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2017 Gibson Custom Shop's Les Paul Std...separating fact from rumor!

Top Gun

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Mar 31, 2007
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The Neck sizes and shapes differ on ALL. The 60' has the thinnest profile.
 

CAGinLA

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Jan 4, 2016
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So are you saying that the 60 is the only one with a different neck profile?

Go to a dealer's site like Wildwood where they list the neck measurements. The 2017s all pretty much fall in the 0.9 / 1.0 range, with the exception of the 60s. This is what was reported about the 2017 specs early on - they would all (with the exception of 60s) essentially have the same profile as a 59

I have only played a single 2017 - a 54 - but its neck profile (which measures 0.89 / 1.0) is virtually the same as the my 2015 TH58. Both are rounded (don't feel any V shape on them) with less shoulder than my 2013 BB57 and the 2014 R8 that I used to own (which, IIRC, was around 0.94 / 1.0).
 

Dilver

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The Neck sizes and shapes differ on ALL. The 60' has the thinnest profile.

Does this mean each guitar is different because of the hand work involved, or are you saying that each year model (R4-R0) is different? I'm not challenging, I'm just trying to understand because there seems to be conflicting info on this.
 

CAGinLA

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Does this mean each guitar is different because of the hand work involved, or are you saying that each year model (R4-R0) is different? I'm not challenging, I'm just trying to understand because there seems to be conflicting info on this.

A little of both. In previous years, the R0, R9, and the rest (R8/R7/R6/R4) had distinct profiles (thin, medium, chunky, in that order), but there was always a lot of variation, due to the hand sanding, so it wasn't uncommon to find, let's say, R9s that were on the chunky side and R8s that were on the medium side.

The 2017 specs that were leaked by Music Zoo earlier in the year stated that they were all (with the exception of the 60s) going with a 59 profile:

"NAMM 2017
New and exciting things are going down at the Gibson Custom Shop. Specs are being rearranged, necks and tops are changing shapes, and everything is lined up to come out fantastic. You can pre-order these guitars starting right now from The Music Zoo. Here is the low-down about what is coming out of the Historic division of the Gibson Custom Shop for 2017! Stay tuned for pictures as the guitars arrive in the store.

Features of what we knew as 2016 Standard and True Historics are being condensed into one single series where all new 2017 Historic Reissue Les Pauls will feature:

– The Carmelita top carve profile
- All ’54, ’56, ’57, and ’58 Historic Reissues have ’59 neck profiles
– All hide-glue construction and nitrocellulose lacquer finishes with aniline dye
– True Historic parts including pickguard, pickup rings, switch washer, tip, knobs, pickup covers, and jack plate.
– Historic accurate serial numbers (no “R” at the beginning of the serial)
– Rolled Fretboard Binding
– Solid Indian rosewood fretboard
– Solid one-piece mahogany neck with Historic long neck tenon
– Holly Headstock Veneer
– Custombucker Pickups
- Finishes include Antique Gold, Dirty Lemon (replacing Lemon Burst), Faded Tobacco, Iced Tea, and Washed Cherry

- The street price for 1954 through 1958 Historic Reissue Les Pauls in both Gloss and VOS finishes are $4,699.

- The street price for 1959 through 1960 Historic Reissue Les Pauls in both Gloss and VOS finishes are $6,499."
 

Top Gun

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Not true. The new 58' have a wider profile neck than the 59's. I have both and can tell you from in-hand knowledge.
 

CAGinLA

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Not true. The new 58' have a wider profile neck than the 59's. I have both and can tell you from in-hand knowledge.

And I can tell you that my 2017 54 has the virtually the same profile as an R9 - way less shoulder than my old 2014 R8.

The neck measurements, as always, are all over the place.

Here is a 2017 58 with .890 1st - .990 12th neck.

Here is a 2017 59 with .910 1st - 1.010 12th neck.
 
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slammintone

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Jul 19, 2001
Messages
2,003
My 2017 R9s neck thickness is .919" @ 1st fret and 1.021" at the 12th. 1.695" wide at the nut. I'm not at all certain Gibson has a cookie cutter making each neck other than the R0 necks the same .900 - 1.000" for the 2017 Historic Standards.
 

Top Gun

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Here's my new 2017 59'

20170812_083053-1_resized-X2.jpg
 

AA00475Bassman

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I haven't held one of these new guitars in hand , the photos look IMO like some of the best I've ever seen . The paint and tops are miles ahead of the Wilson era IMO !
 

Grinch59

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Dec 5, 2017
Messages
6
Hi all,

this is my very first post and I am happy to participate in the forum!

This is my 2017 Les Paul Plain Top. As you can see it's notplain at all :) Usually, I prefer the less flamy tops so this is exaclty my cup of tea.
I have struggled for month with the decision to buy a Les Paul but this purchase was the best decision I have recently made.

It plays superb, sounds brilliant and looks gorgeous. I compared it to a bunch of other 2017 models, some TH 58's and 59's. Compared to the most, it sounded way more open and fresh. Especially the middle position made me grin like an idiot :) It was mindblowing, how this guitar compared to some much higher value custom shops. It is obviously all subjective. Speaking for me, I found the holy grail which happened to be also affordable.

A more detailed report with more picutres will follow.
 

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Grinch59

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Dec 5, 2017
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Hi all,

my first attempt to reply to this thread didn't come through. Please excuse me, if I made any mistake and in case it pops up twice.

This is my 2017 Custom Shop Les Paul Plaintop. It was by far the one that suits me best in a range of 2017 Custom Shops, TH58 & TH59.
It plays great, sounds like from heaven and looks gorgeous. A more detialed report will follow in a NGD threat. Hopefully, with some more pictures.

Looking forward to participate in the forum!

All the best from Cologne!
 

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El Gringo

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Hi all,

my first attempt to reply to this thread didn't come through. Please excuse me, if I made any mistake and in case it pops up twice.

This is my 2017 Custom Shop Les Paul Plaintop. It was by far the one that suits me best in a range of 2017 Custom Shops, TH58 & TH59.
It plays great, sounds like from heaven and looks gorgeous. A more detialed report will follow in a NGD threat. Hopefully, with some more pictures.

Looking forward to participate in the forum!

All the best from Cologne!
Welcome , and that is a very lovely guitar .Love the color and the top .
 

Dilver

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Joined
Feb 17, 2016
Messages
114
Love my 2017 Custom Shop Les Paul Standard 58 “Plaintop”. 2017 was a hell of a year!
 

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AA00475Bassman

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Love my 2017 Custom Shop Les Paul Standard 58 “Plaintop”. 2017 was a hell of a year!
Absolutely stunning Les Pauls 2017 produced some killers , as far as fact from rumor IMO Gibson is in the dark how would you know ?
 

bgarcia

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Nov 8, 2006
Messages
2
Does the 2017 standard have the same "hand sanded" thin finish they do on the TH?
 

ONEHERO

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Apr 5, 2016
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I find there was quite a difference between the 2017 and the true historic 2015- the neck carve and thin nitro and rolled binding on the 2015 were way better
 
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