Well, i had a 1994 standard that sounded like cardboard compared to my 2004 which is way more resonant and full sounding. The 94 had those flat frets I hate so I need to determine what years they used those, the wide, fat frets.
Now, I know I have tried 87-89 LPs that were killer. And it sounds like 2002s as well. Ya never know. Problem is, I don't find many used in town so I always go to ebay. I live in Philadelphia, so if anyone has found a good store with a variety of used LPs...let me know!
Also, what about Studio years? I hear early to mid 90s.
For guitars in Philly, try Benni Cintioli in the north east. He gets a lot of used stuff through that store.Here today, gone tomorrow, so check often.
For older guitars, I got lucky with an 80 standard because it came with Tim Shaw pickups and it had a mahogany neck, so it's similar to a heritage 80.It's about 9lbs of non weight relieved mahogany, and has a warm,mellow vintage tone with great low end.
As for the newer ones, I believe that in 2002 they changed the specs, and it got great reviews, so that year gets mentioned often. Like you,I too have a 2004, and it's a great guitar as well, but in different ways than the 80 standard.
And just to prove a point, I also have a 1970 pancake ( not a style that many like) that has been used and abused in every which way.But if it's tight,focused, in your face rock that you want, that guitar with it's Bill Larence pickups is THE go to gutar for me. It has awsome cleans ala Page and the Allmans, the neck 'pup has "woman tone" for days, and the bridge pickup through a marshall will blister the paint on the walls !
So I think that the age old axiom is true..... Good (and bad) guitars can be found in all years. It also depends on what you're looking for.
+1 to '58 through 60 though.... Not too many of those that we all could resist
if it weren't for the price....
Picaso