PRO-CONS 2004 Jimmy Page CA VOS vs. 2020 1960th anniversary '60 Reissue

[andrewflour]

Hi guys, hope everyone of you is fine and in good health.
I have a LP dilemma

I have the possibility to purchase a 2005 VOS Jimmy Page CA les paul trading my 60th anniversary R0 together some good money for the seller.
The JP CA has always been my dream guitar since I was a kid.
But I think it's a totally WRONG guitar, by historic standards.

Today Custom Shop Les Pauls are very well made and I've been happy I acquired a nee one. The specs are the ones we all know:
- light resonant wood (3.9 kg, 8.6 lbs)
- hot hide glue for neck and top
- condomless truss rod
- anyline laquer that fade by exposing it to the sun/light
- 6/6 nylon nut
- double carve to shaping the maple top
- (finally!) correct hardware material
- vintage style logo (not really precise but it really looks like the vintage ones)
- the CustomBuckers have really cool paf-style covers and paf style sound
- V2 neck shape is AWESOME

It's the best new guitar I've bought. I have an early 69 LP Custom and a extremely hi-fi '59 Replica that teach me how an old guitar should sound.

The Jimmy Page CA VOS is beautiful, the guitar I've always dreamed of, pageburst on a less flay top, skinny and elliptical neck but...
- it's quite heavy... 4,4 kg ( 9.5 lbs )
- no hot hide glue but Titebond
- no double carving for the maple top
- Corian nut (horrible...)
- being a 2000's LP, brass studs for the stopbar ( instead of the steel ones)
- truss rod plastic tube
- the wiring is totally wrong (never accepted the out of phase wiring in the middle position and the useless bridge coil tap... Page is everything but this kind of setup!)
- no vintage style logo

The only pro that I can give to the JP CA is the high value that could achieve in the next few years. But is that so important?
With the money I should give the seller (together with the 60th anniversary) I could buy an original P.A.F. and original 50's hardware to customize my R0 or my 59 replica.

What do you guys think about this? What would you do in my case?
I link some pics of the JP CA VOS and my 60th anniversary LP

 

[DutchRay]

If you don't care about the collectability of the Page, just keep your R0 and mod it to your liking, it is a more accurate reproduction of an original. If the Page is your dream guitar than make your dream come true.
Also keep in mind that the neck on the Page is smaller than the R0V2.

 

[Any Name You Wish]

Weeeeeeell, thin necks. I'm probably going to blow some gaskets out there, but I have found time and time again that when the neck gets thinner than say .85 at the nut the guitar starts to sound a little thin too. But, that trebly tone may be what you are after. Also, recreations of artist's guitars has been a bit hit and miss, at least the one's I've played. I guess what I am saying is play the Page LP in-person first.

 

[MelMann]

I've owned 3 Pages over the years. I think I liked the concept more than the actual guitars. If you've not tried one it would be a good idea to try before buying if possible. The necks are pretty weird. I can get used to any neck eventually, but they are kind of strange feeling. I think the recently made historics are much better guitars. I'd go for better pickups and hardware on your R0 if I were you instead of a Page.

 

[Enlarscom]

If you don't care about the collectability of the Page, just keep your R0 and mod it to your liking, it is a more accurate reproduction of an original. If the Page is your dream guitar than make your dream come true.

 

[60thR0]

Most of the Page tops are a bit over the top compared to #1, but this one looks to nail it. Yeah the Page LPs are trapped in time, even Page’s #1 has moved on in terms of burst fade.

Anyone know what #1 weighs?

I also have a 60th R0 V1 and the fit and finish and playability on it is superb. Yours looks killer. BTW are you sure it’s not a V1 with those knobs? Looks a bit like antiquity burst? Anyway my V1 neck is actually a tiny bit bigger than many R9s, definitely bigger shoulders which I like. If the Pages are accurate they should be even smaller than a V3?

 

[andrewflour]

If you don't care about the collectability of the Page, just keep your R0 and mod it to your liking, it is a more accurate reproduction of an original. If the Page is your dream guitar than make your dream come true.
Also keep in mind that the neck on the Page is smaller than the R0V2.

I also think that I already have an exact repro of an original vintage (the 59 replica I mentioned)... so maybe

 

[andrewflour]

Most of the Page tops are a bit over the top compared to #1, but this one looks to nail it. Yeah the Page LPs are trapped in time, even Page’s #1 has moved on in terms of burst fade.

Anyone know what #1 weighs?

I also have a 60th R0 V1 and the fit and finish and playability on it is superb. Yours looks killer. BTW are you sure it’s not a V1 with those knobs? Looks a bit like antiquity burst? Anyway my V1 neck is actually a tiny bit bigger than many R9s, definitely bigger shoulders which I like. If the Pages are accurate they should be even smaller than a V3?

Yeah I really think this one resembles the Page real #1 (only in look). For what I remember read here or MLP forum, the real Page is no heavier than 3.75-3.8 kg.
My 60th V2 R0 is a tomato soup burst, I exposed to sun for a week to fade the finish a bit. I guess it worked I changedthe knobs too, easiest modo to do on a LP.

 

[m bernardi]

IT,s on the heavy side

 

[El Gringo]

My 2 cents is that at the end of the day go for the one that makes you happiest ! Now having said that and taking into the specs of the 60th Anniversary model versus the Page is that the Page Les Paul is already set up for Page's mods , such as the push pull giving you the different tonal options such as out of phase sounds for instance . Which is a pretty nice mod to have built in from the factory . I am giving it away as my preference would be for the Page model Les Paul as I always really liked those because of the different tone options . I am not trying to tell you what to do but I think I would prefer the Page model .

 

[MattD1960]

If it were me and my guitar id keep your new R0

I just recently got ( see NGD thread) a 2004 R0 with all the "wrong" specs its a great guitar, comparing it to my 2019 CME spec its a different guitar completely. the neck shape is more akin to a les paul classic i had for years (which i love) its acousticly much quieter and its heavier not buy a significant amount but has some more heft. all those "wrongs" outa the way its still an awesome guitar to play and sounds great into my rig.

so the end point here is as others have said get them both in a room and sit and play them both back to back to back to back. Only make a choice once you have handled them both. sometimes the "wrong" guitars might work for you like that 04 i have and sometimes the new "correct" specs leave u wanting something else or maybe they give you the magic. its ALL your ears and hands

 

[axeman565758]

Weeeeeeell, thin necks. I'm probably going to blow some gaskets out there, but I have found time and time again that when the neck gets thinner than say .85 at the nut the guitar starts to sound a little thin too. But, that trebly tone may be what you are after. Also, recreations of artist's guitars has been a bit hit and miss, at least the one's I've played. I guess what I am saying is play the Page LP in-person first.

Three M2M's 18 R7 Goldtop 1.023" at the 1st fret, '18 CS-336 P90 1.031" at the 1st fret, '20 60th Anniv R0 1.017" at the 1st fret.
I cringe at the thought of thin necks. That said, I have not noticed any discernible tone difference between my 2 LP necks and other smaller (.840"-.900") LP necks

 

[El Gringo]

View attachment 16848
Three M2M's 18 R7 Goldtop 1.023" at the 1st fret, '18 CS-336 P90 1.031" at the 1st fret, '20 60th Anniv R0 1.017" at the 1st fret.
I cringe at the thought of thin necks. That said, I have not noticed any discernible tone difference between my 2 LP necks and other smaller (.840"-.900") LP necks

Hello, Let me ask you this about playing the smaller profile necks , Are they harder to play ? when being used to the larger profile necks ? I thought I became spoiled with the larger profile necks and then I played my one and only slim taper profile Les Paul and I was amazed at how easier it was to play than I thought it would have been ( 94 Gibson Les Paul Premium Plus )

 

[Any Name You Wish]

Well, if you are on stage, and you have a couple of guitars and one has a big fat neck say 1" and the other is thin say .8" and you switch from one to the other and it is going to take at least one song to get used to it. For this reason it is good to have all your guitars with similar size necks, for me anyway. Otherwise just practicing at home or jamming with buddies in the basement it is not a big deal unless you fret the low E string with your thumb and a fat neck is more difficult to do that.

 

[renderit]

Different strokes.

My guitars vary all over the place.

I love being able to vary my hand that much.

As I get older it relaxes me more.

And it takes no time to get used to a different size neck for me.

But then again, my playing sucks so there's that...

 

[El Gringo]

Different strokes.

My guitars vary all over the place.

I love being able to vary my hand that much.

As I get older it relaxes me more.

And it takes no time to get used to a different size neck for me.

But then again, my playing sucks so there's that...

Ren , you are very humble and if I were to wager a bet I bet that you know your way up and down the fretboard and can really play nice !

 

[andrewflour]

Guys, I've bought the Page #1. It was a Yamano select. Look, feel and sound UNBELIEVABLE. Strong mids, low action and low frets (I have to get used to) fastest neck ever, super accurate details (the rounded binding edges is something I've seen only on 50s-60s vintage Les Paul). Best decision in my life. I think I'm over with Les Pauls ahaha. Thanks for all your replies, it was a struggle between heart and brain but, sometimes, they meet halfway.
Here's a pic of my almond-eye JP CA VOS Yamano select

 

[axeman565758]

Hello, Let me ask you this about playing the smaller profile necks , Are they harder to play ? when being used to the larger profile necks ? I thought I became spoiled with the larger profile necks and then I played my one and only slim taper profile Les Paul and I was amazed at how easier it was to play than I thought it would have been ( 94 Gibson Les Paul Premium Plus )

to me, small necks are not comfortable. Never have been. I love the feel of a full/fat/thick neck in my hand. And more so recently.....as my old man fingers are getting a touch of arthritis, that big neck feels heavenly....almost effortless to play

 

[El Gringo]

to me, small necks are not comfortable. Never have been. I love the feel of a full/fat/thick neck in my hand. And more so recently.....as my old man fingers are getting a touch of arthritis, that big neck feels heavenly....almost effortless to play

I agree as for me the large profile necks are super easy to get around on .

 

[jb_abides]

Guys, I've bought the Page #1. It was a Yamano select. Look, feel and sound UNBELIEVABLE. Strong mids, low action and low frets (I have to get used to) fastest neck ever, super accurate details (the rounded binding edges is something I've seen only on 50s-60s vintage Les Paul). Best decision in my life. I think I'm over with Les Pauls ahaha. Thanks for all your replies, it was a struggle between heart and brain but, sometimes, they meet halfway.
Here's a pic of my almond-eye JP CA VOS Yamano select

Still Life with Fruit and Page.

Congrats, enjoy in good health!