Newer LP's vs Older LP's

[ToneAddictJon]

I've owned a couple newer owns and I wasn't impressed. The older ones have much better build quality and play better IMO. You can get lucky and find a great newer one, but the older ones are a safer bet. QC is definitely not what it use to be.

 

[Rocky]

the 60's were radically different/better than the 70's...which were crap due to the Norlin corporation raping the Les Paul completely. There was virtually no QC, they used the cheapest woods/heaviest woods that were available and skimped in all areas of production. Things started getting better in the mid 80's.

Most Les Pauls in stores have been 'tweaked' by morons in the store (customers and workers) that do stupid things like raise and lower the bridge all the time. Or the guitars are left in areas that can go from hot to cold a lot. QC on gibsons is actually fine...as long as they are kept properly. Problem is that Gibsons are tempermental at the best of times. Being in a store just isnt good for them unless we are talking very short term.

When I see people with 70's Les Pauls say that their POS Norlin is a better made guitar than a new one....well....I have to hold back from laughing or slapping them in the face. or both.

It is really easy to pick on a corporation and say that they are not what they used to be....but that is mostly people being parrots. Gibson is mking guitars now that are as good as they have ever been...diff now is that there are boutique makers out there that are far better.

 

[lesterpaul]

there is a year..2003 maybe(not sure) , where many believe Gibson improved the Standard-going from memory, but it seems like standards slipped a little during the 90's-I do rememebr that they started building them using the vintage binding and different bridge in early 2000's...believe many in the 90's had the nashville style bridge as well-bottom line, each one is different-I am sure that most who own a standard from the 90's love em/hate em/ etc..just like any other model
btw, the Norlin era guitars-I owned a Custom from this period in Gib's history-got a killer deal on it and HEY, I am a lefty-can't be too picky-anyway, other than the weight and valute(which I liked), it was kickass-however, it always came in 2nd to my 91 Custom(I still own it-sold the Norlin era Lp and made 500 bucks)-

 

[SixVeeSix]

I have a great Studio from about 2004, fat neck and GIANT frets. Just how I like 'em. Only Gibson I ever play is my 86 335 Studio that is all tricked out. Still, I have seen great and sucky Les Pauls from all time periods. Let the guitar pick you and you will be fine.

 

[Rocky]

no. Most pauls you see just need to be set up properly and they are fine.

Gibson finishes may not be as glassy as poly finishes but that is just part of life in a nitro world.