I own the TV Wheat version of this splendid guitar. I love the light weight (6 lbs, 9 ounces), and the slender feel. Kicks arse like every good Les Paul I have ever owned, and I have indeed owned a few of them. Surprisingly versatile as well, this one. Great guitar.
I own the same guitar. I was really impressed that after years of playing Gibsons, I finally found one that would stay in tune and wasn't 15 pounds. It's amazing to hear people complain about it, considering that it is ALOT cheaper than any bound maple top mahogany back and sides les paul. Sometimes they make things for people who may not like Gibsons. And this appeals to me greatly. Like playing a strat with a 60s les paul neck, and im not afraid to take it out and perform. I love my modern elite, and I don't feel I wasted my money. I would have been more upset if it was bulky and uninviting, but this guitar, with its light finish and light weight, it's easy to play and easy to carry. And it feels like a Fender with the Gibson sound. I've played some awesome les Paul's, and Sg's but this one suit me best.
@@grahamcharlton9704 Yes. It's a versatile guitar, and in the neck position, with the Volume knob at 8 and the Tone knob at 7.5, it's very much Charlie Christian-like.
Love my Tributes to bits - have the Les Paul, SG and LP Junior and they're all fantastic guitars. I don't understand why they would discontinue them....😬
I think these are freakin awesome for my bad back! It’s an SG weight that sits on your leg right! Why do people who don’t like and aren’t going to get a Gibson comment on these type videos?
The tribute was a better deal IMO, this has some charm of its own but its less of an instrument for more money it seems. Good review though as always thank you.
Thorough run down on tones for this LP Modern Lite thanks. I like SG and LP so this seems a nice mashup. I like the satin finishes on my SG and LP Special but the finishes are thicker and have no grain sink. One LP Studio has a lighter satin with grain sink and the color finish chips off really easily down to bare wood. These new color finishes are really sweet. But if they can chip and wear prematurely under the light satin Gibson has used here I think many buyers will end up disappointed in a few years. Not talking about typical wear, but chipping and flaking.
Regarding the pricing, it’s really not too far off for a USA made guitar with case. Production costs are notably higher in the US. The Fender Performer Stratocaster HSS is the least expensive, humbucker, USA made, guitar in their catalog. At $1500, it doesn’t come with any case at all and is infinitely easier to produce due to its modularity. I see this not as a lesser Les Paul, but an SG with a more desirable body shape, cable jack in a better location, pickup switch not so close to the knob array, and the location of the strap buttons eliminates the dreaded SG neck dive issue. It would be nice to see a couple gloss colors, trapezoid inlays, and headstock inlays like the SG at the same price as the SG. At first, I wasn’t sure I was going to like it, but I see its attributes and feel there is a place in the market for it.
You've done a very nice and well logical job of covering this instrument's features and overall character. Im glad that you've tackled it because before this, I'd never seen it. Right now I own an Eastman Les Paul and I'm so happy with it I hope to never have to switch, but things can and do happen, so knowing the alternatives might come in handy sometime. The thing I find very appealing about this guitar you're reviewing is the simplicity and seeming good build quality. I was a little surprised at the price in that it doesn't check any boxes when a guy is looking to own a typical classic LP form. In other words it seems a bit of a non-categorical entry especially on resale. Like you mentioned, it comes closest to being a Melody Maker or a Les Paul Junior. Nothing wrong with that, but did Gibson really feel that we were looking for a new "almost an LP" type guitar? I can guess that if this thing were set up properly it could be a very playable, desirable instrument. I'm sure I wouldnt mind owning one! Thank you for diving!!
How well do these stay in tune? The older Les Pauls from Gibson had difficulty staying in tune because the angled headstock was further back compared to the Epiphone. After a few bends, the G-string is usually out of tune after 1 song. Compared to a Fender Stratocaster or Telecaster, those guitars tend to stay in tune forever. I am curious, because I have a 2002 LP Special and looking to add another LP and these ones look great especially the Rose one!
I really enjoyed your playing in this review - lovely to here grown up licks. I have a Studio from circa 2005 but I find it heavy to sit with. Would you say this Lite can handle some jazz on the neck pickup as well as hi gain on the bridge? Many thanks.
It's just too expensive for being a more entry level 'budget' related LP. I'd rather the LP Jr or special and there's no reason they should be over a grand.
Soooooo tired of all the whiners. Don’t like it? Move on. Bought one yesterday and LOVE IT! My back is shot. With the Modern Lite, I get ALL the Gibson 490/498 tone in the 6 pound range!
While I really like the idea of a lighter Melody Maker style body, I think Gibson missed an opportunity to finish these in more of a translucent finish that lets the grain shine through more. TV yellow, darker red and dark mahogany finishes would look great!
I've owned two Gibson Les Paul's over the years. I'll never buy another one. Other guitar makers are producing better quality and more affordable instruments. Gibson have shot themselves in the foot quality and price wise. It's a shame they just can't keep up now.
@@guitarist Thanks! Have to say this guitar looks like £999 for the guitar and £500 for the Gibson name on the headstock. Disappointing as I thought Gibson had got over this sort of thing. I'll take the Epiphone Bonamassa SG (and hard case) at the same price thanks...
I didn’t like the body of the older custom lights, or the newer less Paul’s. Assuming same goes for these. There’s something about that 2inch thick body roll that sings to me and my ears.
@@rafsbio yep, your are correct sir. I should have been more precise. I meant entry level Gibson LPs. But hey I have no dog in this hunt, I was just speculating what the guy in the video meant. Cheers
Jamie here. For the avoidance of doubt, yes that's what I meant - entry level Gibson LP. Bear in mind entry level isn't synonymous with 'affordable' necessarily as you can talk about entry level Ferraris for example. It just means, in the truest sense, the first rung on the ladder with a particular brand or model by that brand. Hope that helps, thanks for watching! @@slashtrio
@@hanovergreen4091 lmao whatever bro, you're the one spouting nonsense about a $100 slave labor guitar with disgustingly muddy pickups sounding like an American instrument. I just figured someone should probably call you on it because you're being dishonest.
You really have to love Gibson to pay the current, increasingly outrageous prices and in addition to that, the best les pauls are just not made by gibson in my experience, cheers 😔
The problem for me is Gibson does not use SS frets. I spent $3k on a new standard LP and the frets were worn out in less then a year plus the tuning stability is not good with these guitars. That's so ridiculous for a guitar that cost that much. I wasn't even playing it that much. lol My Yamaha and my Ibanez both came with SS frets and they play much nicer. I won't even buy a guitar these days without them. It's not worth the headache of having to re-fret. Plus, A SS fret job can cost up to $900. Do it right the first time Gibson!
Hmm visually im not feeling this at all, afraid i would just break it lol! My 2011 tribute is one of my top instruments, its chambered but looks and feels like a "real" gibson to me.. I think this misses the mark and not interested.
In my opinion the character of a les paul comes from the mahogany body with the maple top. So this guitar is imho not a les paul!. A bad (and expensive) guitar does not become a good one only because of the name on the headstock
I agree totally with your opinion, less guitar... This guitar has no maple top and they ask 1.5 k dollars, on this way Gibson is going to be (one more time) broken
Agreed. Looks a lot like the cheap Gibson M2 from 2017. Things seemed to be looking up when Curleigh took the reigns. But now they're back to exorbitant prices and undesirable guitars.
Not for an American guitar. If you wanna play slave labor guitars, fine, but they're not overpriced. They're right in line with literally every other USA made guitar.
To me it looks like a cheap eastern LP copy and sounds nothing like a true Les Paul. More crap which will devalue massively the instant you leave the store. Prepare to spend a fortune on upgrades, still not be happy, then sell at a huge loss. Thanks Gibson.
Always enjoy listening to Jamie’s relaxed and informative demonstration style
Thank you!
I own the TV Wheat version of this splendid guitar.
I love the light weight (6 lbs, 9 ounces), and the slender feel.
Kicks arse like every good Les Paul I have ever owned, and I have indeed owned a few of them.
Surprisingly versatile as well, this one.
Great guitar.
I own the same guitar. I was really impressed that after years of playing Gibsons, I finally found one that would stay in tune and wasn't 15 pounds. It's amazing to hear people complain about it, considering that it is ALOT cheaper than any bound maple top mahogany back and sides les paul. Sometimes they make things for people who may not like Gibsons. And this appeals to me greatly. Like playing a strat with a 60s les paul neck, and im not afraid to take it out and perform. I love my modern elite, and I don't feel I wasted my money. I would have been more upset if it was bulky and uninviting, but this guitar, with its light finish and light weight, it's easy to play and easy to carry. And it feels like a Fender with the Gibson sound. I've played some awesome les Paul's, and Sg's but this one suit me best.
@@mattcottrell3336 A great summary!!
I agree 100 percent.
Will it handle jazz on the neck pick up? Thanks.
@@grahamcharlton9704 Yes.
It's a versatile guitar, and in the neck position, with the Volume knob at 8 and the Tone knob at 7.5, it's very much Charlie Christian-like.
💯🙌 Love mine for the same reasons!
Love my Tributes to bits - have the Les Paul, SG and LP Junior and they're all fantastic guitars. I don't understand why they would discontinue them....😬
Nice Demo my man very soulful really like the clean an slightly overdriven tones
I think these are freakin awesome for my bad back! It’s an SG weight that sits on your leg right! Why do people who don’t like and aren’t going to get a Gibson comment on these type videos?
The tribute was a better deal IMO, this has some charm of its own but its less of an instrument for more money it seems. Good review though as always thank you.
In what way is it less of an instrument? Go ahead, I’m waiting.
Thorough run down on tones for this LP Modern Lite thanks. I like SG and LP so this seems a nice mashup. I like the satin finishes on my SG and LP Special but the finishes are thicker and have no grain sink. One LP Studio has a lighter satin with grain sink and the color finish chips off really easily down to bare wood. These new color finishes are really sweet. But if they can chip and wear prematurely under the light satin Gibson has used here I think many buyers will end up disappointed in a few years. Not talking about typical wear, but chipping and flaking.
I like it, its got a place in any arsenal.
Regarding the pricing, it’s really not too far off for a USA made guitar with case. Production costs are notably higher in the US. The Fender Performer Stratocaster HSS is the least expensive, humbucker, USA made, guitar in their catalog. At $1500, it doesn’t come with any case at all and is infinitely easier to produce due to its modularity. I see this not as a lesser Les Paul, but an SG with a more desirable body shape, cable jack in a better location, pickup switch not so close to the knob array, and the location of the strap buttons eliminates the dreaded SG neck dive issue. It would be nice to see a couple gloss colors, trapezoid inlays, and headstock inlays like the SG at the same price as the SG. At first, I wasn’t sure I was going to like it, but I see its attributes and feel there is a place in the market for it.
Agreed. That's why I'm getting one, I love SGs
Was given one of these and impressed how good it is and I just gotta PRS DGT 😂
Wow! Very nice intro, playing and tones. Thumbs up!
i owuld love a one pickup version of this!
Excellent presentation , glad I ran into your channel !
You've done a very nice and well logical job of covering this instrument's features and overall character. Im glad that you've tackled it because before this, I'd never seen it. Right now I own an Eastman Les Paul and I'm so happy with it I hope to never have to switch, but things can and do happen, so knowing the alternatives
might come in handy sometime. The thing I find very appealing about this guitar you're reviewing is the simplicity and seeming good build quality. I was a little surprised at the price in that it doesn't check any boxes when a guy is looking to own a typical classic LP form. In other words it seems a bit of a non-categorical
entry especially on resale. Like you mentioned, it comes closest to
being a Melody Maker or a Les Paul Junior. Nothing wrong with that, but did Gibson really feel that we were looking for a new "almost an LP" type guitar? I can guess that if this thing were set up properly it could be a very playable, desirable instrument. I'm sure I wouldnt mind owning one! Thank you for diving!!
How well do these stay in tune? The older Les Pauls from Gibson had difficulty staying in tune because the angled headstock was further back compared to the Epiphone. After a few bends, the G-string is usually out of tune after 1 song. Compared to a Fender Stratocaster or Telecaster, those guitars tend to stay in tune forever. I am curious, because I have a 2002 LP Special and looking to add another LP and these ones look great especially the Rose one!
I really enjoyed your playing in this review - lovely to here grown up licks. I have a Studio from circa 2005 but I find it heavy to sit with. Would you say this Lite can handle some jazz on the neck pickup as well as hi gain on the bridge? Many thanks.
It's just too expensive for being a more entry level 'budget' related LP. I'd rather the LP Jr or special and there's no reason they should be over a grand.
Soooooo tired of all the whiners. Don’t like it? Move on. Bought one yesterday and LOVE IT! My back is shot. With the Modern Lite, I get ALL the Gibson 490/498 tone in the 6 pound range!
I have an Epiphone Les Paul Special that is quite nice for the money paid. Mostly playing acoustic these days.
While I really like the idea of a lighter Melody Maker style body, I think Gibson missed an opportunity to finish these in more of a translucent finish that lets the grain shine through more. TV yellow, darker red and dark mahogany finishes would look great!
I personally like these new finishes. One thing that keeps me away from most Gibson is how they're finished like grandma's furniture.
@@rafsbio ironically for many that’s exactly what people are looking for from a traditional, iconic brand like Gibson..but I get it
@@rafsbio grandma's furniture? 🤣🤣🤣 That is true, funny, but true!!
@@cchavez248 Right? Dark Red, Dark Cherry, Dark Wine… come on!
Never played a lp neck that really felt right, even though they call it slim tapered
It’s a nope for me but your getting some killer tone out of that baby for sure.
Great playin'
I've owned two Gibson Les Paul's over the years. I'll never buy another one. Other guitar makers are producing better quality and more affordable instruments. Gibson have shot themselves in the foot quality and price wise. It's a shame they just can't keep up now.
how does the fretboard feel? sharp edge or does it feel rounded?
Nice playing
Good review but - as mentioned on here before - I'd really like to hear a few chords/rhythm work!!
Noted! We’ll try to do more of that in future deep dive demos
@@guitarist Thanks! Have to say this guitar looks like £999 for the guitar and £500 for the Gibson name on the headstock. Disappointing as I thought Gibson had got over this sort of thing. I'll take the Epiphone Bonamassa SG (and hard case) at the same price thanks...
I didn’t like the body of the older custom lights, or the newer less Paul’s. Assuming same goes for these. There’s something about that 2inch thick body roll that sings to me and my ears.
A U$1,499.00 guitar is now "entry-level"? Are you out of your mind?
I think he meant entry level les Paul.
@@slashtrio Epiphones are entry-level Les Paul.
@@rafsbio yep, your are correct sir. I should have been more precise. I meant entry level Gibson LPs. But hey I have no dog in this hunt, I was just speculating what the guy in the video meant. Cheers
Jamie here. For the avoidance of doubt, yes that's what I meant - entry level Gibson LP. Bear in mind entry level isn't synonymous with 'affordable' necessarily as you can talk about entry level Ferraris for example. It just means, in the truest sense, the first rung on the ladder with a particular brand or model by that brand. Hope that helps, thanks for watching!
@@slashtrio
Ticks all the boxes. If it had a flat top, it would be really really cool!
one of the coolest new guitars, yeah not gloss and the price but dang they are on the right track!
I've got an Epiphone Les Paul Special I. Bolt on. Guaranteed it sounds the same. Bought for $115 vs $1,300..
It very much sounds nothing like anything Gibson makes. But keep coping I guess lmao
@@BasedHyperborean Well hello there Mr. Neighbor with the snide, unsolicited, arrogant comments. Now we know who everyone is. Byeeeeee.
@@hanovergreen4091 lmao whatever bro, you're the one spouting nonsense about a $100 slave labor guitar with disgustingly muddy pickups sounding like an American instrument. I just figured someone should probably call you on it because you're being dishonest.
@@BasedHyperborean ua-cam.com/users/shortsoVvXR8-rWgY
You really have to love Gibson to pay the current, increasingly outrageous prices and in addition to that, the best les pauls are just not made by gibson in my experience, cheers 😔
Bidenomics dog. its liike 5 bucks for a loaf of bread.
The problem for me is Gibson does not use SS frets. I spent $3k on a new standard LP and the frets were worn out in less then a year plus the tuning stability is not good with these guitars. That's so ridiculous for a guitar that cost that much. I wasn't even playing it that much. lol My Yamaha and my Ibanez both came with SS frets and they play much nicer. I won't even buy a guitar these days without them. It's not worth the headache of having to re-fret. Plus, A SS fret job can cost up to $900. Do it right the first time Gibson!
Tone too muddy for my liking.
This should be an $800 guitar.
If they moved production to Mexico and sold for 800-900 they would sale like hot cakes. Just ask Taylor with their 114ce
high end price for an entry level guitar, must be a gibson 🥱
Hmm visually im not feeling this at all, afraid i would just break it lol! My 2011 tribute is one of my top instruments, its chambered but looks and feels like a "real" gibson to me.. I think this misses the mark and not interested.
woof
It's ok, but that neck pick up sounds pretty dark! \m/
I have a class 5 custom shop. Dirty lemon fade. Won’t stay in tune and the intonation is rubbish despite several techy’s.
To be fair anyone who is buying a Gibson for any reason but nostalgia is stupid at this point.
why there are only 2 guitar brands? big G and F. plus gibson quality is insane now. like custom shop level.
Looks like the cheap Gibson M2 from 2017. Changed the name and doubled the price. Sometimes, I really do hate Gibson and their shenanigans.
acutally way different if u look at the neck angle and arched top.
Literally looks nothing like the M2 bubba.
In my opinion the character of a les paul comes from the mahogany body with the maple top. So this guitar is imho not a les paul!. A bad (and expensive) guitar does not become a good one only because of the name on the headstock
by your logic, the LP Special and the LP Junior are not Les Pauls either. what are they then? because this is just a thin, contoured Special.
Entry level guitar but not price
Les Paul Studio is $100 more. Why buy this?
"light" means more money for less guitar apperently, gibson is on a road to nowhere with their stupid price mayhem 🤥
Less guitar ? Does it have 5 strings, 17 frets or something ? ...
@@robin4616 just stop the alcohol dude 😴
I agree totally with your opinion, less guitar... This guitar has no maple top and they ask 1.5 k dollars, on this way Gibson is going to be (one more time) broken
There they go the gibson fan boys
Ephiphone should’ve done this not big G. To much $$ for what it is.
Pro tip: Gibson's are ridiculously over priced and no one should ever buy one.
Pro tip: Nobody asked.
I played one of these overpriced POS guitars. What a joke. Gibson has really lost the plot.
Agreed. Looks a lot like the cheap Gibson M2 from 2017. Things seemed to be looking up when Curleigh took the reigns. But now they're back to exorbitant prices and undesirable guitars.
its like the coolest guitar they made in a while. yeah satin, but what u gonna do. matching headstock rarity is why its prced high.
🙄🙄🙄
These should have been priced cheaper...
I love the idea of this guitar but like everything else from Gibson it is overpriced.
Not for an American guitar. If you wanna play slave labor guitars, fine, but they're not overpriced. They're right in line with literally every other USA made guitar.
Great playing. But no flesh and bones to the tone. Just skin.
Nonsense. Same pickups they use in loads of models. Tone wood is fake bro, get over it.
Money grab
To me it looks like a cheap eastern LP copy and sounds nothing like a true Les Paul. More crap which will devalue massively the instant you leave the store. Prepare to spend a fortune on upgrades, still not be happy, then sell at a huge loss. Thanks Gibson.