Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s IT

What a beauty. The sound and the looks are amazing. Gibson did a great job and managed to exceed my expectations!

After months of browsing the internet, watching YouTube movies and playing a Gibson LP custom that I borowed from my neighbor, I decided to go for this guitar standard 60s in the Iced Tea finish.

I ordered the guitar in July knowing that it would take some time before I would get it and the wait has most definitely paid off though I got bit anxious hearing stories from people about bad finishes and imperfections up to the point where some people are advising against buying a Gibson... Nothing of the sorts for my guitar. It's got an assembly date of 1 Sep 2021 and the only negative thing is that fretboard has a little bit of glue residue here and there and that it's completely dry. Nothing that a good clean and conditioning can't handle while replacing the strings. Finish and paint are excellent there's not even a ding under the scratch plate! Action out of the box is great, exactly to Gibson's specifications, I may lower it a little, but it plays very smooth and fast and damn the sound is hot, even hotter than my neighbor's custom. One of the reasons why I picked the standard 60s over the standard 50s.

Overall I'm very happy with my new guitar and I plan to enjoy it for the rest of my life!

As some would put it:
Writing about music is like dancing about architecture.

There is little to say about this guitar, it just sounds frigging uber!

If you want a daily 'come to jesus' moment with your guitar, buy one of these and plug into a valve-amp. You will never go back.

For those looking at this guitar as a 'financial challenge', don't turn away. There is a reason you started looking at this guitar. The word 'pedigree' doesn't even start to cover it....

After buying a genuine LP, you'll realise the tonal quality, playing comfort, and amazing versatility is what makes this guitar a legendary instrument.

This thicker 60s neck is super comfortable, good for bigger-handed-folks who sometimes struggle with thin necks. Build quality is top-spec, and the included tools and documentation are bob-on.

Looking forward to getting it down the guitar-shop for a full setup, but out-of-the-box, it sounds great and is 99% there in terms of readiness and tonal accuracy up the neck.

Get it!

This instrument is permeated with history and class. The inimitable tone, the legendary sustain, the iconic look.

This is a Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s. You know what that means: a hefty solid body (mine weighs 4.3kg = 9lbs 8oz), thinner 60s style neck, 2 burstbuckers, 2 tone and 2 volume knobs,... Everything you expect.

The Iced Tea finish is gorgeous. It goes from cherry & honey to wine red and deep amber depending on the light. The flame is more subtle & natural (don't expect gaudy tiger stripes) and dances as you play it. But if you like a more obvious flamed maple the Unburst is your best bet.

As this is a handmade instrument, so you will find some very minor flaws that only you will ever notice. That said a little more care could go into these instruments — I don't mind oiling the fretboard, fine-tuning the already great setup and getting rid of the last bit of paint on the binding. But at this price range I shouldn't have to.

I traded in a Gibson Les Paul Classic for this beauty (Thomann was super awesome about that by the way). The Classic sounds and plays nearly just as well. But if you're going to invest in a piece of craftsmanship, you might as wel get EXACTLY what your heart desires.

About 15 - 20 years ago I visited a local guitar-shop in my hometown to check out if there was anything interesting to test or maybe buy... There it was: the most gorgeous-looking ice tea sunburst LP I've ever seen. I asked my better half if there was any chance that I might get this one, but she said "No, you can't spend $2k on another toy, just like that..."

Time went by, and the image of this particular guitar haunted me through all those years. This is probably the guitar I've spoken most of, despite the fact that I never actually had it in my collection...

FFWD to 2022: Earlier this year I turned 50, and the idea that a new premium guitar might be something to celebrate with..?

A quick visit on the Thomann webshop, and there it was: Ice Tea 60's Standard! This is it, the perfect gift for my anniversary!

About the instrument:
- Looks, and sounds amazing
- Premium feeling to play
- Fills the gap between my LP Trad (50's) and my heavy sounding LP Studio
- Perfect for playing "AC/DC-like" hard rock live!

The spec's on this guitar is just perfect for my use: 60's neck, IT-finish and BB 61's with a little more bite...

I really dig this guitar, and so do the people attending our live shows!

I bought another Gibson guitar which was produced just prior to the management changes in 2019 and if I’m honest the quality of set up was awful, high action tuning issues, sharp frets etc, I was tempted to return it, but a local guitar tech put it right!
No such problems with this purchase, the quality of fit and finish is fantastic and the guitar just looks, plays & sounds first rate! The colour and flame top is stunning! The 60’s neck is slim taper but it’s still pretty substantial, more so than other 60 spec Gibsons I have but that said it feels great. There is a feeling of quality about the controls and they work as they should and are smooth & well calibrated.

Pros
How it looks, plays & sounds
Build Quality
Premium feel
The set up out of the box
Even the case is an upgrade
Price, this guitar isn’t cheap but looks and feels much more expensive, great value!
Cons
None really, but the fretboard needed some oil immediately (2 minute job)
It’s pretty heavy ( this may be a problem for some!)