Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute Humbucker Electric Guitar (with Gig Bag)

Stripped down and ready to rock, this LP Special Tribute has a mahogany body, maple neck, and a set of 490R and 490T humbuckers to create sonic harmony.

Overall User Ratings (based on 9 ratings)
  • Overall:
    4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Sound:
    4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Features:
    4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Ease of Use:
    4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Quality:
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Value:
    4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Manufacturer Support:
    4.5 out of 5 stars
  • The Wow Factor:
    4.5 out of 5 stars
Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
(9) (see rating details)
Submitted August 6, 2021 by a customer from yahoo.com

"Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute Humbucker*"

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars
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Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
This guitar has a tall feeling fretboard and puts a lot of material in your left hand circumference wise. Its satin finish doesnt need polishing as it doesnt absorb any fingerprints or smudges, this is a welcome relief from poly laquer finish guitars. It doesnt come with a plastic molded hardshell case but Roadrunner makes one with grey felt interior and musicians gear makes the same case with a black felt interior which fits this guitar accurately width and length wise and doesnt leave excess room above the headstock. Since I already own the P-90 pickups in my Single and doublecut similar finish Gibson Juniors, I noticed right away with these Gibson 490r and 490t PAF humbuckers, there is NO distracting 60 cycle hum coming through the amp speaker when you plug this guitar in. Also, having 2 pickups that can either be turned on simultaneously or in tandem gives you more tonal versatility than just having a single pickup. With the 4 knobs and toggle switch on this guitar you will spend a little more time dialing in your tone than having just the single tine tone knob on a single pickup Les Paul. This guitar is considerably heavier than a junior by a couple of pounds yet lighter than a Les Paul Standard. I appreciate that the fretboard uses rosewood rather than the latest psuedo guitar fretboard materials like 'indian laurel or 'obeche or 'pau ferro or 'ebony etc; whatever else we seem to be settling for these days. The maple neck on the backside of the fretboard has a nice solid feel. Maple has long been added to higher end Gibsons, its not a downgrade by any slight. The backside of the neck is the only part of this guitar I polish with pledge and buff dry with a flannel guitar polish cloth, it has a nice flame maple grain and the stain applied to it from the Gibson factory looks beautiful. I usually prefer guitars that have front mounted cable input jacks installed on them so I can kick back on the couch and play guitar but I just use a right angle cable which does press into the couch cushion when I play but doesnt crimp the cord. I financed this through zzounds on the 12 month installment plan but payed it off in a month and a half by working overtime. It was well worth it. This guitar has a nice full sustain and can have as much treble or bass as you want it to with the iconic 490 combo of PAF humbuckers Gibson is known for. Im satisfied with this full size bodied-traditional 24.75 scale length Gibson Les Paul. It doesnt feel like a toy. The white kluson tuners are the right accent to this classic headstock and stay in tune, they are of an off white aged bone tint in comparison to the juniors. String height Intonation doesnt require a luthier on this simple stopbar tailpiece, without using a screwdriver you can lower the action by turning the stopbar poles that the bridge slides onto with just your hand. It takes a couple string loosenings to raise and lower the string the height but youll easily be able to get the bottom of the guitar strings closest to the top of the rosewood fretboard without string buzz, making the string action fast and comfortable. This is a well made guitar, I prefer its finish to the gloss finish and it sells for 1/3 less
Sound
These humbucker pickups dont hum like P-90s, aesthetically I see a lot of people wanting to buy the P-90 version of this guitar just for the way the pickup covers look- not realizing both bright and dark tonal diversity come from the PAF humbuckers in this model
Features
Rosewood and mahagony with a maple neck are all quality materials, the workmanship in the stain application is consistent and the tuning pegs and electronics are of good quality. Some people complain about the quick connections of the electronics inside the routing of the body cavity, but think about it- if many years down the road you needed to replace something electrical, you wouldnt need to do any soldering. Pots will connect in a clean snap for you, no sweat
Ease of Use
The action on the stopbar tailpiece is adjustable by hand so you wont need to spend money on a set up from a luthier, rendering you without your new guitar for a while, youll be impressed by how these humbuckers dont make any noise on their own when this guitar is plugged into your amp
Quality
This guitar is admirable in its construction, the lathing and routing and sanding that went into it showcase the effort and skill coming out of the Gibson Factory in Nashville. Youll admire its fit and finish in person for sure. If only I could figure out how to upload a photo of this guitar
Value
I feel this guitar would be a better value at abou 900 dollars. In the earlier stages of faded Les Pauls, the Specials sold for less than what they cost today...this brand seems to enjoy pandering to inflation on their terms
Manufacturer Support
I have not dealt with Gibson, this model comes with a blank black truss rod bell cover, the previous Specials used to have the word Special engraved and painted white in script lettering on the truss rod cover. The one time I looked into ordering this particular truss rod cover which I felt went to this guitar, Gibson had discontinued it
The Wow Factor
Its a full suze Gibson with an easy to maintain finish. You will only have to graze over any grime accumulated on the surface of this guitar with a damp microfiber cloth, then immediately buff over it with a dry microfiber cloth- thats the sole trick to caring for the finish of this guitar, and not bumping it into anything as not to create dings and chips in the wood itself
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Submitted September 10, 2022 by Allan B in Tempe, AZ

"It's not perfect, but it's a Gibson!"

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
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Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
It’s astonishing to me that Gibson can still sell a guitar for $999 in this post COVID crazy inflation world. Even Indonesian made instruments are tipping the $1000 scale nowadays. As expected it’s not a perfect guitar, but QC aside it’s still a great entry point into the word of Gibson. I’ve had a few Les Pauls over the years and never really bonded with any of them. I was not a fan of the weight, and those thick bodies against my fat gut were never comfortable. When I got the LP itch again a while back, I decided to take a different route and took a hard look at the Special Tribute. It ticked all the boxes and I eventually decided to pull the trigger. I ordered the Worn White model and like always, the zZounds order process and shipping was quick and easy. Out of the box I immediately loved the way the guitar looked. I prefer satin finish guitars and always have. I like that you can see and feel the wood grain underneath. The Worn White has an interesting vintage look. It reminds me of a hand painted picket fence and it’s not something I’m going to fret about (pun intended) if it gets dinged up and starts showing signs of use. There was some color bleed between the neck and fretboard that’s visible and from what I’ve read is common on the white model. One other gripe is the fretboard is slightly smaller than the neck. It doesn’t affect playability, but I was disappointed. The fretboard was also very dry so I applied a little conditioner and it darkened right up. The factory set up was surprisingly good. I like very low action and I only had to make a minor adjustment to get it set for my tastes. The fretwork was acceptable but not perfect. They are level and there is no sprout, but there are a few edges that are a little sharp that I may need to file. The frets are listed as medium jumbo, but these feel more like vintage frets to me. They are thin and small and they pair up nice with the neck shape. If you are familiar with the later model LP Tributes, it’s the same carve. Gibson calls it Rounded. It feels a lot like the PRS Wide Fat carve to me rather than a super round 50’s baseball bat. It’s fairly thick but still very comfortable for chords or leads. The back of the neck is also satin finish, but the texture is smooth due to the different wood. The pickups have good output and I like the tones I’m able to get out of them. The tuners have a decent feel to them and so far have kept the guitar in tune as much as an LP can stay in tune
Sound
I’m not going to tell you it sounds like a vintage Les Paul, but it does sound like a great solid body guitar. It’s got a little more snap due to the maple neck and not quite as mid heavy as a traditional LP but sounds great all the same. Each pickup config will get you where you want to go.
Features
I appreciate the simplistic nature of the guitar. In this case, the lack of features is a feature. Just a basic chunk of wood carved into an iconic shape with no bells or whistles to fuss with. It would be nice if it had some comfort carves, but that would take away the rawness. Just grab it and play and don’t worry about anything else. It’s light enough to wear comfortably for a gig’s worth of music and toss it back in the case when you are done.
Ease of Use
It’s by far the best playing Les Paul I’ve ever owned. I attribute most of that to the thinner body and the rounded neck carve that I just love. I wish they would offer that on other models. Maintenance is simple. Just change your strings lol. It’s nice to not have to worry about intonation. If the truss rod ever needs to be adjusted it’s just a quick turn of the included wrench and off you go.
Quality
This is where Gibson has always fallen short in my humble opinion. Every Gibson I’ve owned in the last 15 years has always had some sort of QC finish issue. They just don’t seem to care about the little things as much as other manufacturers do. Most people including myself just accept it as a tax you have to pay for owning the brand.
Value
This one is hard to quantify. I believe in this case it’s what the consumer values. Do you value the name, or do you value the quality and features of the instrument. The same money spent on an Epiphone, PRS SE, or LTD is definitely going to give you more bang for your buck, but it doesn’t say Gibson does it? It’s something to consider before buying for sure. I wanted a Gibson warts and all, so I bought a Gibson and I’m happy. Just do your research.
Manufacturer Support
I’ve owned Gibson’s since the late 90’s and I’ve never had to deal directly with them.
The Wow Factor
Again it’s all in the name. If you roll up to a gig or practice and break out a Gibson, be it a $400 Challenger from 1983 or a $8000 Murphy Lab, people are going to saw wow!

Musical Background:

Been playing for almost 50 years and still kicking around in local bands

Musical Style:

Rock, prog, CCM, and whatever feels good
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Submitted April 2, 2021 by a customer from gmail.com

"A raw blues and rock machine"

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars
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This is all ya need, solid slab of wood, some good pickups, no fuss bridge, good vintage style tuners, neck feels to me, like a cross between an SG and a LPJ, a bit less fretboard radius than a LP and a bit wider, great for rock riff age and banging out powerful chords. I got a blemish, making it a great deal for a made in USA guitar for 850 bucks. There was nothing I could see blemished, I think maybe someone wasn’t expecting the finish to be a white wash and sent it back for the other finish. I really like the white wash, it should yellow over time and get nice and worn in look and feel. Yeah, I want a P90 version now too... In the same white wash finish. It’s sexy AF... it’s got it’s own vibe and mojo, a few things I would prefer but as a whole. This is a blues or rock n roll machine, you don’t need anything else. Just plug and play. Came perfectly setup. Packed well. The bag is junk, who cares. But I would prefer at least the brown leather bag personally. It’s good out of the box as is. But there’s a few mods you can do if you want. But you don’t need to. It’s good to go. The bless and open box deals, are totally worth it.
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Submitted September 9, 2022 by a customer from gmail.com

"Love this guitar"

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars
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I finally got one of these bad boys. It's a usa made gibson for 999. And it lives up to the name. Sounds absolutely awesome through my orange and my randall. It is a little heavier than I expected it to be . But not too heavy. Great 1st gibson. Thank you zZounds for making my dream come true with pay as you play. ROCK ON ZZOUNDS
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Submitted June 28, 2022 by a customer from gmail.com

"It's the real deal"

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars
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Killer guitar plays and sounds amazing just bare bones and the pickups are awesome
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Submitted March 12, 2022 by a customer from gmail.com

"Awesome guitar !!!!!"

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars
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So i just bought this a couple days ago , and i loved it out of the box, it’s so easy to play, and the humbuckers sound absolutely amazing! I had just bought a fender telecaster performer, $1,399, i played it for about 30 mins and didn’t like it at all, I’ve been a fan of the telecaster for years , so i was really disappointed , but i saw this Gibson and thought why not! I knew i was sacrificing a few things like dot inlays and such , the things that make a Gibson fancy , and high dollar , but as far as the sound , it sounds freaking amazing!!!! I cannot stress that enough!!!! I’ve not been able to put it down since i got it ! So if you want a really nice and good sounding guitar under $1000, this is the one you’ve been waiting for !!!! I love zZounds! I have bought several guitars from them , also a Marshall amp! I’ve never had the first sign of trouble from them, they are awesome!!!!
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Submitted March 12, 2022 by a customer from gmail.com

"Awesome guitar !!!!!"

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars
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Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
So i just bought this a couple days ago , and i loved it out of the box, it’s so easy to play, and the humbuckers sound absolutely amazing! I had just bought a fender telecaster performer, $1,399, i played it for about 30 mins and didn’t like it at all, I’ve been a fan of the telecaster for years , so i was really disappointed , but i saw this Gibson and thought why not! I knew i was sacrificing a few things like dot inlays and such , the things that make a Gibson fancy , and high dollar , but as far as the sound , it sounds freaking amazing!!!! I cannot stress that enough!!!! I’ve not been able to put it down since i got it ! So if you want a really nice and good sounding guitar under $1000, this is the one you’ve been waiting for !!!! I love zZounds! I have bought several guitars from them , also a Marshall amp! I’ve never had the first sign of trouble from them, they are awesome!!!!
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Submitted November 6, 2022 by a customer from comcast.net

"Horrible les Paul"

Overall: 0.5 out of 5 stars
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Why in the world they stick a wrap around bridge on a Les Paul is beyond me, I realize it used to be a thing but it's antiquated. Stretched the string several times, did the usual strumming and 2 step bends, retune, play thru 30 seconds of a 38 speclal song out of tune too many times to count. Horrid guitar that is so body heavy you need a strap to keep it in place.
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Submitted September 25, 2022 by a customer from gmail.com

"Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute Humbucker"

Overall: 0.5 out of 5 stars
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Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
Unless you are a whiz at setup and repairs, I'm having wiring issues and don't have a clue. I've searched you tube. I'd say skip this Gibson. The only problems I had in 15-20 years of guitar buying are with Gibson and Fender. Made in USA is only good if the thing works. I just heard Gibson Instruments is up for sale. I hope they get back to quality control instead of suing their competitors. There are many quality imports from the manufacturers zZounds sells, that will save you the headaches Ive experienced with this Gibson.
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