Gibson: Les Paul Classic 2014

Four months after its official release, I get to handle 2014's take of the Gibson Les Paul Classic. When I first listed a list of Les Pauls for pre-purchase considerations (that was a decade ago...), the Classic was right there at the top. Back then, it was the Classic +, equipped with a pair of uncovered 500T/496R pickups which was a lethal pair in terms of distortion (they still are!).

This year's version has a pair of '57 Classic pickups so this immediately raises the question of authenticity in terms of details. But I was also bothered by a missing tone knob which is a real bummer for LP fans due to the inability to have independent tone controls for each pickup. However, for those of us who are oblivious to the instrument's tone controls, the boost switch in place might be a good thing. After plugging this guitar into a high gain amp, that boost switch, to me, is necessary to reinvigorate the 500T/496R character. The '57 Classics are not as progressive when it comes to cutting edge distortion but it's nothing mundane. In fact, they manifest some of the finest cleans; fine details & lots of definition. The upside to the electronics make-over is the fact that it's equipped with coil-split circuitry- just pull up the volume knobs & you get single coils at the helm.

Everything else about the 2014 Classic is praise-worthy but as it is these days, the Gibson QC might just let you down with occasional failings; in this aspect, you'd question the instrument's asking price before you settle for it at the cashier. Personally, without being too blatant in my disappointment with this one, the nut finishing could have been better.

I was in the market for a Gibson, really. Thought this one would make a pleasant birthday acquisition but no :-)