Gibson: Slash LP Std (2008)

I'm not particularly a Les Paul fan, yes I do own them because the models I tried were good guitars per se; I appreciate what an instrument has to offer regardless of the brand name. So what's this appraisal about?

The Slash LP Std signature model (new for 2008) is a good guitar regardless of the Gibson tag & artist association although the top hat dude was largely responsible for how good this guitar is, feel & tone-wise. When I played it recently, I was expecting that typical LP feel; fat neck + sticky as your palm sweats but I was greeted by a slimmer profiled neck, very much like the '60s slim taper make of the LP Classic, this promotes playability for those of us whose palms aren't too expansive. It's also a wise enticement for those shred proponents.

The tone has to be one of the most defined at higher gain/ drive settings not just because the humbuckers on board are uncovered units but because they are Seymour Duncan Alnico II Pro- arguably the pickup to own if you wish for a fusion of both vintage & contemporary tones.

Those of us who are genuinely attracted to this guitar's offerings but not keen on the Slash inclinations would have to live with that signature skull/ top hat decal on the instrument's headstock. How you'd wish it was ebossed on the truss rod cover instead, yes?

Lastly, we also have to thank Slash for making this guitar rather affordable (it's a signature model but tagged enough to make it less extravagant compared to the Custom Shop units, but it's still a significant amount, mind you... $5K); if you don't mind the quirks, it's a good consideration.