Why Are Gibson Custom Shop Guitars So Expensive? | 1958 Les Paul Standard Reissue VOS

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Why Are Gibson Custom Shop Guitars So Expensive? | 1958 Les Paul Standard Reissue VOS
There's no denying the quality of the Gibson Custom Shop 1958 Reissue Les Paul Standard in VOS finish - buy why are these guitars so expensive? Today we're taking a deep dive into what it costs to make this kind of guitar.
Shop Gibson Custom Shop Guitars Here:
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Cheap Guitars (Featuring the Epiphone Les Paul Standard):
• Are Cheap Guitars A Wa...
00:00 Intro
00:11 Guitars Are Luxury Products
01:05 The Gibson CS'58 Les Paul - Cost & Specs
01:52 Playing the Les Paul
02:48 Cost of Materials
04:38 Cost of Labour
05:04 Are You Getting Your Money's Worth?
06:39 Playing (with close-up shots)
07:36 Conclusions
08:45 Playing the Les Paul
09:47 Outro
Thanks for watching. Please subscribe to my channel if you want to see more content like this, and please hit the like button if you've enjoyed my video.
#Gibson #GibsonCustomShop #LesPaul

[@gregmcknight5183]

I feel like a $5,000 guitar is something you can appreciate if you’ve played for a lot of years. It won’t make you sound better if the skills aren’t there, I don’t care if someone gets a guitar like that and doesn’t play it “well” or whatever. But I think if you’ve spent a lot of time on guitar than you can appreciate and the little details that go into the price.

[@MaxRossellMusic]

100% agreed. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@Richard_Lush]

Yes. I have one and it’s totally worth it. Also have a CS 36 advanced jumbo that I wouldn’t part with. Had a Gibson USA 2020 Lester and I’ll tell you there’s a big difference to me. Maybe it’s the unpotted pick ups on the CS but the sound is much better.

[@Richard_Lush]

Just bought a CS 60 Les Paul Special DC that plays and sounds phenomenal. Had a USA special as well and this is far better both cosmetically and in playability. I’d save up and buy a CS any day over a straight USA. It’s more sure but you get what you pay for IMO.

[@benjaminsalinas862]

I was living on my friends couch 30k in debt. Then I started a business and the first electric guitar I bought was a new CS R9, as a novice player and partly because it was the accomplishment of a dream. So you're right, I sucked immediately from the bat. But it sounded so great I couldn't put the thing down. I just had this feeling, this knowing, that that guitar was 'the one' to finally sound off all of the music that had been sitting in my head and heart for years. Like Michaelangelo said, the piece is in the marble. Now, all I got to do is carve it out.

[@AquaMunkee]

I love this answer because with this logic I can justify the purchase with the knowledge that my 35 years of playing finally got me the level of proficiency to be able to appreciate the guitar! 🤘😝 🎸 Jokes aside I think you’re definitely on to something.

[@slavophiliak44]

I’ve played for nearly 25 years and received a 1959 VOS Custom Shop ES 355 recently as a gift from my wife. Yeah, I know, she’s a keeper… anyway, it’s brilliant. Just head and shoulders above anything I’ve played before. Like he said in the video, there are details and intangibles that just make it almost magical to play. You really get the sense that it was handmade, kind of like when you bite into a meal that was carefully and expertly handmade with love. The love, passion, and respect for the history and heritage of Gibson is literally built into the guitar.

[@Ashfold_Eberesche]

Let's be truly honest though - how much of that is in the subjective perception of it being an expensive, valuable guitar? I'd be EXTREMELY interested in some kind of blind study where people are given what they are told are 1959 Bursts, Pre-CBS Strats, hand-crafted boutique instruments etc when really they are mid-range instruments with relicing, brand name changes, etc etc and ask them to rate them compared to essentially the same guitar but labeled correctly (put them in a different finish, remove relicing, etc so it's less likely they'll notice they are the same) I'd be EXTREMELY surprised if most people didn't strongly prefer the guitar they perceive to be more expensive or high-quality, etc. And honestly I have nothing against people using their own money to buy something they enjoy - say you spend $10,000 on a guitar that you keep for 20 years, that's like just under $10 every week to have something you love. Not a bad deal really, when people spend more than that on coffee. But our perception of something is often tied to our idea of its value - there's endless examples of this, like businesses who are failing and end up repackaging their product, increasing the price by 3x and suddenly people perceive it as something valuable and therefore desirable. And with something as subjective as how a guitar feels, or how much you enjoy the tone, well... let's just say that I'm convinced that our perceptions are coloured more than a little bit by external factors. Anyway, sorry for the rambling post. Not trying to take away from your enjoyment, just thinking out loud really. I hope you enjoy your awesome 355 and your awesome wife :D

[@jayall00]

@@Ashfold_Eberesche Anyone who has their 5 senses intact will notice a difference. I went from a pro epi, immediately sold it for a gibson tribute model (this is where I started to notice some quality), then I upgraded to a traditional, and finally, a reissue. So I've experienced each step up and every one of them is in an entirely different league, with epiphone at the absolute bottom. The difference between the last two is unimaginable, and this has nothing to do with the guitar's value or any biased perception. PAF pickups are objectively better. They are built **extremely well** and have insane clarity. That's not something that can just be faked. The point of these guitars is for you to dial down your amp's gain all the way because there's so much sustain in the pickups and build, you can let the guitar do most of the work. This way you get a cleaner sound and even if you add distortion, every note can be made out. So if I dial it down to where it's just right, then switch over to my traditional, it ends up having barely as much kick or grit to it. It has to rely on the amp more. So that's how much better the customshop is even to a high-end traditional, just to put things in perspective. There's a lot of knuckleheads out there who believe that their epiphone sounds better. They're either out of their mind, deaf, or they're using digital software to try and replicate a '59, in which case they’re still deaf and it wouldn't matter if they had a real '59 or a squire strat, they're gonna get the same low-tier digital emulation of it. The difference between the pro epi and the gibson tribute model is like comparing apples to dog poop. Call it subjective, call it my opinion if you will, but the epi's are truly an insult to Les Pauls With the customshop, the neck profile and shape is better, the alignment is better, the feel, the build, the sound, everything about it is a whole step up from anything I’ve ever played. I wouldn't form an opinion of Gibson unless you've played a customshop through a marshall amp, assuming you know how it’s meant to be played.

[@finoroverato7640]

Wow that’s great. The Custom shop stuff is on the highest level. My Vos 58 peaks my love meter.

[@markn4526]

Nice video and an excellent explanation and justification for spending more money on a high end guitar. I am fortunate to own 7 Gibson Custom Shop guitars...a R6, a R7, a R8, 2 R9's and a R0 and a '64 SG Reissue. They are all amazing guitars. I've found that there is no way you can justify spending 10x as much on a guitar when a much less expensive alternative will do the same thing to someone who is either looking for the least expensive solution, can't afford it or who simply doesn't get it. In my experience playing guitar for 48 years, once you start playing and get used to playing high end guitars, there is no going back. I'm not saying that less expensive guitars are inferior as I've played many examples of lower priced guitars that are fantastic. It's just that your expectations sort of becomes recalibrated once you start moving up in quality.

[@benkonczal4584]

I just purchased my first CS ‘59 Reissue. But my first “premium” guitar was purchased new in 2008: Martin HD-28. It sounded phenomenal back then, and even better today. I have a hard time playing other “lower spec?” acoustic guitars. Everything changed that day. And the same is true of this CS LP. I’m going to have a hard time playing anything else, now. It’s a new standard. Why settle for less? 😊

[@davemahan1993]

I grabbed a used R9 a couple of weeks ago and I agree with you… it’s something that has to be played to understand the value of. That being said, I’ve also played a couple of the collector’s choice models that sounded dead and didn’t do a thing for me. That put me off the Gibson CS guitars for a while. Also, I get that people might not see the value in a Gibson Custom Shop guitar, but I totally see the value in mine. I sold multiple guitars and a pile of pedals to get it and I still feel like I made out better in the deal. It’s all relative.

[@michaelkeudel8770]

That's what my 1979 Standard did for me, I've never had a guitar fit me better, owned since new in 81, paid $600 for it. Needs a fret job, but terrified it won't feel the same when I get it back.

[@deanmccaskill5495]

Just bought a 2011 R9 yesterday! Love it! It had a little stand rash that wasn’t disclosed but …meh.. anyway yeah. I have an embarrassing amount of USA LPs but this is my first Custom Shop. God I love it. I wonder what pickups are in it because it (to me sounds different/better) than my 50s Std. Anyway did I say I love it?

[@mralgebro]

You explained this so beautifully. I have a custom shop 58 TV Junior reissue and it’s worth every penny to me because of these points you made. You forgot to mention one important factor though: the smell. 😉 Also, very tasteful playing 👏

[@MaxRossellMusic]

Thanks man! I appreciate you watching and your comment. Agree about the smell, unfortunately this one's has faded over the years, but I recently had a 52 reissue that filled the room with that candyfloss aroma every time I cracked the case. Nothing like it!

[@realtruenorth]

Worth every penny eh? Guess I gotta save up and get one.

[@cherrysunburst1959]

The woods used in the manufacturing is a huge factor for tone. This is where the new Les Paul's fall short.

[@jremi]

Just went to try a few Gibson Les Paul guitars today. I was interested in their "satin" finish models. So I tried a Tribute and a Classic and I was not impressed at all with the quality of the finish. I am not talking about the binding and other cosmetics here. I am talking about gritty frets, high action, general attention to details, etc. These guitars cost well over 1k. Do we absolutely need to pay 7k for a quality Gibson guitar nowadays? Anyway, when I came back home, I picked up my Godin Classic (Canadian brand built in Canada and/or the U.S.) and realized that its quality and finish are head and shoulders above that of a similarly priced Gibson. Why is that? I've always loved the sound and the look/design of a Les Paul guitar. I should add that I did own a 1974 Les Paul Deluxe for 10 years and a Les Paul Standard for 12 but I got fed up with the sticky nitro glossy finish...

[@MaxRossellMusic]

It's true that Gibson do have issues with consistency, especially in their lower-end USA models. You don't have to look far to find a brand that has a better general standard of fit and finish out the door. I'm sure there are a few gems in the 1k-range Gibson models though, if you hunt for them. That said, you don't need to spend 7k for a good Gibson, I still routinely play Gibsons less than 2.5k that are excellent. Of course that is still a LOT of money.

[@johnnewman8412]

Thank you a thousand times over for making this video! As someone ith a similar background in design, engineering and manufacturing I know how much the process of building a guitar has changed in the last 65 years, how nearly impossible it is to go back in time and recreate that process, how insanely expensive it becomes and how close Gibson comes to achieving the impossible. Thus, it drives me nuts when people's first, and frequently only, comment on Custom Shop guitars is that 'they're too expensive'. What these people always fail to realize is that they're paying for an item that can only be made in one place on earth with all the attendant limitations that come with that. If the Custom Shop were to shut down this level of replication could not be achieved by anyone else, anywhere. Your explanation of the craftsmanship and materials costs is far and away the best I've seen; hopefully you will have created some converts. Thank you again.

[@svgitana2499]

Excellent video!! Very well explained!! A good example that I can relate to is comparing a Gibson Les Paul 50’s and 60’s standard to a Gibson Les Paul Slash Standard. I live in Nashville and went down to Gibson Garage and played them all and there was a distinct difference in the feel and quality between the guitars I mentioned. To my surprise I ended up buying the Slash November burst LP……I’m not a fan of slash but it just felt so good and different!! 🙌🏻

[@davidtyler3116]

I couldn't agree with you more! Great video!

[@MaxRossellMusic]

Thanks man, and thank you for watching!

[@neogeoriffic]

Great video mate! Just recently purchased a 2019 R8 and from the very moment I opened the case i knew i had something very, very special indeed. The feel, sound and playability are unsurpassed in my opinion. The attention to every detail is superb. Worth every penny as far as I'm concerned. People drop 5K on a hand-knotted rug just to walk on and they don't even stay in tune! LOL

[@michaelheller8841]

I own a Gibson Custom Shop Les Paul R8 myself. It’s not at all about spending the extra money as the most important factor. I have owned and played many Gibson Les Pauls. They were all great to me. That being said, they were not all the same at all. My R8 is my favorite guitar ever. Once you pick it up you have that feeling and you can feel the quality too. It is amazing in every way. You would have to hold a gun to my head and I probably still wouldn’t give it up. Yes you can make a guitar sound great for a fraction of the cost, still, it’s not the same, not even close. If you bark at the cost, just pick one up before you have an opinion. That’s the only way. I have purchased so many different guitars, I had to make changes on a lot of them. On my R8? I didn’t have to change a thing except strings lol. The R8 isn’t for everyone and that’s not what it’s about. If you don’t have at least 250K to spend it’s really the next best thing.

[@MaxRossellMusic]

I totally agree. I think bottom line is, you have to play one to really appreciate what it is - and even then you need to know what you're doing to be able to really see it. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@michaelkeudel8770]

I picked up an esp-256 that felt great, was used and priced about $250, I paid $600 for my 79 Standard in 81 brand new off the shelf. Doesn't justify today's pricing.

[@KelsterVonShredster]

My 2015 R8 is the finest and most inspiring guitar I"ve ever owned. Oddly enough, it has a thinner and more comfortable neck than my previous R9. Great video!

[@AquaMunkee]

Loved this video - thanks for making it! I’ve been playing since ‘88 and I never “got” why people loved Les Pauls… I mentioned as much to a guy at a boutique guitar shop last week and he asked if I would be willing to try a custom ‘58 reissue, and it completely changed my mind. I actually ended up playing 3 different ones and all three blew my mind. A custom ‘58 is now at the top of my wishlist, and I’ve never paid that kind of money for a guitar before!

[@Podcastforthewin]

I actually just ordered my 58. Been playing guitar on and off since around 1994, I turned 40 last year and this is what I want. Im exited

[@jcrgtattoo333]

O man, I’ve never played a custom shop, I have a Les Paul USA standard, and an sg special with p90’s, both are great guitars., I hope the day I get to try a custom shop Les Paul won’t ruin my bond with my guitars.., but I really want to try an r8, and an r9 some day.

[@roolmapoule1513]

​@@jcrgtattoo333definitely it will kill your standard guitars when you get one. I went crazy when I got my true historic 58, so crazy I bought a spare one.... I got rid of my standard and tradi 2014, kept the studio cause it was my first lp and it has something simple I like for jams. Imo 58 is a better choice : less expensive than 59s, same specs. I just got my 58 335 triburst, same insanity. You can never be disappointed with a cs

[@dan197573]

great video, thanks!!!!

[@MaxRossellMusic]

Thanks, and thank you for watching!

[@DLV2252]

One of the best explanations found on you tube thank you

[@MaxRossellMusic]

Hey thanks, and thanks for watching and commenting. Please be sure to subscribe (if you haven't already) to see more videos like this. Cheers!

[@GibsonVOS58]

Wow….. your playing is so full of deep emotions. That guitar really is an extension of you, really really beautiful.

[@MaxRossellMusic]

Thanks man, I really appreciate it.

[@cunningcod4549]

Perfectly explained. Now I really want one.

[@MaxRossellMusic]

Thanks man! You can't have this one... Although sadly, neither can I. If you can afford one though, I definitely recommend it. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@lowqualityguitarvideos]

Great rundown

[@MaxRossellMusic]

Thanks!

[@mortonwilson795]

First time here, really enjoyed your clear discussion of the guitar and your playing! All good! I still own (and record with) my 1968 LP Custom and it's the benchmark I judge newer Gibsons by. Perhaps not entirely fair because it has the slimmer 60's neck profile and ebony board but still . . . Lately (thru Covid) I have become interested in what Gibson & Epiphone are doing and the HK flagship for both brands has lots of stock so it's been a fun 'hands on' thing - I drop by once a week. I have tried half a dozen of the 59 Custom re-issues, 3 were 60th Anniversary models, and they were all different . One of the anniversary models really appeals to me, surprisingly bright in the way some players in the late 60's sounded, but at USD 7.5K not really in my budget. I am not chasing 'period authentic' appointments per se. I recently spent an afternoon with an Eastman SB59/v with the Lollar Imperials / Bone Nut / Ebony Board / Gotoh Hardware etc. and @ USD 2K I will most likely grab it. I did buy the Epiphone 1959 with Gibson wiring / pick-ups etc. and have adjusted to the thicker neck, like the satin finish and will put in some Monty's Underspun PAFs and maybe re-do the wiring . . . my first real taste of a Standard LP after 50 odd years with my Custom and enjoying it. There's no doubt the Custom Shop stuff is a cut above but even just comparing a handful back to back and noticing the differences (not a bad thing - better than cookie cutter identical instruments) it all comes down to personal taste - 'feel' basically. Maybe I'll be in a position to grab one of these at some point, let's see! Thanks for the vid - will check out your other content.

[@Mattis_Bengtsson]

excellent video

[@Murphy_Peoples]

Excellent explanation.

[@MaxRossellMusic]

Thanks man, and thanks for watching. Please consider subscribing if you haven't already. Cheers! :)

[@geoc3956]

I have a 2004 R8 and it has become my number one guitar. It has been the greatest guitar I've owned. All the other reissues Gibson makes isn't as warm and bluesy. It always been dependable onstage and off. Stays in tune and sounds wonderful through any amp and pedal.

[@FINELINEVAN]

Good video. When I was 18 I bought a 77 Les Paul custom took my whole savings. I been playing it 45 years in all kinds of situations as I do today playing clubs in and around Nashville. As I have gotten older the weigh at times wears my back but the sound and tone I get is unsurpassed. But I was gonna try a SG half the weight to alternate with the Paul. I ordered a SG Epiphone and after setting it up it wasn’t bad as I played it at home. Well in a live situation it’s so not anything of the same tones or output of a Gibson . I used it a couple times but never again as I switched back to Paul. I am now going to buy a Gibson SG 61 reissue in the hopes it will give me the tone and output I’m used to. I am sure it will have its own caricatures but as long as the output on pickups match the Paul I can deal with it. The control of volumes and tone you can not get in a copy. Everything you say I learned. But my Les Paul Is the king in getting me for a lifetime a sound and control that still remains. I’ve. Been told otherwise from so many but you get what you pay for. Epiphones are good for some the fit and finish is very nice for the money and as a practice guitar but I have learned you get what ya pay for 2200 for the SG Gibson verse 500 from China not worth it.

[@MaxRossellMusic]

Fingers crossed the 61 SG works for you. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@FINELINEVAN]

@@MaxRossellMusic I have original paperwork for the Les Paul. With tax it was around 900. 00.

[@Joey_McElroy]

Here here sir!

[@mp-kq3vc]

I bought a 2013 '52 Les Paul with the maple veneer "face" headstock, full body gold, trapeze tail... it's a truly incredible guitar. Sounds and looks amazing, plays incredible. Apparently one of a 400-only run. But a funny thing happens. I know it's value, and get quite reluctant to take it out and play it because I'm scared of dinging it up. I end up playing my Studio (which honestly plays just as good) or my Classic. And that's the thing I don't hear much talked about. When it's rare and has some value, it becomes more of an investment rather than a musical instrument to play and enjoy. And that guitar is even still not approaching what an R8 or R9 might be. I dream of an R8 but I'd probably end up just looking at it and admiring it while continuing to play the Studio out of fear of dinging up the collectable. Maybe I'm just a weirdo. Peace!

[@MaxRossellMusic]

No way! I had the exact same guitar a couple years ago, the 2013 run of the Les Paul 52 Tribute all-gold with the laser-etched maple headstock veneer. There's a couple of pics of it on my instagram. I moved mine on, because as nice as it was (and it was super-nice) the tailpiece was impossible to intonate which made it almost unusable for recording and I would have had to mod it to get it to tune up properly, which I didn't want to do. That plus I would have preferred to have one of the '09 run of those, which are even rarer and cost a fortune now. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@megaalibear]

Watching you play this reminds me of my friend Nariman back at uni. He could make my basic, Squire Strat sing like it was played by the ghost of Hendrix. However, when he was let loose on a 1989 Fender US Signature Series Yngwie Malmsteen Stratocaster it was something else entirely. Put these high end guitars in the hands of people who have dedicated themselves to mastering the instrument and the marginal gains in the instrument are exponentially increased in the music that emerges.

[@MaxRossellMusic]

That's a very handsome comment dude, and I appreciate it. As always thanks for watching and commenting!

[@ricklynn6176]

I agree 100% with this video! I have a black beauty Gibson Les Paul custom and sure I could get one of the new epi versions for thousands less, but I will always know that it’s just a clone of what I actually really want. As good as it may be, there’s always that stigma of the fact that you got the lesser quality “cheaper” version of the Gibson. I don’t regret a penny that I spent on my Les Paul custom! Great video definitely subbed🤘🏼

[@bobangel9474]

I know newer-grown pine is not as dense as the pine produced 60 years ago. Does the new wood match the density of the older stuf and would that affect a notice in tone?

[@MaxRossellMusic]

Well, they don't use pine in Les Pauls, but it's true that the cellular structure of newer woods tends to differ from the wood in older guitars because now they grow the trees faster and cut them younger. There will be a difference in tone, whether for better or worse is really down to preference. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

Totally agree, well said. Your R8 is gorgeous by the way 👌

[@MaxRossellMusic]

Thanks man, and thanks for watching! Unfortunately it's not my R8 but it does belong to my lead guitarist so it's "in the family" which is nice. It's certainly one of the best guitars I've ever played.

[@smelltheglove2038]

It’s because the wood and other materials used to make the product, and the amount they pay the people who work in the CS. I had a CS VOS 335. I also had a Gibson USA 335. The custom shop was so much better playing. The un-potted custom buckets sounded so good.

[@gr637]

A very good review

[@HighscoreCreative]

They are $13k in Australia now! Crazy.

[@dan197573]

I have a r9 and I love it by far one of my favorites

[@Cherry_Sunburst]

EXCELLENT...Thanks.

[@MrDISCOBRITCHES]

I had a 1963 Melody Maker a long time ago and chased that tone and vibe until I bought my R9 and found what I wanted.

[@Myoldnameiscringy]

First time viewer. What caught my eye is your gorgeous Trace Elliott Speed Twin. I miss mine so much and I’ve been trying to find a new (to me) one here in the US. Such a sleeper amp that not many over here know about.

[@MaxRossellMusic]

It is a great amp - unfortunately I no longer own that one as it was surplus to requirements but I did enjoy it while I had it. Thanks for watching and commenting and I hope to see you on my channel again!

[@zenmaestro04]

Good points! And If you look at the price sheet from the 50's and 60's, these guitars were not inexpensive. Easily on par with the Gibson standards of today accounting for inflation. There's also great options today for every budget. If you can't afford a custom shop, a company like Eastman from China will get you arguably very close for a third of the price. That is beautiful Les Paul though...

[@michaelkeudel8770]

My 79 Standard cost me $600 when I bought it brand new off the shelf in 81.

[@jamessator5564]

Sir I have a R 7,8,and a 9 and I have had “regular Gibson Les Pauls “ in the past, and I am a history buff of the Les Paul , mine all play just amazingly well , I’ll never go back to a USA Les Paul

[@MaxRossellMusic]

That's a very nice collection to have. I can see why with guitars like that you wouldn't feel the need to play a regular USA Les Paul!

[@ashleyjackson4481]

Everything you said, plus when it’s amplified , then you got all the variables tones with dials and pick up selector . And the options of different gauge strings .on well made instruments .

[@MaxRossellMusic]

Definitely, the variety of tones available just by playing with the controls and varying your touch is huge on guitars at this level, and when you change string brands and gauges sometimes it's almost like you've got a completely different guitar. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@rogues1370]

Awsome video mate. Really enjoying your stuff. 🤘

[@MaxRossellMusic]

Thanks man, really appreciate you stopping by and your kind comment. Please consider subscribing (if you haven't already). Cheers!

[@BlindTom61]

Well done.

[@eyeceeyooh]

that guitar is gorgeous. im new to guitar. do you prefer a plain maple top? do some people get the flame maple just because of the aesthetic? again im new but i highly doubt that it affects the tone

[@MaxRossellMusic]

It's impossible to say if it does affect the tone or not because there are so many variables, but if it does it'll have less of an effect on the tone than for example raising or lowering the pickups by 1mm. I believe it's 100% an aesthetic preference. I tend to like plaintops or "interesting" figures, guitars with that super tight-straight tiger flame (or worse, quilt) always look kind of fake to me.

[@ConcezioPellegrini]

EXCELLENT and OUTSTANDING Video.

[@MaxRossellMusic]

Thank you! Thanks so much for watching and commenting!

[@ConcezioPellegrini]

Not a problem. I truly appreciate your candid, honest and most sincere review. Excellent work.

[@damiansamb3980]

Excelente explicación 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@nedludd3641]

That was excellent. I sort of guessed some of that, but you laid it out really clearly and logically. Danish Pete of Andertons seemed to question the other day whether a non-professional will ever get the best out of a high-end instrument. Part of me want to spend £4000+, part of me is thinking somewhat guiltily: 'Who am I kidding?'

[@lethol1]

My 59 reissue VOS is a beast. It plays like butter. I switch between it and my Anderson. You really do get what you pay for.

[@MaxRossellMusic]

100% Agreed. Those Tom Andersons are excellent guitars. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@lynyrddeville]

I am really glad you made this video. I got super lucky and won enough money at a hockey game to treat myself and I decided that my treat would be my dream guitar and my dream amp ! Think about how great you think that would actually feel. Well, it DOES feel that good! Now it was lots of cash, but not stupid cash so while Ihave always coveted a 59 burst, vintage was out of the question. So I bought myself a Friedman Smallbox combo, and headed down to my local Long and McQuade to meet up with a long time friend of mine for a fun way to kill an afternoon, have a cost is no object honest to God Les Paul shootout. John had tp bring out the ladder because except for 2 Les Pauls that were regular USA models,in the mix to keep things honest, all of the competitors were Gustom Shop bursts and a Black Beauty and those high dollar instruments are residing out of the reach of those browsers that walk in with burger grease and must tard on their hands ,some who think it is their divine right to paw over every expensive guitar in the store just because some day, they might have money so its not fair to keep those guitars away from theit magic hands. Personally I prefer the fact that the premium stuff isn't dinged up with the switch tip missing etc. First to go was the Black Beauty because I could not get it in tune for the life of me and it was just not a happy guitar. Next to go were the Classic and Traditional Les Pauls, good guitars, just not super special, About guitars in, a 58 Bourbonburst made my ears perk up and made me just blurt out Hello! Now HERE was something really special. It just felt right, and had a very lively acoustic sound and its main tone was classic great Les Paul tone. Singing and sweet, but also capable of brawling it out in the alley with some real attitude. And it was very versatile., it had about 6 classic Lester tones including one that surprisingly seems hard to actually get, the Jimmy Page both pickups on around 6 that is a staple of his live sound. the next 2 guitars were good but now there was a champ to knock off and they were not up to the task The final competitor was a great R9 True Historic which sand as sweetly as the reigning champ and it made me swear out loud because it was great but also 2 large more. It was one of those 'it figures, I gotta have the most expensive guitar in the store' moments. So it was a battle between r8 and r9, and ultimately the R8 won because its aggressiveness suited me better. And I love that big ol' fat baseball bat neck. The first time I pklayed it live was at ajam. Peter Framptobn has described the first night he played his 3 pickup Les Paul as makung him feel like his feet never touched the ground. That is exactly how my first night with my Bourbonburst R8 felt. It just did absolutely everything I wanted it to do. I'om 59 years old,and i have owned and played LOTS of guitars. I now own the best guitar I have ever played. The binding was pink but is now fading back to more of its original cream colour. I don't give a rats ass! The guitar is magic, all those who whine about the nitro bleed need to find important things to beef about. One other thing. before I had my shootout I had a salesman at an anotheer store tell mt that the custom shop Les Pauls felt totally different than the Gibson USA variants. He said they felt more relaxed, looser, that the USA felt stiff and hard by comparison. While I couldn't reason it out at the time.he couldn't have been more right. The custom shop stuff is special. For sure.

[@MaxRossellMusic]

What a story! Thank you for sharing dude, and thanks for watching. Enjoy that Custon Shop Lester!

[@jerbear1601]

Not all expensive guitars are magic. Some are and some inexpensive ones are as well.

[@MaxRossellMusic]

That's definitely true. Some of the best (to me) guitars I've played have been affordable, and I've played some very expensive guitars that have been totally un-special, and even some that have been real lemons. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@paulcartwright2810]

It's the player that makes the guitar magic.....you can if your wealthy buy a great guitar...or even lots of them...but it won't make you a great player..many years ago I remember working as a cleaner at a Mercedes benz dealers and a woman bringing in her 70k car for a service and she had to get the mechanic to park it for her...she's driving a very expensive car...but hasn't even the skill to park it...he drove if my memory serves a Skoda lol....that said most players who own custom shop guitars are good players....they can tell the suble difference between a 1000 guitar and one costing 5 times as much and to them its worth it.....but the average listener in the audience..to them its just a guitar...my mates got a Murphy lab and related to me once how someone after a gig commented that surely he could afford a nicer guitar like the lead guitarist in the band who was using a shiny new epiphone les paul...(he wouldn't risk taking his Gibson to a pub gig)....I've had various Gibsons over the years...(im down to a les Paul junior as I'm more a fender player)...and they're OK...custom shop are really nice...but pricey...but if you can afford it.....well who wouldn't?...and my favourite guitar?...a 1983 ibanez roadstar ll strat copy that's as good as if not better than my 1998 fender strat American deluxe...one cost £120 with a vox AC30 ...( it was the 80s and the guy needed money for drugs...looking back i feet bad but i was only 18 and wanted the guitar as it was better than the 1970s fender strat i had at the time....of course it would be considered vintage these days lol..."real " fender cost 2nd hand about £650....

[@joonni6020]

I have a R8, love it. Lightweight, Sustain which never ends, smells so good... ;) My Workhorse is a Strat, but my R8 will stay with me for ever.

[@paulhendershott667]

Max! Awesome video! I would love you to play an Epiphone version of this guitar - as close as you can get it - and play with the same settings as this $5000 guitar. I'm not skilled enough justify anything that expensive, but I'm happy it exists and that it gives people happiness and workers in the USA and elsewhere jobs! I'm learning the scales on the Epiphone version of the Slash guitar and play a modest 000-15M Martin that's the sweetest most gentle sounding guitar I ever owned. I built an OM style guitar from scratch over the past 16 months (thank you Luthiers Mercantile!) and had a blast doing it and learned lots of skills. Made mistakes, fixed them, and now I think it rivals the Martin OM-42 is craftmanship for 1/4th the price (however, if I add in all the tools and jigs I purchased it is closer to 1/2 the price). And it's got my name inlaid on the headstock 😊

[@MaxRossellMusic]

Thanks man! Check out a video I did a while back where I compare this guitar to a current Les Paul Standard 50s model as well as an Epiphone Les Paul Standard, it's a pretty straight up A/B/C test. Kudos to you for making a guitar! That's a really big deal and moreso if it turned out well. Are you going to make more?

[@robsthedon]

Well said!

[@jezzer1969]

Hmmm. What you’re saying makes perfect sense until you go and try out the end product. I’ve seen Custom Shop Gibsons with light nasty scuffed fingerboards and tried expensive instruments with little resonance. I know PRS select and grade wood. But I’m not convinced Gibson do. My own 2016 Les Paul has a dark rosewood board like fruitcake. My previous Les Paul was tonally nondescript. But had a very pretty top. I just think they should do what Fender did and copy Japanese Quality control practices. More CNC and more precision. It might be boring. But as you say it’s a luxury product. Great channel btw. 👍

[@MaxRossellMusic]

You're absolutely correct, sadly. Gibson have always had an issue with quality control and the Custom Shop is no exception. The only remedy for that (when buying new) is to try out a bunch of them before you buy, which any decent guitar store should enable considering the amount you're spending. I'm not sure more CNC is the answer, as I said because wood is a living material, CNC only stays precise if the wood had been properly seasoned and dried (which is should be for guitars of this level), and even then there will always be some variation which the hand-crafting process should mitigate. No doubt the Japanese Fender QA process is among the best in the world - there's an anecdote that the manager of the Fender plant in Corona, California flew out to Japan for a factory visit and burst into tears when he was saw they were doing because he knew he could never achieve it in America.

[@billydelacruz1500]

I’ve been playing since 11. Gigging at 15. Been with same band since 08 and went through about. 20-30 guitar in that time frame. No cheapies! All USA, some vintage some American Standards, reissues ect. Thought paying more for Historics , Custom Shops, Strymon or KOT hype and dumb! Well…..I’m an idiot!! Still have some vintage I absolutely bond with but have CS Es and Historic now in crew and most of the numbers dwindled to core 4 electric, 2 acoustic and 2 vintage basses!! DONE!!!! !!! Could’ve saved a lot of time and money but the Journey led me here and mind clearer, more focused and enjoying playing with band more than worrying about next score!!! Thanks for this great subject being considered! New Sub!!!✌🏽❤️

[@Tonetwisters]

I am blessed to own a VOS 1964 SG Standard. Weighs 6.9 pounds. Gorgeous. And a long tenon. A few flaws that can easily be straightened out. But should have been PERFECT. But what a stunner to look at. And of course, not long after I got it, my left thumb became riddled with arthritis ...

[@MaxRossellMusic]

Ah, sorry to hear about the arthritis man. That really sucks, I hope it isn't too bad and you can still play some, especially now you have such a nice guitar. I agree that it should have been in perfect shape for what I assume it cost.

[@jcrgtattoo333]

Those bends at about 2:15 were really tasty!, and that ‘58 is gorgeous!

[@waynemc3100]

A beautiful guitar commemorating my birth year :) And beautiful playing, thank you. Hopefully I'll be able to afford this before I turn 100 in 35 years time.

[@adajay9257]

Thank you for an amazing explanation. I own three Gibsons, but none are custom shop, and I never had a chance to play one. If you ever played an Eastman, how would you compare it to these Gibsons?

[@MaxRossellMusic]

Hey, thanks to you for watching and commenting! Eastman are very good guitars and I would happily own one but very different from the CS Reissue Gibsons. These 50's RI Gibsons are based on the kind of "blueprint" for the set-neck electric guitar including all the so-called issues that Gibson and other brands then spent forty years "fixing", before everyone agreed that what people really want is a 50's Les Paul. Eastman don't have those kinds of considerations and so their guitars, even the aesthetically "vintage" ones, feel more modern to play. I think people get excited about Eastman because they offer Gibson Custom Shop value for Gibson USA money. While that's possible in terms of build quality, in terms of feel and vibe it's not the same at all.

[@adajay9257]

@@MaxRossellMusic That makes total sense. Thank you once again for a great explanation, it's really appreciated.

[@Telewest792]

I have a 50th anniversary 59 les Paul i bought new in Australia back in 2009 and back then it was $10,000.00 Australian which was a lot of money but these days a custom shop 59 costs anywhere from $13,000.00 to $22,000.00 depending on whether or not Murphy labs have worked on it so who knows where it will end up but i cant deny they are awesome to play . If you have to justify the expense then don’t buy it but if you don’t have to justify it go for it you never lose money on them.

[@KrispyCoins]

I just got the ;59 Custom Shop VOS its aweseome.

[@MaxRossellMusic]

Yes, they are amazing guitars, congratulations on yours! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@surasak_es335music6]

I used to think that just a piece of wood just put the same pickups in there lol after playing custom shop I can’t go back to a cheap guitar . You got to paid 5k at least to get the best quality like Gibson made back in the day . If you had been playing guitar you’ll know when you play one . I played side by side with standard and custom shop and all other brands . Trust me Gibson custom shop is worth every penny plus you are holding a piece of history the legacy of the company. The sound the feel the vibe of Gibson custom shop is something special

[@MaxRossellMusic]

Great comment, thanks for watching and participating!

[@orneryhombre9078]

Have been noodling with 6 strings for 55 years. Am the 1st owner of a ‘22 R4 VOS and 2nd owner of a ‘21 R8 VOS in LemonBurst. Have purchased 7 Les Paul’s over the years. These Custom Shops are stellar and worth every penny to me. The Custom Buckers and CS P90’s are stellar as well. Note that after having a luthier work the frets, roll the fretboard edges, sweeten the guts and swap the 490/498’s for Tim Shaws, the ‘08 Studio I bought new gives them a run for the $. My advice is to purchase the sweetest Les Paul, any guitar for that matter, you can afford and let a luthier do his magic and/or learn to do it yourself

[@flippinheck]

Excellent explanation, and the sum it up was, "if you are into vintage guitars etc" it will never be vintage and tone is a very very controversial area, but still a clear insight of difference, although I have compared the two, and a CNC will beat a human hands down everytime unfortunately which also brings something else into question and that's exact, the human error, so how much two handmade guitars differ, nit picking? but since tone is so subjective then every little detail has to impact on the sound, and now we have another area, the builder, since Strads were built by one made does that weight apply to the handbuilt guitar, sigh....how far can you go with this???

[@MaxRossellMusic]

You're right, and since there are no correct answers, only feelings and opinions, this is a conversation that can go on and on (not a problem for me as I love to talk about it!). Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@frantisca]

The CS made guitars have something more in them: expertise & passion. Everything in them is top notch and inspiring. The woods, lacquer, pickups, components, assembly, weight, neck carve and what have you makes them unique. As to the value, it's what you make of it. These are superb instruments and if you can afford one, it's worth every car, watch or even crappy piano... ;-)

[@aa134368]

I bought a ‘58 VOS back in 2011 for $2900 brand new in the box, had just arrived to my local store. I was just a dumb kid and sold it a year later to a coworker for the same amount. Still to this day I haven’t played a guitar that sounded as good. Didn’t know what I had or the value it would keep!

[@MaxRossellMusic]

Hey, that's a tough beat - good news is if you keep your ear to the ground you should be able to pick one up used for not much more than that.

[@MaxRossellMusic]

Totally agree. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@isaiahmarquez9717]

I have TWO Gibson Custom Shops. Both 2019 models. One is a ‘57 VOS Les Paul Custom in ebony. The other is a 60th Anniversary aged ‘59 in dirty lemon/honeyburst. Both have the unpotted Custombuckers. Both sound great in different ways. The ‘57 is smoother. The ‘59 is hotter. I love them both. And both were used. Still paid quite a bit for both. The ‘57 from GC in Georgia. The ‘59 from GC in Texas. They are both keepers. However, I don’t play them everyday. My everyday player is a 2020 Gibson Les Paul Standard 50’s Heritage Cherry Burst that was also used. Picked it up at the GC in Austin, TX for UNDER $2K. I walked out the door with it right at $2k. At that price, I HAD TO take it home. Replaced the pickups (which turned out to be ‘57 Classics, not Burstbuckers) with Dimarzio double creams (36th Anniversary PAF and Super Distortion). Added Kluson Revolution locking tuners and bigger strap buttons. I play it everyday. But those CS Gibsons aren’t going anywhere! I also have two fairly expensive PRS. A 2018 McCarty 594 in blood orange and a 2004 Custom 24 Artist package in dark cherry burst. Really great guitars as well. I didn’t purposely decide I wanted expensive ass guitars. It just happened. I had a 2011 EVH Wolfgang USA that was great as well (ALSO expensive) but I never loved the Floyd Rose. So it had to go. I think once you get a taste for this level of guitars, it’s impossible to go back.

[@albertmorgan9021]

Good job on the explanation in the end you get what you pay for and I'm still wishing I could afford a custom shop les paul 🤤🥴😥😢😭😪🥴

[@MaxRossellMusic]

With you on that one - I both wish I had the guitar, and wish I was rich enough to afford the guitar!

[@nextlp]

Thanks man. Very well explained. And VERY tasteful playing.

[@MaxRossellMusic]

Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@herculesrockefeller8784]

Thanks to 48 month financing I just ordered a 59' VOS. Heres to great but bad decisions. Cheers

[@MaxRossellMusic]

I don't know if it's a bad decision - the way inflation's going, four years from now you'll probably get all of your money back if you were to sell it on. I know loads of guys whose Custom Shop reissues are now worth at least what they paid for them new.

[@jekempton62609]

As a manager of a guitar shop that sells Gibson and Fender custom shop models, its very refreshing to see a KZbin video with an informed perspective about what these guitars are all about. I'll die a happy man if I never see another video of a guy arguing that an Epiphone (as awesome as they are) is just as good as a Gibson USA or Custom model. These guitars are a heck of a lot more than just hype.

[@trevor4533]

oh don't worry. The cool thing now is to argue how much better their fake garbage Chibsons are compared to the real deal! 🤣 Its mind boggling seeing how much money people dump into those turds...

[@johnsmith-oh2xo]

So refreshing to here someone say the truth guitars are luxury Items no one needs a guitar but if you have the cash then spend it and no matter the brand or the price don't let people put you down to hell with them you don't need them either.....Great video man....

[@easilyoffended7772]

Can I have the backing track?

[@Zoso7227]

I have and love my cheapie guitars, because not everyone can own all American made guitars. My R8 is a stand alone though. When I want tone, it’s what I gravitate towards. Yes, it’s worth it. I only have 12 guitars and 11 of them still aren’t as much as my R8 when combined in price. I plan to get old with it. I’m sure you feel the same

[@MaxRossellMusic]

I would feel the same, but unfortunately this R8 isn't mine. I'm very sad about that. Also, "only" 12 guitars? Surely that's plenty! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@lescaster2179]

I bought a lightly used 2014 R8 VOS in 2018 up for$2499 from a Sam Ash in NY. At the time is was at the lower end of the used market ($3,000) and new would have been $4,000. The pricing now is crazy... So I make sure to show my wife the current used prices. ;-)

[@opinionhaver574]

I've played Gibsons for most of my musical life - and have had a Les Paul Custom in my arsenal for most of that time - and it's my main axe. I was always skeptical about the Custom Shop guitars and whether or not the high prices were justified. And then I played one. And now I own one.

[@joachimlindback]

Fret width and height?

[@flyonwall360]

About 6 years ago, I bought a 2005 Gibson Les Paul Studio Faded T series. There it was, hanging on the wall at a second-hand music store. As soon as I grabbed it off the rack, I knew it was a keeper. Some would look down their nose and say, "how cute, it's a Studio". At the time I wasn't paying attention to Gibsons and couldn't tell you the difference between a Studio, standard, or a Custom. However, I've learned a lot since then. The only difference between this Studio and a Standard is cosmetics. Well, this particular year has one major difference. It has a mohagany top instead of maple. Because it's a T, it has the old school wiring. It came with Burstbucker Pro pickups and all the traditional hardware. It lacks the bling of the Standard but plays and sounds just as nice. The guitar was like new with a hardshell case and it was as if the original owner never played it. The combination of the case lock was still set to all zeros. At the time a bought this guitar, it was selling new for around $1,100 USD with a gig bag. I grabbed this one for $599. A friend with deep pockets had several Les Pauls. One was a Murphy Aged and cost several thousands. When I closed my eyes, I could not hear the binding or the gloss finish. So, yes. I do think that Gibsons are ridiculously overpriced. Maybe if I didn't have to eat or pay my heat bill, I would consider buying a nice honey burst Standard. Sometimes, the simple things in life truly are special.

[@MaxRossellMusic]

Hey man, it's always nice to hear about people finding really nice guitars. It's certainly true that there are more affordable USA Gibsons available with insane specs, great pickups and all of that stuff. It's just a fact that Custom Shop Gibsons are expensive - whether they're TOO expensive is a debate that will go on and on. It's completely possible to rationalise that a more accessible Gibson is just as good to you as a luxury one, and the bottom line is all that matters if how much you enjoy playing it. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@flyonwall360]

@Max Rossell I have a 2004 Fender Stratocaster (another steal I picked up for $250 from a friend that needed cash). I had to rebuild the Stratocaster, and it still has tuning issues. The only thing I've ever done to the 2005 Les Paul is change the strings and set the intonation. Guitars are like cars. If a guitar doesn't play or sound well, then it doesn't matter how pretty it is. My Les Paul is definitely a sleeper. The most expensive guitar I ever owned was a one of a kind 1988 Hamer Chaparral Custom. It was the one that got away. It's a shame that they don't make USA Hamers anymore. Hamer was like a Gibson Custom Shop before the high-end Gibsons were a thing. I paid $1,050 for the Hamer in 1989. I had a friend that was a dealer and just wanted to move it. List price was $2,500. Many of us would love to have a high-end Gibson, but like you said, at the end of the day, it's all about playing a guitar the sounds and plays well.

[@seraphym6764]

The difference in feel and sound is worth the money. The difference to me is not subtle. You are highly unlikely to find a Gibson USA where you hear complex harmonics jumping off the strings. Not to mention the power and responsiveness. It starts with the wood, and if you're after a Les Paul you will only find that quality of wood from a Custom Shop instrument.

[@MaxRossellMusic]

100% agreed, great comment! Thanks so much for watching!

[@jbbeaudry]

I got a good deal on a Historic R8, which I bought for 3.5k€, 2nd hand but unused, from some collector who needed money. (By the way that's when I got to play a real 59, yet another story) The attention to detail, the craftsmanship, the sustain, the resonance, the incredible dynamics, the openness of the pickups etc.: there are so many ways in which my R8 surpasses my Std, and the price was not that much higher than a new Std today. Besides, if you compare CS to mid-to-high-end PRS, it's quite comparable, so it's not like you're being ripped off by Gibson vs other brands. I just wanted a great guitar. I didn't need the fancy ageing, vintage whatever that would have doubled the price tag (although I understand why some people like to spend the extra money on those features) Whatever the price, those CS guitars may not be for everyone. For those who play high gain, all knobs on 10 all the time, CS may not be the right choice, and some other models may even sound much better, with more focused pickups etc. I got into vintage tones because I liked how those old masters would get the best out of limited gear, play with knobs, with their dynamics, with pickup switches without even touching the amp or adding pedals. Over the years I've had my R8, it has taught me to play differently, and to get a better understanding of pickups, wiring, dynamics, amp settings and the interplay between all those ingredients. In itself that's worth the money I put in the guitar.

[@tallisrocktube]

The last Gibson LP's I played failed against its much more affordable Epiphone counterparts.

[@garyeckel1656]

I bought a used VOS 57 gold top...lol, ya its nice...that tone you cant get anywhere else.

[@MaxRossellMusic]

I love a goldtop. A friend of mine had a 57 VOS a while back, it was an amazing guitar. Couldn't get a bad tone out of it.

[@jody7214]

Never bought an expensive guitar and thought, man that’s worth every penny. But I have bought many cheaper guitars and thought, man this is so much value for money. Actually in my experience, I’m usually disappointed in most of my “high end” guitars. They are hit or miss just like cheaper guitars.

[@dannyperfect9270]

unfortunately, you are 100% right

[@UndeadBoogie]

Dat tone!

[@zivaradlovacki2666]

There is another option. Make a guitar yourself. You can make a Les Paul guitar using top quality materials for $1000 if you spend some time learning, researching and sorcing parts. Its a lot of fun too.

[@h20s56]

I wonder how Gibson Custom VOS compares to the Heritage Custom H-150

[@DavidV63]

I find it a shame to pay more to age (sometimes badly) this beautiful guitar (VOS) i juste would like a 58 Les Paul like they where product this year...

[@MaxRossellMusic]

These models are also available in a "gloss" finish, which means in factory-new condition, but the VOS finish isn't technically an aging process, it just means that the guitar isn't polished up to a high shine.

[@nickf2170]

Its called "Ripping You Off". The quality of these guitars is they should be providing as standard. And it is up to the manufacturer to develop manufacturing processes that take costs out, not add costs in. The high costs you are paying go right into the corporate bonus pool, and they are laughing all the way to the bank.

[@guitarman3968]

Sorry to hear that the reissue you purchased had some issues. Of course, nothing that is man made is perfect. Hopefully you were able to get some satisfactory resolution to your issues and are enjoying playing your reissue now. As I am enjoying my R9 and have since the day I got it. Cheers.

[@Tonetwisters]

Well said, by the way.

[@MaxRossellMusic]

Thanks!

[@extrememike]

I dreamed with any Gibson USA production back when I was a teenager. Now that I can afford one of this for $5-7k I am still debating whether I need to spend that kind of money on Historic Reissue or could just continue playing the a Les Paul Classic Custom I bought on sale 10 yrs ago for $1499

[@MaxRossellMusic]

Hi, thanks for watching and commenting! My feeling is that you definitely don't NEED to spend that kind of money on a guitar, especially since you already have a nice Les Paul. I'd say for that kind of money I'd be looking for not just a nice guitar, but one that I fall completely in love with, so I guess the decision should really be made after you've played a bunch of them.

[@Xaltar_]

In this day and age the only Gibson worth considering (budget permitting) is a custom shop and I don't mean the more mainstream ones they slap a CS logo on the back of. The standard line are just shoddy. Poor QC, very little to absolutely 0 value over much lower priced alternatives and for me, the big issue, Gibson itself and it's corporate mandate to crush the competition by any means necessary. Growing up I aspired to being able to afford a "great" guitar, my sights were set on a Les Paul Standard or better. Having owned a fair few, I can't say that sentiment holds true anymore. My number one today is a 90's era Les Paul copy, I can beat on and abuse it without worrying about ruining an expensive guitar and it looks, feels, plays and sounds exactly the way I want it to. It's played in, has all the upgrades I have invested in over the years and sounds amazing. Conversely, the last Les Paul I bought went back to the store, it was damn near unplayable with an improper neck break angle which led to an action that was way too high for my tastes even with the bridge slammed to the deck. Finish blemishes, a badly cut nut and lackluster pickups all added to it's demise. I still love the Les Paul but I won't be buying a new one again, Custom Shop beauties are out of my reach and the standard lineup have stung me one too many times. I regret selling my 90's era Gold Top and Studio, those were lovely. Today Gibson is nothing more than a lifestyle brand. They market an idea rather than a product, hence the suing and bluster. For about $3000 - $5000, location and luthier dependent, you can get a Luthier to build you a reproduction 58/59 etc Les Paul with all the period correct techniques and materials. IMO, Gibson should come in a little lower than that given there is an element of mass production, even in the custom shop. This however, is a niggle over $200 - $300. It's when you get to the $10k+ models that they are just having a laugh at fools and their money. The key value, at least currently, is that they will hold value and can be sold on, either at a bit of a profit or at least nearly no loss. Great for a collector but not such a big concern for a player looking for a "forever guitar". At the end of the day, it's your money and so long as you are happy with your purchase it shouldn't matter to you what other people think of it. Value is highly subjective. Someone earning $2000 a month is not going to see the same value in a $5000 guitar as someone who earns $20k+. Regardless of the guitar you have or how much it costs, all that matters in the end is if it makes you smile. If not, you overpaid or didn't pay enough.

[@MaxRossellMusic]

Yes, I've seen a lot of people make the same comments and I agree with a large part of them. I myself have encountered a lot of substandard Gibsons, with QA problems and manufacturing issues that you wouldn't see on guitars at a fraction of the price, and while it's true I've played a lot of great Gibsons, most of those were at price points that only wealthy people can afford. Gibson had a very dark period under Henry with basically everything going from bad to worse and I think a lot of people hope that under JC things will improve. It's a been a few years now and while the overhaul of the model selection has been met with a positive response we're still seeing a lot of quality issues as well as repeated price increases. As you say Gibson are trading on their huge reputation and the confidence that their products will retain a lot of value on the used market. Things will get interesting in the coming years though, when the next generations of guitar buyers come in who don't have the same attachment to the classic rock era and its association with the brand. Gibson are going to have to start signing up new endorsees and it's going to be a tough sell for younger musicians to agree to signature models at that price point when other brands can and will do it for so much less. Thanks for your comment, always great to get this kind of engagement!

[@hessex1899]

I have an R9. It's my first Les Paul. It weighs 8.25lb. It's demonstrably better than a regular Gibson Les Paul Standard in every way, except perhaps for the latter's lack of dye bleed (It's a feature, not a bug!).

[@Abbynorml1979]

Supply and demand?

[@joesharpe7685]

As a full time luthier, I love Gibson guitars, hate the company. And as for CS ‘level instruments’ it’s BS. “Oh yeah this long neck tenon that what installed by someone payed 10% more really makes the difference” no one who talks about CS seems to understand why they’re different, you highlighted it with your point on vintage correct, and that’s true, and it’s also about as far as it goes.

[@MaxRossellMusic]

I hear you dude, it's quite a common thing. I love Gibsons but you can't get away from the company being a big corporate multinational. FWIW I do believe the CS guitars are of generally better quality than the USA guitars, that's just my own experience though. The best CS guitars I've played have been exceptional for any guitar, not just for Gibson, while the less good ones have been lacklustre or in some way flawed, however it's rare to find a really special USA and the bad ones are frankly terrible.

[@joesharpe7685]

@@MaxRossellMusic You're right the quality is, as you'd expect, generally higher in CS. But both CS + USA have some great ones and then mostly sub par stuff.

[@sparkyguitar0058]

OK So I paid $800 on Ebay over 10 yrs ago for a Gibson L P studio, ebony w gold trim-ebony fretboard. Came with 496/500 pups,gold strap locks and a chainsaw case. In the yrs I've replaced parts in ordering sprees. Tonespro locking bridge, alum tailpiece, Tusc XL nut, Kluson locking tuners, CTS 500K pots w/Garrett cloth wiring in 50's style,Switchcraft switch and jack. Keeping as much stock classic look as possible this almost 25 yr old work tool has such a old school feel to it. Something in my opinion you can't get on a less than 5 yr old made guitar will have. Course as someone told me the other day "It's nor gonna sound right w/o the binding". Ya O K riiiggghhhttt ! He's right, I don't have binding. But I got a jewel of a Gibson for a grand total investment of $1300. So keep your C S, your too pretty to play, your too old- valuble to be out of house guitars cause I buy them to use and if need be abuse. Sitting next to a Amer deluxe plus Strat with maple neck going into a Boogie amp we all set.

[@2usename]

Price of anything is 99% of time related to how much people are ready to pay for. Is this best guitar, probably not, is it best bang for a buck, defiantly not, but if buying and playing this guitar will make you happy more then any other, go get it. It holds its value and most of the time even gains as time goes by, it is something that can be passed in family for next generation, and most important if it brings joy to you and makes you wanna play more that is all that matters.

[@akasgsvirgil9503]

I completely agree with what he said about the differences between a Standard model vs. Custom Shop models. Finally someone who does a video and says it like it is. Much respect. But, I disagree with the level of craftsmanship. In general, I think it tends to be better than the main production line. But, not so much better than it should command such a large difference in price. To add to the great information in this video, why are Custom Shop models so expensive? 1) Hype; 2) Severe government restrictions in terms of wood imports; 3) the cost of doing business in the US; and 4) hype. I mentioned hype twice because there's a lot of hype around custom guitar models from all makers, not just Gibson. If you want a truly affordable guitar that has the best potential to become highly collectible, look for a 1986 Les Paul Jr. reissue. Not the 1987 or any other year. Only the 1986 reissue. It was made by the same guys who went on to form Gibson's Custom Shop in late 1993 and its the first reissue of this model since 1958. Furthermore, it was the first model made by the future Custom Shop craftsmen. This model was deliberately selected as a "practice" piece, so to speak, to test the viability of an actual custom shop and for the craftsmen to sharpen their skills. It was also chosen because of its popularity, its simplicity and its comparatively economical construction costs. The 86 Junior follows the exact specs of the 1957 model year, which was historically the most popular production year for the LP Jr. It had a wide neck with a flat fret board. A single slab mahogany body. One piece mahogany neck. Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard. Mother of pearl dot inlays. A bone nut and 500k and 250k audio taper pots for the volume and tone respectively. Even the P90's were made on the same machine that made the P90's back in the 50's and 60's. The only difference is the 1986 reissue had the two piece bridge system instead of the single wrap tailpiece. This was on purpose. Gibson figured since a lot of players who bought the original LP Jr back in the 50's mod'd it with the "Tune-O-Matic" bridge system for more control over intonation, they may as well make it stock on the reissue. Frankly, I think they should've gone with the wrap bridge and let the player decide. But, that's just me. In 1987, Gibson turned over the production of the LP Jr model to the main factory production line. The P90's were no longer made on the old machine so, the possibility of getting a hot wound P90 was gone. And Gibson changed the specs of the neck as well. No one knows for sure how many of these were made in the 1986 production year. Gibson really didn't set a quota or keep very accurate records. Since this was nothing more than an experiment to see if a Custom Shop was actually viable, Gibson played it by ear, so to speak. At most, only a few hundred were made. Lord knows how many have survived to today. Despite these factors, an 86 LP Jr reissue in very good condition can still be bought for around $1,000, give or take. If you're looking for a two pickup model Les Paul, don't bother with the Custom Shop models. They're made of the same materials used by the general production line, although Gibson claims the best selections of wood are reserved for the Custom Shop. I choose to remain dubious about that claim. Custom Shop pickups tend to have different options than those offered from the main factory models. Other than that, the differences between Custom Shop models and main production models are mostly cosmetic. Frankly, you can go buy a Les Paul Standard for around $2,700, buy and install a set of the same pickups Gibson offers in the comparable Custom Shop line, swap out the synthetic nut for a bone nut, upgrade the tuners, replace the hardware and plastics with the same versions used in the Custom Shop models and still be well over a $1,000 or more ahead of the game. If you're thinking that the Custom Shop Signature lines will go up in price and be collectible one day, all I can say is its not likely. In fact, its very improbable. There's just way too many of these signature lines saturating the market. Slash alone has over 30 signature models between Gibson and Epiphone. Slash is a great player. But, its not likely that he's going to ever achieve the necessary legendary status required for any of his signature lines to be considered "highly collectible". It will be collectible only in the sense that its a novelty. But, its not going to be something serious collectors will be looking for and buying up. Right now, the 1986 Les Paul Jr. reissue was the last guitar produced by Gibson that has any real potential to reach 'highly collectible" status. If you have one, hang on to it. If you find one, buy it.

[@MaxRossellMusic]

It's certainly true that with even the 70s Lesters now reaching silly money, 80s guitars are the best bet for an investment. Just a shame that so many of the Norlin-era Gibsons were just not that well-made. Late 80s and early 90s Gibsons are where it's at. For a while I had a '91 Standard in Wine Red and it was really, really superb. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@akasgsvirgil9503]

@@MaxRossellMusic I have a 91 Standard in sunburst. Love it. If you can get your hands on an '86 Jr, its going to be worth a fortune one day very soon.

[@tdunster2011]

Gibson did not use bone nuts in the 1958 or 1959 Les Paul. They were plastic.

[@akasgsvirgil9503]

@@tdunster2011 I'm talking about the LP Jr, not the Standard or Custom line. The truth is that no one really knows what Gibson used as standard nut material back then for the simple fact there's no one left at the Gibson factory who can answer that question. Its also not something that would typically be recorded. So, in the absence of any verification from the source, this creates a fertile breeding ground for rumors and assumptions. Did Gibson use plastic nuts in post WWII instruments? Probably. We don't know for sure what post WWII era models came from the factory with synthetic or bone nuts. However, I don't recall in recent memory the last time that I worked on a pre-1960 lester that had a plastic nut. Could it be an aftermarket mod? Sure. If the work is done by someone who knows what they're doing, its rather hard to tell if its an aftermarket mod. On the other hand, I've worked on plenty of pre and post Norlin Era lesters and most have synthetic nuts or have had the synthetic nut replaced with bone. However, the 86' LP Junior came with a bone nut. Its not nylon or plastic. I bought an 86 Jr reissue back in 86 brand new. I've had it ever since and it has a bone nut. I bought another in the late 1990's and it has a bone nut as well with no evidence that the nut has been swapped out. Admittedly, the work could've been done by a skilled luthier who left little to no evidence of his work. When Gibson restarted the Junior line in the early 2000's, they came with a synthetic nut. Cheers!

[@kirkhensley5870]

I got mine. I got happy after I got home with it. Imagine hooking up with an old girlfriend, only she didn't age past 26. You turned 48 and got to feel something that was fine to your eye and smooth in your hands. Isn't that why we give a guitar a woman's name? I have one called Sara. She makes the sounds I want to hear. 😊

[@paddock515]

Until you pick one up and play an r8 or r9 you will not get how good they really are , the tone is simply gorgeous , they are not perfect finish wise compared to PRS, but that's the charm, they all sing differently and you want to pick them up and play ..

[@ronnienose8608]

Nice guitar, but you could buy custom shop quality at around £1,800 by buying an Eastman SB59, which has the best selected woods. It's handmade no CNC, check them out.

[@MaxRossellMusic]

Yeah I've played some Eastmans and they're great. Different thing though.

[@user-nx6ci8lg4y]

i love my custom black beauty, ive had it 11 years this year, the 12 year old me was in local authority care due to shitty parents and one day while milling around my home town i went into a huge music shop for a look around, i saw a black beauty and had a waynes world moment, i promised myself i would own one, it took 3 years to pay off and was worth every penny i paid, i will die owning that guitar there are no words for how i feel playing it even though i had to take it to a luthier to set it up and the paint job sucks in places i don't care she's called lucky {being a 2013 model} and she's mine

[@willdenham]

Honestly, I wish Gibson just sold a stripped R9 neck and body. Maybe with just the fretwork. I can do all the electronics myself and have a local luthiar stain and paint it and do the frets/binding. I would want custom SS or gold frets anyway.

[@davidohara6515]

Agreed . I recently bought a 50s les Paul standard. Great guitar, but , in my opinion, only the neck pup was worth the money. Traded it and ended up with a 58 reissue strat, which is guitar porn if only to look at ! It plays great , sounds great and is miles ahead of the lester . Having said that , the 58 les Paul might be the perfect partner for it . Way creamy , but every other tone you might need. Oh yeah. My wife will go nuts if I buy/ trade for one , but, hey ho......