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Q's re: gibson USA 2011 gibson deluxe gold top

RocknRollShakeUp

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Jul 7, 2006
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I found a used one online for $1650 that seems to be in great shape.

Stock mini humbuckers. Apparently it has the traditional weight relief. It looks like it has the nashville bridge.

Do they have a heavy tail piece? It's listed as being 7.6 lbs but I still would prob want to change to an aluminum tail piece.

I'm sure this has a short tenon.

I really want a mini humbucker Les Paul, but is this deal worth it do you guys think? Do these things sound good? Any issues with them?

I may be able to knock the price down a bit. I'd likely want to change the pots/caps and the tail piece.

I don't think I care about the traditional weight relief and may be fine with the stock mini humbuckers. I've had a few early 90s les Paul's with the short tenon and they seemed just fine so I'm fine with the short tenon in principle.

What do you guys think?
 

DanD

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Apr 8, 2007
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I'd play something local with mini buckers prior to considering a deluxe.

I like them but many don't and minis aren't an easy swap for anything but P90s.

At that price you could get a P90 or full sized humbucker equipped LP.

My Deluxe is a R7 Historic and I paid <2K.

I recently saw a red sparkle R7 Historic with mini hums in 'as new' condition at Sam Ash online.

It took them months to sell at $2300.

If you really like minis I'd keep an eye out for one of 2010/2011 R7 with minis.

A few hundred extra buys a lot more guitar. :peace2
 

RocknRollShakeUp

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I'd play something local with mini buckers prior to considering a deluxe.

I like them but many don't and minis aren't an easy swap for anything but P90s.

At that price you could get a P90 or full sized humbucker equipped LP.

My Deluxe is a R7 Historic and I paid <2K.

I recently saw a red sparkle R7 Historic with mini hums in 'as new' condition at Sam Ash online.

It took them months to sell at $2300.

If you really like minis I'd keep an eye out for one of 2010/2011 R7 with minis.

A few hundred extra buys a lot more guitar. :peace2

Thank you much for the reply!

I didn't realize they made an R7 with minis.

I've got an R4 and a custom shop firebird w 3 p90s so I've got the p90 thing covered (love p90s).

Actually I've thought about trying mini humbuckers in the firebird ,but the deluxe Les Paul siren is calling. I do want to get a good iteration and would be willing to pay a bit more. I'll look for the R7 w the minis. I'd consider a 70s deluxe but don't want a heavy guitar.
 

DanD

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Here is a good video demo by Greg Koch on a mini 'buckered R7:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVo2Ixf0Hio

Here's the last one to sell on ebay in the special run Blue Sparkle:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Gibson-Les-...671854?hash=item43e5e30f2e:g:YTAAAOSwT4lWTUAY

They also did a red sparkle and a white sparkle if'n my memory is not failing. The main run was GTs and a few 'worn' models with some questionable relicing attempted.

There are a couple sellers out there asking way too much but they do come up for sale pretty regularly at prices between 2-2.5K.

Mine weighs in just under 9 pounds. The ones I've seen sell were in the 8.75-9 pound range. Definitely a bit lighter than most 70s Deluxes.

Here's to the hunt! :salude
 

Kris Ford

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Jan 6, 2007
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Weight is of no issue to me..my '74 factory routed for humbuckers Deluxe is 10.5 pounds and my routed '76 Deluxe is 9.29, both have Grovers and the heavier tailpieces..
I'd go for a '70's Deluxe over ANY Historic myself..
And as for the aluminum tailpiece, it can change the tone, and not always for the better, I'd definitely try both. The lighter one isn't a "better" part by any means, just different. I feel that steel tailpiece studs are more important.
Just some food for thought, the aluminum TP is 1.71 ounces and the zinc is 3.68 ounces, for a whopping difference of 1.97 ounces..:jim
 

RocknRollShakeUp

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Messages
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Here is a good video demo by Greg Koch on a mini 'buckered R7:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVo2Ixf0Hio

Here's the last one to sell on ebay in the special run Blue Sparkle:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Gibson-Les-...671854?hash=item43e5e30f2e:g:YTAAAOSwT4lWTUAY

They also did a red sparkle and a white sparkle if'n my memory is not failing. The main run was GTs and a few 'worn' models with some questionable relicing attempted.

There are a couple sellers out there asking way too much but they do come up for sale pretty regularly at prices between 2-2.5K.

Mine weighs in just under 9 pounds. The ones I've seen sell were in the 8.75-9 pound range. Definitely a bit lighter than most 70s Deluxes.

Here's to the hunt! :salude

Many thanks for the links and info!

That deluxe mini humbucker sound is exactly up my alley. I'm more into a single coil-ish type of sound these days and the mini humbuckers retain some of that chirp and chime that I really dig!

I looked around for an R7 with mini humbuckers, and even for an R6, and found some examples but they are out of my price range now. It was tempting to get a mini humbucker USA model for around $15-1600, but I've decided to do it right and wait until I can go with a Historic.

Just under 9 pounds is a great weight for a Les Paul but nowadays I need something closer to 8, 8.5 max, due to my neck. I have a 7.88 lb R4 that sounds killer btw.
 

RocknRollShakeUp

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Messages
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Weight is of no issue to me..my '74 factory routed for humbuckers Deluxe is 10.5 pounds and my routed '76 Deluxe is 9.29, both have Grovers and the heavier tailpieces..
I'd go for a '70's Deluxe over ANY Historic myself..
And as for the aluminum tailpiece, it can change the tone, and not always for the better, I'd definitely try both. The lighter one isn't a "better" part by any means, just different. I feel that steel tailpiece studs are more important.
Just some food for thought, the aluminum TP is 1.71 ounces and the zinc is 3.68 ounces, for a whopping difference of 1.97 ounces..:jim

Yeah I would love a great 69, or early 70s deluxe. But as per my description above my days of over 8.5lb guitars is over due to neck pain. Especially Les Paul's that have a lot of concentrated weight in the body. I have a 8.5lb non-reverse Firebird that seems no heavier than my 7.88lb Les Paul (well maybe just a bit heavier), due to the way it balances (almost like a bass guitar in a way) since the weight seems distributed length wise a lot more.

I agree with the tail piece/studs comments.
 

Kris Ford

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Jan 6, 2007
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Yeah I would love a great 69, or early 70s deluxe. But as per my description above my days of over 8.5lb guitars is over due to neck pain. Especially Les Paul's that have a lot of concentrated weight in the body. I have a 8.5lb non-reverse Firebird that seems no heavier than my 7.88lb Les Paul (well maybe just a bit heavier), due to the way it balances (almost like a bass guitar in a way) since the weight seems distributed length wise a lot more.

I agree with the tail piece/studs comments.

Right on!
Yeah, pain can really ruin it for ya, and that sucks. Dealing with chronic pain is no joke.
Perhaps there's a chambered R6 type that you could swap some mini hums in?
Best of both worlds!
 

RocknRollShakeUp

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Right on!
Yeah, pain can really ruin it for ya, and that sucks. Dealing with chronic pain is no joke.
Perhaps there's a chambered R6 type that you could swap some mini hums in?
Best of both worlds!

Yep I think my best bet would be a chambered R6 or a featherweight wildwood R6. My R4 is a featherweight wildwood and I love it. The chambered iteration would be far more cost effective/economical however!

You know what would be cool too think of it, a chambered R6 routed for filtertrons/tv jones pickups, with a Bigsby, but now I'm venturing into the world of Les Paul Blasphemy perhaps :hee
 

DanD

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Apr 8, 2007
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2,368
There's a chambered '04 R7 at WW currently....

Some say the '04s are some of the best CRs out there.

I could see Lollartrons and a Vibramate working very well on an LP. :dude:
 

Grog

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Apr 7, 2012
Messages
562
Actually I've thought about trying mini humbuckers in the firebird ,but the deluxe Les Paul siren is calling.

I bought a 2012 Firebird V 2010, I believe that in 2010, they changed the mini humbuckers to a model with ceramic magnets along with the Steinberger tuners.
 

Alexus77

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Feb 1, 2016
Messages
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Here is a good video demo by Greg Koch on a mini 'buckered R7:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVo2Ixf0Hio

Here's the last one to sell on ebay in the special run Blue Sparkle:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Gibson-Les-...671854?hash=item43e5e30f2e:g:YTAAAOSwT4lWTUAY

They also did a red sparkle and a white sparkle if'n my memory is not failing. The main run was GTs and a few 'worn' models with some questionable relicing attempted.

There are a couple sellers out there asking way too much but they do come up for sale pretty regularly at prices between 2-2.5K.

Mine weighs in just under 9 pounds. The ones I've seen sell were in the 8.75-9 pound range. Definitely a bit lighter than most 70s Deluxes.

Here's to the hunt! :salude

Hah :) I'm the owner of the guitar that GK is playing in that video. It's an amazing instrument, I cannot match Greg's amazing playing, but it still is a fantastic instrument to play.

I too recommend you save some extra $$$ and go for one of these R7 with minihums, the finish, feel and sound are a huge step up from any USA production. Plus, these have a solid mahogany body, no weight relief, but are still quite light. As stated in the video for example, mine is about 8lbs, quite unusual for a LP.
 

RocknRollShakeUp

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Hah :) I'm the owner of the guitar that GK is playing in that video. It's an amazing instrument, I cannot match Greg's amazing playing, but it still is a fantastic instrument to play.

I too recommend you save some extra $$$ and go for one of these R7 with minihums, the finish, feel and sound are a huge step up from any USA production. Plus, these have a solid mahogany body, no weight relief, but are still quite light. As stated in the video for example, mine is about 8lbs, quite unusual for a LP.

For some reason I missed this reply. Congratulations on that guitar man! It is amazing sounding! And 8.01 lbs! That's a featherweight that you likely got without the $1000 premium! Thats major bitchin'!

Well I'm still in the hunt! I'll be getting a tax refund check which will put me in the Historic territory!

I have my eye on a 2014 chambered R6, weight 7.66! I would be putting a pair of Lollar mini humbuckers in. Watchu gents think about that?

I would prefer non chambered at no more than 8.2 lbs but the featherweight price is too high since last years' $1K price hike.
 

Big Al

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Apr 24, 2002
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I really, really like LP Deluxes and always have. Personaly I find the larger hum bucker to be a bit heavy-handed with my tone in some applications and the Mini more versatile for a wider range of tone. Moderate output but still with authority and a wider tone imprint. I find that a lot of stuff I might use a Fender for the Deluxe w/minis can handle as well with maybe more sustain and power. Firebird mini's are more Fender like but there is something good going on tone wise with the mini's that I find very useful.

There are BUNCHES, WHOLE BUNCHES of alternatives that would fit the pickup routs if you decided to do that from P90's to full size PAF types to Gold Foil and Gretsch Filter Trons, Dimarzio Humbuckers and Dearmond style singles. No work there.

If you already have a PAF style Lester I think the Deluxe would make a great alternative choice and voice for when you want to expand tonally beyond classic PAF tone. If, like many of us, the classic Les Paul/Marshall overdrive thing is your ideal tone then I wouldn't recommend a Deluxe. They do that well, but it is a different type tone that doesn't suit everyones idea of Les Paul tone.

PLAY ON:hank
 

Fish Fingers

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Apr 15, 2016
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Don't discount the 2015 model Deluxe. The neck is a chunky little number, but it's easy to get used to.
Chuck the tuning system in the bin and add a Zero Glide nut and there you are.
The fit and finish on my example is superb, faultless and flawless.
Besides, they are being discounted heavily and make an inexpensive basis for modding.
Just a thought.
 

RocknRollShakeUp

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Jul 7, 2006
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I really, really like LP Deluxes and always have. Personaly I find the larger hum bucker to be a bit heavy-handed with my tone in some applications and the Mini more versatile for a wider range of tone. Moderate output but still with authority and a wider tone imprint. I find that a lot of stuff I might use a Fender for the Deluxe w/minis can handle as well with maybe more sustain and power. Firebird mini's are more Fender like but there is something good going on tone wise with the mini's that I find very useful.

There are BUNCHES, WHOLE BUNCHES of alternatives that would fit the pickup routs if you decided to do that from P90's to full size PAF types to Gold Foil and Gretsch Filter Trons, Dimarzio Humbuckers and Dearmond style singles. No work there.

If you already have a PAF style Lester I think the Deluxe would make a great alternative choice and voice for when you want to expand tonally beyond classic PAF tone. If, like many of us, the classic Les Paul/Marshall overdrive thing is your ideal tone then I wouldn't recommend a Deluxe. They do that well, but it is a different type tone that doesn't suit everyones idea of Les Paul tone.

PLAY ON:hank

Thank you for the very thoughtful response.

Well i got serious and looked at some of the available options. An unexpected thing happened though. I listened to some video clips of wildwood featherweights with the underwound custom buckers and I really liked what I heard as I like my guitars to sound bright and single coilish and these seem to go that sort of way, insofar as PAFs are concerened. Incidentally my only Les Paul currently is my featherweight R4 and with the 50s wiring and with the volume at 85% or so I get a very chimey and glassy but fat single coil type sound. Anyway I started feeling bad though that I dont have a PAF style LP. So I commited mini humbucker heresy and got a 57 wildwood featherweight in ebony, after a killer price was offered to me, after asking what they can do! I just had to do it. Alas I'll have to do the mini humbucker LP next!

Thanks to everyone for their help.
 

RocknRollShakeUp

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Jul 7, 2006
Messages
766
Don't discount the 2015 model Deluxe. The neck is a chunky little number, but it's easy to get used to.
Chuck the tuning system in the bin and add a Zero Glide nut and there you are.
The fit and finish on my example is superb, faultless and flawless.
Besides, they are being discounted heavily and make an inexpensive basis for modding.
Just a thought.

good point...and with some of the discounted prices Ive seen this really wouldnt be a bad way to go!
 

nibus

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Apr 16, 2016
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I recently saw a red sparkle R7 Historic with mini hums in 'as new' condition at Sam Ash online.


You mean like this? :)

I just received some Lollar Firebirds to throw in for the heck of it. I'm actually really surprised at how thick the tone is on this even with Mini-hums. Night and day from a regular Deluxe.

O8g0QHR.jpg
 

RocknRollShakeUp

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You mean like this? :)

I just received some Lollar Firebirds to throw in for the heck of it. I'm actually really surprised at how thick the tone is on this even with Mini-hums. Night and day from a regular Deluxe.

O8g0QHR.jpg


That is so killer! Where those stock Gibson mini-humbuckers?
 

DanD

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Apr 8, 2007
Messages
2,368
You mean like this? :)

I just received some Lollar Firebirds to throw in for the heck of it. I'm actually really surprised at how thick the tone is on this even with Mini-hums. Night and day from a regular Deluxe.

O8g0QHR.jpg

Exactly like that. They came in GTs too. But the red and blue are mighty fine and a little more interesting.

Great score! :peace2
 
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