'58 CME Les Paul CS Reissue - '59 Carmelita specs

[Micktobora]

Hi all. This is my first post on this forum so I hope I'm posting this in the right place!
I recently bought a secondhand CME Custom shop Les Paul with 'Carmelita' 59 specs. She was made in November 2018, has the slightly underwound (10 - 15%) Custombucker A3 pickups which as opposed to the 'regular' CS Gibsons, the pickups are potted, apart from that they are exactly the same, at least what I've gathered and what CME told me when i called them last week. Its a great sounding Les Paul and is very well finished, (apart from bleeding from the aniline dye bleeding slightly into the binding, neck and body.)

Id be very interested to see what opinions are out there on these CME Les Pauls, their sound, finish quality etc etc. I have a '73 LP Custom (Norlin) and the CME CS Les Paul to my ears, sounds way better and more authentic LP tone - reminiscent of the era which it is supposed to reflect. I also have a '93 USA Les Paul with Seymour Duncan Antiquities with a Callaham bridge - that sounds so very close to the CME '58 Custom Shop.

Your opinions on the above would be much appreciated.

 

[Micktobora]

It appears nobody is seeing my first post - which is strange..

 

[fred dons]

Well it is christmas so People might be busy otherwise

But congratulations, i heard good things about this run, i have the European version from Session.de and i love mine

 

[Micktobora]

Thanks Fred. Appreciate the reply! Best of luck mate. (Not much response on this one!)

 

[fred dons]

do you have a picture of yours you can show ?

 

[Micktobora]

Sure..! Here's a couple..

 

[Micktobora]

Sure..! Here's a couple..

Sorry if images are too big!
I find it hard to navigate this forum

 

[chrimer]

Month later but...I have a 2017 CME Standard. Low Wind Custombucker S. TH Spec. Scarface neck carve. Carmelita top carve (I think). I like it A LOT.
Finish is thin. Has faded quite a bit. Mine had the binding bleed but that's really faded away lately.
Looks nice. Sounds even better. I played a ton of Custom Shop Historic's before landing on this one. At the time leading up to these Gibson was changing spec quite a bit and I kept holding off hoping to get a more accurate to vintage LP. I stopped by CME while on a business trip and this run of CME's finally did me in. I played a bunch that were all great and this one checked all the boxes for me. Done and done. It hasn't been back in the case since.

 

[54/59]

Month later but...I have a 2017 CME Standard. Low Wind Custombucker S. TH Spec. Scarface neck carve. Carmelita top carve (I think). I like it A LOT.
Finish is thin. Has faded quite a bit. Mine had the binding bleed but that's really faded away lately.
Looks nice. Sounds even better. I played a ton of Custom Shop Historic's before landing on this one. At the time leading up to these Gibson was changing spec quite a bit and I kept holding off hoping to get a more accurate to vintage LP. I stopped by CME while on a business trip and this run of CME's finally did me in. I played a bunch that were all great and this one checked all the boxes for me. Done and done. It hasn't been back in the case since.

That top looks fantastic!

 

[ZZ Not]

That looks great ! I like everything about it and I especially like the dark fingerboard. Congratulations, enjoy it.

 

[talleychan]

It looks awesome! I like it all and I like the dark fingerboard particularly. Feel free, relax. Enjoy.
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[Micktobora]

Month later but...I have a 2017 CME Standard. Low Wind Custombucker S. TH Spec. Scarface neck carve. Carmelita top carve (I think). I like it A LOT.
Finish is thin. Has faded quite a bit. Mine had the binding bleed but that's really faded away lately.
Looks nice. Sounds even better. I played a ton of Custom Shop Historic's before landing on this one. At the time leading up to these Gibson was changing spec quite a bit and I kept holding off hoping to get a more accurate to vintage LP. I stopped by CME while on a business trip and this run of CME's finally did me in. I played a bunch that were all great and this one checked all the boxes for me. Done and done. It hasn't been back in the case since.

Thats is a beautiful LP! My 2018 CME (Carmelita top Carve and neck) looks similar to yours but yours just beats mine on the flame top.. better bookmatching.
Do you find the top wrap improves the 'slinkiness' when playing? I may try that one. My bridge pickup was about 2.5 to 3mm from the bottom of the strings and it sounded slightly weak compared to my other PAF style pickups in my other Les Pauls so i raised it slightly, only a half turn on the top end only to bring it a tad under 2mm between the top of the pu screw and the bottom of the top E string - and it has vastly improved the sound and output. How is yours setup? Be interesting to know having the same slightly underwound Custom Buckers 'S' as mine. (Pics of mine have dissapeared for some weird reason!? )

 

[chrimer]

As far as the top. It’s all about the angle. The flame definitely has shimmer and movement and can almost completely disappear.
My setup was great from CME but I don’t have spec. I’ve made plenty of adjustments though since then. Mostly just raising and lowering pickups to taste while noodling. I have a few sets of WIZZ and an old set of Seth Lovers. The custom buckers have stayed in because I haven’t felt like I’m missing anything that I can’t easily find with a small adjustment.

 

[Micktobora]

As far as the top. It’s all about the angle. The flame definitely has shimmer and movement and can almost completely disappear.
My setup was great from CME but I don’t have spec. I’ve made plenty of adjustments though since then. Mostly just raising and lowering pickups to taste while noodling. I have a few sets of WIZZ and an old set of Seth Lovers. The custom buckers have stayed in because I haven’t felt like I’m missing anything that I can’t easily find with a small adjustment.

That is interesting. Their certainly great reissues. Just out of curiosity, what height have you set your Custom Bucker 's' particularly for the bridge. As l mentioned, my bridge pu is slightly under 2mm from the top of the screws...slightly (half a screw turn), closer than how CME set em up.

 

[lamontllau]

It's really great to be here and read about these topics, thank you.
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[MattD1960]

my CME spec 58 with a R0 v2 neck is my avatar. its an absolute killer 1000% the best lp i have ever owned and the lightest 8.2 lbs

 

[FregGarvinMP]

my CME spec 58 with a R0 v2 neck is my avatar. its an absolute killer 1000% the best lp i have ever owned and the lightest 8.2 lbs

I love my 2022 CME spec 59 with V2 neck. It's also light. About 8.3lbs. Just a great guitar. Tops my Murphy Lab 60 Les Paul, which is really nice. I prefer the CME spec custom buckers. Dont see a need to change them, whereas i had to replace the ones in the Murphy Lab. Also the murphy lab has a slightly thinner neck than the CME V2. I prefer the slightly thicker V2.

 

[MattD1960]

there is 100% some secret sauce in these CMES, i got a goldtop with the V2 neck as well and it is also a KILLER guitar

 

[FregGarvinMP]

I really like that CME includes in their specs the option to have a thinner neck profile (60s V2, Carmelita) with a 58 and 59. Before stumbling upon CME, I was looking at Wildwood for a thinner profiled 59. Never found one in the range I wanted and then got a CME 59 V2.