(Replying to PARENT post)

I always heard that the '59s were prized for their PAFs [0] and the aged mahogany, but I've only ever heard one on a record and never played one myself. We've come a long way since 1959 in terms of neck dimensions/radii and modern CNCs can carve out pretty much any shape, rather reliably. Seems weird to prize since Gibson necks are horrible. But hey, guitarists are weird people.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PAF_(pickup)

👤qppo🕑5y🔼0🗨️0

(Replying to PARENT post)

They're collectable and valuable because of the association with famous players in the classic rock era, and the rarity of examples. A perfect copy of the Mona Lisa would be worth a few $, not a few milion $, even if it were indistinguishable to the viewer.

Many guitarists fetishize the 59 Les Paul because of the sound. The trick is that '59 Les Paul might not sound any different objectively, but the musician knows they are playing an iconic and rare instrument. This can make the musician play better than usual. Guitarists often attribute this to the "mojo" in the guitar; the trick is the mojo is in the player's belief.

👤silverdemon🕑5y🔼0🗨️0

(Replying to PARENT post)

I hear you, it's crazy how good a $500 guitar is these days. When I started playing, an entry level guitar was pretty bad. That's not the case any longer.
👤vondur🕑5y🔼0🗨️0

(Replying to PARENT post)

> Gibson necks are horrible

Hey now, the neck on the Gibson SG is wonderful.

I've owned both and personally strongly prefer the SG. It doesn't have the same iconic image as the Les Paul, though.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibson_SG

👤SquishyPanda23🕑5y🔼0🗨️0

(Replying to PARENT post)

Musicians are the ultimate consumers. They spend a lot of money on their style and substance, and are generally easy to get recurring revenues from, if you can push the right buttons.

(Disclaimer: worked in the MI business for decades. It always fills me with a sense of wonder, the things people will buy to make themselves sound different from others while also conforming to industry expectations...)

👤fit2rule🕑5y🔼0🗨️0

(Replying to PARENT post)

Jimmy Page is known to have shaved down is #1 Les Paul neck to be incredibly slim [1]. It make sense because as much as I like Les Pauls, I never really liked the neck profile of mine. It's worth mentioning that there are tons of different neck profiles for Les Pauls throughout the ages, too, so there isn't just one "Les Paul" neck.

[1] https://www.lespaulforum.com/forum/showthread.php?83971-Jimm...

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