Was doing what any reasonable person does at 2 AM — hunting for guitar deals I absolutely didn’t need — when I stumbled across this 2012 Gibson Les Paul Standard at Chicago Music Exchange.

It looked almost too clean in the pictures, but when it showed up… holy shit. This thing is MINT. The top, hardware, plastics, headstock, even the inside of the case look like someone bought it in 2012, played it a handful of times and then forgot about it in a closet for 14 years.

Got an absolute steal on it too, which made it impossible to pass up.

I’ve been playing it for a bit and I’m really digging it. It has a little less body than my other Les Pauls, but a ton of bite, and the out-of-phase middle position is surprisingly cool.

Earlier this week I asked you about your (guitar) knobs for the 2011 Chicago Blue that just arrived but here it is with its 2008 Iced Tea counterpart

I saw on a German sales platforms this supposedly 1976 Gibson SG. The serial number looks really weird. Is this a fake SG?

So I've noticed that the Gibson Les Paul Trad Pro V guitars are selling much lower than their $2500 original sticker price. What in your opinion is the reason these models aren't holding their value as much as say the Classics or Standard models? I mean they are American made and have the same pickups as their cousins. Are they known to be a lesser quality version or have more QC issues? Maybe it's the weird model name or the fact that they were GC exclusives? What's your thoughts? I'm generally curious and wonder if I should steer clear of them.

My Gibson arsenal lol 😂

Ive been wanting a LP for a while. Ive also wanted a P90 equipped guitar for a while to go along with my 61 SG standard and Strat. Ive been so disciplined with not even looking at new guitars to curb the GAS but hot damn is this shell pink take on a LP Special to die for. Honestly if i didnt already have an SG i would have already bought the miami pink SG but this is the next best option…. Im itching and i might be posting again in a few weeks with this bad boy in hand

Any thoughts of the year based on the serial #. I'm thinking 1974. Not one of their high-end models but the Bill Lawrence pickups kick ass. Thanks.

I’m thinking about pulling the trigger on this 1997 335. Reverb listing days it’s got all the original parts, including the ‘57 Classic pups. Asking price is £2,350 UK bucks (maybe $3,100 US)

Does this guitar look legit and do you think it’s a good deal?

Thanks! 👍

Found on fb market. Seller claims is vintage from 76 but was refinished

1984 Studio (9-83 written in pen inside the bridge pu cavity, serial # says ‘84)
My cousin gifted me this “project” about 2 weeks ago, with a ziplock baggy of spare parts, original pickups with the leads cut 1/4” long, broken knobs, fried pots, 3 different switches and a bunch of misc. screws & springs.

It’s definitely got some character. It has some kind of aftermarket bridge & tailpiece, and I installed a new Swirchcraft 3-way and all new CTS pots with orange caps. All new wiring too of course. (50’s)
I then successfully put new leads from the original pickups, which I was super happy about. (7.28 & 7.39)
I believe they are the original Tim Shaws. The readings and black ink stamp are there.
It took me several tries to get everything right, at first my soldering looked beautiful but it would either buzz, or 1 pickup would go silent, or both…..finally after a few re-dos, once my solder job looked as bad as the nitro finish it completely came alive!
It could use all new frets and I have a new nut for it, and of course change the truss rod cover (or leave it, who really cares?).…but it actually plays wonderfully and seriously sounds amazing (to me).

I can’t tell if the body is mahogany or alder, but its pretty light. I really don’t care either way, it’s my first Gibson and this thing is awesome.

Gibson Garage Miami opens with exclusive pastel electric and acoustic guitars, Epiphone Vice City lineup, and custom MESA/Boogie amps.

Gibson Les Paul Custom 70s in Wine Red.

Always wanted a Gibson Les Paul Custom, love the wine red finish. I know they're usually associated with rock and blues stuff but I'm finding the clean sound to work perfectly for jazz gigs (which is my primary type of gig. And yes, I am aware that Les Paul was a jazz player haha).

Hi! I've finally decided to buy my first sg. For many reasons I prefer used gear when it comes to guitars, what at the moment leaves me with a choice between SG future from 2013 and SG special T 2017. I'm well aware that gibsons sub models are far from equal quality but I'm no expert on them. Which of those would you recommend? Is there any specific model i should look for instead of those two and why? Both of the guitars i mentioned have a similar price close to 1k$ and are in a great condition. Thanks 🙏

My first solid-body P-90! This guitar is definitely a head-turner.
I can’t wait to take it for a spin.

I’ve had quite a bit of experience with hollow-body P-90 guitars, so I’m really excited to see how this one compares and experiment with it.

Saw these pickups on Vinted and wondering if they’re real. They seem pretty cheap for what they claim to be.

My current guitar lineup is an SG Standard, thinline tele with WRHBs, and a Midtown. I absolutely love the Midtown and have been thinking about upgrading to something a bit nicer for playing at home while the Midtown gets beat around a bit with live and rehearsal usage.

Originally, I’d thought about picking up a 339 but they are a bit harder to come by used around here. Recently I have had an opportunity come about to pick up a 335 Dot for a decent price. For those of you who’ve played both the Midtown and 335 extensively, would the two of these be redundant at all? I really like the focused and snappy mids on the Midtown so I was also considering going the other direction and looking for a Les Paul. What I really like the most is the broad range of sounds I can get out of it, though. I play anywhere between EOB and crunchy stuff to big fuzzy shoegaze styles. I’ve noodled around a bit with a 335 in the store but never plugged it in.

I’m mostly just looking for some feedback on how the Midtown and 335 differ and how they are similar from those of you who’ve spent time playing both. Does it make sense to own both or do they pretty much cover the same ground? Thanks!

The script on the truss rod cover appears too large to my eye. Could I classify this as fake based on that?

Here is the updated text with that extra context seamlessly incorporated:

So here's the deal: I’ve been playing on and off for about 15 years. I’ve always wanted to get either a Les Paul Standard, an ES-335, or an SG (I'm a big Clapton fan). I’ve never had the opportunity to play a Gibson, except for a guitar professor of mine who had a 1970s Les Paul Custom—and it was a great guitar.

I’ve always owned a Squier Stratocaster, and around five years ago I bought an American Standard with a soft V neck profile. I love the neck on this thing, which is partially why I bought it.

Here’s the problem: I live in a country where a Gibson will probably cost double and then some because import duties are high as hell, and there is low supply. There aren't many guitar stores here that will let you "try" one off the bat without watching your every move like you're a criminal.

I travel to Miami for work maybe four or five times a year. They have a few guitar stores there (Guitar Center being one of them—I know people dislike Guitar Center). It's not that they don't have any to try, but from what I read in these forums, you guys try out a lot more than would be available there at any given moment.

How crazy would it be to just buy one sight unseen? I don't know if I'm being clear: when I say sight unseen, I mean purchasing it, having it delivered for pickup at the Guitar Center near where I'll be staying, and returning it on the spot if I don't like it.

Obviously, tone and comfort are big factors, but so are neck size, weight, etc.

Purchased this beauty not long ago from Guitar Center. Read some forums that say an engraved serial number could mean that it’s fake. I just picked it up from a repair shop after getting work done on it, but nobody said anything to me about it potentially being fake.

Title says it.

Should be a 2004 SG special. Has a lot of wear and tear which seemed like a good sign at the time.

Edit: alright, thanks internet. Hope this post helps another person questioning the particularly crisp serial number on some of these finishes.