Les pauls.

[Madsakre]

I've always wanted one. Which ones should i look after? I want one made of a solid piece, no chambering. Ebony board.

I would really like a custom or a traditional. Any1 of you who knows which generations i should look after?

[Matt77]

I've always wanted one. Which ones should i look after? I want one made of a solid piece, no chambering. Ebony board.

I would really like a custom or a traditional. Any1 of you who knows which generations i should look after?

Early 90s studio is a very cheap way in. £300 upwards with the same electronics and hardware as the customs of the time. The issues are in the cosmetics rather than tone.
They are very heavy though and mine had a poor finish which is now goosed anyway.
Regarding a traditional, not sure if they have the ebony board

[Philly Q]

I know a bit about the current range, but not so much about the history of when they started using chambering/weight relief and on which models.

LP Traditionals are all solid wood, but they're Standards, not Customs, so no ebony board.

I believe they use ebony boards on White LP Studios, because they found rosewood bled into the white finish.  The current Studios are weight-relieved, though, I believe.

I think Customs are usually solid, but the current (custom shop) "production" Custom model does have weight relief.  If you can stretch to the custom shop vintage reissues (e.g. VOS) they're all solid.

Do you definitely want a Gibson, or would you consider MIJ "copies"?

[Alex]

Just like Philly Q said, you're best bet are probably various limited run Gibson LP studios, as they are most likely to be without chambering but a ebony fretboard. The bigger problem, as I see it, that they'll sound different, due to different constructions.

ESP has made very few LTD models with ebony, but you see one or two ESP Eclipses with ebony boards show up on Ebay from time to time and they go for very reasonable prices.

Maybe you could specify a bit more what you are looking for, tonally and optically.

[Telerocker]

Like Philly mentions MIJ Japan Les Pauls are not be overlooked: Greco, Orville, Tokai, Edwards.

[Madsakre]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHUb-V3HUzM any of you tried this one?

[Alex]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHUb-V3HUzM any of you tried this one?

No. My guess is they made like 50 of that and about 4-5 ever made it to Europe. In other words, very rare.
I take it you are more after the visual of the LesPaul, less the tone of it, am I right?

[Madsakre]

theres one for sale in denmark :)

[Philly Q]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHUb-V3HUzM any of you tried this one?

So the solid body and ebony board weren't absolute requirements then?  :P

[Madsakre]

not when i can get a baritone scale \m/

[gordiji]

i was like you 18 months ago but grumbled at the 2k+ for a proper gibbo, especially as i didn't know much about them
and didn't really have nearby music stores to try any.
pulled the trigger on a tokai and more recently another, both of which are 50's spec'd (as the reissue gibbo's) and
including bkp's for one i'm still at the price of a gibbo lp standard! i found it a simple decision, no regrets, both great
guitars.  
whichever route you take find out 'whats under the bonnet' as it were, materials and construction differ somewhat.  

[horsehead]

I've said it before will say it again..Tokai, Burny, Edwards, Orville Japan guitars will cover what you want

[DoomBuggi]

I've always wanted one. Which ones should i look after? I want one made of a solid piece, no chambering. Ebony board.

I would really like a custom or a traditional. Any1 of you who knows which generations i should look after?

Here you go my friend, http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/gibson-les-pauls/50210-gibson-les-paul-101-a.html

I am attaching text from the link above, for those that don't want to venture to another site, or don't' want to do read too much about it.  There are some interesting images though.

-from the LINK ABOVE

"Rather than keep sending people to Gibson Forums, I figured I'd post this here. Maybe with some luck, this will become a sticky.
This post mainly applies to newer Les Pauls. Nowadays, there are two types of Les Pauls - Gibson USA and Gibson Custom Shop.

Gibson USA
Weight-relief started around 1982/1983. Every Gibson USA Les Paul between 1982 - 2007 is weight-relieved. They do not have solid-body construction. Weight-relief is also known as "swiss cheese holes" and refers to the nine holes drilled out of the body in order to reduce the weight of the guitar.

Chambering officially began for 2007 but the late 2006s are also chambered. Any Les Paul made after October 2006 maybe or likely is chambered. Every 2007 and newer Gibson USA Les Paul is chambered, except for the Les Paul Traditional. The Les Paul Traditional has swiss cheese holes. Chambering is essentially hollowing out the body. Again, this is in order to reduce the weight of the guitar.

Gibson Custom Shop
Gibson's Custom Shop makes regular production guitars and historic reissues. The regular production guitars, such as the Les Paul Custom, are also weight-relieved. They do not have solid-bodies.

The historic reissues are solid. All historic reissues, be it Standards or Customs, are solid. The exception being the chambered reissues. Chambered reissues are often referred to as Cloud 9 guitars. They are identified by their serial number, which begins with CR. chambered-reissue.org

So,

A 2003 Les Paul Classic is weight-relieved
A 2008 '57 reissue is solid
A 1995 Les Paul Standard is weight-relieved
A 2009 Chambered '58 reissue is chambered
A 2008 Les Paul Studio is chambered
A 1987 Les Paul Custom is weight-relieved
etc.

Neck tenons
Some Les Pauls have long neck tenon, while others do not.

Short: Standards (before the 2008 "new" Standard), Customs, Studios Classics.
Long: Historic reissues, 2008 Standards.

Norlin
Gibson guitars made between 1968 - 1986. Great info right here. FAQ: Norlin History
Any Norlin related items/questions should be posted here. Norlin Years - My Les Paul Forums

Historic Reissues
R2 = reissue of the 1952 Gibson Les Paul
R9 = reissue of the 1959 Gibson Les Paul
CR8 = chambered reissue of the '58 Gibson Les Paul
There is no R3 or R5.

Historic Customs are often referred to as B4, B7, R4BB or R7BB. BB meaning Black Beauty.

Gibson's VOS - Vintage Original Spec line. The terms VOS, historic, reissue & historic reissue all refer to the same guitar. There is only one difference, VOS refers to the aged finish on the top and hardware. The ones that do not have the VOS finish are referred to as "gloss" or "high gloss" reissues because (obviously) they have a high gloss finish. Websites like Guitar Center list the two guitars as VOS and "reissue." Reissue refers to the high gloss. I think this has caused some confusion with some people but rest assured, they are all the same guitar. Again, one looks brand new and the other does not look brand new - that's the only difference. VOS costs $300 less.

Any historic Les Pauls related items/questions should be posted here. Historics & Reissues - My Les Paul Forums

Historic Customs
Standards have mahogany bodies and maple tops. Historic Customs have mahogany bodies and mahogany tops (while modern/regular Customs have maple tops). The Custom will likely weight around a pound heavier but that's about it for differences.

1968 Reissue
Another reissue that never seems to be on gibson.com is the '68RI. These are the same as the B7s, only difference is they have maple tops, different pickups and Gibson USA electronics.

R8 vs. R9
This question gets asked a lot !!
They are the same guitar. All reissues are essentially the same guitar with minor differences. These differences are neck thicknesses, pickups, weight of each individual guitar, finishes & tops. The best way to get an understanding of the neck sizes is to actually play them. Me explaining that R8s have thicker necks than R9s and R7s have thicker necks than R8s doesn't mean jack unless you sit down with the guitar and see for yourself.

R9s list for $1,500 - $2,000 more than R8s. Why? The answer is because R9s have flame maple tops and the R9 should weigh less than the R8. That's it.  Please feel free to correct any mistakes I have made and also add any info you want but let's try and keep this thread educational."-from the LINK ABOVE

[DoomBuggi]

I've always wanted one. Which ones should i look after? I want one made of a solid piece, no chambering. Ebony board.

I would really like a custom or a traditional. Any1 of you who knows which generations i should look after?

Also from the above quote, I get what you are saying.  I once felt the same way until recently.  Where I live Les Pauls are abundant, and fortunately I grew up with one always around or near which I have gotten to experience quite a selection. 

I too, use to be after a completely solid body, and before I read much about it, I didn't even know that most of the one's I played on were weight relieved.  You can always tell if one is chambered when you pick it up, but the weight relieved ones, you'd be surprised.

I was in a vintage shop in the are I live, the best music store here.  My amp was getting a checkup there, and I was waiting for it to be finished.  I was checking out all kinds of Les Pauls; vintage Customs, from 74' and up, Standards, Traditionals, you name it.  I picked up one that was a studio, it weighed a ton.  I started to play it unplugged.  I could feel my eyes popping out of the sockets because the sound was simply amazing to me.  I wasn't even looking for a guitar, and when I played this one dry, I had to have it.  I then tested my amp with it, when they were finishing repairing it.  That was it.  A week later, I had manage to get funds some how, and I went back there and claimed that fine instrument. 

  As stated above, I have played all kinds of Les Pauls through out my life.  But honestly, it is always hit or miss.  Sad really, although Gibson use to be my favorite guitar company, I have to say, I've been rather disappointed  with what they have been putting out for awhile.  In my opinion, you are paying for the name, and not the instrument.  I have seen all kinds of stuff that would make one wonder what is going on with that at the factor.  Everything to twisted necks, wavy finishes, and nuts that weren't even slotted, and they sell them for full price this way.  I have been seeing this with allot of manufacturers and a lot of guitars I have tried, the just didn't have any feel to them.  I think that ESP, the Japanese made guitars, are pretty good quality, just not really into their shapes. I have been looking at smaller builders recently.  So far, Ran Guitars, and Feline Guitars have really caught my interest. 

That being as it is, the best way to pick one out is to go and try it.  Play as many as you can.  You will know when you've got a good one, even if it isn't set up properly.   Doesn't matter if its chambered, weight relief, or solid.   I didn't know mine was weight relieved, and it is freaking heavy.  But I can tell you this, and with all honesty;  The Studio that I have, plays better than most Customs and Standards that I have ever played.  Its hard to believe, but that is what it is. Whenever and however it was built, it was done right.   

For your info, its a 1991 Les Paul studio, with an Ebony fretboard and Trap inlays.  There is a set of Nailbombs (Ceramic Bridge) on its way from BKP for it, replacing the Duncan Custom/Alnico Pro II that is in it currently.  I have gone through several guitars, and every since I've gotten this one, its been hard to settle on another.

 I have been searching for a back up.  Been buying and selling them in the pursuit of.  But, always they get compared to my Les Paul.  If it doesn't have that quality, it doesn't stay around for very long.  I play extreme metal with it.  Though it doesn't look so metal, it is the heaviest sounding guitars I have ever had.  I love it very much.  I feel like it is a part of me. 

I have played other studios, close to the same year, and they aren't quite like mine.  If you are looking for an good LP with an ebony fretboard, I would recommend looking for the years 89-95.  There seems to be a handful of them with ebony during that time.   You will usually see them in wine red, white, and black finishes. All my friends whom are techs and luthiers, always tell me that I lucked out with it, and if I ever wanted to sell it, contact them first.  That won't happen. 

Good luck, and I hope that any of this info is useful to you.  If you have any specific questions, ask away.

One last thing. I recommend trying it not hooked up to an amp. Thats how I pick them.  If its sound awesome without an amp, it is only going to sound more divine when you amplify it.

[HTH AMPS]

I played a Vintage-brand Les Paul GT with P90s last week and it was a crackin guitar - fat neck and great sounding P90s, would happily have one to gig with.  Massive bang for the buck.