Gibson 'Burst Reissues Vs Bernie Marsden's 1959 'Beast' Les Paul
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- Опубліковано 7 лип 2016
- Full feature in Guitarist 409!
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A really really insightful article - what it shows is that tone is in the hands & fingers.
Rest in Peace BM - enjoy jamming with Jeff Beck, Jon Lord and Paul Kossof
All those into the classic rock / blues idiom should listen very carefully to what this guy has to say. Not many people like him around any more.
What a true gent and an amazing guitar player.
How can anyone not love Bernie, a true gent who has really been there and done that. His videos are always interesting.
What a player! I can safely say I’d never buy a record he’s played on, but he is one amazing Blues guitarist.
This man has absolutely no ego and is severely underrated.
I was influenced by Bernie Marsden and Micky Moody when they were in early Whitesnake. The live album Walking in the shadow of the blues
Love the fact that Mr. Marsden is fiddling around so much with the volumes and tone control, that is a forgotten art of getting so much more out of the guitar! Very nice to listen him, both his words, thoughts and of course his playing!
It is a lost art, that one of the reasons I love jimmy page
I think that comes from having single channel or non-footswitchable amps, a lot of which had very few tone controls. Which is what was available in 50s, 60s, 70s.
In order to get different levels of gain you had to play with the volume of your guitar. If the amp was too trebly you had to roll off the tone a bit. I believe that it made for a more complete understanding of how your instrument worked.
That’s the reason why my main amp only has one channel.
Such a lovely guy and no mean player….. So glad I saw him in 1972/3 with UFO. RIP Bernie.
This is as real as you get. No marketing bullshit about bursts, relics, true historic specs and what not. If it sounds good, it's good otherwise get rid. What a legend.
@Large Coke exactly, amazing how people want to believe someone selling something doesn't have an agenda. All this markup is bs. Shows how stupid people are.
This stuff boils down to good pickups and no polyester lacquer.
What's a shame is that the people who believe this bs are the ones keeping these prices up. Every Gibson should be made like the relics at a decent price but it will never happen because of the idiots who buy this high priced stuff. It sounds good compared to a standard but those should sound awesome anyway. I shouldn't have to replace pickups on a Gibson or Fender.
@@LovelyTuber0418 Depends on the sound you're going for, there are many different stock pick ups that Gibson uses. I like my stock burst buckers because they have bite, however if I were to ever experiment and swap I would want to try some super distortions or even some t-tops or shaw buckers. I don't know about you but I sure as hell wouldn't buy a Gibson if I didn't like the pickups it came with.
@@LovelyTuber0418 watch itchibashi used listings - there have been r9s in the 3k range and LPC black guitars for low 2000s that are relatively recent.
Unless gibson is hiding something, they don't really do the work of a custom company in their production customs (the kind of work that they do in the vault at PRS or the details that collings does on what's essentially really high effort production guitars - better than most full custom guitars - having eaten s__t on a few full custom guitars that weren't that great when I got them. What do you do when you commission a custom guitar and then it's just OK? You're stuck with it. You lose at least half the cost if you want to sell it).
Only problem with buying gibson custom guitars overseas is that I've had people buy used collings off of me and say they ran the racks to get a really good R9, and then found out that they can mail order a cl deluxe and it's better than all of them (and then mail order another one, and it's just the same ....there's a reason for that. collings actually voices the guitar bodies.....but if you don't like what they're doing to make the guitar bodies resonant, then you won't like any of them, because they all sound the same. All you can really do with them is change pickups and pots and find the electrics that you really like).
Nice job Mick. Bernie seems to be a genuine gentleman. Loved his take on guitars, "this one is good, the next might be better or not as good...but that's the way it was in '58.." A very polished statement which would come out completely different by many today.
R8: 0:00 R9: 8:35 R60: 12:19 Beast: 20:17
I really like my 2022 LP 50's standard, I find no fault with it and it sounds absolutely great. I think Gibson is getting back in shape.
Yeah with their regular USA production guitars they have improved tremendously! I had a 2022 standard myself and it was
very impressive but the Custom shop's have been really good for quite a few years. My 2018 historic R9 i traded the standard towards is stellar and i played a few 2016 R8 historic's that were incredible. There is no denying the latest Production line Gibson's are the best they have been in a really long time!👍
I have to make a comment on the subject of people upset with this video/discussion. It may be because I'm nearing 50yrs old now and I've been playing guitar for 35 years. I enjoy discussing guitars, amps, and gear in general these days. All I had was magazines as as kid followed by MTV. Now I can watch a million UA-cam videos on any piece of gear I want. Guitars are art in my opinion and I appreciate things like Guitarist magazine that have the opportunity to bring us discussions about these instruments.
SHOOK well said.
too much advertising for my liking this is one of their better videos
Stuart Gudgeon - Somebody has to pay for it...what did it cost you? They tried pay TV and now they are trying pay 'internet TV', but it never had this content anyway.
I had the pleasure of playing Bernie's Beast one year ago while in England to record with Bernie. What a guitar and what a great guy Bernie is. I was surprised about the Paul Kossoff connection. Bernie had told me that it had belonged to Clapton at one time. Cool, another great that played the same guitar I got to noodle on for a bit.
Very cool...yeah that beast..les Paul..just sustains...I don’t know ..dried wood degaussing pickups ...but Man U can on an iPad hear the audible difference.....👍...oh and Bernie...does seem like a humble down to earth guy...not full of himself...like many ..
Bernie's a great fellow, and a damn good guitarist too. I emailed him before asking him about one of this guitars and he replied really quickly and was really nice and polite...
The sound of the beast is to die for
He's such a lovely guy.
He's brilliant isn't he, telling it like it is. He's up there with the greats and has a great outlook on playing guitar. National treasure, British guitarist.
I was in another tab looking at random stuff, but when I heard that first note, I said "That's the Beast", I didn't even know what was going on, but that guitar has THAT sound, it is the sound we think of when we think of a '58-'60
brilliant interview, really enjoyed watching this.
What a great guy. You could have a pint with a fella like Bernard.
He came up to us after one of his gigs and asked us if we wanted to go for a curry. Lovely guy.
Through my dealings with a local vintage guitar dealer I had the opportunity to play two different late 50s Les Paul Standard guitars many years ago. One was essentially a closet queen. It clearly had not been played much. It was a great guitar but it played and felt much like a new guitar that you might pick up in a store. The other guitar was Joe Perry's 59 Les Paul. This was after Joe had originally owned it and the dealer had chased it down for Slash (who has since returned it to Joe). That was one of the nicest playing and sounding Les Pauls I have ever had in my hands. It was beat up but it was amazing. Bernie is right - a great guitar is a great guitar but I am also of the opinion that decades of use contributes to a guitar's tone and playability.
satinwhip it was probably a great instrument already. That’s why it was played
As a working luthier, I feel that the custom shop historic reissues, guitars made by ONE man, are superior to any "average" 58 - 60 Les Paul, in materials and craftsmanship. Not to say that there aren't truly remarkable examples from those years, but there are remarkable guitars made now, too.
Do you think Gibson historic reissues are made by one man? Given how many are released every year, I think that's unlikely. They are great guitars nevertheless.
I was referring to Cherry Picker Guitar's original comment
I don't think you can actually make judgement on original or "average", as you put it, '58, '59 or '60 Les Pauls unless you've played several yourself. Just for insight, how many have you actually played?
+Dagger 323 a dozen or so. I'm almost 60 and learned to play in the '60's. By the mid 70's i was "buying and selling" guitars, like most teenage players of the time. These were just used guitars then. As more and more marquis players turned to the 58 - 60 les Paul's, us armatures followed suit (I'm a tele guy, so I've never owned one myself but several colleagues have in the 70's and 80's) I've played two 1958s in recent years, both of which were refretted, and they were both exceptional guitars (at shows/events)
I also was the GM of one of Canada's top 10 blues fests from 2002 - 2009 and got to rub elbows with some of the players who made those les Paul's famous, so it's more than just my opinion that I expressed, originally.
Peace
Keep on pick'n
Wow, that is actually fascinating! Do you think there are any areas where the originals are better than the reissues? What's your favourite guitar / Les Paul?
Fascinating insight into the history of his guitar and what a tone from it.
There's a guitar for everyone. whatever looks or feel or sound you want, it exists out there somewhere.
He looks like a combination of angus young and Kyle gas.
Trash Bulb Angus Gas
Island Gore Angas
He looks like a bucket of kfc
@@joshmuz9018 I have a feeling you look pretty funny yourself. Such a mean comment about such a stand up guy. You must be a teen.
@@nevigo5519 I'm a giant transgender alien with 4 dicks
Bernie seems to be such a nice down to earth bloke and I've only heard positive things about him from people who have meet him.
Bernie is such a cool cat. Oh, and he has a pretty nice Les Paul too! ;-)
'This one is...this one is a bit angry". I have never heard a better description of a guitar.
No doubt, and on the spur of the moment. The English are soo spontaneously descriptive in such an eloquent honest way (:
What a fantastic video!
Bernie seems quite a humble kind of guy.
Loved the story of how he obtained 'The Beast'
Thanks for posting a great video.
I truly love this video. It’s especially great for anyone looking to purchase one of these magnificent reissue works of art and you can hear the insight of a legendary musician. What more could you ask for!
I love the sound of the 1960 reissue a lot! Love that biting aggressive sound! The Beast is awhile other thing
I love Bernie. Such a genuine guy. I love the way he approaches the guitar. He always seems to get a good tone.
Kind of always like interviews with Mr. Marsden ... he is so laid back and on the point!
What he said remind me playing auto-quartet as a kid: never touched a Ferrari but is was supposed to be the best and we behaved like experts telling everybody "the truth" (;-)) So the simple question Mr. Marsden turns up with: "oh show me yours ... which ones did you play " solves it all.
And Bernie does give the healing answer to this dilemma too: "the one you take home from the dealer ist the one for you ... just play it and love it".
Great post ... thanks a lot!
Wow! That was a great clip. Thanks so much for posting it. Always love to hear Bernie play and talk guitars. I think aside from her pure vintage tone, I hear the 42-year relationship when Bernie is playing The Beast. For those interested in back-to-back tone comparison.... 00:01 1958 Historic Select; 08:35 1959 Historic Select; 12:19 1960 Historic Select; 20:18 The Beast
Really enjoyable video! Love Bernie, great man and a magic player- he did a show for the guitar shop I work at a couple of times and we have been super proud to have him each time and hopefully again! As for the disembodied voices, why should anyone care!? Haha- I actually liked the imagery that portrayed! Well done Guitarist on your continued quality content!
Yep, man knows his stuff. Great player and a lovely feller :-)
Well I have to say this is one of the most interesting youtube videos Ive watched. Bernie is very honest in his approach to playing guitar and answering questions. The story behind "the Beast" is an incredible one indeed and hearing the other Les Pauls was an interesting comparison. I hope to see and hear Bernie playing this one for many years to come and hey how humble of him to hope to see the great one ( Clapton ) reunite with and play "the Beast" again some day. Thanx for posting this video as I feel its a significant documentary for all involved.
He talks straight and plays great.
I'd rather listen to him talking than some of the people commenting here.
He's been there, done it and he's still doing it.
Give him some credit.
Joe B, and Clapton get the same treatment from the Epiphone polishers on UA-cam.
What a great interview!
What a down to earth gentleman.Always nice to hear his opinion about guitars. Live long and healthy
The 1960 was nasty sounding, I like it. I like Bernie too, very honest and great player.
Bernie you are full of knowledge love how you play
Always have loved Bernie. This interview gives me even more respect for him. And, it's really subtle as to why. Why? Because you can tell he is TRULY listening to the interviewers, giving legitimate answers, and is really enjoying this.
Fabulous video with some iconic guitars played by a giant of a man.
To those that are complaining about the background voices,it's like hearing the scratches on a record instead of the music.Focus!Focus! .
Bernie is so cool .He lost a close friend named Peter a few days ago . Thinking about how they lived the dream .Great vid , thanks
i kind of like this interview because the magazine journo's keep prodding bernie to break out the snake oil and he counters everytime with common sense answer''s rather than adding to the already ridicules hype surrounding these guitars. i love the hagstrom story it just pissess on their bonfire.
I'm like 1:35 in and I have to agree!
One of those ‘Journos’ is Mick Taylor from ‘That Pedal Show’ and they’re all good mates, so I doubt any of it was intentional bonfire pissing!
You frankly just come off like an ignoramus, and a jealous one at that, who's never experienced what a good 'burst can do. The good ones are absolutely worthy of the hype. And by the way, there's nothing wrong with geeking out and getting excited about guitars like this. The journalists being in awe of such a fine and famous instrument as "The Beast" is no knock against their character, but your condescending attitude is certainly a knock against yours.
Rest in Peace Bernie!! 🙏 ❤ you
Bernie has a good perspective. A good guitar, for you, is a good guitar. If you love it, thats what matters.
It's incredible to hear the difference in tone when he pics up the Beast at 21:00. The reissues just don't have that thick buttery warmth of the '59.
its the pickups
This was an awesome video cheers Guitarist! The reissues were great but the Beast smashed it!
Didn't it just. Definitely a bit of magic in that instrument. Good to see how much he loves it, too.
+Laurie Harper
she seems to love him back, too
Always the gentleman, it with sadness this morning rewatching this 😢 Bernie was truly one of our British greats ❤
That 3rd reissue really spoke to me .. very few reissues in Aus to try relative to Eu/USA
man that 59 reissue! my brain lit up when he started playing it!
Such a great video, thanks you upload!
Loved the article!
what a wonderful story at the end..truly top 2 or 3 electrics in history.........thanks for this!
I could listen to Bernie's story all day long. I hope one day to meet him.
I really really enjoyed that, cheers guys
Wonderful vid!! Thank you Guitarist!👌👌👌👌
A true genuine guitar player, one of the best and humble as hell! You just gotta love Bernie.
I played Joe Perrys old burst.It was owned by a local Boston guitarist who had it for sale at Cambridge Music.In the late 80s it was for sale for $5500.It was nice.Slash owned it.I heard Mr Perry got it back.It was scratched around the neck pickup volume pot.I wish I could time travel back with a bag of cash.
What a class act. He’s obviously done this so many times yet still takes the time to go through the motions as it were. He truly loves the guitar. Bernie gets it. Legend.
Very humble man
Well worth reading Bernie's autobiography from 2019. He touches on some of it later in the video. RIP Bernie.
Bernie is a top notch gentleman !
What a great guy Bernie is!Have meet him many times one off the kindest nicest dude on the planet and a great blues player!
He's wearing a Sun Studio shirt! Born and raised here in Memphis. Rock on!!
Good job. I always enjoy your videos. Bernie Marsden is a class act.
A great chap, a great guitar player. And a great guitar. Quoting Joe B, that beast is insane. Always a pleasure to watch and listen to Bernie. Hats off sir!
Can we get a video done on the “put it in the great mans hands” that would be interesting as well!
I could listen to Bernie talk all day about this stuff
Every video like this I’ve seen is the same. He absolutely comes alive when he has the beast in his hands. I’d love a shot. Just for a wee minute!
He really comes across as truly cool and down to earth guy, on top of being a hell of a guitar player.
My friend works at Gibson.He has a custom shop 335 dot,blonde with flame.New.It's beautiful but the best part of it is the neck.It feels like LP JR but with a bigger neck,a real hand full.He tells me they are using hide glue again and that it makes a bid difference.
I thought those re-issues sounded awesome. Then you hear The Beast and you realise what a great guitar can really sound like.
More nuance,and resonant. Can't really put a price on it. Bernie is a great player. And what a story!
Bernie’s wonderful. I wish the video was longer. The Beast as always sounds magnificent but personally I liked the 59 Select the best. It had a bit more bite and that hollow nasally honk that I love. I trust my high end ATC monitors in a treated room to provide accurate resolution. Some of the comments are pretty funny and typical, yes, the burst will always have that something extra provided we know which one is the burst, otherwise it’s just another great Les Paul. I’d love Bernie to play them all without saying which is which so we can see the comments.
It’s crazy, wonder why Gibson can’t replicate that even though they’ve tried so many times. Makes me feel no reason to fork out 6,500 for a guitar that doesn’t even sound like a guitar made 60 years ago
lovesgibson I think it’s fair to say they sound pretty similar! 😛
@@lovesgibson It would be interesting to measure all the harness/pickup values on the Beast . The old wood isn't what a new one is made of either .
The older Les Pauls were factory-made guitars, just as the ones made today, so the level of craftsmanship used to make them can easily be achieved today. The main thing that makes guitars from a particular model/year great are the design specifications for that year. Those specifications are constantly changing as the guitar manufacturer tries to "keep up" with changing musical styles and tastes.
The reissues are great insofar as they are trying to re-create a highly praised design from the past, so they at least have the right "idea". The other factor is the raw materials (wood especially) and the attention to detail, and that's where the reissues may often come up short. "The beast" has such a great, resonant tone that I'm sure has a lot to do with the wood from which it was made. The aged pickups also contribute to the smoothness of the tone.
Brilliant playing
A sympathetic bloke. Would love to have a pint, a chat and a jam with Bernie.
What a pleasure Bernie is. Great Vid…just great.
Back in 1992 I played 2 brand new Les Paul Standards in Hanks. They felt like two different makes. It was after having played a few in other Tin Pan Alley shops. I think the No1 rule is: If you find one you like, swap your granny to get it, until a better one comes along.
Im 42 yrs old many yrs ago when i was 13 yrs old i was taking lessson from a freind of mines father. I had a cheap knockoff ibanez les paul from late 70s. Id been taking lesson maybe 3 months and he went into his room and came back with a case and said look i got something ive had since i was your age it was my dads . it was a 1960 burst he handed it to me plugged into a fender twin i was blown away at the resonances and sustain. It played ok neck was fatter than i like but oh man the sounds that came out my fingers vs my ibanez. He still has that guitar ive played it many times just special instruments.
Awesome Video. Do you know what gauge strings he had on the beast? the beast clearly had more dynamic response and articulation. Wondering if everything had the same gauge. Cheers.
David
Class! You only have to look at the expression on Bernie's face to understand what he really thinks...
Respect to his honesty
Good to get to know Bernie
An old interview, but watching the questions, it seems to me that what Bernie is saying is use your own judgment and work it out for your self, it's your inspiration as to how a guitar should sound to you.
2016 is one of the golden ages for gibson
He seems like a genuinely decent man. Imagine having a few pints of stout in an old pub while talking about guitars with Bernie. Fuck...that would be awesome.
Never had the chance to play an original from 58-60. After experiences with Standards and Customs from the 90's i went to custom shop models. An R8 from 2012 didn't satisfy me pickup wise. I now own a CC 28 (The Montrose 1958 reissue) and i'm sure this one will stay. I also tried one from the 60's which sounded the best but i prefer the bigger necks on 58 reissues.
Even in the same model line you will notice differences. I tried three CC28 and ended up with the one i felt sounding best. Someone else would have chosen one of the offers. It's all personal preferences. And as Bernie said, even in the old days there had been real good ones and some not as good. I got a good deal on mine...the full price would have been way too much for me.
That neck pickup on the beast, holy smokes. Where so many LP’s fail.
Such a normal, down to earth individual. It would be so cool to sit down and “talk shop” with Bernie.
They all sound great. The one thing I'll moan about is the VOS finish. It lets the guitars down. They look like they have been rubbed down with sandpaper. The head stocks look flat & dull with a shiny truss rod cover. However the genuine 59 was as shiny as ever. So the VOS is pointless in my opinion. Leave them gloss.
It would be cool to know which model Hagström that Bernies friend is playing. Most of the ones from the sixties were more or less novelty guitars like the deluxe. They did start to take things more seriously once the Beatles came along and people started demanding guitars you could play more than basic chords on.
I would have liked this video much more if both people each had a microphone.
I hope they mic all those in the discussion next time.
when he said at the end it might get played by the great man he must of meant MR PAGE because calpton went down hill after cream. but i love the guitars and i like bernie as well.
great video! nice guy and some player too!
Bernie's guitar seems brighter and hotter than the other two. You know how the tele gets brightness with the ash tray, makes me wonder if the wood on the body hardens with age, or even if the nut or lacquer somehow changes chemistry with age? These are all great sounding guitars, but I can really hear the difference in Bernie's Beast. Thanks for the great video!!!
Any chance of doing a interview with Dave Murray of his collection please
The 1958 Reissue had more bass in it's tone. Ilike it the most of the reissues, but his guitar "The Beast " had the best sound period. Maybe it was because he played it for so long, he is able really make the instrument sing .
Burnie your freakin great! Warren is a really under estimated guitar player. I know this is years after this video but I would love to see you go on bbn the Doug and Pat show. They should have to come ymto you but...... I think they would love the pilgrimage.
I knew when he hit the first note it was the beast
I’m 39 years old and been playing for 30 years. I’ve never played a real burst but have played many custom shop reissues and even those are not created equal. I’m assuming it was the same then. I currently own a ‘13 and a ‘19 reissue and I prefer the ‘19. Both are great but I’m saving the ‘13 to trade because I think I can find a better one and I don’t think these will be around forever. What say you?
Jason Carter ....Jason..I'm going to tell you my opinion. I've played Original Bursts... This is no lie...as good as
Gibson is trying to make them now( I own both ) ... I swear to you, just holding the original feels different
than the reissues .. Yes... You can honestly , without mistake feel and hear the differences. I'll be damned to
tell you what it is , but you'll know . Once you play one ( just go to a guitar show, someone will let you play one ),
you'll understand . BTW... Bernie is 100% correct. Not all original Bursts were made equally. There really are
some dogs out there . Also, some Real PAF's sound like shit ....