It's just something you'll have to expect.

A reviewer said the Les Paul was "built like a tank." That's the best description I've ever heard. It can take a lot of punishment. This is a heavy instrument, but that reinforces its solid impression. Nice heft and feel. The strap buttons seem fine. I'm confident in them as is. Despite my earlier complaints about a matt finish that won't stay that way, I do not expect the finish to crack or flake and expose what's underneath any time soon. Very dependable.

Never dealt with them.

Been playing on and off for 30 years. The Gibson is currently the only electric I own. Used to have a Stratocaster. Always had problems with it. It didn't feel solid (I suspect this had to do with the bolt-on neck). Am happy with the Les Paul and would certainly replace it with same if I needed to.

I do have one major problem with the Gothic: I tend to play the guitar very hard (although not loud). The first string often gets hung up on the uncovered pickup closest to the bridge. It needs a cover but apparently no one makes them in "Black Chrome." (Guess I'll have to settle for silver.) Presenting a guitar that invites rough treatment but not anticipating an obvious problem when doing so seems a major oversight.

2002(?) Les Paul Studio Gothic, USA made, 22 frets
Solid maple top, mahogany back, 2 volume/2 tone pots, 3-way selector
2 humbuckers, standard Passive Gibsons (490 R, 498 T)
Satin Black finish, eboy fretboard (with some nice chocolate striping), Bridge/stop tailpiece
This guitar has Grover tuners which have an easy-to-use tension knob on the back of each tuner, which seems, along with the stop tailpiece to keep the guitar in tune nicely.
The neck is pretty fat, but not so much that it's hard to play. The scale length is a little shorter than I'm used to (24 3/4, 1 11/16 nut width), but it's good for playing a little faster or being able to reach notes I otherwise couldn't reach.
Honestly, this is a high quality guitar. I've become used to playing custom-built instruments, but this is right up there with it.
It comes with a Gibson case, but I keep it in a Coffin Case.

This guitar has a very clear sound, and is good for playing just about whatever you want to play. The pickups are hot. I run it straight into a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe tube amp and just use the distortion that comes standard on that when I want some crunch. The guitar has a very full sound, and sounds great through the tube amp.
I usually play blues and country with some rock and heavy rock thrown it because I like them better. This is a great guitar for that. The sound can be easily tweaked so it is right for any of these. Yeah, it's the player, not the instrument a lot of the time, but I think this is a truely versatile instrument. Leave it to Gibson to give us the Gothic Blues Guitar.

The action on this guitar is
a)nice and low out of the factory, and
b)adjustable.
There were no flaws in craftsmanship that I have yet seen, but I understand that each instrument is different. I adjusted the pickups almost immediately, but I have a feeling that those may have been lowered in Guitar Center. It's hard to say whether the finish was bookmatched properly, as it is buried under the black finish. That looks good, though.
This is a well put-together instrument.

I haven't had a chance to use this guitar live, but it is the one I'd probably use. The finish is thick enough, the hardware is fine, and the strap buttons (while small) are certainly servicable. As I have had no problems to date, I think I can depend on it.
At a gig, I'd either use this one or a custom LP-style guitar I also have (3 HB, Maple top mahogany, 25 1/2" scale length). If I were using that one, though, this would be my backup because I know the LPG is solid.

I haven't done anything to this guitar that would need repairs, honestly. The warranty is good, the setup and quality are good. As I've only had it for a little while, that's about what I can say about it.

I've been playing for about 15 years now. I also own a custom 3 single coil tele, a custom LP-style guitar, an ES-175 and an American Standard Strat (you've got to have a guitar for every-day use, yeah?). I've always had a soft spot for Les Pauls. I like the sound, I like the shape, I like the whole feel of the guitars.
If I had to choose again, I'd pick this guitar again in a heart-beat. I don't let it get away long enough to get lost or stolen.
For the price, it's a great instrument. I've used it to record, and will use it to gig.
I'm still a little iffy about the uncovered pickups. I don't like to see the bare ribbon like that, but it's not loose or anything. If I could find a pair of black chrome picup covers, I'd cover them in a heartbeat.
I'm still thinking about putting in a Black Ice overdrive unit from StewMac, but I think I'll enjoy the clean tone for a while first.
I compared this to other LP guitars. Yeah, I probably would have gone for a 5K top-of-the-line, or something, but I didn't want to shell out that kind of money for a guitar I'd have to keep in a glass case. The LPG costs enough that I'm careful with it, but not so much that I won't play it.
Honestly, I can't complain.

22 frets and a kool finish. Standard Les Paul setup. Hardshell case included. The tuners are better than the usual Les Paul fare. The single fret inlay makes it tough for less experienced players to see what you're doing, but that's a small price to pay for such an instrument. Weighs in at less than an LP Standard, which I thought would be a bad thing...I was wrong.

I play heavily electronic based music (latter-day nine inch nails, Ministry)through a POD 2.0, but I can get full, rich blues tones, spanky disco, brittle Pixies-esque sounds, and slabs of killer nu-metal crunch.
Despite the black-metal aesthetic, this is an instrument with a superior and surprisingly versatile sound with great presence and smooth low-end response.

It was factory perfect. As a matter of fact, I didn't even plug it into an amp before I bought it...it played that well.
I even left the string gauge stock, rather than slapping on a set of .54-.11 strings like I use on my LP Standard. That ebony fretboard is really superb, too.

This guitar can take a lot of abuse from my ham fisted playing.
The finish is sensitive to skin oils, though and tends (at least with me) to get more polished. I like the way it's breaking in though. I like my guitar to look a little used.
A word about straps: I recommend using either a locking strap or one with hard leather ends, rather than soft ones like the Ernie Ball straps.

My dealer usually fields any issues or questions that I have.

Immense playability, an interesting look, and sonic superiority.
At just over a grand, this guitar is a steal compared to the prices on a lot of other Gibson models.
If it were stolen, I would call upon the Dark Powers to avenge me and the land would flow with rivers of blood and fire...sorry, that was the guitar talking.
Hell yeah, I'd get another in heartbeat.
I only wish they made a Gothic Standard or Custom model in addition to this fine guitar.

USA made. Might add that the Grover tuners suprised me at how nice they are; really tunes up and holds it nicely. Came with hard case included. See other solid reviews for details on hardware and specs.

My playing style is all over the map. The sound was a little shocking, I've always played Jacksons (US ones) and the occasional Ibanez or ESP. They always sound clean (even distorted, really) and are extremely malleable with EQ and effects. I was playing the LPG through some studio monitors and a tube preamp (for the first time without effects or EQ) when I realized how amazing the sound is. I went to check what settings I had the gear on and realized it was all on bypass (I was only hearing the naked guitar). It's got beautiful character. The same kind of thing they talk about with an SM58--real sweet spots at some key sound frequencies. I really never thought an electric could sound so good all alone. It suits any style/sound around with the exception of a jangly Strat or Surfcaster.

It came set up perfectly. I'd like to add that I returned a similarly priced Jackson to the same store (guitartrader.com) the same time I bought the LPG. The guitar tech graciously offered to do a full setup on it (I complained about the neck). So guitartrader.com seems to do excellent set-ups and their service is as good as it gets.

No flaws to finish or intonation. One of the 4 pots, however, has a pretty serious drag halfway through its range (the bridge tone pot). The only thing that made the rating a 7 instead of 9.

Seems like the guitar itself is incredibly solid (I guess that's par for Les Pauls). I am glad it's lighter than a Standard or else my own durability would come into play.

The one problem is the wiring seems a little dicey (see the other reviews where this comes up again). I already know I'm going to have to rewire the pickup switch. It's cutting out now and then on the bridge pickup. I'm a little mad about it, but at least it's something I can fix myself for free and it tends to happen to most guitars after being played long enough so it's a little like having a flat on a new car. I'm not happy but it's not that big a deal compared to how nice the rest of it is. I've only had it about 6 months but it feels like it will last as long as I will.

Gibson does have the best warranty in an industry that seems like it's trying to make cheaper and crappier guitars (first the work went to Japan, then Korea, now India!) every year. So the lifetime warranty is simply amazing. I got it at guitartrader.com who were also top of class.

I've been playing for 15 years (guitar, keyboard, vocals, sequencing, writing rock, soundtrack stuff and some light classical composing). I would buy this guitar again. I really like the single fret marker at the 12th. It's not quite as easy to play as a Jackson or an ESP, but at the same time you can bar chords hard and not blue any of the notes, unlike light strings on a Jackson. This lends itself to different playing styles and encourages more aggressive playing (for me anyway).

Though my ESP is the most comfortable guitar in my collection and I turn to my Soloist whenever I'm practicing, I will probably be using the LPG the most when I next sit down to do some recording.

It a 2000 model. 22 frets, made in the USA as all Gibson's are. A tone and volume control for each of the 2 humbucking pickups. It is the basic Les Paul configuration. Finish is satin black. A beautiful color, everything is black execpt for the washer around the toggle switch. Grover non locking tuners. Maple top, mahogany back.
Ebony fret board. No inlays except cool moon and star inlay at the 12th fret, but has fret markers on the top of the fret board. Cool old time picture of orwell gibson on the back of the headstock, right where it meets the fret board. It is a really cool guitar, but i don't see anyone who isn't into heavy rock into it. It included a very nice gibson hardshell case. The humbuckers are the gibson 490R(rhythem), and 498T(treble).

Very high output, almost distorts when on clean. It could play any style, but definatly best suited for hard music. I also own a parker p-38, so these 2 guitars give me a wide varity of sounds. Very little noise, the guitar really sings.

The guitar was set up nice from the factory. The treble pickup is a little close to the strings, but this adds high out put. The only problem I found was that when I took off the pick guard there was some paint chiped off around the top screw. The wiring is the best and neatest I have ever seen. Even the finish in the routing cavities was nice.

It seems pretty realiable. It is a Les Paul which always stand up to years of pounding. I am going to replace the strap buttons with strap locks, but I would do this with any guitar. But, so far it has not fallen off of the strap. I think I could gig without a backup, but I have to bring my p-38 just to get a different tone.

Gibson Lifetime warranty, but never dealt with them. Only giving a ten b/c its the best warranty in the buisness.

If this guitar were lost or stolen I would buy it again. I played the sg gothic also, but this had tons more balls. I also played a les paul jr double cutaway, which was very nice also, but again this had more balls. I also played several of the dean eVo series, and this beats it hands down. You can't beat the original. Gibson knows what they are doing and they build the best, definatly worth the extra couple hundred bucks.