TEST: Gibson Les Paul Standard 2014

 Gibson Les Paul Standard 2014. Only a few current instrument manufacturers can look back on a history as long as the Gibson company. Founded by Orville Gibson in 1894, the company now looks back on 120 years of history with every imaginable ups and downs the music industry has to offer. The spectrum extends from the fact that for the approximately 2000 pieces. LP standards, which were built between 1958 - 1960, still cost half a million euros and more, right up to the dark side in the early eighties, when the then owner Norlin even had knotholes built into the instruments, just to squeeze the maximum profit out of the company, independent of any quality standards.

Nevertheless, the company has managed to create four body classics over the course of its history (Les Paul, SG, Explorer, Flying V), which, together with the Fender protagonists Strat and Tele, form the basis for almost 99% of all instrument shapes. In order to celebrate the above-mentioned anniversary, Gibson has reissued some classics for the current year, but not without treating some of them with a haptic and electronic facelift. This is also what happened with the Gibson Les Paul Standard 2014 available for testing, which has all sorts of interesting detailed solutions without losing sight of the big picture.

Would Lester William Polfus ever have dreamed in 1952 that his signature model, along with the Stratocaster, would become the epitome of rock'n'roll to this day?



construction

Even though maple was often used as neck wood in the eighties, the Les Paul remains the prime example of a mahogany basic construction with a maple top for the purpose of height. This was also the case with the Standard 2014, here in the form of a one-piece mahogany neck glued in with a mortise and tenon joint, along with a two-piece mahogany body plus a two-piece AAA grade maple top.

Colleagues of the old school of course also know the classic shortcoming of the Les Paul construction along with the choice of wood. Even though one of me likes to put a brisk sole on the parquet with Paulas around the 5 kilogram mark, many Paula players suffered from the heavy weight that inevitably accompanies the construction. To avoid this, Gibson now works with what the company says is an optimized chambering process called Moder Weight Reliefs, which leaves more base block standing, preserves the resonance properties and saves weight by 500 grams. Our test instrument only weighs around 3.7 kilograms.

Further changes to the standards also occur when analyzing the fingerboard. The rosewood fingerboard has 22 medium jumbo frets, which have been treated with the cryogenic process to reduce wear. Furthermore, they are undercut frets, which places the binding under the frets and makes later re-fretting much easier, in contrast to earlier models.

The next aha effect is revealed on the back of the instrument's headstock, which houses a system called Min-Etune developed by Tronical. The system offers 18 different tunings, which are mechanically transferred to the tuning mechanisms and is currently state-of-the-art when it comes to automatic tuning systems.

The neck shape was also adapted to modern requirements and made asymmetrically. The ergonomically correct profile is conical and designed so that the neck is made stronger on the bass strings and becomes slimmer towards the high strings side. In addition, each neck is finally sanded by hand. The radius of the fingerboard also changes from 10" at the nut towards the end of the fingerboard to 16", which particularly optimizes the string position and bending in the high registers.

We continue with the pickups, which have also undergone a very useful expansion. The classic three-way circuit of the humbuckers (bridge - bridge/neck - neck, everything in series) has been massively pimped by using 4 push/pull pots. The two built-in Burstbucker Pro can be switched either split (volume control) or out-of-phase (tone control) when the potentiometer is pulled, whereby the respective coil of the humbucker can be selected when pulled twice. In addition, the bridge pickup on the tone control can be connected directly to the output socket using the pulled tone control, which gives the sound an additional boost of clarity and assertiveness.

Due to the slightly increased output, both pickups are equipped with Alnico V instead of the otherwise used Alnico II magnets and are slightly underwound (neck) or overwound (bridge) depending on their position in order to adapt the sound to the respective string pick-up point. The pickups sit in cream-colored frames and are covered with chrome-colored decorative caps.


Practice

To talk extensively about the sound of a Les Paul would be to carry owls to Athens. Almost every guitarist will have held a Paula in their hands at least once in their life and will have more or less identified with the instrument. The low-mid-heavy basic sound of the mahogany alignment, paired with the splash of attack that the maple top adds to the construction, is legendary and has established itself as an integral part of all varieties of blues, rock and metal.

The more interesting question is whether the extensions to the current 2014 version of the concept expand the area of application of the instrument without sacrificing the core competence of the instrument. Do the millings in the body manage to reduce the weight without reducing the fundamental tone and sustain? Do the new pickup circuits actually bring a new area of application that previously had to be left without complaint to the other big protagonist with “F”?

The answer is clear. In fact, the new circuit, along with coil splitting etc., is convincing across the board. The single-coil circuit in particular manages to generate a refreshing sharpness, especially in the bridge pickup, which reveals new tonal spheres to the instrument. Even in the neck area, the variation in the clean mode can allow for wonderfully percussive styles that were previously sought in vain in the traditional circuit. A real gain in terms of flexibility. Due to the above-mentioned chambering, the guitar has lost some of the “Neanderthal punch” of a 5 kilogram Paula, but this is compensated for by a faster tone response. Ultimately, the artist has to decide for himself what is more important.



Conclusion

With the Gibson Les Paul Standard 2014, one of America's protagonists makes it back to the front row. Whenever you think that a concept has been exhausted, an engineer comes along somewhere and knows a detail improvement that you hadn't yet considered.

With the help of the groundbreaking Tronic Tuning System, an asymmetrical neck profile, a well-considered hollowing of the instrument and, in particular, an excellent pickup circuit, Gibson actually manages to enrich the established workhorse Les Paul with the improvements that have previously been cited by Gibson critics as purchase killers. An excellent instrument that is about to combine tradition and modernity in a way that was not previously known from Gibson.

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Additional Informations:

Introduction:
Les Paul stands as an iconic figure in the history of music, renowned for his groundbreaking contributions to the world of electric guitars and recording technology. A virtuoso guitarist, ingenious inventor, and pioneering recording artist, Les Paul's influence reverberates through generations of musicians and continues to shape the landscape of modern music. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the multifaceted life and legacy of Les Paul, exploring his remarkable journey from a young boy tinkering with instruments to a global icon whose name adorns some of the most revered guitars in the world.

Early Years and Musical Beginnings:
Les Paul, born Lester William Polsfuss on June 9, 1915, in Waukesha, Wisconsin, displayed a natural aptitude for music from an early age. Inspired by his mother's piano playing and the sounds of country and jazz music permeating his surroundings, young Les developed a passion for music that would shape his life's trajectory.

At the age of eight, Les began learning to play the harmonica and guitar, displaying an innate talent and an insatiable curiosity for exploring new sounds and techniques. By his teenage years, he was performing regularly on local radio stations and honing his skills as a guitarist, drawing influence from the likes of Django Reinhardt, Charlie Christian, and Eddie Lang.

Innovation in Guitar Design:
Les Paul's fascination with electronics and mechanics led him to experiment with modifying and enhancing his guitars to achieve new tonal possibilities. In the late 1930s and early 1940s, Les began building his own solid-body electric guitars, envisioning an instrument that could sustain notes longer, reduce feedback, and provide greater control over tone and volume.

In 1941, Les Paul created "The Log," a rudimentary solid-body guitar made from a four-by-four wooden beam with a neck, pickups, and hardware attached. While unconventional in appearance, "The Log" represented a revolutionary step forward in guitar design, laying the foundation for the development of the iconic Gibson Les Paul model that would later become synonymous with rock and roll.

Collaboration with Gibson:
Les Paul's innovative designs and relentless pursuit of sonic perfection caught the attention of the Gibson Guitar Corporation, leading to a historic collaboration that would produce one of the most iconic electric guitars of all time. In 1952, Gibson introduced the Gibson Les Paul Model, featuring a solid mahogany body, maple top and a distinctive design that set it apart from other guitars of the era.

Les Paul's involvement in the design and promotion of the Gibson Les Paul was instrumental in its success, as he lent his name, expertise, and artistic vision to the development of the instrument. With its rich, warm tone, sustain for days, and elegant aesthetic, the Gibson Les Paul quickly became the weapon of choice for countless guitarists across genres, from blues and jazz to rock and metal.

Musical Career and Recording Innovations:
In addition to his groundbreaking work in guitar design, Les Paul enjoyed a successful career as a recording artist and performer. With his then-wife Mary Ford, Les scored a string of chart-topping hits in the 1950s, including "How High the Moon," "Vaya Con Dios," and "Mockin' Bird Hill," showcasing his virtuosity as a guitarist and his innovative approach to multi-track recording.

Les Paul's pioneering experiments with sound recording techniques, such as overdubbing, tape delay, and phasing effects, revolutionized the way music was produced and consumed. His innovative use of the tape machine as a creative tool opened up new possibilities for artists and engineers, paving the way for the emergence of modern studio recording techniques and electronic music production.

Legacy and Influence:
Les Paul's contributions to the world of music and technology are immeasurable, leaving an indelible mark on the fabric of popular culture and inspiring generations of musicians, inventors, and audio engineers. His legacy lives on not only in the iconic guitars that bear his name but also in the countless recordings that continue to captivate listeners around the world.

In recognition of his groundbreaking achievements, Les Paul was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 and received numerous awards and honors throughout his lifetime, including multiple Grammy Awards and a National Medal of Arts. His influence extends far beyond his own recordings, as his inventions and innovations continue to shape the sound of music in the digital age.

Conclusion:
Les Paul's life and career exemplify the transformative power of creativity, ingenuity, and perseverance. From his early experiments in guitar design to his pioneering work in recording technology, Les Paul blazed a trail of innovation that forever altered the course of music history.

As we celebrate his enduring legacy, let us remember Les Paul not only as a virtuoso guitarist and inventor but also as a visionary whose passion for pushing the boundaries of what was possible in music continues to inspire and resonate with artists and enthusiasts around the globe.