Charlie Starr on What Makes a Great Les Paul

In the annals of Gibson Les Paul players, Charlie Starr is an under-the-radar aficionado. Starr’s stable over the course of his career with southern-rock group Blackberry Smoke has been stocked with some of the sharpest old-school LPs on earth, and he’s got a particular predilection for Juniors.
But what sets one Paul apart from another? Starr, Rhett, and Zach go down every rabbithole in their hunt to nail down what makes a particular Gibson great, including misconceptions around P-90s and their relationship to PAFs, Juniors versus Standards, and whether wood and total construction have a big impact on tone. Some players argue that the sound is all in the pickups; tune in to learn why the trio thinks that theory is bunk, right down to the last, least consequential cap.
Plus, find out when Starr thinks Gibson perfected the Les Paul’s neck shape and bridge positioning, how top-wrapping impacts your sound, and a foolproof way to I.D. a legit, vintage PAF. (If it’s original, it’s gonna stink.)
Get 10% off your order at stewmac.com/dip...
--
Subscribe, like, and leave us a comment
Support us on Patreon for access to our discord server and other perks! / dippedintone
Follow us on Instagram: / dippedintone
Dipped in Tone is:
@RhettShull
www.rhettshull...
Zach Broyles
@MythosPedals
mythospedals.com highvoltagegui...
This episode was Produced by Jason Shadrick
#guitarpodcast #dippedintone #electricguitar

[@Mooneydude75]

With all of the BS and fake people in the music industry, Charlie is as real as it gets and has always been a breath of fresh air. Every member of Blackberry Smoke is this way. Very rare nowadays.

[@Hiline1970]

It is said that you can tell a great guitar player by this distinct identifiable tone. Brother Charlie has an identifiable tone that you can pick out in a crowd of 1000 guitar players all hammering at once. He writes great songs with great guitar parts. He can cover anything to the note but, still somehow sound like Charlie. Playing slide, open tuning, P90s, Hummbuckers or single coils it does not matter. He still sounds like Charlie and not to mention his acoustic playing. I have had the privilege of seeing him a bunch of times with the band and with Benji Shanks (great guitar player in his own right) I can honestly say that he is one of the best musicians preforming today. In my humble opinion he is the Best thing going. The whole band is freaking amazing. Paul and Benji are top shelf as well. I will argue that his signature lp jr is fitting and very well deserved but, he can ring out tones from the his 345s that are out of this world. Long live Blackberry Smoke and the guys. 🤘🏻

[@lindathalman3506]

That's one heck of a very beautiful comment Hiline. Totally agree. I'm just a huge fan; not a musician; hoping I'll get to my 10th concert soon. 9 so far. Charlie can sing the phone book and you'd know it was him. In the live concerts the band is just fantastic. I've seen them in Paris (x3), Antwerp, Brussels, Milan, Tacoma WA and Portland OR (x2). Always a stellar show. Charlie and Benji in their acoustic sessions are pure gold, too but have only seen them on YT. Brit has passed (3 March 2024) but Kent Aberle is doing a great job IMHO. I'd also mention Robert Jon & the Wreck (they played with BBS 31 Dec. 2024 for New Year's eve in Macon, Ga I believe) for a band that rocks it out of the park. Cheers to you and rock on into 2025.

[@DrMattWalton]

Love this episode…one of your absolute best. Charlie Starr is a great guest, I watch him on every podcast he’s on. Vintage guitar nerding is my fav

[@davidmuzyk9548]

On behalf of the LP junior lovers: thanks for this episode!

[@Mister_Samsonite]

This was fantastic! Probably one of my favorite interviews you've done. Charlie is such a well-versed, soft-spoken and witty guy. The kind of guy you'd like to sit down with a bottle of bourbon and just talk guitar geekdom until the bottle was dry. Outstanding!

[@ClintLackey]

I absolutely hold on to every word from Charlie.He is just a wholesome human. Very honest man.

[@ClintLackey]

Charlie is an ordained minister in rock-'n'-roll.

[@davidwright9550]

What an awesome video fellas! Charlie is the man! What a great guy! So talented and so humble. Cannot wait to see those guys in a couple of months.

[@tito.tarantula]

Charlie inspired me to buy a custom built single cut Junior made by a Dutch luthier. What an instrument. The simplicity, growl, and feel… fantastic.

[@beestew79]

Thanks for making this. I could listen to Charlie talk about guitars all day long.

[@bleeknoir]

Charlie is always an excellent guest. I’m In love with a Gibson custom 58 Junior DC TV model (junior) and I spent all of the p90 discussion nodding. Single dog ear. It’s all you need.

[@3fsw3]

Really enjoyed this video interview. Charlie’s got an old heart for guitars. And y’all doing the interview definitely kept everything flowing. BBS rocks. Saw them some years ago✊🏽

[@jcjesse4752]

Charlie is the best! Great interview!

[@Mr.Monster1313]

5 more hours of this please..but have charlie show some of his awesome guitars 😮😮😮😊

[@cosmicbackwoods]

I would listen to Charlie talk about anything. he has a narrator's voice and its so soothing

[@mikewolfe9458]

That was an awesome conversation. I’d love to see him back on the show. Thank you guys for doing what you do!

[@tom.m]

It's so fun to nerd out about what makes some guitars magic. I hate how the tonewood war has poisoned these kinds of discussions online. Always a treat to hear a real one like Charlie talk about it.

[@brianbard3410]

56 single cut , jr , and 58 double cut , both T.V. dint know if the finish is a variable, but the wood is unbelievable satin tight grain , and the 57 is a tooth pick. Best rock n roll guitars ever.

[@tommartin7833]

Charlie you’re so nice…certain players should be quiet and just listen…but you just let it go on, funny. Thanks for everything you do, and Are.

[@nickm.9474]

Holy Crap!! Peter Green and Duane"s guitar in the same room!!! Charlie seems to be the coolest guy!!

[@rdec8734]

Wow what a great interview with one of my favorites

[@briguy73]

Best DIT Pod to date imo. This was so much fun to listen to. Absolutely LOVE Charlie and BS. Gonna have to listen a few times to make sure i didn't miss anything. More this fellas. Thanks for this one.

[@lifebreath77]

Charlie is great! Went to Blackberry Smoke concert at our local outdoor venue. What a fantastic show! One of my all time favorites. Note: Gibson introduced the ABR on the Standard in the fall of 1955. I have a 1955 Goldtop with factory ABR and stop tailpiece.

[@KienLim]

In Hanoi, theirs is "Mouldy March" when it is so humid, the walls are beads of water, floors are wet, and a dehumidifier is essential....

[@Sam_Sparks144]

Amazing interview guys💯 Loved it 😎 Charlie and Blackberry Smoke rock💯🎉😎

[@chriswilson3435]

This is my favourite episode ever!

[@EdgeofBreakup]

This was excellent. Loved it!

[@vladimirspiridonov5542]

How the hell only 600 likes? Come on!

[@user-et2fj8xm5l]

Going to see Charlie and the boys Nov 7 for the 3rd time. If haven’t seen them live, you’re really missing out. I don’t think these dude are into freak offs. They’re the real deal. Long live The Smoke!

[@MichaelMYouTube]

Loved the interview! Thanks, that was fun!

[@PurposefulPorpoise]

The reason for the dogear vs soap bar is that in the soap bar config u have 2 pickups wired up where in the Jr u have one pickup. Much more output from a single pickup + volume pot

[@ryangunwitch-black]

My cheeks hurt from smiling listening to Charlie talk about Metallica. I love those cats so much. What a cool experience. And Charlie is hella cool. 😎. I don’t know how I missed stating this obvious fact. ❤

[@jmc1186]

I'm a pro guitar tech and you can absolutely do a neck reset on a Gibson Les Paul 😊 you can even re neck them with another Gibson. Someone like Glazer could do it in their sleep haha

[@bjdenil]

There are a few ways people have done non - invasive stop bars for the Bigsbys. If you are keeping the 52 for historic purposes don't change the neck angle, but if it is a player first, there are a lot of guys out there that could switch the neck angle and use all the right hide glue and everything to do it right. Some may claim player grade, but when it allows you to actually play it... there is something to be said about it.

[@jessprice1518]

I’m an absolute, and with no doubt, an amateur guitarist and guitar tech. But I top wrap, and slam the stop tail piece because Joe Walsh said so in an instructional video on setting up him own Les Paul. And that was enough for me.

[@davidkeller6156]

In the mid 80s I had a Les Paul Pro Deluxe that came with P-90s. That was a great sounding guitar. Wish I hadn’t sold it. I was thinking about getting a used one, but the good ones are not cheap. I think I paid $800 and now good used ones are $3500 to $6500. Retired now I just can’t spend that kind of money. Thinking about a Yamaha Revstar now.

[@alanwalker1698]

Charlie is my favorite guitar slinger right now. Actually for the last 6 years.

[@casperjakobsen423]

ive seen someone drille out a Telecaster knob, and used that to block the Bigsby, looked good.

[@Craig_Fussell]

Great discussion! Something that comes to mind is I’ve heard guitar virtuoso Jack Pearson say he’ll play maybe 10 Squier Strats before he’ll find one that “resonates” really well. So the conversation about wood, construction, etc. apparently applies to all guitars regardless of cost. He even jokes that they make them “custom” for him in Indonesia hahaha!

[@davidmuzyk9548]

Can we talk about how Brian Baker finally got a mention on this channel. My favourite guitar player of all time.

[@peterastore7134]

Excellent !! Very informative. Loved Charlie and his input.

[@madsenamplification]

that "gold top" is freaking cool!

[@madsenamplification]

Charlie is such a cool guy. Love his playing and his LP jr.s

[@druwk]

Yes! Definitely need a TPS/Gig Rig - Rhett episode! 😊 would love for that blend.

[@MikeMaselli-p6y]

Great vid! Thanx! So agree with the analog tone.

[@alanwalker1698]

You REALLY DO have to see Blackberry Smoke live! They Rock hard!

[@compucorder64]

Love those Explorers and the Iceman. I'm quite into the Musicman St. Vincent too, and loooove my Baum Wingman. On the pickups being the only thing that matters, I think just hand them a good Epiphone Casino or Gibson 330. And stand back and watch them start to explore it and learn to play it very differently to a Les Paul or Telecaster. And equally, I kept a my lesser, cheaper Telecaster because it's a maple neck which sounds very different to the otherwise better rosewood guitar. I feel the same about P90s relative to humbuckers too. I'm partial to Les Paul Specials, cos I like having the P90 neck tone, and also the blended volume middle position can be where it's at, over bridge too - so it's how the electronics work matters a lot too. I come more from classical guitar and P90s have that responsive feel that allows you to express yourself the most directly. But like you said, I do keep an open mind about PAFs. I do expect those are different to the more modern humbuckers I've tried and ... not loved. I have one humbucker Les Paul-style guitar, and it makes me wonder what a good current take on that vintage PAF-style pickup sound is. Do Lollars, or Fralin maybe have something very much in that vein?

[@flyboyu777]

Great and informative interview. . . . .

[@anderaparicio9748]

Great interview! Charlie was awsome.

[@albertjabberin739]

Great interview

[@madsenamplification]

oh yeah, A loud amp and a treble boost is a vibe! upper mid's being pushed with a rangemaster style circuit is one of my favorite things ever. Rory Gallagher has me chasing down those tones with his use of rangemaster and the Hawk tonal expander.

[@bengarrison7900]

Have not seen them Live? Get on it. AMAZING SHOW🤘🤘

[@h.i.5333]

I saw Cheap Trick at an outdoor show and Rick sounded great the whole evening, but when he pulled out what I believe to be a real burst towards the end of the show, it was noticeably better than anything else. I was looking away from the stage visiting with some folks, and my head snapped around when he hit those first chords! The best thing I’ve ever heard in my 53 years. Don’t know exactly it was, but absolutely amazing tone! ✌️

[@Youtubemademeaddahandle]

What I just heard Charlie say reminded me of the first (and only) time I went to a ballet. We sat close enough to hear footsteps on the stage and it just "ruined" the whole experience - never again!

[@jeremyhickersonsalem]

on an acoustic guitar, a steel string or a classical, if you make a steeper angle down from the saddle it gives the string more leverage to pull on the top when you pick or pluck, and pops the attack of the note more. You can tell the acoustic difference and luthiers that build acoustic instruments talk about this and work with it for their sound. The Les Paul top wrap gives up some of this leverage, which changes the acoustic sound (and no doubt makes the strings easier to pick or bend).

[@Hiline1970]

Blackberry Smoke IS the best LIVE band going. At the Ryman auditorium earlier this year Mr. Charlie Starr had the single best guitar tone with the ES 345 that I have ever heard. I’m 54, play guitar and been to a couple of good live music shows. The Echo Park Tweed was strong that night fellows (I’m a Marshall guy and have a Germino). It’s like going back in time to see maybe a couple of other 3 southern rock guitar bands. Get my drift? The whole band is great.

[@joshuaraysummey7679]

Congrats on the ep rhett! Looking forward to hearing whats goin on in your head lol!🔥

[@MikeMaselli-p6y]

Thank you Charlie!

[@TheJayblue1]

For the humidifier, you just need to boil your water, or by distilled water... I live in Czech Republic, amazing tap water, but I still need to boil it for the humidifier... 😃👍😉🎸

[@Mr.Monster1313]

I love the way a good p90 breaks up..playing it with distortion its diff,,,you can control it..make it growl or squeal...and its great for punkrock or any metal...p90s rule.

[@joshuaraysummey7679]

I heard a conversation recently about how we(american home construction) havent really focused on properly sealing/insulating windows until recently. I dont know how true that is but im building my new home right now, and this expirience supports what i have heard.

[@joshuaraysummey7679]

I imagine if it is true, its only true in the south lol

[@pmrparts]

Rhett you gotta go see Blackberry Smoke live. I saw them in Durham earlier this year. Great show!

[@chriswilson3435]

Here in Canada ( near Toronto ) humidification is a huge issue. Starting around now you have to be very diligent. Fortunately my main floor guitar a Taylor is a good indicator of how the house is doing.

[@jeffharper2661]

You also have the heating and cooling that will dehumidify the house. to have it set up right you have to have a humidifier built into the heating/hvac system to be able to keep the humidity levels correct.

[@wesleymorris1]

Prs pots are the closet to ive found to to the old cts pots. You get sound throught the whole sweep on a silver sky. The old linear pots is the trick. The sweep is perfect.

[@Kennardy]

In a time of fake, auto-tuned, computer generated music, it’s so nice to see Charlie and BlackBerry Smoke killing it and doing well. I hope, like ZZ TOP, they sell out tours as long as they want. Keep telling stories Charlie, I’ll keep listening.

[@rodhorncastle]

I've seen about 500 bands in concert: NOBODY and I repeat "Nobody" has had a better live guitar sound than Charlie Starr and his Les Paul Jr. through the Germino (at the commodore in Vancouver Canada). Off the stage and in the P.A.. Music at its best. Great interview.

[@Mr.Monster1313]

I feel the vibration in my body more with a top wrapped lp bridge,,,more sustain and control to me..also makes it kinda wild alittle..but fun..

[@KienLim]

If the black les Paul plays great and sounds great, get the bigsby fixed in place so tuning is stable....changing the neck angle might affect the sound and playability....

[@VincentVader]

Most concerts I've been to in the last 5 years were way too quiet. But I saw Slash recently & he rocked & it was loud.

[@shroommcfanta2020]

Can,t help to have the feeling that volume is underrated since Spinal Tap.. Clash are known to be admirers of Nigel Tufnel

[@FRCMoto]

The real irony is that you had Duane Allman's guitar, Peter Green's guitar AND James Hetfield's guitar and Kirk Hammet's guitar all in the same room. Hell, and Charlie Starr's guitar too. Pretty serious guitar power in that room.

[@madsenamplification]

I went to school for audio engineering and didn't get my degree for a couple reasons. but i did learn a lot. would love to chat about that sometime.

[@BrianOzuna26]

Down to earth, Lord fearing, all around cool dude.

[@pzupich]

To lockout the trem from moving use a 3/4" copper pipe cut to the same height of the spring.

[@lmosco69]

Anyone know the music playing in the beginning? Its 🔥

[@ryangunwitch-black]

I think you’re supposed to use distilled water in your humidifier. I live in North Florida though so I don’t use one because it’s humid as all heck year round. And radiant floor heating in the bathroom is the best thing ever in the winter.

[@mgbaron]

You should look at a wicking humidifier. I’ve never experienced residue with one.

[@jimcamp2423]

No 2 guitars are built identical, I spend more time with each guitar just trying to make them play & sound as close to one another that it hurts. Micro adjustments and there still is a little uniqueness to each voice.of, to the naked eye, indiscernible identical guitars of he same brand & model even. I don't have a bad guitar, the guitars I have aren't holding me back really, & these are $ 100 Chinese guitars. All the notes & chords are there, included. One of these days, I may (or quite possibly not), play good enough to not harass & abuse the wildlife in the forest. There's a hit in every one of them waiting for someone to take it there. I mean, one fellow used a $ 99 Squier Bullet Strat & Justin Beiber used that recording in it's erntirety to make a hit song. Was it Justin Beiber or was the riffs/music that good ? The studio musician that made the recording, claims it really was 5 minutes of work that he thought they would take a segment and loop a song out of it. I think Charlie Starr could play any of my guitars & make it sound brilliant, and I don't think the instrument would feel any different as better or worse to enjoy playing it. For me, a Custom Shop guitar sounds just as bad as a $ 100 Chinese guitar. Here's my opinion on Duane Allman's Gold Top. Take it FWIW, When Duane Allman traded the '57 Gold Top for a '59 Burst, he took the pickups out of it. Unless someone reinstalled those same pickups back into the Gold Top, it's not even te same guitar he recorded Layla with Clapton at Criteria Studio on North Miami Beach, FL. More opinion on "Layla", Duane Allman didn't like the guitar enough that in 1969/1970, he had to not only trade Layla, but throw in a 50W Marshall Head & $ 200. The guy he traded with, unloaded that guitar to a music store in Daytona Beach that rented it out as a loaner. Allman traded a 12-13 year old guitar for a 11-12 year old LP. Duane Allman was special, the LP wasn't all that special. And then there's the fact that Allman's dog chewed up the guitar & it was repaired by Gibson as there is paperwork & documentation of that by serial number. That's why I maintain that any of these guitars are waiting for the musician to make them special. That guitar that gets passed over by so many, it's like a puppy, there's a lifetime of dog in that puppy that is special. Just like the guitar is only as good as the player playing it.

[@BrothaAustin]

Blackberry Smoke is your favorite bands favorite band

[@brianbard3410]

Really about the heavy ones charlie , I have never had a heveyer one ,that sounded better than a lighter one ,in both fender and gibbos.

[@JR-to8sn]

Old Gibsons were all made from Honduran Mahogany and Brazilian RW board. Over the last few decades MOST mahogany guitars including Gibson are made from African mahogany and indian RW. I DO think that is part of the sound equation of why the older ones sound "better" or more preferred. And the wood back in the 50's and 60's was old growth wood, something you can't get much of today.

[@mgbaron]

In floor heat or other types of radiant heat are much better for humidity, but they still require burning gas or oil to heat the water.

[@brianbard3410]

Agree with Charlie on the 57 jr. My 57 single cut best one better than the 58 double cut.

[@Spike-w5o]

For us regular folks who will never own one We will rock you ! With our average regular guitars😂😊😊

[@boogsy-b]

Mr. Starr is a B.A.M.F, you do the math.

[@boogsy-b]

Take a lesson from Slash everyone, stage volume has to reach the cheap seats.

[@bazilbrushrocks]

Is tonewood and wood the same thing?

[@brianbard3410]

One of these days maybe I will have a chance to hear your heavier one.

[@Nowandthen-zen]

The iceman cometh✌🏻🎸🎶

[@romestant]

Gibson delivers their stanrdards without top wrap. I do feel a tension difference, but not a sonic difference. Do what you like. I have one top wrapped and one through.

[@nickm.9474]

As a soundly Ive never cared how loud a guitar amp was. I you want a guy that mixes around then band hit me up. haha

[@stevep9740]

NO!! Its very much a Canadian problem. Central Canada living in an apartment... guitars are out on stands thru the summer dehumidifier working overtime... keeping the apt at 45 to 55 % ....dumping it once or even twice a day if the humidity is high enough. In the winter the humidity flat lines and all the guitars are in their cases with case humidifiers only outside of them when I'm playing them. Typically once a week all the cases get opened up and all the oasis case humidifiers get refilled. And I use tap water. Got no time for worrying about it beyond that.

[@amslu]

No blackberry smoke links in description, just affiliate links… 😟

[@alexanderbryant7666]

Guys, help me out! What store was he talking about in Ohio!!?? I’m gonna jenthere soon and I wanna visit that place if Charlie’s been there

[@brianbard3410]

Just use ut fir blues and slide , or just slide and luve with it, if charlie re set the neck he knows it wold be a bad mo jo.

[@rodhorncastle]

Yeah - If you don't wan't a Paul Stanley guitar: there's something wrong with you. Awesome discussion guys.

[@Candyman_Young]

Big get!

[@echoparkguitars]

❤

[@johngorgis]

You got to use distilled water

[@texasreddirt1408]

Rhett, how have you not been to a Blackberry Smoke show? You're doing it wrong. 🤣

[@bddmhopp5]

Rhett, you haven’t seen BBS? WHAT?

[@FrugalFretter]

If you use distilled water in your humidifier you won’t get that white/grey film on your stuff.