What is the best Les Paul you have ever played?

Used mid to late 00's R8 at a GC. Man I should have picked that one up. First time playing a reissue and blew me away! Def will be looking to pick one up at some point. Sustain was unreal.
 
My 04' Classic with Bare Knuckle Mules. It's so heavy but the tone is worth the trips to the Chiropractor.
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The one I have now is hands down best playing and sounding, best looking in person too (that’s subjective)

Its one of those Collectors Choice guitars (CC #29) based off some random Japanese rockstars 59’ that Gibson way overestimated his popularity and sat on a bunch of unsold guitars. They ended up wiping the serial #‘s on 20 or so and sold them to Wildwood to be marketed as a Special Run 58’....I bought it from a dude on TGP for about the current going used rate on a nice basic 58’. Scored.
 
Norlin baby!

I've tried a bunch of Historics but they have been good at best or ya find a good one and the neck shape is funky and the frets are ground down to nothing without a crown. I'm sure there's great ones out there but the 80 natural standard with Shaws stays.
 
Some kind of Norlin era refret. Seemed silly to pay so much for a refretted Norlin at the time (15 years ago or so?), but it was a really nice guitar. I don't typically like LPs.
 
Here are pics of some of the LP’s I’ve had. In order: ‘69 LP Custom, ‘57 LP Jr, ‘81 LP Custom Tobacco Burst (super heavy) and ‘82 LP Custom. The latter 2 were good guitars for that era, but couldn’t imo hold a candle to the those former 2 in tone. No longer have them. Never liked the way Jr’s look, but I’ve never heard as good sounding of a guitar yet. It’s a freak of a guitar
 

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I have not played that many but I have about 5 now.

The best sounding one I have is the least expensive, It's a 2002 Classic. Weighs a ton but it plays great, sounds great.
 
Played a really sweet R8 at the local shop, totally calling my name, but just too much money. Love the 73 lp custom I have, but the R8 would be a nice companion.
 
gtrwun said:
The studio lites from the early/mid 90’s are awesome.
had a few of those and they all sounded good.
I had a black Studio standard from 92 I think, that was one of my favorites. Should have kept that one.
I admit I’ve never owned an older LP tho, so I’m sure there is another level that I haven’t experienced? I’ve always been a stray/superstrat guy.
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My friend had a black studio from probably 88 or 89 and it was awesome!! It sounded and played fantastic!
 
I've owned a few Gibson Historics 2016-present and I always go back to them, never had a bad one. They are so dynamic and resonant and do all styles great. the new Murphy Labs are great too...
 
mooncobra said:
My friend had a black studio from probably 88 or 89 and it was awesome!! It sounded and played fantastic!
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Those early studio and studio lites are really great, underrated guitars. None of them are the best LP I've played, but I've never seen or played a bad one either.
 
Should mention Edwards. At the same time I had that R9 I also had a standard US LP and an
Edwards Jimmy Page model. Did an extensive shoot out between them and the Edwards
came in second over the USA standard.

They make really solid Les Pauls!
 
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