Which One is Closest??

[MBSC]

With the evolution of Pre-Historic, Historic, VOS, Collector's Choice, Custom Shop, M2M etc., etc., overall which is the best "clone" or gets closest to the weight, feel and tone of a real 50's humbucker LP. I'm not concerned with the top being gold, plain or flame. Just overall if I were to buy one what is the closest? thanks!

 

[S. Weiger]

Murphy Lab IMHO.

 

[MBSC]

Murphy Lab IMHO.

Is Murphy making them or just painting/aging them??

 

[MattD1960]

2013 and Above Custom Shop Reissues I think as a whole are the best gibson has done and thru that 10 year period they have continued to refine the details but for the most part 2013/14 they took a big step up IMO and i have shed the earlier guitars from my collection and have focused my GAS on those guitars, even the ES series and the jrs and specials and SGs seemed to greatly improve during this period

 

[E.M.]

We don’t need another thread on this topic. It’s awkward like discussing sex with your kid. At some point they’re gonna ask about it and as a parent you’re obliged to discuss it with them.

 

[MBSC]

2013 and Above Custom Shop Reissues I think as a whole are the best gibson has done and thru that 10 year period they have continued to refine the details but for the most part 2013/14 they took a big step up IMO and i have shed the earlier guitars from my collection and have focused my GAS on those guitars, even the ES series and the jrs and specials and SGs seemed to greatly improve during this period

thanks!!

 

[MBSC]

We don’t need another thread on this topic. It’s awkward like discussing sex with your kid. At some point they’re gonna ask about it and as a parent you’re obliged to discuss it with them.

if there is an existing thread on this topic let me know and I'll be happy to review it..

 

[charliechitlins]

We don’t need another thread on this topic. It’s awkward like discussing sex with your kid. At some point they’re gonna ask about it and as a parent you’re obliged to discuss it with them.

Yikes.
That serious?

 

[MBSC]

Yikes.
That serious?

I know right?

 

[MattD1960]

I know right?

its a forum we are bound to repeat ourselves, i for one love it cuz when i started coming here at 13 years old I was in a lurk and learn mode now when some of these "dead horse" topics come up i like that i can finally beat them myself hahaha or perhaps in the last 20 years some things have just changed and peoples opinions have evolved. I remember lusting after the 2009 reissue OH man its the 50th anniversary they are gonna get everything right many threads proclaimed " THIS IS THE BEST THEY CAN EVER DO ITS SO ACCURATE" now many of us would rip a 2009 to shreds about the burstbuckers or the inlay materials or the dye. so i think every no and again this discussion is well worth having.

 

[GlassSnuff]

The forum's over 20 years old. Repetition is all we got.

 

[S. Weiger]

The forum's over 20 years old. Repetition is all we got.

yeah it's seldom we encounter a topic that hasn't been covered -or even beaten to death.

 

[jb_abides]

My approach remains: give a helpful answer in summary.

As far as guidance to pertinent links... well, back in our heyday, all comers were told 'search is your friend' even when the forum function sucked. The new forum SW is much better now!

You can also search LPF using the Google site search syntax, 'site:[siteURL] term1 term2 term3' etc.

For example: 'site: lespaulforum.com historic reissue accuracy'

Teach a man to fish...

 

[Jethro Rocker]

Teach a man to fish...

And he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day!! ?

 

[E.M.]

if there is an existing thread on this topic let me know and I'll be happy to review it..

This: https://www.lespaulforum.com/index.php?threads/original-burst-vs-historic-sorry-but.550/

Or this: https://www.lespaulforum.com/index.php?threads/which-guitar-is-closest-to-a-burst.192396/

Or this: https://www.lespaulforum.com/index....-ever-match-to-an-original-1959-burst.204840/

 

[MBSC]

thanks

 

[E.M.]

Short answer: Murphy Lab.
Long answer: 2013+ is when Gibson Custom stepped up their accuracy game by re-introducing aniline dye, hide glue, and long neck tenons. Collector’s Choice, True Historic, Artist models, etc were visually and sonically stunning reproductions, but often missed certain elements that Murphy Lab guitars now have that are considered close to original specs (I.e., correct plastic color, pickguard shape, unpotted pickups, etc). The issue with answering this question is every few years Gibson comes out with the latest generation of historics that are more “accurate” than their predecessors. So it’s kinda like chasing something that’s more concept than reality. I’ve owned a bunch of historics and the only one that had “it” was a 2014 R9 Benchmark and my 2022 R9 Murphy. I had a Collector’s Choice Nicky and it was mediocre at best, inaccurate plastics and dull tone.

 

[Wilko]

Tone and feel, I gotta say damn near any Les Paul. If you want all the little niggly details, then you need some murphy lab or whatever.
There used to be a huge difference with the neck joints and all. The current neck joins are just fine. I'm thinking the Venn diagram has a lot more overlap than it ever has.

My 2012 Traditional sounds and feels very "vintage". Weight is right, etc.

 

[Wizard1183]

Short answer: Murphy Lab.
Long answer: 2013+ is when Gibson Custom stepped up their accuracy game by re-introducing aniline dye, hide glue, and long neck tenons. Collector’s Choice, True Historic, Artist models, etc were visually and sonically stunning reproductions, but often missed certain elements that Murphy Lab guitars now have that are considered close to original specs (I.e., correct plastic color, pickguard shape, unpotted pickups, etc). The issue with answering this question is every few years Gibson comes out with the latest generation of historics that are more “accurate” than their predecessors. So it’s kinda like chasing something that’s more concept than reality. I’ve owned a bunch of historics and the only one that had “it” was a 2014 R9 Benchmark and my 2022 R9 Murphy. I had a Collector’s Choice Nicky and it was mediocre at best, inaccurate plastics and dull tone.

2015 True Historic onward had correct plastics no? And ML doesn’t build guitars. They just paint and age them. Gibson builds them. I’m 2019 they went unpotted on all reissues I believe

 

[MarcB]

One model that gets overlooked in the search for the best reproduction burst are the very rare .. “benchmark” series..

“Give a man a fish and he’ll eat for day,
Give a man Tripe and he’ll learn how to fish”

Bonjour.