Gibson Les Paul Vintage Mahogany

All features are as stock, including the pickups which are perfect and hot. No need to change to anything else!

I play blues and blues-rock as well as some southern rock (I am in my mid 40's and grew-up south of Jacksonville Florida,so what do you expect?)so it fits my style perfectly. Playing thru my Rockman x-100's till I get another amp. the downturn in the economy hit my gitar and amp collection hard. The tone is awesome, deep and rich compared to my late Fenders.

The finish (what little there is) is perfect as is the set-up. I won't have to do anything to this guitar other than restring on the regular intervals. Still don't know if I'm supposed to oil it's finish with anything though, guess I'll call Gibson about that.

Seems solid.

I'll see when I contact Gibson with my inquiry about finish care.

Started playing 40 years ago and haven't gotten much better in that time! I have insured it for more than replacement cost as I would need to replace it immediately with the same guitar. It to me is like Linus and his blanket, when I am at work I think about getting home and playing. (I'm like a junkie!)
I bought this off craigslist when I had a reversal of fortune. When the economy went south I sold my Strat and my Tele as well as all my amp collection. Now I'm wondering if I've been playing the wrong brand, It feels and sounds that good! I sold my Martin D-28 during this time and got a Taylor in trade. I'm convinced I was playing the wrong brand there!

My Les Paul vintage Mahogany is an 06 with the darker brown finish as opposed to the cherry finish. I played it with the burstbucker pros in it for 2 years and then replaced them with a Seymour duncan alnico 2 pro in the neck and a Gibson P-94 in the bridge. The old pickups didnt break or short out i just wanted a change. The neck is super thick and beefy. Mine came intonated from the factory and I have never had one problem with anything. No cold solders or tuning problems. For 800 it has all great features that are work horses for the les paul enthusiast.

I have a vast musical style varying from delta blues to guns n roses to metallica and this guitar suits them all very well. I run it through a marshall jcm 900 and carvin v3 and it just screams. The harmonics pop out of it and has a wide range of natural dynamics. The Rhythm pick up is a bit bassy from the factory but the trebel and both of them mixed sounds super full and thick and crunchy. The body resonates really well.

When i recieved it from the factory it was intonated perfectly and the action was great. I dont like my action super low so i dont think it would be "shred" ready but for hard rock and blues it was a great string height that I so much as set my other LP's up to match it. Everything was set up perfect with the bridge and saddles. The fit was great. Nothing was flawed. The only thing is after playing it live for 3 plus years of 2-3 gigs a week the finish has come off on the top of the neck (because of my thumb ring) and the finish on the back (from belt buckles) and under the trebel pickup (where i plant my pinky)

This guitar is a straight up work horse ready for anything. I have beat it up and used it on tour many times. The hardware is still as solid as the day it was made. Again the finish wore off in some places but that goes with most guitars after the amount of use that this guitar has been through. I can depend on this guitar more than any other I own. I have a premium plus les paul, a slash signature les paul, a duesenberg, and a fender strat and this is my first choice when I can only bring one guitar.

I have never had to call Gibson because I have never had a problem with it!

If lost I would definetly buy another one. Its a total beast and a definet add for anyone especially if you are a touring or gigging musician. Now im going to go back to playing it.

Others have mentioned but notable features - 59 rounded neck, BB Pro pickups and a satin finish.

Fantastic! For the price - just perfect. I bought one of these some time ago and immediately loved it. BB Pros really sing, can get very bright but very musicial. I play through a Mesa Boogie Roadster and the amp itself has loads of tone and the LP matches it nicely. Recently I purchased another one at a steal of a price and swapped the pickups for some P-94s and I am very pleased with the result! Curious why Gibson doesn't make more guitars with P-90s these days...

Finish - very nice. I like the satin feel especially the necks. No drips anywhere, very nice all around.
Action - always needs slightly adjusted, I mean we are dealing with preference here... adjusted the pickups to my liking and I was happy.

I have gigged with my first one numerous times, no issues what-so-ever. Play it at band practice (and otherwise) regularly. Gibsons hold up and don't let you done when you find one that fits you.

I have dealt with Gibsons Customer Service a few times, questions about wiring, models and etc... all emails answered quickly. I am pleased with them.

I have been playing about 14 years now and I love the setup I am using, which is rare for some. I liked the original guitar so much I bought a second so that should tell you that I like it quite a bit! For the price you can't go wrong.

This is my first solid-body guitar--so I'm not sure what features are standard to most rockers! :-) Seriously, the neck feels great--the access up the neck bast the 15th fret is good. The standard Les Paul shape is cool. The Mahogany looks good with the simple "oil stain" rather than the hard clear finish. I'm still struggling with the tune-o-matic bridge. I've spent an hour and a half trying to get the strings in tune at the 12th fret (with the harmonic). I view that more as a problem with the vendor from whom I purchased the guitar (Guitar Center)--or the "class of vendor" (drop-ship unopened cartons from the factory or warehouse vendors, as opposed to full service vendors [like Elderly Instruments] who do the initial set up before shipping an instrument).

WOW! Sounds great even through my little Behringer amp!

It looks sweet. Fit and finish fine. No loose knobs. But the bridge had not been set up for the strings installed at the factory.

I think that this will do well as a gig guitar. It would be an alternative for me since I'm usually playing bass or acoustic guitar. Got it more to fool around with and record with.

Standard Gibson Warranty.

I'm very well pleased with this as my first solid-body electric!

Your typical Les Paul deal with the difference of a mahogany top. Mine is red, four-piece back. Being a working man's guitar, it could actually have simplified controls down to one volume & one tone. Having BurstBuckers on this model easily makes it a pro's back-up (if not main) guitar.

The BurstBuckers produce nice, well defined vintage sound. The mahogany top, chambered body and a satin finish contribute to a warm, open tone, more on the darker side of the spectrum, compared to the LP Standard. Loads of sustain, plenty of character. This guitar just sings with the right amp. I play it via Gibson & Fender tube amps and it sounds great through both breeds. It works best for blues and classic rock, but it can also handle jazz and hard rock with ease. Could be a bit too dark through certain amps.

Mine was fine, but I had to go through a few to find it. The setup was within the specs.

Seems well-built. Had it for over a year, played a lot of gigs and jam sessions with it. Been on the road including flights - all is fine so far. The trhee-way switch started mulfunctioning after some time, but the problem was easily fixed by some cleaning and adjusting.

My prior experience with Gibson was fine.

I have been playing for over 20 years, useing and owning a variety of guitars and amps. Compared to a Les Paul Standard or a Studio, this guitar sounds darker and looks (and is a lot) cheaper, but certainly can get one through a gig with ease. It certainly sounds richer and deeper than an SG. They need to be hand-picked and listened to before a purchase as they all sound different. Mine was second or third I have tried. It works nicely both in studio and on stage. It simply radiates warmth. It was complimented numerous times for its tone by professional musicians and audience.

AD: The round warmth of a carved mahogany top on a mahogany back first debuted in the famous 1957 Custom Black Beauty. Now Gibson brings this fabulous wood combo back with the added vintage edge of Gibson's Alnico V BurstBucker Pro humbuckers. Designed especially for the new Gibson Les Paul Standards, these pickups provide pure tone lovers with stunning humbucking tone on their electric guitars. A '59 rounded Les Paul mahogany neck with rosewood fretboard and trapezoid inlays is fast yet substantial.

I don't know what these guys are complaining about - This guitar is a great deal! It features $250 worth of Burstbucker pickups which some more expensive models do not even have. There is no need to ever change pickups, as these are the same ones in the new 2008 Standards, which sell for $2600. There is no maple top which contributes to its slightly deeper sound (it is actually great sounding) and it is very light compared to other boat anchor Les Pauls and it is very comfortable to carry around. This is weight relieved and may contribute to it's nice sound and sustain. Test one out and see. The true sound of a Les Paul is more a function of it's 24.75" length than it's thickness, so if it is slightly thinner than more expensive models it makes up for it with its light weight. I think this is the best deal out there on a Les Paul. If it can be found on sale for $200 off regular price, (like I got mine on Labor Day Weekend at GC) then it is a steal! Maybe your complaints about the fit and finish contributed to it's lower pricing - thanks! It has trapezoidal inlays in the rosewood neck and the tuners are fine, it has a nice black pick guard and the worn brown is by far the best color (no offense to the faded cherry owners). The finish is hand rubbed (not sprayed lacquer) so you can probably just rub it down with Tung Oil or Minwax Antique oil finish. Scratches in a lacquered surface will always show and are not easily fixed, in this case it doesn't really matter, just rub on some scratch cover, or you can even sand and repair with some simple stain and oil finish. Mahogany is a fairly hard wood, so it shouldn't dent that easily, but you probably just need to go a little easier on this guitar because it has no protective shell. No decorative bindings and the only decoration besides the inlays is the word "Studio" on the Truss rod cover. The stitched Gibson Case for the Worn Brown has the white plush interior, the faded cherry guitar has black I believe.

Sorry, but this model sounds much better than some higher LP models! A-B them and see for yourself! it probably will be discontinued soon, as it is too good a deal! FYI: Paint and lacquer does not improve the sound of a guitar. Great pickups!

Found a new one, still in the box, and on sale to boot, bought it, then took it straight to my luthier, clean bill of health right off the line! Everything was adjusted properly. The luthier was even impressed with it!

It's a Gibson, you know the deal, get strap locks immediately as you do not want to drop them unless you wish to have the neck repaired. The finish will wear, but anyone can hand rub these, especially the Worn Brown as this is a common stain. What you give up in durability you make up in sound quality.

Salesman wanted me to pay $70 extra for an extended warranty, no thanks! The limited lifetime warranty from Gibson, or just take it to your local luthier. You can actually call Gibson and get a customer support rep who will speak to you for some time if necessary. I have had good experience with Gibson.

Gear: Gibson 1991 SG Junior with an Iommi pickup, Fender Hway 1 Strat with custom 69 pickups, Ibanez RG270DX with Iommi/bridge, Fender SCN/mid, Gibson Angus Young/neck, Dean Dime O Flame, Fender American Standard 1997 Telecaster, Black Pearl custom made MacPherson Guitarworks Acoustic, Dr Z Maz Jr., Marshall DSL50/1960BV, Marshall AVT 50H/Custom Cab - Rock and Metal - If I had the cash to spend I would have probably gotten a new 2008 Standard, but this one is a reasonably priced winner.

2007 made in USA (of course)
"Burstbuckers"
All Mahogany
"Satin" finish
no case (Guitar Center special)

The 2007 vintage mahogany was engineered with body chambers (hollowed out) that not only make it very light, but actually improve resonance.

"Burstbucker" pickups sound even better than vintage

...all together, this guitar sounds fantastic

This guitar is put together perfectly. CNC (computer) routing fits all the parts together tighter than a glove.

Mine has no anomalies (flaws) in any of the wood and the bookmatching is flawless.

What I unpleasantly discovered are little nicks Gibson put on it to artificially make it look vintage (relic). If I wanted a relic, I would have bought the the full job.

But the main reason I'm marking this area way down is the thickness of the body is about 25% less than a standard Les Paul - therefore, to the experienced, it doesn't look or feel like a real Les Paul.

other than the traditional headstock worry, it's built to last

don't know (sold it)

I would rather pay a little extra for a standard thickness body (the feather weight doesn't bother me near as much) - even though it's sounds exceptional, the LP feel isn't there and isn't I guitar I want to own.

Don't waste your time on this guitar. Buy the the next level up - you'll be happier.

This is a Gibson Les Paul Vintage Mahogany, made in the USA. It has a 22 frets and a rosewood fingerboard. The is neck is flat and relatively fat -- I believe this is the "50s profile" neck.

The body is made of three pieces of wood and has a carved top cap, all mahogany. The finish is matte brown natural and the grain of the wood is visible. It is very minimal and elegant and looks especially great with the chrome and black hardware.

This guitar is noticeably lighter than the other Les Pauls I tried, almost as light as an SG. I have heard, but not confirmed, that the body pieces under the cap haven been routered out to reduce the weight. Oddly, there is no information about this model available on Gibson's website.

The guitar has two pickups, a three way selector switch, and separate tone and volume controls for each pickup. It has the standard tune-o-matic bridge and "green key" tuners.

It also came with a nice hardshell case. All in all, it is a good configuration: nothing exotic, but all the bases are covered.

This guitar has a great tone. I was looking for an guitar with a fixed bridge and two humbucking pickups. The Les Paul is the gold standard for that sound and this guitar delivers it. I have read that the pickups on this guitar are the BurstBuckers that are normally used on the higher-end Les Pauls. They do sound good. My other guitar is a G&L ASAT with single coil pickups, and this is much quieter. Compared to that the Les Paul has slightly reduced treble, but much more mid-range output.

Here is where it gets dicey. I tried at least six models at the store and all of them had significant flaws. I saw at least one of these problems on each of the guitars I tried (and also on Studios and a Special as well).

1. Neck -- misaligned, not a flush fit with the body or twisted.
2. Nut problems -- chips, blobs of glue not wiped off, open string buzzing.
3. Fret problems -- frets not seated properly, crappy job of gluing the fretboard onto the neck.

The quality of the wood is not as high as high as I would have liked on an instrument of this price. In particular, the rosewood on the fretboard feels cheap compared to other guitars I have owned or played. The pieces of the body wood are not bookmatched, but since they are only visible from the back of the guitar and the front has a cap, this isn't a major issue.

The manufacturing on these guitars is clearly hit or miss. The model I ultimately purchased had a nut that was cut too low, and chipped around the D string, so that the string often came out of its groove (I discovered this after getting home with it). There was some open string buzzing. The pickup selector switch was also not properly screwed in and was basically rattling around in its socket.

On the positive side, I did make sure that the guitar I bought had a straight neck, good frets and a solid neck joint. I have since had a local luthier replace the nut and set up the guitar and it is at the level of quality that Gibson should have produced.

I am skeptical about the tuners, since they look and feel rather cheap. I'll wait until I have had more time with the guitar to evaluate how well they hold up and decide whether or not to replace them. But no serious problems yet.

Otherwise the instrument seems very solid. There really aren't any moving parts. The neck is glued in and the joint seems very solid. Because the finish is so simple, I imagine it could be prone to scratches.

I haven't had reason to interact with Gibson, so I have no basis on which to rate their support. The instrument does come with a lifetime warranty.

Overall, this is a good guitar. I feel that I got a top-notch Les Paul with a uncommon look at a very respectable price, even after the cost of the repairs. I recommend this model with the caveat that they have quality problems. You will need to evaluate several guitars and the one you select will probably not be perfect off the shelf. Expect to replace the nut and pay to have the guitar setup professionally. But if you just make sure that the basics on the instrument are solid (straight neck, good flush fit with the body, no fret/fretboard problems) then you will be all right in the long run. I absolutely do *not* recommend buying this guitar over the internet or sight unseen.

I am an amateur player, who has been playing off and on for about 20 years. I have always played Fender and G&L guitars. A friend recently loaned me a Les Paul to try out, and it clearly made an impression. I really like the wider, flatter neck and shorter scale length of the Les Paul, as well as the humbucking pickups. Anyone who has only played guitars cut from the Fender mold owes it to themselves to check one of these instruments. There are certainly nicer Fenders you could get for the price, but the design principles of the Les Paul make it stand out, for me at least.

I would rate this as a 6 as purchased, but in its current form will give it an 8.

I recently re-aquainted myself with the Electric Guitar (after a 25 year hiatus) I was looking at a few different models and ran into this one. Made in USA, April 2007. All I did was play it un-plugged and knew it was a keeper. I have a friend who has LP Studio (2006) and I have fooled around with his, other than the finish( personel taste) I think the LP VM is a bettor axe, at least I prefer the BBUCKERS to the 490/498. I think the reduction in weight comes from the finish as well as the mahogany cap (not maple) on this model. I think the body may be chambered. The neck although the larger 50's style is fine for me and I would classify my hands as average-wide.

I love the sound of this guitar, I only play througha samll 30 Watt Marshall, but it does the job quite comfortably. Good for Rock, Blues and does have a "older" or shoud I say "Vintage Voicing" I fooled around in Open G with a slide and may not got back to A-440.
Very cool

I have had no problems at all. The frets could have had a little more attention paid to them before sending this one dowen the line, but all in all no worries for me. Set up was solid right off the shelf. I do not have any tuning problems, although I may only play on average of 1-2 hours per day. Hard Shell Case is great (white plush) would have prefereed the grey plush but hey no WHINING for the $ paid. Neck seams are really non-noticable. All in All pretty solid job here.

No comment on the live playing, the world isn't ready for that at this time. Hardware, although the basic Gibson variety is solid and should last, I did switch out the strap buttons to locking ones.
The finish is thin and will probaly wear but I like this and like anything else of any value, practice "easy love" and one should be rewarded. I would think this would be very dependable as guitars go.

Only for questions concerning this model (via email). I always did receive a reply and my experiences could be classified as positive

Overall "its all good" No complaints at all. Makes we want to get back going and I have pretty much caught up to where I was 25 years ago, although a little more mellow, I had played for about 7 years at that point in my life. I was leaning towards a Telecaster since I had originally played on an Gibson SG in the past and wanted to change up a lttle. As mentioned earlier I had made my mind up and was heading into the local shop to buy when I spotted this one, strummed it and fretted it unplugged and the rest as they say is history.

This guitar doesn't have any 'features' unless you count its lack of features a feature, which I do in the case of the finish since the satin finish is not gummy compared to the lacquer finish. It also is lighter and lets the wood breathe more. I like the speed knobs better than the tophats so I guess that is a feature worth noting as well. The pickups are the Burstbucker Pros, same as in the LP standard (as of 2008). Case is nice too.

Sounds good for rock, hard rock, blues, jazz, pretty much whatever. LPs were made for jazz but get that sustain and crunch for rock. Works great with Boss Blues Driver pedal and some Fender reverb. It's pretty sweet.

I mail ordered this one so I didn't have the luxury of seeing it in person. Set up is flawless. My frets are not too sharp as some have said. I would add some graphite to the nut to ease the tuning but that's about it.

This is a sturdy guitar. Lighter than a regular studio but that's from the thin satin finish I would imagine. Hardware seems fine. Should last for a long time.

Never dealt with them.

Overall this is a great buy. Sounds like it should and if you hear a good LP, then you know what this should sound like. It makes you want to go home and play music. You know, the kind of music where you pretend to be your favorite guitar hero. And it's inexpensive compared to the fancy LPs. Go get two.