• Guys, we've spent considerable money converting the Les Paul Forum to this new XenForo platform, and we have ongoing monthly operating expenses. THE "DONATIONS" TAB IS NOW WORKING, AND WE WOULD APPRECIATE ANY DONATIONS YOU CAN MAKE TO KEEP THE LES PAUL FORUM GOING! Thank you!

What do you guys think of the 2015 Goldtop Johnny A Standards?

bansheeboogaloo

New member
Joined
Aug 18, 2015
Messages
10
I think they're beautiful (as all the Johnny A's are), but I'm not crazy about the red backs. Has anyone seen one of these in person? I feel like the gold and red will clash, don't know why Gibson didn't make them gold on brown like the classic goldtop Les Pauls, or gold all alround. I had the opportunity to play a Johnny A with the natural walnut finish back in 2007 or so and I've loved these guitars ever since! I'm heading back to my hometown in about a week and there's a music store that has a goldtop near my parents' place so hopefully I can make my way over there and check it out.

Here's the Gibson page for the goldtop Standards:
http://www.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/2015/Custom/Johnny-A-Standard-w-Bigsby.aspx

And here's a link to a gold-on-brown LP that I think looks way better

http://www.gibson.com/Products/Elec...-50s-Style-Les-Paul-Standard-VOS-Goldtop.aspx
 
Last edited:

renderit

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 19, 2009
Messages
10,951
I'd love me a Johnny A (Natural for me, not gold), but I'd want one sans Bigsby and I just don't see any like that anymore. I hate Bigsby's.
 

Frost

Member
Joined
Sep 17, 2004
Messages
161
All the versions of the Johnny A are the best looking new product Gibson has developed in many, many years. The gold is awesome but the Standard Burst with Bigsby is my favorite. I still need to try one of these sometime.

Heiko
 

rockabilly69

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 29, 2001
Messages
2,872
I the Bigsby is too close to the ABR and the break angle too steep for proper Bigsby operation. Kind of like the Vibramate setup which caused me nothing but tuning instability. Hopefully the ABR will have domed thumbwheels so it can rock a bit.
 
Last edited:

Cogswell

The Duke of Dumbassery
Joined
Mar 19, 2002
Messages
15,717
Now that's a thing of beauty right there. I'd like to see a brown, walnut or darkback just like the LP Goldtops we all know & love. Aside from that, this looks like a killer piece. 25.5" scale? I'm THERE
 

latestarter

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 9, 2009
Messages
4,173
Didn't know this existed...and now wish that was still the case. Very nice, including the Bigsby!
 

Bigs_Bee

Member
Joined
Mar 3, 2002
Messages
40
I think they're beautiful (as all the Johnny A's are), but I'm not crazy about the red backs. Has anyone seen one of these in person? I feel like the gold and red will clash, don't know why Gibson didn't make them gold on brown like the classic goldtop Les Pauls, or gold all alround. I had the opportunity to play a Johnny A with the natural walnut finish back in 2007 or so and I've loved these guitars ever since! I'm heading back to my hometown in about a week and there's a music store that has a goldtop near my parents' place so hopefully I can make my way over there and check it out.

Here's the Gibson page for the goldtop Standards:
http://www.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/2015/Custom/Johnny-A-Standard-w-Bigsby.aspx

And here's a link to a gold-on-brown LP that I think looks way better

http://www.gibson.com/Products/Elec...-50s-Style-Les-Paul-Standard-VOS-Goldtop.aspx

The Gold/Red combination was at my specification echoing the original Les Paul/Mary Ford golldtops from '58 -ja
 

ewhip17

New member
Joined
Sep 21, 2016
Messages
86
Just a couple of thoughts:

1) I bet it looks amazing in person. Hard to do these guitars justice in pictures.
2) With this particular guitar, I'm not sure I'd let any finish specs dissuade me from purchasing one. Mine is one of the best playing guitars I've ever owned. With another guitar maybe, but these guitars are too good to pass up.


Mine:



 

bansheeboogaloo

New member
Joined
Aug 18, 2015
Messages
10
The Gold/Red combination was at my specification echoing the original Les Paul/Mary Ford golldtops from '58 -ja

Wow, Johnny A himself replied to me and I didn't even know. I gotta say, seeing this in person instantly changed my mind and I ended up buying it! Here's a crappy pic of it that I took with my phone http://i.imgur.com/w2wHR76.jpg

I the Bigsby is too close to the ABR and the break angle too steep for proper Bigsby operation. Kind of like the Vibramate setup which caused me nothing but tuning instability. Hopefully the ABR will have domed thumbwheels so it can rock a bit.

I did have a lot of tuning issues when using the bigsby when I first got it, but took it in for a set up and the guy put these rings under the bigsby to raise it up and decrease the break angle. Haven't had an issue since! http://i.imgur.com/e23aR9o.jpg

edit: ewhip17, I totally with everything you said! Your one is a beaut, I dig the hardtail on it too!
 

renderit

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 19, 2009
Messages
10,951
Just a couple of thoughts:

1) I bet it looks amazing in person. Hard to do these guitars justice in pictures.
2) With this particular guitar, I'm not sure I'd let any finish specs dissuade me from purchasing one. Mine is one of the best playing guitars I've ever owned. With another guitar maybe, but these guitars are too good to pass up.


Mine:




Youse gots some nice stuff Mr. Ewhip. I would love that unit!
 

ewhip17

New member
Joined
Sep 21, 2016
Messages
86
Wow, Johnny A himself replied to me and I didn't even know. I gotta say, seeing this in person instantly changed my mind and I ended up buying it! Here's a crappy pic of it that I took with my phone http://i.imgur.com/w2wHR76.jpg



I did have a lot of tuning issues when using the bigsby when I first got it, but took it in for a set up and the guy put these rings under the bigsby to raise it up and decrease the break angle. Haven't had an issue since! http://i.imgur.com/e23aR9o.jpg

edit: ewhip17, I totally with everything you said! Your one is a beaut, I dig the hardtail on it too!

Awesome - enjoy it!
 
Top