Gibson Les Paul Traditional Electric Guitar with Bigsby Tremolo and Case

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zZounds Gear Experts Say...
This Les Paul guitar from Gibson is one of the most iconic guitars and has been favored by guitar gods of all genres.

Crafted to exhibit the best characteristics displayed by the Les Paul Standard over the six decades of its existence, the Gibson Les Paul Traditional is a fitting heir to the guitar that Eric Clapton brought into the spotlight in the mid '60s, and which quickly became the weapon of choice for countless top players, including Mike Bloomfield, Jimmy Page, Paul Kossoff and Jeff Beck. To capture an option favored by everyone from Neil Young to Keith Richards, Joe Perry to Carl Perkins and original Son Volt lead guitarist Dave Boquist, Gibson USA now brings you the Gibson Les Paul Traditional with Bigsby.

Loaded with an original Bigsby B-70 tailpiece, the Gibson Les Paul Traditional gives you all the fat, singing tone that the world's leading single-cutaway guitar is known for, plus the added versatility of a vintage-style vibrato unit for expressive lead work and tremulous rhythm playing. As such, it's a package with an extremely broad appeal, suitable to a wide range of playing styles.

The Gibson Les Paul Traditional with Bigsby is crafted with all the classic ingredients that helped make this model a legend, and it sports killer looks thanks to a stunning high-gloss Ebony Black nitrocellulose finish. A carved maple top contributes clarity and sustain, while a mahogany body adds depth and richness. Like all Gibson Les Paul Traditionals this guitar uses modern weight relief to enhance resonance and reduce weight. A solid one-piece quarter-sawn mahogany neck is glued in with read more a traditional mortis & tenon joint and is carved to a "Traditional" profile that measures .838 inches at the 1st fret and .983 inches at the 12th. Topped with a Grade-A rosewood fingerboard with 22 medium-jumbo frets, with a 12 inch radius for each choke-free bending, the neck culminates in a headstock with the preferred 17-degree backward pitch for improved string pressure in the PLEK-cut Corian nut.

To launch all of this tonal goodness into the stratosphere, the Gibson Les Paul Traditional with Bigsby carries two of Gibson USA's most popular humbucking pickups, a 57 Classic in the neck position for sweet, warm vocal tones, and a slightly hotter 57 Classic Plus in the bridge for gutsy crunch and soaring lead tones. These acclaimed units are made with genuine Alnico V magnets and wound with 42 AWG wire, just like the legendary PAFs of the late '50s and early '60s, and offer a blend of depth and clarity that few pickups can match today.

One of the most exciting additions to this guitar comes, however, in the tailpiece that helps to give it its name. A genuine Bigsby B-70 tailpiece has been installed by Gibson USA for the subtle, smooth vibrato action that only this original unit can deliver. The Bigsby is partnered with a Schaller roller bridge-a unit based on Gibson's own Tune-o-matic, but with individual roller saddles-for improved return-to-pitch capabilities when the vibrato is used. The hardware is capped off with a set of quality TonePros Kluson-style tuners.

Features

- Mahogany body with carved Maple top
- Rounded 'Traditional' neck profile
- 57 Classic neck pickup and slightly hotter 57 Classic Plus bridge pickup
- Genuine Bigsby B-70 tailpiece with Schaller roller bridge
- Tone Pro Kluson tuners with pearloid buttons
- Modern weight relief to enhance resonance and reduce weight
- Limited edition run from Gibson
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- Body:
- Top: Maple
- Back: Mahogany
- Body Type: Traditional Weight Relief
- Binding: Cream
- Adhesive: Franklin Titebond 50
- Neck:
- Species: Mahogany
- Profile: Traditional
- Binding: Cream
- Truss Rod: Traditional Adjustable
- Joint Angle: 5 degrees (+/- 15 seconds)
- Adhesive: Franklin Titebond 50
- Neck Fit:
- Joint: Mortise and Tenon
- Adhesive: Franklin Titebond 50
- Joint Angle Tolerance: +/- .005 in.
- Fingerboard:
- Species: Rosewood
- Frets: 22
- Radius: 12 in.
- Nut/E.O.B.: 1.695/2.260 in.
- Inlays: Acrylic Trapezoids
- Nut:
- Material: Corian
- Width: 1.695
- Slots: Gibson PLEK System
- Headstock:
- Logo: Mother of Pearl Gibson Logo with Scripted Les Paul Model
- Truss Rod Cover: Black and White Antique Bell with Engraved Traditional
- Tuners:
- Model: Tone Pro Kluson's with pearloid buttons
- Plating: Chrome
- Tuning Ratio: 16:1
- Bridge:
- Type: Schaller Roller Bridge
- Plating: Chrome
- Tailpiece:
- Type: Bigsby B-70 tailpiece
- Plating: Chrome
- Hardware:
- Knobs: Gold Speed Knobs
- Pickguard: Cream
- Toggle Switch Washer: Cream with Gold Imprint
- Pickup Mounting Rings: Cream plastic
- Control Plate Cover: Black plastic
- Strap Buttons: Aluminum
- Pickups:
- Neck Position: '57 Classic (Alnico II)
- Bridge Position: '57 Classic Plus (Alnico II)
- Electronics:
- Potentiometers:
- 2 Volume Controls
- 2 Tone Controls
- Type:
- 300k Linear Volume
- 500k Non-linear Tone
- Coil Wiring: Machine Wound
- Toggle Switch: Three-way Switchcraft with Creme Plastic Tip
- Output Jack: Traditional 1/4 in.
- Finish:
- Sealer: Nitrocellulose
- Process: 1-1.5 mils
- Case:
- Type: Gibson Hardshell
- Case Exterior: Black
- Case Interior: Plush Lining

For support or warranty questions, please contact the manufacturer:
Phone: 800-444-2766

Reviewers gave this product an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars. (2 ratings)
Submitted November 21, 2011 by a customer from vom.com

"Look no further unless you're stuck on the gold top or cherry burst finish Les Paul. Black is back, baby."

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Verified Purchaser zZounds has verified that this reviewer purchased this specific product from us.
This one's a keeper, a great choice for a "reissue" by Gibson. It's got everything I want in a domestically made (USA) Gibson Les Paul at a reasonable price. If I had to replace it I would try to get the same one, in the same color - ebony.

Sound
Well, if you're looking for that classic, raw, "Old Black" signature sound of Uncle Neil (Young), look no further. This is it. A fantastic rock'n'roll guitar, old school. The Bigsby makes it the best.

Features
The electronics are great, so is the neck, body, frets, the Bisgsby, all great. The Kluson tuners are "period correct" but kind of cheap - I would prefer sealed Grovers or a locking style tuner. The Bigsby needs a more stable tuner design in order to keep the guitar in tune. It's a hassle to have to retune during and after each song if you use the Bigsby. Also the white plastic nut is not what I would choose as it doesn't even match the "aged" binding color.

Ease of Use
Totally playable, a joy to play. Like any solid body electric, you may need to tweak the setup to your grip. If you grip too tightly in frets 1 and 2, the lighter guage strings will ring sharp, so a light touch is needed lower down.

Quality
This guitar will last a lifetime, no doubt.

Value
With the custom plush hardshell case, this guitar is a great buy.

Manufacturer Support
Have read more not had to deal with Gibson yet, but, one would hope they stand by their work after all this time...

The Wow Factor
Sure. The look is totally sexy and classic. I just played a sold-out concert at a 250-seat theater and several people in the audience wanted to know about the guitar - where I got it, how much it cost, etc. Like when you drive a '58 Corvette in mint condition, heads turn...

Musical Background:
45+ years, guitar, professional

Musical Style:
folk, rock, country, blues, Americana
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