2019 Custom Shop Reissue Changes Sneak Peek!

Tommy Tourbus · Dec 28, 2018

As has been stated many times, they are competing with the used market so they feel a need to give people a reason to buy a new one VS used

El Gringo · Dec 28, 2018

Deep Purple Fan said:
In my opinion, Gibson Custom Shop has already aced the vintage reissue issue. I’ve got two collectors choice LPs (#26 and #43) and a 2013 1958 LP . All three are 500 ft home runs.

From Gibson’s standpoint, I can see why they feel the need to keep moving the ball. It’s called relevance in a very competitive market. Being an iconic brand is really cool until it isn’t. Marshall has it even worse. They are totally boxed in and are quickly moving to imported lower cost amps. How many times can you reinvent a Plexi or a 59 LP that many will say falls short of the original.

But, does it really fall short?

I agree with you that Gibson Custom is hitting mammoth gigantic titanic size home runs with the Les Paul with the only thing different is the hallowed Vintage PAF pickups . I know a lot of people might argue also about the old growth timber used in the 50's versus today , but Gibson has gotten closer in increments to the Vintage Bursts .Good enough in my book along with my trusty Marshall 2555X for my ears , because I don't see in my lifetime of having half million to spend on a vintage Burst . So the Gibson Custom Les Paul's while they are not inexpensive but it's the darn best Les Paul out there today period and I love them so much and want more !

jpage1974 · Jan 26, 2019

El Gringo said:
I agree with you that Gibson Custom is hitting mammoth gigantic titanic size home runs with the Les Paul with the only thing different is the hallowed Vintage PAF pickups . I know a lot of people might argue also about the old growth timber used in the 50's versus today , but Gibson has gotten closer in increments to the Vintage Bursts .Good enough in my book along with my trusty Marshall 2555X for my ears , because I don't see in my lifetime of having half million to spend on a vintage Burst . So the Gibson Custom Les Paul's while they are not inexpensive but it's the darn best Les Paul out there today period and I love them so much and want more !

Update on 2019 Historics ... new audio taper vs linear, headstock logo slightly changed, unpotted Custom Bucker 3’s... that’s it. Amazing though!

AmpKing · Jan 26, 2019

jpage1974 said:
Update on 2019 Historics ... new audio taper vs linear, headstock logo slightly changed, unpotted Custom Bucker 3’s... that’s it. Amazing though!

I occasionally have difficulty telling the difference between real enthusiasm and well written sarcasm, and this is one of those times. My interest in NAMM this year is knowing that Gibson will continue production of what has been known as the Collector's Choice and Artist Series LPs, even if they change the name to something else and take it in a different direction. Simply, I like to play Les Pauls with a broken-in look and comfortable feel that play and sound great. The revised volume pot taper is a nice change, but the logo and unpotted Custom Buckers are not on my radar screen. Although I'm probably set for LPs for several years, I could get excited about lightweight, old-growth mahogany that sounds especially good in a new LP. Sound and feel, that's what I want to see get better as Gibson recovers from its recent past. And I want to see Gibson get stronger and more responsive to its customers.

jpage1974 · Jan 26, 2019

AmpKing said:
I occasionally have difficulty telling the difference between real enthusiasm and well written sarcasm, and this is one of those times. My interest in NAMM this year is knowing that Gibson will continue production of what has been known as the Collector's Choice and Artist Series LPs, even if they change the name to something else and take it in a different direction. Simply, I like to play Les Pauls with a broken-in look and comfortable feel that play and sound great. The revised volume pot taper is a nice change, but the logo and unpotted Custom Buckers are not on my radar screen. Although I'm probably set for LPs for several years, I could get excited about lightweight, old-growth mahogany that sounds especially good in a new LP. Sound and feel, that's what I want to see get better as Gibson recovers from its recent past. And I want to see Gibson get stronger and more responsive to its customers.

I played several of the 59/60 Historic Reissue guitars at NAMM. They are as good as the 2017/2018 Historics. I wouldn’t say “better” because the 2018’s are near perfect and the best/most accurate LP reissue ever. They are equal in tone and playability and the potted vs unpotted is a preference thing (unpotted being more vintage accurate). The headstock logo and LP logo placement and style is not a big deal. Vintage LP logos are all over the place. I don’t know how much street price will be. I will find out. If it’s the same or less they are well worth it. Overall the line is amazing this year. The best year in many to buy a standard production LP. CS have been great for several years.

Tommy Tourbus · Jan 27, 2019

I just figured out the "new logo placement". I was looking at the Gibson logo thinking I didn't see a diff, but it's not that. It's the Les Paul Model logo. It was moved slightly more forward. I don't like it actually. It looks better and more balanced moved back a bit

marshall1987 · Jan 27, 2019

Not to be a naysayer....I appreciate very much how far Gibson has come since I bought my first Norlin Les Paul Standard back in 1980.

But at the end of the day, it's all about the wood. I really wish Gibson would return to harvesting premium mahogany in Central and South America. If the mahogany growers can have a sustainable plantation on the island of Fiji, why can't they have a sustainable plantation(s) where the species originated? :dang

EFLOW · Jan 28, 2019

What is the difference ?

It is the same imho

Mats A · Feb 2, 2019

I have red that the placing of the logo varied on the originals so what says this is the right place for the logo?

HNS · Feb 2, 2019

When will they ship them to the retailers ? Any idea ?

Tim · Feb 15, 2019

dleake said:
Gibson Custom Category Product Specialist Mat Koehler just posted this on his Instagram. New logo, new placement, and new shade of gold for 2019! Cool! :salude

That logo placement doesn't look right to me at all. If you draw a line between the center of the A and B string posts, it should touch the front of the 'e' in Les.

http://www.burstserial.com/galleries/1959/9_0381/9_0381-10.jpg

Guitardon · Feb 15, 2019

deytookerjaabs said:
Well for me it starts today.

Historics get X more accurate over Y years. So I'm gonna guess 15 more years for them to reach the apex of historicity as there's only so much accuracy you can add, right?

Let's see here, circa '03 one could get a nice new R series for 2.5k or so? Well that hath doubled in the last 15 years (holy crap it's been 15 years since '03) so I'm looking at an eventual doubling of the current price to about roughly 10k come 2033 for the singularity? That leaves me 180 months to save up, only $55 a month!! The Mrs. doesn't approve of monthly payments on guitfiddles though so it's an uphill battle.

Awe ****, I forgot my daughter will be entering college around then where based on the current trajectory tuition will be 100k a semester? :hee
So much for that idea. :##

That veneer does look nice and old school nonetheless!

The next thing there gonna do is figure how them be old when they actually are new! Then they can call them truest historiecs. He he..

Bruce R · Feb 15, 2019

Tim said:
That logo placement doesn't look right to me at all. If you draw a line between the center of the A and B string posts, it should touch the front of the 'e' in Les.

http://www.burstserial.com/galleries/1959/9_0381/9_0381-10.jpg

Thanks for producing photo comparisons, Tim! Yeah, it looks like they pushed the text a bit too far and over-compensated toward the logo.

thin sissy · Feb 16, 2019

BGReed2 said:
Thanks for producing photo comparisons, Tim! Yeah, it looks like they pushed the text a bit too far and over-compensated toward the logo.

Was that ever consistent though? My '55 GT and my '57 Jr have the Les Paul script in different positions. And my R8 has another position too :hmm

turboLp · Feb 16, 2019

deytookerjaabs said:
Well for me it starts today.

Historics get X more accurate over Y years. So I'm gonna guess 15 more years for them to reach the apex of historicity as there's only so much accuracy you can add, right?

Let's see here, circa '03 one could get a nice new R series for 2.5k or so? Well that hath doubled in the last 15 years (holy crap it's been 15 years since '03) so I'm looking at an eventual doubling of the current price to about roughly 10k come 2033 for the singularity? That leaves me 180 months to save up, only $55 a month!! The Mrs. doesn't approve of monthly payments on guitfiddles though so it's an uphill battle.

Awe ****, I forgot my daughter will be entering college around then where based on the current trajectory tuition will be 100k a semester? :hee
So much for that idea. :##

That veneer does look nice and old school nonetheless!

i love it how people completely forget this little thing called inflation and how it affects the relative worth of money.

deytookerjaabs · Feb 17, 2019

turboLp said:
i love it how people completely forget this little thing called inflation and how it affects the relative worth of money.

I reckon' they don't use math too much in your day job? :hee

JPP-1 · Feb 17, 2019

The Honduran mahogany plantations in Fiji were conceived back in the 1940s as Honduran Mahogany was already in short supply and considered a valuable resource. In fact, Kaya "African Mahogany" was already being used as a substitute for Honduran mahogany at that time.

Maybe if Gibson starts their own mahogany plantation in Honduras now, by the year 2199 they can have their 140th limited edition Les Paul with Honduran Mahogany from Honduras instead of Fiji, you know for those folks who believe they can hear from what side of the hill a tree was grown on.

In the meantime, if your interested in tone, Gibson's recent efforts have put forth some of the best Les Pauls since the 1950s. I'd put my 2018 Brazilian against any Les Paul past or present. It's a joy to play and one of the most exquisitely alive sounding instruments I've had the good fortune to lay hands on. Getting too caught up on specs is like trying to perceive how something will taste with your eyes rather than your mouth.

marshall1987 said:
Not to be a naysayer....I appreciate very much how far Gibson has come since I bought my first Norlin Les Paul Standard back in 1980.

But at the end of the day, it's all about the wood. I really wish Gibson would return to harvesting premium mahogany in Central and South America. If the mahogany growers can have a sustainable plantation on the island of Fiji, why can't they have a sustainable plantation(s) where the species originated? :dang

marshall1987 · Feb 17, 2019

JPP-1 said:
The Honduran mahogany plantations in Fiji were conceived back in the 1940s as Honduran Mahogany was already in short supply and considered a valuable resource. In fact, Kaya "African Mahogany" was already being used as a substitute for Honduran mahogany at that time.

Maybe if Gibson starts their own mahogany plantation in Honduras now, by the year 2199 they can have their 140th limited edition Les Paul with Honduran Mahogany from Honduras instead of Fiji, you know for those folks who believe they can hear from what side of the hill a tree was grown on.

In the meantime, if your interested in tone, Gibson's recent efforts have put forth some of the best Les Pauls since the 1950s. I'd put my 2018 Brazilian against any Les Paul past or present. It's a joy to play and one of the most exquisitely alive sounding instruments I've had the good fortune to lay hands on. Getting too caught up on specs is like trying to perceive how something will taste with your eyes rather than your mouth.

I seriously doubt Gibson would have to plant seedlings in Central America in order to obtain mahogany suitable for guitars in the near term. That's absurd. As recently as 2009, Gibson was procuring mahogany from Central America. The timber industry has not been shut down in Central America. Plenty of manufacturers are still purchasing timber from these countries. :##

There are vast forests in Central America that could be accessed with appropriate permitting from the Interior Ministries of the source countries. No need to reinvent the wheel folks.

And as far as wood specifications go, there is no question regarding the superior quality of Honduran mahogany sourced from Central and South America.

Of course if you prefer the very light, blond mahogany, sourced from Fiji, over the dark brown variety sourced from Central America, there are plenty of guitars constructed from these trees to fill a cargo ship. :dang

Lastly, your remarks about using your eyes to judge a guitar's specs and tone are disingenuous at best, and quite misleading. Everyone knows that the Les Paul Historic Reissue market is driven by the big flame tops that Gibson seems to be churning out lately. It's all about the big flame tops, which by the way, have little or no influence on the tone of a Les Paul. Can't have it both ways chief.

JPP-1 · Feb 18, 2019

marshall1987 said:
I seriously doubt Gibson would have to plant seedlings in Central America in order to obtain mahogany suitable for guitars in the near term. That's absurd. As recently as 2009, Gibson was procuring mahogany from Central America. The timber industry has not been shut down in Central America. Plenty of manufacturers are still purchasing timber from these countries. :##

There are vast forests in Central America that could be accessed with appropriate permitting from the Interior Ministries of the source countries. No need to reinvent the wheel folks.

And as far as wood specifications go, there is no question regarding the superior quality of Honduran mahogany sourced from Central and South America.

Of course if you prefer the very light, blond mahogany, sourced from Fiji, over the dark brown variety sourced from Central America, there are plenty of guitars constructed from these trees to fill a cargo ship. :dang

Lastly, your remarks about using your eyes to judge a guitar's specs and tone are disingenuous at best, and quite misleading. Everyone knows that the Les Paul Historic Reissue market is driven by the big flame tops that Gibson seems to be churning out lately. It's all about the big flame tops, which by the way, have little or no influence on the tone of a Les Paul. Can't have it both ways chief.

Interesting, Because my pre 2013 Historic's sounded dull and felt numb in comparison. I thought it was the new manufacturing process but maybe it's just that the Honduran stuff aint the cat's meow after all. Maybe Swietenia macrophylla grown in Fiji is simply better than whatever post Honduran Mahogany scrapwood Gibson previously used. Maybe Gibson used the same Swietenia macrophylla from Honduras that Norlin used and we all know how that turned out.

Lets get another fact straight. I don't know where your getting your BS specifications that Swietenia macrophylla grown in Honduras is superior to Swietenia macrophylla grown in Fiji. I guess you didn't post any objective tests or data so until then you must concur it's BS. Cargo ships? Again provide some data to back it up otherwise it’s BS. Some Asian makers use cheap Phillipino “Mahogany” and other faux mahogany species but that’s not genuine Swietenia macrophylla so maybe you have your woods mixed up.

As far as internet hearsay is concerned, the 2013 and later historics have been heralded as greatly improved with the possible exception of some folks trying to dump their earlier less correct Historics. The only negative BS I've seen on Swietenia macrophylla is by some Luthier who has an interest in Honduran mahogany. Apparently anyone can edit a Wikipedia page which is way there's so much erroneous information out there.

Like i said post up the double blind tests where the sonic properties of Swietenia macrophylla grown in Honduras was proven to be superior to Swietenia macrophylla grown in Fiji. There is none so it's BS. btw 1950s Gibson preferred the lighter stuff. Whereas it was the building and furniture industry that sought out the very dense stuff.

RocknRollShakeUp · Feb 18, 2019

BGReed2 said:
Thanks for producing photo comparisons, Tim! Yeah, it looks like they pushed the text a bit too far and over-compensated toward the logo.

LOL, I was going to post a joke like, don't worry the new logo placement will Be a bit off, so that next year they can move it yet again and be once again closer to true specs :hee ...this is why I didn't give one ounce of baby poo over the original announcement, color tweak included :laugh2: I'll just be over here trying to improve my timing and phrasing using my much less accurate logo'ed 2016 Historics :hank

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