Les Paul Standard Premium Plus Review

The pinnacle of Les Paul beauty and performance, the Standard Premium Plus features the new, high performance Burstbucker Pro pickups with Alnico V magnets and a carved AAA maple top that just shimmers.

Features:	10
Sound:	10
Action:	10
Reliability:	10
Impression:	10
Overall rating:	10
Users rating:	8.1
Comments:	6

overall: 10

Featured review by: unregistered, on january 10, 2005

Price paid: $ 2200

Purchased from: Guitar Center

Features: Body.
Top Species: Carved AAA flamed maple
Back Species: Mahogany w/cherry finish (brown on Desert Burst)
Binding: Single-ply top.

Neck.
Species: Mahogany
Profile: '50's Rounded
Peghead Pitch: 17°
Thickness at 1st fret: 0.818"
Thickness at 12th fret: 0.963"
Heel Length: 0.625"
Neck Joint Location: 16th fret

Fingerboard.
Species: Rosewood
Scale length: 243/4"
Total Length: 18.137"
Nut Width: 111/16"
Width at 12th fret: 2.062"
Frets: 22
Inlays: Pearloid Trapezoid
Binding: Single-ply

Hardware.
Plating Finish: Nickel
Bridge: Tune-o-matic
Tailpiece: Stopbar
Knobs: Gold Top Hat
Tuners: Green Key

Electronics.
Pickups: Two BurstBucker Pro pickups with Alnico V magnets
Controls: Two volume, two tone, three-way Switch

Case.
Exterior: Black Reptile Pattern Hardshell
Interior: Dark Grey Plush with Black Shroud
Silkscreen: Silver 'Gibson USA' logo. // 10

Sound: The style of music I primarily play is metal. I also play blues, different styles of rock, classical, and jazz. I have been playing for many years and this was my 5th guitar. With all honesty I have to say that this is the best guitar I have ever played by any standard. The only guitar comprable to this is the Les Paul Supreme. It is significantly more expensive and is not very different except for the hardware and the flame back. The sound difference is not by any means worth the extra 900 bucks it costs. No other guitar (except very high end custom models) even compare in sound and greatness of this guitar. // 10

Action, Fit & Finish: The guitar was set up right next to perfect. I adjusted the truss rod a slight bit because I but a much heavier set of strings on (it came with .09-.46 and I put .10-.60 on it, which it holds very well). I also had to adjust the bottom pickup because it was too close to the strings after I put the heavy ones on, but in every other way this guitar is perfect. I can not describe the perfection of this instrument well enough in words. As a guitarist, you owe it to yourself to get out and play one of these, even if u dont have the cash (retail is $3400, but I'm sure u can get as good of a deal as I did-$2200). // 10

Reliability & Durability: This guitar is solid. It wouldn't break if you slammed it on concrete. The strap buttons were fine, but with an instrument like this I had to put strap locks on it. As far as reliance goes, this is the guitar. It doesn't give out in any way and is built to the utmost perfection, handmade in Gibson's Nashville factory. The finish is the most beautiful thing ever put on a guitar and does not wear what so ever. // 10

Impression: This is mosr than perfect for any music u could play. I play any kind fo metal (death, thrash, classic heavy, grind, hardcore, everything else) and this guitar sound better than professional recordings. I play it through a very crappy amp too (Crate 12'' 65 watt) and it still performs to perfection. I plan to get a Marshall JCM 800 or 2000 soon, which enhances the sound that much more. If this instrument were stolen well I couldn't buy another one cuz it's too expensive, but I sure would want to. I recomend this guitar over anything. I give it a 10 out of 5. // 10

overall: 10

Reviewed by: unregistered, on july 06, 2005

Features: // 10

Sound: I play doomy rock metal noise with my band The Coelacanth. I play through a JCM2000 TSL100 all-tube head and my 1960AV cab. Not noisy, until I crank up the tone to like 6, 7 or so (maybe as low as 5). What I do not like is my missing Les Paul low end, but that may be that I just need to turn down the tone knobs/preamp/volumeon the guitar? Very full sound to very bright (Stratocaster bright, no kiddin). Good for: doom, rock, punk, metal, death metal, jazz, speed metal, dark jazz, latin, whatever really, everything is available, even at volume on 3, and tone knobs on 1, this guitar will sing right through some s--t until I crank my bass on my preamp to 8 and drop highs to 2, and leave mids at 6-7 always. Wanted a heavier, more classic Les Paul than what I got, I feel like I got their answer to prs in my hands, which is not why I bought a motherf--r Les Paul. // 10

Action, Fit & Finish: Set-up good at factory, I made minor adjustment on Tune-O-Matic bridge piece for proper intonation in this tuning: DADGBE according to my close musician buddies/fellow guitarists/local collectors/this guitar has the finest flame maple top any of them have ever seen at any price (including a $20,000 guitar my buddy has) no flaws as of yet noticed. // 10

Reliability & Durability: // 10

Impression: I think I'll be happy with it more as time goes on. I would do anything for a '57 or '58 or '69 Les Paul Standard in tobacco or dark burst of some kind, or gold, hell, while I'm dreaming, I'd like a lamborghini diablo. // 10

Comments

[woomba]

I am thinking of buying one but is the price worth it?
I dont know if It would be better to wait some more weeks and buy it. Beside of buying an epiphone or a stratocaster

[mr. ...]

no no no its not worth the price in my opinion. its just looks prittier than a standard. get a standard friend

[I am punk "BF"]

It soes not look worth the price. You might as well buy a custom guitar. then you can make it what you want for the preice

[KajetanLewicki]

good looking

[nitromaniac]

i love les pauls and they all sound great but i think they could do with a 24fret jumbo neck

[HELLSHREDD]

I played every les paul there is & that day an explorer came home with me cuz it kiked arse compared to the Lps. If you are into metal get the explorer & get more bang 4 the buck & way cooler looking axe if i might say.