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Every great product and innovation inspires copies. Whether it’s modern rock bands ripping off old blues musicians or off brand cereal looking and tasting suspiciously like a name brand, copying something successful has become a sort of standard business practice for many. Instruments, in particular the iconic Gibson Les Paul, are often ripped off. But what’s especially malicious about the process is that people try to pass fake Les Pauls off as the real thing. Protect yourself from this dishonest practice with the guide below.
The Obvious Fakes
The truss rod cover is the first thing you should look at when you’re trying to determine whether or not a Gibson Les Paul is fake. On a real Les Paul, it will be bell shaped, and black with a white outline. There usually isn’t any writing on it, but some Gibsons have an inscription in cursive lettering that says “Les Paul” along the side with smaller print “Gibson” below it. The worst fakes have solid block lettering saying just “Gibson” vertically. Additionally, fakes will often have three screws securing the truss rod cover. Real Gibsons always have two, without exception. If you see an odd looking truss rod cover, steer clear.
The second thing to check out when you have suspicions about a Les Paul’s authenticity is the bend where the neck meets the headstock. If you’ve ever played a Gibson, you’ve probably noticed that the headstock angles away from you when you’re playing. Authentic Gibsons have a relatively sharp angle where the neck meets the headstock. Many fakes, meanwhile, remain flat all the way through.
The most subtle thing to watch out for on the headstock is the Gibson logo itself. Copycats have gotten pretty good at recreating the logo that runs across the top of the headstock in recent years. On a real Gibson, the logo will start with the bottom of the “G” sitting right next to the tuning head of the guitar’s D string. The lettering, from left to right, will slant upward with the “n” right above and a little to the left of the G string tuning head. Though the lettering itself may be hard to differentiate, copycats often misplace the logo. Usually, it will be placed too high or without enough slant on a fake.
The final cosmetic detail that copycat Gibsons often fudge up is the mother of pearl inlays. The shape of the inlays on an authentic Les Paul is trapezoidal. If they’re blocks, run away as fast as you can. The less obvious alternative is pearl inlays that aren’t actually inlaid into the fret board. To see for yourself, get your face parallel to the neck. If the inlays are raised up, it’s a fake.
Identifying a Gibson by its Guts
Before you make an investment as large as a Gibson guitar, it’s worth putting a little elbow grease into being sure it’s real. Countless people have squandered thousands of dollars on instruments that are practically worthless in comparison. If you have your hands on a Gibson you are considering buying, start your inspection by taking off the truss rod cover. Some fakes have all the cosmetics of it (the two screws, lettering, and bell shape) correct. But the truss rod itself will often be different. On an authentic Gibson, you will see a metal nut that holds the truss rod in place. Many fakes simply don’t have it. Instead, you will open the truss rod cover to see a Teflon surface completely lacking a visible nut.
If the truss rod checks out, the next step is to open up the electronics cover on the back. Unscrew the lid and lift it off completely. An authentic Gibson will have a roughly curved diamond shape to it. The electronic pots (or circular shaped receptors) themselves will be polished, and the wiring will be well organized. Fakes, on the other hand, often have a mess of wires sitting in a clover shaped basin. If the wires look as if they’ve been placed hastily at all, it is cause for concern. The wires themselves may also provide some clues. If they have a plastic covering, it is likely that the guitar isn’t authentic.
If you’re comfortable enough with guitar equipment, the last thing you can do is to check out the inside of the pickup cavity. You’ll have to remove the strings, unscrew the pickup covers, and take out the pickups themselves; so make sure the potential seller is comfortable with this before you start. Assuming all has gone to plan and you’ve removed the pickups successfully, have a close look at the cavity. On a real Les Paul, there will be no paint. All you will see is the wood’s natural coloring. But on a fake, the cavity will usually be painted black.
The fact is you probably won’t even need to see the guitar itself to realize it’s a fake. This is especially true in electronic markets like eBay.com and Craigslist.org. There, the old adage about being a smart consumer holds true: if a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is. As a rule, extremely underpriced Gibsons or guitars that are shipped from China are almost always fakes. So remember, discretion is your most powerful tool in avoiding the huge amount of inauthentic Les Pauls in today’s guitar marketplace.
Posted by Administrator on Sat, 4 Sep 2010
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You may think that the Gibson Les Paul is the highest quality instrument out there. But, contrary to popular belief, Gibson actually produces some guitars of an even higher standard than the regular Les Paul. The most prominent example of this is the Gibson Les Paul Custom. It is, by all accounts, a higher end brother to the Les Paul Standard. Learn everything there is to know about the Custom below.
History of the Les Paul Custom
About two years after the Gibson Guitar Corporation introduced its original Les Paul model, it became apparent that a few more affluent musicians would be willing to purchase a guitar even pricier than the Les Paul. Gibson's decision to make a deluxe version was facilitated by Les Paul himself, who requested that it be made. Paul had a specific vision for this new, more indulgent guitar. He asked that it be black with white accents in order to look like a tuxedo. Gibson, trying to preserve their relationship with the musician who was so integral to their business, complied. At the time of its introduction in 1954, the Les Paul Custom cost a whopping $365. It doesn't seem like much now, but when put in terms of today's money it equates to almost $3,000.
The reasoning behind the Les Paul Custom's exceptional price becomes clearer when you take a look at its specifications. Even in 1954, when manufacturing was a much slower and more laborious process, the Custom lived up to its namesake with superior craftsmanship. The neck and body were both mahogany, just like the Les Paul Standard. The original Custom, though, had a mahogany top that was painted black instead of gold. As a result, the guitar would later come to be known as the "Black Beauty". The fret board was made of solid ebony wood, and the frets were flatter and lower than the original Les Paul's. In terms of electronics, the "Black Beauty" had a P-90 in the bridge position and a specially designed Alnico V in the neck position. Its hardware, meanwhile, was either gold or silver plated.
Each minute detail of the original 1954 "Black Beauty" was carefully selected to contribute to an instrument of the highest quality possible. The solid mahogany body resulted in a heavier guitar with more sustain. The ebony fret board looked richer than the rosewood and maple ones on the Standard. From the perspective of sound, the dual P90 and Humbucker pickup combination on the Custom allowed for a more versatile sound than the Standard, which at the time just had two P90's.
From the time that the first Les Paul Custom came off the line, the guitar has maintained a certain mystique that few others can match. Since 1957, it has been offered with an option of either two or three pickups, making it truly unique among other Gibsons. Its fantastic build and impeccable looks have continually set the bar for instrument quality in the industry.
The Les Paul Custom Today
Today, the Les Paul Custom sports a few changes in look and feel that further separate it from the pack. Its top, now capped with carved maple, is available in 5 different finishes, including: silverburst, ebony, alpine white, wine red, and cherry sunburst. All but the silverburst model have gold hardware. The fret board is still made of ebony, which gives it a noticeably smoother feel to the guitarist's fretting fingers. The frets, as well, maintain their flatter and lower style, which allows for speedier playing with ease. In addition, it makes complicated chords and finger-stretching intervals less difficult to navigate. Its inlays, as opposed to the trapezoidal mother of pearls on a Les Paul Standard, are solid block mother of pearls. As a final touch of class, the headstock features a "Split Diamond" pearl inlay.
Some may deem the flourishes and stylistic details of the Les Paul Custom unnecessary. But even though the function of the Custom isn't head and shoulders above the Standard, its little nuances make it look as such. The Custom is not an instrument for anyone; especially those who abuse their guitars with constant travel and playing. There are, however, few guitars that look better in the case or showroom of a collector than the old "Black Beauty".
Posted by Administrator on Sat, 4 Sep 2010
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As a counterpart to the Gibson Les Paul Standard, the Les Paul Studio has gained a fantastic reputation for function, practicality, and affordability. Though the Les Paul is naturally a great looking instrument, the Gibson’s aim when the Studio was conceived was to ignore the visual flourishes and focus on keeping sound specifications the same. By doing so, Gibson would be able to open up the Les Paul market, letting in good musicians who simply couldn’t afford the flashier Les Paul Standard. The result was a perfectly functional Les Paul with a little less glitz and a much smaller price tag.
History of the Les Paul Studio
The Studio’s concentration, as previously stated, was to appeal to guitarists who cared more about sound and technical features as opposed to looks. The Les Paul Standard, with its bound body, expensive fret inlays, and rich finishes, included many extra aesthetic features that weren’t really necessary from a purely musical standpoint. As a response, the Gibson Guitar Corporation came up with the first Les Paul Studio in 1983.
The earliest models of the Studio stripped everything that Gibson considered unnecessary. The inlays on its fretboard, normally genuine Mother of Pearl trapezoids, were replaced with standard pearl dots. Additionally, the aesthetic bindings around the guitar’s body were done away with on the Studio. Because the carved maple top of the Les Paul Standard was considered to be influential on the sound, it was decided that a similar, slightly thinner one should be affixed to Studio models. The rest of the Les Paul hardware, including the three way selector switch, volume and tone controls, tuning heads, and tune-o-matic bridge, were all kept the same. As a final cost saving measure, the extravagant finish found on Les Paul Standards and Customs was significantly dialed back, giving the Studio a more understated, natural look.
Since the first years of its production, Gibson has continually changed how it makes specific Les Paul Studio models. This has led to a wide array of specifications for the line itself. In fact, the Studio line has become one of the most versatile brands that Gibson produces.
Les Paul Studio Variants
There’s quite a long list of different materials, finishes, and hardware that Gibson has applied to its Studio line over the past 27 years. As its value line, the Studio has given Gibson the opportunity to experiment heavily, testing out different combinations and builds to see which ones are the most popular among buyers. Below is a comprehensive guide to the additions Gibson has made to its Les Paul Studio line over the years.
Between 1983 and 1985, Gibson had three different versions of the Les Paul Studio available. The Studio Custom, made between 1984 and 1985, was a mix of Les Paul Standard materials and materials from other Gibson models. It had a mahogany body with a carved genuine maple top and mahogany neck. Unlike other Studios, the body and neck of the Custom was bound all the way around. Its hardware, including the tuning heads and bridge, was gold in color. The Custom is considered to have a slightly higher quality of build than other Studio guitars. The Studio Standard, which immediately followed the Custom, was also a bit higher in quality. It had all the same features as the Custom, with a few small exceptions. The hardware, for instance, was chrome instead of gold. Accent pieces like the pick guard were painted white instead of black. And, perhaps most noticeably, it was offered with a cherry themed finish. The regular Les Paul Studio model’s key difference, which accounts for slightly lower build quality, is the fact that its carved top was made of alder instead of maple.
The mid 1990’s brought a newcomer to the Les Paul Studio line. After receiving feedback from musicians who preferred a lighter guitar, Gibson overhauled the build and introduced the Les Paul Studio Lite. Along with the traditional mahogany, very light balsa wood was used to craft the body in certain sections. This brought the weight down significantly. Additionally, the electronics of the Studio Lite were much different. Instead of the standard two humbucker configuration, Gibson added a single coil pickup in between two humbuckers. It maintained the same controls, but made the knobs more important by allowing all five pickup coils on the guitar to be manipulated.
Around the time that the Studio Lite was first produced, the Les Paul Studio Gem Series was introduced. The gimmick, of course, was that the toned-down finishes were modeled after the color of gemstones. As homage to ‘50s era Les Paul Standards, the Gem Series was affixed with P-90 pickups instead of humbuckers. Though it was certainly unique, the Gem Series Studio line was discontinued just a few years later, in 1998.
In the 21st century, Gibson added two new Les Paul Studio models that aligned with newer, more eco-friendly policies that the company adopted. The first was the Smartwood Studio. The hardware, electronics, body, and neck were all standard Les Paul Studio materials. But the carved top was one of six woods certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. They included deep Curupay wood, pine-like Peroba, golden Banara, light Ambay Guasu, rosewood-like Taperyva Guasu, and warm Chancharana These exotic woods, widely available in foreign forests, were both aesthetically and economically pleasing to Gibson. The second Studio Model to come about from new ecological ideals was the Swamp Ash studio. Both the body and top of this version are made of, as you’ve probably guessed, swamp ash. Again, the wood was certified as ecologically responsible by the Forest Stewardship Council. The neck of the Swamp Ash Studio was made of mahogany, and the hardware and electronics were standard. Interestingly, the earliest Swamp Ash Studio guitars were produced with ebony fretboards that had no inlays whatsoever. After two years, though, Gibson switched back to a standard rosewood fretboard with dot inlays.
The latest addition to the Les Paul Studio line is the Vintage Mahogany model. Still in production, its mahogany build and vintage red and brown finishes are designed to invoke a sense of nostalgia and tradition for guitarists. To ensure top sound quality, it employs the exact same Alnico V BurstBucker pickups that the Les Paul Standard has.
The Les Paul Studio line, aside from its economic advantage over the Standard and Custom lines, is interesting purely because of its variation. Gibson has taken every opportunity to do something new and exciting with the Les Paul Studio. This is precisely why the Studio is worth watching, and perhaps even worth buying.
Posted by Administrator on Wed, 1 Sep 2010
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It may come as a surprise, but the serial number on the back of your Gibson Les Paul says quite a bit about where and when the guitar was made. The Les Paul, one of the most popular guitar models in history, has been through many different evolutions and updates. Depending on the model type and year a specific Les Paul was made, certain nuances of the guitar's serial number may be different. See the guide below to determine what your Les Paul's serial number means.
Gibson's systematic serial number process for the Les Paul began in 1975. You can tell specifically which of those three years a given Les Paul was made in by looking at the first two digits. The production year 1975 is indicated by a 99 at the front, 1976 is a 00, and 1977 is a 06.After that comes 6 more digits. And, unfortunately for the curious 1975-1977 Les Paul owner, they do not have any more information about where or when the guitar was made. Assigning arbitrary numbers, though, would soon be stamped out by Gibson.
In 1977, Gibson changed the way their Les Paul serial number worked. Instead of using the first two digits to indicate the year, they spaced them out to surround a three digit day number on both sides. The serial number still had eight digits, but they all received a specific meaning. The pattern went as follows:
(year's first digit)(day number digit)(day number digit)(day number digit)(year's second digit)(factory number digit)(factory number digit)(factory number digit)
At the time, Gibson had two major plants that manufactured Les Pauls in the United States. Any guitar with a serial number whose last three digits are between 001 and 499 was made in Kalamazoo, Michigan. If they are 500 or higher, then it was made in Memphis, Tennessee. So, if a Les Paul that was made between 1977 and 1984 has a serial number of 83655501, it was made on December 31, 1985, in Nashville. This method has since become the basic standard for numbering most Les Pauls. Gibson owners support it enthusiastically because the system makes it easy to identify when and where their guitar was made, plus, the numbering process has a certain tradition to it which is very much in line with Gibson's storied history.
In 1984, Gibson decided to close the Kalamazoo, Michigan plant. For a period of five years, Nashville was the only place that produced Les Pauls. Then, in 1989, they shuffled their plants' duties. Since that year, all Les Pauls have been crafted in either Nashville or Memphis. The system they adopted at that time remains pretty much intact today. With the altered system, the last three digits on a Les Paul serial number start in the 300's. From there, they go up by one for each guitar that comes off the line. An example of this would be a Les Paul with the serial number 83659301. It means that the guitar was made on December 31, 1985, and was the first one to be finished that day.
In 2005 Gibson again altered their system. It is a slight change that makes the serial number on guitars made in the last 5 years 9 digits long instead of 8.They added a number, now in the sixth position, that indicates the "batch" number. Depending on how many Les Pauls the factory produces in a given day, the batch number will range from 1 to 9. So, for instance, if your Les Paul has a serial number of 003085310, it was made on January 30, 2008, and was the tenth guitar made in the 5th batch of the day. The addition of the batch number helps to provide a more detailed picture painted for each Les Paul by the serial number, as the production of guitars has risen quite a bit in the last 30 years.
Special Cases
Every serial number rule has its exceptions. This is especially true for the Les Paul line, because there are a wide variety of specialty models within the line itself. Les Paul Classic models, made to recreate every nuance of the original Les Pauls created between 1952 and 1960, feature serial numbers with 4, 5, or 6 digits, depending on the decade they were manufactured in. Les Paul Classics made in the '80s have four, ones from the '90s have five, and ones from the 00's have six. There will be a space between the first digit, which indicates the specific year number, and the rest on the serial numbers with 4 and 5 digits. On the Classics stamped with six digits, the space won't be there.
In 1994, Gibson used special serial numbers on their guitars to commemorate the company's 100th anniversary. All Les Pauls made in 1994 have a serial number that begins with, you guessed it, 94. The other six digits tell you the ranking number. If a Les Paul has a serial number of 94000300, for example, it means that it was the 300th one produced by Gibson in 1994.
Gibson Custom Les Pauls
The Gibson Custom Shop produces all sorts of specialty instruments. They make reissues that copy Les Pauls from a certain era, guitars made with special materials, and guitars that are modeled after ones that famous musicians play.
The 1952-1960 Les Paul reissue, made by Gibson since 1992, is designated by a serial number with the following pattern:
(Model year the guitar is copied after)(year of production)(ranking number first digit)(ranking number second digit)(ranking number third digit)
The 1961-1969 reissues, meanwhile, have six digit serial numbers that follow a different pattern. It is as follows:
(Production year first digit)(production year second digit)(ranking number first digit)(ranking number second digit)(ranking number third digit)(8)
Standard Custom Shop Les Pauls have their own serial number sequences as well. Their sequence is:
(CS-standing for custom shop-)(production year digit)(ranking number digit)(ranking number digit)(ranking number digit).
A Custom shop Les Paul with the serial number CS30333 means it was the 333rd of that line produced in 2003.
Signature model Les Pauls are produced to mimic those of famous musicians. The most popular ones are modeled after the guitars of Ace Frehely, Dickey Betts, Gary Rossington, Jimmy Page, Joe Perry, Pete Townshend, Peter Frampton, Slash, and Zakk Wylde. The list below shows how each is stamped. Note that the parentheses are digits in a ranking number for each specific model:
Ace Frehely: ACE()()(), Dickey Betts: DB()()(), Dickey Betts Red Top: DBR()()(), Gary Rossington: GR()()(), Jimmy Page aged model: Hand signed by Jimmy Page, no serial number, Jimmy Page aged model 2: PAGE()()(), Pete Townshend Deluxe: PETE()()(), Peter Frampton Custom: PF()()(), Peter Frampton LP Special: PFY()()(), Slash cranberry finish: SL()()(), Slash regular finish: SL()()(), Zakk Wylde: ZW()()().
As you can see, the serial number on the back of your Les Paul is more than just an arbitrary sequence. Gibson uses an array of constantly evolving serial numbers to label their Les Pauls. Each new addition is an improvement on the last, and can tell you quite a bit of interesting information about the guitar it’s stamped on. The serial number is much like a birth certificate for each individual instrument. So, if you get a chance, check out the sequence on the back of its headstock the next time you pick it up.
Posted by Administrator on Thu, 19 Aug 2010
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The Gibson Guitar Corporation is one of the most historic, respected, and revered instrument manufacturers in the United States. Founded in 1890 by Orville Gibson, it is among the oldest instrument manufacturers still operating today. Take a look below to find out the full history of Gibson Guitars Incorporated and what exactly they’ve done over the years.
The Beginning
In 1890, Gibson founder Orville Gibson had a fantastic idea. At the time, there was no such thing as a guitar – especially the electric guitar that Gibson has since become known for. There was, however, a stringed instrument very similar to the guitar called a mandolin. Orville Gibson, of course, started his career by making these in Kalamazoo, Michigan. But his mandolins weren’t like any other on the market at that time. They had a solid wood top that was arched, along with a solid, straight back. All previous mandolins had a bowl shaped back, much like a lute. These had a tendency to slip off the player’s leg when sitting down. Gibson’s innovation, as simple as it may seem, was groundbreaking in that it made the mandolins easier to manufacture, richer sounding, and more comfortable to play.
In 1902, Gibson decided to incorporate his mandolin creating company. After about a decade of working and selling his mandolins out of a single room, he was ready to expand. The company started off by producing only the original design until 1919, when they decided to branch out further. They came up with archtop instruments that were no longer mandolins, but actual guitars as we know them today. Their most successful line through the 1920’s, in fact, was the L-5, which was designed as a guitar as opposed to a mandolin.
Gibson’s first foray into electric instruments began in the 1930’s. They “electrified” several types of instruments, including banjos, mandolins, and steel guitars. Companies such as Fender were in the fray, developing their own as well. But Gibson brand electric instruments were even then considered to be the best.
World War II Era
In the early 1940’s, as the United States invaded Europe and the Pacific, a severe lack of domestic wood and metals forced Gibson to transform their business. In an effort to help the allies, they assembled several types of military tools. Towards the end of the war, Gibson was bought by a company named Chicago Musical Instruments. They took over the business and selling side of the operation while letting Gibson continue to make the guitars without any input or interference from Chicago Musical Instruments.
As the 1950’s began, the switch in focus from acoustic guitars to electric was in full swing. This switch was due in large part to the hiring of Ted McCarty as president. He saw that Fender was having great success selling their Telecaster line of guitars, and it was up to Gibson to come up with an equally impressive response. Needless to say, they did. In 1952, the first Gibson Les Paul was released. The development and release, spearheaded by McCartney, would prove to be an industry changing innovation. It had a solid body, electric pickups, a three way switch, and four combined volume and tone control knobs. Its design, elegantly contoured and shaped, was an immediate hit among musicians. Gibson expanded the line in the mid 50’s with the thinner, sleeker Thinline series. It appealed to guitarists who wanted something that would fit their style well and be easy to play standing up. The style caught on quickly, and soon became a mainstay in Gibson's product line.
From the Sixties on
In the late 50’s Gibson Guitars decided that a change in direction was again needed. Known for elegance and somewhat understated instruments, they began making new lines of guitars to put the company on the cutting edge of guitar design. In 1958, they revealed both the Gibson Explorer and Gibson Flying V. Then, in 1961, they introduced the SG, or Solid Guitar, to accommodate consumers’ requests for a double cutaway guitar. At first, the three were something of a failure. The guitars had sharper, fiercer lines. They looked aggressive. And they certainly didn’t carry with them the feel or nostalgia of old acoustic instruments. But, with the rise of English bands in America, Gibson’s popularity came roaring back. Hard rock bands hailing from Britain, like Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and the Who, used Gibson guitars in the studio and onstage. American culture at large changed in the 60’s, and Gibson rode the wave expertly. Even their most experimental guitars – the Explorer and the Flying V – began to catch on with the rise of hard rock and metal. The Les Paul, meanwhile, quickly became the quintessential instrument for blues and rock n’ roll.
In 1969, Gibson was again bought out. They, along with parent company Chicago Musical Instruments, were acquired by a huge brewing company from South America named E.C.L. Unfortunately, the quality of their guitars is believed to have suffered during this period, because of mismanagement. E.C.L. simply didn’t have the know-how or resources to run a guitar manufacturing company of Gibson’s size successfully. But, just as their demise was becoming imminent, Gibson was rescued by a buyout. New CEO Henry Juskiewicz took his place at the head of the company, and remains there today.
Since Juskiewicz’s entrance into the leadership role, Gibson has taken a very positive direction. Their manufacturing improved greatly, and new plants were opened. Today, Gibson makes their electrics in Nashville, their Custom Shop guitars in Memphis, and their acoustics in Bozeman, Montana.
Gibson Today
In the early 1990’s Gibson ownership also changed the philosophical direction of the company. Instead of just making and selling guitars, they began dabbling in environmentally conscious manufacturing and philanthropy. They began supporting several non-profit foundations, and eventually even created their own. Additionally, Gibson started implementing a new policy of wood harvesting for their guitars. It is more responsible and conservative, and has proved to be a huge success for the company’s image and sales.
Today, under their now not-so-new but still innovative management, Gibson continues to thrive. Their philanthropic efforts continue, and their sales have stayed relatively steady despite the Recession of 2008. By all accounts, Gibson will continue to hold its place as one of the most prestigious guitar manufacturers in the country. And, with the help of talented musicians all over the world, their elegant instruments will continue to be seen and revered across the musical landscape.
Posted by Administrator on Mon, 16 Aug 2010
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