The custom was a 76 to 80, can't remember, the modified Pro is a 78. IMO some of the online curation of holy truths are just internet blather. Quality control went missing around then maybe, but more likely is cheaper guitars got better and Gibson did nothing but rest on their laurels with a particularly destructive CEO in charge for decades.Uncle E wrote: Thu Jun 04, 2026 3:42 amYes, those are great, particularly up to '72.machinesworking wrote: Thu Jun 04, 2026 12:55 am For me it's a 70's Les Paul. Yes, Gibson is a screwy company, doesn't matter, I get the most out of a Les Paul in terms of sound. I still get bummed about that black 70's Les Paul Custon that was stolen out of an apartment in the 90's. especially thinking I bought it for $400 in around 86.
My guitar & Bass collection
-
machinesworking machinesworking https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=8505
- KVRAF
- 7967 posts since 15 Aug, 2003 from seattle
-
- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 1643 posts since 18 Mar, 2004 from Lincoln, CA
I never bought a Yamaha bass mainly because they tend to be very heavy, which is also the reason why most of my basses have been Ibby, as they tend to be lighter in general, at least the SR line.
- KVRAF
- 20662 posts since 22 Nov, 2000 from Southern California
78 is when they got good again!machinesworking wrote: Thu Jun 04, 2026 4:15 pm The custom was a 76 to 80, can't remember, the modified Pro is a 78. IMO some of the online curation of holy truths are just internet blather. Quality control went missing around then maybe, but more likely is cheaper guitars got better and Gibson did nothing but rest on their laurels with a particularly destructive CEO in charge for decades.
I don't actually know how true that is or if it's universal. All I know is my 68 Les Paul Deluxe (which is supposedly made the same as 69-72 models) was the best Les Paul I've owned, and the 73 pancake body I had recently wasn't as good. 78 is when they returned to non-pancake bodies in that model.
- KVRAF
- 18338 posts since 26 Jun, 2006 from San Francisco Bay Area
I’m like that too. My first good guitar was a Rickenbacker. I had no clue what to get, so I just bought what the bands used that I was into. Later I got a Vox Buckingham, of course. It took about 5 years to realize that it wasn’t the right guitar for me, and I traded it for a G&L Skyhawk. Basically a Fender Stratocaster, but better.machinesworking wrote: Wed Jun 03, 2026 11:13 pm I'm the exact opposite, I spent most of my life owning just one guitar, the first was a black Les Paul Custom I bought in the 80's that got stolen, and the second a Les Paul Pro modified with regular LP humbuckers. I had that guitar for about 25 years before buying a Gretsch Powerjet, then last year I picked up a mexican Fender Telecaster.
Oh and guitar is my primary instrument!I might pick up a 7 string at some point, I play heavier music and would like the extra low end etc. but I can't imagine needing more than 8 or so guitars?
I still have it, though now it’s my secondary instrument. The Steinberger GM4T just makes more sense to me. I can’t sell the G&L, though. Too many memories. I also have a Steinberger Q Bass, a cheap Seagull acoustic and a Rogue Corel Sitar. That’s it. I love looking at other people’s collections, but I’m really just happy with my small collection.
Zerocrossing Media
4th Law of Robotics: When turning evil, display a red indicator light. ~[ ●_● ]~
4th Law of Robotics: When turning evil, display a red indicator light. ~[ ●_● ]~
-
- KVRAF
- 7822 posts since 20 Jan, 2008
I love my Player II Vintage modified mostly because of the SD La Brea pups. I've been searching for "The Tele" for decades and always been let down. I just wish I could swap my CIC tele neck with the MIM Player II vintange modifed. The CIC is a true realatively thin C shape with 9.5 radius and plays like butter.Lunatique wrote: Wed Jun 03, 2026 5:35 pm
The SRT technology (which I assume is some kind of convolution technique) is one of the better sounding plugged-in acoustic sound for sure. Far better than even the best piezo acoustic pickup.tapper mike wrote: Wed Jun 03, 2026 12:22 pm
I'd forgotten all about Yamaha silent guitars though I was fascinated with them in the past.
I no longer have the Tele. For the longest time, I think I loved the idea of a Tele more than the Tele itself, and after trying a few, I realized my ideal Tele would just be a T-styled guitar shape but without any of the traditional Tele elements. I'd want humbuckers that can be split/tapped for a wider range of sounds, and I'd want more ergonomics than just a slab of wood. The T-shaped guitars I do still have are great examples.
That tele is the reason I'm going classic country. It's fun I tickle myself with the corny licks and I can usually vary it enough to come out sounding classic rock/rockabilly
As for the Yamaha.... Honestly I'm more impressed with the verity and depth of tone coming out of Cordoba Fusions.
Dell Vostro i9 64GB Ram Windows 11 Pro, Cubase, Bitwig, Mixcraft Guitar Pod Go, Linntrument Nektar P1, Novation Launchpad
-
- KVRian
- 1359 posts since 7 Oct, 2023 from Tokyo
Actually most are light (similar to Ibanez); it's mainly the BBs that are heavy. But both my TRBX and SBVs have been like 3.8kg, and my BB VIII was under 4, which is light for a BB. My Motion Bass was actually almost too light.Lunatique wrote: Thu Jun 04, 2026 4:39 pm I never bought a Yamaha bass mainly because they tend to be very heavy, which is also the reason why most of my basses have been Ibby, as they tend to be lighter in general, at least the SR line.
Those old MB's are amazing btw, incredible tone for such a small instrument.
- KVRer
- 20 posts since 1 Jun, 2026 from United States
those 80s motion basses with the 32-inch scale feel like playing a toy until you plug them in and the pick up output shakes the floor 
knob.monster - The iCloud for Vintage Synthesizers
Back up, search, and recall DX7, Juno-106 & Korg M1 patches in 1-click.
Back up, search, and recall DX7, Juno-106 & Korg M1 patches in 1-click.
-
- KVRian
- 1359 posts since 7 Oct, 2023 from Tokyo
Totally! Those pickups are amazing.knob_monster wrote: Fri Jun 05, 2026 1:17 am those 80s motion basses with the 32-inch scale feel like playing a toy until you plug them in and the pick up output shakes the floor![]()