1997 Gibson Les Paul Standard Ebony w/Original Hard Case Excellent Condition
I think there's something about the 'goodwood' era Gibson theory. Anything Nashville made mid 90s to around 2005/6 I've owned always has something a little special about it. Whether its an accumulation of attention to detial in small places or just simply better wood is hard to pinpoint without knowing exactly what changed at Gibson... but I'm going to give it a go!
This '97 Standard is a shining example of why these guitars are a little different. Picking it up and rolling off a few blues licks on it, the first thing I notice is that comforting 'old freind' feel that nicely rolled factory fingerboard give you. Add to that a decades of patina to a the finish and you've got something that not only feels loved, but makes you LOVE playing it. A hand carved C shape that's the perfect middle ground between the supper slim C of the classics and the utter tree trunks that would be found on the historic range. No standards since have hit that sweet spot since in my opinion.
The rosewood board is stunning with deep, dark brown colours running through it. Nothing like you'd start to see when the threat of cites came in and Gibson resorted to horrid baked maple attorcities in panic. Still even now, 5k custom shop models and Murphy Labs often leave the factory with strange looking, almost pau ferro like fingerboards. Nothing like as nice as the one on this humble Les Paul Standard.
Pulling off the back plate to check out the electrics my 'nerd-eye' was drawn to the sawdust lying around the screw holes and the colour of the wood hiding under all that black paint. A darker chestnut colour mahogany, like older instruments saw and unlike the pale anemic colour that would start to creep into Les Pauls in the 2010s. While it's all probably Honduran, there's something about the darker coloured stuff that looks more like Cuban, more like what you'd find on a burst aesthetically. In terms of tone, i don't know how this would effect it. Maybe rapidly grown plantation wood just doesnt sound as good as the older stuff? One thing i'm sure of, this Les Paul and most others ive played from this era RING with a clear top end that new ones just don't have.
It's very easy to get caught up in buying expensive parts and pickups that manufacturers tell us is more 'historically accurate' in the endless chase to find that perfect tone that eliminates the need for practice. For some reason though, there isn't a single part of this guitar I'd want to 'upgrade'. Plugging it in to a loud amp and noodling, it's perfect. Punchy mids, plenty of low end and top end detail that's surprisingly present for a guitar that doesn't have high end P.A.F clones. If i put those kind of pickups in, i think it would be lacking mid range. If I swapped out those 300k tone pots for 500ks... it would be too bright. Somehow, like most of the Les Pauls and 335s ive had from this era, it's perfectly balanced just the way it is. 
It may not have hide glue joints and more period correct custom buckers but it also doesn't have pink binding, paint flaking off and a 6k price tag. I'm going to make a bold claim here that this is every bit as good, well made, inspiring and an enjoyable a Les Paul as any modern equivalent at three times the price. 
£1795 - Price includes shipping anywhere in the U.K 
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