This Les Paul Standard was built in Nashville on January 6, 2012. That puts it at the very end of the run Gibson built from 2008 through 2011, which is still one of the most player-friendly Standards the company has made. It keeps everything that made the Standard a legend: a carved maple top on a mahogany body, a glued-in mahogany neck, and a pair of humbuckers. On top of that, it adds modern touches that make it more comfortable to play and easier to live with. I’ve also upgraded it with a set of Seymour Duncan Seth Lover pickups, which give it a sweet, vintage PAF voice.

The guitar
A AAA flamed maple top over a chambered mahogany body. The chambering cuts the weight and makes it a little more open and resonant than a solid Les Paul, without losing the classic tone. The one-piece mahogany neck has Gibson’s asymmetrical profile, which is slightly thinner on the treble side and fuller on the bass side, so it follows the shape of your hand. It’s one of the most comfortable necks Gibson has offered. Gibson also enlarged the neck tenon on these, which gives a stronger neck joint and better sustain.

It has a bound rosewood fingerboard and Grover locking tuners, which hold tuning well and make string changes quick. The Tune-O-Matic bridge and stopbar keep it simple. The output jack is a Neutrik locking jack, so your cable can’t get pulled out mid-song. These were among the first Gibson USA models set up on the Plek machine, which levels the frets and cuts the nut by computer for low, even action.

The sound
Seth Lover invented the humbucker at Gibson in the 1950s, and Seymour Duncan designed the Seth Lover pickups with him to reproduce the original PAF as closely as possible. They use Alnico II magnets, nickel covers, and vintage-style two-conductor wiring, and they aren’t wax potted, just like the originals. They’re low output, so they sound sweet, open, and touch-sensitive: warm and vocal on the neck, with a clear, chimey bridge.

A treble bleed mod on both volume pots keeps the highs intact as you turn down, so the tone stays clear instead of getting muddy. Combined with the touch-sensitive Seth Lovers, that makes the volume knobs a real tone control: you can go from crunch to sparkling clean without touching the amp. In a chambered Les Paul, this setup brings out an airy, vintage voice. The controls are classic Les Paul: two volumes, two tones, and a three-way switch.

Modifications: Seymour Duncan Seth Lover pickups and a treble bleed mod on both volume controls. The original pickups are not included. No breaks or headstock repairs.

Details

• Serial: 100621416
• Built: January 6, 2012, Nashville, TN
• Pickups: Seymour Duncan Seth Lover (originals not included)
• Mods: Treble bleed on both volume pots
• Includes: Gibson hardshell case, case candy, paperwork, pickguard is included and can be installed if you like

A lightweight, comfortable Gibson USA Les Paul with an excellent neck and a set of pickups that sound like the real 1950s thing. Feel free to ask questions or request more photos.