NGD - It's super light!

Rex Rocker

Rex Rocker

Well-known member
474143198_18488011255000942_7718272093555114646_n.jpg


Man, I'm loving this thing!

So the story is I decided I just was never gonna love the tone of my Strat, so I traded it in at the store for this. This was on sale, so I didn't have to pay full price. I feel like the full price new is way too steep, but in reality, these are great guitars. Mine rings out LOUD acoustically, and has a similar kinda high mid snarl as my Tribute. The neck profile and the finish make the feel of the neck be just perfect. The Tribute I always liked the feel of the finish, but it's so damn chunky. This is way more moderate and middle of the road. Not too thin, not too thick. It's also super light.

I'm setting it up with 11-56's in Drop C as we speak. Fretboard can use a wipedown and hydrating. But otherwise, I'm not even sure why it was discounted. I preferred the color of the red one, but I wasn't gonna pay 400 CAD extra just for that! And this is pretty classy too!

The stock pickups I'm really digging! I already knew I like the 498T, but I was dubious of the 490R. It's not too bad, honestly. It's not as scooped as the '59 nor as dark/smooth as the Air Norton. Very middle of the road. I'm not gonna say it's fantastic, but it's not nearly as bad as everyone makes it out to be. Kind of a generec-y decent neck pickup that I'm in no hurry to swap out.

So all in all, I'm happy. This is my second Gibson Les Paul, and I love it! It's not a white Custom with gold hardware or an ebony Classic, but I'm getting closer.
 
Nice! ❤️
I have been eyeing the rose gold one of those since their release.
Love the matching headstock, too.
HNGD!
 
Congrats!!

I've been contemplating buying a real LP; I have a MiJ at the moment but maybe the real deal is necessary.....problem is I'm a Strat player in the end, the LP gets ignored...
 
Strats make nice firewood this time of year.

Morons slag on the 490r. I've had that in two different axes now and it's a solid performer. It's actually a great pickup. So is the 498t. Always found the 498 to have a great attenuated bite and a smoldering tone through a 4 hole Marshall. Those are probably Gibson's two most underrated pickups yet there are probably more of those on stages making music than any of their other pickups. It's a great combo. Nice axe brougham, play the frets off of it!
 
Racerxrated said:
Congrats!!

I've been contemplating buying a real LP; I have a MiJ at the moment but maybe the real deal is necessary.....problem is I'm a Strat player in the end, the LP gets ignored...
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Thank you! I'm the other way around. I'm a LP kinda guy, and whenever I picked up my Strat, I just couldn't help but think, "man, I just like the sound of my LP so much more", LOL. So I traded it in, and it worked out!
 
VonBonfire said:
Strats make nice firewood this time of year.

Morons slag on the 490r. I've had that in two different axes now and it's a solid performer. It's actually a great pickup. So is the 498t. Always found the 498 to have a great attenuated bite and a smoldering tone through a 4 hole Marshall. Those are probably Gibson's two most underrated pickups yet there are probably more of those on stages making music than any of their other pickups. It's a great combo. Nice axe brougham, play the frets off of it!
Click to expand...
I like both, honestly. But I think I'm going to remove the tone knob from the 490R to squeeze out a bit more brightness from it.

I really love the 498T. Years ago, I used to have one from the 90's that a friend gifted to me that I just dropped into whatever guitar I got that had weak bridge pickups. I'd just yank and keep the pickup out as soon as I sold the guitar. However, knowing me, I love trying new pickups out, so I will probably eventually replace it. I've got my eye on a Suhr SSH+, and I have a few others lying around that I'm tempted to try. But honestly, I don't feel the need to do it right away. It's a pickup that I know well and that I enjoy.
 
Congrats & HNGD!

after decades since my last Gibson, I finally gave Gibson a chance last year, '61 Gibson SG in white; QC was on point, fit and finish, playability, set-up, etc. no complaints...so I got the Epi Les Paul SG Custom, in white, with the three pickups and vibrola, everything was good.

Bought sight unseen online from MF; new so I could return them if needed; both were in factory sealed boxes (which is what I want, fuck the SW "inspection") as they were setup and shipped by the factory.

Happy to say Gibson/Epiphone delivered; met/exceeded my expectations twice.
 
Rex Rocker said:
I like both, honestly. But I think I'm going to remove the tone knob from the 490R to squeeze out a bit more brightness from it.
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Did you try lowering it to the ring and raising the polepieces as necessary? I've never felt the 490r or 57 classic was muddy if I set them up that way. I guess I don't know what amp you are running either though. Do you have the treble on it dimed and any presence control set higher than normal? Going from ES or LP to my 490r loaded Viper I have to dial back the treble from 10 cause the Viper is naturally a little brighter.
 
VonBonfire said:
Did you try lowering it to the ring and raising the polepieces as necessary? I've never felt the 490r or 57 classic was muddy if I set them up that way. I guess I don't know what amp you are running either though. Do you have the treble on it dimed and any presence control set higher than normal? Going from ES or LP to my 490r loaded Viper I have to dial back the treble from 10 cause the Viper is naturally a little brighter.
Click to expand...
I didn't try the polepiece thing, but I don't really hate it how it is now. I just want to squeeze a little more from it, and 99% of the time, I like pickups without the load of a tone knob better.

The thing is I find the 498T is kinda very rough-around-the-edges kinda vibe. I love that. Like it wants to go. And the 490R is a bit polite by comparison. So I figured I'd give it a try.
 
rsm said:
Congrats & HNGD!

after decades since my last Gibson, I finally gave Gibson a chance last year, '61 Gibson SG in white; QC was on point, fit and finish, playability, set-up, etc. no complaints...so I got the Epi Les Paul SG Custom, in white, with the three pickups and vibrola, everything was good.

Bought sight unseen online from MF; new so I could return them if needed; both were in factory sealed boxes (which is what I want, fuck the SW "inspection") as they were setup and shipped by the factory.

Happy to say Gibson/Epiphone delivered; met/exceeded my expectations twice.
Click to expand...
Thank you!

I have had good experiences with Gibson. No bad QC issues from either of mine even if they're lower-end. My Tribute has a few minor rough spots on the finish under the pickguard, but nothing bad. My Modern Lite I haven't found any issues with it either. I love that they're plek'd too. Nice low action without buzz from both.

I did buy a couple of the newer Epis with the new headstock a couple years ago, and sadly, my experience wasn't as positive. Both of them needed a fret job fresh from the factory, but no biggie. Sadly, one had frets that were lifting up on the treble side. I'd even say the one with the fret issue sounded pretty damn good, but I ended up taking it back because of the frets.
 
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Rex Rocker said:
474143198_18488011255000942_7718272093555114646_n.jpg


Man, I'm loving this thing!

So the story is I decided I just was never gonna love the tone of my Strat, so I traded it in at the store for this. This was on sale, so I didn't have to pay full price. I feel like the full price new is way too steep, but in reality, these are great guitars. Mine rings out LOUD acoustically, and has a similar kinda high mid snarl as my Tribute. The neck profile and the finish make the feel of the neck be just perfect. The Tribute I always liked the feel of the finish, but it's so damn chunky. This is way more moderate and middle of the road. Not too thin, not too thick. It's also super light.

I'm setting it up with 11-56's in Drop C as we speak. Fretboard can use a wipedown and hydrating. But otherwise, I'm not even sure why it was discounted. I preferred the color of the red one, but I wasn't gonna pay 400 CAD extra just for that! And this is pretty classy too!

The stock pickups I'm really digging! I already knew I like the 498T, but I was dubious of the 490R. It's not too bad, honestly. It's not as scooped as the '59 nor as dark/smooth as the Air Norton. Very middle of the road. I'm not gonna say it's fantastic, but it's not nearly as bad as everyone makes it out to be. Kind of a generec-y decent neck pickup that I'm in no hurry to swap out.

So all in all, I'm happy. This is my second Gibson Les Paul, and I love it! It's not a white Custom with gold hardware or an ebony Classic, but I'm getting closer.
Click to expand...
I don’t hate that at all. Really nice top they did on your tribute as well.
 
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