My first guitar was a 1977 Ibanez Les Paul Custom copy, then I bought a 1979 Antigua Stratocaster when I got my first job. Nice Strat but I must say I prefered the Humbucker sound of the Ibanez.
Soon after, during a trip in London I bought an old 1963 Fender Musicmaster body with a completely cracked & chipped paint job and reassembled it with a Stratocaster neck and a Gibson PAT 2.737.842 on the neck side and a Di Marzio Super Distortion DP 100 on the bridge side.
This "monster" guitar became my #1 and remained so for 25 years. Unique, solid as a rock that has rolled down a river for millennia, powerful as Thor's hammer, I had no fear of it being stolen or damaged from playing it in the most "dangerous" bars, festivals and concert halls.
After my successive bands died out (Rock' N' Roll, Garage Rock, Garage Psych) I had to calm down due to a bad prostate cancer. Not knowing if I had long to live and having received a part of my inheritance following the death of my father, I decided to spend the money in the guitars of my teenage dreams, mainly Gibsons.
And there the Pandora's box opened: enter 3 SGs, a Firebird V, a Les Paul DC Faded, a Les Paul 60's Tribute T, a Les Paul Classic and top of the crop 5 Les Paul Standard Faded, three 2005 and two 2008.
These Fadeds are what I had always hoped for without knowing it. You will ask me why 5 Faded LP's, it's simple they are different, 50's or 60's necks, chambered or unchambered and I equipped each one with different pickups except my first one which is stock and has the original Burstbucker Pro's.
All 5 have a gorgeous feel, tone and resonance that I haven't found in other Gibson Les Paul models, many say it's due to their thin satin finish and I tend to believe it too.
I LOVE my Fadeds on any of my amps and obviously, played on my 1972 JMP1992 Super Bass they shine heavenly!!!
Here's one from the harem.
I dont think there is any diff tonally between the solid and the weight relieved electrically. The pickup has way more to do with it. My 76 is a solid body with a non potted PUp, quite bright and not overly hot.@JMP1992SB1972 - Beauty Les Paul, love the red Marshall too!
With all those LP's it looks like you have all of the various weight relief types covered, so I have to ask...Is there any really noticeable difference (good or bad) in tone amongst the various weight relief methods (9 hole, chambered, etc.), or between any of the weight relieved ones as compared to a 'solid' (non-relieved) LP? I'm mainly interested in differences that are not due to having different pickups or necks.
Also, do you think the solid bodies have better 'chug' when palm muting, or is that an urban legend?
The reason I ask is because I am looking into getting a second Les Paul sometime, and leaving it set up with heavier strings and drop tuning, and I am wondering if it would be worth spending the extra $$ for a solid body, or just going for the best price instead. My current LP is weight relieved. Thanks!
Glad to see you beat the cancer!
It has 9 hole weight relief AND thinner. Hot pickups and go, I say. My other Lps are weight relieved too and are nice amd thick amd chunky sounding.
I did a record test with many of my guitars for raunch and output. The Classic with the 57+ and the Explorer with same really did cook well. The 498 is hotter granted. As I recall, the low end seemed better on the 57+. As I recall.
I should try a 500T in.... something....Thanks man, that's a handy chart. I'm looking forward to trying out some of the SOAD tunes I'm learning on my 2013 SG Standard with the 57 Classics. My Studio with the 498T handled it really well, but I do recall some added clarity on the 57's from the last time I played my SG. Not sure if the added bottom end will be evident on the lighter SG though.
Looks like the 500T is super hot. I saw a 'Hot Rod' Les Paul with 500T for sale a while ago on Kijiji but I figured that might be overkill. I have heard they work well in the Explorers though.
The only really noticeable difference between chambered and 9 holes or 'solid' is when playing unplugged. The chambered ones are louder, which is logical.@JMP1992SB1972 - Beauty Les Paul, love the red Marshall too!
With all those LP's it looks like you have all of the various weight relief types covered, so I have to ask...Is there any really noticeable difference (good or bad) in tone amongst the various weight relief methods (9 hole, chambered, etc.), or between any of the weight relieved ones as compared to a 'solid' (non-relieved) LP? I'm mainly interested in differences that are not due to having different pickups or necks.
Also, do you think the solid bodies have better 'chug' when palm muting, or is that an urban legend?
The reason I ask is because I am looking into getting a second Les Paul sometime, and leaving it set up with heavier strings and drop tuning, and I am wondering if it would be worth spending the extra $$ for a solid body, or just going for the best price instead. My current LP is weight relieved. Thanks!
Glad to see you beat the cancer!
I've wanted one of those since I was in fourth grade. I should get on that since I'm an old fart now.
