Vester Vintage Series Les Paul

I bought this new, as my very first electric guitar, in 1992. I was shure I wanted a Les Paul, but couldn't afford the real deal. The owner of the local guitar shop recommended this over Epiphone. The guitar has a beautiful yellow honeyburst finish with cream bindings, nickel hardware and a very is was even smoother. The body and neck is mahogany, though I am unshure what the top is made of. The electronics and tuners are inferior to that of a Gibson Les Paul, but that is obviously where Vester cut corners to reduce costs. Thus, the guitars loses a few points on 'features', but this is to be expected on a replica. I own a 2006 Gibson Les Paul Standard (60's neck) and apart from the electronics I can't really say which is the better guitar. One interesting thing - I have read a few reviews of the Vester Tradition Series LP and the Vester Vintage Tradition series LP. On my guitar there is no mention of Tradition Series whatsoever, just the 'Vintage' moniker on the truss rod cover. However, as far as I have seen on pictures, the only difference is that my Vester has true trapezoid inlays on the fingerboard, as opposed to the dots I have seen on Vester Tradition Series LPs. If someone knows anything about any other subtle differences, please tell.

Beautiful, warm Les Paul sound! Killer sustain! Better pickups would separate the bass and treble notes of a chord better, but all in all the sound is awesome. That's why I haven't dared changing the pickups on this one - if I found another one, I would experiment on that, but I am afraid of messing up a good thing on this one.

The action is fantastic (after a professional tweak it went from gopd to excellent), the balance is good even though it's a heavy guitar. The finish is a beautiful honeyburst non-bookmatched top, natural mahogany coloured body and neck, and trapezoid mother of pearl in-lays on the fingerboard. The tuners could use a break now after 17 years, it could probably also use a refretting in some places, I have had to clean the pots once, and I have replaced the bridge due to wear and tear and so forth. The neck is straight though, and the intonation is great.

For seventeen years this has been my companion; rehearsing, live, in thestudio and in front of the television. It's a great guitar that looks and sounds as beautiful today as ever, and one that has never let me down. Some parts have been worn out over the years, but nothing that isn't to be expected.

Vester were sued out of business before I had any reason to deal with them - not that I have ever needed to.

A fantastic guitar. My only regret is that they don't make these anymore, but I will buy any and all Vester Les Pauls I find.