Is This Gibson's Biggest Secret? ..We Really Shouldn't Talk About It. 

The secret is OUT!

And just like that, '91 Les Pauls went up in price on Reverb.

Flame top- NO Pick guard Solid finish- Pick guard

Yet another industry folklore story to go along with the rest. You either dig your guitar or not.

Most players that have experience with Les Pauls already knew this. The good wood era is considered from 1990 to 1996.

I agree with Derek. The first thing I did with both my Les Pauls, was remove the pick guard.

Your thumbnail are 90% click bait now. I don't really want to click just top see if I want to watch or am interested in the product, lesson, or whatever it maybe. Don't get me wrong I have liked your channel for many years, but I sometimes avoid your video just because of the click bait thumbnails in my sub feed. You all can all flame away if you want too, I just don't like it, that's all. :)

My 1st les paul was given to me...92 wine red/gold hardware studio. Ebony board..changed plastics to cream....absolute rock monster!!. I would never sell it since it means so much...great guitar

I like the pick guards on Les Pauls!

No pick guard. I love the finish on the guitar.

As a 92 LP standard owner I can second that. It's the only Les Paul that remains at home, and I have had a bunch of reissues. Eveyone that plays it sees there's someting special to it

No pick guard on a les Paul!!! I agree with Derek. Something about a Les Paul, looks so much better without the pick guard.

Every Gibson stays in tune as much as any guitar with similar construction. Fix the binding at the nut or bridge and any tuning will take care of itself. BTW wood looks better than plastic any day, I have a box of pick guards off of all mine...just keep them in case someone cares when I sell the guitars.

From an aesthetic standpoint,..I like the look of a Les Paul, both with or without a pick guard. For playing ? Personally, I absolutely need the pick guard. Otherwise, the relaxed fingers on my pick hand will travel a further distance to rest on the body of the guitar and inadvertently mute the high E or the B strings when it's a bad time for that.

Paul Stanley of KISS has been singing the praises of 1990’s Les Pauls

Slash says 1987 is the best year. I’ve also heard the early 2000s are the “good wood” years for the Custom Shop. Some claim early 80s Les Pauls are the money. Basically, if someone likes their own guitar, they will claim magic pixie dust is sprinkled on guitars from that year. I wouldn’t put much stock in any of those opinions.

I have a '90 Les Paul Custom Sunburst (all original) that never had a pick guard installed that I bought back in 2009. It is a joy to play and is one of the best sounding I've owned in nearly 60 years I've playing. Is that in the good wood range?

Well, I can confuse things more, maybe. LOL I'm 72, and I've been at this guitar thing a long time, mid-late 60's. I've sat at a bar and listened to old timers talk about tri-5 guitars, 58, 59, 60 LPB's (I know one is 60, it's their story). They say all those guitars were made from 1 train car worth of 'mahogany and maple'. Also, that wood was 100+ years old when the LPB's were made! Gibson, in their infinite wisdom, just left the remainder of it at Kalamazoo when they moved. Said it was "too heavy" to move. Story goes it was auctioned off. Part of it was made into "kits", build your own 59. LOL. That's where the "Max" LPB came from. A luthier named "Max" built out some Kits. Today, Max Bursts bring a lot of $$$$!! There is still rumored to be some Kits, Max's, and some of the actual wood out there still! Keep your eyes, ears and wallets open!! Also a good resource would be member of the old guard Norm Harris, of NRG. He had most of the "old guard" in the store talking LPB's for a video not terribly long ago. Maybe go through his playlist's to find it?? I remember they talked about Max Bursts. I had a chance to buy one ~12 years ago, for $20k. I balked the chance. I've been kicking myself ever since!! I do have this special set of pups though 8) One more thing, I found some Tone-Pro like bridges at a store, they have Teflon-alloy saddles. Since I started using them all my Gibsons stay in tune much better! Making sure the nut is back_cut, and lubed (pencil/ graphite) etc, is very important also!! The only marking(s) on the bridge, are on the back, in small casting, I think it says "GT-0186" on 1 bar, and "Pat Pend" on another. I paid $16 ea for the nickle ones and $20 each for the gold ones. I used them to make cigar box guitars before I knew how well they worked on guitars! LOL I bought 15 the first time, Ni and Au. I have more coming.. That's all I got today. Thanks, peace --gary

The good wood era lasted from 1990 until 2004 or so. Nothing about 91 that was particularly noteworthy.

Good wood era years keep shifting. Keep hearing 87-89, 90-01, and it goes on. Oh, and I’m becoming a pickguard off kinda guy.

I'm 100% never pick guard. Pick guards are ugly on any and all guitars. I have no strats, only super strats with no guards.

Hey you guys( Chunk reference “ The Goonies “, lol. Hometown boy makes good, probably the most decent person in the amp biz. Derek is never to busy to reach back out, in all my dealings with him. As always enjoying the channel, Ruderik

My $300 sterling stays in tune

Paul Stanley just mention this in his Gibson interview. All my Gibsons stay in tune cause im not a chode and can tune.

No for les paul pick guard. Mine came with one but there was no way I was about to drill holes in the beautiful finish as it looks awesome. By the way, it never goes out of tune, even with old strings! It's about 20-ish years old now.

I bought a well loved 1991 sg standard in October. Was completely blown away by how well it stays in tune, sounds amazing. 1991 was definitely a good era for Gibson.

Les Paul and pick guard? If it’s a gold top or painted finish, yes to pick guard. If it’s a AA, AAA or AAAA flame or quilt w/transparent finish, NO pick guard. When they have a gorgeous grain, I would never cover it.

No wonder my ‘93 Les Paul is still top notch because of the good wood era. 👏👏👏

I have a 96 LP Studio and a 96 The Hawk, both have really nice dark and rich fretboards on them. But my favorites are still my 2020 Standard, my 2021 LP Raven, and my 2010 SG Classic. They're my go to's.

I think they are making some of their best Les Pauls right now.

Pickguard yes! Also, I have a 91 standard and it’s basically the workhorse of my rig…one thing they are is heavy as a cinder block but none the less amazing

No secret to me. I owned a bunch of Les Pauls, and the best one, easily is my 1994 centennial custom shop standard. 60s neck perfectly straight, easy to play, sounds great. I wish you hadn't made this video because I'm always on the lookout for mid-90s Les Pauls 😀

I have a '90 Explorer in cherry that always confounded me why it just had this extra bit of mojo. I bought it around 98/99, very reasonable at the time.

None of my Les Pauls have ever had the problem of not staying in tune. It’s all about how you setup your guitar. If you don’t know how, it won’t stay in tune and vice versa…

Pickguard off. I put the screws back in to prevent losing them. Had a 95 Les Paul, but I don’t like the thinner necks. While it claimed to be 50’s rounded, they are not 50’s chunky.

Best Les Pauls I've ever played (and owned), '90 Custom, '89 Studio, '91 Custom.

I have a 91 SG and it sounds amazing! The neck is the slim taper. But my "Bonnie" is NOT for sale.

The paul Stanley Gibson garage interview was all about his various 94 s as the magic year according to Paul and he has a couple as his main guitars

I’ve had a 91 studio, v, and junior. I can attest that the 95 lp standard I had was great. I still have a 93 les Paul special in tv yellow that is a lifer.

No pick guard. Enjoy the beautiful wood grain, don’t hide it with a piece of plastic.

‘91 perhaps because Gibson was flush with cash and profitable, and that meant less cutting corners. 88 - 91 is when Gibson was enjoying high demand for the first time since the 70s. Joe Perry and Slash were all over MTV with Les Pauls and the glam metal scene with pointy guitars was cooling down.

While I get the concept of a “good wood” era of guitar fabrication, the fact a guitar “stays in tune” should be a given, provided it has decent tuners, a properly cut nut and decent string wraps on the tuning pegs.

I have a 93 standard i love it,Got it in 95 ,removed the pick guard and changed the tuners....Its still my main Guitar ,The neck is perfect

Pickguard choice can also change with playing style. Sometimes I rest my pinky on it depending on what I'm playing.

Definitely pickguard ON. But just because I actually often need it to repose the ring finger on while playing.

Hey Derek! Great to see you! I've owned three Revv amps. The latest is the D40! Digging the vintage tone with all the modern amenities. Just trying to save up enough to buy the matching cab. Feel like making a random RU-vidr a deal?!

I have never played a Les Paul that would play in tune. Back in the 90’s some shit eating dog stole my main guitar, so I borrowed one of my cousin’s Les pauls to do some gigs. It was absolutely the worst guitar that I ever tried to play live. The tone was great but the intonation was all over the place. I took it to a great luthier named David Wallace who builds incredible guitars. He told me that there was nothing that he could do because the design of the guitar was the problem. I went to a local store and borrowed a used peavey tracer until my new guitar came in. I pick up Gibson guitars in stores all of the time and still find that they are still over priced great sounding boat anchors.

Pickguard depends on the top. I have a Les Paul with a solid finish so I left the pickguard on. I have another with a little bit flame under the guard so I took it off so I can see it. It just depends.

Great opening jam! Thanks, too!

i like the look of certain les pauls with pick guards, it really depends on what model and finish. Burst finishes and the bfg series look best without in my opinion, but they also sit right where i rest my finger sometimes and it throws me off lol. so i made a nice cut in mine where i can slide my fingers down and rest it on the pickup ring

I've got a 91 black Gibson Les Paul Custom that i've owned since 91, and it's one of the best guitars i've ever played.

I have a 91 SG Special I bought brand new in 91. All black with 3 knobs. I knew nothing about guitars at the time just loved the sound. No pick guard by the way. Came like that. Anyway, a few people that do know something about guitars have played it and thought it was great. I love it too.

Team #nopickguard for me. I have a feeling everyone on Reverb with a '91 Standard listed is about to raise their prices...

I think my 97 Goldtop is a good wood erra.. had the dumb green inlays replaced with historic makeovers. Makes the appearance look so much better

I like both, one month with and one without . What is the white pick you are using ?

*shrug* I have couple les Paul's and and all of them are all pretty awesome sounding and feel great. I have zero issues with tuning or anything like that. I have no reason to buy into this "good wood" nonsense. I've played several norlin era gibsons that are allegedly trash and they sounded and played great. A great guitar is a great guitar.

I've always been pro-pickguard, when it comes to Les Pauls. But I think that's just because my iconic image of a Les Paul is Jimmy Page's Number One. If I'd grown up idolizing Slash or someone else who usually plays ones without a pickguard, I'd probably prefer that look.

No pickguard

Paul Stanley really loves the 94 les paul. He was talking about it on Gibson TV. His are custom shop though.

I never heard about the “good wood era”, but can definitely attest to how good my LP sounds/feels! I have a 91 Les Paul Standard that has some definite mojo. I bought it back in 1996 from a friend, sight unseen for $850 (he had 13 LP’s at the time, told him to pick one out to sell me). He loaded it with EMG’s, but within a month I put my SD JB in there and pulled out the neck pickup (no pick guard/one volume knob). Tons of shows and some refrets later it still rocks, and surprisingly stays in tune!!! Unfortunately the 91’s are now going to be up in price, but AWESOME video nonetheless🤣

I don't want pickguards on my Les Pauls, I find that they look way more rock without pickguards.

No pick guard on Les Paul

I love how candid they are in this video. Thank you!

THE PICK GUARD ON A LES PAUL IS NOT NECESSARY BECAUSE IT IS AN ARCH TOP THAT SLOPES AWAY FROM THE STRINGS - AND - IT HIDES THE BEAUTIFUL FINISH UNDERNEATH

I’ve come to hate the trope that Les pauls don’t stay in tune. I’ve had 6 and none of them have had tuning issues.

I have a 97 Les Paul studio with a G string that won’t stay in tune to save its life. I put a string tree on it and it helps. Now my kid has it as it doesn’t hold a candle to my 80s Yamaha SG’s.

No pickguards on LP's. I have two 1991 guitars, a Fender American Strat and a Jackson Dinky XL Professional. They're both great.

I have a mid 1990s Les Paul Studio. Ebony fingerboard. I dunno about good wood eras, but it definitely sounds great. It was just meant to be a stepping stone as I set out to replace all the guitar stuff i had sold, but it's so good that the Les Paul box is ticked, so I buy other stuff like SGs and an Explorer. Not skinny, but not fat? Between a 50s and a 60s neck? That's exactly like mine. A little fatter than I usually go for, but I suspect it's part of why it sounds so good.

No guard fan here. And, probably an even more controversial take, no poker chip fan here too.

Had an early early 90s les paul studio back in the day and the thing was amazing

If it comes without a pickguard I think it would look fine but I would never just purposely remove the pickguard. I keep my pickguard on my Les Paul and my 335.

I’m a fan of the pick guard. It’s classic.

Headstock break lol I’ve only heard that from Les Paul’s, you think after 20 to 30 years they would’ve figured that one out, I’ve never seen a fender Strat with a headstock break.

Remove the pick guard! I will say it again remove the pick guard. If you didn't hear me remove the pick guard

I just found out two weeks ago that the Les Paul Studio I inherited from my brother five years ago is a 91’ January 10, 1991. It needs a lot of work though original tuners are hosed has some Grover tuners on it amongst other things

No pick guards.

NO PICKGUARD!!! I take them off immediately upon purchase. If your guitar won't stay in tune it's more likely than not an improperly cut nut or bad tuners. BTW I noticed that Derek's L.P. has the fine tuning bridge (TP6?) which is one reason it stays in tune! I love my Agile faux paul w the TP6 fine tuners, it plays like a dream.

I use a clear acrylic pickguard on my Les Paul Modern.

The pickgaurd puts the right hand in the right position ime. Without one the gap down to the wood below the strings is to high

Best les paul I ever played or owned was a 2011 Traditional . I had to sell it and I have played 100s of les Paul's in the last 10 years and nothing has come remotely close .

But….the guitar is now 32-33 years old. Most wood has settled to its new, & last form, making it now stable as it is going to be. Any twisting or deformation would have surfaced by now. It’s just aged, which is good.🤘🏼

I prefer pickguard on. Looks more distinguished and handsome. Pickguard off can look good depending on the finish but somehow looks incomplete, casual, and a little too PRS or Carvin shredder-style for my taste.

It’s not a joke, early 90s Gibsons are actually awesome. I have two Les Paul studios in ebony and black with the ebony fretboard and they are actually awesome!

93 les Paul studio with the ebony board. It’s a phenomenal player my number two guitar.

The pick guard protects the finish. I see how scratched up my pickguard is and know the finish would be gone there. Pick guard on for sure, I have 4 Les Paul's and they all have the pick guard on. Plus I like to rest my fingers on it.

That's exactly what I got; '91 LP Studio, gorgeous checked Blonde finish with gold hardware all over it, weighs a ton. Stunningly beautiful and it freaking screams, Over the years I've curiously checked prices on the '91 and always said to myself these are waaaaay undervalued.

Pickguard .... depends on the Les Pauls I have 2, one with a pickguard and one without. The one without it doesn't have the holes!

The “good wood” era has been described as a lot of ranges by a lot of people. Usually within the range of whatever someone is selling. Usually I see the description on late 90s/early 2000s. How well it stays in tune has nothing to do with what year it is though. It’s usually how much love and TLC has been done to the nut. And I agree a les Paul looks better WITH the guard 95% of the time

I’ve always wanted a Les Paul, but I’ll never own one just not in the budget but as far as pick guards go, some look good with them some look good without them. Just depends on the color and woodgrain.

I have a "team no pickguard since 1977" t-shirt. But really I'm on "team no les paul"

no pickguard, gets in the way

Pick guard ON!

Are "91's" heavy or are they light? Also pickguard ON the painted and OFF the transparent tops.

Depends on the LP! My 2007 GOTW #2 Antique fireburst, NO PICKGUARD!! My R9 pickguard... 18' Goldtop P90, pickguard!

I agree with Robert, keep the pickguard on.🤘🎸

Yeah, pick guards on LP' s are cool.

Just say no to plastic crap covering up the pretty Les Paul cap. Those flamey things cost a lot of money.

Pickguard Y/N all depends on the finish. I prefer pickguard on most. It was my impression good wood stopped at 1998.

The way I play if i dont have a pickgaurd on I dig a hole in the guitar right in front of the bridge pup. My sg has such a hole but i made a diamond plate aluinum gaurd to cover it up. It looks like a side boob im a pick gaurd on guy.

I've got a 94 Les Paul Studio with 498 and 500 Ts. Stays in tune , really comfy neck , most of my axes are Ibanez ,, tone wise can hang with a Custom. Wonder if the " good wood era " applies to more than just 91 in general ?? Much appreciated. Thank you