Gibson Les Paul Special SL

This guitar was made in the year 2000 at the tenessee plant in the USA. If i remember how to read gibson serial #'s correctly, it was at least. It has a natural finish and mini trapazoid inlay. Rosewood fret-bourd, gibson stock tuners, tune-o-matic bridge, flat mohogany body, and the standard 490t and 498r humbucker pickups. It is pretty much just a stripped down les paul standard.

Goddamn does this thing sing. This guitar sounds amazing. I plug it straight into my amp with no affects or anything. Obviously i have used affects with it but even still. Also the combo of this guitar, my amp, and my pedals are superb. I have played it through various amps like fender, marshall, line 6, hartke, peavey, etc... and the sound is great in all of them. I love the sound on this thing. I play in a band and when i really crank up the amp at gigs, this thing is awesome. It doesnt get muddy oranything at extreme volumes.

The action was perfect and every thing else was perfect when i first bought it.

This thing is rock solid. It can handle anything.

n/a

I highly recomend this guitar. It plays, sounds, feels like any other Gibson and it is nearly half the price of them. I do wish it had a pickgaurd though. Once i again, i strongly suggest you get this guitar if your ever looking for a gibson.

Made in the year 2000 in the usa at the nashville tennesse plant. Its got 22 frets and a flat body made out of mahogony. The pickups are the standard 490r and 498t humbuckers. It has a tune-o-matic bridge. The guitar is pretty much a les paul standard stripped down. Oh and it has mini trapezoid inlay.

It sounds amazing in any amp i plug into without any type of effects pedals or anything. I have played through fender, marshall, line 6 amps and more and it sounds amazing in each and every one. It has a full rich sound when it is on the clean channel and sounds kind of bright on distortion. It sounds good on almost any styles of music i do play or attempt to play. Absolutly no dislikes here.

Ther guitar was perfectly set up when i purchased it. The pickups were adjusted just right and had no flaws in it whatsoever.

This guitar is like a metal wall. It can withstand almost anything. It is very very durable. It is also very reliable. I play in a blues band and bring it to every one of my gigs (with no backup) and plug straight in to my amp for a few hours.

never used gibson customer service before.

I have been playing guitar for several years now andhave owned many guitars before this. This guitar has evolved into a personal favorite of mine over theyears i have owned it. I also own many fender guitars as well. I love every inch of it and have absolutly no dislikes at all. This guitar is just as good as any other les paul standard, classic, or deluxe ive ever played. Although i do wish sometimes it had a pickgaurd. I highly recommend this guitar because it rocks hard and is the same as any other gibson les paul for almost half the money.

OK, so...there are 60-some other reviews on here that describe this guitar. Mine is no different. The guitar is dead-stock with the natural finish. If I remember how to read Gibson serial #'s correctly, this guitar is a '98, made on May 15th, and either the 20th or 120th one made. I was given this guitar along with an old Tech 21 Trademark 60 amp and a bit later a Boss GT 8 processor by friends of mine. If you are wondering how I came to be given all of this equipment, it is a God thing and I will gladly explain that to you if you email me. Having some time on my hands one day, I was nosing around a local music store and spotted an old Roland JC-120 and thought that I would try it out. Always did love those amps. Conveniently, a guitar was already hooked up to the amp, so I asked permission and sat down to play. After a couple of minutes, I realized the star of my little show was the guitar I was playing. I was amazed. Inquiring further, I found out that the guitar was on consignment for 500 bucks and had been there for 6 months. If I had had 500 bucks, I would have bought this guitar immediately. My friend then walked in the store to trade some of his equipment and asked if I would like one of the guitars? He then gave me his guitar and amp, which he told me he had been led to leave at home and not sell on the trip he was on that found me in the store playing on one of these incredible little Les Pauls.

Features? It is a Les Paul without a maple cap...no muss, no fuss. The "Tons of features" that goes with the 10 score is it's absolute lack of features and the functionality of the ones that are there.

My musical styles on guitar have always been blues, R&R, and pop. Gibson has always fit the bill, especially the solid body line. I have loved Les Pauls since the very first day I laid eyes on them. I am, always have been, and always will be, a Les Paul person. My first "real" guitar was an SG that I got in 19sixtywhatever. Since then I have owned all of the "standards" (LP, Tele, 335, Strat, ad nauseum) and have always felt that the solids and semi's from Gibson are the best. As mentioned, I play Les Pauls. I have seen in reviews that people refer to this guitar as "thin". Hmmm...try a Fender or a Firebird. This guitar, while not a full blown LP, is somewhere between an LP and an SG. I love both of those guitars and love dearly the sound of this little guitar. Noisy? Either your guitar is broke or you have single coils. Sounds are whatever you need on this piece...I am using it through the aforementioned Trademark 60 and get all of the tone I want or need. Throw this GT 8 thing in there and there is no end to the tonality. Also, maybe I don't understand the "what kind of sounds does the guitar make" question, but, so far, it makes guitar sounds...nice ones.

I have heard complaints about the finish, about how it gets gooped up. Well, keep a rag handy. I usually wipe off between songs and sets and have since I played my first pro gig in '63. Goopey...please...spare me. "ya know, dude...I played a sweaty rock gig in an overcrowded and painfully hot nightclub, spilled beer all over my guitar and threw it in the case because this hot chick with earrings in her face and pink hair was all over me and I just can't figure out why my Gibson Les Paul Special SL was goopey when I opened up the case 2 days later to rehearse. Must be Gibson's fault..." 8^)

Everything on this guitar was excellent when I got it from a guy who his meticulous about his guitars.

Like most any Gibson guitar I have ever encountered, played, and/or owned, they are pretty solid. From the top to the bottom, Gibsons pretty much will take anything you throw at them...EXCEPT...THE OLD HEADSTOCK/NECK ISSUE!!! That issue with the Gibson solids has never quite been addressed, as far as I know. Yes, for a minute or two there was the flirtation with the volute. There is no volute on this neck. The necks on these are the ever dangerous slim taper job, so keep it in a case when not playing it, not on a stand.

Other than that, there is no need for a backup instrument other than breaking a string. Gibson guitars don't need any backup.

Never had to deal with Gibson. Any issues I have ever had stemmed from cosmetic or pup changes. This piece is used, so no warranty.

I have been playing since 1960. First guitar, then in '63, I switched to the electric bass (Fender Bass in the Local #47 Union Directory in those days) where I have done most of my professional work over the years. I have always doubled, though, and have been successful because I realize that the two are separate disciplines. Also, I love the guitar in all of it's forms from flamenco to funk. There is that personal and friendship thing about a good guitar that always lays there at the foundation of it all. They go with you and stay with you. There you are sittin' around the campfire at the beach and you reach over and pull out of the case your...clarinet? Steinway baby grand?

Compared to other guitars I have owned, this guitar, surprisingly, would be #1. I had a 20th Anniversary LP that was an extremely special instrument. Every guy that ever played it wanted to buy it. It used to be #1. I will die with this guitar, I adore the little thing that much. I would replace it if it were ever to go away.

If I have learned anything in my years of playing, it is that good musical instruments that "fit" you are rare and special. It doesn't matter what others think. I have already had people disparage this guitar because it isn't a "real" Les Paul. I think 49 years of playing and buying/selling guitars and basses experience will speak a different story and I just hope that people realize that. This guitar may not be for them, but we should be careful not to choose an instrument because of any other reson that it "fits". After all, it is music we are making.

Model ??? Les Paul Special SL (Worn Cherry)
SL stands for Sans Laquer. This is a new finishing method for Gibson.
SN: 00492620 SN FORMAT: YDDDYPPP (PPP 500-999 indicates Nashville Production)
My guitar was born in February of 2002.
Retailed for $999.00 bucks.
Paid 599.99 from Guitar Center on 09/09/02 for Guitar and Gig Bag.
Body ??? Solid Mahogany (Fore that warm, fat, Les Paul sound)
Set in neck provides outstanding sustain.
Neck/Profile
Mahogany/1960 Slim taper
Fingerboard/Inlay
Rosewood 22 frets/Pearloid Dot Inlays
Scale/Nut Width
243/4"/111/16
Bridge/Tailpiece
Tune-o-matic/Stop bar
Neck Pickup 490R
Bridge Pickup 498T "Hot Alnico"
Controls: Two volume, two tone, three-way switch
17 degree heastock pitch., Neck joint at 16th fret, Gold top hat knobs, Green key tuners.

Flat top guitar, the lightest Les Paul ever made!

I love this guitar. It sounds more open than other Les Pauls. I liked the stock pickups OK, but opted to have my guitar luthier install a calabrated set of BurstBucker Pro's in it. I like it even better now. I also had strap locks installed, metal pickup rings, metal jack plate, custom knobbs, and new Planet Waves locking tuners, and tuning stop bar. Looks and plays better than stock to me. The fretboard was too dry for my liking when I baught it so I gave it the Dr. Ducks Ax Wax treatment. Loaded the fretboard up, and let it drink it's fill over night. Much nicer now.

This guitar has a super sound and just calls to you to be played. It is better than a $4,000.00 Paul you might want to let sit in the corner in fear it might get dinged. This is a players guitar, not a collectors. I have no doubt that it will even sound better with age, especially being played the entire time. This SL Special has it's own voyce in the Les Paul quire, and it's a darn good one at that. When you play this guitar un-amped, you can hear it better than the other Pauls. The vibrating notes can be literally felt in the neck better than any other guitar I have played. This guitar is special and will be in demand as long as Gibson makes them. The light weight must also be stressed. It takes it from the unuseable catagory to useable. The faded Cherry is my favorite finish. Looks good with red juled knobbs too!

I love flat top guitars, and the faded cherry is just fine with me. It was set up for me by a pro and still playes fine. It does have super sustain.

This slabber is a tank. I think it will last longer than I will if taken care of.

Never used Gibson customer support but it has a Guitar Center garentee.

This is a fine guitar and should be respected by the world! Killer sound with a Killer price. American quality too. Gibson Rules!

Year - 2002 Les Paul Special SL
Manufacture - USA, Nashville TN.
Neck - Mahogany/Rosewood, Mini-Trapazoid Inlays, 22 Fret, Slim Taper 60's
Body - Slab, Solid Mahogany
Finish - Ebony
Controls - Std. Les Paul 2 vol, 2 tone
P/U - 490R/498T
Bridge - Std. TOM, added a TP-6 tuner tail piece
Tuners - Gibson Kluson Green Key

SOUND:
I bought this guitar mainly as a back up - but - you can NEVER have too many guitars ;). I play mainly Heavy Blues/Heavy Rock, so its pretty much a perfect type of guitar for that. I play through a Laney TFX300 with an Extension Cabinent, all Loaded with Emenence Modeling 12's. I have a BOSS Blues Driver and a Digitech Hotrod (set to DS-1) as well as a Dunlop Wah, but I usually just run through the Laneys Drive 2 circuit with a little Chorus on. The sound is as good as you can get from a flat top Gibson. My 2005 LPS sounds richer, probably from the added mass of the maple cap and thicker body, but this Special SL performs and sounds as advertised. It will run the full gambit of Les Paul sounds, just not as full or rich as a Standard. I'm not a huge fan of the stock 490R/498T Humbuckers. The 490R is WAY too bassy and muddy sounding, even with the tones set to treble, while the 498T is just "ok". I usually just play through the 498T. I have a Duncan Hot'59 on my SG90 Double and I think it would wake this thing right up. I'm a much bigger fan of the Burst-Buckers on my '05 LPS, as far as "stock" pick-ups go. SOUND RATING 4 for the 490R, 8 for the 498T.

ACTION,FIT & FINISH:
I bought this guitar second hand via eBay from a lady in Arizona. I live in Pa. and it shipped during late spring. Needless to say, going from the dry air of the desert to the humid air on the east coast, the guitar needed to be set up again. I wouldn't call that a defect in any way, in fact I would say that the guitar held up excellent, which is a tribute to Gibsons renewed committment to quality control in the manufacturing process. I will say that I have owned and played quite a few factory fresh Gibsons and Mr. Juszkiewicz, please hear me out - your set-up guys/girls should be sent packing. They all need to be set up again and I have yet to find a Gibson that has a properly intonated G string. I do however realize that you need to set up a guitar to tailor your individual playing tastes anyway so I won't really hold that against it. That being said, a trip to my luthier set her up perfectly. I also added a Gibson TP-6 fine tuner tail piece to it just for giggles. It works great and is helpful during live playing.

Fit and finish were excellent, with no real issues to note. Even the selector switch is solid (amazing). I will say this though, the saying is true - NEVER OWN A BLACK CAR OR GUITAR!. This thing gets dirty quick and you will be cleaning it every day. If you dont, you get this white film build up over the top of the body and especially the neck that makes it unpleasant to look at much less play. The color is thick and well laquored and the Nitro-cell finish is great because you can have nicks and dings repaired by a pro easily. One thing I will say about Gibson in general - it appears that they are stamping in the USA and serial numbers sometime during the painting process instead of before. Recent models I have looked at, all have the paint/finish chipped up it that area. Its a minor complaint and on my '88 SG90 Double, you can barely see the numbers because the finish is so thick, but there must be a way to fix this.

The only other finish type thing to note about this guitar is that I didn't like the way the stock tan pick-up rings, switch cap, ring and gold knobs looked, so I switched them out to all black.

RELIABILITY/DURABILITY:
Yes its a Gibson and a solid one at that. It will probably outlast me and the next soul that owns it. As has been said before, you are a fool not to spend the $15 on strap locks and you do need to be careful about the neck when you are swinging that thing around or while its on a guitar stand.

I've deal with Gibson in the past (but not with this guitar) and they are great people. Their ship times are a little slow though for such a huge company

I've been playing for over 20 years and have primarily been a Gibson man for most of them. In addition to this LP Special SL, I have a 2006 Les Paul Standard DC+ in Trans Red, a 2005 Les Paul Standard in Desertburst, a 1988 SG90 Double in Turquise, a 1996 Peavey Firenza P90, A 2002 Ibanez AEF500 Semi-acustic, a 1979 Washburn D12 acustic, and a 1966 Epiphone FT-79 Texan. If this guitar was stolen or broken, I would probably step up to a Les Paul Studio model rather than replace it. For the money I paid for it, it really is a fantastic value, I will admit.

My LP Special is a 2001 model, American made; if you click on the link for "pricing @ Musician's Friend", that's my guitar, a mahogany plank, with black finish (they call it ebony), chrome hardware, & mini trapezoid inlays. From the reviews I've read, there seems to be some confusion about this model; some people are clearly reviewing the LP Faded Special, and one reviewer seemed to be reviewing the LP Deluxe Special. The mini-trapeziod inlays are found only on the Musician's Friend version.

The hardware and electronics are standard Gibson configurations, which every Gibson player can recite by now - "Tune-o-matic bridge and stop tailpiece, with two humbuckers, two volume and two tone controls, a three-way switch, amen." The pickups, as everyone loves to point out, are the same ones you'd get on a more expensive LP or SG model. The neck is described as a "60's slim-taper neck"; I'm not sure what that means. I remember some really skinny Gibson necks back in the 60's, but this neck feels pretty much like a standard LP neck, except for the finish.

The finish gets mucked up pretty quickly, especially on the black guitars. I keep a polishing cloth handy, for giving the neck a rub every so often. It's not a terrible finish, but it's not what you'd expect if you've been playing other, more expensive Gibson guitars.

The tuners were Kluson-style Gibson tuners, with the green plastic tuning heads; they're supposed to look like vintage parts, but I don't see the point of vintage parts on a modern hybrid guitar.

I got the guitar used, so there were no accessories. If you buy one new, it comes with a gig bag.

Like so many other reviewers, I took the tuners and strap pegs off right away. I put Grover tuners and Schaller strap locks on all my solidbodies. (I think every player should use strap locks, no matter what your guitar cost; for $15 or $20, it's like guitar insurance.) The Grover tuners add mass to the headstock, which helps add sustain; they're also better than the stock tuners. I also replaced the tailpiece with a Schaller fine-tuning tailpiece. The Schaller tailpiece adds more mass to the body, again for more sustain. I like the Schaller tailpiece more than the Gibson TP-6, and I had one lying around from a blow-out sale at Guitar Center, just waiting for a guitar to come along. The Schaller pegs fit right into the Gibson threads, so it's a simple mod.

Overall, I give the features a 9. I mean, come on, seriously, it's not a "10" guitar, and it's not trying to be. The tuners are just okay, the finish is funky, and it looks kind of like a parts guitar, with all the creme parts on the black finish. So what? If all you care about is the cosmetic appeal, spend $500 or $600 on an Epiphone LP, but for the price, the American-made Special is a lot of guitar. If I'd paid a lot more for this guitar, I might be less generous with my scoring.

My style is heavy electronic guitar, influenced by people like Robert Fripp, John McLaughlin and the Residents. I want massive sustain from a heavy, solid-feeling guitar, so I love mahogany planks with humbuckers. The LP Special gives me the clean, slightly dark tone I like as the cornerstone of my sound, but it also delivers nice jazz tones and even some bright country sounds, which I don't use. If I wanted twang, I'd play a Tele.

My main effects rig is a Boss GT-3, which I also use for amp modeling. My main amp is a Roland JC-90, which I set for a clean tone. Coming out of the GT-3, I run the signal through a bunch of delays and loopers, to stack sounds; it's a sick set-up. Using my LP Special with the GT-3's effects and amp models, I can get a wide variety of guitar sounds; using the LP Special through the JC-90, with no effects in the signal chain, I can get all the classic clean LP tones, from dark to bright. It would be interesting to try the LP Special with a Marshall amp, for example, to see if delivered the classic Clapton sound.

I give the sound a 10; it's solid, it's the real Gibson sound, and it didn't cost me $2000.

I bought the guitar used, so I can't fault Gibson for the set-up, or anything else that I needed work. I had the action lowered a bit, and replaced the pickup switch. The nut slots look a little high to me, but my repair guy says they're fine, so I'm not worried about it. I do some serious string-bending, and I've never had a string slip out of the nut. The finish is the weak point, but I can live with it. I'd give my LP Special a 10 for action and fit, because I've tweaked it to my liking, but the finish really deserves a 7, maybe a generous 8, so I'm going with an 8.

I try to treat my gear well, amd this guitar seems solid enough to last. I have faith in my Grover tuners; I gave the stock tuners to my repair guy, for spares. Vintage geeks like the look.

The strap buttons seemed fine, but I always put Schaller strap locks on my guitars; that way, I don't have to wonder if my guitar is going to drop. The finish seems to be holding up after nearly three years of playing; check back with me in 2007.

Can I depend on it? It's my main guitar, how's that for an answer? IMHO, only a very poor or a very brave musician goes out on stage without a backup instrument; mine is a Gibson Les Paul Faded Special, with the Worn Cherry finish. I like these guitars.

Can't say; never had to contact them.

I been playing since the first British Invasion, before BBD's. I have a pile of gear, including a couple of Ovations, a bunch of delay/loopers, and a Les Paul Faded Special.

There was nothing to ask about this guitar but the price; I saw it, I played it, I bought it. If something happened to it, I'd order another black one from Musician's Friend, (yes, I'd actually pay full price for a new one) and play my Faded Special in the meantime.

I love the simple, brute-force technology behind this guitar; it was meant to play, not to be looked at. My only complaint is the same one I have about all LP-type guitars, the placement of the pickup switch. Sometimes, when I'm using both hands on the neck, Stanley Jordan style, the switch gets in the way.

I've played a bunch of Gibson, Hamer and Heritage guitars over the years, as well as a few new model Epiphones, and the PRS Santana SE models. (I told you I love mahogany planks; Hamers are my favorites, if anyone cares.) While the LP Special SL doesn't quite measure up to guitars in the $1200-and-up range, it's a great guitar for the price, and it may even become a collectable model, in twenty years or so. There isn't another American-made guitar at this price to compare it with, except for the Faded LP, which is essentially the same guitar with slightly different cosmetics, or the Faded SG, which has fewer features (no pickup rings, no pickup covers, and a really rough finish, at least on the ones that I tried). If you're looking at Epiphones, most of what you get is cosmetic. No, I'm not one of those dickweeds who think that all Korean guitars suck, but for the money, I really think that you're better off spending $650 (or $750, the price keeps changing) for the stripped-down Gibson than spending $500 or $600 for a dressed-up Epiphone. If you find an LP Special used, for under $400, like I did, you almost have to buy it. "BOB" will smite you, if you don't.

I give the LP Special a 9 for overall rating in its price range, but I got mine cheap. If I'd paid more like $700, I'd probably still give it at least an 8.

This is a 2000 made in Nashville, TN. 22 Frets, solid mahogany, typical LP setup 2 HBs 4 control and a 3way toggle. I'm not sure what the pickups are, this is an Artist Endorsement model. I've been told they were burstbuckers. The stock HBs are 490r and 498t. I beleive they are stock. The finish is natural, it has a UV coating, not an oil based paint. The bridge is a Nashville tune-o-matic with the lightweight stopbar. 60s profile neck. The fretboard is rosewood with mini trapezoid inlays and wide jumbo frets. Tuners are the Gibson deluxe, but the head is drilled for 10mm replacements (which I replaced with nickel rotomatics). It came with a gig bag.

I play mostly blues / boogie, classic rock, some jazz and bottle neck slide. It fits my style, blues men have been using specials for nearly 50 years. I use a Hiwatt DR50, Marshall AVT50H, Marshall 20 combo. I run through 2 10" Fanes and 2 12" Legends. I don't use effects much, but I have a compressor I use occasionally. There is no noise, none, no peculiar pops / hisses. Sounds like a LP studio. The sound is okay, sounds as good as my LP Standard and slightly better than some of my older Gibsons. It is not my best sounding guitar however.

I bought this used, from a lady who had an AE. She said she had it for 3 years but never played it. It was set up by gibson USA, the action was rather high, but tweakable. Hardware was well routed and installed. There was a problem with the neck and fretboard. The nut, was junk. People I showed it to did not believe it. It was high and mis-mounted. I think they glued it up with super glue. I had a heck of a time getting it off. Also, the frets were actually sharp and badly need of levelling and dressing. I took it back to Gibson twice and also did some filing on these myself. Now they are better, nice and shiny. But not the best Gibson I've ever seen. The nut I replaced with a Tusq ivory unit.

This instrument is built like a tank. It isn't as heavy as a custom or standard, but heavier than a studio lite. Finish? It's really too early to tell SL means, sans laquer. This is a new finishing method for Gibson. It looks like it will last. I replaced the strap buttons with a Shaller locking system. I do that with all my guitars. I can depend on it. I play in several tunings, so I always play with atleast 2 guitars.

Gibson charged me for the fret dressing, originally. They didn't charge me the second time I took it back. Since it is considered used there was no warranty.

I've been playing 45 years. For the past 25 years, I've played Gibson almost exclusively. Yes, I would buy another one. I can hardly put this guitar down since we got the bugs out. It still needs about another year of break-in, but I think it has the potential to be a great guitar. I can't beat the deal I got on it. This special had hardly been played. I got it for half price. This is not a `57 Special by no means. Gibson needs to work on their QA. However, overall I'm happy with the guitar now, and the more I play it the better I like it.

2002 Made in Tenn. USA BABY!! Mahogany body and neck no maple cap, contour on the back. Standard Gibson hardware, 2 humbucking pu's.Came with a heavy duty gig bag.

Rock and everything else. Running through a Behringer GMX212 Sounds great. Brighter than my Les Paul Standard. Can get excellent tones out of this.

I usually always change the set-up on any guitar I get. Finish is nice and black and flawless good all the way around.

I would lead a charge into war with this beauty. I always bring a backup for string breakage. Only bad thing is the black finish is hard to keep clean. But that is because it is black, so I deal with it.

It is a Gibson, lifetime warranty. Had several of Gibson guitars never had to use the warranty yet.

Gibson Les Paul Special with Humbuckers. 498 and 490 alnico's, solid mohogany body, slim tapper neck, what else could you really want. Mine is the natural finish , of course no curved top, but at the end of the day when its all said and done, does that really matter. Especially when you are talking about 550 dollars versus 2000. Come on, I mean seriously. Don't buy another Les Paul, this is the one. You are gonna need a locking strap system for sure, thats it.

Incredible sound. This is the best guitar I have ever owned. I have been playing for about 9 years in a semi small town (only 2 guitar shops) and really the only guitars that they sell are Ibanez and Strats. So I have had a lot of Ibanez. The stores would have like 2 Pauls and they were always like 2400 and 3000 dollars. I would play on them from time to time, knowing I could never spend that kind of money on a hobby. Then I saw the Special hanging on the wall one day, and at first didn't give it a chance because I had played Epiphone LP's before, and they feel like toys, and sound the same. I had some time to kill one day, and figured I would give it a shot. That was the best disicion of my life. It sounds every bit as good as the 3000 dollar guitars, but at a fraction of the price.

Action isn't spectacular like an Ibanez S series I have, but I really can't complain about it, its still better than most. Its a natural finish, and non-glossy, which I like. Most finishes I see always look dirty because of the finger prints and this one you don't have to worry about that.

Gibson product made in America, do I need to say more?

Never had a problem, can't see ever haveing one.

Don't buy a 2000 dollar guitar. Don't do it. And don't buy a 500 Epiphone Les Paul. Just don't do it. The Gibby special is the beautiful medium you have been looking for. Great quality and sound for a great low price. If something happens to mine, I am going out and buying another one, for sure.

As per the other reviews, p100 pickups. Cinnamon red, 1997

I read with amusement the reviews from the bedroom champions. I stared out on a 54 les paul goldtop that a neighbour owned and I got to play as a young guy. I bought a les paul sg ( three humbuckers) and thought i had the rock world by the tail. However I was missing something. Many years later I picked up a tele and thought ," that is the sound." However in overdive mode it was missing something. then I discovered the difference between p 90s ( the old les paul) and single coil( the new tele) sounds. I gotta be frank...this took a long time as I was gigging and changing amps every year.Now with the benefit of those years i assess this guitar. It is the nice balance between the P 90s and the single coils. It is an IMPROVEMENT when played live as it has the output I want and the tones I need. Sure I look back on the old les paul and wonder how it would compare today. But heck, I don't think Gibson is stupid. I see the new guitars as smart designs. Vintage guitars that are not reintroduced and not reintroduced for a reason. I left the old P90 hehind and have embraced the new p100s. They are quietand they ROCK through my marshall JCM 800. Nuff said

Quality is excellent. If you think vintage is the answer you should try the old gibson vibrato tailpiece that relied on you mechanically bending a piece of steel. i thought it was normal to tune between every song Eghads. Keep the 63 reissue too.

It is a great looker. I love it. Add straplocks. That is how I got rid of the 63 les paul sg. In two pieces.

Gibson quietly improves everything it makes. I am astonished at the value of this guitar, quality versus price, no one can touch them. And they haven't gone to another country to cut their production costs. That speaks volumes for me as they realize that a skilled and well paid domestic workforce is the key to survival. No MIJ or MIM here!!!!!!!!!! See their new acoustic guitars if you want something special.

Nicest guitar for a working musician that I have ever played. If it was ripped off I'd be sad and then after a proper mourninbg period. I'd replace it with the same thing. The nbew generation of guitar players has fantastic value offered to them in this model