Everyone's favorite sounding Gibson ?

Tone Slinger · Post by **Tone Slinger** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 11:01 am

Hi, I have always wanted to really like Les Paul's, but I just cant get that classic "Gibson" sound that I associate with them, nor pay the 3-4 grand required to get a decent one. I Have been able to coax that classic tone from a flying v though (Gibson models only). I spent all of my teens and 20's with the attitude of "I love M. Schenker, but a V is not for me" kind of attitude. I never recall even strapping one on, cause I thought the balance would be wrong or something(I play 'standing', hardly ever sitting) . This all changed about 5 yrs ago when I was trying out new 'reissue' Gibsons. Not only did the V balance better than a L.P, but it SOUNDED better. I bought a cherry V that day. Sadly I needed money, and sold it this past summer. I have, however, just made payment on a new black and white one just like it though.

What is everyone's favorite Gibson model, and why ?

Roe · Post by **Roe** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 4:08 pm

mine are tokais. reason: sound, fret dress etc, price

Tone Slinger · Post by **Tone Slinger** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 4:38 pm

I see what you mean, my Tokai '56 reissue is the best sounding strat I've ever heard, Fender or not. But what Gibson style is your Tokai's ?

fillmore nyc · Post by **fillmore nyc** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 5:10 pm

Les Pauls, and Firebirds. Its hard to find a Firebird that has EVERYTHING, cause typically the bridge pup sounds weak, and they also have that headstock breakage issue. I used to collect them years ago, but Ive sold 'em all off except one: an old Inverness Green FB III. I love that guitar. Les Pauls are kinda like a hot brunette to me. A "GOOD" one gives me heart palpitations. Ive gone thru a few LP's in my life, but I have an old one that that I bought when I was a kid, and it just has the "it" factor (and a lot of sentimentality... Ive owned it longer than Ive owned anything else), and I could NEVER sell it, under any "normal" circumstance, even though its worth a lot.

Winder · Post by **Winder** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 5:36 pm

LP Jr. Double Cut. I have a clone with a single bucker in place of the P-90 and the simplicity of it all is just wonderful. Wrap around bridge, one pickup, one volume, one tone, one rock machine. Yea. Those are nice.

Billy Batz · Post by **Billy Batz** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 5:46 pm

SGs are awesome too. Id love to pick up one of those nice white custom shop SGs but I just cant stomach giving gibson $3500 for a guitar,

Roe · Post by **Roe** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 5:59 pm

I love my sg155. and my ls320 and es155 are good as well

Flames1950 · Post by **Flames1950** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 7:02 pm

I have Les Pauls and SG's.....but my favorite Gibson sound is still the original '59 ES-335 a buddy's dad used to have (until I told him it was worth boucoup bucks........

) It had a nice air on the neck pickup that the solid Gibsons just don't have, and the bridge pickup was really bright but in a very sweet way, not an icepick at all.

Bad Kitty · Post by **Bad Kitty** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 8:15 pm

My choice would have to be the first, last and probably only Les Paul I'll ever have:

And the only reason I have it is I got it for $900 and the wife insisted I get it.

Mike

JD · Post by JD » Fri Nov 23, 2007 8:33 pm

Flames1950 wrote:I have Les Pauls and SG's.....but my favorite Gibson sound is still the original '59 ES-335 a buddy's dad used to have (until I told him it was worth boucoup bucks........ ) It had a nice air on the neck pickup that the solid Gibsons just don't have, and the bridge pickup was really bright but in a very sweet way, not an icepick at all.

It's hard to beat a really good sounding ES-335, but a good LP Std. flametop or '60s SG is pure rock 'n roll. Then there are the Korina guitars, the old hollow bodies, Jrs...man how can you pick one?

Billy Batz · Post by **Billy Batz** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 8:38 pm

Flames1950 wrote:I have Les Pauls and SG's.....but my favorite Gibson sound is still the original '59 ES-335 a buddy's dad used to have (until I told him it was worth boucoup bucks........ ) It had a nice air on the neck pickup that the solid Gibsons just don't have, and the bridge pickup was really bright but in a very sweet way, not an icepick at all.

That has to be the defining thing for me about good PAF 335s. Super detailed but never harsh or thin. I could never buy a new 335. It would never be good enough.

JimiJames · Post by **JimiJames** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 8:47 pm

Love'em ALL ! 'cept their acoustic line.

(with LP's)
If you go through life as a player, jammer, or serious guitar player, without owning one the you indeed have not possessed the "why" people own one.
Some will never let theirs go. Some flip like girl friends. Some have GAS, etc.

Listen... it does not "have -to -be" a 3-4K jobber.
One can filter through 'til they have something that their hands like. So what if it takes moths/years.

There are so many different neck sizes in the LP world a person is bound to find one just made for their hands. Available now are new twists on models and have a decent price range as well. So, even more choices.

I'm not saying it should take that long while another brand can satisfy your needs. Your best Non LP (Strat) source that I know of is "guitar gai" He has a great selection and his stock rotates all the time.

So, if you are looking for a substitute...?...
Tokai's are killer... Why do you think they were sued? !
Greco's and Burny's are good ...Orville (by Gibson) would be an excellent choice. If one would find a '59 style with a long neck tenon, well, now your in business !
With the exception of Orville these companies "copy" the Gibson LP's design.
Let's not forget Epi's. I have noticed they've stepped up a notch in the past year.

If you are in the market and want to try one,
I recommend the "Classic" series. to get ya goin'. I discourage the getting a "BFG" but to each their own...

JD · Post by JD » Fri Nov 23, 2007 9:50 pm

Billy Batz wrote:
Flames1950 wrote:I have Les Pauls and SG's.....but my favorite Gibson sound is still the original '59 ES-335 a buddy's dad used to have (until I told him it was worth boucoup bucks........ ) It had a nice air on the neck pickup that the solid Gibsons just don't have, and the bridge pickup was really bright but in a very sweet way, not an icepick at all.
That has to be the defining thing for me about good PAF 335s. Super detailed but never harsh or thin. I could never buy a new 335. It would never be good enough.

The new Nashville (not Memphis) made Historic/Custom Shop ES-335s might really surprise you, especially if you throw in a good set of boutique pickups.

kennzo5150 · Post by **kennzo5150** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 10:18 pm

i totally agree with the (tokai,les paul) i have a tokai les paul . and is better than the gibson 1960 reissue gold top i had , hands down! twice the guitar ,half the price. mine is really nice a 59 sunburst, great flame . would probably never own a gibson again. would definately own 12 more tokais.....they just don't build crappy guitars

philmanatee · Post by **philmanatee** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 10:31 pm

My favorite gibson right now is my 78 explorer. It just has something going on that works well with my current setup. It's all stock and the neck pickup reads lower than any other humbucker I've measured, and sounds unbelievable. I think it reads about 5.9k.

Phil