@@tabriel It's really not. If you ever are fortunate enough to play a '62 Stratocaster then you will immediately understand that some years are just much better than others.
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. :)
Dude has to make a living, you are watching free content and someone has to pay, the clickbait helps them keep the lights on. Y’all feel so entitled like you are paying a subscription or something like that
But you clicked anyway, didn't ya? So as far as he's concerned, mission accomplished, lol. Congratulations on becoming an integral part of fueling the very thing you claim to despise. 🤣🤣👍
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
Good choice. In my opinion, cream pickguards are a great complement to several different finishes. However with a beautiful flame top, I may consider removing the pickguard.
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
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.
This. It’s all nonsense. Some guitars are better than others but it’s not decided by year of manufacture. Sometimes they’re just set up better. Sometimes they’re just played in and have the edges worn a bit. Sometimes it’s just personal preference.
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.
@MBRMrblueroads Yes,.you are absolutely right. Oddly, there are a lot of people who like the idea of that. Musicians, particularly guitarists, are the only people I've seen that take this position. Nobody ever said,.."I can hardly wait till my new car gets dents and dings in it, and the paint fades, cracks and gets a lot of scratches in it. Or perhaps pay extra for one that already is in this condition while the same model is offered in perfect condition.
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.
@@AmiliaCaraMia with? You're a liar every Gibson I've owned even with a properly slotted nut goes out of tune because of slippage with the default tuner
‘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.
Nope. It’s because all of the good wood was in the one factory where all Gibson solid body guitars were made. They set up the Custom Shop shortly thereafter and all of the best wood went there.
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.
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?
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.
I have a 2023 built Les Paul Modern with a AAA flame top in Seafoam Green. However I like a pickguard, especially on a Les Paul, because it gives me somewhere to rest my pinky while I'm playing, which, in turn, also gives me a reference point from which to be able to pluck whichever string I'm trying to hit with better precision. My solution was to buy a custom clear acrylic pickguard for my Les Paul. I think it looks great, it serves the purpose I want it for, and it doesn't cover up the beautiful top on my guitar! Oh, and with regards to your original point I agree I feel like my Les Paul modern is extremely well-built, it stays in tune, it sounds great and feels great to play. There are no QC issues that I've found. I currently own 5 guitars, 2 Gibsons, 2 PRS-es and an American Ultra Stratocaster. My LP is easily my #1. I also currently have a Novo Miris Custom build ordered. The Novo should be ready about January.
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 is between 90 and early 93. Thats before the Custom shop was cretaed and after the cost cutting strategy of Gibson in the 70's and 80's. Right after the rise of Slash and before all good woods went to the Custom shop.
That's great to know! I have always just been told those years were the good wood era, and I wasn't trying to say that the Les Pauls are good because of that, I honestly think the necks on the early 90's are what has me loving them, and they tend to stay in tune better than my newer LP's.
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
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…
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 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.
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've heard something similar to this as well. How can the good wood era last for only 1 particular year? Doesn't make sense lol. I have a 2000 LP Standard and a 2001 LP Standard and both sound very good. Both have a nice weight to them as well (10 pounds +).
Paul has a tech going over them, besides that he switches guitars between almost every song during a show. Both my Iceman’s stay in tune for more than one song out of the box, had a brand new 2016 LP Studio that didn’t, the auto tuning system on it had pretty bad tuners integrated, replacing them with standard Grovers did the trick, still annoying that Gibson doesn’t put more resources towards QC, there would be way less bad examples of new Gibsons ending up in YT videos if they did.
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.
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.
my Standard is a 1992 I bought new in West L.A. music 32 years ago when I was 19teen and it feels and sound great,no tuning issues and she still is my N.1 guitar when I go out rehearsing and gigin...
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
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
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.
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.
@@drock2313Have you made sure the nut and bridge saddles are well cut? And what guitar are you comparing it to? They’ll never match a Floyd Rose equipped guitar for stability but my Les Pauls and SG are not worse than my Strat and Tele.
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 picked up a '99 vintage burst LP for £1,500. Couldn't be happier: it's a complete rock machine, has massive sustain and stays in tune without much effort. And yes, the pick guard stays on.
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’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.
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.
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
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.
I own a 91 SG Standard I bought new back in July 1991 as a 17 year old. IT was my first electric guitar and I worked that summer to pay it off. It's a still a fantastic guitar, and despite the other guitars I own and that have come and gone, it's remained my consistent number 1!
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 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.
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.
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.
i worked at a music store in the late 80s early 90s. we were a gibson dealer. first custom shop dealer in kansas city area. i can attest that 92 gibson were awful had terrible quality control. even the custom shop stuff. gibson was shipping guitars with tacking nitro, loose pickups, shitty fiinishs etc. name a problem a new guitar can have, the 90s gibson had them.
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.
Robert, there is a small collector corner chasing MIK Epiphones because of the great tones. I found they are the post 1998ish MIK builds. What makes them great is the (measured) values of the tone caps. I suspect your "magic 91" Gibsons are likewise due to capacitor or maybe pots. Pickups will be "more like 1950s than last years" as Gibson's Marketing tries to tell. If you do get into collecting or seeking out the 91 Gibsons then make sure to use an ohm meter and capacitance meter to measure up all the guitars you look at and other years. You'll find a trend with the control circuits. ... The magical MIK Epiphones had 0.033uF tone caps vs other times/factories/common values.
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.
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
Ok on the pickguard debate ......Black pickguard is a Yes, on an Ebony, Alpine White, or Wine Les Paul. Cream pickguard on a 59' Yes ... Cream pickguard on ANY other Les Paul is a hard NO!
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.
And why only the LP? Almost all Gibsons use the 3-a-side headstock, granted there's a bit more friction than a straight string pull design but a correctly cut nut helps, why isn't it "don't buy a Gibson, they never stay in tune"? Gibson wouldn't be some of the most expensive guitars on the planet, used or new, if they NEVER stayed in tune?! I for one have no issues with my Epiphone guitars staying in tune with "cheap" import tuners per factory spec 😅
Its a thing for a reason... I own 3 and 2 of them always struggle. I do my own set ups and out of my whole guitar collection, the LP's have the worst tuning stability. I love them all but it's annoying. Not having SS frets on a high end guitar is also annoying.
@@bubkusjonesOr they sold them with an unstable autotuner system. Had to replace it with Grovers on a 2016 Studio to make it stay in tune for more than one song. Had to replace the titanium nut too, since it was slottet for light gauges, didn’t want to mess up that nut nor my tools. Thing is, for it’s price, any brand new Gibson should at least stay in tune regardless of which year it was build, even if that comes down to external suppliers, there even came a photo from QC inspection with it, my wild guess is that management just doesn’t give QC enough time with each guitar.
