Gibson Les Paul 20 Year Comparison | 2001 vs. 2021 Les Paul Standard

Today we've got another pick straight from Guitarlington, a 2001 Gibson Les Paul Standard Plus with an incredible AAA Grade top. We thought it would be fun to compare this 20 year old guitar to a brand new Les Paul from 2021 and take a look and a listen to all the differences. Let us know which one you prefer!
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0:00 Intro/ Specs
9:17 Clean Demo (2001)
11:04 Clean Demo (2021)
12:52 Overdrive Demo (2001)
14:27 Overdrive Demo (2021)
16:10 Final Thoughts
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[@fathomxstudios]

I have 2001 cherry bust standard plus. Bought it new and guarded it with my life for 22 years. It still plays like butter and sounds like a rock god.

[@Chammoose]

Someone who’s never played guitar probably watches this and thinks, “Wow this makes me want to play guitar.” And then others who do play (like me) watch this and think, “Wow this makes me want to quit playing guitar.” Awesome playing!

[@fabienbourdier9847]

to be honest, even tho i'm shit at guitar this inspires me to practice more ! Cooper is great

[@martinvosicka470]

I hear you dude, same here🤣🤦‍♂️👍

[@mattchurchill]

Love early 2000s LPs, some real gems amongst em.

[@bobkrause0103]

Great job Chris and Cooper. The 2001 LP by far was best

[@TommySG1]

This video is such a perfect time on my end, I just purchased a 60’s Standard this past week so I’m real interested in what you guys have to say! Thanks and listening to Cooper play always reminds me to go back and practice a hell of a lot more haha!

[@arpee915]

Congratulations on almost 100K subscribers. Great job!

[@texhaines9957]

There is a difference in voice. I like the sound of the older one. Thanks Chris and Cooper. Hope to see more of what was found at Guitarlington. Acoustically speaking.

[@SilverTurtleZ28]

I think this really is a case of different pickups making the difference. That and the fact that the 2001 is seemingly a ringer of a guitar combines to make it the clear favorite. I would be interested to see what the difference would be with the 490/498 pickups in the 2021 model.

[@dogpd3]

Same here

[@Kevvzi]

Well, he did say 490T and 490R, not 498. I have a tribute and i kinda hate the 490 pickups. 490R is okay i guess, but the 490t lacks separation with some gain. Never heard of early 2000´s standards coming with the 490T, so he could have misspoken in the video.

[@Dreyno]

@@KevvziMy ‘97 has a 490R and 498T. I suspect that’s what this one has as well.

[@ApeLikeCreature]

Fantastic comparison and really beautiful playing. You allowed those Les Paul tones to shine clearly and simply. I recently purchased a 2004 Ebony Standard at a guitar show in the fall of 21’ and boy does it sound and play like a dream. And the price was very reasonable considering how much the prices have shot up in 2022.

[@delv2473]

I have a 2004 . I think it was Trogly who said they were some of the best and becoming desirable .

[@festushaggen2563]

The 01' has that classic dirty sound and edge that I like in an Lp. That's how it should sound. Great find.👍🏻

[@natedanaste]

I have a 1990 standard that is amazing! I just ordered a 2001 classic today off of reverb, I can’t wait to get my hands on it!

[@the_fleeing_dutchman]

Curious to learn that comparison

[@mountainpeakcloud8442]

I have a 2001 Les Paul Plus I bought in 2002 brand new, and it's my best sounding guitar. I had a limited budget I could spend on a guitar as it was a birthday present from my mom, so I just literally picked the cheapest one in the store, which happened to be a wine red 2001 LP Standard, and it was the cheapest because it had some dings on it and some minor imperfections with the glue around the logo, so it was heavily discounted. I didn't care that it had some small dings and imperfections, because I had been playing guitar for about 11 years by that point, and I had always dreamed of owning a LP, so I was over the moon when I finally got one. I still own it to this day, and it is by far the best sounding guitar I've ever played. It's heavy as the earths core, as it the tone when you drop D and plug it into a high gain marshall style amp, it has a fat baseball bat neck, and when you play a chord it resonates and sustains so much, it literally becomes a meditative experience. Interesting that these guitars are starting to become considered "vintage"... I still think of mine are being pretty "modern" since I got it brand new, kept it in great condition and 2001 doesn't seem that long ago, though I guess it is. To be honest, I didn't really think of these 2001 LPs as special (even though I thought mine sounded great), because I just didn't really play a lot of LPs in later years, but I started to realize that they are pretty special guitars. Perhaps there's something to the whole wood breathing thing, I don't know. It's extra special for me because it was a present from my mom, so I'll always be slightly bias, but I can objectively say that from a sound and feel perspective, it's a pretty special guitar, and it someone wants my LP, they will have to pry it from my cold dead hands, cause I'm never selling my baby.

[@charlesbranch4120]

Wow! I paused at 20:34 to leave a comment and am just grinning at the expression of the "older voice" (Chris). My voice is older than Chris' but I still sing every Sunday during rehearsal and the service. I think it helps sequence the lyric (libretto?) slides on screens and livestream. I prefer the 2001 Les Paul's sound and you could mark the knobs from 1 to 11, as Harry Shearer explained in Spinal Tap. I really like the Clint Black Signature 914, until I found a comparably priced PS14 with AA Koa that has an incredibly figured back. Wow, so many guitars, so little time! Happy Thanksgiving to all! (Thanks for a great start to this day!)

[@mattbry118]

Great video. It would be really interesting to see the same comparison between Epiphone LPs.

[@JP-jy7sk]

Great video. I liked the tone of both, but the 2001 certainly has more output and hits the amp a bit harder.

[@Robert-ug3rv]

I just bought a used 2001 Gibson Les Paul Standard. Not the plus top. This guitar sounds truly amazing. I have a 2015 Les Paul studio with the same pickups my standard has and they sound completely different. I also own a American made PRS and several Fender Stratocasters. The 2001 Les Paul Standard by far is the best sounding guitar I own. I dearly love this guitar.

[@thelespauldude3283]

Damn it, i've been searching for a 2001 for years😂 got a 2009 tho

[@ripw1]

Great video as usual

[@timnewman1172]

In 1993 I scraped together my last pennies and bought a black 1978 Standard. It was everything a late 70's Paul was, especially heavy! I played the hell out of it, even wearing the finish off a spot on the back of the neck... Then a few years ago I got my first Tele and came to the realization that I could get most everything I wanted out of it, so right before Covid hit I traded it for a new 0-18 Martin! As much as I loved it, I do not regret parting with it...

[@rickyanthony]

To each his own! The next guy might says everything you said, the guitars switched around lol.

[@frankfurter1732]

Owned many Les Pauls since 1980 currently my favorite is a custom shop 57 black beauty. Plays and sounds great out of the box. One that got away was a 2002 standard plus, very light and resonant and had great intonation. Sold it and regret it now.

[@ferox965]

I've got a 2001 in Vintageburst. Was owned by the awesome Victor Griffin. Got it about 14 years ago. My fave guitar. It roars.

[@poptopunderdog9690]

Tbh I'm not sure I could tell a difference. But I loved them both and I wish I could play like y'all.

[@10INCHCRUSHER]

damn, that little beatles jam was amazing. That 01 sounded amazing.

[@cvfunnsixspeed9213]

I have 2 LP’s. One is a 05 Studio I bought new. It had the 490/498’s like this 01. I changed them out for the Seymour Duncan’s Hot Rods. The 490/498’s are hotter pickups for sure. That’s not what a lot of players want in a LP. They are certainly not the most expensive pickups in Gibson’s lineup. I also have the 21 LP Standard in an unburst finish which I believe is as close to a AAA as it can be; it’s labeled as a AA top. I prefer the burst buckers 61 in that guitar but that’s me. Both of these instruments are awesome at the end of the day, and preference will be in the ear of the listener! 👍. Great video comparison!

[@loveenough1]

Jeff Skunk Baxter 😊. Great playing, man! Both those sound sweet enough 👌

[@thepatriot4355]

The 2021 Epiphone Custom Koa Les Paul stomps both them Gibson's in the dirt

[@jayrichardson5811]

Definitely

[@stratolestele7611]

Haha, here you go again, and here I go again - 1st: No Epiphone is stomping any proper USA Les Paul. I have an Epi LP Custom (along with with several others from 2021-2022). Just please stop with your sacrilege. #2. You go by "Patriot" and feature a US flag. Why would you even describe your Made In China (likely our biggest threat as a country) guitar as something that 'stomps all over any Gibson'. It's not very patriotic, and it just ain't true. You got an import and you're happy with it, fine. Just don't make blanket claims that any solid guitarist will know are false. Me, I'm ditching as many Chinese products as possible, so the Epiphones are soon to be history. Don't want them in our USA home! 🇺🇸

[@christopherguzzi1316]

Both sounded great to me. The 2021 sounded brighter to my ears, the 2001 warmer. I liked them each for different reasons.

[@nonya5475]

Good answer.

[@topografer]

I think they should have used a 50s standard model. It would be more comparable

[@cvfunnsixspeed9213]

No the 50’s model has a lower output pickup than the 60’s model, unless you get the Slash variant. Those 490/498’s are high output; the 498 anyway.

[@marcozarattini1854]

Hi...l bought my 1992 Gibson Standard Les Paul new in L.A.when l was 19.After 25 years of heavy playing and gigs l sold her because l quit playing for 4 years...in january 2022 l restarted playing buying a new '50 Les Paul Epiphone and in June l re-bought my 1992 LP l was lucky enough to find at 100km from where l live so we reunite for her 30th birthday(She was born in Nashville the 29th of May 1992)and l can say l am the happiest guitarist in the World 🤣🤣🤣👍👍👍🎸🎸🎸❤️❤️❤️

[@sixbladeknife44]

I have a 2002 Standard with BB Pros and an amazing top, just a shade under 9 pounds…an outstanding instrument, it does double duty for me along with a 2018 R8. The Standards of today are much different guitars and not quite as special as the early 2000’s Les Pauls. The 2001 Les Paul sounds substantially better to me than the newer one here…not dissing the new one, but it is what it is.

[@vlady8me]

Cooper dude your playing was the reason i listened and had to watch. Please do an affordable jazz box round up. Please

[@darthfaderlives89]

I may be in the minority, but I actually preferred the tone of the 21 model. The 01 was more unique and it may feel better in the player’s hand, but if I were to base the decision solely on how they sound in this video I’d go 21.

[@CraigFlowersMusic]

I have a 2001 Epi LP, it's not a Gibson but it's interesting. Somehow they botched the neck angle on all three axes. As-in: x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis all three wrong. Have to sink my pickups way in, because the bridge has to be basically all the way down; had to get a compensated nut because I can't intonate the unwound strings sharp enough; the low E string sits too far onto the fingerboard, and the high E is too close and prone to slipping off. Made in Japan, August 2001. Amazing top though, so I kept it--it doesn't hold a candle to my 2020 Gibson LP St60s, and the Iced Tea on the Gibson makes the cherry sunburst on the Epi look like Clown Orange by comparison. It now lives as mere wall-candy with a strange story.

[@lloydgarrelts6033]

Switch the pickups on these guitars and do another video. Love to hear that.

[@mchankerhoff853]

I just got my 2001 gothic’s frets recrowned and a Seymour Duncan black winter in it! Holy shit it’s awesome!

[@bradconklin2878]

They both sound great.

[@telecaster9988]

I just bought a used gibson lp custom. How do we know what production year of its? Mine has CS serial number

[@adamski101]

Were there any differences in build quality or 'feel'?

[@augustomesavila]

Hey can we have the tabs for the clean demo? Really like it man, cheers!

[@leegeddyfan]

i never liked the 490/498 pickups and when Gibson switched to the burstbuckers in 2002 I felt like that really made the Standards sing. Honestly Gibson took forever to bring the more vintage PAF sounding burstbuckers to the Standards considering they had em out as early as 1996. I own a 2001 Standard and immediately ditched the 490/498 for a burstbucker pro set and that sounded even more amazing. Nowadays the second I hear a set of 490/498 i know it's the instant AC/DC tone but that's not a bad thing but if you like AC/DC that's what works for you

[@garyeckel1656]

I liked the old one for the mellow stuff and the new one for the harder stuff, honestly both a re very nice, I have weight reduced 07 Premium Plus and custom shop 57 VOS Gold Top both very sweet in sound, save up your money" I like the ABR-1 bridge, it seems to have better tone and raising the tail bar off the body 1-2 turns makes the guitar sing.

[@Searider76]

Cooper can make any guitar sing beautifully. I liked to '01 on the clean tones better than the 2021. The '01 pickups definitely had more gain to them than the PAF's on the 2021. Because of that, I thought the '01 pickups were almost too much compared to the '21 when played dirty. However that can be easily controlled with the volume knobs. I have to go with the '01 version with the 491's. I have a 2013 model year '59 reissue Les Paul that I love and would not sell it for anything.

[@Dreyno]

I think it’s actually a 498T in the bridge. I have a ‘97 LP that came with that. It’s very high output so I dropped it down almost level with the pickup ring and he sounds more vintage. I have an SG with the same pickups so I leave them higher because I always think an SG should be more aggressive.

[@TonyLake920]

I own a 2016 Studio and I love everything about it no frills but still sounds like a Les Paul

[@charlesbolton8471]

I feel the same way about my 2015 Studio even though it is all original with the features that everyone loves to hate from that year.

[@cc771]

They both sounded great but I did like the 2001 better. About 10yrs ago I was able to purchase a used 1995 Gibson classic premium plus honey burst with great AAAA flame top that sounds amazing. Months later I fortunate to come upon a collector who had a 1998 Gibson R9 with a killer AAAAAA monster flame top that " supposedly " belonged to Rod Stewart lead guitarist. This is my baby out of all my twelve guitars in my collection and she sounds fucking amazing! I guess that's the Goodwood eras for you 😆

[@michelecaletti4095]

Add to it that the 490R/498T are very unbalanced and tend to be dark (490R) or too punchy (498T). I changed on my '97 the bridge pickup with a lower output alnico V and.. wow it shines.

[@Massimomartina]

Vorrei chiedere se vendete delle Ghipson Les Paul 20 ? Grazie

[@jaf8313]

The real difference is the 490/498 pickups compared to the 60's. A bit hotter and they just sound good IMO. I have a 2004 studio plus that has that pickup combo. My son played a new standard and was all psyched to play a "real" Les Paul.....played for like 30 seconds and said "ours is better". They played near the same although mine is set up the way I like it. But the burstbuckers just aren't as good as the 490/498 IMO. I'ts all in what you like.

[@OakLawnSpeedShop]

2003 copper top studio owner. Couldn’t agree more.

[@thelespauldude3283]

I got a 2009 and lately played a 1969 black beauty. I didnt even want to look at my 2009 after that for an entire week! There is something magical about old Gibsons. But even my 2009 is a lot better than newer Gibsons i've played, it feels and sounds more "alive" in my opinion

[@eddiepage83]

what color finish is the 2001?

[@icu469]

The honeyburst without pickguard sounds superior both clean and dirty

[@patrickkoenigsfeld1253]

Spinal tap reference is an automatic like and subscribe!

[@dionysusthemadgod]

I have compared my Standard with ‘61s to my friend’s Tribute with 490s. There’s no comparison: The Burstbuckers are better. They are smoother, with more definition, and are closer to the sound of true PAFs. 490s are a little raspy with less definition and honestly were not my favorite. I even kind of liked the ProBuckers in my Epiphone to 490s.

[@nonya5475]

To my ear the 2021 was better. Just sounded cleaner on cleans, rest was about the same.

[@kc1jvd105]

my 2018 had screws with no threads just jammed into the hole. quality control is amazing

[@auntjenifer7774]

What hole ? You didn't specify.

[@kc1jvd105]

@@auntjenifer7774 back plate

[@Dreyno]

My ‘97 Les Paul came new with Speed Knobs. I prefer them. Much easier to use with your pinkie.

[@sublyme2157]

20 years ago the Les Paul on the same rack as that one probably sounded different. That's the weird thing about Les Pauls. Gotta play 'em all to find the one I guess. :)

[@alanreynolds5430]

I could not tell the difference! I have a 2003 -Any good?

[@urs-prinomichaelangelo8374]

11:06 what's the title of that songgggggg

[@lcvol73]

Which amp and pedals are you guys using?

[@AlamoMusic]

On this video we just used our Hot Rod Deluxe with EQ's all even, then just kicked on the overdrive channel with a healthy amount of gain.

[@bradconklin2878]

Yeah... that blow switch. Hmmm, the name of my next band:)

[@holmes1978]

Before I watch it should if used a Gibson Les Paul Standard 2002 that was the Year that still rocks to this day !

[@bafrred7380]

If you want to compare 2 guitare you would better compare with same pickup in each guitare Because in this video you are comparing gibson 490 vs gibson 61r.

[@joemsm4313]

I have the 01 standard in that same burst and it's got more flame than both. Not a plus top.

[@kevinschmitt4050]

I like the ‘21. Girthy like a tuna can

[@dananthony6258]

I don’t like the fret board wood if it’s to light.

[@benandrews9762]

The difference is in the weight relief, which Gibson has fixed in the current Standards. Nice job Gibson! Don't fuck with perfection!

[@Crismartz2024]

The 2001 has more clarity, punch and resonance definitely much better than 2021

[@rayfabris2512]

I have a 2021 made Gibson les paul standard and omg I don't need an acoustic guitar now and I plug this into a Marshall oh shit the train is rolling now and no issues with the G string

[@MrJaydeep777]

The frets are a lot shorter on the new Les Pauls. I like the taller frets on the older ones.

[@wildebassman]

Biggest difference is pickups for sure.

[@MrDISCOBRITCHES]

That’s why I spent more to get an 03 standard

[@daveb4583]

I have a 2001 LP Standard w 490 and 498 (bought it new) and they are killer! Hotter when you want it to be and beautiful on the clean channel...It has a 4A top in Honey burst not light by any means at over 10 lbs. I play it through a Mesa boogie Triple crown 50 and love it... One of the best guitars I have ever owned...an interesting point if I fret to aggressively in the lower neck I can pull it slightly out of tune...BTW the 2001 had more life than the new one.Imho strings the Same?

[@timnewman1172]

I'm with Chris about the 01, that's a Les Paul!

[@aliengrey6052]

Here’s my five penneth on the latest Gibson 50s and sixties models. Great!!!! But there’s one huge elephant in the room. The weight of these guitars is too much. 9 to twelve pounds? Are you kidding me. This is too heavy for a player on stage to carry for two to three hours. People are talking about wearing harnesses to ease the weight. This eventually push players to buy lighter guitars in the future. 8.6 pounds is more than heavy enough. The Gibson les Paul’s of the past were heavy enough but these days Gibson should give the option of chambering them again. I actually like my chambered les Paul.

[@dionysusthemadgod]

I think the ‘60s Standard sounds better and truer to a vintage style Les Paul, with more dynamics and less harsh brittleness.

[@mvenuti1980]

The 2001 has 9 hole weight relief.

[@dogpd3]

Both guitars are sweet but the 2001 is special for some reason.

[@erhnam]

The 2001 had a better clean sound with all the knobs on 10. I have a 2020 and I could just turn down the tone knob to 6 and they sound almost the same.

[@atlasmarr5230]

I thought the 2021 sounds more open and dynamic. The 2001 is more focused and less 3D. I have a 2001 and compared to my more recent ones I think it's the lesser model.

[@BlindTom61]

Nob placement on the top on the 2001 guitar is really incorrect.

[@davidbeau6715]

some guitars have a little more Magic in them than the others

[@Angry_Chair_87]

There is weight relief in the 2001- swiss cheese.

[@thenumber1bobo]

Im pretty sure those are 498T/490R, not both 490s. Big difference. Also...it is weight relieved. 9 Hole, Swiss cheese. Pre-chambering, but not full solid.

[@YouTubeHandlesAreMoronic]

Clean, I prefer the 2021, but I know that "clean" is not how most guys would use these guitars.

[@Dwyaneish]

The 2001 sounds way better when he was playing chords like it wants to be played that way. The newer 60s sounded like it loves to attack and sounds great with lead lines

[@DogDaze66]

The custom shop Les Paul SG is far better than the new ones also..

[@michaelheller8841]

The older the Les Paul the better it will sound. Unless you really beat on it and don't take care of it at all. That's why vintage is so expensive. It's not only the price, there is some hype because they really went even further up in price. I like the sound of 2001 better, more classic Les Paul sound, even though 2021 is trying to do that 60's thing. Who knows, maybe in another 20 years it will sound better. It doesn't sound bad at all though. I've owned many Les Pauls throughout the years, the older the better in my experience. You can from time to time find one that's not so good. That's why you have to play them.

[@alexwoolridge94aw]

Damn those are heavy. My 16 Les paul traditional weighs around 6 to 7 pounds

[@icu469]

6 to 7 pounds is pretty light for an electric guitar

[@alexwoolridge94aw]

@@icu469 my old 1961 les paul jr is about 5-6 pounds. Thats light

[@zaldum386]

One is alnico II , the other alnico V , very different pickups

[@danaeverhart6487]

It’s the hair and the absense of it guyz!

[@hopebrowning6300]

2001 has 300, More like 220 to 270 pots , The newer one 500 k pots .makes a big difference .

[@vampolascott36]

Dude, speed knobs have been around since the '70s.

[@jeffreyhall76]

Cooper is a monster. 01 is better. Maybe there’s something to getting better with age

[@vincentrandles8105]

I thought maybe we might get to hear the big guy play....no dice.

[@seventwistsclockwise]

The 2001 has 300k volume pots, maybe they should've kept those

[@jeremysmetana8583]

The finish has nothing to do with it. Why do Les Pauls from 2001 and before sound better? Because the pickups are overwound and significantly hotter. After 9/11, the cost of all metals went up, worldwide, and stayed up, due to fighting, embargoes, you name it. Add into that, demand for metal in computers, phones, etc... You end up in with a world in 2022 where guitar companies skimp on copper. I have a LP Studio from 1993 and a Classic from 1997. Two different sets of pickups, but still both sets are the best pickups in the house. Why? WHEN they were wound.

[@jerrytang9514]

2001!!!!!!!!!!

[@samb8996]

I would lose the stache

[@AlamoMusic]

Then you would be making the wrong decision…

[@danaeverhart6487]

Plenty of hair on his face, glue it to his head! Lol

[@holmes1978]

2002 was the year

[@watchfan6180]

The 2021 bite is stronger

[@tykit9230]

i have a 2016 Traditional and a 2016 Standard. The Traditional is the better guitar 🎸