I've been looking at probably every single Les Paul available online in the past few weeks.
Ones that have caught my eye are either late 80's early 90s models or 2000, Les Paul Standards.
Or more recent models 2010-12
I think I prefer older than the current models and preferred to by used as I want something with a bit of character rather than a shiny new model though I did like the 2016 range.
I've read all the threads I can about good years and bad years but I wanted to know if there was a big difference in quality between these periods. I know all years throw up good and bad.
Comments
You're over-thinking this.
You need to go and play a few until you find one you like. Even with a single year, like 2016, you'll find variations in how each one feels and plays.
If your research ends with you deciding the 'holy grail' is a late 80s, there's no guarantee that when you play one you'll like it. You'd never touch a 2015 based on comments on internet forums, but I really like mine, having played one and found it suited me.
In many ways Gibson have called the LP Standard by that name since mid 70's - but they have fine tuned the spec a number of times, especially hardware - Without getting in to the more expensive 50's replicas be it Custom Shop or Historic Collection, IMO the 2002 to 2008 period are pretty good LP's
The only big no no models for me are the robot tuners, wide fingerboard models and I'm not crazy about that silly locking jack socket and 'printed circuit board' models for the control/pots - Not crazy about some of the 'modern' neck profiles - but appreciate a matter of taste
I think sometimes it is easy to get hung up on spec and reading about them and as such having a pre-determined opinion about what you think you might need - Only to play that spec and dislike it and or to dismiss another spec (without trying) only to find out it is the one
If you like the guitar but only have a negative towards the pick-ups, then easy to change as required - many players change p/ups on an LP be it £1K or £5K
Bottom line is there is probably not 1 year that is the one to have or indeed the 1 year to ignore - maybe an open ended statement but your hands and ears are the best test
Some of the best LP's I've played are used models, from any era, with a good refret, probably change of p/ups and often a vintage wiring loom - such chances can seriously enhance the tonal character and playing performance no end - I've seen plenty of 'mediocre' 70's 80's and 90's models transformed with such tweaks
I am trying to overthink this time as I want to be happy with what I go with and not something in 6 months I want to sell,
I'm streamlining and my lack of thinking in the past ended up to many purchases I really didn't need. I am streamlining my guitars to concentrate playing rather that keep buying new gear.
though I have gone slightly unhealthily obsessed with this Les Paul stuff in the past 2 weeks.
Go into a guitar shop, try out a few guitars (plenty sell used guitars), then you will have a better idea about what you are looking for in terms of feel and sound.
If buying on ebay look for local ones within driving distance.
Remember to check out our Bank Holiday Sale 15% off New, Used and Vintage
https://reverb.com/uk/sales/bank-holiday-sale
You're talking about streamlining your gear and looking for a keeper instead so you will need to find a guitar which really grabs you, but don't overlook those which are great but have the "wrong" pickups or pots for example.
All I would add is that once you start trying out dozens of Gibsons the quality is actually way more consistent than the internet would have you believe.
Perhaps the Les Paul I am looking for doesn't exist
But I am keeping my 2016 limited run les paul junior, that's not going to be sold.
After all of this I'll probably do something odd and buy a strat.
I also suffer from another problem that whatever guitar I pick up i tend to think it's nice. when I was on holiday recently I played everything from cheap danelectro to vintage to a 59 Les paul junior.
Though saying that the 59 Junior was perhaps the nicest guitar I had ever played.
So consider such work - but the best LP doesn't exist as a definitive answer - but there are many great LP's to consider so enjoy the search
I'll get my coat.