Gibson USA 2018 Guitars - Les Paul Tribute vs Les Paul Faded 

Captain, your playing seems to be improving with every video...Well done old chap!

Rory, I will love you forever if you keep editing in those Captain "epic lick" screams.

That opening jam was some of the best playing I've ever heard from you Cap! Well done as always gents.

Man this video editing is seriously better than commercial TV shows lol

Those screams from the Captain really cracks me up. You must have done a few videos that day...

Dear editor, you are a legend 👍😂😂

I must say that i´m in love with that Les Paul Tirbute, looks very clean!!! Got to get one!!!

Everything happened after 2016, you know, the 2016 Studio Faded T used to be mahogany body and mahogany neck with maple top, trapezoid Inlays and chrome covered pickups. In 2017 they separated this to make the Studio Faded T even more affordable, removing the pickup covers, simplifying to dot inlays and reducing cost in the neck, now being maple. The 2017 and 2018 Les paul tribute is now what the 2016 Studio Faded "T" for "tribute" used to be :) :) .

Lee hyping himself needs to become a meme...

Unpopular opinion, I like the fact that they have no binding..

A rare legitimate clean tone from chappers at the start

Gibson have really redeemed themselves this year for me. The only one I don't like of the Les Paul range this year is the Standard. Every other guitar from Traditional down to Tribute looks beautiful, sounds beautiful, and I wish I could own all of them.

It's vids like this that have kept me coming back year after year. Great stuff and on occasion very funny too. Long may you guys continue doing what you do.

Nice Guitars. Surprised you didn't mention the Tribute comes with the hotter 498T pickup in the bridge this year, and slightly different control knobs.

Honestly I'd be way way more inclined to buy a faded Gibson if they had the trapezoid inlays. I just think they look better and that you almost need them for it to be a proper les Paul.

Rob and Lee &(Rory), I appreciate you keeping the videos clean as I enjoy watching them with my children in the room. Thanks for all the great product reviews. Captain Lee's playing continues to get better all the time.

Wow very beautiful intro solo, maybe even the best from captn

But the question is... Is it a Les Paul? Or is it just a tribute?

I very very rarely comment on RU-vid these days, but I spend plenty of time watching the videos you fellas make. Informative, entertaining and may I also say, the editing from Mr. Rory is fucking spectacular, makes everything so much funnier. Appreciate it as always!

I don't usually add comments to you tube videos but just a thank you for mentioning that these guitars are available left handed. I wondered if you could mention this in all your reviews. It's really frustrating seeing you demonstrate a fantastic instrument only to find out, after trawling the web, that it's not available lefty. Cheers for the great reviews guys and keep up the good work.

Your opening bit was the most I've ever enjoyed your playing guys--lovely stuff!

oh my, Captain that intro solo is pure eargasm

Bloody hell Lee. That was some of the most expressive playing I've heard from you in that intro

I thoroughly enjoy all of the various content offerings done by Andertons/Chapman but, I'm afraid I'm going to have to correct the pick- up info- one has a 490R and a 490T and the other has a 490R and a 498T.

About time you guys have the great Tommy Emmanuel stop by for some tea and cookies on The Captain meets?!

You guys have the best banter of any gear channels. Great work.

The Captain meets Clapton

Am I the only one that think these look better without binding? The body at least (Maestro is the brand in Argos btw)

Lee's lead playing at the beginning of this is mesmerising. I love the tone.

Editing's already in the 2019 range.

This tribute is just amazing. Best guitar you’ll get for the price

I bought the worn cherry faded and I love it!!! Sounds beautiful!!!

Having watched just the intro I have to say: Lee seriously great playing here dude. I'm very impressed. Now to watch the rest of the video and learn more about these awesome looking new Gibsons.

I own both. Both excellent guitars for the money. The tribute has a different bridge pickup though. It's the 498t. The faded has the 490t.

Lee, really enjoying your playing these days. Gives a great idea of the tone and sustain of the instrument.

Really enjoyed the Capn's playing at the beginning. The Tribute looks and sounds a lot more like a proper Les Paul than the Faded model. The gold top looks killer!

Great vid bros! Getting a 2018 tribute was the best decision ever...It's truly amazing and I dig feeling wood under my fingers not binding.

Second guitar? Maybe. I think an alternative view is that this provides people who normally play Strats or Teles that need a Les Paul for occasional use (recording the odd part?) an affordable way to get it without breaking the bank.

I live in southern Brazil. I've been following your channel for some time. Excellent program. Congratulations!

This is THE BEST video you two have done for a while..... Love the humour..... More like the older vids we all love.... keep em coming lads 👍

I just bought a Gibson Tribute 2019 because of this, thanks!

Pretty sure Hot Ones is in NYC...

Nice vid. The Captain's progress inspires me. (Hot Ones is the only other channel I watch regularly! Loved the Neil DeGrasse Tyson interview. You two Have to be on Hot Ones :)

I ALMOST PISSED MYSELF!!! I need an Anderton's t-shirt with Lee doing that imitation!

Captain looks so at home on that tribute, his style is so pleasant to listen to

My god that intro Captain ! Sweeeet

This is the 2nd time the Captain has completely missed Rob's Tenacious D Tribute reference lol.

very nice jam at the beginning

I'm from U.S.A. and must be one of the few folks here who know and love Merillion. Nice mention! I've seen them both with Fish and H multiple times. Before Tower Records went out of business here, maybe around 2004'ish they played the an incredible acoustic set at Tower Records. I was one of the maybe 30 people who were their watching them play a hour set of music.

K Lee and Chappers need to make a album that sounds like that beginning jam cause that was amazing!

Wow.. The Capt really killing it in the opening jam, great stuff.

I work at Argos and the brand is Maestro in the acoustic guitar range. It basicaly says by Gibson on the box. I think its a market aimed at parents who buy their kids a first guitar because they do not know where to look for an Epiphone thats £30 more.

Chapman's ending at 17:30 is just incredible!

Another great video, thank you guys! Keep on rockin'! 🤘 ;) (That sound though 11:57)

That 'Faded' sounds immense into whatever Rob's plugged into, looks like a Boogie MkV?

I think the Tribute is my favorite guitar in the 2018 range. I prefer Telecasters so I tend to like the simple looking Les Pauls.

2018 Tribute has a 498T in the bridge not 490T quoted... its an alnico 5 overwound pickup (extra bite) costing £120+ separately. Tribute has the better spec of the two - it's solid body (ask any veteran player about their choice - vaulting is so that Gibson can use heavier, cheaper mahogany). Tribute has custom shop extras including the Plek fret dressing / levelling, thicker rosewood on the neck and satin nitrocellulose laquer on top of the upgraded pickup. This is preferred on the neck particularly rather than a thick gloss. It has a Tektoid nut (Gibson take on synthetic bone). According to a well known US retailer this model was intended as the gigging Les Paul for professionals who didnt want to take a £3000 guitar on the road due to knocks, theft etc. As such it is 100% Les Paul in important areas including pickups, hardware, tone and sustain. The reductions are largely cosmetic, binding, flame finishes etc. The overall pitch of the guitar is towards the late 60s range mirrored in the satin gold top, trapezoid inlays, vintage Gibson Deluxe branded tuners, and the poker chip for the pickup selector is supplied (it's in the case pocket). I say towards because it has a modern neck and build (PCB electrics) to reduce cost whereas the similar (looking / sounding) custom shop gold top 57 true vintage VOS strives to be a replica period guitar down to build, woods, neck profile and a little ageing - to be fair you also get upgraded bumble bee capacitors, wiring loom etc. For that you pay £3,500 and according to Joe Bonamassa, 95% of people blindfold wouldn't be able to tell the difference on stage. So you can take your choice. The Tribute sold heaps and knocked Standard sales once this information circulated during 2018 (Gibson themselves barely promoted the custom shop extras it has) and in 2019 they have kind of dropped it / merged with the Studio goo.gl/ke6jxv and raised the price, no surprise that visual details like trapezoid inlays have also been replaced with dots. There is now a Classic Goldtop in 2019 which is similar to the 2018 Tribute adding binding, different pickups and Grovers although double the price (at a hefty £2000): goo.gl/HfEpTN If you can still find a 2018 Tribute in a store or nearly new I would grab it. Bargain of the century on a real Gibson USA Les Paul. goo.gl/NP87pX

The Captain sounds ever so slightly Gilmouresque on that first jam. Spot on 👍

Seriously, if you've never heard Tenacious D - Tribute, go watch it now, it will only make your life better.

just picked up a 2018 tribute like the captains used for $550...i wanted to have a binding look so I masked off the mahogany on the sides and scraped off the color on the maple. then i sealed the maple sides with some polyurethane...looks like a binding..plays great and looks awesome

Can't wait to see the SG's! Awesome videos! I really hope you guys will be able to get on the Hot Ones too!

Cap's lead tone at the start, good lord. And beautiful feel.

Would be interesting to see a Les Paul Standard vs. Tribute - don't they use the same electronics/ pickups?

Hey Capt, ive been a fan since you actually started posting videos with rob in youtube, some of my favorite vids are the collectors choice LP and when you and rob bought a LP each. I know your a John Mayer fan, so am i, and in the Jam in this vid, your style of playing is sounding John Mayerish. Cheers Caps Big Fan here

Holy shit! Damn Cap10 was on fire in that opening jam. I also like seeing you get into it more than just sitting there like a lump.

A solid body Gibson Les Paul for under 900 pounds? did they ever previously offered that?

This video is comedy gold. The edit of The Captain's moans are hilarious. "Oooooh... Yeah!" 😂 😂 😂 Great intro solo by the Captain. Sounds beautiful. Serious question: Apart from the different paint and the inlays (and the minimal weight difference) what real difference is there between these guitars? They're pretty identical, so why is Gibson retailing them with £100 difference? 😕

It finally happened. Lee has surpassed Chappers on the axe. That was Scott Gorham level, Captain. Outstanding!

That beach ball bit is the best thing Rory or whoever else has ever come up with.

That intro playing gave me goosebumps!!

Amazon's 2017 Gibsons are/were sometimes exclusive colours. Normally similar prices to the guitars stores, but often they had crazy sales on them and they were genuine Gibson.

Finally you guys play clean tones on a Les Paul

I just got so hype for the Hot Ones Plug at the end of the video.

The Les Paul Tribute is an absolute BEAUT. Tri-BEAUT! I'd defiitely add a poker chip onto the pickup selector switch though. Loving Lee's playing in the first jam too. It was glorious. Well done Captain!

My gosh, it's the best guitar channel ever, prove on dinosaur impression. Thanks mate! Sorry if there is any mistake on the text, still learning English.

For me first guitar was £90 starter pack from amazon. Second was an epiphone les Paul. Third was a fender Mexican strat. I'm looking at getting a jem as my next guitar. Took me 3 years to even get my second guitar. Don't give up playing just because you don't like your guitar.

The guitarist is my band just bought the Honeyburst Tribute. It's awesome!

Man, i love these video’s. The beach ball was killer

Lee in that intro was really selling the Tribute for me... thinking of getting one after watching this...

Dave Rothery was the songwriting partner of Paul Heaton in The Beautiful South. Steve Rothery was in Marillion :)

I love you guys. Always fun to watch. I love you honest reviews. Good dudes.

Rob, I'm with you! Hot Ones is one of my favorite shows - Sean Evans is maybe the most talented interviewer I've ever seen. I will immediately commence plugging a Chappers & the Captain interview! Aaaaand no one will notice LOL

CORRECTION: the bridge pickup on the Tribute is a 498T not the 490T like the 2017 model

I'm considering getting a Tribute because of the glorious matte finish.

Lee your knocking it out of the park with touch and feel nice job

That honeyburst tribute looks great...but I'm really looking forward to the SG rundown:)

Got the 2017 Goldtop tribute. I ordered it and while I was waiting for it I saw it in a guitar shop. Played it and was entirely underwhelmed with the feel and look. I thought I was going to sell mine on pretty quickly. When mine arrived however, it was much nicer than the one I played in the shop. Dodgy quality control or proprietary bias? I should say I also have a 2008 Les Paul Standard that is an amazing guitar so I'm not a Gibson hater which seems to be a very popular thing to be these days.

Electronics Neck Pickup 490R Bridge Pickup 498T Controls 2 volumes, 2 tones, 1 toggle switch

Those close up shots of the Captain at 17:20

The only thing that turns me off a Gibson faded are the dot inlays

I learned and enjoyed this demo discussion. I'm in North Coast California and plan on ordering from Andertons. Unless shipping cost more than the guitar.

Great feel Lee and Rob

Captain, you gotta order some "slow ice tea fade" made-to-measure Les Paul's. Those are gorgeous.

Hey guys, I ended up buying the 2017 Standard T after watching your videos. Honey burst, but this yrs so quick and again no poker chip. Hhmmm not going to drill the scratch plate on. My first Gibson $4200 on big discount we pay heaps. But raised the stop bar alittle and it's sounding great. But if I waited looks like a month I could have the 2018 Standard T. Goes with my walnut Ml-1 pro the one without bolt on neck. Love it. Tried fitting a poker chip and they made it such tight toggle fit it doesn't take the chip??? Keep up great work I look forward to your videos.

LOVED the intro jam guys! VERY COOL!

Best riff UV played yet captain more of please

Rory runs this shi... Doo dar.. Recognize.

thats sustain at the end rob .. .. wow .....

This is just a tribute, you've got to believe!

no wait... TRIBUTE!