Why Play A Les Paul? ASK ZAC 39
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- Опубліковано 20 лип 2020
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Even though I am a Tele-Guy, there are times when you just need a Les Paul. In today's AZ, I tell how I finagled my way into the Gibson Custom Shop and was able to go through 35 R9 (1959 Reissues) to find the one that checked all the boxes, lightweight, gorgeous top, and acoustically loud. Also, I explain what mods I have done, and what pickups I landed with after a long search.
Gear used in Video:
2008 Gibson R9 1959 Reissue - Underwound Seymour Duncan Antiquity pickups
Strings:
D'Addario XL120+ 9.5-44
Pick:
Blue Chip TPR 35 RB
Amp:
1967 Deluxe Reverb amp with Celestion V30 speaker
Effects used:
TC Polytune
Ibanez Mostortion
Line 6 Echo Park
MXR Clone Looper amzn.to/2AwoM7o
9v power via Truetone CS6 amzn.to/38S9rZK
#askzac #guitartech #lespaul
You cannot change string tension in the way you suggested. String tension is totally determined by scale length, tuned frequency, and string mass per unit length (gauge). What you are changing is string stiffness. That's what you are feeling.
Yes, I happily stand corrected. Changing the break angle changes the stiffness. I was calling it tension, which is confusing.
You are increasing the length of the string, because of the extra wrap around the bridge, although the scale length remains the same. String length seems to make a difference to the 'feel' of looseness. Quite often I hear that guitars with a trapezoid bridge anecdotally feel a bit looser than a stop tail bridge with the same scale length. Not sure if this is true or merely anecdotal. I'm not sure what the difference is between string stiffness and tension?
Some strings are a bit stiffer in the same gauge than others, due to the type of inner core they are wrapped around. Used to be an excellent string for jazz and chords, called "SIT" that were made to stay in tune. They had quite a stiff feel for an equal gauge. But they stayed in tune!
@@timaddison707 You can think of tension firstly as simply what makes the string play in tune. The only way you can manipulate tension on a given guitar (with a given scale length) while keeping the same tuning is by changing string gauge (heavier gauge strings require more tension to reach the same pitch). You already know how different gauges feel. Stiffness OTOH is the force required per unit string length change. So a stiff string requires more force to bend by a given pitch. By changing the wrapping or bridge type, you can manipulate the friction over the bridge (and maybe the post-saddle string length to a lesser extent), and thus the stiffness. Sometimes you can feel the difference, sometimes you can't. But the point is that tension doesn't change, because the string has to be in tune. But it may feel easier or harder to bend because of the stiffness. So in that case the changes are not correlated - one changes (stiffness), the other doesn't (tension). But in other cases there will be some correlation. For example, changing to higher gauge strings will change not only the tension (higher) but also the stiffness (higher).
@@vw9659 Thanks good insight.
Why play a Les Paul? Because sometimes you don't have time for weightlifting and guitar-playing, so Gibson found a way to let you do both at the same time :-)
HA!!
😂
; ) Genius.
Man, if that ain't the truth
Sometimes I feel like just shredding the crap out of my hand on their fret ends
That deluxe reverb makes every guitar sound good. Everyone should own one.
Just a few minutes ago, I said to myself, I should check out the Deluxe Reverb amp.
Mark SD I’m biased. But take a look at the silverface reiteration as well. Absolutely beyond pleased with mine!
I have recently bought the 68 reissue. Freaking brilliant.
I was just watching a comparison of the 68 Silverface reissues on Peach's channel. That 68 Deluxe Reverb is high on my list. Any thoughts?
I am very blessed to own a '77 version that lives in a Mojotone cabinet, and sports a low mids control and a bunch of Mullard preamp tubes and a few new tone caps here and there, as well as a re-worked reverb tank and tremolo system and a new Classic Tone OT ... EVERY time I flip that "Standby" switch, I just cannot believe how great it sounds, even at low volumes ... but the urge to crank it up sometime overtakes me and for 22 watts, it gets quite loud without even trying ... I've been at this for over 58 years, and I cannot get over how great this amp sounds.
Next Shirt: "Even though I am a Tele-Guy, there are times where you just need a Les Paul."
Les Paul's do not get near enough credit for being a great sounding "clean" guitar. They sound so good over driven, folks forget they were designed to play clean.
That’s true. Of all my guitars the one that would do Jazz the best would be my old Les Paul Custom with the 490 set.
Couldn’t agree more. A p90 or PAF humbucker Les Paul plugged into a fender blackface sounds fantastic clean 😎
I have a GLP with P90s and the clean tones are magical.
Geek alert! As for the weight issue, here’s a trick I learned: If you hold a Les Paul vertical by the neck, judge how heavy it feels, then turn it horizontal, hold it by the strap button and the lower bout. If it feels lighter then you’ve got an LP with a heavy neck and when you’re playing it standing up is it’s surprisingly less fatiguing. You did get a geek warning!
I am a believer in the right tool for the right purpose. A Tele has a sound, use that for what it is. A strat... same thing, it has it's own sound. A Les Paul is different yet. It has that mid-ey nasal sound that works so well with a Marshall type amp. Get the guitar that does the job you need. Love my Les Paul, but I will remain a Fender player primarily.
I'm of the same mind.... keep coming back to my fiddly fenders 😂
Through the years I’ve played Standards, Juniors and Customs, but for me the best sounding Les Paul has been the Special TV Yellow, the ugly slab with two P90 and wraparound bridge.
I agree, but I happen to think TV yellow is beautiful
Hi Zac, I just retired from my job here after 34 years and I decided to treat myself to my first Les Paul. I couldn’t justify buying an R-9 or any custom shop for that matter so I went with a 60’s Standard in the Sweetwater exclusive Heritage Cherry ( similar to yours ) and I snatched one up with a brilliant top as soon as it was listed on Sweetwater. Anyhow, it looks and plays great but I have to mention that my SG’s are still the one I grab for more often.
Anyway, great show Zac, I had to come back to this older video you had posted about them 😊
Well, you did it again. I am going to dig out the ol' LP that hasn't seen the light of day in a while. Good call - thanks for the inspiration.
Great playing and great sounding Les Paul on the intro. Exactly the type of LP I'm looking for. Thanks for outlining all the changes you've made and why.
My pleasure!
Awesome video
I got a Les Paul a long time after I started playing and your right the knob controls are sweet. I love it for the middle position you can get so many different sounds adjusting the 2 volumes. The model I have has the Jimmy Page split coils option and this adds even more sounds in the middle too. Its the Epiphone Modern model it has the out of phase Peter Green thing.
I've always had a tender place in my heart for a vintage humbucker. The note bloom is so much different than Fenders and it's always such a fun time changing it up!
I usually am a Gibson guy and mostly use a '76 Explorer. But I've also got a 2016 LP Traditional that I love and tend to use even more nowadays. I tried several of them and this one just felt "right". It sounds great, however I find myself using my Tele the most since I've really gotten into Country music two years ago and I just love playing that.
Great content as always! Always a pleasure to watch your videos.
Greetings from Germany
Wonderful information about the Les Paul. Valuable tips for anyone looking into the sonic properties that cab be gotten from these guitars. Thanks for sharing these jems.
Personally prefer my LP to have P90's, but your ideas of unpotted and lower bridge output (2 neck pups?) works very nicely though the DR. Chasing tone has become much easier thanks to the sharing you give so freely.
Thanks man
You have a pefect demeanor for a neurosurgeon or an Explosive Ordinance Disposal expert -- laid back, detailed and not high strung.
The technique you were discussing regarding playing in the middle position and using the volume/ tone controls to mix the tones. I use that technique on my tele custom.
As usual, great content and information. Always a pleasure to watch your videos Sir :)
Thanks again!
Just picked up a sweet LP Standard 60's and it's fantastic. Took me a few weeks to get used to the thinner neck but now I'm fine with it. No weight relief finally and still under 10lbs!!
Agree with everything you say here, Zac. Having different guitars inspires you to play differently. I, too, got a Les Paul when I could afford one. In 1995 I was in my early 40's and got a new R8. They just came out the year before with that model. Also have a set of Duncans in mine. Low output Seth Lovers. What a great pickup. A plain-top, just over 9 lbs with a very cool tea burst finish and very fine tone woods. I haven't played one better since except my friend's real '59 burst.
It's not often, once I've watched an entire episode of something that I will go back and watch it again. That being said I've watched most of these episodes 2-3 times each... Keep up the great footage!
Great tone as always; we can always experience the true sounds of the instruments when you are playing them. Many people stereotype guitars for certain styles but I believe it’s all in the player. Danny Gatton killed on many styles, including country on a Les Paul before he switched to Telecasters. Les Paul himself had great pristine tones; granted his guitars were all modded by him but still...😉. The best Les Pauls and guitars in general are jangly and have lower output pickups. Seymour Duncan makes some of the best pickups and he has been at it longer than any of the other boutique makers out there.
After 50+ years of playing single-coils, I just snagged a near-mint '81 LP Custom, and it's a lot of fun to explore this jewel. Has the odd speed-winder tuners, diamond-shaped strap buttons, and especially the Tim Shaw "PAF" humbuckers. And when I'm tired of playing it, there's a ton to read about them. Keeps me happily indoors during this weirdness. Nice episode, Zac!!!
I love that era of guitar. Loved the speed winders
Great vid. Glad to see it again !
Thanks again!
I have a left-handed 60th anniversary Gibson Custom shop ‘59 Les Paul, and it is an awesome guitar. The weight is OK too - eight and a half pounds. Strings are D’Addario NYXL 010 - 046. The amps I use with it are a Marshall SV20H (with SV212 cab), and a Fender ‘65 Deluxe Reverb re-issue (I swapped the Jenson for a Celestion Redback G12H 8ohm speaker).
Oh Zac.... you’re my hero!
Tele and Strat player mostly myself, however a few years ago I had the opportunity to get a great deal on a nice wine red LP Studio with gold hardware. It has a chambered body so I can actually play it for more than 10 mins...it's lighter than my Tele. It's a lot of fun and like you said it makes you play a bit differently, which is a good thing.
What a super beautiful guitar man! Thanks big time for sharing it with us.
My pleasure!
Thanks for all great info
I was after a LP for years. My first two guitars were ply-bodied, bolt-on-necked copies by Kay and Hondo II. My first semi-pro guitar was a Gordon-Smith Gypsy that had such a cosy heel-joint that I could never find a LP that I liked.
I still have to try an Access. But I don't have the same desire for a LP as I play bass in a cover band these days.
Beautiful flame on that LP. Cool story. Not too many can folks can say they went down to the GIbson CS and picked out their own R9. That's awesome!
Just got my first LP at the first of the year. 2019 50's cherry sunburst and swapped out the burstbucker pu's for a set of Wizz. I like em.
As always another cool video. Love the channel.
Thank you Zac
I was first a Gibson Player, before I went to Fenders. I tried to get a Les Paul a few years ago, but ended up with a PRS Bernie Marsden. I like the feel sightly better than a Les Paul (Tummy Cutout), and it stays in tune, I like the Wraparound Bridge better than the Tune-o-matic, and it was a lot less money. I changed the pickups to the SD Whole Lotta Humbuckers. I was going for that Martin Barre - Jethro Tull Tone.
Beautiful guitar and playing, Zac! I have a 2010 R7 that was my keeper LP out of several that I owned recently. Everyone needs a good LP!
Thank you, Will. You make that R7 sound great!
I had been a tele player for 20 years or more when I got my first Les Paul. There was a big learning curve with all those knobs, but I love it now.
Really nice. I just saw your Les Paul in your room organizing video and came to see if you had any videos on it. What a beaut.
I have a 2011 blue swirl flood edition LP. I also have 1 G&L SC3 strat style. I need a tele. Thank you for sharing. I bought my Les Paul because there were sounds I could not get with my single coils. Have a blessed evening
On mine I replaced the alnico 2 in the neck pickup to alnico 5 then flipped it. I'm addicted to that sound, I could never go back to a regular middle position on my LP.
Hi Zach,
Really well done. When I wind my humbucker sets I go to even lower neck resistance levels. You get just sweet, huge singing, almost single coil tones this way from the neck. There is a lot of room in Mr. Seth Lover’s design for tweaking!
That guitar really does have the cut and clarity one would hope to find on a good LP. Sounds great.
Gorgeous sound, versatility, appearance, modifications, story and playing. Makes me wish I had my own Les Paul right now. This video alone may help bump up Gibson's sales. Thanks Zac.
Many thanks!
Might be one of the best pauls I have ever seen
Beautiful guitar!
Thanks for another great video Zak. I agree completely with you on pickup strength, although we seem to be voices in the wilderness these days. Medium strength pickups seem to let your technique and and the guitar's personality be heard. Let pedals and the amp provide the drive.
Nicely matched top, nice "keep it greasy" t-shirt as well.
Great video man
I’ve had several Les Pauls over the years. The best-sounding one had P-90s and a bar bridge, and a carved maple top, like a ‘54 goldtop, except mine was cherry sunburst, part of a small run they did in ‘72. At my age I can’t handle the weight of a Les Paul anymore-they kill my back-so my Gibson now is a 2002 SG Supreme. Best SG I’ve ever had, and I’ve had several of those too-got my first one new in ‘67 when I was in high school; but my Supreme is better. I like your idea of using two Seymour Duncan low-output Antiquity neck humbuckers-I might try that on my SG.
In my band I am the TELECASTER guy. The other guitarist is a LES PAUL guy. We cherish and value the interplay of the distinctively DIFFERENT tones our guitars make through our tube amp rigs respectively (including effects onboard or independent)..... Nice video..... To add; My Tele has a Seymour Duncan Hot Rails in the bridge and a stock 1999 MIM Standard Telecaster neck pickup.... I am mostly happy dialing in different tones between both dials with the selector almost always in the MIDDLE..... HAPPY RIFFING :) *The amp I am playing through is a Fender X2 hybrid Head (2016) through a gutted ex Princeton 65 Dyna touch solid state amp (I believe made in 1999 or 2000) converted to 12" speaker cabinet*
Very nice presentation Zac. Met and heard Bloomfield & Green back in the late sixties. Went to Belmont College 1970 -71. Love your channel! Lived of Nolensville Rd.....
I have been playing a Les Paul since I bought my first Custom new in 1974. It's a 20th Anniversary in alpine white. Over the years it turned a delightful yellowish with age. Many gigs and recording with it. Typical with Norlin era guitars, it's heavy. Ebony fretboard and the 20th Anniversary position marker, gold hardware, it has mellowed over the years. My 3 year old son pulled it off the stand and broke the neck in 1987, so I repaired it. The headstock veneer saved it from totally breaking off and you can barely see the fracture line. I sanded the laquer off the neck which made an improvement. I used bore oil on the mahogany neck and love the satiny feel now. The fracture opened up again after years of gigging..only slightly after another on stage fall, so I reglued it has been great since that incident about 25 years ago. I recently found a 59 reissue cherry sunburst Standard with 2 piece flamed maple top and one piece mahogony back and neck that is a custom guitar built in 2000. It appears to have been an investment guitar, having lived in a case for 23 years. It had factory strings and a push/pull truss rod, really hot, unpotted pickups. It is is easier to play than my 20th Anniversary and barks like a big dog. Love the rosewood fretboard, Kluson tuners and med jumbo frets. It is a real killer.
I’ve got an old 76 Les Paul that was getting neglected. It weighs 11 lbs and had some hot pickups that I got tired of. I held onto the guitar primarily for sentimental value. I have newer PRS and Emerald electrics that have been getting all the attention. The Emerald guitar has Fishman Fluence Classic humbuckers which I really like. They remind me of the PRS underwound 58/15 and DGT pickups. I’ve decided to have the Fishman pickups installed in the Les Paul. The guitar will have coil tapping for each pickup via push / pull, classic / modern mode via push / pull, and a phase inverter via push / pull. The guitar should be ready sometime next week. I’m hoping the new pickup sounds / capabilities will breathe some life back into that old guitar and that I’ll start playing it more again.
I use my semi-hollow just like you describe. Turn down bass on amp. Tweek volume and tone balance between the pickups. A lot of sounds to play with. And yes, gone is the scratch plate.
Love my Standard 50’s model nothing wrong with it and plays like a dream.
I have a Harley Benton SG custom and a Boss Katana 2 100 watt with the audio app,…and I couldn’t be happier!
I can sound like almost anything I can dream of.
So true about playing a Tele differently. Every time someone plays mine they start string snapping,going after the quacking sound and trying to play train time tunes.
I forgot to mention that I really appreciated the tip on the pickups. Being a Fender guy myself, I find high output humbuckers hard to control. Using a neck pickup in the bridge position is something I never heard before. Thanks for the tip.
I am partial to the P90 sound & my LP has them & I love it.
I really enjoyed hearing your thoughts about your Custom Shop R9. I love my 2018 Gibson Les Paul Standard in Mojave Burst, which complements and it isn't a replacement for my 2016 Fender American Professional Stratocaster 3-color with Tim Shaw H-S-S pickups or my 2017 Fender American Elite Stratocaster with 4Th Gen Noises S-S-S with the S-1 switch. Their sounds are unique and in spite of some folks thoughts there is a need for and room for several guitars on each player's rack to get the unique sounds needed for different genres of music.
Last times i played out was nearly 15 years ago . 2 things with a reunion, BD party and bar gig.
Played both with one axe, a pre SN Ibanez Rocket Roll Sr. We covered stuff from Pink Houses and Surrender to Ramblin' Man (co guit figgerg out the harmony). and Too Hot Too Handle.
Had a 'hss' strat as a spare (peavey predator DX, Turbo) but never used it either time,
Already had other guitars, now its 12 electrics. All 'cheap' stuff. No repeats.
Had to have a 'Paul, in this case, '07 Epi mik Std Plus. Bought new to get my ABB, TL and PG-FM on when I played thru an amp.
Still rules thru head phones ;(
Oooo Baby! Now that’s a nice Lester. . .
I own a 2006 LP Studio in worn cherry w/ BurstBuckers. After having the frets properly levelled & crowned, it plays like a full on Standard. It really is a nice Studio. I couldn’t afford a full-blown Standard, but I did snag an especially good (used) Studio model.
Hit the nail on the head of changing your EQ from Fender to LP I have the 2019 50’s and a Gold top reissue along with my Strats & Teles I enjoy playing all my guitars but being a Strat guy for 30+ years I have come to favor my 2 Teles a Pro & a Texas Tea Ultra which I had Plekd and man what a difference it made. I run an ABC box into 3 Fender amps. Talk about Ear Candy. Always enjoy your vids and learn something each and every time 👍🔥🎸🦅
Thanks!
Well done, Zac you've surprised me.? I also have both guitar's, mine's a Cherry satin SX LP Gibson knock-off. I've replaced the pickup's with "Pearly Gates" ZZ Top aftermarket set.
Hi zac..great video...brilliant tale about your ballsey request to Gibson..fair play too you...I own a couple of Gibson les Paul's, 50s standard in cherry heritage cherry sunburst and gold top...love them to death as I do my fender teles...love playing and listening to all the classic blue's on both varieties of guitar 🎸...always love your videos about everything...please keep your channel going, really interesting and inspiring..keep it burning 🔥...lot's of appreciation and gratitude form great Britain 🇬🇧...across the pond 👊👍
Yes Zak!
Im a Fender guy but you sure make a great pitch for a Les Paul with lo- output pick-ups!!
Beautiful tones man!
And wonderful playing as usual!!🤠
I checked out a Marshalls Tucker Video on YT to figure out what acoustic was used on the intro to "Can't you See". Turns out live it was a LP skillfully tweeked to get the acoustic tone.. The use of the multiple volume and tone pots, as you mentioned, can make magic.
That’s a beautiful LP. Perfect top!
Thank you kindly!
Wow! That is GORGEOUS! I'm not a huge LP guy but those R9's are one of the ones I'd love. Congrats!
Thanks!
2005 R8 here. No flame at all, which I prefer. It's as understated as one of these can be lol. Heavy bleeding into the binding. The burst is stunning and the neck is very nice chunky C, not the crazy boat oars some R8 have. Wolftone legends. Some fancy retro wiring and caps. Callaham bridge which I'm so so about. 9lbs all in. Kind of a money pit to throw boutiquey parts at. I think about selling it at times but I know if I do I will never spend the kind of money needed to get another one...
Ace Frehley is the reason I wanted to play guitar & fell in love with the Gibson Les Paul...i love my 81' Standard....now, if I could only figure out how to get the neck p/u to billow thick plumes of Smoke!!! ;)
Mine came with the pickguard off too. After a few years of playing, I noticed that where I tend to use my little finger of my right hand as an anchor, the finish of the guitar was really starting to wear. Soooooo, I put the pickgurard on. Habits: some good and some ugh!
I play Fenders but the first time I picked up a Les Paul I really loved that grunt. I will be getting one - someday!
I have three Les Pauls and love them. I just deal with the weight, they rock, period. I have 2 Teles and 2 Strats, love them too, of course they all have their cool tones, just like my other PRS, Gretsch, Charvel, and others. Whatever music I'm playing, I pick the guitar to match up. I am blessed to be able to use whatever. I have a preferred one in spells. Playing my Tele a lot lately. I think just about every guitar has its quirks. If you do not like any certain guitar, Ebay.
Love your R9, Zach. I actually fell in love with the Studios a while back myself. For me I've never been a binding guy...but I get it. They look great and yours is no exception. I've got a beautiful Faded Cherry with the 490 and 498. I've got a Heritage Cherry Burst with Burstbuckers. I've got a Pelham Blue with the Coil splits and lastly..and the one that surprised me the most..Ive got a 2016 60s Tribute with P90s (before they switched to maple necks) and there is some real magic in that one. The neck and fretboard are just pure greatness. They all sound great but the Pelham Blue and the Tribute really, really stand out because of their ridiculous sustain and articulation. Both coincidentally being from 2016 which from some things I've read...seems to be a stellar year in amongst the era that was supposedly questionable in terms of QC. Hands down the 2 best Gibsons I've personally played.
I kinda did the same. Had Virgil arlo do an under-wound paf set. He retired not long after I got that set, wish I had a few more sets, they have “it” , I think under wound pickups are the biggest Challenge for a winder, done wrong. They are ice picks. Some right, they have a clarity unlike others . Nice guitar Zac!
Right, Zac, the Super Session was a great album, even considered a "reference album" for audiophiles along with the Sheffield Lab reference album that came later.
If you really like the sound of those old records, and tonepros hardware did not cut it for you, try the Faber stuff. The saddles have a wider top and the thumbscrews are brass. It makes the guitar respond faster but slightly mellower. Accents the overall woodiness of your tone and your antiquities will love that.
I like your choice in amps.
Well Zac you got me again ... I had to go hunt down and listen to the "Bloomfield, Kooper, Stills - Super Session" ... NOW I get it. Thanks again for pointing me in a quality direction.
Enjoy!
Your sound is very honest, great story and les paul. Pick out 35 I would go crazy, especially when home :O I cannot afford a custom shop I got myself a standard 60s nice modest burst and very clear tone, bit bell like but there is always a downside it can sound a bit less warm. I had a r7 goldtop but that was so woody could not get trough a mix and I was very disappointed after so many years owning a r7 and still not getting tones I wanted. Thnx for sharing your lescpaul I dig your blues playing 👍👍👍😃
Every guitar player should have one in his or her collection. I recently had a Gibson P90 soapbar pickup installed in my LP Standard. I left the Burstbucker Bridge. The guitar has 3 distinct sounds now; Still love my Tele‘s & Strat though.
So there's the Les Paul we've seen in the background before. Very cool guitar. My Epiphone looks similar in color, though it is a very plain top with a little flame in it (veneer). It has an active top in different lighting. I set my '66 blackface Bassman about the same as you do (i do the treble-6, bass-3, and volume on 3, normal 1, bright off). I need the pickguard to rest my finger on, after trying it a lot without and being dissatisfied. There is something about the relatively clean sound of any guitar that really interests me, even though i enjoy some Zeppelin and Cream, etc too.
I have an American made Guild Starfire 4,... they were pretty common & used back like the Buffalo Springfield days. It's a 335 type guitar but the pickups were Guild specific. Has a completely different sound. Great rythm guitars.
I had a Guild whose model name I forgot.I lost it.It looked like an SG & sounded so good! I would love to hear what the Starfire 4 sounds like.Thanks.
I'm a Les Paul guy, but I absolutely love strats and teles and couldn't guess which one I play the most. My channel is a one-man studio, so I have to have all three depending on the song. They each do their own thing that you can't replicate with the others. I don't really understand the "which is better" arguments; it's like picking which is better between a boat, a plane or a car: one can have a favorite, but that speaks more to particular musical tastes than to better/worse.
I play a LP Studio with zebra pups, and I do love the over drive tones it makes.
I recently watched a Michael Bloomfield documentary and noticed how his sound became fuller with P90- and PAF-loaded Les Pauls which i believe he traded his '63 Tele for a pre-'57 goldtop and then the '59 came along sometime afterwards. Speaking of 1959, this seems to be a lot of Les Paul players throughout the 1960s that favored that year in particular and you spoke up my #1 fave: Peter Green! I love the original Fleetwood Mac as I was exposed early on from their appearance on 1969's 'Blues Jam In Chicago Volume 2' and on the P90 Les Paul was either Danny Kirwin or Jeremy Spencer.
You are speaking my language
Bloomfield could have sounded good playing a Kay or. Guyatone. It was in his hands. But I definitely like the later stuff with him humbuckers than the Paul Butterfield stuff with the tele
i have an 1980 deluxe, had it since i was 15, being black and having the finish and some of the paint missing it certainly isnt beautiful but its got it where it counts, you said Les Pauls have no fight to them, that is painfully true, it was my main guitar for years simply because i was unable to adapt to any other guitar, it was just so easy to play
Here before but if anyone's 'on the fence' with the Epi TSB LP Jr, I'd say Buy IT!
I had to wait for mine but in love. 6 months here and rotating the herd, the weekend pick. Great little axe..
being that I already have a few CS Les Paul guitars & a Deluxe Reverb ... I'm gonna have to look into those Blue Chip picks ... thanks for another informative video Zac
You should!
Glad you mentioned Peter Green, one of my favorite Les players. Supernatural tone indeed
Yeah!
Great video. I learned a lot.😃
Glad it was helpful!
Wow....what a thrill to be able to own such a guitar.....its only in my dreams....thanks for sharing ur story
I wouldve thought PAF s wouldve been an obvious fit.... but as I've said....it ain't my pony and it aint my rodeo....lol meaning ...its your guitar not mine.... and its frickin awesome! Respectfully
That really is an interesting story about your Les Paul guitar. Thanks for sharing.
Best looking guitar it is but the sound is yet my liking, I prefer stock Gibson set of pickups and electronic.
No better no worse, just different.
I love how no matter what guitar or pickup you use you never have a muddy tone. I'm a big fan of your clean, clear tone. I am also a mostly clean player, so I'm always after that kind of sound you have. I mostly play funk, soul, blues, an a little reggae
Wow, thanks!
Gibo through a Fender the way it was intended.........love it.
That one looks great and with all the mods you have done it sounds fantastic! I have a bone stock P-90 Gold Top that I admire more than play it. My main Humbucker guitar is one I built myself. A Tele built from 85 yr old wood from an old church with a very hot set of BC Rich humbuckers from the hair metal days. Tele style control plate with master volume and separate tone controls. I have had it that way for years and will soon switch out to a good alnico 3 set of PAF's.
Cool build
@@AskZac I am getting ready to post it in my Instagram for Tele Tuesday!
@@cowtowncustoms2110 NICE!
Omg somebody actually played a Les Paul clean 😂. That’s harder to find than unicorn 🦄 droppings lol. A P90 or PAF humbucker Gibson sounds fantastic plugged into a fender blackface played clean 👍🏻. It’s a shame more people don’t get to hear one today. I played my Gold Top through a Twin Reverb. Good stuff man
However it’s a bummer you didn’t play it more in this video ☹️
I tend to grab a Telecaster first too, but I love the crap out of my R8. By far my spendiest guitar. I got it from a guy who works for Fender (LOL) who needed wedding money. He bought it from Sweetwater and sent two back before keeping one, which I now own. He definitely knows his Lesters! I mentioned that because readers may not know that ordering by mail like that is possible. You'd have to have a big bank account to do multiples at the same time though for A-B comparison. I'd play it more but it is almost too easy to play, even with 11s. I bought a much cheaper SG Classic the same year (with P90s) that plays almost as well. Yup... it's a disease.
Great playing and great tone another really interesting video. I have a 2014 R 9 . I enjoy playing it but I cannot put my Danocaster Black Guard down. Love your channel.
Nice gear, Lonnie!
Since you brought up Tele, the big difference between LP and Tele has to be scale length, 25.5" vs. 24.75". So a little less tension on LP strings can make bends a little easier. I lot of people will tune down their Tele to Eb to reduce string tension. Curious in your pickup quest did your try the SD Seth Lover, available unpotted. My tech guy keeps raving on the Seth Model. I have set of SD 59's currently and they are a bit hot for jazz but great for blues. Set of SD Alnico 2 Pro's are in the mail to me. My Les Paul affairs have certainly been love/hate and I think I just never bond as I do with Tele's. I had a 79/80 LP Deluxe with mini HB's and loved that one until I traded that for an ES-347. And so it goes
Pro Tip (literally): "Get two neck pickups" @11:05 My Les Paul is really hot (burstbucker 3....i think) which worked well for some metal stuff. But, I do not play metal that much anymore. I have been wanting to moved into a vintage PAF-type pickup. Great video as always, Zac!