I Bought My First Wes Paul! | 1998 Gibson Wes Paul Les Paul NAMM Show Florentine Wes Montgomery L5

[@Trog]

Happy Birthday to Les Paul! Tonight was Review 2 in Celebration of Him. We will see you tomorrow at 7pm EST for Special Review #3 🟢Shop My Sale on My Website: www.troglysguitarshow.com 🔴Reverb: reverb.com/shop/troglys?_aid=growsumo&gs_partner=Trogly ❓Private Help Sessions: troglysguitarshow.com/help-appraisals/

[@hkguitar1984]

Congrats Austin, such a beautiful find, both times! It was destiny that it ended up in your collection. Question, the carved Spruce top, is it a solid thick spruce top that is carved like a traditional Les Paul's maple cap, or is it constructed similar to a traditional Jazz/Arch Top with the thinner Spruce that requires bracing (similar to an acoustic guitar construction)? The darker burst that is on this guitar is the type which is my all-time favorite, that instrument is such a work of art. Again, congrats and thank you for sharing it with us.

[@jonlennon3348]

I hate you for teasing us with the Wes Paul. I am just kidding. Its one of the most beautiful les paul type guitars I have ever seen. You are the right person to own it. God Bless.

[@stepvanjoe3469]

Man oh man love it’s tone Austin awesome score! Even with the gain cranked it does it thing very nicely.

[@adammkoss]

There are a few photos where Wes had the pickup flipped around - pole pieces on the bridge side - which theoretically would brighten the time a little bit. For some reason I thought it always looked boss AF, as if Wes had a secret or knew something we didn't (he knew lots of things that we mere mortals did not). Love that WP - Long live Wes!

[@brittboyette461]

That's a sweet sounding jazz box. Those strings definitely help with obtaining those jazz tones.

[@CR33TE11]

Wes is buried just a few miles from where I grew up in the same cemetery as Scrapper Blackwell both true legends

[@Daverotherham]

Spruce v maple is not a cosmetic choice. They have very different acoustic properties. Maple was used on the original Les Pauls because it has a hard, bright tone ant the mahogany part was only to reduce weight. Spruce is used on good acoustics because its flexibility and elasticity gives it a a very full tone. Even with roundwounds this would sound more like a classic jazz box than a lightweight Les Paul

[@mikeheidenberg2848]

Very intriguing model! And I love the way the truss rod cover incorporates both their signatures - the “Wes” looks like Montgomery’s handwriting and the “Paul” (of course) looks like Les’s.

[@ianson3]

Full props for playing Montgomery-style and for the 60s jazz cat clothes!

[@RTmolo]

Although constructed with a maple top, two PAF humbuckers and an ABR bridge, that guitar is a kissin' cousin to the Gibson Pat Martino Custom Signature which was a regular (although limited) production model in that same time period. Interesting that it's got a "Florentine" moniker. Pat once told me that when Gibson was discussing the design with Pat, he told them that he wanted "something like a semi-hollow Les Paul, with a Florentine cutout."

[@eddiejr540]

If the guitar thing doesn’t pan out, Trogly could always be a Bible salesman 🤣

[@jukeboxjohnny2112]

Absolutely gorgeous piece!! To my eye with all the beautiful binding including around that awesome looking guard it would look better with a white pickup ring. I know Wes had a black one on his but.. either way this is just beautiful.

[@2dazetake]

Hope they bring back this model, one pickup guitars are hot right now, and who doesn't want one of these,lite weight and absolutely beautiful.

[@Mark-vv1dy]

You asked why they don't make spruce top les pauls - it's because spruce is a softwood, and dings extremely easily. Maple isnt just a hardwood, it's one of the harder hardwoods out there. People probably wouldn't be happy with how much more easily the spruce would ding. Its enough work as it is trying to keep a Gibson finish looking nice.

[@jonathanhudak2059]

This is a beautiful guitar, so cool! Loved the way you did tonight's episode with the period style clothes. A nice classy touch 👌 sounds great too!

[@SunsetPunk]

If you storing the pickguard off the guitar, then screw it down to a piece of flat wood so it doesn't shrink og warp!

[@ChrisShortyAllen]

That will prevent nothing. The wood might shrink for one.

[@buzzstankos8532]

Congratulations Austin… That is a real GEM! Great trip across the bench and it sounds amazing…. Thanks for another cool video… Wes and Les were both major Bosses!

[@jerrycsh612]

This thing is super cool. As a jazz dabbler, this makes a les paul a lot more attractive to play, especially since it’s lighter. Those L5 looks are killer to boot. Biggest issue will be having no place to anchor my elbow like on a proper hollow body. You got me with that roundabout lick! I want to hear the ending part of that some time!

[@wadeguidry6675]

I love endoscope viewing. Its like exploring an abandoned building.

[@MacedoinaChoirs]

I love that. Wes is one of my favorite Jazz Guitarist.

[@Time-Trvlr]

spruce seems to be a very soft wood and it easily finish checks as the wood expands and contracts with humidity.

[@danpritchett5617]

I've been doing guitars for 58 years. And Gibson guitars and especially Les Paul guitars are my favorites. I now have 4 Les Paul guitars. But I've never before heard of this guitar, before.

[@WilliamHaisch]

Now that’s a sharp axe! I am digging this setup! Especially the flat wound strings!

[@MuscleCarLover]

I'm surprised how bright it is with only a neck pickup, a nice rounded tone. Also, I only knew of Music Zoo having Les Pauls with just the neck pickup. This is a really interesting piece that I'm sure deserves a place in your museum

[@vadenk4433]

Spruce is a very soft wood and incredibly lightweight. I'm sure that's why Gibson doesn't use it on electrics. Also even highly figured spruce is tame by maple standards. And highly figured spruce is rare. Look at all the golden era Martin and Gibson acoustic guitars and you rarely see any figure in them & they were both using prime spruce back then. My 68 Hummingbird has a little bit of "chatoyance" in its top, but its nothing to write home about

[@TrueManCrowyote]

Congrats on getting into the jazzbox world. I think you could open up a whole new niche in your collecting and evaluations if you make this a consistent thing. For many of us, the only Gibsons we only give a real damn about are the hollowbodies and semi-hollows. For much of their history it's where Gibson stood out and pioneered new sounds and innovations in guitar design, but you're gonna need much deeper pockets. :)

[@Calbertone]

If that is not a keeper I don’t what one is! This will sound great with roundwounds as well

[@picksalot1]

Yeah, that is a seriously good guitar. Thin body archtops with flatwound strings blend a lot of cool features into one awesome music making machine. Congrats!

[@jonkerr2050]

Those flat wound string have a very distinctive tone, especially when you were playing with your fingers.

[@johngoodman9380]

Nice tone and playing. Special guitar for sure.

[@BoostedAkatsukiRiffs]

you've become quite the player over the 3 years I've been watching. Even pushed me to become better myself. Hoping one day soon I can buy my first custom from you! Have a great day brotha

[@ripley7t429]

This particular one has great tone. I believe it is the guitar itself and not the strings. One thing I noticed with these is that if you have any technique issues when playing, you will hear it. Had a few 335's like that as well. I think there is something special with this one T.

[@adambomb5000]

I am surprised they did a control cavity at all. Seems like they could have gone through the F hole.

[@rockdaddy2168]

Absolutely gorgeous. I love Wes Montgomery. What a great talent.

[@timothyvaher2421]

Excellent discovery for those of us who'd no idea of a Montgomery & Paul relationship! Of course knowing of each their contributions is academic. And a Wes Paul is a Gem 💎. Trog your knowledge is unmatched and will teach us for decades! Thanks 🙏

[@danmc_2783]

Hey Austin, great vid, nice axe! To me, those marks on the side of the guitar look like finish checks caused by moisture. it doesn't really look like there's, for example, been a bit of wet cloth resting against the side or that would likely show under blacklight too and it it had been kept in an overly humid environment generally I'd expect to see more of it on the guitar. I can only guess and maybe say that as that is the upper side of the guitar as you hold it, then perhaps it has been sweated on during long playing sessions/gigs and sweat might 'pool' in that area

[@bassplayersayer]

I would put a piece of felt under the tail piece to protect the top!!!! Rock on...or Jazz on!!!

[@TheChef470]

What a special guitar with a character all it's own......love it !

[@basanova3382]

Looks a lot like my 1960 ES-125T and 1966 ES-125TDC.

[@danielmargolis3210]

Wes was the best of the best. I’ve been listening to his music forever. Highly recommended!

[@snapfinger1]

Ideal jazzbo for smaller players. Your tailor let you down. You should be in a custom fitted sharkskin Armani.

[@jonscudder759]

Very cool and unique guitar! Sounds like a keeper for Trogly!

[@scottdavidson6066]

That single-note run around 17:30 was sick! You can hear the hollow body in the notes.

[@johnburns5783]

You never mentioned what style of bridge it has 😉😉

[@thatmarchingarrow]

17:36 wasn't expecting Yes, but I'd never complain about that

[@dirktucker77]

Dude! That guitar is really cool. Hey have you ever done a show on the GC exlusive LP Traditional Pro V's? I feel like there is not enough reviews and inforative videos on these at all. I just bought a used transparent black one and i think it's awesome. That color alone is what drew me in but the tonal options are amazing. The tradbucker pickups?? Really no info on them. The A-sym neck is really good but seems like nobody talks about these at all. Anyways i think it would be an excellent informational video that would do these models some real justice. Thanks for all your hard work on bringing us the world of Gibson.

[@steveparish9210]

Definitely one of the coolest guitars you've ever featured, and I love Wes

[@matthewf1979]

If you really want to trip, put flats on a Tele. I went through a phase recently of trying all kinds of stings/types/brands/materials etc.

[@JohnnyArtPavlou]

Isn’t that what Tim Lerch does?

[@joermnyc]

Shocked they went for the full size humbucker instead of one of those jazz minis that attaches to the end of the neck.

[@rudolphpyatt4833]

This…I remember hearing about this, and the Florentine, in the late nineties. This is The One: I use my LPs for jazz and related styles, strung with .012 -.053 flatwounds and I seldom use distortion or overdrive. I wonder if the Gibson Custom Shop can still make these. I feel a GAS attack coming on…

[@blodpudding]

Have you reviewed the 2014 Les Paul "All Wood" yet? The flame maple neck without veneer and maple binding is pretty cool. That and that B-bender telecaster inspired Les Paul from around the same time would be interesting to see.

[@Trog]

Not yet but one day for sure

[@Madakalim]

My new second favorite Gibson after the Mickey Baker. Thanks for the lessons!

[@mickyp2006]

Nice bit of roundabout. Nice 👍🏻

[@frankwebster9110]

I love it! Classy and warm in looks and sound!

[@rexrathtar3893]

The jazz tones sounded good. Tie/collar interface needs some work, but bonus marks for making the effort anyway. Nice guitar!

[@alogusz]

Very cool guitar. You did a great job with the Wes style octaves.

[@martin-1965]

Definitely. Thank goodness for Trogly or most of the world would never get to see half of the guitars he gets hold of for his show. Even loved the distorted stuff - got a Malcolm Young AC/DC vibe to that neck rhythm sound - lovely stuff. A simple and gorgeous beast 😎

[@jwr2904]

This reminds me I haven't listened to Wes Montgomery in a long time, I need to give my couple of albums a listen. I got so lucky to get two of his vinyl records for like, $5.

[@michaeldean4704]

I WANT ONE! Sadly it would be waaaaay beyond my budget. (Are ya listening Epiphone?)

[@musicmnw1982]

I use flat-wound 10/48's with 490R/498T's. Sounds great.

[@philcorymusic]

I love your show, your Museum will be a must see! Any time frame for it?

[@AnthonyGoombots]

Happy birthday Les Paul and thank you for inventing the solid body guitar in the Epiphone factory 1939 - 41..if not for you and Epiphone there would be No Gibson Les Paul today period!..Also I would Add that Les Paul played Epiphones especially recoding from the early 1940s to the end of the 1950's..when he was under contract with Gibson..Gibson eventually to him to stop and when his contract ended with Gibson he started playing both epiphone and Gibson Live I should know saw him in March of 2009..

[@stop736]

Trogly this is is one beautiful guitar and I really do hope you can hold on to it for yourself. These don’t come around all that often from what I’ve read about them. Plus they got such an amazing vibe to them. Either you fight someone for it and keep it. Or you put your head on the chopping block! Only options. 🤣🤣. Really is a beautiful piece of art…that you can even play! That’s what I love about guitars. They’re works of art and they even isn’t the most important thing about a guitar!

[@mikecarbone828]

Salutations Austin! I’m happy for you that you were able to obtain an example of a Wes Paul for your collection! It’s a beautiful instrument, it’s too bad that Gibson doesn’t make a whole line of spruce top Les Paul Florentine’s for those of us that would like an instrument like this, without us having to put in special order. Thank you for sharing your experience and posting these videos! Please have an excellent and awesome day! ☀️✨🎸

[@darwinsaye]

I have mixed feelings about the centre block. I guess it lends more Paul to the Wes/Paul idea, but I think it would have been maybe cooler as a full hollow body with acoustic body construction instead of just a chambered solid body.

[@MusicAuthority-b9r]

At first I thought you were trying out you're Elmer Fudd impression? untill I got further into the video about this unique guitar. I agree it does have a nice growl on the lower notes. that is a unique guitar it definitely belongs in you're museum.

[@clarkbabin9799]

Was going to pick on you yesterday about your holy Trogley T shirt yesterday but nice touch doing the suit today. Oh and no reeason to feewl embawised. Th÷ tail piece on this guitar is bery similar to the tail piece on my Casino? It even has a diamond on the top side of it. There's just something about running the camera inside a hollow body or semihollow body that reminds me of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre interior scenes. Never been much of a fan of flat wound strings except on an acoustic.

[@wesmitchem825]

Wes Paul? I thought I built the only Wes Paul it's not a hollow body has one pickup in the bridge one volume knob and a cs giddy psycho box distortion unit in it.i still haven't finished it the action needs fixed and the intonation and I got a better pickup for it a Seymour Duncan and I'm not exactly sure where I put the ground wire with the distortion unit added

[@simonepialorsi4630]

Definitely my favorite Gibson!!!! What a find.....Thank you Trogly

[@russellzauner]

What a beautiful thing to have. Time to do a taped/flats string shootout!

[@loudguitars69]

Although it is definitely a Jazz axe, that pick up has a mean growl to it!!!

[@ethanhitchcock5431]

Nice guitar , it'de be cool with a mini-humbucker , but I'm still waiting for the ' Django Reinhardt ' Flying-V !...Thanks Trog !

[@finaljesus]

props for playing in this episode with a suit beautiful guitar

[@timecop808]

Can you do anything to fix the stand rash on this? it's so minor I had to rewind the video to even see it. Beautiful guitar thanks for sharing.

[@bluesrockguitaristmikesall2708]

This name idea has so much potential.Surprised Henry didn't have a tribute to the Loch Ness Monster yep "The Ness Paul".

[@wadeguidry6675]

Now I want one.

[@jonathanhudak2059]

Lol!

[@macgibbon]

Love that thing. M2M with your 30s style burst finish.

[@duanewelsh5611]

That is really sweet! Never heard of it but love it.

[@garthkolbeck8674]

Really Got that jazz going! Great playing! You've got me wanting to practice!

[@buzzstankos8532]

Hey Trogly - I know it’s not your level guitar, but wonder if you ever did a review of Gibson Tribute Special P90’s?

[@denverrandy7143]

A classic 60s les Paul with 34 burst is my dream guitar!!!

[@stratman1021]

I also thought of Elmer Fudd when I saw the title. lol! Sweet guitar!

[@Turboy65]

The Ibanez George Benson GB-10 is probably the most similar guitar to this model that you can find without looking TOO hard.

[@blodpudding]

*When you remove celluloid pickguards you really should screw it onto like an MDF or plywood board that is stable to keep the shape of the pickguard and locations of the screwholes. They can warp ridiculously quickly once you take them off your guitar and it's impossible to put them back on!*

[@ChrisShortyAllen]

Wood warps and shrinks.

[@papasmamas1]

This gonna be a sweet treat to watch for later. Glad to see an archtop style guitar in your channel. Wes Paul, 😂😂

[@MarcJBeard]

Diggin the whole suit thing.. and love that Wes Paul!!

[@scottcalloway4630]

Ok, who wants to hear Uncle Ted shred this thing?

[@scottcalloway4630]

@@mohamedtlass3842 he's played riffs from the Nuge before.

[@scottcalloway4630]

@@mohamedtlass3842 perhaps, but Trog can't play like the Nuge, nobody can.

[@chefbarona3052]

This looks just like the 3/4 size ES140T made in the 50's- 70's. Humbucker rather than P90 & a Metal bridge rather than wooden compensated

[@mackkenamond1800]

Wow! When you played the first distorted riff, I was blown away. It’s certainly subjective but the balance of open low E with the rest of the chord was MONEY!

[@mackkenamond1800]

Forgot to mention, heard some new riffs tonight! Loved the Yes, too!

[@thedevilsblackheart]

Dammit! Always been holding out for a signature of my own, since Wes Paul is my name. Love the video and your channel. Comforting voice, knowledgeable, and always honest. The fact that you keep saying Wes Paul in the video makes me smile 😁

[@edt.5118]

Try Thomastik-Infeld flats.

[@MrAll300]

flat strings on strat is nice to..nice guitar.....

[@ChuckNicholsonTRM]

I’m an archtop dealer and I’ve never seen an x-braced L5 Wes Montgomery. They are parallel braced just like the L5 CES.

[@hayestweed7143]

Are we 1 of 2 or 2 of 2. And which has more value?

[@SteveHart-tt7wk]

At last, a Les Paul I would like to own. Great video, maybe your best yet. Perhaps the folks at Harley Benton will see this and build a similar model. I'm sure it would be a big hit for those of us on a budget. Thank you for the great demo.

[@davidmazza3898]

Best trogly vid in a long while and the best and most interesting guitar in a super long time! A new dream guitar! Maybe I’ll have campellone build something similar!!

[@paolospadaro]

Beautiful episode!!! Wow I love this guitar 🎉🎉🎉🎉. please more of this things, archtop jazz and more!!! 🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@donmilland7606]

Damn! Sounds great distorted. has that mid range sizzle

[@teslapete4461]

how does it sound acoustically?

[@knockhardproductions7157]

Too bad they stopped short of the better tailpiece.... but making a smaller one would be tough. I hope the ship with heavy flatwounds. Liked the suit!!!

[@jimmychops]

That guitar is very pretty. I really one day want to get a les paul of some dort

[@virgilgiordano4582]

I've always wanted my 1935 l50 cloned on a Les Paul this is close but more fancy

[@danielstoddart]

It sounds great. Such a full, wide sound when distorted too. I'll bet Jimmy Page would love to own one of these.

[@donmilland7606]

Nice little WES tribute!