The Gibson Les Paul Classic series began in 1990 with the Les Paul Classic, a reissue based on the 1960 Les Paul. The key feature of the Les Paul Classic was it's slim neck profile. The Les Paul Classic also had some other features true to the 1960 original: a narrow headstock, thin cutaway binding, aged yellowish fingerboard inlays, inked-on serial number, nickel hardware, vintage-style logo and aged binding on body and neck. Some differences were the Les Paul Classic's truss rod cover with "Classic" and pickguard engraved "1960." The pickups came with no covers so the coils were exposed, another characteristic to differentiate it from other Les Pauls, though this was fairly realistic given that many players removed the covers to get a better tone on their old Pauls.
The Classic was introduced with a retail price of $1,529 more expensive than Les Paul Standards at the time. The Classic's higher price was justified by its reissue-yet-modern vibe and was further enhanced by availability in several sunburst finishes, and in bullion gold on the top, sides, back and neck. There was no special effort to find figured maple for these so most of the tops on sunburst Classic models were plain. The Les Paul Classic specifications were adjusted during the early 1990s. The first change was the addition of a curly or "Plus" top in April 1991 - for the Les Paul Classic Plus model which cost $2,099.
In many respects the Les Paul Classic was a more accurate reissue than the '59 Les Paul of the early 1990s. By swapping a few easily found parts: a blank truss rod cover, pickup covers, and a new pick guard, a pre 1993 Classic Plus with a nicely flamed top would look just as nice as a '59 reissue but over $2,000 cheaper.
In 1993 the Classic line was extended again with the introduction of the Premium Plus model. Dealers were unhappy with the variability of the figure in the Classic Plus models So the Classic Premium Plus guitars had tops which were better than "plus" tops but not usually as fancy as the '59 reissue tops. The Classic Premium Plus came without a pickguard fitted (it was supplied in the case) but cost $500 more than the Classic Plus when the only real difference between the Plus and Premium Plus was the top.
At the start of 1993 both these models were still almost like '59 reissues for a lot less money. Gibson fixed this in mid 1993 when the decal on the headstock of all Classics was changed from "Les Paul Model" to "Les Paul Classic" and they widened the binding in the cutaway. This stopped a Classic with swapped truss rod cover and pickguard being passed off as a '59 reissue.
Source: Eric Shoaf. Vintage Guitar magazine, May 1998.
GIBSON LES PAUL CLASSIC (LPCS)The Gibson Les Paul Classic was introduced in 1990 as a reissue based on the 1960 Les Paul. The key feature of the Classic was it's slim neck profile. The Les Paul Classic also had some other features true to the 1960 original: a narrow headstock, thin cutaway binding, aged yellowish fingerboard inlays, inked-on serial number, nickel hardware, vintage-style logo and aged binding on body and neck. | |
No image yet | GIBSON Les Paul Classic Bird's-eyeThe Les Paul Classic Bird's-eye was introduced in 1994 |
GIBSON Les Paul Classic PlusThe Gibson Les Paul Classic was introduced in 1990 as a reissue based on the 1960 Les Paul. The Les Paul Classic specifications were adjusted during the early 1990s. The first change was the addition of the Les Paul Classic Plus model which had a figured, curly or "Plus" top in April 1991 - which cost $2,099 at the time. In many respects the Les Paul Classic Plus was a more accurate reissue than the '59 Les Paul of the early 1990s. | |
No image yet | GIBSON Les Paul Classic Premium Bird's-eyeThe first Les Paul Classic Premium Bird's-eye was produced by GIBSON in 1994 |
GIBSON Les Paul Classic Premium Plus (LPPP)The Gibson Les Paul Classic was introduced in 1990 as a reissue based on the 1960 Les Paul. The in 1991 came the figured top Classic Plus version In 1993 the Classic line was extended again with the introduction of the Premium Plus model. Dealers were unhappy with the variability of the figure in the Classic Plus models So the Classic Premium Plus guitars had tops which were better than "plus" tops but not usually as fancy as the '59 reissue tops. |
Specifications:
Model | Image | Finish colors | Finish effects | Made in | Binding | Number of strings | Scale length |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GIBSON LES PAUL CLASSIC (LPCS) 1990 to 2006 | amber finish, ebony finish, honey finish, red finish | sunburst finish, transparent finish | USA | body binding, neck binding | 6 strings | 24.75 inches scale-length | |
GIBSON Les Paul Classic Bird's-eye 1994 | No image yet | - | - | - | - | - | - |
GIBSON Les Paul Classic Plus 1991 to 19951999 to 2001 | amber finish, honey finish, purple finish, red finish | sunburst finish, transparent finish | USA | - | 6 strings | 24.75 inches scale-length | |
GIBSON Les Paul Classic Premium Bird's-eye 1994 | No image yet | - | - | - | - | - | - |
GIBSON Les Paul Classic Premium Plus (LPPP) 1993 to 19971999 to 2001 | amber finish, honey finish, purple finish, red finish | sunburst finish, transparent finish | USA | - | 6 strings | 24.75 inches scale-length |
Model | Tone controls | Volume controls |
---|---|---|
GIBSON LES PAUL CLASSIC (LPCS) 1990 to 2006 | 2 tone controls | 2 volume controls |
GIBSON Les Paul Classic Bird's-eye 1994 | - | - |
GIBSON Les Paul Classic Plus 1991 to 19951999 to 2001 | 2 tone controls | 2 volume controls |
GIBSON Les Paul Classic Premium Bird's-eye 1994 | - | - |
GIBSON Les Paul Classic Premium Plus (LPPP) 1993 to 19971999 to 2001 | 2 tone controls | 2 volume controls |
Model | Pickups brand and model | Pickups configuration |
---|---|---|
GIBSON LES PAUL CLASSIC (LPCS) 1990 to 2006 | Gibson 496R pickup(s), Gibson 500T pickup(s) | 2 humbucker pickups |
GIBSON Les Paul Classic Bird's-eye 1994 | - | - |
GIBSON Les Paul Classic Plus 1991 to 19951999 to 2001 | Gibson 496R pickup(s), Gibson 500T pickup(s) | 2 humbucker pickups |
GIBSON Les Paul Classic Premium Bird's-eye 1994 | - | - |
GIBSON Les Paul Classic Premium Plus (LPPP) 1993 to 19971999 to 2001 | Gibson 496R pickup(s), Gibson 500T pickup(s) | 2 humbucker pickups |
Model | Body material | Body shape features | Body style | Body top material | Pickguard material |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
GIBSON LES PAUL CLASSIC (LPCS) 1990 to 2006 | mahogany body | carved top, single cutaway | Les Paul-style body | maple body top | cream pickguard |
GIBSON Les Paul Classic Bird's-eye 1994 | - | - | - | - | - |
GIBSON Les Paul Classic Plus 1991 to 19951999 to 2001 | mahogany body | carved top, single cutaway | Les Paul-style body | figured maple body top | cream pickguard |
GIBSON Les Paul Classic Premium Bird's-eye 1994 | - | - | - | - | - |
GIBSON Les Paul Classic Premium Plus (LPPP) 1993 to 19971999 to 2001 | mahogany body | carved top, single cutaway | - | figured maple body top | cream pickguard |
Model | Bridge | Hardware color | Tailpiece | Tuners |
---|---|---|---|---|
GIBSON LES PAUL CLASSIC (LPCS) 1990 to 2006 | ABR-1 bridge | nickel hardware | stop tailpiece | pearloid button tuners |
GIBSON Les Paul Classic Bird's-eye 1994 | - | - | - | - |
GIBSON Les Paul Classic Plus 1991 to 19951999 to 2001 | tune-o-matic bridge | nickel hardware | stop tailpiece | pearloid button tuners |
GIBSON Les Paul Classic Premium Bird's-eye 1994 | - | - | - | - |
GIBSON Les Paul Classic Premium Plus (LPPP) 1993 to 19971999 to 2001 | tune-o-matic bridge | nickel hardware | stop tailpiece | pearloid button tuners |
Model | Fingerboard material | Fingerboard position markers |
---|---|---|
GIBSON LES PAUL CLASSIC (LPCS) 1990 to 2006 | rosewood fingerboard | trapezoid fingerboard position markers |
GIBSON Les Paul Classic Bird's-eye 1994 | - | - |
GIBSON Les Paul Classic Plus 1991 to 19951999 to 2001 | rosewood fingerboard | trapezoid fingerboard position markers |
GIBSON Les Paul Classic Premium Bird's-eye 1994 | - | - |
GIBSON Les Paul Classic Premium Plus (LPPP) 1993 to 19971999 to 2001 | rosewood fingerboard | trapezoid fingerboard position markers |
Model | Headstock inlays or logos | Neck profile | Number of frets | Peghead (headstock) |
---|---|---|---|---|
GIBSON LES PAUL CLASSIC (LPCS) 1990 to 2006 | pearl headstock inlay/logo | slim D neck profile | 22 fret | black face headstock |
GIBSON Les Paul Classic Bird's-eye 1994 | - | - | - | - |
GIBSON Les Paul Classic Plus 1991 to 19951999 to 2001 | pearl headstock inlay/logo | - | - | black face headstock |
GIBSON Les Paul Classic Premium Bird's-eye 1994 | - | - | - | - |
GIBSON Les Paul Classic Premium Plus (LPPP) 1993 to 19971999 to 2001 | pearl headstock inlay/logo | - | - | black face headstock |
3 Comments
Les Paul Classic MIII
Submitted by eric (not verified) on
1991-92 Les Paul Classic MIII HSH pickups, 5 way switch
Covers
Submitted by Bobby g (not verified) on
Friend said in american market some 1998 had pick up covers .. True. .?
Gibson Classic 1960s with nickel covers
Submitted by Andreas (not verified) on
My 2000 Les Paul Classic has nickel covers. I don't know if they are replacements, but i don't think they sound as good as my SG Standard with 490- 498 or my Les Paul 1958 Custom with Burstbucker 1 and 2. Did the Classic come with other pickups or is it just covers on some of them?