Probably the fastest and most accurate way for you to get information about a Gibson Les Paul (or any guitar for that matter) is to look up the serial number on the instrument and work backwards.
On a weekly basis we receive emails asking what is the best source for punching in a serial number and getting good information on your Gibson guitar.
Here is the answer: The best source for serial number lookup is posted by Gibson and can be found at GibsonUsa.com.
The site offers a great PDF file which goes through in great detail what a serial number actually means and how you can go about figuring out what year your Gibson Les Paul was produced, what production number it was, plant designation, and actual day it was produced.
It's fun to look up this information even if you are not interested in selling your instrument any time soon.
So the bottom line is that serial information can tell you much more than simply the year the guitar was produced and what number it was. Use this information to properly value your guitar. While Gibson does not produce an actual "Blue Book" of guitars, this Serial Number guide is a healthy start.
Posted at January 20, 2010
Why would anyone want 7 strings on an electric guitar you ask? Because it rocks! The Gibson Explorer 7 String guitar is nothing short of a mirical. Gibson created the Explorer series of guitars all the way back in 1958- hard to believe considering the radical design of the body of this guitar. When strapped on, the Explorer;s radical design actually balances the weight of the mahogany body well around the shoulders and is overall a very pleasurable playing experience.
The 7 String style of this Gibson Explorer will allow you to create amazing sounds, tones, and super high solo parts thanks in part to the extra string. It also allows for some pretty cool tunings as well. As for electronics, the 7 String Explorer features an EMG 707 pickup, Alnico V Magnet, and EMG 81-7 in the bridge position for stellar sound quality.
All mahogany body and comes with the Gibson hardshell case.
Posted at January 20, 2010
The Gibson Custom Mahogany Explorer Electric Guitar is similarly designed to the standard Explorer- radical body design, excellent hardware and electronics- but features a custom overhaul in this incarnation that is worthy of a quick review.
Essentially, it is very hard to believe that this guitar shape and model was introduced in 1958! It is almost as if Marty went back in time and dropped this thing off from 2015 for all those hipsters to play! Essentially, you will find classic components such as Humbuckers for electronics, a full mahogany body, Grover locking tuners, Tune-O-Matic bridge , and the most amazing finish on this fine instruments.
Includes the Gibson Hard Shell Case and will retail for around $2500-$3000.
Posted at January 20, 2010
Gibson is not short on ideas. They have not only single handedly defined what an electric guitar should be- but they have created many different models, in the process, which have gone onto cult status and duplicated by countless other companies.
One such example seems to be the Gibson Explorer Electric Guitar. This beast retails currently for around $1300 and features incredible angle driven design that looks like a mix between a Flying V and something alien. The Explorer is a very fat sosunding guitar thanks in part to the generous usage of rich mahogany (thank you Ron Bergandy) throughout. The electronic components are also worthy of mention- two ceramic magnet humbuckers (496-R ,500-T) which sound stellar.
When holding the guitar it is anything but uncomfortable. The radical design actually offers a good weight balance which feels great. Also has 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, and Gibson standard hardware choices- Tune-O-Matic bridge and Gibson's favorite Grover locking tuners.
As with all high end Gibson Electrics- the Explorer includes a classic Gibson USA hard shell case.
Posted at January 10, 2010
Holy crap, has Gibson gone crazy? It seems like one of the most popular guitars these days is the Gibson Les Paul BFG. This guitar is one of the most unique offering from Gibson in perhaps the company's entire history.
This guitar features: un-sanded top, no binding, no pickup rings, no truss rod cover, no toggle switch rings, no fretboard position indicators (dots on the side only), with wooden knobs that have no numbers. Essentially this guitar is a full blown quality Les Paul that has none of the expensive frills that typically drive up the cost of the guitar.
I played the Gibson Les Paul BFG for the first time a few weeks ago and was incredibly impressed. Aside from looks, there is no difference in sound and playability between this guitar and a high end Les Paul. I think this rough look, while not my style, will appeal to a certain group of individuals for it's unique and unpolished looked specifically.
Bottom line- this is a carved maple-top Les Paul with the traditional mahogany back for under a grand. Pretty cool. Keep in mind that you could definitely add all the the frills and custom pieces to this raw instruments after-market and truly create something distinctive. Basically, Gibson has gone the right way with this product and given players an almost blank canvas with which to create!
Gibson Les Paul BFG Electric Guitar Features:
Unsanded carved maple top
Mahogany back
1950s rounded mahogany neck
Rosewood fingerboard
Scale length: 24-3/4"
Number of frets: 22
Nut width: 1.695"
Inlays: white side dots only
Hardware: gun metal (trans cherry finish) or distressed black chrome (trans black and trans gold finish)
Tailpiece: stopbar (distressed)
Bridge: Tune-o-matic
Knobs: two wooden volumes, one wooden tone
Tuners: Grover (distressed)
Neck pickup: P-90
Bridge pickup: Zebra BurstBucker 3
Controls: 2 volume, 1 tone, 3-way switch
Kill switch toggle
See-through wiring covers in back
Strings: Brite Wires .010-.046
Case: shopworn Les Paul
