I’ve had a couple of these over the years. Both were 2018 models before they changed to maple necks and 490/490 pup configuration. They were awesome guitars that played and sounded killer.
I love my Gibsons and no other guitar sounds as good to my ears. My oldest is a ‘69 Custom and my newest is a ‘21 Firebird. Every one sounds different and every one is a gem.
Those wings on the headstock are on every gibson with the open-book design, that is like saying you don't like the two piece top! Good Review, Thank You
Only Gibson I have is my 04 les Paul special, had it since new only ever had to change strings do a set up and that's it. I'm glad I got one prior to all the qc issues
There is something about Gibson Guitars that is pure Magic. I have 2 Gibson Explorer,s and had a Les Paul Standard an SG 61 too and i dont know they resonate very different from similar Guitars i had 2 PRS American Made Awesome Guitars but Gibson are like nothing else
All Gibson uses is nitro, it’s the same, but doesn’t have the smell as mentioned because it doesn’t go through the same finishing process and isn’t as thick.
they've been getting all right since about 2019-20 when they had a new management take over. The release of the Original series and standards both acoustic and electric have been spot on.
I've got the 2017 model Goldtop Tribute. I'm very pleased with it and play it a lot---but I did have one problem with it. Within a couple of years some of the inlays on the fingerboard started to lift to the point where it became unplayable. I didn't know what to do--and then I came across a Stewmac video which explained how to fix it. It seemed very quick and simple so I tried it, and hey presto, it worked like a dream! No problems since.
I have the 2011 Tribute LP Goldtop 60s with P90s. It is pretty good. The local guitar shop sales guys who gigs a lot in town keeps trying to get me to sell it to him. It is pretty good. It has a baked maple fretboard. The P90s growl and the Goldtop is sweet
Pickups: (from their site) 'Gibson voiced the pickups on the Les Paul Tribute for tonal characteristics similar to their _’57 Classics_ , but with a slight increase in the upper mids for a more contemporary humbucker sound. The _neck-position 490R_ gives you much of the tonal characteristics of an original PAF, but with a slight upper-mid bump that delivers clarity and definition to complement the wonderfully warm sound of this pickup. And the _490T_ humbucker is the ideal bridge pickup '
@@BoltRM gibson 490 sounded lifeless and flat to me. Air classics are more 3-dimensional and touch responsive, with more heights in neck, as i like. I replaced 490 in two of my tributes (air classics in one, abd noiseless p90 in another), and i want to sell the 3rd one, which does not inspire me that much.
I would like to see them do a full maple neck and fretboard to give it a Zakk Wylde vibe. I could see them do a scrape binding too. I actually prefer that. Being it's a tribute model, they could play around with it and not step on the toes of the traditionalists, they have the reissues for them
Hi ya Darrell, Cool video. I own an SG Tribute and it's really a nice guitar, like you mentioned it's bare bone. I removed the electronics from mine and went with an Emerson set up along with a set of Seymour Duncans and it's just a nice resonant axe and I'm happy with it. I have three other Gibsons as well, one thing I'd point out is the neck profile on these though, it's a more chunky rounded neck however not baseball bat territory so if you're looking for the slim tapered profile this model wouldn't be your first choice.... Thanks again man, dug the video :)
What bad quality Gibson years are you referring to. I bought a Les Paul Supreme and I noticed after a year or two on the back where the neck heel connects to the body--at a certain angle-- the wood was splintered. The guitar was black-- that's what made it hard to see the imperfection. My heart sank, my guitar wasn't perfect. Never really loved it though. Bought an Epiphone Les Paul at a Music & Arts Center that I touched(played) on the spot in '09. Great guitar.
Great video how about going against the eart LP model for under 500$ with stainless steel frets? You always said that's what you were wanting to happen man
Hey there, thanks for the video, I'm really thinking about this one, what was your impression of the neck profile? Close to an LP standard or not so much?
C'mon, how much more could it cost to use matching wood for the headstock wings ?!...probably nothing, they just want the higher line models to feel more like an upgrade
Great guitar. I slammed my tail piece all the way down and wrapped the strings over it. I think it sounds a little more fat and warm. And it looks cool. PEACE
No, it comes from the canadian made hard cases. New hard cases made in China or other places don't smell like that. And the guitars are equally buffed.
Sorry que te escriba en español pero donde puedo comprar una shecter banshee extreme en Estados Unidos porque no puedo conseguir un lugar que la tengan disponible. Gracias
I have that exact one. After a few years with it I absolutely love it. Yes, it's the most affordable Les Paul but it's still a made in USA Gibson Les Paul with a few less bells and whistles. The satin honeyburst ages beautifully and you won't freak out over a few dings here and there as they will add to the look.
'Wings' on the headstock are a normal Gibson thing across the line. They aren't something Gibson did as cost-cutting on the Tribute. That's one of the things you want to look for when checking to make sure a guitar is a legitimate Gibson Les Paul.
Exactly! I generally like this channel but the lack of knowledge for this video kind of shows. I’ve only been playing for a few years and know more about Gibsons and I don’t even know that much! Also, I wanted to see the baby photo of the guitar 😆
I'm new to learning guitar and didn't know the "wings" thing. That said when I saw that, even though it may be 'just how they do it' my immediate reaction was "jees that looks shoddy". /Shrug for whatever that's worth to anyone
@@daviddawdy6274 it’s totally fair not to like the look and not to know about the “wings” … heck, I have three Gibsons and don’t love the wings! It’s a different thing to make a career pitching yourself as a guitar guy and suggest that the wings are a qc issue or a cost-cutting measure when even the most expensive Gibson models have them.
You've picked a winner there. People are sleeping on the Tribute series as they either go high end Epiphone, or straight to the Les Paul Standard. If you don't care about the binding and don't mind a satin finish, this is a great option.
I love my Tribute. The guitar snob in me wanted to hate it as one of the “cheapest” USA Les Pauls. But honestly, my 2017 Gold Top Tribute plays and sounds better than my other Les Pauls. Congrats.
My 2016 gold top tribute plays better than every Les Paul standard I’ve played. I think it’s the fact that it’s satin finished. I do want a standard for the aesthetics (glossy/binding), but it’s a hard sell when my tribute plays and sounds so good.
I am amazed that you didn’t know about the Gibson headstock ‘wings’. That is a traditional Gibson feature and is one of the easiest ways to spot a fake. The headstock is purposefully built that way and most likely will not change in much the same way Freddie Mercury never had his extra teeth removed and Barbara Streisand never had rhinoplasty. It wouldn’t look right without them.
I'm amazed that you and so many others don't understand what he's actually pointing out. Really sad how many people are which to complain about things that aren't even being said.
Wings are there to make it easier to manufacture stuff not to help tone snobs noticing the difference between a piece of tree from another piece of a tree
@@rmaxtpmx your amazement is unnecessary. we have a simple one to many relationship here, 1 Darrell Braun and many viewers. if a significant number of the many viewers interpreted the meaning of the content in a way not intended by Mr Braun then it is Mr Braun who has made a mistake, not the many viewers. I am amazed you were unable to use simple logic to reach the same conclusion, though it could be that logic and reason are simply not your forte.
@@texcxborn you've failed point out anything about what I've written that is illogical or unreasonable. why? because there is nothing to point out. that makes your reply simple ad hominem, which is of course, a mainstay of the truly ignorant. if anything I've written here confuses you just let me know. I'll rewrite it using smaller words you can understand.
Bought 2 of these last year. Loved the look and the price for a USA-made instrument. First one came out of box with a big chunk of the nut missing in action. Sent it back. 2nd on came with a part of fretboard damaged. Sent it back. Each had a photo of the guitar on a workbench being inspected at the factory. How these 2 instruments 'passed inspection' is beyond me.
A year ago I got a new guitar, it’s a Fender Powercaster (MIM). When I was at the store I saw one of these Les Pauls. It was a bit out of my budget, but I could have gone for it. In the end I went for the Fender and some weeks later I found some issues, like the bridge not being grounded, the bridge rattling and the pickup selector going crazy sometimes. I was not able to return it which got me really mad. I kept on thinking that I should have gone for the Gibson instead. I’ve solved of those issues on my guitar, but that feeling remained. I’m kind of happy to know that I could have also found some bad stuff on the Gibson which, given the price, would’ve been more disappointing. On the other hand, is sad that these brands are letting medium to high end guitars leave the factory with all these issues.
Where did you buy it from? Some online retailers (not Sweetwater) treat their stock like garbage. Anyway, I wouldn't spend over $1000 on a guitar that I didn't see and play in person first, but that's just me.
I bought a lp studio in a store and actually played it an looked it over. Came home an cut the strings for new ones and two of the tuners almost fell out. Nuts not tight an screw holes too big. I like it for the fat neck an deep tone and it has a nice action but so does my 100$ Donner that I personally changed or setup myself. I just wanted one to remind of the one I played in the 80s
March 2022, Just got one in the mail directly from Gibson. Huge chunk of fretboard missing and filled in with what looks like wood putty...!!!!! the other side of the neck has chatter marks from a planer or router and you can see/feel the fretboard joint..... Sent pictures and letter to Gibson, got a reply saying they would contact me in two days.... three days ago..... FM. Real shame because it is a killer guitar. They just dropped the ball before getting to the end zone.
I own a couple of Les Paul Standards, but I played one of these LP tributes at a guitar store and it sounded great. Songs just jumped out of it. The maple neck, thin finish, and 490 pickups give this guitar a clear and musical voice. ELO and the Eagles songs sound perfect on this.
I must be incredibly lucky. I have had nothing but impeccable guitars from Gibson for years. Everything from tributes up to my current R9. All perfection.
@@woperholic the only issues I've really seen are from the guitar stores. Hanger rash and sharp fret ends from being hung out in 10% humidity for months. But that's about it. I don't doubt that there has been issues from the factory in the past but imo that should be spotted by the dealers and sent back before it ever gets to the customer.
I would not trust that Gibson themselves have turned anything around based on a Gibson bought from Sweetwater. Sweetwater's QC is definitely better than Gibson's own QC. They're going to catch the lemons and send them back to Gibson. Try a couple random Gibsons from guitar center and then we'll talk. 😛 Frankly, I'd rather buy a nice Epiphone LP and upgrade the tuners and pickups than invest 3 or 4 times the money in a Gibson. Epiphone's QC is better than Gibson's these days.
I have two Tributes and they are my favorites. I never liked bindings and the weight of my 76 Les Paul Deluxe. If you buy guitars for playing, not for showing off, these Tributes are perfect.
Norlin era guitars were crazy heavy, now most Les Pauls weigh 8.7-10 pounds, not sure how preferring a nicer model means you only care about showing off but whatever.
@@deadzeppelin9565 yes my Norlon is painfully heavy. I tortured my back in my 20s, thinking that weight was normal for a guitar. The rest of my comment is my personal opinion. If it hurts your feelings then you could write a sad blues song about it.
@@reneotten7376 my feelings definitely aren’t hurt, I’ve owned a tribute for a total of 3 weeks, and now own a classic and a standard. The tribute was returned for having garbage pickups and lacking the resonance of a nicer Les Paul. If cheap is more important to you than quality though I can understand why you might convince yourself that they’re “perfect”.
$1,299 as the basic "low" level affordable LP is one of Gibsons biggest problems, lol. Especially in the times where $500 gets you what it does. Gibson is REALLY trying to sell people on tradition and "money means quality".
Worth mentioning that these Tributes have Plek'd frets. Gibson gig bags are great, with the rigid sides and the soft neck brace. Very happy with recent Gibsons. I bought a new 2019 Les Paul Special Tribute P-90s new on a warehouse clearance sale last year- the mahogany body is highly flame figured (unusually so for a Special), maple neck even has some figuring, sustain lasts forever. Hardware all awesome. It's a lucky find that I really enjoy.
My only criticism to Darrel is not going a bit more in depth with the fact that it’s USA made when bringing up the topic of price & comparing to other instruments. My guy, US labour isn’t cheap. I get it - $1300 isn’t cheap & I’m sure you played some awesome single cuts for that price that give that Gibson a run for its money In terms of features, specs & hardware. But like I said, US labour isn’t cheap. That’s why I charge $200 for a cutting board even though I’m sure a skilled craftsmen in China could make a equally good board for $40. I feel like that’s valuable information a consumer should be aware of when comparing apples to apples.
I had 2 Standards at one point and had to sell them both. I kept my 50's Tribute w/P90's from 2010 and it was amazing, but eventually had to part with it. I was working at Sam Ash when the 2016 Tributes came in. I unboxed one and couldn't put it down. Sure, it didn't have the sleek feel of my Standards, but it just rocked. It covered all the tonal bases, and is the main guitar I use for tracking rhythms in the studio. My hands have buffed the satin finish to a shine on the neck at this point, and I can't see myselfnl parting with this one!
It is a USA made Gibson. $1200 IS entry level. I paid $2600 for my LP Standard. If you are expecting a Gibson for $500, you are living in an alternate reality.
Truth is Sweetwater’s inspection would get a lot of those Gibson quality control issues, but I feel they got a bit lenient with ‘em since my last Gibson Standard purchase burn. Never again unless I can get the instrument on my hands before buying it.
I just exchanged an Gibson SG standard with Sweetwater due to a binding issue on the neck where it meets the body, and wavy bumps in a bat wing. The replacement is perfect and sounds great though. I have no idea how it passed gibsons and Sweetwater’s checks.
I bought a $600 Epiphone LP standard from Sweetwater. It has about 9 frets that want to draw blood. Meanwhile, the $180 cheapo LP copy from RondoMusic only had 1.
Agree 100% with putting your hands on one first. I bought my second LP, a Gibson LP Standard 50's, in 2020 and I played five or six of them before I found "mine". I have to say though, once you find the right one there is nothing else like it. Gibson takes a lot of heat but I wouldn't trade either of mine for anything.
when are you n00bs going to learn to never ever buy Gibson unless you're going to spend 2 mortgage payments? just grab an LTD EC-1000 with passive pickups and you'll demolish anything by Gibson under $3k.
The wings on the headstock are on all of my Gibsons, and they’re all three different tiers in terms of pricing. The technical reason they do that is because those laminated wings are stronger than if the headstock was carved that way.
Sounds incredible. I like the satin finish too. I have a standard, and don’t feel like I got much more guitar for the much more money I paid. These are beautiful. Agnessi and cesar are doing awesome.
while I can't argue about this individual guitar, I think you're showing your ass somewhat by claiming "Angessi and cesar are doing awesome". Building very good guitars at the pricepoints of Gibsons is the absolute minimum. Angessi is nothing but a PR guy and he literally was the talking head of the biggest PR blunder in modern guitar industry history with the "we're watching you" "buy authentic" catastrophe.
@@ithemba I liked that they told people to stop copying their guitars and don’t think it hurt them financially. I, as an ass, thought “good for them.” Further, I’m willing to bet that Agnessi, as an expert on guitars and as someone who has his finger on the pulse of the guitar world, acts as more of a consultant. They’re choosing to build some really cool guitars these days. They’re all nice and I want everything they make. I think the price point is fair given how much more laborious these guitars are to make than a fender and think it’s worthy to note that, if you adjust for inflation, the guitars prices are right where they used to be historically since the 50’s, 60’s etc. Thats just how I feel. To each their own.
@@TheBoomtown4 , I completely agree. Gibson seems to be doing a hell of a lot better these past few years, I just visited the Gibson Garage in Nashville with two of my guitar playing buddies and I'd recommend checking it out if you're in the area. I have four Gibsons and they're all great playing and sounding guitars 🤙
Those extra "wings" (or "laminates", as you called them in the video) on each side of the headstock is how Gibson has ALWAYS constructed their headstocks. The original burst and goldtop Les Pauls from 1952-'60 had the exact same construction too. Even Gibson's Advanced Jumbo from the 30s and L-series acoustics from the 20s (as well as many others, and virtually everything since) had the same "wings" on each side. A quick Google image search will confirm this. Even my 1965 SG Standard and 1968 SG Standard have the exact same wings on each side. That's just the way Gibson has always done it since they designed the "open book" headstock many, many years ago. Those "laminates" you see on each side of the Tribute's headstock is not only historically "correct", it's a continuation of Gibson tradition.
@@jeffmariajenson9751 mahogany is easier to see it actually. Maple’s wood grain/color is really close wood to wood, but mahogany isn’t so the wood grain for the wings really pops out with mahogany more (for the ones I’ve seen at least)
It's done, so when they make the one piece neck, they don't have to waste as much wood. The width at the headstock without the wings is pretty much the same as the width at the heel of the neck. The wings allows them to get the extra width to make the open book look.
I bought the exact guitar about 3 months ago. I absolutely LOVE it. Mine came with the brown gig bag. I put the chip on too. I kind of dig the no binging on it. Overall, I feel it lives a little higher than its price point. Great review.
I have a standard and the binding doesn’t really do anything for me. I’d be just as happy with the tribute, would make no difference to my appreciation of the instrument. I kind of prefer the satin finish, it probably resonates better as it’s thinner.
@@gunkanjima3408 Ya, that's what I said. How much is a LP Standard these days? Only difference is Binding and MOP logo. Build quality on this is amazing, mine anyway. Played great out of the box and it sounds great too. Don't be a snob to plastic on the edge of things, you'll sabe tons of money.
I'm always confused when I watch these because it seems that the fancy stuff makes it more desirable but how does that translate into playability. I have found that some of the cheapest guitars and basses that I've ever played or used I've worked out extremely well in the studio and on the road and have been the most serviceable and the best for a working musician. Maybe I'm coming at this from the wrong point of view as this is mostly aimed towards guitar collectors and not necessarily working musicians. What I'm sort of confused about is why you refer to this as being an entry level Les Paul unless of course you're just referring to it being entry level as a price point and that once you get into it you'll start spending more money for guitars that are more fancy but don't necessarily play a whole lot better.. lol!
How in the world can we hear the quality of PUs with all the hair you have dialed in. I'm mad at you. You know better. Gain hides problems like cheaper components, unpolished frets, etc. I wish you would start reviews with clean tones only, all combinations. Great channel.
I love it. Simple is best. Good fretwork. Not sharp. I like Tune-o Matic. Not a cheap guitar, though. $1300 isn’t cheap. Inlays and bindings don’t improve an instrument. And I don’t blame Gibson for protecting their intellectual property rights.
Had mine a couple of weeks and I love it - once I'd sorted out the action and gotten rid of some nasty fret buzz out of the box, its now playing and sounding sweet. Couldn't afford a LP standard and had an Epiphone in the past but wanted to try the real thing, so this fitted the bill. Was worried about fret finish but mine are great and no issues. Overall its hard to put down.
@@eldorado111 It can happen sitting in a warehouse and then a music store for months. Guitars are made out of wood which is effected by humidity and temp.
Great that you gave Gibson another chance, Darrell 😉 I know the QC has been very inconsistent for quite a while, but nothing beats the sound of a true les paul into Marshall IMO... These tributes look pretty good, I like the no frills attitude with plain tops, no binding etc. On the other hand you can see and even feel the wood in your hands better which I prefer. The main thing is how it sounds and plays. Do you think the maple neck affects the resonance btw? I tried one LP tribute at local store and despite their reputation it didn't resonate too much and also had blemishes on the sides of the neck. May have been just a bad one...
I just played one at Sweetwater. Where the fingerboard meets the neck all the way down from nut to where neck meets body was gap. It was as if the guitar was not even sprayed and furthermore looked like it shrunk. The gap was so alarming to look at. The salesman was embarrassed when it was pointed out and alerted his manager. Two things I wondered about. 1. How does Gibson let this out of the factory? 2. How did Sweetwater put this on the floor for sale? Darren, when I saw you were going to review this guitar I wondered if you would show how the one you had looked where the aforementioned problem I saw was but the review did not mention anything. Could you check your guitar if you still have it? Hopefully it was an isolated instance. I love Gibsons and own a Les Paul. Peace
March 2022, Just got one in the mail directly from Gibson. Huge chunk of fretboard missing and filled in with what looks like wood putty...!!!!! the other side of the neck has chatter marks from a planer or router and you can see/feel the fretboard joint..... Sent pictures and letter to Gibson, got a reply saying they would contact me in two days.... three days ago..... FM. Real shame because it is a killer guitar. They just dropped the ball before getting to the end zone.
@@Joe-kp7gg Send it back Joe. I did, the one i have now is one of the best guitars I have ever had..... sound killer. Anything more than this is just ego juice.
I got a heritage cherry SG Tribute last week from Sweetwater and same thing! There is a lip the whole length of the neck where the fretboard meets the neck, like the fretboard was cut too narrow. It's going back and hopefully the replacement they send doesn't have the same issue, we'll see.
I love the vibe of this guitar! Straight forward, sounds great, I like maple necks, they seem to take the mud out of the neck pickup, and finally no flashy tiger striping!! It's not a piece of furniture, it's a workingman's guitar, like a Tele.
This Gibsons Les Paul does sound better than an other guitars I’ve seen on your channel IMHO, my Les Paul standard is the same! It’s the only guitar I never had to upgrade the pickups on! Warm rich tone, fuzzy if you will!
I ordered one just like that one directly from Gibson in January of this year. They delivered a fantastic guitar that was absolutely perfect in every way and setup was spot on. They were kind enough to offer me a discount when I explained I had bought and returned 3 other examples from various retailers for various reasons. I was so happy I have bought a total of 7 new Gibsons this year (4 LPs and 3 SGs), each one a winner. Also returned a couple for QC issues, so it still can be hit and miss. I love the simple rustic look of the Tribute and I wish they would make a new version of it. But they seem to be wanting Epiphone to occupy the sub $2k LP market these days. I did replace the 490R/T pickups with a set of Mojotone ‘59 Clones and had the PCB replaced with ‘50’s wiring and it sounds great. Seth Lovers would have been a good choice as well. Nothing wrong with the stock 490’s though. I just wanted something different.
Thanks for the review Darrell, I've been curious about these ones now for awhile. I love the simplicity of them. Just a simple guitar to get the job done. I like the plain top Les Pauls to be honest... Cheers!
Those new "gig-bags" are basically a soft hard-case. They have an internal structure and the materials are quite nice. Weird that they stopped making them so quickly.
Which 2013 Tribute did you get? I had a 2013 Wine Red '60s Tribute with Burstbuckers. It was a great guitar but I traded towards a Les Paul Traditional Pro V because it was a deal too good to pass up and I had too many similar guitars. I do wish I still had it though, even though I absolutely love the Trad Pro.
Hey Darrell, you mention "for years and years Gibson seemed ok with puttin out subpar products" 1:13 When would you say this started? (to avaid them). I know most people hated the 2015 models with the robo-tuners and then the whole "play authentic" lawsuits. But what years would you say one should avoid in general? Thanks man Andy
2011-2018. Not sure exactly what year it started, but it ended 2019. I’m sure there’s the occasional bad seed still but I sell guitars and every Gibson we get comes set up and in pristine condition. It’s the Fenders we have to put on the tech’s bench in order to sell.
Honestly I think many of these “claims” are overblown. I’ve had many LPs from 2010-2019. All have been great. In fact picking up a 2018 Classic tonight.
Because they're idiots/snobs who don't actually know what truly sounds good, and they're hung up on the name of whatever they "think" sounds better. It's like all the very mediocre players with a fully-loaded pedal board, but yet their basic tone is garbage. They need "that sound, mayun!"
Not sure..?? I have the 490 R and 498 T’s in my 05 Studio. The 498 T’s are hot. They are regularly installed in the Customs so…….They are cheaper than burst buckers and other Gibson pu’s however so there is something there but they are not a favorite among many. Maybe someone can add here.
I have the dual P90 gold top Tribute. It is a fine guitar. Bought it used for $700.00. The reason they are so lightweight is because they are chambered semi hollow bodies. At least the Gold Tops are. It is exactly what I wanted a reasonable price. Thanks Gibson for not putting out more turds!
I have one of those too, an early one. I want to say it was the second year, around 2016 IIRC, because it has a two piece back. (I believe the earliest one were one piece, to get them out there with that desirable feature.) Mine is Not a 'black back.' You can see the wood. The store had four or five. I preferred the look of the desert burst but the Goldtop played and sounded better, I thought. And folks comment on the gold top. 'Oh how pretty!' Which does my heart good!. I know it's chambered because it's almost too light, but what a wonderful guitar. Fistbump!
I prefer an SG. If nothing else no one in general is obsessed with it being the cheap or more pricey models. Even those change yearly and end up with random selection of names over the years.
I have this exact guitar from the first year, 2013 I think, that they started these and mine has a mahogany neck, but I had a bone nut installed and it just looks and probably performs so much better. Definitely recommend that. Killer guitar tho, especially for the $$
Great first impression review. I agree with your findings and analysis. Quite frankly, I'm surprised at the excellent quality. This is probably the most AMERICAN made quality guitar you can get for anything near this price point. The pickups, 490R and 490T are vastly underrated. They are not as hot as the 498T that's in the Studio, but that ain't necessarily a bad thing. If you play a lot of clean, like I do, these Tribute pickups are quite good. They also plek the fingerboard, again a big plus for the price. My favorite part of playing the Tribute is the neck. Like you, I also appreciate a bound neck, but this one is fabulous. After playing my 25 1/2" scale Strat, this one seems like butter. Thanks again for a super review.
I bought a 2018 Tribute in HB. It’s been a good guitar. It’s been my main player since buying it new. Big bags are actually pretty nice, especially in the brown with gold stitch.
This has done absolutely nothing to change my opinion about Gibson since their Famous (or is it INFAMOUS) Lawsuit that totally alienated tons of potential buyers like me. The "good" news for the Gibson Lawsuit Video is, I've been fortunate enough to be on this planet for right at 3/4 of a Century, so, I'll die and the animosity I feel for Gibson will die with me. There are a lot of the younger players that might forgive Gibson. I Will Not!!!! Nice Review. Will Never Buy Anything With Gibson On The Headstock!!!! (And I have zero expectations they will "give" me a Gibson to shut me up. THAT will be the only way there will ever be another Gibson in 18 guitar inventory, and I will give up a Gibson before I ever will one of my G&L's!!!! Or Fender's for that matter. I'll keep the PRS's I have as well.) Note to Gibson: Lawsuit Videos have Repercussions!!!!!!
Got one of these off the mod shop on reverb, but it has dirty finger pickups in it instead. I’ve seen forums of people exposing the maple cap on the sides of the body to give it a faux binding look, I think it looks pretty good.
Hi Alexander - they all had the maple exposed in that way so that it looks like a body binding - it shows up more on some finishes than others, like my gold top - stronger contrast between the top and a dark teak style wood stain on the sides and back - the maple stands out well as a soft cream between the two. And of course some older LPs had no neck binding... so that isn't any loss.
Do I remember you saying you were going to do a comparison with this Tribute vs the Epiphone 1959 Standard Outfit? I would love to see that comparison done by you.
I just got back from a day trip to Sweetwater HQ in Fort Wayne. First off the retail store is beyond impressive. Secondly, one of the guitars that I tried that really had me debating bringing it home was a Les Paul Tribute. I love the satin finish, it was beyond comfortable to play on that neck. Frets were great, setup was great, nut was actually cut correctly, and it sounded great. I already own a very nice Les Paul which is the only reason I passed, but I have to say that Tribute was really nice! The things that matter are playability, sound, fretwork and feel. That Tribute checked the boxes.
Here's a new one that no one has ever seen! Mooer has a new guitar, the GTRS S800 intelligent electric guitar, with all the amp sims, can sims and effects built in. PLEASE get one and review it. You might be the first!
