I remember reading an article in Guitarist about declining wood resource and reluctantly bought a Smartwood same as this instead of a white Custom. Glad I bought the Smartwood as it’s the nicest Les Paul I’ve ever played, great sound and the natural finished top is unusual and very beautiful. Sometimes buying ethically does work. Very little about them on RUclips so nice to see your video. That Blackstar really suits the guitar. Nice one Dylan.
Thanks for watching and for taking the time to comment. They are indeed great looking guitars - I particularly liked the lack of a pickguard. So clean looking. These were almost unique in that regard at the time (and I don't usually use a pick). I used to use my 1988 Marshall Guv'nor with this, and it was fearsome! Do you still have your Smartwood? Check out the Money for Nothing intro on this guitar, using just a wah pedal and some gain 👍🎸ruclips.net/video/V_Nq8sQ9jR0/видео.html
@@dylansmithguitarist3843 Hi Dylan, thanks for taking the time to reply. Yeah I've still got my Smartwood - I adore that guitar, such a unique Les Paul and the natural wood top is beautiful - like ripples on a pond. It's also a nice reminder that I did the right thing going with my conscience and buying the sustainable wood produced guitar. I had to buy it mail order so didn't see it before purchase and really wasn't sure I'd done the right thing paying out for a guitar which wasn't really what I wanted, the photo in the Gibson catalogue wasn't flattering. Just paying a big price for a Gibson is no guarantee that you'll get a good guitar, but someone certainly took some time and care building mine. When I opened that case for the first time though I was blown away - love at first sight for sure. It sounds superb and plays really nicely, it's a joy to pick up and play. Interestingly I've stuck a black pickguard on mine and swapped the knobs for black / clear versions of the ones it was supplied with. Given the small number of vids on YT, there can't be many of these guitars about - I guess sustainable wood just isn't considered rock n'roll. Ampwise I use a little 10w Hughes and Kettner Edition blue at home (it sounds awesome at sensible volumes) and a Peavey Classic all valve 30w - which also sounds great, but loud. Pedals - a modded Boss Blues Driver and a Tech21 Boost DLA. Sorted!
@@clippermuso glad you still have it. They are under-appreciated, but I guess because there's not much info and might be considered a risk as buyers opt for a 'Standard' then complain about the build quality 😃I bought mine from a local guy in around 2000. I knew nothing about them, but at least I got to see it first (most of my guitars were bought unseen). It's cool that you modded yours a little. One of my rhythm guitarists did the opposite to you - he has a LP Standard and he removed the pickguard because he liked how mine looked! You won't go wrong with your setup. Simple and effective - just as it should be IMHO. 🎸
@@dylansmithguitarist3843 I hope you make more videos about it. I'm glad someone uses the same model as me. Many people think that it can't compete with the standard version. but i don't think so🤘🏻🔥
Cool! Ive always wanted one of these standards with the bindings and block inlays! I have the 2001 "Smartwood Exotic" with dots, no binding and a thinner body and I absolutely love it ... but it is a bit plain.
Thanks for watching. Yes, the exotics are more 'Studio' in design. Awesome sounding workhorses though. This is the only trapezoidal inlay guitar I own now - I always loved how it looks 👍🎸
@@dylansmithguitarist3843 Oh hell yes! They're workhorses allright ... had 12 guitars before I bought the smart wood.... I have 3 now because most of them didn't get played anymore because of the Gibson. Understandable. It's an absolutely gorgeous guitar.
That's a great price. I've never seen a genuine LP Smartwood Standard for that price (only the Studio types with dot inlays etc). I just checked and found one online. Nearly 3K. Your shop has a bargain 👍
So to be sustainable they used mahogany and spared the "oh so endangered MAPLE"? I love the guitar but do not understand replacing the maple top and calling it sustainable. Oh well.
I remember reading an article in Guitarist about declining wood resource and reluctantly bought a Smartwood same as this instead of a white Custom. Glad I bought the Smartwood as it’s the nicest Les Paul I’ve ever played, great sound and the natural finished top is unusual and very beautiful. Sometimes buying ethically does work. Very little about them on RUclips so nice to see your video. That Blackstar really suits the guitar. Nice one Dylan.
Thanks for watching and for taking the time to comment. They are indeed great looking guitars - I particularly liked the lack of a pickguard. So clean looking. These were almost unique in that regard at the time (and I don't usually use a pick). I used to use my 1988 Marshall Guv'nor with this, and it was fearsome! Do you still have your Smartwood? Check out the Money for Nothing intro on this guitar, using just a wah pedal and some gain 👍🎸ruclips.net/video/V_Nq8sQ9jR0/видео.html
@@dylansmithguitarist3843 Hi Dylan, thanks for taking the time to reply. Yeah I've still got my Smartwood - I adore that guitar, such a unique Les Paul and the natural wood top is beautiful - like ripples on a pond. It's also a nice reminder that I did the right thing going with my conscience and buying the sustainable wood produced guitar. I had to buy it mail order so didn't see it before purchase and really wasn't sure I'd done the right thing paying out for a guitar which wasn't really what I wanted, the photo in the Gibson catalogue wasn't flattering. Just paying a big price for a Gibson is no guarantee that you'll get a good guitar, but someone certainly took some time and care building mine. When I opened that case for the first time though I was blown away - love at first sight for sure. It sounds superb and plays really nicely, it's a joy to pick up and play. Interestingly I've stuck a black pickguard on mine and swapped the knobs for black / clear versions of the ones it was supplied with. Given the small number of vids on YT, there can't be many of these guitars about - I guess sustainable wood just isn't considered rock n'roll. Ampwise I use a little 10w Hughes and Kettner Edition blue at home (it sounds awesome at sensible volumes) and a Peavey Classic all valve 30w - which also sounds great, but loud. Pedals - a modded Boss Blues Driver and a Tech21 Boost DLA. Sorted!
@@clippermuso glad you still have it. They are under-appreciated, but I guess because there's not much info and might be considered a risk as buyers opt for a 'Standard' then complain about the build quality 😃I bought mine from a local guy in around 2000. I knew nothing about them, but at least I got to see it first (most of my guitars were bought unseen). It's cool that you modded yours a little. One of my rhythm guitarists did the opposite to you - he has a LP Standard and he removed the pickguard because he liked how mine looked! You won't go wrong with your setup. Simple and effective - just as it should be IMHO. 🎸
I have it, Smartwoot Standard 1996. Absolutely awesome. I like the tone to be brighter than the standard stand.
Thanks for watching, fellow Smartwood owner! These seem to be very rare but well loved guitars 👍🎸
@@dylansmithguitarist3843 I hope you make more videos about it. I'm glad someone uses the same model as me. Many people think that it can't compete with the standard version. but i don't think so🤘🏻🔥
Cool! Ive always wanted one of these standards with the bindings and block inlays!
I have the 2001 "Smartwood Exotic" with dots, no binding and a thinner body and I absolutely love it ... but it is a bit plain.
Thanks for watching. Yes, the exotics are more 'Studio' in design. Awesome sounding workhorses though. This is the only trapezoidal inlay guitar I own now - I always loved how it looks 👍🎸
@@dylansmithguitarist3843 Oh hell yes! They're workhorses allright ... had 12 guitars before I bought the smart wood.... I have 3 now because most of them didn't get played anymore because of the Gibson.
Understandable. It's an absolutely gorgeous guitar.
I played one yesterday at my local shop, I used to see these all the time used for $700 in the early 2000's, it was going for $1400 yesterday 😮
That's a great price. I've never seen a genuine LP Smartwood Standard for that price (only the Studio types with dot inlays etc). I just checked and found one online. Nearly 3K. Your shop has a bargain 👍
There was a smartwood with trap inlays? Man, I missed that.
Good sound! What amp you used playing?
Thanks for watching. It's a Blackstar 10AE, shown in the video 👍🎸
This is mine guitar!
Great to hear from a fellow owner! Thanks for watching 👍🎸
So to be sustainable they used mahogany and spared the "oh so endangered MAPLE"? I love the guitar but do not understand replacing the maple top and calling it sustainable. Oh well.
They used responsibly grown, sustainable mahogany and rosewood. The pressures on Brazilian rosewood were becoming a political issue even 25 years ago.
It has a Caribbean Rosewood instead of Brazilian