The pricing is insane. In 2011, the Tribute models were $850, which adjusted for inflation is not even $1200 and you got nice inlays, a maple cap, a normal sized body, and non-plain finishes. It really feels like Gibson is brand taxing hard these days. Definitely not worth the price. Thanks for the vid, Phil!
@@theshapeexists And where were your cheap sub $500 guitars made? if you are okay with shutting down US jobs to outsource to countries like China then go ahead.
@@uv77mc85 lol. I've had $3000 subpar American made guitars. I've had sub $500 Korean made Ibanez from their WORLD factory blow away every American made guitar. You're so worried about american made jobs apparently, but the politics created this issue in the first place. The car I've been driving reliably for 13 years cost me $3000, it's a ripoff thinking a fuck!n Decent guitar needs to cost that much for "the sake of America". Get real buddy
What happende in the meantima was the pandemic, with an enormous rise in demand in combination with a fall in supply (so, economics 101...), so the factories had to find ways to meet that demand, which meant huge investments. Then the pandemic was over, rather suddenly, and demand collapsed, but the extra supply had still to arrive in the shops. How to earn back those investments, what to do with the supply-on-the-way nobody wanted anymore? And customers had gotten used to the new price levels due to scarcity. And then the war in Russia ('Making Russia great again') was a new cause of inflation. Which made wages rise on its turn. So there's a little bit more to that.
I bought one of Gibson's Firebird Zeros a few years back brand new, they never seemed to catch on, & honestly I had low expectations, but I really like mine. What makes this cheap Gibson even better I got it on sale from AMS for $290! That's insane for Gibson! But I was pleasantly surprised how well it played.
I love mine too 🙂 it did have a few cost-cutting things here and there but it was ( and still is ) a different Gibson which is why I bought it back then...
Agreed, They need to drop the price a little more on the lite model just enough to justify choosing it over the normal model, Besides that It too much for what you are getting, It needs to be at the $1000 mark, inflation sure but my pay didn't go up 30% so you are not getting a 30% tax compared to previous models that had more, I get its a tough market condition but this is fail AF its bad for the industry, its bad for the consumers, and its shitty for Gibson as a company, they need good PR and in the past 5 years its been bad PR.
@@nocturnal101ravenous6 My local GC had these in 3 colors and on sale at $749 a few months ago and only one sold at that price which they had for weeks. One more sold at $50 more later on and I think they still have one that's under $850. The story I heard is that selected GCs were discounting them but not advertising the lower price. I tried all three and they were the worst Gibsons I have ever played next to the Melody Maker M2. Not worth it even at those lowered prices. One had the action lowered to minimum and it was still too high. The others just felt horrible, like the cheapest Epiphones. To me these were a case of "I'd rather play a knockoff or a Chibson"
Absolutely. The new studios have the maple cap, bound necks, trapezoid inlays, burstbucker pups (which a lot of people would consider more desirable), and coil split options for only $100 more. Seems like a no brainer.
I kind of wonder if the Studio price was adjusted based on the sales of this model. In other words, if this model didn't sell well at this price, the studio may seem like a steal for $100 more. Wonder how much longer they will make this model? As for the coil taps, there are few where they sound good, so for me, coil taps don't matter. I have a Les Paul, and it sounds great, but man, that thing is heavy. What I'd really like is someone to compare it to the AMS version you bought a few years back (I thought you were going to compare them) and an SG Standard. Is this a lighter Les Paul substitute, sound and playing wise? I get the body is more like a special. Although I think specials have chunky necks, could be wrong. I want a light les paul, but I am not convinced this is it, I think I have to play one to find out, but they are never in stock at my GC (Sam Ash closed so that's my only option).
@@hawkcrossfamily Honestly Coil Splits(Coil Taps are entirely different) on an LP is kind of a waste its not the sound you want. Coil Taps have their uses where you have an ultra hot pickup and you have the tap lowering the output splitting the coil to PAF or slightly hotter, which has its uses for the LP, The actual Coil Split on something like a Classic model I never use just the out of phase and bypass. If I want single coil sounds on an LP I will pick up a P-90 model.
I like the thinner body while keeping the carved top, and the belly cut, but for the price, I'd like to see a few more aesthetic appointments. I guess my wallet still thinks it's 2016.
Tried one at a Guitar Center and loved it. The belly cut is super comfortable and fixed the issue with LPs constantly stabbing me. I liked the finish, I like how light weight it is and it’s a Gibson I would change pickups in.
I tried one at Guitar Center also, and it was by far the worst Gibson I've ever played. The one I tried had a problem where the fretboard was slightly less wide than the neck, so there was this massively uncomfortable seam down the entire neck. Gotta love Gibson's current qc, and I'm a huge Gibson fan. I'm glad the one you tried wasn't a dog, though. I've played fantastic new Gibsons, and I've played awful new Gibsons.
I have their previously low cost model, the LP Special tribute with P90s. Absolutely amazing guitar for 999 at the time. It's a bit thicker in the body and has a maple neck. I really enjoy it.
I hate one too, but I didn't gel with the neck. I sold it in anticipation of getting a Beato sig, and the price of those left me dumbfounded. The Modern Lite would be sick if they came with P90s
Yeah, I've got one from 2011 & it's a fantastic player. Mine has a mahogany neck & a maple cap so it's pretty much a 50's Standard just without binding. The tone of those P90's is out of this world. It's the reason I ended up buying an R6 & I still use it for gigs so I don't have to risk the R6 getting damaged. Mine only cost me 400 Quid (about 550 US$)
Right on par with other American brands. Idk why people complain about Gibson prices when they are often times cheaper than music man, fender USA, Jackson USA, schecter USA etc. this argument is so stale and stupid😊
I played one of these and loved playing it and the sounds! However...the dots on the fretboard really killed it for me. They knocked it out of the park with the matching headstock though!
@@christopherpcline I'd have preferred mini blocks or no inlays personally - the dots make it look rather cheap and like an LP special but with the downside of it being a full on LP model. It's not bad it's just not me.
@@kingstumble I don't disagree, but I'm specifically talking about Les Pauls here- Most have blocks or trapezoids. Going to dots feels like its solely cost cutting measures and it ends up looking cheap with no binding. I wish I knew how to describe it more than that.
I was super impressed with the build quality. The smooth fret ends and ultra-clean soldering were above and beyond what you typically see with Gibson. I like the thin finish too, there is probably no chance of it flaking and cracking off like the heavy lacquers.
I've resisted spending proper money on a guitar. I recently bought used a standard LP and a standard SG. Both are very very nice. The slide rule says they are too expensive but who buys a guitar using an algorithm? This guitar looks tempting.
You are better off going the full studio over this, the Benjamin isn't worth gripping about for what you get. Honestly its too expensive at most $1200, ideally this should be around $1k.
I ran into a gold version at GC for an excellent price and couldn't pass it up. I have several other Gibsons at 2-3X the price, and this guitar has become my number one. It sounds better than my SG, and it is a lot lighter and more comfortable than my Les Paul Standard. People love hating these, but it really is a great guitar. It's stripped down as far as no maple top and no binding, but all you feel from those features when playing is extra weight. It has two great-sounding pickups, a nice neck, and hand-wiring; what else do you need?
I have the Gold Mist.. great guitar. Stays in tune and sounds great. I have 9's on it. Jonesing for the other end of the lineup..a Standard or a Custom. Love your stuff Phil..you're a natural.
I bought one on clearance for $800. At that price it’s justifiable for modern guitar pricing. It also plays well for an $800 guitar. That said, I can’t imagine paying $1500 for the same guitar.
Not sure of the market for this. People who accept that much deviation from a standard LP probably aren't deeply attached to the Gibson name, and would be better served using some of the major import alternatives.
Not necessarily. Last year I wanted a Tom Delonge type Strat, but I'm left handed and they don't make left handed versions. I could have gotten something from any other brand, but I wanted a Fender. So I got a regular MIM Fender Strat and overhauled it. Maybe someone wants the look and branding of a Gibson, but not the feel.
yes. Les Pauls are great. but a giant pain in the ass to play standing up. Les did most of his playing seated. my favorite LP to PLAY has always been the Special. i just wish it had a carve on the top, a belly-cut, and could be made a bit lighter. ideally, not much more than 7 and a half pounds. if this sucker had p90s, it would be my IDEAL Les Paul. and yes, i only just found out about the "Melody Maker" Gibson did about 10 years ago that is basically that. i think Gibson should bring the MM back as the p90 version of this. then shave 300$US of them both and now you have a *killer* entry line with a choice of PAF or p90. but here's the risky bit, the edgy bit. you offer a third model in the line, PAF bridge, p90 neck. 🤯 now the "Modern" makes sense. also, Modern Lite sucks, think up a better name for the line. the Rawdog.
@@PhillipMcKnight I'm glad I got one. I like the satin finish and no binding. Get rid of the pick guard and they look great. We all have our preferences though. LOL
I hate this guitar. I saw them in Guitar Center 2 weeks ago. They look awful - think Les Paul at SG thickness body. It felt totally out of place holding it and playing it. It is stripped down to almost nothing and at $1499, that's just obscene. You can get a full thickness or weight relieved ESP LTD EC1000 for less and it blows this guitar away. This is the kind of guitar that brings all the Gibson haters to the table to drop their "My Epiphone is better than a Gibson" debate and in this case, they're right. It is truly a LESS Paul.
An esp made overseas with overseas parts is obviously gonna be cheaper. Also that guitar listed doesn’t come with a case and you’re comparing a guitar made with a specific buyer in mind (metal musician) that is gonna want higher output pickups, active electronics etc. this is such a stupid and pointless argument. You’re comparing apples to oranges. Not for the same market of people at all… the other thing too is guitars are completely subjective, if they weren’t - everyone would play the same guitar and there would only be one model and one brand making them.
My friend saw me applying graphite to my nut slots and was confused why, I explained it all to him, about six months later I was in the supermarket with him and he bought a pack of coloured pencils, I asked him if he was going to do some drawing, "no, Im going to use the white pencil to lubricate my guitar nut slot, I saw yours made the slots look dirty and so Im buying these" I couldn't stop laughing and explained to him that the coloured ones were not graphite, they are more of a chalk and wax crayon mixture and were more likely to hinder than help in the lubrication of the slot, I lent him my nut sauce!
My first Gibson was a 2008 Faded Sg which I got new for around 800 at GC. My second was a 2011 Melody maker special with dual P 90's for 400 from Sam Ash which I stupidly ended up letting go.
Still have my Faded from 2009. It’s still kicking. I had my luthier look at it a year ago and the only thing it needed aside from a standard setup was a fret dressing. The original switching system died, but I gutted it and it’s using EMG 57/66 setup with the complete quick connect system, so it’s self-grounded.
I just bought one of these this week and I’m loving it. I call it a melody maker because I refuse to acknowledge it as a Les Paul. Switched out the capacitors for orange drops as soon as I got it and it sounds incredible!
I own Carvin,Kiesel and other expensive guitars also..I have an Epiphone Les paul,SG and others..So I have no insecurities at all and don't care what people think about my guitars..I'm buying them for me not them..I know how to do adjustments on guitars like ( setups )..I have seen cheaper guitars play and sound better than expensive ones..Sometimes after a setup and pickup change the cheaper ones blew away the expensive guitars .My Friend Sophie Lloyd agrees 👍. Look her up.
Im intimidated by people whom know how to hold, keep and collect guitar tools. Thats a good thing. For those about to rock may i salute you. Hi yaw... LoL
I had something similar like this. 2011 Gibson Les Paul Special Humbucker. Didnt have the painted headstock and the fretboard had a different wood. It was a good guitar…
If people stopped thinking that these "should be" cheap budget Les Pauls, there'd be a lot less whining. What I see (and hear on many other channels) is a very fine Guitar, that has its own quality sound that IS NOT a Les Paul Standard. I bought an LP Studio in 2003, still have it, and still use it. It sounds and plays great, but different, than my Les Paul Custom. I don't recall the Studio being "cheap" either. It certainly cost less than my LP Custom, but more than my USA Fender Stratocaster!!! If you want cheap Gibson LP Wannabes... there's Epiphone. I hear a very crisp, articulate tone in this Guitar. Very useable and musical. That's all you need. Binding, Flame Maple and Mother of Pearl do not make better tone... its just bling.
I purchased LP Future in 2016. Similar thin, but w maple top. $600. 57 Classic in neck and classic hot in the bridge. Removed the Steinberger 40-1 tuners after one popped off and hit the wall hard. Replaced w Grover’s. Same satin finish. Tobacco burst. Shines up nice. $600 new
I did a similar thing and bought the cheapest Gibson in the UK second hand, which was under £600 (GBP). It was a Les Paul tribute special, with P90s and wraptail. It is a brilliant guitar with better quality control than more expensive Gibsons I've owned (4x Les Pauls and 1x ES335), helped by the fact there's no binding (which is often where finishing is poor).
The buyers of guitars that are below the Standard American type of Gib/Fen can choose from a lot of cheaper models. These (and epis/squires) are made for hobby users and that's 100% ok. These are like Jumbo Shrimp - "Low end version of a High end guitar". Made for those who want a little bit extra on their hobby guitars. No problem. But yes they're expensive when a Harley B is similar at $300 and you are low on $. If you want a Les Paul, and you're playing out, a Standard is $3000. The price on Les Pauls has remained the same throughout history. Did you know a Les Paul in 1960 cost $337? That's $3516 in today's money. Amazing how it's the same over all these years. You want a real LP sound? Gotta Getta Gund!!
Nice review. Nice seeing a more affordable US made Gibson. I like most things about Gibson guitars, except the finish. I have seen too many Gibsons where the finish looks like a rattlecan finish. If I want to feel grain, I'd rather have a raw unfinished exotic wood. If its a paint finish, use grain filler to get a smooth finish. And using the right filler, you can get a nice result and have a think finish. Other than the finish, no complaints. Still, it rocks.
Guitar Centers in the northeast were retailing these for $799 a few months ago. I picked up a gold one and swapped out all the black plastic with cream including the poker chip. Looks awesome but more importantly sounds and plays great, especially at that price.
Just watched the other video. I'm currently waiting for my Custom Skervesen to arrive. I know its more of a modern metal guitar, but its baffling to me what exceptional guitars you can get for way less than whats Gibsons offering. It has all the bells and whistles and I didn't hold back while configuring it, got all the nice woods, very high grade, thick solid burl top with beautiful marbling and baked flame maple fretboard. BKP pickups, locking tuners, straplocks, you mame it, everything you can ask for, and its still waaay cheaper and probably won't have QC issues. I'm shocked that Gibson can afford stuff like that. I wonder if people are really are satisfied with the value they get, or if they're not aware what other great option the market offers. Locking tuners and stainless steel frets aren't exclusive to metal guitars... Can't wrap my head around why these features aren't present on Gibsons while there are brands that offer those features at a lower price than even the cheapest Gibson.
I have a lite classic I got in 2020. It's a lot nicer than this. It's black with binding on the neck and body..has better pickups/ the zebra pickups..the top hat style knobs and it says classic on the truss rodd cover.
Been wondering what you thought of these. I love mine. Mostly a Fender guy, I always had SGs, but this is really nice. Light weight is a big plus. THANKS Phil, as always for really helpful tech info.
Very thorough review, I played one at Guitar Center, and while it played and sounded surprising good, it just seemed cheap and barebones. I don’t think there’s a market for it at $1499, a few months later they were blowing them out for $799. Ironically today they were back up to $1499
I got an LPJ in 2013 when they first came out which was the cheapest you could get - £500 for pretty much the same guitar (maple neck instead of mahogany but with a maple cap). When you leave a lot of lube in the slots you just have to be careful it doesn't ooze out at the face of the nut or it will dampen the string vibration.
Yes, because he didn’t actually buy the cheapest Gibson. Studio Fadeds are $899. But that doesn’t fall in line with the ONG GIBSONS R OVERPRICED LOL narrative.
I've got a 2011 LP 50's Tribute with P90's. It's a full fat Gibson Les Paul minus the binding & it cost me a grand total of 400 Quid (about 550 bucks to our American cousins). It plays & sounds fantastic, (so good in fact that it was the reason I ended up buying my R6, cos I loved the tone of those P90's so much). The cost of these new so called 'budget models' (lol) is simply ludicrous.
Reminds me of the satin red Les Paul Studio I got from GC back around 2007 for sub $1000 new - I still have it, it's always been a fantastic guitar. Pretty sure it has the same pickups as this one too.
Definitely worth $100 more for the Studio model. But I think I might actually go more for the Epiphone inspired by Gibson Custom line. The only Epiphones I ever actually thought were kind of cool.
The bargains in the cheaper Gibson's at the moment, are the early 90s Les Paul Studios. If you can get one that has been looked after, no neck break, and that plays well. The wine red ones with the ebony fretboards are ... chef's kiss :) As for these guitars, I'd prefer to buy a second-hand version of the previous Les Paul Tribute, which you can pickup for maybe 700. I actually like those, and they look nice too, the finish is cool. I also do kind of think, if you want a cheaper Gibson, go the honest route and get a Les Paul Jr. or Les Paul Special rather than something that's neither. I really like the stripped back aesthetic of a Junior or Special, more than I like a Les Paul Standard.
I'm thinkin' Gibson has finally managed to get Phil on the payroll, so to speak. I personally have no use for any gibsons and I have sure tried over the years.
This looks pretty similar to the Les Paul 100 from Epiphone, it's just a bit more polished with more expensive construction. Though, for $1500 I'd think I would purchase an Epiphone instead, one that has an actual Epiphone headstock on it.
The thiness and lightness of the body was something I was thinking would make a LP great. It would take nothing away from the tone and might even help it.
I was just looking at these guitars on Sweetwater and yours came with a pickup switch ring, while the ones shown on Sweetwater do not. Sounds really good to me. Love the TV Wheat color. Everything tells me as a guitar player I should really own some kind of double humbucker guitar like this and the Les Paul shape is a classic design. Also like the cut on the back. But I still can't get over paying $500 for a new guitar these days.
I think the Grovers are a nice touch. I put grovers on every guitar i buy (unless it came with locking tuners). If i were in the market for this guitar, it would save me $100 or so.
Hey, Phil. What about the tone??? Lol you never once mentioned the SOUND of the guitar! That's kind of the most important thing of all! Love your channel.
Went to the Sweetwater website after watching this video to compare this model to the Studio model. The feature set of the Studio model is just insanely better and for only an additional $100? Covered pickups, maple top, trapezoid inlays, better finish, Kluson style tuners. Not a fan of the Grover mini tuners. They could have saved weight with standard tuners and pearloid buttons. Kudos to Gibson for taking the time to make this guitar better than what we've come to expect from them, but why the price tag when you can get the feature packed Studio for close to the same price?
I bought a new Gibson SG Modern earlier this year and it has the mini Grover tuners as a weight saving measure and I hate them. I will likely swap them out at some point. I got a new LP Studio a few days ago and it is absolutely amazing! It’s $100 more than the Modern Lite but seems like a much better value IMO. Gibson hit a home run with the new Studio!
FWIW I’ve seen these in store marked down a lot. I still ended up just buying an Epiphone LP in Antique Ivory because of the Ebony boards and I hate Gibson’s rosewood
I have a Studio Plus, Tribute Goldtop and Classic Lite. The Classic was an American Musical exclusive, so I paid full price for that, but the others I acquired at well below $1500. I'm not a huge fan of open pore finishes, it just screams "unfinished" in this particular case, but I have seen them nicely done. I feel this model should be between $800-1000. I do like the Rose Satin, though, it reminds me of a few Fender Burgundy Mist guitars I have.
The pricing is insane. In 2011, the Tribute models were $850, which adjusted for inflation is not even $1200 and you got nice inlays, a maple cap, a normal sized body, and non-plain finishes. It really feels like Gibson is brand taxing hard these days. Definitely not worth the price. Thanks for the vid, Phil!
They need to be knocked off their high horse to get some perspective. I've got cheap named guitars that are sub $500 that outplay $2000 Gibsons
@@theshapeexists And where were your cheap sub $500 guitars made? if you are okay with shutting down US jobs to outsource to countries like China then go ahead.
@@uv77mc85 lol. I've had $3000 subpar American made guitars. I've had sub $500 Korean made Ibanez from their WORLD factory blow away every American made guitar. You're so worried about american made jobs apparently, but the politics created this issue in the first place. The car I've been driving reliably for 13 years cost me $3000, it's a ripoff thinking a fuck!n Decent guitar needs to cost that much for "the sake of America". Get real buddy
@@uv77mc85 I couldnt care less about US jobs.
What happende in the meantima was the pandemic, with an enormous rise in demand in combination with a fall in supply (so, economics 101...), so the factories had to find ways to meet that demand, which meant huge investments. Then the pandemic was over, rather suddenly, and demand collapsed, but the extra supply had still to arrive in the shops. How to earn back those investments, what to do with the supply-on-the-way nobody wanted anymore? And customers had gotten used to the new price levels due to scarcity. And then the war in Russia ('Making Russia great again') was a new cause of inflation. Which made wages rise on its turn. So there's a little bit more to that.
I bought one of Gibson's Firebird Zeros a few years back brand new, they never seemed to catch on, & honestly I had low expectations, but I really like mine. What makes this cheap Gibson even better I got it on sale from AMS for $290! That's insane for Gibson! But I was pleasantly surprised how well it played.
$290? What was wrong with it?
I love mine too 🙂 it did have a few cost-cutting things here and there but it was ( and still is ) a different Gibson which is why I bought it back then...
I would grab the Studio for $100 more. These look very simple, which is ok, but you get a lot more for only $100 extra with the Studio.
Agreed, They need to drop the price a little more on the lite model just enough to justify choosing it over the normal model, Besides that It too much for what you are getting, It needs to be at the $1000 mark, inflation sure but my pay didn't go up 30% so you are not getting a 30% tax compared to previous models that had more, I get its a tough market condition but this is fail AF its bad for the industry, its bad for the consumers, and its shitty for Gibson as a company, they need good PR and in the past 5 years its been bad PR.
@@nocturnal101ravenous6 My local GC had these in 3 colors and on sale at $749 a few months ago and only one sold at that price which they had for weeks. One more sold at $50 more later on and I think they still have one that's under $850. The story I heard is that selected GCs were discounting them but not advertising the lower price. I tried all three and they were the worst Gibsons I have ever played next to the Melody Maker M2. Not worth it even at those lowered prices. One had the action lowered to minimum and it was still too high. The others just felt horrible, like the cheapest Epiphones. To me these were a case of "I'd rather play a knockoff or a Chibson"
Absolutely. The new studios have the maple cap, bound necks, trapezoid inlays, burstbucker pups (which a lot of people would consider more desirable), and coil split options for only $100 more. Seems like a no brainer.
I kind of wonder if the Studio price was adjusted based on the sales of this model. In other words, if this model didn't sell well at this price, the studio may seem like a steal for $100 more. Wonder how much longer they will make this model? As for the coil taps, there are few where they sound good, so for me, coil taps don't matter. I have a Les Paul, and it sounds great, but man, that thing is heavy. What I'd really like is someone to compare it to the AMS version you bought a few years back (I thought you were going to compare them) and an SG Standard. Is this a lighter Les Paul substitute, sound and playing wise? I get the body is more like a special. Although I think specials have chunky necks, could be wrong. I want a light les paul, but I am not convinced this is it, I think I have to play one to find out, but they are never in stock at my GC (Sam Ash closed so that's my only option).
@@hawkcrossfamily Honestly Coil Splits(Coil Taps are entirely different) on an LP is kind of a waste its not the sound you want. Coil Taps have their uses where you have an ultra hot pickup and you have the tap lowering the output splitting the coil to PAF or slightly hotter, which has its uses for the LP, The actual Coil Split on something like a Classic model I never use just the out of phase and bypass. If I want single coil sounds on an LP I will pick up a P-90 model.
Phil, i lost my mind when you started shredding at 3:40!
😂😂😂 personally i like the forwarded plink sounds, the banjo one was hilarious
Haters will say the video is sped up
I like the thinner body while keeping the carved top, and the belly cut, but for the price, I'd like to see a few more aesthetic appointments. I guess my wallet still thinks it's 2016.
Your wallet is living the life...
Like a glossy finish.😊
Still glad I got an LP tribute when they were around.
I almost did the same. I wouldn't bother now since the latest price hikes. Best look after it. Would cost a fortune to replace.
TOP SO WE TALK PRIVATELY!!
Tried one at a Guitar Center and loved it. The belly cut is super comfortable and fixed the issue with LPs constantly stabbing me. I liked the finish, I like how light weight it is and it’s a Gibson I would change pickups in.
I tried one at Guitar Center also, and it was by far the worst Gibson I've ever played. The one I tried had a problem where the fretboard was slightly less wide than the neck, so there was this massively uncomfortable seam down the entire neck. Gotta love Gibson's current qc, and I'm a huge Gibson fan. I'm glad the one you tried wasn't a dog, though. I've played fantastic new Gibsons, and I've played awful new Gibsons.
I have their previously low cost model, the LP Special tribute with P90s. Absolutely amazing guitar for 999 at the time. It's a bit thicker in the body and has a maple neck. I really enjoy it.
I hate one too, but I didn't gel with the neck. I sold it in anticipation of getting a Beato sig, and the price of those left me dumbfounded. The Modern Lite would be sick if they came with P90s
@@thesmellycatjazzyes! Fuckin a this!! Add p90’s please 🤘😎🍻💯🎸🔥 @gibsonusa @Gibson
Yeah, I've got one from 2011 & it's a fantastic player. Mine has a mahogany neck & a maple cap so it's pretty much a 50's Standard just without binding. The tone of those P90's is out of this world. It's the reason I ended up buying an R6 & I still use it for gigs so I don't have to risk the R6 getting damaged. Mine only cost me 400 Quid (about 550 US$)
I like the weight but still not friendly on price
Right on par with other American brands. Idk why people complain about Gibson prices when they are often times cheaper than music man, fender USA, Jackson USA, schecter USA etc. this argument is so stale and stupid😊
I played one of these and loved playing it and the sounds! However...the dots on the fretboard really killed it for me. They knocked it out of the park with the matching headstock though!
Really? I think the dots are awesome, much more wood on the fingerboard and less mother of toilet seat.
@@christopherpclinemother of toilet seat inlays.
@@christopherpcline I'd have preferred mini blocks or no inlays personally - the dots make it look rather cheap and like an LP special but with the downside of it being a full on LP model. It's not bad it's just not me.
Dots make it look cheap? Really? They use dots on their much more expensive models too. 335 Dot for instance.
@@kingstumble I don't disagree, but I'm specifically talking about Les Pauls here- Most have blocks or trapezoids. Going to dots feels like its solely cost cutting measures and it ends up looking cheap with no binding. I wish I knew how to describe it more than that.
I was super impressed with the build quality. The smooth fret ends and ultra-clean soldering were above and beyond what you typically see with Gibson. I like the thin finish too, there is probably no chance of it flaking and cracking off like the heavy lacquers.
I've resisted spending proper money on a guitar. I recently bought used a standard LP and a standard SG. Both are very very nice. The slide rule says they are too expensive but who buys a guitar using an algorithm? This guitar looks tempting.
You are better off going the full studio over this, the Benjamin isn't worth gripping about for what you get. Honestly its too expensive at most $1200, ideally this should be around $1k.
These were on sale at GC for like $800-900 for a while.
800 Usd is what it’s worth.
They are now discontinued. It makes sense I guess
I'm sure he got a deal, it's only important that it's cheapest by RRP
@@mylogify $800.00 elsewhere will buy way more bang for the buck.
So it's basically a Les Paul CM from 2015 but with two pickups.
Video quality looks great
I ran into a gold version at GC for an excellent price and couldn't pass it up. I have several other Gibsons at 2-3X the price, and this guitar has become my number one. It sounds better than my SG, and it is a lot lighter and more comfortable than my Les Paul Standard. People love hating these, but it really is a great guitar. It's stripped down as far as no maple top and no binding, but all you feel from those features when playing is extra weight. It has two great-sounding pickups, a nice neck, and hand-wiring; what else do you need?
Every guitar is "hand wired."
Doesn't mean shit.
I love Les Pauls. Even the pink ones. They just have a sound. Expensive but are heirloom instruments.
If they come out with a more deluxe model without dots they got me.
I purchased this guitar nearly a year ago. I adore it. The pickups have become my new favorites!
I picked one up for $799 back in May. Got the green one. I love mine
I did the same thing. I also got the green one on sale at GC over Memorial Day weekend for $799. Great guitar.
I got one for $798. (lol)
Dang! From $799 to $1499 now? What on earth happened??
@@chasbee They were on sale at some GC's for a minute
I hate all of you 😂
Here in Europe we never get deals like that.
I have the Gold Mist.. great guitar. Stays in tune and sounds great. I have 9's on it. Jonesing for the other end of the lineup..a Standard or a Custom. Love your stuff Phil..you're a natural.
If you're looking into entry level Gibsons, a late 90's / early 2000's LP Special SL / Faded has very similar specs, for under a grand.
13:04 Dat tone! My gosh! 😮😮😮
Love the look of LP Studios, Im not a fan of plastic binding, and a slimmer body is a win for me.
I bought one on clearance for $800. At that price it’s justifiable for modern guitar pricing. It also plays well for an $800 guitar. That said, I can’t imagine paying $1500 for the same guitar.
Not sure of the market for this. People who accept that much deviation from a standard LP probably aren't deeply attached to the Gibson name, and would be better served using some of the major import alternatives.
Not necessarily. Last year I wanted a Tom Delonge type Strat, but I'm left handed and they don't make left handed versions. I could have gotten something from any other brand, but I wanted a Fender. So I got a regular MIM Fender Strat and overhauled it. Maybe someone wants the look and branding of a Gibson, but not the feel.
Or maybe save up and get a Standard.
My thoughts exactly. I went with an ESP/LTD Eclipse instead. Better feeling guitar for me. More premium feel at the price point. It also stays in tune
yes. Les Pauls are great. but a giant pain in the ass to play standing up. Les did most of his playing seated. my favorite LP to PLAY has always been the Special. i just wish it had a carve on the top, a belly-cut, and could be made a bit lighter. ideally, not much more than 7 and a half pounds.
if this sucker had p90s, it would be my IDEAL Les Paul. and yes, i only just found out about the "Melody Maker" Gibson did about 10 years ago that is basically that. i think Gibson should bring the MM back as the p90 version of this. then shave 300$US of them both and now you have a *killer* entry line with a choice of PAF or p90.
but here's the risky bit, the edgy bit.
you offer a third model in the line, PAF bridge, p90 neck.
🤯
now the "Modern" makes sense. also, Modern Lite sucks, think up a better name for the line.
the Rawdog.
@@fistovuzi have you seen the Yamaha Revstar
Tributes for $1299 are on reverb right now too. Honestly they're pretty nice.
They are discontinued, you have to find old stock on reverb or used
@PhillipMcKnight maybe it's just sg tribute but there's a good few of them for back stock i thought it was a reissue I do amend my statement though
@@PhillipMcKnight I'm glad I got one. I like the satin finish and no binding. Get rid of the pick guard and they look great. We all have our preferences though. LOL
$1500 ??? No way for me take care buddy 😎✌️💯🎸💯
Thanks. Looks cool. I liked your video walking into sweetwater and spontaneously picking your choices off the wall.
I hate this guitar. I saw them in Guitar Center 2 weeks ago. They look awful - think Les Paul at SG thickness body. It felt totally out of place holding it and playing it. It is stripped down to almost nothing and at $1499, that's just obscene. You can get a full thickness or weight relieved ESP LTD EC1000 for less and it blows this guitar away. This is the kind of guitar that brings all the Gibson haters to the table to drop their "My Epiphone is better than a Gibson" debate and in this case, they're right. It is truly a LESS Paul.
bla
An esp made overseas with overseas parts is obviously gonna be cheaper. Also that guitar listed doesn’t come with a case and you’re comparing a guitar made with a specific buyer in mind (metal musician) that is gonna want higher output pickups, active electronics etc. this is such a stupid and pointless argument. You’re comparing apples to oranges. Not for the same market of people at all… the other thing too is guitars are completely subjective, if they weren’t - everyone would play the same guitar and there would only be one model and one brand making them.
Gibson 490 series pickups always get a bad rap, but I always find them excellent sounding!
As a person in the market for an "affordable " LP this was very helpful!! Can we get a rundown on the new studio soon? Thanks Phil you rock!!!
I love my les paul special , think this would be a nice addition..like the color too
It costs money?!?!? Back in my day guitars were free and we only knew 4 chords. It’s all you needed!!!!!!!
It costs "authentic" money. You check out guitar George he knows all the chords.
My friend saw me applying graphite to my nut slots and was confused why, I explained it all to him, about six months later I was in the supermarket with him and he bought a pack of coloured pencils, I asked him if he was going to do some drawing, "no, Im going to use the white pencil to lubricate my guitar nut slot, I saw yours made the slots look dirty and so Im buying these" I couldn't stop laughing and explained to him that the coloured ones were not graphite, they are more of a chalk and wax crayon mixture and were more likely to hinder than help in the lubrication of the slot, I lent him my nut sauce!
My first Gibson was a 2008 Faded Sg which I got new for around 800 at GC. My second was a 2011 Melody maker special with dual P 90's for 400 from Sam Ash which I stupidly ended up letting go.
Still have my Faded from 2009. It’s still kicking. I had my luthier look at it a year ago and the only thing it needed aside from a standard setup was a fret dressing.
The original switching system died, but I gutted it and it’s using EMG 57/66 setup with the complete quick connect system, so it’s self-grounded.
Love that guitar. Thanks for reviewing it 👍🎶
Really really liked this one. May end up getting one.
I just bought one of these this week and I’m loving it. I call it a melody maker because I refuse to acknowledge it as a Les Paul. Switched out the capacitors for orange drops as soon as I got it and it sounds incredible!
You could get a nice Epiphone les paul and a good tube amp for that price with some left over.
ya but your insecurities might catch up! what are you going to do if someone makes fun of you!! lol
@MegaRomans01 more likely to have fun made of you for buying a Gibson nowadays.
I own Carvin,Kiesel and other expensive guitars also..I have an Epiphone Les paul,SG and others..So I have no insecurities at all and don't care what people think about my guitars..I'm buying them for me not them..I know how to do adjustments on guitars like ( setups )..I have seen cheaper guitars play and sound better than expensive ones..Sometimes after a setup and pickup change the cheaper ones blew away the expensive guitars .My Friend Sophie Lloyd agrees 👍. Look her up.
@@oliverjames7315...........Thanks I agree 👍 😊
Im intimidated by people whom know how to hold, keep and collect guitar tools. Thats a good thing. For those about to rock may i salute you. Hi yaw... LoL
I had something similar like this. 2011 Gibson Les Paul Special Humbucker. Didnt have the painted headstock and the fretboard had a different wood. It was a good guitar…
If people stopped thinking that these "should be" cheap budget Les Pauls, there'd be a lot less whining.
What I see (and hear on many other channels) is a very fine Guitar, that has its own quality sound that IS NOT a Les Paul Standard.
I bought an LP Studio in 2003, still have it, and still use it. It sounds and plays great, but different, than my Les Paul Custom.
I don't recall the Studio being "cheap" either. It certainly cost less than my LP Custom, but more than my USA Fender Stratocaster!!!
If you want cheap Gibson LP Wannabes... there's Epiphone.
I hear a very crisp, articulate tone in this Guitar. Very useable and musical. That's all you need. Binding, Flame Maple and Mother of Pearl do not make better tone... its just bling.
I purchased LP Future in 2016. Similar thin, but w maple top. $600. 57 Classic in neck and classic hot in the bridge. Removed the Steinberger 40-1 tuners after one popped off and hit the wall hard. Replaced w Grover’s. Same satin finish. Tobacco burst. Shines up nice. $600 new
I wonder if they would sell, if they brought back the old slab, double cut, dual Pickup, melody Maker.
I did a similar thing and bought the cheapest Gibson in the UK second hand, which was under £600 (GBP). It was a Les Paul tribute special, with P90s and wraptail. It is a brilliant guitar with better quality control than more expensive Gibsons I've owned (4x Les Pauls and 1x ES335), helped by the fact there's no binding (which is often where finishing is poor).
The buyers of guitars that are below the Standard American type of Gib/Fen can choose from a lot of cheaper models. These (and epis/squires) are made for hobby users and that's 100% ok. These are like Jumbo Shrimp - "Low end version of a High end guitar". Made for those who want a little bit extra on their hobby guitars. No problem. But yes they're expensive when a Harley B is similar at $300 and you are low on $. If you want a Les Paul, and you're playing out, a Standard is $3000. The price on Les Pauls has remained the same throughout history. Did you know a Les Paul in 1960 cost $337? That's $3516 in today's money. Amazing how it's the same over all these years. You want a real LP sound? Gotta Getta Gund!!
I can make a guitar with that king of finish
Its not finn'neeshed. It tis be foeEva a work in progress. Hi yaw!!!
I'd actually consider this one. I really dig the sound, especially the Synergy amp
Nice review. Nice seeing a more affordable US made Gibson. I like most things about Gibson guitars, except the finish. I have seen too many Gibsons where the finish looks like a rattlecan finish. If I want to feel grain, I'd rather have a raw unfinished exotic wood. If its a paint finish, use grain filler to get a smooth finish. And using the right filler, you can get a nice result and have a think finish. Other than the finish, no complaints. Still, it rocks.
I like the Rose Gold finish a lot. These open pore satins are pretty nice.
Glad you liked it. I'd like to take this discussion off this media
Guitar Centers in the northeast were retailing these for $799 a few months ago. I picked up a gold one and swapped out all the black plastic with cream including the poker chip. Looks awesome but more importantly sounds and plays great, especially at that price.
It's like they prime painted The Paul from late 70's 80's. One of my favorite Gibson LPs ever
notice Phil smiles as soon as he hits the neck pup on channel 2 looks good
Glad you liked it. I'd like to take this discussion off this media.
This reminds me of my favorite guitar value of all time, the early 2000s Gibson Faded series.
that pink is so cool i almost ignored the price tag
For 100 more really Studio looks a lot better maybe Blueberry burst or wine red.
Phil, of all the you tube guitar channels you are one of the VERY FEW who tells the truth every time, thanks for keeping it real.
Just watched the other video. I'm currently waiting for my Custom Skervesen to arrive. I know its more of a modern metal guitar, but its baffling to me what exceptional guitars you can get for way less than whats Gibsons offering. It has all the bells and whistles and I didn't hold back while configuring it, got all the nice woods, very high grade, thick solid burl top with beautiful marbling and baked flame maple fretboard. BKP pickups, locking tuners, straplocks, you mame it, everything you can ask for, and its still waaay cheaper and probably won't have QC issues. I'm shocked that Gibson can afford stuff like that. I wonder if people are really are satisfied with the value they get, or if they're not aware what other great option the market offers. Locking tuners and stainless steel frets aren't exclusive to metal guitars... Can't wrap my head around why these features aren't present on Gibsons while there are brands that offer those features at a lower price than even the cheapest Gibson.
That’s an insane price for essentially half of a Les Paul studio
Seems like a decent guitar, but for the price I’d look at Epiphone first. Brand names don’t mean as much to as they used to.
Excellent video.
thank you
I have a lite classic I got in 2020. It's a lot nicer than this. It's black with binding on the neck and body..has better pickups/ the zebra pickups..the top hat style knobs and it says classic on the truss rodd cover.
I got a new one at GC for $799. Had a couple imperfection other than that it’s a great guitar. I call it a Les G
Those grovers make the headstock look huuuuuuuge to me. lulzzzzz
Been wondering what you thought of these. I love mine. Mostly a Fender guy, I always had SGs, but this is really nice. Light weight is a big plus. THANKS Phil, as always for really helpful tech info.
Very thorough review, I played one at Guitar Center, and while it played and sounded surprising good, it just seemed cheap and barebones. I don’t think there’s a market for it at $1499, a few months later they were blowing them out for $799. Ironically today they were back up to $1499
I got an LPJ in 2013 when they first came out which was the cheapest you could get - £500 for pretty much the same guitar (maple neck instead of mahogany but with a maple cap).
When you leave a lot of lube in the slots you just have to be careful it doesn't ooze out at the face of the nut or it will dampen the string vibration.
It's not lite on the price.
For real. I got a gold one for 840 and I really like it but for 1500 nah it's just not nice enough.
And def lite on the looks lol… barf
Yes, because he didn’t actually buy the cheapest Gibson. Studio Fadeds are $899. But that doesn’t fall in line with the ONG GIBSONS R OVERPRICED LOL narrative.
1500 is cheap these days. Get use to it because prices hardly ever go down.
@@brunswicksquaremusic5905my first Les Paul was a studio faded and I still got it. It’s a great guitar, but they don’t make them anymore.
I've got a 2011 LP 50's Tribute with P90's. It's a full fat Gibson Les Paul minus the binding & it cost me a grand total of 400 Quid (about 550 bucks to our American cousins). It plays & sounds fantastic, (so good in fact that it was the reason I ended up buying my R6, cos I loved the tone of those P90's so much). The cost of these new so called 'budget models' (lol) is simply ludicrous.
I’m glad I grabbed a studio last year before they jacked them up. It’s a wonderful instrument.
Reminds me of the satin red Les Paul Studio I got from GC back around 2007 for sub $1000 new - I still have it, it's always been a fantastic guitar. Pretty sure it has the same pickups as this one too.
Definitely worth $100 more for the Studio model. But I think I might actually go more for the Epiphone inspired by Gibson Custom line. The only Epiphones I ever actually thought were kind of cool.
Give me a Les Paul Junior or Special any day of the week...imo
The bargains in the cheaper Gibson's at the moment, are the early 90s Les Paul Studios. If you can get one that has been looked after, no neck break, and that plays well. The wine red ones with the ebony fretboards are ... chef's kiss :) As for these guitars, I'd prefer to buy a second-hand version of the previous Les Paul Tribute, which you can pickup for maybe 700. I actually like those, and they look nice too, the finish is cool. I also do kind of think, if you want a cheaper Gibson, go the honest route and get a Les Paul Jr. or Les Paul Special rather than something that's neither. I really like the stripped back aesthetic of a Junior or Special, more than I like a Les Paul Standard.
I love mine. Play it all the time.
I'm thinkin' Gibson has finally managed to get Phil on the payroll, so to speak. I personally have no use for any gibsons and I have sure tried over the years.
The neatest shop in the world 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
You can pick up a 2013 or 2014 Gibson LPJ. With full carve and full maple cap for between $600 and $800.
I bought one in gold satin. Same pickups as this one. It was on sale at the time for $499.
Thanks Philip great video as always! Nice to see Gibson did well with the QC of this guitar.
This looks pretty similar to the Les Paul 100 from Epiphone, it's just a bit more polished with more expensive construction. Though, for $1500 I'd think I would purchase an Epiphone instead, one that has an actual Epiphone headstock on it.
Personally, I wish they didn’t discontinue the Tribute. Those are awesome guitars and had a reasonable price tag!!
The thiness and lightness of the body was something I was thinking would make a LP great. It would take nothing away from the tone and might even help it.
TOP SO WE DISCUSS DIRECTLY!!
I can't think of anything I like about this guitar, yes even the color
TOP SO WE TALK PRIVATELY!! 😊
I saw the video title and was really hoping he went for the Les Paul jr. Pretty sure they're same price as the modern lite. Good video regardless.
sounds very good to me
tv pink?
eh i have a black studio that is similar i love the open pore
At $1499.99 USD, you mean less expensive Gibson, and not "inexpensive" Gibson :) Sweet guitar and great review as always.
I was just looking at these guitars on Sweetwater and yours came with a pickup switch ring, while the ones shown on Sweetwater do not. Sounds really good to me. Love the TV Wheat color. Everything tells me as a guitar player I should really own some kind of double humbucker guitar like this and the Les Paul shape is a classic design. Also like the cut on the back. But I still can't get over paying $500 for a new guitar these days.
I'm a fan of two conductor Gibson pups, so that pretty much negates the coil split capabilities, yes? I have one. It's a good guitar.
I think the Grovers are a nice touch. I put grovers on every guitar i buy (unless it came with locking tuners). If i were in the market for this guitar, it would save me $100 or so.
Hey, Phil. What about the tone??? Lol you never once mentioned the SOUND of the guitar! That's kind of the most important thing of all! Love your channel.
Went to the Sweetwater website after watching this video to compare this model to the Studio model. The feature set of the Studio model is just insanely better and for only an additional $100? Covered pickups, maple top, trapezoid inlays, better finish, Kluson style tuners. Not a fan of the Grover mini tuners. They could have saved weight with standard tuners and pearloid buttons. Kudos to Gibson for taking the time to make this guitar better than what we've come to expect from them, but why the price tag when you can get the feature packed Studio for close to the same price?
I bought a new Gibson SG Modern earlier this year and it has the mini Grover tuners as a weight saving measure and I hate them. I will likely swap them out at some point.
I got a new LP Studio a few days ago and it is absolutely amazing! It’s $100 more than the Modern Lite but seems like a much better value IMO. Gibson hit a home run with the new Studio!
FWIW I’ve seen these in store marked down a lot. I still ended up just buying an Epiphone LP in Antique Ivory because of the Ebony boards and I hate Gibson’s rosewood
A bit dark sounding, but nothing a bit of 2k and 4k Hz can't fix. Overall pretty nice guitar.
I have a Studio Plus, Tribute Goldtop and Classic Lite. The Classic was an American Musical exclusive, so I paid full price for that, but the others I acquired at well below $1500. I'm not a huge fan of open pore finishes, it just screams "unfinished" in this particular case, but I have seen them nicely done. I feel this model should be between $800-1000. I do like the Rose Satin, though, it reminds me of a few Fender Burgundy Mist guitars I have.
i love my gibson les paul studio! got it back in 2013/14?
it was an upgrade from my squire and blew it out of the water!
I bought a 335 some years ago. The neck was great but the F holes were fuzzy from being cutout and not sanded.. I sent it back!
Cool vid. It's weird that $1500 is a cheap guitar now....well, "Gibson Cheap".
Gibson had the same model back in 2014. They called it a Melodymaker.
Peaked my brain when you said the pup was from 2003, lol.
ʜᴇʟʟᴏ, ʜᴏᴡ ᴀʀᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴅᴏɪɴɢ? ɪ ᴡɪʟʟ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴏᴘɪɴɪᴏɴ ʟᴏᴏᴋ ᴜᴘ🤷♀️🤦♂️🛐..