Mine (tobacco burst) was made in '22, and I love it. The 490 pups are perfect for classic rock. It plays like butter, with sustain for days. Great review, I love that gold-top.
Hello brother David. I have a 2021 satin cherry burst tribute. I bought it from Sweetwater. It has brought me so much joy. I sure love that goldtop you have there. All of God's blessings to you brother from Texas 🎸♥️🤘🙂👍
Hi Heavyjoechipman, I'm so glad you are enjoying you LP Tribute, unfortunately Gibson have discontinued producing them so they will no doubt rise in value in the future. Blessings to you as well and many thanks for your comments and viewing my video.
I whole heartedly agree! I own a 2021 honey burst. I doesn’t look quite as nice as your gold top, but I think you’re absolutely right about the quality you get for the price. Although the pickups were indeed good pickups, I spent some extra money on some Monty’s Bethnal Green PAFs and that took the tone to another level. I love my guitar.
My Les Paul is a gold top Tribute model, much like this one. Mine is (I think) a year younger than yours. But it also has the light natural mahogany back and neck. I didn't love the stock pickups. The previous owner had done something to them, I assume. So I swapped the pickups out for DiMarzio 36th anniversary PAFs and put in a Jimmy Page switching circuit. She's a beast now.
Unless you happen to be rich, the Gibson Les Paul Tribute is the way to go. Why spend hundreds or thousands of dollars more? The Tribute is the way to go and it comes with a nice Gibson soft style case.
I have the 2018 which has a mahogany neck ,the body is not chambered and it has the same pickups as the Les Paul custom. The 2017 has the custom pickups, mahogany neck but is chambered. These also have a light satin finish which is better than Nitro as the guitar literally breathes. The new ones with Maple necks are tinny bright guitars. The 17, 18 are hidden Gems .
Would you say the LP classic is a better option? Or the studio? I really dig the stripped down tribute but the maple neck has me worried. Can't find an older model unfortunately...I do like maple necks in general on my Yamaha or Fender etc. But I'm wondering if that neck will take away from the overall Les Paul vibe...
@ehsanhaq155 I have a 2020 Tribute honeyburst w maple neck.love it! Maple is stronger,harder than wood then mahogany.so iess chance for a headstock break
@@overnightguitarist5063 also my friend...I must raise this question again because Google tells me Maple is harder than Mahogany. So now I'm confused. What would you say?? For guitars, the situation is different or what?
Everything said in this video is true -- so of course within a few weeks of it being made, Gibson discontinued the Tribute and it's basically sold out everywhere by now so it's only available used for the most part.
I have the 2017 in honey burst. I’ve played with the idea of upgrading but I’m not convinced that i would get a better sounding guitar. So i haven’t. The pups are 490R and 498T by the way.
Hi Eric, I had thought about changing the pickups too, but after lots of research and actual sound tests, I realised the 490's are really good and are very versatile for lots of different genres of music. I couldn't get an improvement by changing. I think you are right to stay with the factory supplied pups!
Hi David, you are correct regarding the 2017 spec, but the neck on my guitar certainly doesn't look like its mahogany! It looks like it's maple, especially when you look closely at the body and the neck together.
OK. Gibson apparently started this maple thing back in the doldrums of Norlin music. It appears that Gibson did a much better job of blending this neck in with the body, but I would prefer a darker somewhat more cherry added for the neck and back. Too much light brown with this. Epiphone does an excellent job of finishing the back and neck. In fact, I say Epiphone does a better job of finishing than anybody else. Furthermore, Epiphone's honeyburst finish is second to none.. The only other choice you have with this guitar, in order to try and hide the fact the neck is maple, is a black Les Paul, or something along those lines.
Hi Terry, My Tribute is lighter than a Les Paul Standard, so it may suit you. Unfortunately the Tribute is out of production right now so you have to search Reverb to find one if you are interested.
I'm a Fender guy ( 2019 American Performer Tele, 1999 Mexican Tele, 2023 Custom Shop Relic Strat), but I just bought one of these gold top Tributes used for $1000AUD, and I'm pretty happy with it. Noticeably heavier than my Fenders, the shorter scale is easier to fool around with, and the humbuckers really suit banging out a few Britpop tunes
If you can't make this one sound good, the other ones will be of no use. That's why this is the only one you'll need, in my opinion. I bought mine for 830 € used.
Mine (tobacco burst) was made in '22, and I love it. The 490 pups are perfect for classic rock. It plays like butter, with sustain for days. Great review, I love that gold-top.
I bought mine in 2020, during the pandemic. Still holding strong and playing like a champ! Thank you for sharing your positive experience as well!
Just got one. I’m blown away how good it is, sound and feel.
Thank you ! It is a fine instrument for the money. Its nice to see a positive review of the les paul tribute. The SG tribute is also a sweet guitar.
The 2017 tribute sounds amazing.
Got a 2018 gold top tribute- fabulous instrument
Love my 2018 goldtop tribute. Gets more play than my Standard peace. Love the weight too!
Had a 2006 les Paul standard. Bit heavy and too expensive. Got the tribute and loving it.
Got one in honeyburst, its just amazin...Nice jam man!
I have to agree.
I've just acquired a 2021 Tribute.
Very happy with it. 👍
Hello brother David. I have a 2021 satin cherry burst tribute. I bought it from Sweetwater. It has brought me so much joy. I sure love that goldtop you have there. All of God's blessings to you brother from Texas 🎸♥️🤘🙂👍
Hi Heavyjoechipman, I'm so glad you are enjoying you LP Tribute, unfortunately Gibson have discontinued producing them so they will no doubt rise in value in the future. Blessings to you as well and many thanks for your comments and viewing my video.
I just bought one yesterday. Waiting for it to arrive
Hi Darkzone, I hope you enjoy it as much as I do mine!
You won't be disappointed 😊
I whole heartedly agree! I own a 2021 honey burst. I doesn’t look quite as nice as your gold top, but I think you’re absolutely right about the quality you get for the price. Although the pickups were indeed good pickups, I spent some extra money on some Monty’s Bethnal Green PAFs and that took the tone to another level. I love my guitar.
I JUST GOT A 2018 GOLD TOP TRIBUTE LOVE IT.
Awesome guitar - thanks for the review - love the gold top.
My Les Paul is a gold top Tribute model, much like this one. Mine is (I think) a year younger than yours. But it also has the light natural mahogany back and neck. I didn't love the stock pickups. The previous owner had done something to them, I assume. So I swapped the pickups out for DiMarzio 36th anniversary PAFs and put in a Jimmy Page switching circuit. She's a beast now.
Unless you happen to be rich, the Gibson Les Paul Tribute is the way to go. Why spend hundreds or thousands of dollars more? The Tribute is the way to go and it comes with a nice Gibson soft style case.
I have the 2018 which has a mahogany neck ,the body is not chambered and it has the same pickups as the Les Paul custom. The 2017 has the custom pickups, mahogany neck but is chambered. These also have a light satin finish which is better than Nitro as the guitar literally breathes. The new ones with Maple necks are tinny bright guitars. The 17, 18 are hidden Gems .
Would you say the LP classic is a better option? Or the studio?
I really dig the stripped down tribute but the maple neck has me worried. Can't find an older model unfortunately...I do like maple necks in general on my Yamaha or Fender etc. But I'm wondering if that neck will take away from the overall Les Paul vibe...
@ehsanhaq155 I have a 2020 Tribute honeyburst w maple neck.love it! Maple is stronger,harder than wood then mahogany.so iess chance for a headstock break
@@overnightguitarist5063 thanks for the feedback sir 🙏
How would you rate the classic today???
@@overnightguitarist5063 also my friend...I must raise this question again because Google tells me Maple is harder than Mahogany. So now I'm confused. What would you say?? For guitars, the situation is different or what?
I HAVE THE 2018 GOLD TOP TRIBUTE LOVE IT.
Everything said in this video is true -- so of course within a few weeks of it being made, Gibson discontinued the Tribute and it's basically sold out everywhere by now so it's only available used for the most part.
I have the 2017 in honey burst. I’ve played with the idea of upgrading but I’m not convinced that i would get a better sounding guitar. So i haven’t. The pups are 490R and 498T by the way.
Hi Eric, I had thought about changing the pickups too, but after lots of research and actual sound tests, I realised the 490's are really good and are very versatile for lots of different genres of music. I couldn't get an improvement by changing. I think you are right to stay with the factory supplied pups!
@@davidkinsman sorry my mistake. Mine is a 2018 model and it comes with the 498t.
@@ericglasson7140 The 498 series has even more grunt than the 490's so your decision to stay with them was the best one.
Wow, guess I’m getting a 2017 goldtop then! 🤷🏻♂️
The 2017 has mahogany neck
Hi David, you are correct regarding the 2017 spec, but the neck on my guitar certainly doesn't look like its mahogany! It looks like it's maple, especially when you look closely at the body and the neck together.
Nice playing, what is that tune?
Hi Mike,
The backing track has no name, I got it online and just searched "free backing tracks". Its in D minor and only a 2 minute track.
OK. Gibson apparently started this maple thing back in the doldrums of Norlin music. It appears that Gibson did a much better job of blending this neck in with the body, but I would prefer a darker somewhat more cherry added for the neck and back. Too much light brown with this. Epiphone does an excellent job of finishing the back and neck. In fact, I say Epiphone does a better job of finishing than anybody else. Furthermore, Epiphone's honeyburst finish is second to none.. The only other choice you have with this guitar, in order to try and hide the fact the neck is maple, is a black Les Paul, or something along those lines.
YEA BUT ITS AN EPIPHONE. MADE IN MEXICO
I used to own a Gibson LP Standard but found it far too heavy so I sold it on eBay. How heavy is the tribute that you own?
Hi Terry,
My Tribute is lighter than a Les Paul Standard, so it may suit you. Unfortunately the Tribute is out of production right now so you have to search Reverb to find one if you are interested.
I'm a Fender guy ( 2019 American Performer Tele, 1999 Mexican Tele, 2023 Custom Shop Relic Strat), but I just bought one of these gold top Tributes used for $1000AUD, and I'm pretty happy with it. Noticeably heavier than my Fenders, the shorter scale is easier to fool around with, and the humbuckers really suit banging out a few Britpop tunes
If you can't make this one sound good, the other ones will be of no use. That's why this is the only one you'll need, in my opinion. I bought mine for 830 € used.
Thats a mahogany neck ..