I saw someone selling one of these on ebay for like 50 thousand. lol crazy mothafuckas. I can get a faded studio for 700$ and its tone is comparable to this. I guess people buy these for other reasons.
@LittleEmoBoy001 Well maybe you could say the regular studio, but the faded is all mahogany lol. It will sound different to a maple capped guitar. Though it is true. Some people either have too much money, or too much luck.
@LittleEmoBoy001 If you don't hear a difference, it's more a blessing than a curse.. If you are just as happy with a modern studio as with a late 50's les paul, that's cool for you. But it's sad that people judge things they don't understand, if you don't understand, you just don't understand, but don't judge other people..
As a furniture maker.& one who loves old period pieces, & a buddy who has been building arch tops for 30 years, I know every piece of wood is different-thus every guitar will sond different. Putting a "curly" piece of maple (which is a softer hard wood )on top of mohagany will sound different than a piece of hard maple that's "plain",but which one will sound better is anyones guess. It's ALL the wood & parts that contribute to it's tone,not just because it has a '58 or '59 specs. Try 'em all!!
@leftystrat62 I agree with you 100% The wood is more important than the pickups, the 57 in the video was total killer as everything was good, action, pups, harmonics, neck, weight.. all mahogany top and It was the best sounding 50s LP I have played ever... is that because I knew it was 100% original since 57...that guitar was sold at Arlington for silly money. Truth is, the GT is the case behind is a 1993 and sounds just as good.. maybe better..LOL!!
definitely a noticeable difference. the 57 was rounder, warmer, and had more sustain and harmonic complexity. the reissue had more bite, attack, and perhaps a little more string to string clarity. we should come back in 50 years and check out the R9 ;)
The sounds are completely different. The 57 is a more balanced, less colored sound. The volume dynamics seem a bit compressed, which I really like...keeps your riffs more even sounding. I would not disagree with other comments of "rounder" and "mellower". The r9 seems to put more emphasis on string dynamics, putting more volume on the attack, but also decaying a bit more quickly. Also, it seems to have more drive and crunch(possibly just hotter input into preamp?). Anyway, my two cents.
Minor differences at best. I'd like to hear two vintage '57 Gold Tops and I bet you'd hear differences in them. Each guitar is like a person...no two are identical. This is what makes guitar playing fun...always a surprise!
'old wood' 'aged pickups' etc all sounds like a lot of fun, but really...it was pretty close. Imo neither was better than the other- just slightly different.
And by the time you played those guitars with a bunch of other musicians, twiddled the tone controls etc...that difference would be even more negligible.
I'd like to do a blindfold test with a '59 Les Paul, and however many old yet non gibson/fender guitars you could buy for £250 each and under.
the 07 r9 sounds a bit more alive to me, a little warmer and when he switches the pickups, each tonality is more distinct. Thats the good part about modern gibson guitars. They have a better way of creating more overall quality control and yet still maintain the mystery of each instrument--meaning each can be very different from each other, like the original 50's les pauls
The Goldtop has more of a round, voice-like tone and plays hotter (volumewise). By comparison, the pickups in the 2007 are more balanced tonally and volumewise, producing a pretty warm sound. At any rate, both guitars are amazing. If I had to choose one, however, I'd have to take the Goldtop.
The 57 was perfect..it had "that sound" amazing guitar! However, the GT in the case behind me in the video is a 1993 R6 that has been converted to buckers, that sounds much much better than the R9 I have. But at the time I was only borrowing it.. but it was that good I have now brought it.
57 Gold Top sounded much nicer with same amp settings, but I think it is fear if you change amp settings and gives best opportunity for both guitars. Reissue 59 just lacked some presence/treble
Hi bulenterdem, of course fair, very comical from me:)) I have 7 guitars and over 10 vintage stompboxes and I'm really tired to compare them. Truth is that every guitar or stompbox is usable own way , (diffrent music styles, some are excellent for live, some for studio etc...) Peace!!
yes you are right, guitars and pedals have their own sounds and uses. the amplifier itself, both preamp and power stages and the speaker are also very critical for the sound, not only the guitar and pedals ;)
I wanted a clean sound to hear tone if woods.. I think it sounds great. Gonna do another vid on a old Marshall up loud in nxt few weeks so we can hear difference through that.
Tell me about it! I got a 1965 Vibrolux Reverb last wk and the day the guy brings round his GT the amp dies!!! I was GUTTED!! Its getting fixed as we speak. I had to borrow that Jr from a mate a hour before the guys came round! Still sounds great mind but of course I would love to play that GT through my BF Fender!
I love old wood, but they both sound so close, you don't really know if it's the old wood, the difference in pu's, or just a general difference in between guitars. Now one guitar will ever sound the same, so it's hard to call.
I'm sorry to jump on the bandwagon here, but the 1957 sounded really, really great. The sound was just so deep and articulate. Don't get me wrong, I've absolutely loved and still do love you're R9 sound but that '57 sounded f-a-n-t-a-s-t-i-c.
Yes another vid great job stow. Dude those les pauls both sound and look great. I like them both.
I have a blues junior myself and the pro and blues juniors are great little amps. I modded mine last night with some new mercury magnetics output transformers. They sound great!
both sound great, i can hear a bit of difference in the 2, 57 is like everyone else said, darker, more full but the R9 sounds great with those Skatterbranes, though
The r9 sounds good but I would be lying if I said I didnt hear a difference. The 57 just sounds more round and full, I realize that its bad to judge with youtube audio and maybe its just all in my head but I hear it.
There is something about the middle positions on the vintage Lesters....but honestly, this sounded like I would expect; a little darker and less complex than the mahogany with maple cap tone to which we've become accustomed....especially in the neck position....it lacked the sparkle and bite on top....nice and hollow and warm....but just lacked the sparkly, bitey, ring that maple capped versions have.....and your R9 sounds damned good comparitively Mark. Damned good!!!
the r9 sounds somewhat dry. the '57 is phenomenally mellow! both are great guitars and more than suitable for playing great music ))
VolodyaVolodenka1981 4 months ago
Love your playing
TheF86Sabre 5 months ago
compared to the goldtop, yours' sounds kinda dry, and a bit hard. still sounds pretty good though..
Nikola85ZgCRO 8 months ago
i prefer the goldtop its sound is much richer, but the r9 still sounds awesome =)
gothomus0 9 months ago
Great comparison, for me the R7 Goldtop has a warmer sound and the R9 sounds harder...
Ed
GuitarEd48 1 year ago
I saw someone selling one of these on ebay for like 50 thousand. lol crazy mothafuckas. I can get a faded studio for 700$ and its tone is comparable to this. I guess people buy these for other reasons.
LittleEmoBoy001 1 year ago
@LittleEmoBoy001 Well maybe you could say the regular studio, but the faded is all mahogany lol. It will sound different to a maple capped guitar. Though it is true. Some people either have too much money, or too much luck.
MattKimDemos 1 year ago
@LittleEmoBoy001 its because they are old and rare. they are hard to come buy and that is a historic year for les pauls
gothomus0 9 months ago
@LittleEmoBoy001 If you don't hear a difference, it's more a blessing than a curse.. If you are just as happy with a modern studio as with a late 50's les paul, that's cool for you. But it's sad that people judge things they don't understand, if you don't understand, you just don't understand, but don't judge other people..
lauriedepaurie 6 months ago
agreed on the Goldtop - I have a '57 too with a long neck tenon, and it mkaes a difference! Check out my Goldtop playing ZZ Top on my page -
DirtySteve232 1 year ago
Covers ftw.
aranphor 1 year ago
The goldtop does sound better, you can really hear it.
pb999999999 2 years ago
goldtop sounded way better!
mcdonaldskilledme123 2 years ago 2
不愧是Gibson 聲音好讚
sean830427 2 years ago
i don't know which is which but the i prefer the sound of the 1st guitar.
kodeejames 2 years ago
As a furniture maker.& one who loves old period pieces, & a buddy who has been building arch tops for 30 years, I know every piece of wood is different-thus every guitar will sond different. Putting a "curly" piece of maple (which is a softer hard wood )on top of mohagany will sound different than a piece of hard maple that's "plain",but which one will sound better is anyones guess. It's ALL the wood & parts that contribute to it's tone,not just because it has a '58 or '59 specs. Try 'em all!!
leftystrat62 2 years ago 2
@leftystrat62 I agree with you 100% The wood is more important than the pickups, the 57 in the video was total killer as everything was good, action, pups, harmonics, neck, weight.. all mahogany top and It was the best sounding 50s LP I have played ever... is that because I knew it was 100% original since 57...that guitar was sold at Arlington for silly money. Truth is, the GT is the case behind is a 1993 and sounds just as good.. maybe better..LOL!!
StowBurst 2 years ago
I love this video!
blueice0170 2 years ago
me too, cant stop watching,
especially the beginning "you hear that?",
catches the magic of the 57 in a phrase :)
mike29983 2 years ago
definitely a noticeable difference. the 57 was rounder, warmer, and had more sustain and harmonic complexity. the reissue had more bite, attack, and perhaps a little more string to string clarity. we should come back in 50 years and check out the R9 ;)
nealeaziz 2 years ago 2
Wow they sound real similar... Did the 57 seem a bit less loud to anyone else? Were you able to measure the output of the pickups? Nice video!!
NXC78 2 years ago
The '57 definitely sounds a bit warmer. Probably just because of the aged wood but that's the only difference I can hear. Nice guitar.
crmchzandchives2 2 years ago
beautiful guitar....nice sound
neosmithfabio 2 years ago
I just bought a 2009 Gibson Custom Shop Les Paul R9 1957 Reissue as well. Mine is a limited run with a korina body rather than mahogany.
I'd love to get my hands on a actual 1957 like you did though!
nevertoolateguitar 2 years ago
what kind of les paul was that behind you?
bama4720 2 years ago
it is a 1993 Goldtop and its a a good one, I have a clip of it in my new vid
StowBurst 2 years ago
The sounds are completely different. The 57 is a more balanced, less colored sound. The volume dynamics seem a bit compressed, which I really like...keeps your riffs more even sounding. I would not disagree with other comments of "rounder" and "mellower". The r9 seems to put more emphasis on string dynamics, putting more volume on the attack, but also decaying a bit more quickly. Also, it seems to have more drive and crunch(possibly just hotter input into preamp?). Anyway, my two cents.
mtmcb 2 years ago
Minor differences at best. I'd like to hear two vintage '57 Gold Tops and I bet you'd hear differences in them. Each guitar is like a person...no two are identical. This is what makes guitar playing fun...always a surprise!
nsbear1 2 years ago
same thing...ya just take it in the shorts with the older WAY over priced guits..imho
tripfall224 2 years ago
'old wood' 'aged pickups' etc all sounds like a lot of fun, but really...it was pretty close. Imo neither was better than the other- just slightly different.
And by the time you played those guitars with a bunch of other musicians, twiddled the tone controls etc...that difference would be even more negligible.
I'd like to do a blindfold test with a '59 Les Paul, and however many old yet non gibson/fender guitars you could buy for £250 each and under.
;)
joemgeek 2 years ago
The 57 sounds slightly mellower, but also more lush playing chords. A slightly deeper, richer sound imo.
But both are wonderful guitars.
thecaveofthedead 2 years ago
the 07 r9 sounds a bit more alive to me, a little warmer and when he switches the pickups, each tonality is more distinct. Thats the good part about modern gibson guitars. They have a better way of creating more overall quality control and yet still maintain the mystery of each instrument--meaning each can be very different from each other, like the original 50's les pauls
RNRDOLL 2 years ago
Hi great -look my Gibson - greeting from germany -winfried
bugaddi51 2 years ago
The Goldtop has more of a round, voice-like tone and plays hotter (volumewise). By comparison, the pickups in the 2007 are more balanced tonally and volumewise, producing a pretty warm sound. At any rate, both guitars are amazing. If I had to choose one, however, I'd have to take the Goldtop.
codyr222 2 years ago
Both guitars sound great no question. The Gold Top though has that very special sound and sounds that little bit better than the R9.
YoungBlueProductions 2 years ago
I thought the new one sounded better, but I'm a sucker for Gold Tops and I imagine the 57 felt better.
Szartard 2 years ago
Awesome!!! Thanks for posting:)
Grandma Mary
Fr3derick 2 years ago
"same shit, different guitar" lol :D
can't believe, 52 years old original '57lp.
'57 sounds more twangy in the middle position of the switch, '59 sound smoother in the middle and rhythm positions to my ears...
bulenterdem1977 2 years ago
The 57 was perfect..it had "that sound" amazing guitar! However, the GT in the case behind me in the video is a 1993 R6 that has been converted to buckers, that sounds much much better than the R9 I have. But at the time I was only borrowing it.. but it was that good I have now brought it.
StowBurst 2 years ago
here robben ford is playing a goldtop lp: watch?v=BGhiRie4V_k
the guitar has great acoustics and resonance... :)
bulenterdem1977 2 years ago
the 57 goldy is a tone MONSTER!
however,the 57 and 59 are two different
guitars altogether.
gibsongold1970 2 years ago
57 Gold Top sounded much nicer with same amp settings, but I think it is fear if you change amp settings and gives best opportunity for both guitars. Reissue 59 just lacked some presence/treble
allan4425 2 years ago
allan, i think you wanted to mean "fair" not fear :)
bulenterdem1977 2 years ago
Hi bulenterdem, of course fair, very comical from me:)) I have 7 guitars and over 10 vintage stompboxes and I'm really tired to compare them. Truth is that every guitar or stompbox is usable own way , (diffrent music styles, some are excellent for live, some for studio etc...) Peace!!
allan4425 2 years ago
yes you are right, guitars and pedals have their own sounds and uses. the amplifier itself, both preamp and power stages and the speaker are also very critical for the sound, not only the guitar and pedals ;)
bulenterdem1977 2 years ago
they both sounded amazing, but im going to give the edge to the 57, i listend without watching the second time and it sounded better
JKryanX 2 years ago
Thanks for posting the video. Tone of 1957 Gold top is quite awesome !!
Complete different from R9...
toomuchblues 2 years ago
im veryy jealoouuseeee....lol
oshiba666 2 years ago
An original '57 Les Paul? That's amazing! Sounds excellent.
wdeboer0 2 years ago
Have you tried turning off the amp? That might help. haha
CenileTV 2 years ago
I wanted a clean sound to hear tone if woods.. I think it sounds great. Gonna do another vid on a old Marshall up loud in nxt few weeks so we can hear difference through that.
StowBurst 2 years ago
In my opinion the '57 gold top sounds waaaay better. It's just magical, every note can be heard perfectly, with an awsome clarity.
Anyway the R9 is a really great guitar.
guidoga 2 years ago
You should use thicker plectrum Stow instead that flimsy one :))
goldtop68 2 years ago
LOL! Its is thick..Brain Picks
StowBurst 2 years ago
so scaterbranes are the best PAF relics?
OhYeah729 2 years ago
"Skaterbranes"
OhYeah729 2 years ago
Hey Stowburst, that 'totally original 1957 Les Paul Gold top' sounds exactly like it's hoped of the Les paul of our dreams.
Have you play any current reissue of this model?.
follonic 2 years ago
nice sound !!
I like R9...
lineazul 2 years ago
Man, the amp is a big part of the equation. Playing two great guitars through one of Fenders worse sounding amp was a mistake.
You should have used a DR< VR or a tweed.
Not that PJ's are not functional amps, but when you have real PAF's, there are subtle tones that are going to be hidden by that amp.
I bet the difference would have been more with a BF Fender.
opdev 2 years ago
Tell me about it! I got a 1965 Vibrolux Reverb last wk and the day the guy brings round his GT the amp dies!!! I was GUTTED!! Its getting fixed as we speak. I had to borrow that Jr from a mate a hour before the guys came round! Still sounds great mind but of course I would love to play that GT through my BF Fender!
StowBurst 2 years ago
I love old wood, but they both sound so close, you don't really know if it's the old wood, the difference in pu's, or just a general difference in between guitars. Now one guitar will ever sound the same, so it's hard to call.
porterburst 2 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Another amazing vid :)
rossmorris 2 years ago
I'm sorry to jump on the bandwagon here, but the 1957 sounded really, really great. The sound was just so deep and articulate. Don't get me wrong, I've absolutely loved and still do love you're R9 sound but that '57 sounded f-a-n-t-a-s-t-i-c.
bluesbreaking 2 years ago
fist Les Paul sounded soo nice
st3v3n98 2 years ago
Yes another vid great job stow. Dude those les pauls both sound and look great. I like them both.
I have a blues junior myself and the pro and blues juniors are great little amps. I modded mine last night with some new mercury magnetics output transformers. They sound great!
guitarnlax36 2 years ago
That's the "old wood"!!!
evanfrmheaven 2 years ago
I'll take the unpopular position that the R9 sounded better. That's just my opinion and ymmv.
Unseenbass 2 years ago
both sound great, i can hear a bit of difference in the 2, 57 is like everyone else said, darker, more full but the R9 sounds great with those Skatterbranes, though
jaysengsr 2 years ago
Sounds AWESOME! Old wood just has a certain sweetness!
Noitpure 2 years ago
old one just sounds a litttttttle bit deeper/fuller...but verrrrrrrry hard to tell.
Zwikster 2 years ago
The r9 sounds good but I would be lying if I said I didnt hear a difference. The 57 just sounds more round and full, I realize that its bad to judge with youtube audio and maybe its just all in my head but I hear it.
PMCMANIS 2 years ago
There is something about the middle positions on the vintage Lesters....but honestly, this sounded like I would expect; a little darker and less complex than the mahogany with maple cap tone to which we've become accustomed....especially in the neck position....it lacked the sparkle and bite on top....nice and hollow and warm....but just lacked the sparkly, bitey, ring that maple capped versions have.....and your R9 sounds damned good comparitively Mark. Damned good!!!
skydog46 2 years ago
Yeah Pro Jrs are little monsters, I have used it it the studio loads of times! I would recommend one for sure!
StowBurst 2 years ago
Very nice! How do you like the pro junior? I am about to sell my Valveking for one.
Fichtezxc 2 years ago