Binding=$$..and not much else.

[Midnight Toker]

For starters, I've owned 3 other Les Pauls in the past, a 76 cherryburst custom being the guitar I played most back in my band days. (damn boat anchor!) Then I went close to 20 yrs without an LP. Then I took the winnings of my football pool 6 yrs ago and bought a LP studio "1960 Tribute" (Gold top, P-90's, weight relieved, slim 60's neck (I later added a Bigsby...which I love!) Well, I did some electrical work on a friend's house last weekend. Guy I've known for 40 yrs. He owns about 45-50 guitars, mainly electrics, mainly early PRS ($$$$$). Well he recently bought (another!) new LP standard and told me to take it home for a few weeks and really break it in.

Beautiful Tobacco burst that reminds me of Joe Perry's main axe back in the day. Well.... after a few days of really banging on it, honestly, if you were to give me a choice of ^ those two Les Paul's to be my only guitar for the rest of my life. EASY! I'll take my $700 (what I paid used) over that 2+x expensive guitar any day of the week.

Binding (and headstock inlay) definitely doesn't always mean better....just much more expensive.

 

[lungimsam]

As soon as I saw the picture I thought “give me the one with the single coils and no binding, anyday!!”.

 

[GAD]

The new Les Paul standards are nothing to write home about. Honestly, the only modern Gibson electrics that "do it" for me are the Historics, and if you find the price of the Standard offensive, well best to just look elsewhere.

 

[Midnight Toker]

Also to add, it all made so much sense to me when I heard Paul McCartney once say that his Hofner bass felt like a toy guitar and lent to his "playful" style on all those classic tracks. And that had he been playing a P bass or the like, The Beatles as we know them would be much different. That's what my LP feels like. A toy! And I love it! Not to mention the 60's neck feels just like my 66 T-100d neck.

 

[Midnight Toker]

The new Les Paul standards are nothing to write home about. Honestly, the only modern Gibson electrics that "do it" for me are the Historics, and if you find the price of the Standard offensive, well best to just look elsewhere.

Agree. My friend has a few others, my fav being a Gary Moore Signature. His PRS collection is impressive. A bunch of mid/late 80's one of a kind stuff. Afterall, it's all local. Everyone I know knows someone who works at PRS.

 

[walrus]

My "toy" guitar was a '08 PRS Hollowbody I had - light as a feather!

My Sadowsky is 6 lbs., light enough for the needs of my aging body but more hefty than the PRS by a full pound!

Love your Goldtop Studio!

walrus

 

[bobouz]

Yes, your Goldtop is a beauty! I too had a ‘60s Tribute LP in cherryburst with the slim neck - a super nice guitar, mine was a 2012. However after owning quite a few LPs, this is now the only one that’s stuck with me - a 2012 Special, purchased shortly after the Tribute. Very basic, with a slightly wider bound neck (what Gibson called a 30/60 profile), gloss nitro finish, and those gotta-have P90s. At the time, Amazon was stocking new Gibsons, and it was on closeout for $499 - so even though my Tribute was brand new, I was essentially forced to pull the trigger again!

 

[Triangle Going Sick_OG]

Same, I've owned a heap of LP's over the years and the standards were the most uninspiring (even from the abused term 'good wood era'). Nicest playing and sounding was an R0 Historic, but for me the stripped down LP's are the best bang for buck. I actually picked up one of those unloved BFG's dirt cheap for this same reason.

 

[lungimsam]

On a parallel, I was always an SG guy back in my guitar days. 4 late 80's - late 90's Standards, all had problems.
It wasn't til I got a '61 reissue that I had the perfect SG.

So I can understand when you guys say the Standards were not so great.

 

[jp]

I've experienced the same thing. I've picked up so many LPs, and my favorites have been the Les Paul Studio Lites, Les Paul Specials, and LP Juniors. They just seem to have more resonance to them. I did once pick up an LP Classic that also had something going on, but a lot of the Standards and Customs haven't done it for me. It's too bad, since I've always lusted after an LP Custom or a nice tobacco Standard. I haven't given up yet, though.

I regret selling my LP Studio Lite, which was weight relieved with balsa, had an ebony fretboard, and a slim 60s neck. It was a rocker. I may pick up another one if I come across the right one.

 

[Muckman]

Agreed on the lower end gibby LPs. I’ve been through quite a few, myself. This GC Limited run special and 70’s Tribute were the keepers of the bunch.

 

[lungimsam]

In 1997 I bought a new black Gibson Les Paul Custom for 2500$. Returned the next day.