What Makes a Les Paul Traditional Guitar “Traditional”?
To quote Talking Heads, "same as it ever was"...but why?
by Craig Anderton
(Editor’s note: Harmony Central’s offices are located about 300 feet away from the Gibson USA factory, so when the 2017 guitars were introduced, we just had to check them out. But luckily, we were able to hold on to them and in the process, found out there are considerable differences among them. So, rather than “review” them in the traditional sense, we thought it would be helpful to analyze what the differences are so the HC community would have an idea of what goes on “under the hood” with not just these guitars, but guitars in general. This first article is about the Les Paul Traditional guitars, and what elements make it “traditional.”)
Although Gibson is known for both classic guitars and high-tech guitars, the most traditional guitar of the 2017 models is the Les Paul Traditional guitar from the T series of guitars—it’s designed specifically to retain those elements of the classic Gibson USA guitars of yesteryear. But what does “traditional” mean in Les Paul Traditional, exactly? Here are the specifics.
Orange Drop tone capacitors. These capacitors, introduced in the 60s, heralded the guitar capacitors of the modern era—stability, resistance to temperature variation, minimum microphonics, and other desirable characteristics. Since then many other brands of precision guitar capacitors have become available, but there’s something about those Orange Drop capacitors on Gibson Les Paul Traditional guitars that evoke memories of a different era—and which some players swear have better tone.
Hand-wired, point-to-point electronics. Modern Gibson guitars use circuit boards for the electronics, which provide greater consistency, easier repair, and help to reduce production costs. Hand-wired electronics recall the days of sitting at a bench, soldering iron in hand, and making the connections among all the guitar’s components. However, there is a practical advantage to point-to-point wiring: it's easier to mod if you want to experiment with different tone control guitar capacitors or potentiometer values. In addition, some people feel that the more “open” control cavity creates a subtle sonic improvement.
Nickel-plated bridge. bridges influence tone, and while some players prefer the brighter sound some guitar bridges provide, nickel-plated hardware has a balanced sound that’s characteristic of vintage guitars. It also has a more vintage guitar “look.”
Nylon nut. Today’s guitar nuts are made from various materials—ceramic, titanium, etc.—each with its own subtle sonic qualities. A nylon guitar nut is a more traditional choice, and like the nickel-plated guitar bridge, has its own sonic signature.
Guitar knobs have changed a lot over the years. Gibson guitars have used different guitar knobs for different purposes; for example, a push-pull guitar knob that changes guitar pickup switching is designed for pulling as well as rotating. For the Les Paul Traditional guitar model, Gibson went back to the guitar knobs you first saw when Eric Clapton or Mike Bloomfield were playing their Les Paul Traditional guitars: a “top hat” shape and golden color that were radically different from other guitar knobs of that era, and featured small metal pointers.
No weight relief. The original Les Paul was solid wood—great for sustain, but the weight meant it wasn’t so great for jumping around like a maniac on stage over a three-hour set. Gibson now offers a variety of models with different degrees of weight relief, which can have the side benefit of giving a bit more of a resonant quality. But for those who want the thick, sustaining sound of solid wood…well, that’s another traditional element.
“Chunky” neck.Not everyone has the same hands, so there’s no such thing as a “one size fits all” guitar neck. The original Les Paul guitar was born before the era of slim guitar necks, and there’s still something satisfying about wrapping your hand around a full-size, solid guitar neck. Of course, for those with larger hands, it definitely has the right “feel,” and some find the tone “warmer” than slimmer guitar necks.
Burstbucker 1 (neck) and Burstbucker 2 (bridge) pickups. These are the antithesis of modern, ultra-hot guitar pickups. With their lower output level, they have a lot in common with the guitar pickups of the 50s and early 60s, which helps explain the more traditional tone quality.
Original “leaf”-style pickup toggle switch. The HP line of guitars has a toggle guitar switch that’s quieter than leaf-style guitar switches, more reliable, and has a smooth guitar switch travel; the old leaf guitar switches had a certain “springy” feel when you switched guitar pickups. If your guitar-playing muscle memory is used to that feel, the switch on the Les Paul Traditional guitar model is what you’d expect.
No guitar pickguard necessary. Back in the day, guitar pickguards were sometimes seen as something that worked against the guitar’s aesthetics. Admittedly there are advantages to guitar pickguards, but there’s also something to be said for seeing the guitar’s fully figured top in all its glory—so the Les Paul Traditional guitar can be pickguard-free (although one is included in the guitar's case if you do want a pickguard).
Manual tuners. There are a lot of guitar tuners, but these Gibson Deluxe Guitar models were chosen for their vintage look and feel, not only their ability to hold tuning well.
Of course, the Les Paul Traditional guitar incorporates more modern elements. The guitars undergo the PLEK setup process, which dresses the fret and guitar neck as part of the factory setup procedure. And while the humbucker guitar pickups follow the original design ethic (and more importantly, the PAF-type tone), production is more consistent, so you don’t end up with variations in tone among different Les Paul Traditional guitars.
Playing the Les Paul Traditional guitar model is like taking a step back into history. I have to say that I’m more of an HP guitar kind of guy, but that doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate being able to pick up a Les Paul Traditional guitar and find myself transported back to the days when I could never have afforded a Les Paul Traditional guitar, and I’d sneak into guitar shops as often as I could to play one. That feel and vibe still exists…even if the guitar shops are long gone.
- HC -
Visit the rest of the series on the 2017 Gibson Guitars:
How The Les Paul Tribute Pays Tribute
Met The Les Paul Faded
Inside The Les Paul Classic
Brothers in Arms - The Les Paul Studio and Standard
For more information on the Gibson Les Paul Traditional please visit Gibson.com
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Craig Andertonis Editorial Director of Harmony Central. He has played on, mixed, or produced over 20 major label releases (as well as mastered over a hundred tracks for various musicians), and written over a thousand articles for magazines like Guitar Player, Keyboard, Sound on Sound (UK), and Sound + Recording (Germany). He has also lectured on technology and the arts in 38 states, 10 countries, and three languages.
