We need to talk about Gibson's new "Modern" Les Pauls...
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- Опубликовано: 3 июл 2024
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➤ Timestamps
0:00 Intro / discord
0:48 Gibson Les Paul Modern Lite sweetwater.sjv.io/xko50y
4:27 Sponsored by Sweetwater. Check out their early Black Friday Deals! sweetwater.sjv.io/5gbba2
5:13 Gibson Les Paul Modern Studio sweetwater.sjv.io/NkE0n1
7:34 Gibson Les Paul Modern Figured sweetwater.sjv.io/q4oZ4j
9:58 2023 Gibson Les Paul Supreme sweetwater.sjv.io/B0kyDJ
12:04 Gibson Guitars going into 2024 (Future artist signatures & releases) sweetwater.sjv.io/an4AKo
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We need to talk about Gibson's new "Modern" Les Pauls... 
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16-minute rant about the newest Les Pauls. Return to form for the channel lol
➤ Big thanks to Sweetwater for sponsoring today's video! Early Black Friday Deals are live now, including 20% off all PRS SE models. Bookmark my affiliate link sweetwater.sjv.io/5gbba2 for any of your gear needs and/or desires!
Exactly what I look for in a video, Hunter. Thanks. This is thorough and comes from someone with knowledge and experience as well as shared musical preferences for the most part. Great content like this always gets my likes and a subscription. Rock on!
Like #79. *Adam Jones smiles*
They're part of the 'modern' collection, as opposed to the 'original' collection. I don't think they're supposed to be a Les Paul modern.
They are still living on their name and cache 🤷🏼♂️🖖🏻
I remember pre 2018 Gibson’s les Paul tributes were still around $600-$700 making it a reachable goal for teenage players like I was at the time
It’s shocking to see that the “affordable” les Paul tribute is almost double that in just a few years
the thing that's bothering me is the price of the new artist series epiphones $1300 madness
I wouldn’t even be able to afford the guitars I have if I bought them today
I just wish they would offer Les Pauls with the gloss bodies but satin/unfinished necks like some other brands do.
Agree completely! Love my PRS SE McCarty 594 and it was 1/4 of the price of my Les Paul.
You can get the glossy neck and sand it out yourself.
I definitely agree about Gibson needing to approach consumers with new eyes and ears. The custom shop should remain the way it does with the Murphy lab R8 and R9 vintage offerings but the rest of their lineup needs refreshed. The vintage stuff is great and should remain, but just give us some different stuff.
It wouldn’t work, they already tried this and they went into bankruptcy, the Gibson customer base despises innovation
@@Viper-dz2kwnah, that's a common misconception. Gibson went bankrupt trying to become a lifestyle brand more than anything to do with modernizing guitars
@@Viper-dz2kw100% agree. I have LP standard 2017. Asymmetric neck, weight relief, 4 push pull pots, no pickguard or poker chip installed, and a top that would put some PRS guitars to shame. My fiend has 2018 blue burst with switches how you want to set push pull pots. That wasn’t good enough for people so the made standard 50s and 60s inspired. Big downgrade in my opinion
@@rbaeit’s a combination of both, if it was 100% the lifestyle branding Gibson wouldn’t have almost completely stopped attempting innovative guitars
I love the satin finishes! That’s entirely why I went with an Epiphone LP Traditional Pro IV over the Standards.
I have that exact guitar in Wine Red! Easily the best slightly-irresponsible purchase I've made in years. Plays phenomenally, and has a bunch of features that punch way above its class considering its price. The Wine Red and Ebony finishes look SO CLEAN!!! 10/10 would easily recommend
The new supreme finishes are so choice👌🏼
Open pour type finishes are (in my opinion) the best finishes. I’ve always wanted a Epiphone Casino Worn Ebony for a while because of the neck and that amazing finish.
Les Pauls look like frying pans when you see them from the side
I’m pretty sure the modern lite series is a repackaged Les Paul Studio Faded. That was my first Les Paul and I still love it. Because I still own it 15 years later, I swapped out all the electronics (PCB pots died) for a 57/66 EMG set and it’s killer again.
I hated the fadeds neckfeel
I love Les Paul guitars. Always have. I also love modern features. I just can't justify buying a Gibson just to change out all the parts and pickups. I'm much happier with picking up a PRS SE McCarty 594 Singlecut, having Sweetwater satinize the neck and dropping another $500 to make it mine.
And yes, I know Gibson parts are fine, but I like GraphTech hardware along with Seymour Duncan and Bare Knuckle pickups.
The S2 are good for that too. I modded a S2 w/ Lindy Fralins and Emerson pots/caps and it’ll stand up to and exceed any of my LPs
Satin finishes are awesome. Especially on the neck.
Put a volute on and make a decent heel contour. Locking tuners. Having a headstock that breaks is ridiculous in today’s day and age.
Not a Gibson player but I'm intrigued anytime Gibson puts out a guitar with a maple neck (helps with the breakaway headstock design lol)
Also, WHY are lp jr so expensive? L&M has them at $2149cad when the lp tribute (maple cap, 2 humbuckers) is listed at $1599cad. Is a mahogany neck that much more expensive or is Gibson just being Gibson?
The Les Paul modern is a great guitar.
The "Modern Lite" is basically an updated version of the '03ish Special Faded, with the addition of the pickguard and matching headstock. Same open pore finish, thinner body/belly carve, pickups, dots on the board, etc. I've had mine for 12 years, and it's a great player.
They need ff pickups and evertunes
Actually I’m excited about the new studio model. Seems to be the most “metal” out of the new products. Like the humbucker choice and black chrome, plus satin. Thanks Hunter!
Love that Smokehouse burst finish too!
Open pore satin is the BEST finish, hands down. I’ve got a kiesel that I’m ordering with the open pore finish. It’s gorgeous😮
I’m gonna say it again. Gibson should hire this guy
I feel like Gibson is trying their best to navigate their situation - their existing traditional-specs enthusiast customers and the need to branch out and reach the modern market. It's pretty disappointing to see the artificial differentiation and the lack of actual modern features but I do feel hopeful that they're moving as fast as a large, traditionally-rooted company probably can to get there. Although this could be all a plan to rise prices for half the modern features as other brands. Anyway you do bring up good points in reviewing their product lineup and as a new convert to the church of the single cut, I appreciate the perspective!
Another great video as always🔥🎸
Excellent! Exactly what I wanted to know about - Bless
I will never understand why Gibsons "Modern" series can't be more modern as long as they keep the 50's and 60's speced guitar-series...
Even Fender seem to be able to do much more than Gibson even though they should be in the same boat "history-wise".
Fender doesn't just repaint the same guitar and call it modern, if there was a Gibson with satin neck, stainless steel frets, locking tuners, specially designed pickups, maybe a chambered body, better tuning stability, better intonation, then you can call it modern. But they hold onto every little design feature even when it clearly causes problems like the headstock angle and neck angle to the body, you're not gonna see a modern guitar with stuff like that.
@@sandoncrowder7839 completely agree. Again, you would think that they could fix those problems/add those modern features in the "Modern"-series of guitars...
they have been selling "old is best" for 70 years, so doing a really modern LP would be acknowledging they've been ripping people off for 70 years.
@@sandoncrowder7839You're correct, but I feel like the people who still buy Gibsons would not be into that at all. Anytime they do something different it feels like their "fanbase" doesn't like it.
And that's just them trying to court new buyers who might still not be into Gibsons. I mean, aside from being prohibitively expensive and all of what you mentioned, I haven't enjoyed many of the Gibson (or Epiphone for that matter) stuff I've tried. So it ought to feel a lot better just in my hand.
Point is, they've kind of painted themselves into a corner as a boutique fashion guitar company and now the people want more of the same even if it's not actually the best available option. The people who want good, affordable guitars are already somewhere else and they'll risk devaluing their brand, or as was pointed out in the replies, admitting they're kinda scamming their buyers.
@@Billiamwoods how are they gonna survive long term with that mindset/business plan. The young people today won't look up to players playing Gibsons if no progressive players/modern guitar heroes are playing them. Their customers will literally die out.
They won't even do something truly modern with the Epiphone brand. It's puzzling to me.
Gibson hasn't had a good idea since the mid 60s, they need a new model. Look at PRS, they make some more retro models and more modern models but they are different guitars. Rather than saying "what kind of les Paul would you like" it should be "which model guitar would you like" and even then it's all either double humbuckers or P90s, nothing different or new. If you want to refresh the brand, you can't simply repaint the same design you've always had and call it new. They need to come out with a new guitar design, something that is classy and unique and people will want to buy.
Gotta have one of the lp modern lite guitars, thought I was done buying guitars for awhile. Thanks for the info
I’m excited to see a white Studio with ebony fretboard, too! 👍
The new studios look great. Love that they have ebony and the mop Gibson inlay.
That black and the red Supremes are sick af..I need one
Hell yeh brother I got a EB14 in satin and its just so awesome.
My favourite kind of finish ❤
Hunter I with you Bruh. No fade!! I just bought MY 1ST REAL LES PAUL WOOOOO A 2022 LES PAUL STUDIO PLUS. It's a burst, a Bourbon burst to be exact. Its new To me, but dude it doesn't have even a breath on it. I got so lucky. And at 1250 no shipping fee. I thought they weren't gonna do studio's anymore. So I snapped on this one. You know I love your channel, I've been with you for a long time, I miss the roommate rating game lol, you need to get that dude back as a special guest and do a "podcast style sitdown"!!! Thanks bruh!!!
The first time i played a schecter with jumbo frets, i was in awe at how it felt, now i have an sls elite c7 neck through, lovely and i also got a harley benton sc 550 with stainless steel frets, it feels very similiar. I cant imagine how much better a 3k or 5k etc guitar can feel, it really is the law of diminishing returns, just find your sweet spot,and ftw
I own the Schecter SLS Elite too. I also own LTD EC-1000T CTM also w SS frets, a killer Ibanez RG, a fantastic Jackson, even a dirt cheap Slick guitar that I love. They're all great and you sure don't have to spend 3-5K to have a great guitar.
That said, I promise you, premium guitars are a cut above. My Gibson, Paul Reed Smith, and ESP, are a whole other experience.
Whether you think the pricing is justified is entirely subjective. But premium guitars come at premium prices for a reason.
I too love the satin open-pore finish…I like feeling the wood grain…just something about it!!
I’m pretty much set on buying the studio modern. I adore my 1990 alpine white studio with ebony board. To have a more modern spec version with the heel carve, satin finish, blacked out hardware, neck binding and cool wiring may be my ideal guitar. I have a feeling it’ll be $2K though.
Gibson has done an asymmetrical neck before on a Les Paul Standard back in 2008. I love how it feels in my hand! It fits the palm of my hand perfectly! It makes playing a breeze
i secured my spot for a epiphone greeny super excited
I like the studio modern, the ebony fretboard and heel carve have nearly tempted me into purchasing one, will let you know what happens when I've played one, aside from that it's the same old same old from Gibson but in some different hues.
I love the new figured-top Moderns. However, the Supremes--while awesome in appearance--are a miss due to the price. If they were $3500 MSRP, I'd already have the trans-black one in my hands.
Love the gibson supreme! 💥🤘🏼❤️🔥🤘🏼
At 6:44, I think you meant slightly thicker on bass side for asymmetrical neck profiles
I'm not a Gibson fan. I use Schecter primarily. But I played the Les Paul Modern (2019) once and fell in love with Les Paul's for the first time, without having to deal with the weight and traditional awkward heel joint. I wish for more of those, but the price point is insane for me
This model series makes more sense to me than a Bruno Mars Fender Stratocaster. Prove me wrong :)
Bruno’s been playing strats live and in the studio since around the beginning of his career, even if he doesn’t play them a ton live now he’s a very visible artist and him getting a signature to use on studio recordings is pretty much the equivalent of Rick Beato getting his signature. Bruno’s also done some collaborations with Fender before so it’s kinda surprising it took this long for him to get a signature
@@Viper-dz2kw understood but my point about “sense” is from the perspective of affordability as well as creating desire to own a piece from a signature artist.
Ill translate for old gibson heads, studio or studio special
Les Paul Supreme's were not production customs. They had flames backs which were meant to look nicer. They were also mostly hollow, while customs are traditionally solid. (Not sure if Gibson currently does weight relief or not on les pauls)
Its a shame they still wont do SS frets on a 4,000 USD guitar..... Ive been learning how to re fret my guitars just because ive come to love SS frets so much on all of my other brands....
I am a Gibson guy, I have 7 from custom shop to the faded series and I am shocked by these prices. So glad I bought my guitars when I did. And it’s not just Gibson, Fender and Gretsch prices among others are nuts.
Open pore satin is the best feeling, looking, and playing finish out there.
I like that low end one @ $1499 green or white, i could see getting one of those
I love my modern Pelham blue. I guess they will still be looked for in 30 years. Simple, great quality, great play. Yet, modern.
I'm totally with you about an oil finish or an open-pore satin finish! Gibson should embrace this more. A lot more.
Just as a correction, the LP Modern Studio has 490r and 498t pickups like the regular Studios, not Burstbucker Pros.
The blueberry burst is always a win
I might be the only person that disliked the asymmetrical neck profile so I am pretty excited for the new Modern Studios. I like that slimtaper profile a lot
Thanks for briefly mentioning us lefties. So far we are completely left out of the equation when it comes to new Gibsons. I'm wondering if they are waiting to see which ones sell best before they decide which ones to make a left-handed version of.
I emailed them not too long ago asking about a specific guitar being offered in left-handed and they told me to go to the custom shop.
Just because I may have 2 or 3 thousand dollars to spend does not mean I have 7 or 8 thousand to spend. Thanks Gibson. lol.
When I was younger and much poorer, I never noticed how a few left-handed options there are. But now that I'm a little older, and have money to spend I'm getting pretty angry lately. First world problem, I know.
I'm a second generation lefty who learned to play right handed because of the shit show that is lefty guitars. My dad learned to play righty in the 1960's, and he made sure I did the same.
@@needsLITHIUM I tell ya, I wish the guy working at the store where I bought my first guitar would've slapped me in the face and told me the hard truths of lefty guitars.
He could've saved me 25 years of struggle in finding good guitars.
My father in law was left handed and played right handed. I had already been playing 5 years by the time I met him. But he opened my eyes. Too bad it was already too late.
I've tried here and there throughout the years to play right handed, but it just isn't going to happen. The damage is done.
@@needsLITHIUMIt's kind of interesting how for some lefties it's really easy to play right-handed and for others it's basically impossible. It might have to do with having to learn to do things right-handed generally.
Personally, I'm right-handed and trying to play leftie is like learning to ride a bike again, in a snowstorm, upside down. I'm pretty ambidextrous, but I guess I write and hammer with my right so it makes sense why picking is easier and fretting doesn't work.
@@Billiamwoods my dad and I are both technically lefty leaning ambidextrous folks. My dad also had the misfortune of going to catholic school in the 60's so he got the ruler to the hand. He can write his signature with both hands as a result, and the only people who can tell the difference are probably criminology handwriting analyst experts.
My problem is, I can only afford one American-made guitar. For that money, I want a gloss so deep I can see my soul in it.
I love ebony fretboards, so i'm happy to see these back on Studios again. Not a fan at all of satin finishes though, especially at the price these will be. I don't like paying extra for things i don't want and in this case its the unnecessary PCB & push pull pots. Tricky to change pots and even Gibson don't sell quick connect pickups.
I loved Matt Heafy's les paul supreme. I wanted one so bad.
I also prefer the satin over gloss. Feels way better and I don’t really care if someone thinks it doesn’t look jazzy enough.
You know, I'm beginning to understand something about myself: I'm agnostic about some guitar issues because I got used to them a very long time ago. You might expect, for instance, that after weeks of playing nothing but my 24-fret guitars with their upper-fret-access-friendly neck joints I would have trouble playing high notes on my 22 fret guitars with full-sized block-style neck mounts. Imagine my surprise at myself on putting the guitar down after a playing session and realizing that I had just done pretty much my thing on the upper neck, and block neck joint be damned. Remembering those moments, though, revealed that I had simply reached around the block in a move so well-practiced that it had to be decades old. I didn't feel myself do it at ALL; I just did it and played. Why wasn't this an issue? Because the new guitars' block joints were much the same as the block joints going all the way back to my first guitar! I've been working my way around some of the clumsy spots on the solid-body electric guitar for literally nearly 50 years. Much of it is no big deal and some of it is no longer a deal at all. That gratefully said, I still love my more modern guitars with their attention to upper fret access. I may even go for a 22-fret guitar with enhanced upper-fret access -- easily had for a small (maybe SMALL) outlay!
Oh, and since you brought up the body shape subject ... as you are to carved-top single cutaway guitars, so too am I to Strat-style double cutaways. My favorite in this group of instruments (I hesitate to call it a "collection." has an S-inspired outer shape with a carved quilt maple(!) top on a mahogany body. The neck is well-described as a version of ESP "set-through" neck, with the smooth joint to the body that feels like a neck-through and couldn't be sweeter! This one splits the differences between your favorite body style and mine. I've GOT to get a Les Paul-oid (or maybe Tele-oid) soon. I'm long overdue for a good Les Paul clone and I've never had a Telecaster-like guitar in my life. I'm just getting to the point where I can deal with that body shape, and I'm NOT spending money on Fender's Tele necks. My fretting and doesn't like them. The actual playing experience rules, although I know that I can avoid that pitfall fairly easily. I have my likes and dislikes; I does say something that I have 9 guitars and 2 bass guitars, with nary a single cut, acoustic or other non-solid-body in the bunch! (In my defense, I did own a Gibson GK-55 at one time; it was stolen, else I still would!)
I don’t have much use for Gibson, although, obviously, they have massive effects on the industry like you said. Just wanted to let you know I smacked “like” for your channel in general.
My 2 workhorse guitars are an Ibanez iron label custom and a 2011 yamaha pacifica. The Ibanez has a satin open pore finish fuggin fastest player in my arsenal, and the pacifica has that oil finish on the neck with a satin top coat over the natural finish. Now that ive played these 2 for quite some time high gloss just feels too sticky. Love open pore finishes for the same reasons you do too fish 🤘
I know people will complain about the pricing, but it's the price of doing production in the US
Yep. I tell people to do a home build. Your gonna spend at least1200 before you even start putting it together.
These are actually really good times for Gibson and the Les Paul in particular.
Never before have there been so many true different options while sticking to a traditional shape that many people want.
Some people want traditional and nothing modern. There's models for those to choose.
Others want completely modern everything: tone options, aesthetics, electronics, etc. There's options for them too.
Including pricing alternatives for either group.
AND there's other guitar models altogether too.
The HP line is the only one that gets the neck joint right for me.
That is not green lol
The Les Paul Modern Lite is the first new Gibson in a while that I actually would want to buy. I like thinner guitars and getting a genuine USA Gibson for a decent price is just icing.
If they gave us a USA level Les Paul axcess with a roasted maple neck, stainless steel frets, ultra modern weight relief, quilted maple top with fade finish and masked off edges instead of binding and body mounted open core (no cover) pickups, that would be absolutely awesome! A metallic finish option would also be welcome as a slightly cheaper alternative.
Also, I'd love if it came with an open pore satin finish and a florentine horn, rather than the traditional Les Paul horn
I’m becoming an old man. I’m 44, and I own my first guitar still. It’s a Gibson Les Paul Special I bought back in ‘99 at Guitar Center. I’ve always been modifying it to make it more “modern” Locking tuners, bare knuckle pickups, locking tone pros bridge. I beat on the guitar. It’s naturally relic’d. It’s time to retire it because it’s turning me into a hunchback. This whole week I’ve been obsessed with getting a single cut guitar that I can get the most bang for my buck from. I almost fell victim to buying either a white modern studio or a seafoam green modern figured. I refuse to though because for those crazy prices and they don’t even have stainless steel jumbo frets on them. I was looking at ESP and what not. Saw the Kirk Hammett V while looking for single cut ESP single cuts and loved the colors. Looked up reviews and ended up seeing your video on it. Like you I’m not in love with the pointy stuff. That being said I love your channel and how knowledgeable you are about guitars. I would love one of your Harley Benton models but I assume I’m probably late to the party for that. Any recommendations for a modern single cut that has all the good stuff and doesn’t weigh a ton?
A thought, the Modern Lite does not need a heel carve if the entire body is thinner. From looking at pictures the lite’s body is as thin as the heel cut on a regular modern. Therefore it doesn’t need it.
None of these really excite me too much, but the idea of a new wine red studio with an ebony board gives me hope and may be the first guitar to make it worth shelling out for a Gibson over my current Epiphone collection. Time will tell, until then my Epis will do just fine
I think Studio Moderns will definitely jump up to $2K unfortunately. I’d be very happy if they stayed at $1700, but I think they’ll price up with the upgrades.
At this point, I’m just sticking with Firefly and Harley for my Les Pauls.
This line reminds me bigly of the M2 line . Looks anyway . These have better pickups . For 2k give or take you can get a used Standard . And if you get a good one you won’t be disappointed. I have no idea why people by new guitars or why I ever did . But then again , now that I can kinda afford too, I see guitars as investment level purchases
I'm really excited to buy...........another PRS.
Gibson can pound sand.
I have a 2019 Standard with the asymmetrical neck and I absolutely adore it, its a real bummer that Gibson seems like they are fazing them out
The good news is that the older studio faded models are still available on the used market for just over half the price. The used studio models are still available very cheaply
I don't have any plans of buying a Gibson any time soon or ever. I had a Explorer once. The frets were so shitty I got tired of filing them down just for them to "re-sprout". I traded it in on a PRS and I still have the PRS. That was almost 12 years ago.
Gibson has my attention with the Les Paul Modern Lite's thinner lighter bodies with the body contour and colour selection.
13:51 As a lefty myself, yeah whats new :D
locking tuners, locking bridge, locking tailpiece, 24 frets and more access cutouts...that's what most are looking for in modern options...
I’m so hoping that modern studio in white ends up available lefty, I love white LPs
The only guitars that are still worth getting from Gibson are the Les Paul Jr and Double cut Jr. There’s a lot of Les Paul clones, a couple SG clones (like the ESP Viper), but there’s not a lot of Junior clones, especially the double cut ones. Sure there’s some that are Junior-adjacent like the Yamaha Revstar, but they’re not that similar. I’d really like to see a double cut LP Junior/Special clone with ultra-modern specs (stainless steel frets, smaller heel, belly carve, compound radius, locking tuners, etc), but with the body shape and P90s.
yeah I'll stick with my $200 Epiphone Les Paul Special. Those, the identically priced SG Special, and the Matt Heafy signatures are the only thing worth it from the entire brand IMO, regardless of which boat moniker floats them.
Gibson should use their defunct valley arts brand to make hot rodded versions of their legacy models.
A Rick Beato in TV Yellow please!
DG 335 epiphone is what I'm waiting for now it's been 5 months since showing.
the 2018 HP was the furthest forward that the general LP design has been pushed IMO. give or take the robo tuners it was more "modern" than the present modern.
though i didn't care for the wider boards the fit and finish on those guitars was really nice. body mounted pickups without rings.
the electronics were extremely versatile and much better than the standard of the same year. still.... playing an R8. 😅
For US $1500 you can get wonders from PRS or ESP...
Yeah but then you wouldn't have a Gibson.
I love the look of Gibson's.... That smokehouse burst, or sea green!? But I hate the tune-o-matic bridge and angled neck - I just can't play one even after owning one for 8 years. Why can't Gibson invest a little bit more love on their Les Paul Special line ups and actually try to win some of us Fender or Ibanez fan boys over?
I'm very surprised Gibson didn't jack up the price of the Modern because of the nicer tops now offered. I applaud them for that. However I do predict if these sell well in coming months, there will be a price hike to follow. The Supreme? I suppose they are priced well, as they were originally introduced to be a step "above" the Custom, and the Custom now starts at 5000. But, the new Supreme is not the same as the Supremes of the past either.
I own Gibson and ESP. They are not the same. Period. If you want a more modern Les Paul, but you want it to actually feel like an LP and not something else, the Gibby modern is a great option.
ESP Eclipses feel nothing like LPs. They just share the same single cut body type.
And no, you don’t need to spend premium money these days to get a great guitar. But anyone claiming that paying for a Gibson is simply paying for a name, has probably never actually played a Gibson. QC issues in the past aside, they are incredibly instruments.
My answer to your question at the end: "nah, not really. Imma get myself a McCarty".
I just pre ordered the new Epiphone "Greeny" Les Paul . This is my introduction to les paul style guitars. Hope it's killer. They release Nov 21st.
Sweetwater?
Am I the only one who likes the poker chip? I feel it just doesn’t look right without it
Volute + lower headstock angle (10-14 degrees)...
...are, at least to me, the most important features I would like to see on a new Gibson guitar that's called "modern"...
Sonically the new thin LP's will sound like SG's. So at the price you get a fancy SG for a hundred more.
Good point !
I dig those satin finishes. The other ones are kind of cool but honestly I think PRS executes the flashy maple top with interesting colors thing way better than Gibson did here.
To me I see this as “play authentic” coming back to bite them in the ass. They have to try and strike this balance of pleasing their diehard purist customer base without upsetting them, and attracting people who want more modern looks and specs. ESP, PRS, and a handful of others don’t have that issue. They can seamlessly go between modern and classic looks and features. Fender is doing a decent job of striking that balance as well even though they have a similar purist consumer base that doesn’t want too much change. Also Fender having Jackson, Charvel, EVH and others under the FMIC umbrella helps keep the Fender brand able to focus on the heritage aspect of the company. And Squier seems to be the area they can experiment with their legacy ideas but try to modernize them. I don’t understand why Gibson hasn’t leaned in more with Epiphone on that front, maybe it’s just me but I still feel like Epiphone is an afterthought still when it really shouldn’t be.
Hard to feel bad for Gibson on this, they’ve gone out of their way to turn their nose up at true innovation and to sue anyone trying to make any classic designs. Maybe they’ve cornered most of the “play authentic” market by brute force, but that came with the price of painting themselves into a corner when it comes to wanting to gain a more modern customer base.
What I don't get is that no one is comparing the Lite to the LP Special Tribute. Essentially it seems like $600 gets you a carve (sans maple), stop-bar, and 498. Is that really worth $600?
And so I see Gibson answered my own question already...sort of. Guess the Special Tribute is axed despite still being up on their site just like the other Tributes. So yeah, guess there isn't a point to question whether those options are $600 worth when the Special Tribute just isn't an option.
What a Firebird
You'd think for 3+ grand they could give us stainless steel frets...
I like that green LP Modern but I absolutely hate how they only paint the top these days & leave the sides and back of the guitar natural wood, or red or something. If I'm gonna pay that much money for a guitar, they should be painting the whole thing!