Playing a REAL '59 Les Paul (THE BEAST!)/First Impressions | Friday Fretworks

/ chrisbuckguitar
/ buckandevans

[@inquisitor4635]

That is some tasty playing there brother. Someone in my family just picked up a '57 Les Paul Gold Top that was locked away for years. He got it for a mere 30k US dollars. It has never been damaged, the electronics never altered or touched with a soldering gun...all original. It was a pleasure to have played it for an afternoon through a vintage Fender tweed valve amp.

[@jackleyton5504]

Does he want to sell it for $40,000.00?

[@jimmyrecce8787]

All of the great 59s have that horn like quality to them...it's just something in the DNA of these beautiful instruments..

[@jamiemorgan4146]

Yes, you are mostly right about that. Believe it or not, there are Bursts out there that were dogs. Hard to believe..😕😕😕 Here’s one secret to that sound. NEVER buy a humbucker that’s been potted. The wax sucks the harmonic life out of a pickup.

[@Dreyno]

I bet I could make it sound crappy. It’s a talent I have.

[@voorhalven]

I have the opposite. Please let me play just one note only for half an hour and let me enjoy it.

[@craigusselman546]

I own a Gibson LP and it makes my crappy noodling sound pretty, mine sounds gorgeous but not as much as a 1959 or THE BEAST.

[@joh.2096]

😂👍🏻

[@podfuk]

My thoughts exactly he he

[@phildale8451]

Somebody beat you to it, its new owner hammett.

[@DVDFHardTarget]

The sound coming from that '59 is simply amazing. Thank you for taking the time to share this moment.

[@craigusselman546]

Bernie is a really nice guy to let you play THE BEAST and you deserve it with that playing.

[@MrNeilfatmonkey]

It sounded brilliant through the camera mic. I can only imagine what it sounded like in the room. What a phenomenal experience for you. Thank you for sharing.

[@theshyguitarist]

I own one Les Paul...a 2011 Studio Faded that I refinished. I also have gone through many sets of pickups until I came across the Doug and Pat show where they demo’d many pickup sets. One set really stood out made by Amber Pickups in Germany. I called Wolfgang and ordered two sets. When I got them, I installed a set in my LP along with 50’s wiring. What a tone! I finally found my tone. Finally.

[@peterjessop1878]

Chris came here after seeing you on That Pedal Show. Every time I hear “the beast” the more I think that guitar is probably the best Les Paul ever made. Clean, low or high gain it just sounds incredible. Great playing by the way and loving what I have heard of your band so far.

[@cgavin1]

For me there's 3 such guitars from 59 by Gibson that come close. 1. The Beast 2. The Ramm/Kossoff kzbin.info/www/bejne/iHWUqXVvit2Mf5I 3. Greeny/Moore kzbin.info/www/bejne/d3OTpoKuos6Ze6s

[@joshmuz9018]

I rate greeny as the best

[@SDPickups]

It is a great guitar but I've never heard it clean anywhere. Bernie uses a pedal into a small amp that doesnt do cleans at all. I think this video the audio went through a DAW or something, his room does not look like it has the reverb I'm hearing. I want to hear it RAW, you almost never hear anyone do that. There's always some manipulation being used to subvert the nearly harsh treble native to real PAF's. Drop by my channel if you want to hear PAF's without the sanitation.

[@JonBakerMusic]

It's so cool how, no matter what guitar you use, you always sound like you... Tone is definitely in the fingers! Must have been great fun to play "The Beast" 😀

[@HubertsBlues]

Wow! Don't know what gives me more goosebumps, if it's the way it sounds ore the way you play ... Dude!

[@somebodyelseuk]

Have seen Bernie play this guitar live... great player. The 'muddiness' in a lot of Les Pauls and similar, is partly the pickup construction being a long way away from the 'PAF' specs, and partly them having generic set ups - the old 'pickup heights by numbers' approach. You find quite a few of the old pros, such as Bernie, Gary Moore (RIP) etc, had their pickups set lower with the pole screws above the covers, whereas the generic method is to have 'em high and flush.

[@rubberband9570]

Cool I bought one of these yesterday but it says epiphone on it and I think it’s from 2012

[@janstarstone]

sounds the same?

[@gustavvader2207]

Rubber Band nothing wrong with that!!!

[@adamrogers3780]

Obvious troll is obvious.

[@rubberband9570]

Sorry guys I was being a troll. I just started posting on KZbin if y’all wanna watch me progress. I could use some support

[@TheRichie213]

So you saved your money. No guitar is worth thousands of dollars. All guitars go out of tune, get old and need repair, break ect.. Epiphones are totally worth it!

[@darwinsaye]

No need to apologies for the camera recording. Sounded great, and it's nice to hear how it sounds raw and real without a bunch of production.

[@eddie3064]

That guitar even looks like it sounds incredible...and now that I've heard it. Wow! And in the hands of a great player like Chris, the tone just drips from that thing. I love strats and teles and hollow bodies, but when you hear a Les Paul like this one, well, it's pure magic...

[@kurtisslystne5250]

Bernie marsdens blood, sweat, tears and soul will forever sing out through his 1959 Gibson Les Paul guitar. So spiritually incredibly. My birth year makes it more special for this old dinosaur rock guitarist. God bless Bernie ❤

[@dougsmith7580]

You make that look so easy. The hallmark of a truly gifted artist.

[@MyMfDominoes]

"The sustain on this one..."

[@lueysixty-six7300]

I got a tribute LP 2 yrs ago - up until then, I had never even been in the same room as a Les Paul...well, besides concerts... Anyway, just one bend and I knew I had arrived! The tone! As you say, sustained for days! When you're used to Strats: thin and, well, not sustaining . The LP: fat, thick, gooey, saturation to spare, and endless, sustain on tap. If your guitar signal/tone is water... *nylon string acoustic:* a water pistol, *Strat:* a Super Soaker *Les Paul:* Fire Hose

[@therealting]

What amp are you going through? Sounds incredible!

[@thumpyloudfoot864]

In Nigel Tutnel's defense.... Go listen to Gary Moore play Greeny (now owned by Kirk Hammett)...

[@jamesatwell6446]

Man, if I died and went to heaven, this is what Angel's lute's better sound like..... Awesome playing !!

[@celticfury7328]

You lucky dog...getting to squeeze some sublimely beautiful sounds from a legendary axe! ;-)

[@BoyajianDon]

I've played a few bursts, and never has a video better captured what a real burst feels and sounds like than this video, in my opinion

[@ChrisBuckGuitar]

Donald Boyajian Thank you Donald!

[@rogerwhite8423]

i'm in my late 60s and have had a 58 and a 60 burst.great guitars.But the two that are noticeably outstanding are the beast and Billy gibbons pearly gates 59.I bought my guitars before the price went crazy.I still have them, luckily, I have played a few beside mine, and each one has its own sound.With modern amps, you can get close to "the sound" but all in all i still gig with mine, just don't tell any one what it is.By the way your playing is very good.love it.

[@Sams911]

for a literal fraction of the price, you can buy a reissue 59 from the custom shop, pick up the $1000 '59 pickups and it sounds 95% the same, which is to say, better than 95% of all guitars ever made.

[@scottrussell7423]

You sound like you’re playing slide - Derek Trucks comes to mind. Absolutely gorgeous tone and feel. Hat’s off to you.

[@jackleyton5504]

At 6:39 you pulled your thumb up on the E string to a G note and the guitar growled and bloomed like I have only heard fine old Fender Jazz Fretless do. It was incredible. Its that bright tone that LP's miss these days. Lets face it, Page and the rest all used Tele's until the LP comes out with a quieter pickup that still had the twang. What a wonderful guitar! Great playing as always

[@swkrueger66]

I had the pleasure of seeing a Bernie Marsden LP and Paul Kossoff's "Stripped" LP at my local guitar store a few weeks ago.

[@adamwatson6916]

In 59 gibson was not doing calibrated pickup set where a pickup was specifically wound for the. Neck or bridge and the and in the neck postion pafs would basically sound like slightly beefier bridge pickup . The neck pickups in late 50s less pauls are quite a bit thinner sounding than a modern neck humbuckers. The accidental uneven coil windings played a huge role in the clarity of the neck position especially when the slug coil was wound hotter where it is closer to the bridge .

[@bryanwilliams3665]

Adam Watson: It was probably even more radical than that?.. Didn't they pick 2 random PAFs and install em?... Jimmy Pages #1 for example had a MUCH Hotter Neck PAF than the bridge..It was a really odd neck PAF.. Overwound (electrically) Hot yet with an unusually WEAK Magnet. How many other original Les Pauls have the hotter PUP in the neck? The issue I have with the conventional 'Balanced Set' it is difficult to get unique instruments.. I go to a shop and none are markedly different from one another..I recreate the 'Page Tone' on my channel replicating Jimmy Pages unique pickups

[@martinyip65]

'How ever many years it is (old)' is surely a priceless quote on a video about a 1959 Les Paul ! Shows the mystical effect of this revered specimen. Lovely playing and sound...could have wished for a 'more gain' section.

[@Oilid]

What a pleasure for the eyes and the ears!!! 💖💖💖

[@moose6676]

Thanks for sharing this magical moment Chris, Burnie is an absolute legend in himself, and a lovely guy. The Beast 🙈 you covered the lot. Lucky you. Great playing once again. 👍🏻

[@christophersuggs8487]

You know, some of the greatest guitarists in the world have played that thing!! .... guess we can add one more to the list!! 😁.

[@michaelr.4878]

This is what I hate about being a left handed player. If I had been in the hosts situation and been offered the chance to play this guitar, I wouldn't have been able to. I am 37 year old now..and I have been playing since I was 12. I really wish that I had forced myself to learn to play right handed, like so many others have. I learned drums right handed. I should have done the same with guitar. Oh well, it is too late now. ..Great video. This guitar sound SO good. I don't care what some people say..these old LPs have a very distinctive sound that the newer LPs don't quite get.

[@KarlKnowsMinecraft]

Just learn to play a bit upside down, I did over time out of boredom

[@wackenthaljef]

Michael its never too late!...i learned this in my life..its never too late .

[@chrislestermusic]

My buddy just played it also. He said it was amazing and that pickups are really hot. Perfectly balanced sound wise though. So jealous.

[@GoldCobra487]

Supposedly it belonged to Clapton at one point.

[@markn4526]

Great video featuring one of the most famous '59 Bursts. One thing I noticed right off the bat was that the G-string didn't appear to be in its saddle notch. Anyway, fantastic looking and sounding '59 LP and I'm sure the player had more than a small part in producing that sound. A couple things that I've found common to great-sounding LP's that I've played (Custom Shop models mostly) is that the string break angles at the bridge are quite steep and in spite of this the strings still feel loose. Does this add to the tone and playability? It seems like it does from my experience. When played both acoustically and amplified a good LP has what Joe Bonamassa calls, "a ping" to the notes played on the unwound strings. Lastly, as Chris pointed out, the neck pickup's tone is much brighter and clearer than you'd expect. It sounds almost more characteristic of a bridge pickup resulting in not as much difference between the neck and bridge pickups' tone qualities as is typical. Just my observations and impressions...yours' might differ.

[@davidcotton6999]

Man that sounds amazing! Your playing and feel is outstanding, and the sustain!!! Jeeeezzzz man, never heard a Les Paul sound like that!!!

[@tacoconch7678]

Even in these KZbin! compressed videos, you can tell old 59's have a unique sound. Very dry and chalky. But even though they have a lot of bite, it's not like an ice-pick to the eardrum. Pretty cool.

[@11calman]

Taco Conch I had compressed fingers after playing this kzbin.info/www/bejne/jpfGZKGJl853pM0

[@stephenfeldman8104]

I'm sure someone will think it's all part of the mojo, but you can see @3:41 that ABR1 bridge has sunk down as they are wont to do over time. As a result, the radius of the saddle is flatter than that of the fingerboard.

[@liv2praz]

sounds so good, dude. love your playing! i'm an LP guy and i usually live on the bridge pickup for most of my playing. but dang that neck pickup sounds so sweet, open and airy. gorgeous.

[@johngreenwood1972]

Mate I love your playing. Sensitive and spunky.

[@murfdog19]

I say good lordy God damn... that is the tone of every man's dreams!

[@my-t-mikedaly607]

I´m not a great LesPaul Fan, but many old ones have a nice sound ! This one here sounds great !

[@alansouthall8221]

This is wonderful Thank you for playing for us

[@russhicksart]

Thanks for sharing "The Beast" with us. I still think it's amazing that your pick doesn't fall out of your hand when you're playing with your fingers. That's such a cool pick manipulation technique you have.

[@liontone]

Even among the 59’s I’ve heard, this one is the pinnacle.

[@TheMegsie1]

Pause at 3:41. That bridge is really bent from having such a high break angle with the tailpiece so low to the body. I'm amazed it plays so flawlessly cause the string radius will be inverted. You'd think that would make it feel odd to play if you're not used to it but clearly not! That neck pickup tone! Sweet Jesus!!

[@andytraverse]

Looks very bowed. Can only think it's had some new taller saddles fitted to correct the radius. In some of Bernie's videos the beast has a top wrapped tailpiece.

[@MrGarfunkelGuitar]

It sounds so good man.

[@mickbrenton]

What a privilege to play the famous "Beast"!!! There's been a few million dollar riffs created on that baby!

[@dustypipesmoker7902]

That brought tears to my eyes. Absolutely beautiful!

[@Pudge4400]

Sounds absolutely heavenly...both the guitar and your playing!

[@MustangDesudiroz]

My dream guitar. Would own this than a lambo

[@wiseguy9202]

Many of us would!

[@SanderDavidNorris]

the guitar would actually hold it's value and not try to kill you

[@MustangDesudiroz]

It sounds heavenly.. because the playing is heavenly at the start😍😍

[@craiger2399]

The pickups sound surprisingly like p90s. I think you describe it very well when you say it sounds articulate.

[@vbgbiomed]

The P.A.F. pickups were originally designed to sound like p90s, but without 60-cycle hum. But the construction of the pickups from that era was very inconsistent, so there are P.A.F.s with that "P90ish" sound, while others sound more like a humbucker.

[@SDPickups]

VINTAGE P90's were made with the same materials and wire and magnets as the PAF's were using. So, of course vintage P90's sound 99% the same. Modern P90's, NOPE.

[@scottmatheson2390]

To my ears this '59 has a tight defined midrange that gives it's voice a kind of authority that at times is a bit strident compared some of the other L.P's you've played. While not as "pretty sounding" as some, that midrange punch gives the guitar quite a unique vibe. I love it's distorted sound - lot's of brash immediacy, great for early Punk or 60s Brit Blues for example. Love your playing by the way.

[@joshmuz9018]

Not when paired with a marshall!

[@joecoombsguitarist]

For just camera audio this sounds unreal Chris! What an honour to play that thing!

[@aquilarossa5191]

I agree about the neck pickups. I only know from recordings and video, but they seem to have clear as a bell tones from the neck pup. I have never been able to get it from any other Gibson, even if I try 50s wiring. There must be a technical reason for it though. Can't be magic fairy dust that only happened that year :D

[@chrislestermusic]

Aquila Rossa I think a small part of the clarity is from the pole pieces being lowered and the pickup height BUT you are so right, something magical was going on with those old neck pickups. The new ones just don’t do that.

[@davidkieltyka9]

This is why so many people put so much effort into reproducing PAF pickups. Or at least trying to. Clear & sweet neck pickup tone with effortless high end articulation.

[@mattiacristofoli9231]

no, no magic dust, try to replace the pickups with some new (not poted) Wizz or ox4 examples and many other boutiques you can find, after doing this remove your old potentiometers and replace them with potentiometers of at least 550K many vintage guitars today they have values above 800K. Try these simple things and you will notice that the mud will go away forever from your les paul!

[@johnora3857]

The bursts‘ neck pickup sounds so transparent one could think it’s a Tele. Not as muffled as the new Gibsons. Cant they solve that Problem?

[@isaacjohnson.]

wow, what a cool opportunity. Not only a '59 Les Paul, but the BEAST! Very very cool. Awesome playing Chris. Beautiful sounding guitar

[@myname1469]

I have a theory that the good sounding ones featured the cap being hot compared to the Mahogany at the time of clamping and glue-up giving them that peculiarly hollow sound.

[@shaunw9270]

Lucky you ! Beautiful instrument in it's own right. I have a Les Paul standard (factory fitted Burstbucker Pro set) & I know the sometimes muddiness or lack of clarity you describe. I put it down to the way they were made. Those old PAF's have butrayte bobbins that cannot be wax potted. Plus the while coil would be scatter wound unlike Burstbuckers that are only scattered a few hundred turns at the beginning & end of the wind. Just my opinion 👍

[@davidfellows6250]

Also modern wirering is bad. I love my bb in my sg but i hae them wiered to 59 speck. Ture they dont soung as paf as promised but they are rock mechines. My lp has 59s in it , wiered to 59 speck and they are really smooth and chimey. Check out the wierering youll like it.

[@freddycookjr.2164]

scatterwound makes good sense now I have to learn to wind pu thx

[@paulself8698]

I think it's the sustain that makes this guitar incredible.

[@zzubuzz]

I picked that # randomly out of the blue for one of my upcoming replica builds, glad I watched this first because it looks nothing like his so I'll be picking another serial #.

[@hegartyj1]

That’s about as nice as I’ve ever heard a LP sound. By the way, while that particular guitar is clearly an absolutely outstanding instrument, I’m talking more about the player.

[@laurifinlandia]

very soulful playing. the beast is one of the greatest sounding les pauls ever made, and rightfully belongs to one of the nicest men in the business.

[@anthonywurst2548]

Beautiful playing.

[@daw162]

I've heard plenty of modern neck pickups that have that clarity and glassiness without being underpowered - but not the gibson 57 types, etc. Lollar's neck mini humbucker is almost unbelievable. I have a history GH-LCV guitar that I have no clue what the pickup is, but it has that usable (not bloated, but not weak) clarity.

[@luisvillarreal5262]

That’s an awesome ‘59 GLP. I wonder what music could have been created, had Bernie Marsden hooked up with Lee Kerslake and Bob Daisley, just after Sharon Osbourne let Lee and Bob go. I think it could have been a great power trio. 🎸👍

[@Le_Mer]

Can't believe you got to play the Beast! My hands would shake so much, I wouldn't be able to play it.

[@bentolleson2585]

I love your playing style. I came across your video by chance after practicing myself. I immediately wanted to practice some more. Thank you for that.

[@LennyJohnson5]

Bernie's a very generous guy; an LP gives an indefinable quality to your playing. Not better or worse, just different.

[@stephenjames4937]

Now that is some tasteful playing. Hats off to you.

[@gustavvader2207]

Exactly. The Beast! Probably the greatest sounding Les Paul in the world.

[@jasonburgerburgess_8270]

I think the great sounding les paul neck pickups had alnico IV magnets which seem to have more clarity

[@bobmarsh8145]

A truly wonderful instrument, it’s got magic dust. It’s a very “fast” guitar with clarity like single coils.

[@Richard_Lush]

What a treat👍 wonder where that guitar is going to go or went?

[@audioarboleda6961]

All is in the playing. Congrats!

[@BillnYou1]

yeah the sound is incredible .. the holy grail of guitars to me is the gold top with P90's 1957, I have many guitars and have had many, many more and I love to have a choice at all times.. now a Strat to me is the greatest guitar with one exception .. if I could only have 1 guitar it would be the 57 gold top with p90's

[@jasonrobinson5854]

Beautiful playing Brother.....a Beast!

[@godnoii]

Sweet Guitar😍

[@goneflying140]

How lucky are you to get to play the best Les Paul on planet Earth! Congratulations, both it and you sounded great!!! Everybody talks about "Greenie" being the best, but the beast is better!!

[@thebossandthebeestonstreet9493]

Only a recent sub to your channel, but love your playing and tones. More power brother!

[@thebossandthebeestonstreet9493]

If you want neck pickups with a lot of clarity, try Bare Knuckle’s PG Blues, btw, best humbuckers I’ve ever heard.

[@markmcgibbon2101]

Massive tone 😍😍😍😍

[@SIXSTRING63]

I've had the pleasure of playing this amazing guitar. It's in my profile photo to the left. Bernie was kind enough to get it out for me when I was over in England in 2015 to record a bit with him.

[@jamiemorgan4146]

I’ve been fortunate to be able to play many bursts, I’ve even played Greeny after it was sold. (BTW, it didn’t play very well) Anyway, getting to play Bernie’s Beast! That’s impressive. It’s a very special Burst that in sound somehow managed to be above many! Coool 😎😎😎🤙🏻🤙🏻🤙🏻🤙🏻

[@crimping1]

I am so, bucking, bucked, off that I will miss you playing. I am away bucking, working in bucking, west Africa when you are playing these dates. I am sooo bucking upset I can’t remember where to put my bucking commas. P.S. That Pedal Show?????

[@ChrisBuckGuitar]

Dee Haha. Soon! 😉

[@VictoryGuitarShop]

I have 2 2018 ROs, they have the same "Snap, Crackle, Pop" as this one does. My USA Les Pauls are something completely different. The ROs make me play differently in a much more creative way. It is as if I am singing through them. Sounds corny, I know.

[@alexandreanonimous7056]

Blues and rock it's all about that guitar

[@TheOfficialDTTwins]

Beautiful guitar!

[@mikemchugh3073]

Great opening set of licks ...oh yeah, nice guitar too.

[@kbkman7742]

you're right about the neck pickup but that bridge pickup sounds excellent

[@totc6196]

Listen to that baby sing, nice playing brother.

[@DSTheEngineer86]

To me, the interaction between your playing style, feel and technique and the guitar, sounds like Jeff Beck. Your ghost notes (whether intentional or not) sound sublime, better than his... Beautiful...

[@adamswanson8216]

Hi, I have a CC number eight beast love the guitar have about $20,000 tied up in it bought it when they first came out either way believe it or not I have a Brazilian dream that cost less than the collectors choice seems crazy however my question is who do you think makes the best reproductions of the beast true beast guitar pick ups that you’re playing now I have looked at Wiz CREAMTEA and also crazy parts would love to hear your feedback looking at a whiz set NOS wire 1500 crazy parts a little less but truly want to capture the best recreation possible thinking whiz is the way to go have talked to the people at throwback And wondered if you thought Paul over at radio shop would do a recreation. Thanks. 2:44

[@AndreaMaccianti]

Sound awesome!

[@lovesgibson]

Sounds super clean

[@11calman]

Chris Buck mate, Over here in New Zealand, I'm a bit too far away to see what Amp you were plugged into Maybe if you ever read this in 2020, you mate show the amp and FX in future Vids. Thank you---- Gib Virus free NZ

[@DRIIC-qw8us]

Sounds great. Any idea how much it weighs? Also looks like the bridge sits really low

[@marshall401]

A local lad playing the BEAST! Da iawn chris 😎

[@abduljabbaralhayyan7791]

The sustain, crazy

[@gusdupree2508]

I have a 96' les paul standard , great guitar ,the pickups are 57 classics ,great pickups , this though is another thing entirely, oh my

[@dogman2338]

Please give us a lesson on the first 1 minute of your song. It was perfection and I want it under my fingers ! Sublime mate, I’m a massive fan 👍

[@pappyodanial]

I run david allen p-51s on my heartbreaker, came with it... the neck is just a bit muddy so I see what you're saying.

[@jimdavidson210]

Your phrasing reminds me of Derek Trucks. Great axe and playing!

[@Twirlyhead]

Kind of sounds like its a semi-hollow but not quite doesn't it.