Gibson Review: Les Paul Deluxe Goldtop (Limited Edition 1969 Re-issue)

History:

Purchase: Paid 1,299.99 with case at Sam Ash I was at my local music superstore having the intonation set on my Les Paul Classic when a new Les Paul Deluxe Goldtop re-issue caught my eye on the rack. Since I was sitting around waiting for my LP Classic, I decided to pick it up and plug in.

What I Like About This Gibson Les Paul Deluxe Goldtop (Limited Edition 1969 Re-issue): The first thing I noticed was the weight of this thing! It must be almost twice as heavy as the LP Classic I had. The Deluxe is essentially a Standard with the mini humbuckers. I had recently purchased a Marshall TSL601 combo, so I plugged into one and let it rip. I WAS IN AWE! This is without a doubt THE best sounding Les Paul I have ever played. I ended up trading my Classic (which was about a month old) for the Deluxe. The Deluxe Goldtops list for 3,460.00 and sell everywhere for 2,250.00, so to get it for 1,299.99 with the Gibson hardshell case was an incredible bargain for a guitar of this calibre. The salesman told me that they are discontinuing this model (which is a Limited Edition 1969 re-issue), and I would have to guess the price reflects the fact that this is not one of Gibson's big sellers. I guess people want the regular PAFs or the hot ceramic Classic humbuckers.

What I Do NOT Like About The Gibson Les Paul Deluxe Goldtop (Limited Edition 1969 Re-issue): I love everything about this guitar! It's HEAVY (unlike the Classic which I'm assuming Gibson uses a different kind of Mahogany - maybe cheaper?) It's definitely a lifetime keeper for me!

Gibson Les Paul Deluxe Goldtop (Limited Edition 1969 Re-issue) Quality Rating: This guitar is constructed of dense mahogany, which sounds very full and rich through a good amp. No tinny sound here, it's clean, full, classic tone (I finally found my "Tonic" tone!) The goldtop paint is flawless and the back and neck wood is gorgeous. It's really quite simple: Dense/heavy mahogany body + mini humbuckers = the ultimate rock and roll sound. The neck is awesome and played through an all-tube Marshall is just pure exctasy.

Review Summary: This Les Paul model is a BARGAIN at 1,299.99 and honestly is the best kept secret among the Les Paul family. If you're considering buying a Les Paul, you may want to try out the Deluxe, it's butter!

Rating of this Gibson product: 5

This Gibson Les Paul Deluxe Goldtop (Limited Edition 1969 Re-issue) Electric Guitars Review Submitted By: LPDeluxe

Review Date: 2002-01-29