1958 and 1959 Gibson Les Paul guitars - review and history
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- Опубликовано: 27 авг 2024
- Bob and Ramon are back! This time looking at both 1958 and 1960 original Les Paul guitars - We break down what makes these both magical instruments. Don't forget to subscribe! Thanks!
There’s nothing like sitting down with a cup of tea and a biscuit and watching the guitar show, especially such good episodes as this!!! I literally look forward to this every day thanks so much bob and ramone 🙏😂
Thanks so much Fred @Rockbeareguitars and I will be back soon
By far the most informative 25 minutes of Gibson 1958, 1959 and 1960 Les Pauls on RUclips.
I tried 58, 59 and 60s reissues, literally played dozens in different stores across Europe until I found one that is just breathtaking, it stays way better in tune than mine 60s reissue strat, is incredibly flexible, has almost Tele qualities, a string separation and sustain that are just out of this world. I never thought what a difference the neck could make (except on 50s fenders that really have a noticeable baseball bat neck). The 58 neck was to much for me, the 60 felt really slim, too slim, the 59 was just perfect for me. Love seeing your vintage guitars in that good shape, sublime, thanks gentlemen!
And that’s why you don’t order guitars, you hunt them and play them, folks!👏
So glad to hear you guys playing these guitars and not staring at them in a glass case. Great vid. Loved Crossroads!
Thanks George for your kind words!
I've watched this like a hundred times. Can't get enough of the bursts. Thanks Ramon!! Great playing as always!
I think the neck pickups in the old guitars are fantastic. Much more treble than repro's I think. The old ones have a beautiful woody tone to them. Beautiful guitars.
I agree with you Colin - there's something pretty special with those PAFs!
For me its the way they respond to gain/load. They stay crisp and don't flub out. The exception being those 57/58 guitars that just compress massively and become like a cello at stage volume e.g. Allman Bros tone.
A good vintage PAF can sound muddy and clear at the same time; oscillating…I don’t know how to describe it but is amazing.
Man, I'm never disappointed watching you guys !
Thanks Todd
Can't thank you enough. Enjoyed every second of this. More please.
Many thanks Dave!
Very kind of you guys to share all this!
Pleasure
Bob is a true delight to listen to. Another great video.
Thanks!
I couldn't wait until I had time to watch another Ramon & Bob episode! It's a real treat to see the fantastic guitars you guys discuss & review! I really like Bob's in depth knowledge of various aspects of these great instruments! 😁
Pleasure is ours - thanks for watching
@@TheGuitarShow Some trivia: I'm told the Gibson PAF pickups were not wax potted & they were scatterwound on an old- time winding machine.. a fellow who makes Sheptone brand pickups has purchased those old pickup winders from Gibson that PAF's were made on & he says his p'ups are almost identical, he doesn't wax pot unless you request it...
Wicked to see & hear these beauties bring played & enjoyed . Thanks for sharing ! Oh btw , Clapton's Bluesbreaker amp was a model 1962 , essentially a JTM45 in combo form with the addition of tremolo 👍
Thanks for the info Shaun and thanks for watching
I see a coupla men with nice looking Lespers in a thumbnail, I switch on my Fender hotrod, get my beloved Les Paul from the rack...and, once the tubes are good n warm, I click off the standby, and I sit down and click.
😊 Always good time, chatting and bonding over our common love of the greatest electric guitar, the great Gibson Les Paul.
P.s. These guys sound great. Gnarly and filthy, yet totally precise. Great chops, great tones, good job!👏
Thanks so much Luey - very kind words!
Incredible... great playing, great descriptions, legendary guitars.
Thanks Dennis - very kind of you!
This is the first time I've seen this channel. Absolutely great job guys! Looking forward to more!
Thanks for visiting Chaz and thanks for watching
This is the best information on the Les Pauls of this era that I have ever seen!!!
Thank you so much for this.
Would you consider doing another quick video with overdriven valve amps, to hear that magical tone? You both can play very well!!!! I'd love to hear the tone and overdrive keep going up and up, to feel the tone changing.
Had I the money, I'd feel pretty confident to buy a 1959/60 Lemonburst like that and have a good chance of knowing a fake from a real one.
Brilliant!
Beautiful! Loved Crossroad. I would love to own a 58 burst but am competly happy with my 2002 burst.
Thats great - Im real happy with my Japanese copy!
This video was the carrot at the end of the stick for me to finish my work, and by golly it was worth the wait!!! Beautiful guitars, beautiful playing!
Thanks Daniel
Very cool guys! You two can play the hell out of those beautiful les pauls!
Thanks Chris very kind of you to say so!
Marvellous chaps! love Bob's enthusiasm for these instruments
Great show
pleasure
Love the tone of that 58. It has the trademark sweet in yer face punch I associate with the best PAFs of the era personally.
I agree its a crazy tone! Thanks for watching!
Fretless wonder for the win.
That was great! Looking forward to next time!
Thanks for watching James
Oh Well! Always makes my day. Bob's favorite Green is Gary from Gentle Giant- I caught them on what I assume was the last tour at the late and lamented Armadillo. Inside Out is still one of my top 10 live performances, just hypnotic. GG (both player and band) are very under appreciated. Do a bit more of Peter- and the oddball pickup arrangement on his 59 is well worth a discussion. And a recreation, on something newer than a 59, of course, would be an interesting topic for a video.
Great thanks so much - Bob will really appreciate this!
I enjoyed that Ramon, almost as much as you and Bob did. More please.
Thanks Rob - more coming soon!
Well done, gentlemen!
👏
Tthank you
BTW, my 2nd viewing and you guys sound just marvelous... The licks, the banter...
Luv it luv it luv it... thanx again and cheers
Thanks Jonny!!!!
You two are very likeable and authentic, got excellent taste in music and guitars plus there's great chemistry and musical affinity between you two. When 25 minutes fly by without even noticing you know you got something good. Keep it up!
Wow thanks for the great comment!
Ramone , you were sounding like Johnny Winter at the end there!
Bob, you’re a scary bugger too with your playing!
Magic listening to those gems being played well!
Many thanks indeed 🙏🙏🙏
Your Welcome
Thanks for these videos. So entertaining and informative.
Pleasure Alun
Unbelievable! Thanks for sharing this!
Pleasure
Very nice pair of wonderful and beautiful guitars.
I agree Scott - they are both stunners!
best Guitar Show video yet!
Thanks Zippy!
@@TheGuitarShow thank you you making this video!
Well done chaps! Great info, instruments and playing! Cheers :)
Thanks Matthew!
The flow is good with these two gents. At about 10 or so, they get into that Spanish edge of the seaside sound. Very fluid sound from these gents and the les pauls.
Thanks so much 🙏
Now THAT is the kinda' unboxing I like, that's worth a video!
Thanks and glad you enjoyed it!
@@TheGuitarShow - insignificant, but curious. Your RUclips reads "UK", however, you boys sound Aussie.
Would be interesting if in one video you mentioned what is known about left-handed versions of original bursts - how many were made, where they are now, how many are missing in action. Not a whole video but a segment as part of a video.
4 made total. Paul McCartney owns 2.
what a treat...thank you gentlemen !
Pleasure - more to come!
First time seeing the channel. Love the guitars boys keep up the good work. Cheers
Thanks Jared and thanks for watching
The STRADIVARIUS of electric guitars!💪
Agreed
Brilliant guys ! Excellent info and great playing from both of you. So amazing to hear the differences between these two beautiful guitars. Really liked the mention you made of Gary Green Bob. One heck of a player and hardly ever mentioned in despatches. Gentle Giant were one of the very best back in the day in my humble opinion. Keep up the good work chaps . Cheers - Glen
Fantastic playing, guys.
Thanks Jerry
Wow!..... Amazing playing guys!....
Thanks so much Michael
Lovely playing guys!
Thanks Stuart!
Just a thought, form a group of vintage owners, both amp's and guitar's, fully insured of coarse and travel around to guitar shops and stay a week or so and let people rent an hour or half an hour with a vintage guitar through a vintage amp. A once in a lifetime experience for all those who will never be able to touch music history. I live in Akron, Ohio,. Right down the highway to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, They could kick off the tour there.!!!!! Rock On Guys, You are lucky men indeed.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now that's a cool idea and also I believe everyone should have access at some point to a burst or vintage guitar
If I had a 59 les paul and some random dude wanted to play it he's going to have to leave a half million dollar insurance deposit first and I'll be hyperventilating the whole time.
@@Les537 I guess I feel differently, They would play "supervised" Like coming to a studio to play, They would NOT take the guitar away, But I would like to share a once in a lifetime experience, Would you like to go into a studio and play a million dollar rig? I know I would.
Please forgive my ignorance, but was/is Bob a British musician I would know? I love his collection and knowledge and never miss a video with him in it. Just would like to know more about him. Cheers!
All will be revealed soon - we will do a question and answer live show soon I promise!
@@TheGuitarShow Excellent! Looking forward to it! Keep up the great content!
Enjoying geeking out with you guys! I think an aspect of the magic is subjective. That’s not bad, I think subjectivity is a valid way of determining value. Unless the beauty can be measured, it remains magical.
Love this series.
Pleasure is ours!
Bloomfield’s Les Paul Tone is out of this world. If you listen ‘Wine’ live with Electric Flag you can hear a Rainbow. And... you’re right, there are different ‘Burst’ sounds, Burst + Marshall and Burst + Fender. Bloomfield’s, Knopfler’s Tone when playing Bursts is a colorful, dark, creamy, mellow ‘sweet’ Tone to die for, when a Burst is plugged into a Crank’d Marshall you got the hungry, ferocious ‘Bam’ tone. As I said in another comment, Gary Moore is my favourite Guitarist and LP player of all Time. In the Montreux 1995 concert he played a ‘back to the basic’ Concert (different from the maybe excessive high gain soldano era from the firsts Still Got The Blues gigs), he played Greeny and Stripe in a vintage super Bass and in a Fender super reverb. Given that the two astonishing guitars are both great but very different from each other, Greeny is brighter and fuller of harmonics in the middle/higher range but still remaining ‘full’, Stripe is darker, creamier and crispier, you can clearly notice the difference between the two guitars when plugged in the different amps. Check ‘Key to love’, ‘The stumble’, ‘The Sky is Crying’, ‘Jumping at shadows’ (1995 Montreux), same magic but very distinctive ‘colors’
Thanks for this comment - we are just about to cover Bloomfield on a history video - stay tuned!
@@TheGuitarShow i can’t believe I’ve just discover the channel, you did and you do great guys! Watching your videos It’s a pleasure!
@@toivonencresto many thanks indeed
Great episode! More Bob, please! :-)
More Bob comig very soon!
Simply amazing.
both lovely instruments. I have to admit Im more than happy with my late 90s R8 and wouldnt part with it at all. It does everything I want a LP to do, I did however change pots , caps etc but it works.
Thanks
Btw what are the DCR's for the pickups in both these guitars? I know there's other "output" factors, but DCR does indicate the density of the tone. Do you know which magnets are in each pickup as well? Pity you don't have a 2nd mike stand cause that case blocking 1/2 the tweed amp speaker definitely compromises the sound, as confirmed when you switched guitars at the end. Much enjoyed this video, thanks to you both.
Awesome guys!
Thanks Criss
I think those guitars were magic in the beginning. They were relatively new guitars. My feeling its everything. Wood... Metals....glue
Yes I agree!
The trick of the same person playing two characters at the same time in camera seems to be getting better and better, I almost thought there were actually 2 persons
The two of you definitely know how to demonstrate classic products like these two guitars. Referring to everyone’s preferences, everybody in the world of guitar playing has got their subjective “holy Grail“, haven’t they? Brian May owns a vintage Les Paul himself, but he still sticks with his own homemade model 99% of the time. I for one just feel fortunate that I could purchase a Les Paul from 2009 for what would amount to a steal. Not going into detail though. Suffice it to say, I don’t think I would ever try getting my hands on one of these monsters.
Hehehehehehehe - “It’s a kind of magic!”
Wow - I didnt known Brian May had a burst - thats col info! thanks for watching
Don’t know if it was a Sunburst Les Paul per se, but I know it was a vintage model.
The best sound I ever got out of a Les Paul of any kind was through a mid 60's Blackface Fender Deluxe ( non reverb) Vol.10, Treble 10, Bass 0. And then I ran it through a 4x12 Marshall bottom. At the time, it just wasn't loud enough and I needed more headroom. But the cranked 1x12 Deluxe was it. It roared.
I agree Mike Deluxe amps are awesome
...and yet a 3rd viewing and wanted to mention Bob's playing in the intro.
Well, I really dug the tone and technique which brought to my mind Mick Taylor's
plunking for John Mayall's Brrreakers.
(me all time favorite bit of 'Burst' manipulation)
Beautiful guitars. Cali-Girl cases are the narrow wasted brown cases though…just for the record..
Awesome playing!
Entertaining as always chaps! Looks and sounds like L+R are swapped on the outro jam.
Yes we swapped guitars at the end lol - well spotted!
@@TheGuitarShow Ah yes, that makes sense. I wouldn't mind swapping one of mine for either of those :)
Very cool great guitars great players 👍👍
Wow What aTreat!!! Thank you for sharing!!!
Pleasure
Hi Guys, I had to stop your video part way through and take a cold shower, I get physically excited when looking at and Hearing 58,59 Les Paul's. Love em, sound great, would like to suggest playing through some different amp's, You know what I mean, Marshall's, Orange's Fender's, Supro's. Really Enjoy your channel.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks - we will try some other amps pretty soon - a D-style video next!
More awesome than awesome - one problem: Where do I send the money? The opening and closing jam alone are worth the price of admission - the historical substance is just gravy. I subscribed, I liked, I rang the bell - what else can I do to insure your survival?
oh man this is the best comment we've had!!!!! Thanks!!!!!!
Love these shows,
One day I would love to be able to play one of these pieces of art before I die.
You will not regret it!
You and Me both. They should have a show of vintage guitars and amp's that travel around the world at Guitar shop's and stay a week and let people, after a nominal fee, Play through said guitars and amp's at an half hour to an hour. It would be a once in a life time for everyone, They could make a vid and audio recording for an extra fee, have a set of backing trac's all ready to go. I am in Akron, Ohio just down the highway from the rock-n-roll hall of fame, That's where the tour should kick off.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yeah more Bob!
haha - he's fan base is growing steadily!
@@TheGuitarShow I never get tired of watching him talk about guitars.
Really cool!!
I finally know why vintage dealers blur out part of the serial number. Interesting.
great players!
Mick Ralph's 58' was pretty flamey. I know because I have the Collector's Choice #43! Love that guitar. It was actually the last 58 so, not quite a baseball bat neck. Really comfy, bit more shallow.
Thanks for the info!
Fantastic 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
thank you Mark!
15:02 I am sure that radio glue (phenol formaldehyde resin) that they used to glue the tops have something to do whit the tone.
Boy that jam at the end was frenetic 😁 a little too much coffee? Great playing though
Yes, its amazing how good Jack and Ginger made Eric sound live.
Yes - I drink way too much coffee lol!!! Thanks for watching!
@@fossilmatic This is so true!
Got to have coffee in order to have *Cream* ! HA!!!
What I find amazing is how good some 1960s budget guitars like Teisco "woollies" are to play and how nice they sound. Sort of puts this "guitar porn" vid in perspective. Thank you sir.
Teiscos are going up in price I should grab one while while they are still affordable.
@@craigusselman546 I've had one for years, in good order and with a suprisingly good neck. Really nice to play. Thank you sir.
I agree Ian - I have a 65 Guyatone - its incredible
PS Disagree the magic does not only happen on overdrive. These were designed to be played clean by LP. Any L5 or super 400 with PAFs will have the most beautiful clean tone. If you can't hear that you've got cloth ears. Smashing distortion has a leveling effect.
Mark Donen You’re right, Mark, I was a bit too dogmatic in the moment. Of course they sound fab clean too. It’s just that the whole ‘burst thing started when a few people realised how harmonic they became through a pushed amp, and the rest is history. Thanks for your comment.
@@Rockbeareguitars I question where those harmonics are coming from. Since the amp is being pushed into acute distortion. 99% of them come from the amp.
Mark Donen You only have to play vintage and non-vintage guitars through the same amp to realise that something special is coming from the guitars. Assuming you don’t use so much drive that everything disappears into a pillow of fuzz the way Kirk Hammett now plays Greenie 😰
That a good point Mark - and you are right you can really hear the same tone when playing clean - thanks for watching!
A lot of the Modern LPs have 1960 style thin necks Mine sustains like crazy.
nice - I had a Gibson Classic and it was a killer guitar so I agree with you
I have played a lot of Gibson Les Pauls throughout the years and owned many. I am down to one left. They all are great don't get me wrong but there is nothing to an original and I was lucky enough to play an original gold top 54'. Yes, fat neck and I don't have big hands, to say the least. That fat neck though was made for my hands for some reason and it had the original P-90's in them. Fatness for days IMO. I used to own an R8 years ago and I was quite sad to sell her. I never had a Les Paul as good since. Yes, it wasn't an original but it had all the classic tones you would expect and it delivered. Now that I have only one left 2017, I put her up for sale and I would love to replace it with a 58' or 59' custom shop. They are better than modern standards IMO.
The search continues, the next one I will keep for sure. In your video, both guitars sound amazing and it seems that I like the 58' better. I'm not saying anything bad about the 59' though. The only way I will know is in the playing plus you both have different styles, different hands, and different equipment. You both play wonderfully.
Those guitars sound great together. You could cut an album with that set up.
I agree - they are very special guitars - thanks for watching
Now those are real Gibsons. I can't tell you how many new ones I've had that can't stay in tune.
I can believe that!
Great video.. 58 sounds killer in middle position! I have played a lot of old LPs.. I think the thing that is the "magic" is the old wood.. just has more sustain and the fact that it was made in the 50s. Just listen to old Martin acoustics, same thing
would have been cool to talk about the differences in the PAF's of these guitars as we know they were all over the place...
Thanks Chris - we'll do that in future
Two lucky fellas Jim here hope you guys are doing well 🙏 God bless 😇
Thanks Jim, hope you are good!
Great playing and great guitars, maybe an overdrive pedal would be nice to hear the sustain better..
Thanks - yes I think you are right we'll bring some more pedals with us in the future, thanks for watching
Ok. Im very fond of The guitarshow......thankyou.
Thanks bro! Its a pleasure
great video , nice playing too. Bob, the 1960 owned by your friend Steve, is he an Australian? I know a Steve Jackson and have played many of his beautiful collection of 50's vintage guitars at his store going back probably 10 years ago, it was a little unfair handing me a 50's guitar when trying out an amplifier lol, I ending up buying that Matchless Combo but at home and rehearsals my Gibson R9 reissues never as you said quite got the tone, close but just not the same.
Shane Der Payne Different Steve Jackson, this on’e a Brit!
Im gonna send this comment to Bob
What was that Peter Greene 😳 song ? Cover at the end?
You've just acquired another sub!
Thanks Michael Im humbled!
if your a real burst geek, this is the video for you! nice :)
Thanks Christian!
Whew! Hot, and thanks a lot.
pleasure Steve thanks for watching
No discussion of Clapton’s “woman tone” achieved by rolling the tone control(s) almost all the way to 1?
AHHH knew there was something we missed! Thanks Rick
That was achieved using his S.G. rather than his Les Paul.
I dunno why but flame tops never really swizzled my martini...
Methinks the plain and/or the "half & half" with the partial subtle tiny bit of flame
on just one side is what I find unique and stunning... So the PAF covers are steel and
not brass? Possibly a nickle steel alloy to explain the lack of rust?
Are these guitars constructed from African or Honduran Mahogany? Also a viewer who said he spent his life studying vintage Gibson humbucking type pickups ( several '59 Gibson Les Paul Standard pickups by the kindness of the guitar owner) claimed that some of the Gibson pickups from that era may have been wound with 38ga. wire rather than the 42ga. that is the standard. He also mentioned that capacitors increase in capacitance as they age making the pickups hotter, and that the number of wire wrappings on each pickup is impossible to really know as the two automatic machines Gibson used ( he mentioned the brand name of the machines) were probably worn out by that time and provided varying numbers of total wrappings.
Pat Nichols Honduran mahogany, eastern maple, brazillian rosewood.
I’d be interested to know about the amp Bob is using and the settings being used with that 60.
Looks like an egnater rebel 30 that he's plugged into
fossilmatic I was playing the guitars through an Egnater Rene 30 had and can my side which belongs to the 60’s owner. Ramon used my Lazy J 20. The Egnater was on the drive channel, tones set almost vertical, gain at about noon and volume LOW. It would be great to do another video through our Mystic Blues rigs and/or my 633’s, just too much to carry this this tho. Glad you enjoyed, watch out as there are some more fab collections in prospect....
Rockbeareguitars Thanks for the info. I thought it really complemented the guitar, more so than the LazyJ. Nice playing too btw.
Why can't they make pickups nowadays like those 50's LP's?
Good question- Marc from Mojo Pickups comes close!
Many would argue that they do-OX4 PAFs....They're phenomenal!
They choose not too. CNC wound, poly insulated wire, perfectly even tpl, potted, using fully charged short A5 and A2 mags etc. Never going to sound remotely similar. Its like cooking.. you get out what you put in. Boutique market has boomed with a lot of crap padding out a few oversubscribed and very overpriced legit winders.
What two amps were you guys using? Was one a egnater if so what model?
What amp is that with ramon ? Any pedals attached?
You know what we used the owners amps so let me find out and get back to you. Thanks
@@TheGuitarShow Sure sir
Sounds just like a couple of Telecasters with Joe Bardens,to me.
Ian maybe thats why Joe Bardens are so good - I love danny gattons tone! Thanks for watching