Your opinions of the Les Paul Deluxe

[dgassie]

I'm looking into a 1981, natural finish, LP Deluxe. I think these are just Standards with different pups... right? Can any of you give me a little insight into the Deluxe line? One thing I don't like is that it's a three piece top.


Thanks

Dan

 

[Werloc]

I'm looking into a 1981, natural finish, LP Deluxe. I think these are just Standards with different pups... right? Can any of you give me a little insight into the Deluxe line? One thing I don't like is that it's a three piece top.


Thanks

Dan

I just sold my 80 Deluxe. Very nice thin neck, and the pups are minis. Very nice guitar. My 3 keepers are all Deluxes. The reason I sold this one, is it has a one piece body and was routed out for full size double humbuckers. I love the Deluxe thin necks, and minis sound better on my amps.

 

[Tom Wittrock]

They will never sound like Standards, without a routing for the full size HBs.
If you like it, that's all that really matters.
I prefer Standards. :tw59

 

[MrMike]

I love 'em. If you get it and decide that you don't like the mini's, you could drop some P-90's in it.

 

[dlmorley]

Next on my shopping list is a nice early 70's deluxe.
Great guitars...

 

[Sprinter36]

I love my '78 Deluxe. The minibucker's are little brighter in tone than a standard humbucker. If you're a single coil fan, you'll probably like them.


Sprinter

 

[Coachmoe]

dgassie,

I have a 75 Goldtop Deluxe that was a wreck when I bought it. It has a 3 piece maple neck and a sandwich body. It does not have a volute.

I did not care for the brightness of the mini humbuckers so when I had the guitar redone I switched to 490 and 498 humbuckers and I am glad I did.

If my memory serves me, Deluxes were introduced late in 1969 possibly 1970 to take the place of the p90 Standards reissued in 1968. I believe the mini humbuckers were used as Gibson had a stockpile of the mini's left over from the Epiphone era of Gibson.

As I said before, I never cared for the brightness. I'll take fullsize humbuckers any day.

BTW, my goldtop is for sale if you're interested.

 

[dgassie]

Thanks to all for your answers. Coachmoe... sure, I'd be interested in seeing some pictures and learning the price. Email d_gassie@hotmail.com

Dan

 

[Werloc]

Next on my shopping list is a nice early 70's deluxe.
Great guitars...

Yep, I love'em. Here are my three keepers. I just sold the two on the right..

 

[led zep fan]

SWEET Goldtop Werloc!!!

 

[dlmorley]

Yep, I love'em. Here are my three keepers. I just sold the two on the right..

Very nice!

 

[shred]

They will never sound like Standards, without a routing for the full size HBs.
If you like it, that's all that really matters.
I prefer Standards. :tw59

There are some good options nowadays especially for hard rock-metal... In the same way that you can replace single coils in a strat with stacked humbuckers or blades and get a full sized HB sound, you can get hotter pup's in a mini hum size too.

Dimarzio makes several mini hb replacements that are really good and don't require one to route that old Deluxe. The two I was interested in were the Tone Zone P90 replacement that the DiMarzio tech guys said it would just retrofit into the mini hb route, and the Hot mini HB which keeps the vintage chrome cover look but delivers a much bigger full sized punch.

In my band situation (we play rock to hard rock) the other guitar player has a 70 deluxe that was routed for EMG's and I have no problem keeping up with him tone wise with my hot mini hb's. The're a little quieter and don't sound quite as rich/good but to keep an original look I was fine with that. Remember I'm trying to keep up with active electronics here... The Tone Zone P90 is probably the best option if you don't care about the looks and you want a full sized sound.

Of course routing essentially turns your deluxe into a standard and you have the freedom to throw whtever you want in there. I'm just not a fan of cutting up guitars. Really, with modern electronics why route?

 

[Doug H]

I like mine; ultra-versatile.

 

[fretwire]

I like mine too! Its always had a little different sound than my other LP's. Mine has a kind of throaty sound, don't know how else to describe it.

Interesting enough, I seem to remember reading once that the term Deluxe or "De Luxe" was penned by Gibson sometime in the '50's. Does this ring a bell to any of our historians here?

 

[John Vasco]

The Deluxe has a different voice to other LPs. A brighter sound with both pups on, but on the neck pup with the tone rolled down half, you get a really creamy, bluesy sound - brilliant. Excellent instrument for rhythm work. Doesn't overdrive particularly well, however, but I have my Custom for lead work.

My '76 lefty has a 3-piece top, a 3-piece maple neck, volute, sandwich body, broad, flat frets with low action, oval decal on rear of headstock with serial number.

A very versatile guitar, complimentary to my Custom
http://pic3.picturetrail.com/VOL18/599837/2638829/32088678.jpg
http://pic3.picturetrail.com/VOL18/599837/2638829/32079153.jpg


:lhg

 

[CookieMonster]

I just recently obtained a Deluxe that was sold to me as a 70-72.
I've been trying to accurately date it, however there are two things throwing me off.
1. The serial # is 911xxx stamped on the top of the headstock with no "Made in USA stamp"
2. The Volute is very very smooth, almost non existent. I can't tell if the neck is three pieces. It looks like the headstock is three pieces. No dotted I in the Gibson logo.
3. Gold color. Goldtop I guess.
4 Pancake body- ebony


I like to play this guitar very much. It came with light strings and super low action.
I put on 10's and raised up the saddle a bit.
I'm used to strat tone and settings so I have really been struggling to
find a good electric sound. I have a Fender Princeton with two 10 inch speakers.
I've been told I should buy a tube amp.

suggestions, comments, insults welcome

 

[OpeningAct1976]

Looking at 70's Lp Deluxe. Thoughts, Opinions, Ideas?????

I am looking at this LP deluxe at a local shop. I have a little LP knowledge, which we all know is a dangerous thing. The guitar sound great, and shop is asking 2900. Also has a bent bridge screw, yes, the one coming out of the guitar body. I offer these pics and welcome any info or opinions on the authenticity of the guitar how do the electronics look? - pots, neck, frets, color, price, bent bridge screw. T
hank you for your assistance.


OA-1976

 

[OpeningAct1976]

Re: Your opinions of the Les Paul Deluxe more pics

Thanks

 

[Tom Wittrock]

Early 70s Deluxe [with a later case?] looks straight and the price sounds pretty good.
How does it play? :hmm

 

[Grog]

The Gibson embossed pickups usually date it around 1972.