Is This The Best Les Paul Ever?

[@whenvioletsturngrey9597]

The Les Paul will always be the most beautiful solid body electric guitar.

[@Hallalo]

And the coolest!

[@greyguy9767]

No it won't.

[@CocoKoi321]

OPINION....

[@surfboarding5058]

@@greyguy9767which one ?

[@blackout8845]

fact!

[@IndyRockStar]

I bought a new 2023 Gibson Custom 1959 M2M. It's by far the best Les Paul I've ever played. Mine's in factory burst like yours. Mine was painted by Mr. Murphey too. I bought it new that way from the Custom shop. Best $7,500 I've ever spent. I have unpotted PAF pickups in mine. I absolutely love them.

[@seankent1807]

That is, quite possibly, the most beautiful Les Paul I’ve ever seen. That finish is perfection! 🤯

[@HungryHumbucker]

My keeper Les Paul has quite a similar vibe to it. I bought a 1999 R9 from a guy living in Japan. It had been on display in a store under neon lights, which faded all the red out of the guitar, leaving it in a teaburst finish with brown back. I suspect the original owner swapped the plastic, I changed the tuners, added a lightweight tailpiece, RS electronics, Timbucker pickups and replaced the inlays with vintage cellulose inlays. Glorious Les Paul.

[@robbiewilliamstewartgp425]

One of the BEST sounding Les Pauls I've heard of recent. Although I love a thick neck, I think I could get used to that beast. Dynamic. Killer.

[@michaelball7830]

The thing I love about my Les Paul is seeing the flame in different shades of light then you move & it is totally different. It sounds ok as well

[@Gaslight.Guitar]

super cool R9, it looks badass and it sounds badass. the story behind it is also adding to its value. good stuff. more please!

[@WhitAnderson70]

Love, love, love it. It's part of you, your legacy. Dare I say... your mythos. I'm here all week folks.

[@MrScott-go6]

R9's & R0's RULE!! NICE AXE!! The ring (without fret buzz is Always step one , besides how it feels)!!! You're stoked!!

[@Adipsia1]

That's a gorgeous Les Paul and the story and sound make it an obvious keeper. I have a regular 1996 LP Standard that I've upgraded in terms of vintage wiring harness and pickups (Lollar Imperials), but I always find myself lusting after R8/9's after videos like this. Thanks very much for kicking off my GAS again !

[@Joe-mz6dc]

Man you did an AWESOME job on that Les Paul! Good man. 🙂

[@Mr.D34]

What a beautiful looking and great sounding guitar Zach.

[@frankking3040]

What a beautiful and amazing sounding piece of art!!! From a LP owner to another. Great guitar and congratulations. Enjoy.

[@RickDanner]

the flame top and tone is great - i might get the 60s faded all i can afford

[@matt6l6]

I have a 2014 R8 that is definitely a lifer. Went to Daves in LaCrosse and it stood way above the others I played.

[@adambrunner9462]

Just bought a custom shop tele from Dave's last week. It's about 2 hours from my house. That place is guitar heaven! Upstairs...whoa!

[@ashleyjackson8538]

I love Les Paul guitars . You could play 4 identical looking guitars . And all are very different .

[@cliffords2315]

very true

[@CS_Murphy_R9]

I am 100% happy with the 2023 Murphy Lab heavy aged R9 I bought three weeks back. Looks and sounds like a old burst.

[@MythosPedals]

Right on. I’ve tweaked even more and I’m even more in love with this guitar.

[@nicktuel8125]

This is gonna be an awesome series!

[@GuitarQuackery]

It's a nice looking burst. The flame is a bit too intense for my personal taste (and that's just personal preference) but the burst is just right. I also like the vintage p-up rings.

[@stricknine8623]

That may be the most beautiful Les Paul Ive ever seen. Damn ! And the tone is quintessential Gibson Les Paul !

[@Cygnus56]

Stunningly beautiful in both aesthetics and sound.

[@ttestates1]

That's one of the most beautiful Bursts colors I've ever seen. I own an original 1960 Burst with an amazing 60 neck

[@johndaugherty4127]

You got her sounding awesome!

[@stevemorse108]

I have bought for over 5O,000$ of Les Pauls and the best was Sandy the Collector's Choice and A historic reissue 59 Custom, A Joes Walsh signature Custom Shop for 11,000$ was disappointing) Shop however I have a friend who plays only standards and frankly once you plug it in add a bit of distortion you don't hear much different at all at most less than 10% so it is all clever marketing. Nice Guitar in your video thanks for posting. (I am not THE steve morse).

[@MaximizedAction]

That IS a killer finish

[@timtaylor164]

My 2022 R9 is bar none the sweetest guitar I’ve ever owned..

[@opinionhaver574]

At first, when you said you heavily modded your R9, I was horrified. And then you said, "Tom Murphy," and I was like, well ok then. I just received my 1959 VOS and it is a thing of beauty. It actually looks very similar to yours. Anyway, thanks for the video - it's always fun to hear other players sharing their love and passion for the instrument. I know my Les Paul will be with me for a long time.

[@Deliquescentinsight]

I have a dream of getting a 1958 model Les Paul, to match my birth year - but an original is well outside my budget, a reissue then!

[@joshfulmer3689]

So jealous you have that experience. At finishes definitely once in a lifetime and it's very unique you're a lucky man.

[@natenobrakes6292]

Well this has made me pick up my guitar again after a bit of a break. Many thanks.

[@dustingmyguitars]

I love that guitar! Beautiful color.

[@CS_Murphy_R9]

Yeah that darker burst is outstanding!

[@jsapi23]

Beautiful guitar. I have a Historic Makeovers ‘07 R9 with some great parts and it sounds awesome. Will never let her go.

[@petewhitten3778]

Love that guitar 🎸. Great mods and great story. 😎🎸👍

[@JoeLoven]

Great guitar, gorgeous finish. Congrats, have fun!

[@JohnMaag-f3t]

2014 was a damn good year for the Burst Reissues. I had a 2014 R8 that was a Beast and I wish I hadn't traded it.

[@canyonproductions7683]

I miss my 97’

[@martinmartin8871]

2012-2014 my favorite years...... for price to deep tone cost benefit analysis. I have had 4 of these LP's in that time frame.

[@tadlehmann1906]

Zach, what is “home base” on your tone knobs for the neck and bridge pickup sound demos you did here? Maybe 8 on neck and 4 on bridge?

[@jakegoldman5804]

I know u know ur stuff, but at 2:18 I was reminded so forcibly of that scene from spinal tap that i had to laugh. where he's showing a reporter the "sustain" of a guitar that isn't plugged in

[@eriklloyd2954]

Got a list somewhere of all the upgrade parts? I got an R9, been thinking about swapping some stuff out but feel weird about doing it to such an expensive guitar haha

[@deanmccaskill5495]

Love it man. Just got a 2011 R9 the other day. Certainly not as awesome as that one but im still in love with it.

[@mikaruonala2297]

Agree, really great sound! I’d love to hear how did you dial in the pups, especially if you adjusted the poles or not

[@ashleyjackson8538]

You got a stunning guitar .

[@megatrends]

Beautiful guitar ... I like what you did to it. I have a 2016 R8 I kept, had a 2016 R9 and and a 2018 R0. sold those two and kept the R8, it's "special" and was just better than the other two. Resonant like yours and the 2016 R8s had flamey tops for some reason. Looks like a 59 with a fatter neck I like. I have big hands... loved your video!

[@isaacshepard7809]

That's the exact color id have choose. Love it bro ❤❤

[@Kabayoth]

I can top the mod category. I have a Brian Moore MC1 2.13. Relax! She's a Chinese model. Quite frankly, I bought Mordred because I had not seen a Brian Moore in decades. Price was right. Took her home. Problems started right away. The pickups were cheap, the piezo wasn't working, and the MIDI controls were useless. So I swapped out the bridge humbucker. Sounded great, but the neck wouldn't play worth a damn. Swapped that one out, and the piezo started bothering me. So I ripped out all the MIDI and piezo and replaced the piezo with an LR Baggs. Promptly wore divits in every fret. So I have a guitar with a bunch of holes in it from all the missing hardware. I needed a level and crown on the frets anyway, so I bring it in. "Why not put LEDs in the holes?" The guy asks. Great idea! I neglected to ask if he's ever done that before. Eighteen months later, I get Mordred back. New locking tuners. New nut. And the LEDs are working. All the more proof a man can make a fool of himself in inventive ways. The tailpiece is original. That's about it. No refinishing. Mordred is a deep, flamed maroon, and it suits her. A flamethrower should be understated.

[@CheddarKungPao]

That is one sweet guitar, and the one I think of when I think of you as a player.

[@vnvtraining7203]

Killer top and outstanding tone, that’s a keeper 🙌😊

[@dmatt1116]

The three top iconic guitars in my opinion are The Gibson Les Paul, Fender Stratocaster, and Fender Telecaster. The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost…

[@canyonproductions7683]

I LOVE the story of you and your wife makin that deal together. It really adds that special something to the adoption of that guitar. Many people would be surprised to know repaint is NOT as expensive as they’d think. I might do it with one of mine soon. Would I be correct to guess Kossoff and Bonnamossa were influences on you? 🧐

[@MythosPedals]

I love Kossoffs playing and I came to it later in life, Joe is an awesome player and nice guy but not a sonic/playing influence really.

[@canyonproductions7683]

@@MythosPedals same for me with the Kossoff thing. Late 20’s i think. You definitely have that vibe. Keep these cool videos comin🥳

[@BB-ft6nd]

I played the 2024 Les Paul Custom "Black Beauty" and I prefer it over the 2024 R9. However, my friend preferred the sound of the 1968 Les Paul Goldtop reissue. Each to their own I guess.

[@matheusaraujo8921]

this finish is sick

[@buildingyourbrand7832]

Best looking one ive seen for sure

[@DDWyss]

That's such a cool story about the refinish! I'm surprised you didn't put a bone nut on it though. And I notice you have it top-wrapped. I top-wrapped my Les Paul for about two days once, but I couldn't stand it and had to change it back. It made the guitar all jangly like a Jazzmaster or something. I love my Jazzmaster, but that's not the feel I want from my Les Paul. I like the idea of the softer bending strings, but to get that, I just through-string it and raise the tailpiece until it feels right. Awesome guitar, thanks for sharing!

[@MythosPedals]

Vintage Gibsons had Nylon nuts so I kept that aspect. I don’t mind it at all

[@DDWyss]

@@MythosPedals Yeah, you're right, the nylon nut is factory spec for 50s Gibsons. I just figure since you went to such great lengths in terms of mods and upgrades and a nut is one of the simplest and easiest...it was the first thing to go on mine. I prefer bone. I love the sound of your neck pickup, great brightness and clarity! I'm way more picky about humbucker neck tone than bridge tone. Are good sounding neck pickups as easy to make as good sounding bridge pickups? I imagine there's a lot more going on in terms of string rotation over the neck pickup area than the bridge pickup area. Does that difference present unique challenges to you when making pickups?

[@CharlesWillisBonsai]

​@@DDWyss look at Wolfetone's Dr Vintage neck pickup

[@DDWyss]

@@CharlesWillisBonsai I'll do that. Thanks!

[@jthatcher962]

This just further reinforced that my LP does not sound the way it should. Love the bite that yours has. Mine sounds so flabby compared to that. Crap!

[@kalkidasofficial]

Start changing the pots for the same Zach uses, RSGuitar Works, vintage specs.

[@kylem1]

Beautiful guitar!

[@readysetmoses]

Law of Headlines here in full effect

[@LeMans512]

That look is perfect, to me.

[@joepatriot6431]

The best two sounding I've owned were a 2005 LP Supreme and a 2007 LP 59RI. Still have the 59. I miss the Supreme. Both just have that something extra in the tone. And by chance both are very beautifully figured wood.

[@77tsmsa]

Beautiful Guitar!

[@madamkirk]

Great top on this one!!

[@markstewart8171]

Why did you take out the pickups out of an r9? Are those not made for that specific guitar etc?

[@markstewart8171]

Nevermind lol

[@sillyfarmerbilly8872]

You like a lot of high end bite. Reminds me of Santana sound but just a little smoother. I usually avoid high end bite at all costs, but last night at a show I switched some gear up and it got in there. Watching your video and realizing that it's not necessarily a bad thing makes me feel better about it.

[@Rideandlively]

Realllly should have played it through that Bloomfield drive in the background. Plug-ins just can’t do a guitar like this justice.

[@MythosPedals]

We are in a business park, really hard to crank these amps during normal hours sadly. But, having used a lot of these Neural plugins, they really do sound great.

[@Joey.Darkwoods-Studio]

That top is so incredible... reminds me of that iced tea finish they have. I love my 19' R9 60th anniversary... I drove from Montreal, Qc to New Hampshire to pick her up. I was actually looking for a new 50's Standard. After jamming between a 50's and 60's and sales guy brought up an older R9 and I straight up told him no... I didn't want to touch something I couldn't afford lol I mean, why tempt the devil right? So my wife how was with me to me to grab it and told the rep to hand it to me. I actually refused lol So I gave in... loved it man... it was like butter. So, put it back and put a deposit on a 60's Iced tea. On my way out my wife stopped me and said "Stop f&%king around, you already have a few standards, get your dream guitar! So go back in and get your deposit". I brushed it off.. and two weeks later she brings it up again "Did you look for that guitar?" So I said no... "She called the store the next day and got my deposit back lol she came to me and said "Here is your money, now look for YOUR R9 and let's do it". I did... Mine is in Orange Sunset fade and yeah man... I love it! One of those stories I could never forget.

[@joerectifier]

It’s gorgeous for sure. All that matters is that you love the sound. My opinion means pretty much nothing, but I am not impressed by the sound and that’s how these things will always work, very very subjective. I selected a 2004 Les Paul Traditional with burstbuckers from a lineup of maybe 10 that were available and it was not my favorite looking one, but to my preference it sounded best. I also don’t like the weight relief thing - still it sounded best to me. My friend with me did not “hear it” and that’s how it works. That ‘04 has been bone stock for 20 years and still leaves me wanting for nothing. I think we can get carried away and a little overly fastidious with these swaps and mods and whatnots….its hit and miss. My opinion is to just let a guitar be what it is and either it works for you or it doesn’t.

[@MythosPedals]

I love modding guitars and can firmly attest to the fact that it was great before but is awesome now. To each their own. I love modding, it's one of my favorite things to do.

[@IZE83L]

Dang I don't think I'd be able to modify a r9. Bold move very cool! I'm a purists on some models 😅

[@georgem5589]

I have strats, tele's, LP Jr's, Novo's, a Whifil, and my R8 feels like the grand piano, the others spinets and uprights.

[@andrewbecker3700]

Did you mention the weight? Found out Greenie is 8lbs.15ozs. which is exactly what my #1 LP weighs. The unpotted BB 2&3 pickups ohm out at 7.5 and 8.5 respectively. We'll balanced pickups are critical, especially the middle position.

[@Mcfly0856]

The originals were actually pretty mismatched, I've seen quite a few where the neck reads hotter than the bridge.

[@deanmccaskill5495]

I love this video. This minutiae may not matter to most but it matters to me. I love the Mcready videos also. I don’t know if there will be another video on checking. I find that is the most lacking on that guitar. I have to say I love the thing though

[@terrybaker9383]

I have a 2013 Les Paul Standard and Yeah volume off Ot RINGS crazy acoustic loud

[@carminelombardi9575]

Great Tone

[@Blender_and_Chirp]

Beautiful 🤩

[@iamdjsluggo]

Started his Married life with a deal for a guitar… ferocious! 😂

[@robmarmaduke]

Teflon tape wrapped around the bridge adjustment screws stops the rattle

[@parksed24]

That one’s about as good as it gets 🔥

[@aminahmed2220]

What a fantastic video have a safe weekend also stay safe

[@grandtechnology]

Great sound.

[@groak7395]

Holy fuck… that thing sounds utterly fantastic

[@cmcald0]

Can you tell me why you went back to the RS True 60's? What didn't you like about the Whiskerbuckers and what do you like more about the RS set? Thanks.

[@MythosPedals]

The whiskerbuckers were potted which for this sound I didn’t like and they just didn’t have the same note detail and personality that the true 60s did. They are a much more balanced set.

[@stickman55100]

Your LP looks beautiful and sounds great. I bought a Murphy Custom shop Les Paul Red Eye model. Didn’t like the pickups, so I installed a set of Cream T Whiskerbuckers that were plekked from Pearly Gates and now it sounds amazing!

[@MythosPedals]

Nice!

[@advanceddragonchasing2286]

Curious who you went to for the plastics? Creamtone?? didn't hear it in the video..

[@spideymarino]

Sounds great. Are these still the Cream T Billy Gibbons pups?

[@paulcowart3174]

Some Fralin 60 variants he said

[@spideymarino]

@@paulcowart3174 thanks. I must have missed that. 👍

[@DS-nw4eq]

I have a 50s standard which looks sound and plays great. I also have a tribute which does the same

[@ctsguitar]

Beautiful looking and sounding Les Paul. The binding on my R9 turned pink from dye bleed only a few months of owning new! 😮 To anyone’s knowledge, can anything be done to restore the original cream binding?

[@MythosPedals]

You can't sadly :( Tom scraped the binding on my neck and made it look as new but it bled back after a few months. You can try and fade it, but it will fade the red on the back. The tops do not have aniline dye but the backs do. My neck has started to turn brown-ish from the sun and playing.

[@ctsguitar]

@@MythosPedals Oh I see, that’s interesting to hear. I considered a re-finish on the neck but I guess all R9’s are destined to have the same dye bleed - I was just surprised how quickly my LP binding changed colour! It doesn’t diminish how great they sound though. I would have assumed your Les Paul had Mythos pickups!!! 😉

[@justinhenderson247]

Magic eraser works if your gentle, but I sat mine in room in my house that gets the most sun I put it in the bay window and rotated it daily in a clockwise motion for 2 weeks. I kept a sheer curtain so it didn’t totally wash the color out but the whole guitar was 2 shades lighter and my binding wasn’t red anymore

[@MythosPedals]

@@justinhenderson247 This can/will fade the neck/back as well. Have to be careful if you want to keep the back nice and red.

[@ctsguitar]

@@justinhenderson247 That’s interesting. It seems like quite a process to restore dye bleed. Thanks for sharing. In hindsight, maybe Gibson didn’t need to necessarily use exactly the same type of dye on their reissues, as it’s just flawed and unstable! - Material and construction of the guitar is the main thing.

[@boe466]

Great guitar and a great story!! Where do you buy the plastic parts?

[@BLUESKY-zt1nv]

I just recently brought a Brand New Tom Murphy 59 sunburst , i brought it online which turned out to be the biggest mistake i have ever made , on the day due for delivery i was all excited ..after 4 hours waiting finally the courier arrived ..up the garden path with the "Brown Box and Gibson logo" oh yes !! Slowly i opened the box ,to slide out the lovely brown case ..then i opened it ..OMG !!! The guitar had burn marks on it , chips , scratches , even the nitro was checking !! i sent it back and demanded my money back ...i never brought anything from that shop again ,selling 2nd hand guitars and advertising them as Brand new !!!

[@MythosPedals]

This is a joke right? New Murphy lab guitars are all distressed

[@ledzeppelinzoso]

Very tasteful. Is that Brazilian rosewood? Long neck tenon? What bridge and stopbar tone pros? Add another 2500 to that guitar if Murphy painted it

[@Schlumbucketreturns]

There is hardly a Gibson out there that doesn't sound great if you plug it into a good amp and know how to play. Bad tone is 99.99% the fault of the player.

[@madamkirk]

True. But Gibson has to have repeat business!!

[@joerectifier]

@@Schlumbucketreturns agreed. I have a bone stock 2004 standard traditional and Les Paul classic gold top which is either 04 or 05. Both are dead bone stock and they sound fantastic unplugged and plugged….the mod thing may make differences but it’s a marketing and commerce thing. It’s a hobby for some, I get it….but not necessary for the great mythical tone. It’s there to be had in stock form

[@Po1itica11yNcorrect]

2:35 honestly surprised me. For what these guitars cost, no modifications should be necessary, or even wanted. Basically, this guitar was modded to no longer be a Gibson Custom Shop. It's now a Gibson Les Paul version of a "Partscaster", albeit a high end version. Beautiful guitar though.

[@MythosPedals]

To be fair the newest ones are much better from the get go. The plastics on this year was horrible and once you spend time around the actual vintage models you’re cursed with knowledge of how they look. I wanted this guitar to be as close to a vintage Lester as possible for what I could afford. Now I feel like it is and I couldn’t be happier

[@Po1itica11yNcorrect]

@MythosPedals At the end of the day, that's the most important thing. BTW, that top is insane. It's one of the nicest I've seen on an LP. The nicest I ever saw was on a PRS.

[@wbk5644]

Been down the pickup rabbit hole and stumbled across your videos. You have some old demos of of the Cream T Whiskerbuckers. Those sound great too. If you have time, I’d be curious why you switched and what you like about the True 60s compared to the Whiskerbuckers

[@MythosPedals]

After spending time with them I just found the True 60s to be more what I wanted. I think I just prefer unpotted pickups as well. I think the whiskerbuckers are very good but they don't have the "THING" that most PAF style pickups have that I look for. Ironic that I LOVE LOVE LOVE Billy Gibbons tones but they just didn't get them there to my ears or in my head.

[@wbk5644]

@@MythosPedals Many thanks for the reply!

[@Podcastforthewin]

First of all, beautiful guitar. What Color top is that? I might have missed if you said

[@sean2wall]

how many R9s are out there, probably 10 thousands of them?

[@brownsfan7753]

Love it!!!

[@dananthony6258]

You know Tom Murrfy ? Wow man. It's an awsome color.

[@prophet8photo]

Great video.

[@cherrysunburst1959]

Sounds great. Own Forever? Doubt it.

[@MythosPedals]

Definitely

[@dividedbytimestudios]

I miss my Les Paul, 😢

[@sergejkrynycky728]

Dude your hair is ✨swooshin’✨. Oh yeah, cool guitar too.

[@f33fifofum]

I'm just impressed you managed to parlay a marriage proposal into an R9

[@MythosPedals]

I lucked out in all the best ways, great guitar, even better wife :)

[@MikeMichaels1987]

My fiance told me I should get rid of a few of my guitars before we get married. I never got to cut the cake, but I got a brand new Gibson 🤣🤣🤣

[@billwilkie6211]

Well played sir

[@olifilipe]

What a legend... You get the ring ONLY if I get a Les Paul...