Les Paul Standard or Custom

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Docster

Docster

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For those who have played/owned both, what are the tonal differences in the two?

Keep in mind I have a 2007 Std, which had the stock Burstbucker Pro's (now a MCP Detroiter in the bridge). I know there are differences over the years with the swiss cheese routing and eventual chambering, electronics differences (caps, pots, pups), etc., but I've seen several people write that the Custom is darker than the Std, everything else being equal (year made, same pups, etc.). Players tend to be pretty decisive about which one they play, so I was wondering why.

I love playing my Std with the Herbert, just never had the opportunity to play a Custom.
 
I can't say which one I like most. I love the 2008 standard with the burstbuckers pro's. It is open and has an very rich and complex high end bite (because the wiring is slightly different in both coils).

At a given time I had also burstbuckers pro's in the custom. I did not find this guitar dark. I found its sound rounder. But the ebony fretboard gives it a nice high end snap with great note definition. So it is a very complete sounding guitar. :thumbsup:

You have to try and decide for yourself. I played the new ones with pressed paper fretboards and found them very different from the old ones with ebony.
 
ProgFreak":2c52by3m said:
... I played the new ones with pressed paper fretboards and found them very different from the old ones with ebony.
Click to expand...


What was the difference?
 
I personally like the my custom, solid body 10.5 lbs.
I have played a few standards on my rig and they didn't sound as full. They still sounded really nice but not as chunky
 
I owned a Sdt, Classic and Custom and I've ended selling the Std !
I've kept my classic because it was intrinsically a better sounding instrument than my Std but they were not very different.

But I prefer the Custom, it's another kind of beast ! :-)
 
Docster":gfsq60za said:
What was the difference?
Click to expand...

Well first in the feel. It was a sad experience for me to play such a guitar because I always loved Gibson ebony fretboards (although I understand that our planet's ecosystems should be first and foremost to any guitar).

It feels lifeless to touch. Which felt awkward. Regarding the sound, there is much less complexity in the sound of those fretboars.

Like I said you have to try for yourself. Those guitars are nothing for me, but I know people that are happy with theirs.
 
The Custom is juicier in the mids, fatter in the low end and imo nicer, better sounding in the highs.
Once you play a Custom or any Paula from the Custom Shop you most likely will never want to play any other Les Paul.
 
Custom all the way.

I have a LP Classic that I've modified heavily in every sense of the word. Would've sold it for a Custom but I've made it what I want/love now.

Reason I bring this up is because a couple of months back I played a Black Beauty next to my custom and although my LP has a tight low end with rich mids and smooth highs, the Custom was just better. It had more of everything going on too.

Aesthetics are a huge thing as well. 5 Ply binding throughout with block M.O.P inlays and that Diamond in the headstock is just killer.

Next LP is going to be a Custom for me.
 
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