Year-by-Year History of the Historic Les Paul Collection

[TM1]

Are the pickup rings still CAB? or did they go back to using ABS. Just wondering as on the new `61 ES-335 I got I'm not noticing the smell they had.
Thanks!

 

[clapciadrix]

If indeed Gibson reverted their pick up rings back to ABS, what year custom shop Les Paul is the last year for CAB?

 

[clapciadrix]

Just like Gibson, they have to f-with things.

 

[TM1]

Why change something that's been asked for for years?

 

[Todd Louis]

Wow this thread is still going

 

[ReWind James]

Are the pickup rings still CAB? or did they go back to using ABS. Just wondering as on the new `61 ES-335 I got I'm not noticing the smell they had.
Thanks!

Since it was left unanswered, the tall rings on current Gibson Custom guitars are CAB.

They aren't all that smelly, after they sit out a while, but when you open a fresh bag, they reek. You can also notice by scraping / sanding them, which brings out the sour milk smell, or by the soft almost gummy feel.

 

[PBZEPP]

So what’s new on the 2020-2024? Any updates to add?

 

[William Payne]

Have they fixed the tailpiece angle yet?

 

[zakk5]

1994:
* First 200 of 1994 painted By Tom Murphy
* in 1994 Tom put the finish, the silkscreen logo and the serial number on every sunburst and goldtop reissue, until the day he left on November 2nd.


Dear Community

Regarding the number of R9s painted by Tom Murphy in 1994, I would like to contribute something with the request that the now known but not completely correct information be corrected.
It is proven that not only the first 200 units were painted by him, but also all sunburst and Goldtop Reissues up to and including his last day at work in 1994 before he left Gibson. That was Friday, October 28, 1994. He officially left Gibson on November 2nd.
I have confirmation from Gibson Customer Service that #9 4205 was delivered on October 30, 1994 and must therefore be one of the guitars painted by Tom Murphy.
My research shows that around 3-4 days passed between painting and delivery. This means #9 4205 must have been painted around October 26th or 27th. From this I conclude that there must be a handful of other instruments painted by Tom Murphy after #9 4205.
The information that there are only 200 pieces is clearly refuted.

Here is the statement from Gibsons Customer Service dated February 10, 2025:

"... I have found the serial number in our database and it is registered as a '1959 Les Paul / Heritage Cherry Sunburst / Nickel'. It left our factory on the 30th October but I have no idea what date it was completed, this information is not logged.

I can confirm that in 1994 Tom put the finish, the silkscreen logo and the serial number on every sunburst and goldtop reissue, until the day he left on November 2nd.

There would most likely have been a certificate for the guitar confirming this however this is no something we provide copies for, even if we could find one"

Best regards
Zakk5