C*V Guitars - One Badass Les Paul!

cole · Post by **cole** » Sun Jan 27, 2008 8:16 pm

Hi All,

I've been enjoying the piss out of my newest Les Paul and thought that I'd share my experience with the forum. I took the plunge and purchased a new Gibson Les Paul Standard Faded from Larry Corsa of C*V Guitars out of Pennsylvania. I did a bit of research of these Fadeds and what Larry does to them to get the best out of them. I shit you not when I say that it's the best sounding LP I've ever heard (I've played about 30 or so)and I will be getting another one soon.

Check it out on the web...here's mine. The guitar is a chambered 2007 model. Larry is a guy who owns and has owned many LP's and original 'Bursts and has put his name on the line when he states that these particular Gibsons have a very special tone, due to the finish treatment. He does a conversion of sorts to make it follow the specs of the original Peter Green LP, with changes to the hardware, flipping the magnet of the rhythm pickup (for the out of phase Peter Green tone) and revamping the electronics to CTS 500K pots and Sprague caps, plus a 50's wiring scheme. As well he uses full height 50's spec pickup mounting rings, original size screws for the rings and the slotted pickup height screws, as well as the foil top knobs on the bridge pickup controls a la Peter Green's original.

All-in-all the results are that the guitar just sings like a bird and is very expressive, resonant and has that fat Gibson Les Paul tone that we die for as Les Paul fans.

Trust me, I am not easily impressed and when someone who ownes and plays original Bursts states that these LP's have IT, I am curious enough to go for it. I an so glad I did because I so love this guitar!!

Thanks Larry!

yngwie308 · Post by **yngwie308** » Sun Jan 27, 2008 9:22 pm

Yessir I have been following the progress of these guitars on the LPF for some time.

yngwie308

cole · Post by **cole** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 6:17 am

Truth be told Dave it was one of your posts that peaked my interest enough to visit CV's web site.

Cheers!

56goldtop · Post by **56goldtop** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 6:52 am

That guitar looks sweet!

fillmore nyc · Post by **fillmore nyc** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 7:20 am

Nice!! Did he age the hardware as well, or is that natural oxidation? (The tailpiece in particular). If he did it, he did a really nice job... looks natural.

cole · Post by **cole** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 8:35 am

I believe that the Faber hardware is aged. However, he does the nickel pickup covers himself using an etching solution.

This guitar begs to be played - hell I have never had a guitar have such an impact on my senses. I just love the sound of this plugged into my '68 Metro plexi.

Larry has got somethin' goin' on here that few know about. These Fadeds really are great guitars and his mods just take it over the top. What George does to a reissue super lead, Larry does to these Fadeds.

I insist that anyone on the forum looking for a new Paul to not overlook or under estimate the Corsa Fadeds. You will kick yourself if you don't at least consider them.

The same advice for anyone looking for a reissue Marshall...check out George's builds. I did and I never looked back.

It seems that as you get curious as to what's available out there in decent gear beyond your local music store that you tend to discover that individuals such as George Metropoulos and Larry Corsa, and others, exist because they know something that the typical player would have taken years (and many dollars worth of gear) to find out on his own - that special combination of know how/knowledge combined with a desire and a great ear which propels us mere mortals years ahead of what would normally could take us an eternity to discover on our own.

I have now finally discovered my perfect Gibson/Marshall tone with my Corsa modded Gibson Les Paul Standard Faded and my Metro '68 plexi.

Cole

MassTone · Post by **MassTone** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 11:24 am

Cole, any thoughts on the 06/07 chambered models vs. the 05 non-chambered? May just be a perception issue but I'm a bit put off by reports of wood/glue bits rattling around and was considering going with one of the used 05's.

cole · Post by **cole** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 1:15 pm

I can't comment because this is my first experience with a chambered Standard. I do use an '02 Classic and I can tell you that that guitar is not bad at all, but then again to my ears a good bit different than the Standard Faded. If I was stranded on a dersert island it would be the Faded.

No loose bits in those chambers...

yngwie308 · Post by **yngwie308** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 7:40 pm

Very cool cole, glad to have been of assistance! If I was to buy a new Les Paul, this is what I would buy too!

Here is the thread from LPF:
http://www.lespaulforum.com/forum/showt ... p?t=138660
yngwie308

Dom · Post by **Dom** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 7:04 am

Nice to hear those news,
I've also a 2007 Les Paul Standard Faded. i bought it ( what's kinada naive) straight out of the net without playing it. I just searched for anice looking LP and this one has a nice honeyburst flametop.

The orgininal Burstbucker PU's sounded too trebly to my ears. i think the bridge Pu was wound a little wrong. it sounded kinda "Gretschy"
I upgraded my Lp with folowing stuff:

'59 Kloppmann PUS
50s wiring, 1 Original bumblee bridge, 1 mallory neck
Aluminium Stop Tailpiece
Historic pick guard an PU frames, antique toggle switch cap
ABR-1 bridge (a bit drilled to fit the studs)

..and not to forget: handpolishing for hours to reach a nice gloom on the surface. Stock it is beamless.

and beltbuckle special aging on the back face

I tried not so many LPs, but in comparison to all other I played this one has an more open sound, good for dynamic playing, and very very resonant.
And it looks killer on stage, when the different spotlight colors let shine the flametop.

Later I can post some photos

Cheers

Dominik

Cheers

marT · Post by **marT** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 8:38 am

Putting an ABR-1 on my 05 standard made a BIG difference in tone. I would say this would be one of the big tonal changes that happens with the CV guitars. My guitar sings after I did that.

Of course I have modded the crap out of mine aswell in other ways, its a fantastic guitar.

cole · Post by **cole** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 10:03 am

I really think that the CV Les Paul is fantastic at getting those old Les Paul tones that we all know and love but can sometimes be hard to achieve with an off-the-rack Standard.

I also have a LP Classic that has WCR pickups and an RS kit that sounds much different than the CV. The CV has more girth and resonance while the Classic is brighter and not so 'strong' sounding for lack of a better word.

I've been thinking I should add the hardware to the Classic as well but the real secret is that, like Larry has said, the Faded's tones are wonderful due to the finish or lack of the thick nitro finish.

Chambered doesn't bother me - it's nice to have LP's that sound quite different.

Now, if only I could get my Strat to sound like the Les Paul!

Dom · Post by **Dom** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 12:27 pm

Here's a pic of mine. Not a Larry@CV model, but upgraded by myself

Also original straight out of the case it had an endless singing sustain. Action and intonation were also set real good, but I like it a bit higher.
Pickguard is a reworked LP56 to fit the distance between the two PUs exactly. The Historic pickguard for the 58 or 59 won't fit, because of a different dimension between the PUs.

The only thing you can complain about is that the finish is prone to scratches.

Dominik