Gibson Les Paul Classic 2018 - Goldtop

The New Classic
In the pantheon of classic solidbody electric guitars, it doesn't get any more classic than a Les Paul Goldtop with P-90 pickups. But instead of the baseball bat neck found on 1950's Les Pauls, Gibson has spec'd a fast, '60s SlimTaper profile for the Les Paul Classic 2018. Your fingers will fly on this guitar's silky, bound Plek'd rosewood fretboard. And fitted with a pair of Gibson's legendary P-90 pickups, this 'Paul growls with the big cats. All the classic elements are here: carved maple top over solid mahogany, trapezoid fingerboard inlays, and that iconic gold finish. Even the ones you don't see, like hand-wired circuitry with Orange Drop caps. Take a walk on the classic side with the Gibson Les Paul Classic 2018.











The Legend of the Goldtop
At its introduction in 1952 — and for six years thereafter — the Les Paul Standard was a bit like Ford's Model T: you could have any color you wanted — as long as it was gold. The pickups were a single-coil design, the P-90; Gibson's standard pickup since 1946. By the late '50s, innovations were afoot at Gibson. Out were the trapeze tailpiece, gold finish, and P-90s; in were the Tune-O-Matic bridge and stop-bar tailpiece, sunburst finishes, and Seth Lover's revolutionary humbucking pickup, which was still so new that its underside was stamped with "Patent Applied For." The Goldtop would re-enter Gibson's lineup in the next decade, as would the P-90 pickup, powering the chugging rhythms and soaring leads of guitar legends such as Carlos Santana and Pete Townsend.
The P-90: dare to sound different
We have many fiercely loyal P-90 fans here at Sweetwater. These guitarists know that the P-90 offers a unique tonal palette that is distinct from — and complements — humbuckers and traditional single-coils. Gibson's first successful single-coil pickup, the P-90 can be heard on countless classic recordings. With its biting treble and high output, the P-90 cleans up nicely when you roll back your guitar's volume pot. It's an amazingly versatile pickup with its own brand of grit — a bit brighter, leaner, and less refined than a humbucker, and almost as hot. Hit your amp hard, and the P-90 really wails. Plugged into a proper high-gain tube amp, you can elicit grind, sizzle, and bark that would be impossible with humbuckers — or with other single-coils, for that matter. To hear P-90s brilliantly deployed in historical context, check out Santana's fiery Woodstock performance or The Who's masterful Live at Leeds album.





Plek'd for precision playability
This Gibson Les Paul Classic 2018 feels fast and precise, thanks in large part to Plek processing. Typically reserved for top-dollar custom guitars, this process levels the frets with pinpoint precision, providing you with the most playable fretboard you're likely to own. Each note rings loud and clear, and the fret edges feel smooth as silk.




Nitro finish, for the look and feel of a classic
Gibson gave the Les Paul Classic 2018 a gorgeous nitrocellulose lacquer finish. Nitro finishes — standard back in the day — are significantly thinner than today's polyurethane finishes, allowing the guitar to "breathe." Nitro finishes not only look vintage-y wonderful; they also enhance the instrument's tonal qualities. This guitar has the look (and feel) of a lovingly cared-for classic — one that will only improve with age.




Gibson Les Paul Classic 2018 Features:

Mahogany body, maple top with classic Goldtop finish
Mahogany SlimTaper neck
Fast mahogany SlimTaper neck; 24.75" scale length
Bound, Plek'd rosewood fretboard with acrylic trapezoid inlays
22 cryogenically treated medium frets
1.695"-wide Tektoid nut
Handwired with orange drop capacitors
2 single-coil P-90 pickups
2 volume, 2 tone controls; 3-way toggle selector
ABR bridge, aluminum stop-bar tailpiece
Gold Speed Knobs
Grover Kidney tuners
Nickel-plated hardware






Tech Specs



Body Type
Solidbody, non-weight relieved


Body Shape
Les Paul


Left-/Right-handed
Right-handed


Number of Strings
6


Body Material
Mahogany


Top Material
Plain Maple


Body Finish
Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer


Color
Goldtop


Neck Material
Mahogany


Neck Shape
Slim Taper


Radius
12"


Fingerboard Material
Rosewood, cream binding


Fingerboard Inlay
Acrylic Trapezoid


Number of Frets
22, Medium


Scale Length
24.75"


Nut Width
1.695"


Nut Material
Tektoid


Bridge/Tailpiece
ABR nickel bridge with aluminum stopbar tailpiece


Tuners
Grover Kidneys


Neck Pickup
P-90 Single-coil


Bridge Pickup
P-90 Single-coil


Controls
2 x volume, 2 x tone, 3-way toggle pickup switch, Orange drop capacitors


Strings
.009-.046


Case Included
Hardshell case


Manufacturer Part Number
LPCS18GTNH1





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