ROAD TEST
Gibson Les Paul Tribute 2017 T
By Hal Rodriguez
Guitar
Gibson ’ s latest Les Paul Tribute model features vintage aesthetics but with modern considerations for playability and tone , which include a lighter mahogany body , slimmer neck built for speed , and the company ’ s 490 humbuckers for more aggressive tones . At an attractive price point , the American-made Les Paul Tribute 2017 T puts Gibson ’ s classic , flagship guitar in the reach of many players .
Specifications The 2017 T I reviewed came in a pleasing faded honey burst finish beautifully matched with cream pickup rings and pickguard . The guitar is also available in gold finish and comes with a sleek , comfortable padded gig bag . The tasteful wood grain on the maple top , sides , and back of the neck gave the instrument an antique look , and the textured cover plates for the electronics added a touch of class . Another nice attention to detail comes in the fact that the output jack plate boasts a matching cream colour .
Those looking for Gibson ’ s classic vintage appointments will certainly find them here , including the vintage-style keystone tuners , trapezoid inlays , and gold tophat knobs .
Aesthetically , the 2017 T delivers the classic Les Paul look , missing only the traditional cream binding around the body ; however , at this price point and with the guitar ’ s impressive playability and sound , that ’ s something I ’ d happily do without .
Playability As someone who ’ s used to playing bolt-on California-style guitars , the light weight of this Les Paul is a welcome surprise . The 2017 T features Gibson ’ s mahogany body with ninehole weight relief , which puts the guitar at a relatively comfortable weight of around 8 lbs . I ’ ve found playing while sitting or standing up with this guitar for long periods to be a comfortable , pain-free experience .
The guitar is also comfortably set up with super low action and light nine-gauge strings . This , coupled with the 2017 T ’ s slim taper neck profile , makes the guitar feel equally effortless to play whether one is bending classic blues phrases or shredding modern passages . I found the smooth playability of this Les Paul and its natural resonance made it inspiring to practice for hours – even when unplugged .
Tribute Tone Testing the guitar without an amp , I was impressed with the 2017 T ’ s thick , balanced tone . When playing single-note lines on higher frets , it ’ s not thin or overly bright , nor is it dull or muddy when playing dense chords down low .
Plugged in , rockers will be pleased to hear the natural gritty overdrive and midrange the Gibson 490 pickups deliver into a preamp . By adding a boost pedal or playing through higher gain , the Les Paul ’ s recognizable lead tones for rock are easily dialled in , yet turning down the volume and tone knobs can tame its edges to create more nuanced , vintage tones for blues and jazz .
Personally , I enjoy the sound of the pickups through a clean setting , as they produce pleasing glassy yet fat tones . Throw in a little reverb and delay and flip to the neck pickup and you ’ re right at home with roots and rockabilly , while a dry setting on the middle position makes the guitar well suited for vigorous funk rhythms . The bridge pickup stings for blues licks , but it ’ s always inspiring and never overly harsh .
Summary Gibson ’ s Les Paul Tribute model for 2017 delivers a high degree playability , solid and versatile tones , and attractive looks all at an affordable price point . Its vintage aesthetics will please players of classic genres and its light weight and fast neck will happily accommodate modern guitarists .
As someone who plays multiple styles of music and who has been looking for the right Gibson guitar to add to my arsenal , I feel no need to look any further than the 2017 T .
Hal Rodriguez is a published writer , songwriter , and multi-instrumentalist who can be contacted at halromusic @ gmail . com .
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