Does It Live Up to the Hype? 2019 Gibson 'The Paul' 40th Anniversary Reissue Walnut | Review + Demo

0:48 - The Originals
1:35 - Reissue Specs
3:05 - The Wood Grain Hunt
4:42 - First Impressions
6:04 - Headstock "Flaw"
7:27 - Pickup Cavites
8:02 - New Bridge Set Up
9:19 - This Made Me Sad
9:49 - Playability
10:47 - Clean Demo
12:15 - Dirty Demo
15:03 - Condition
17:21 - New Gibson Case

When I first heard that Gibson reissue my favorite vintage budget model guitar, I knew I had to try one out! They cost more than an original, but the curiosity was just killing me. I bought my 2019 Gibson The Paul 40th Anniversary Walnut Reissue from Sweetwater and I plan to compare it to an original one as well in a future upload.

Overall, there are a few downfalls to this model, but it still maintains the greatness of the originals. It is definitely worth picking one of these up to compliment your original one!


My Gear Used to Make the Show:

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I will be writing a follow up article that will go in depth to all the differences between an original and reissue, but for this write up, I simply wanted to review the 40th Anniversary The Paul for what it is - a great guitar!

These are 2 piece walnut bodies with 3 piece walnut necks. Differing from the originals, they sport a rosewood fretboard and Gibson's 490R / 498T Humbucker pickups.

I've always said that the best thing about the originals were the ttop pickups. This essentially made them sound just like a Les Paul custom but for 1/3 of the price. I was pleasantly surprised at how nice this pickup combination sounded with the walnut guitar.

The 490 Neck pickups is dark and smooth sounding which makes it great for soulful blues. The 498T is twice as hot as the original's TTOP so it lends itself well to screaming leads! Blending the two together creates a really nice chime-like tone that I really loved (I'm not usually a big middle position fan either!)

The neck was a great 60s rounded neck profile which makes it just a tad larger than the originals. The frets were of a very similar size, but just a little bit taller as well to allow for easier bends.

The wood grain on my example is spectacular! You'll have to do some hunting to find one that looks quite as nice, but that is the beautiful thing about Walnut wood - there are many different looking examples!

In the end, I found that I really enjoyed this reissue and it follows the footsteps of the original The Paul series. It is a much better reissue than the 'The Paul II / SL" series from 1996-1998. This instrument is different enough from the original though that it would definitely be worth while to own both!
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[Trog]

I'm happy to report that the Reissue gets my stamp of approval. Sure, there are a few things I would've changed, but it's differences make it worth owning along side an original
0:48 - The Originals
1:35 - Reissue Specs
3:05 - The Wood Grain Hunt
4:42 - First Impressions
6:04 - Headstock "Flaw"
7:27 - Pickup Cavites
8:02 - New Bridge Set Up
9:19 - This Made Me Sad
9:49 - Playability
10:47 - Clean Demo
12:15 - Dirty Demo
15:03 - Condition
17:21 - New Gibson Case

[Kylora]

I work in QC in a machine shop. If someone submitted a part that had that level of burring on it, I would beat them to death with said part. There's ZERO excuse to not handwork that once you find out you have a dulled end mill/router. Those pickup cavities wounded me on a spiritual level.

[ZenDriveSeven]

I still have my 1979 The Paul I got new for my birthday. A ll stock with original TTops. Plays and sounds great!

[Eventual]

Happy for you. This one seems just right. The minor blems are character marks, the maple strip a requirement, the electronics are factory equipment for this 2019 and are now part of history. Since we don't see your videos daily anymore, each one is welcomed more so. Thanks Austin. Nice jams today too.

[ziggylayneable]

That's a really nice one there man.I rarely make comments and I watched your channel daily. One thing I want to add is that having watch your channel for the past few years your playing has gotten way better. You're getting really good.

[timcarter]

You were not kidding when you said expect one soon. Very happy to see this video. I'm looking forward to the straight-up comparison between the two. I always enjoy your Channel. Keep the videos coming.

[squishyflac]

They missed the chance to drop the s and make it 'Le Paul'

[Viper-dzkw]

As someone who is not a traditionalist and thinks the dip switch shit in the new les Paul’s is really cool, it’s not fair to the people who wanted a re issue to use a pcb board, it’s not faithful to the original product

[thierryduhin]

I have had a 1978 (November, Nashville) The Paul since the fall of 1979. A friend bought it new in Amsterdam as soon as it was available back then in the spring of 79. He hardly played it and sold it to me while it was still under guarantee. It's been my main axe for more than 15 years, I recorded with it and I still love to play it when I get a chance. If not everybody's eyecatcher, it's always been an “earcatcher” ;-) The pickups are simply stunning and I agree that a right description is “workhorse”.
One thing I'm pretty sure of, is that, sadly, the finish on these originals was not nitro, but poly. Also, most were 3-piece (ill-matched...) bodies, mine is but really looks great. Also, importantly and hardly ever mentioned, the fretboards were ebony and I'm convinced it contributes as much as the walnut body and neck to the unique tone of these beasts.
Mine was originally not grounded properly and buzzed quite a bit. I think that's the main reason why my friend didn't want to keep it. He was totally honest about this issue and I told him I was convinced it would be an easy fix. I did fix it as soon as I got back home with it and I never had to attend to it since ;-)
Burglars beware: I'll kill for this guitar...
Thierry (Belgium)

[Mooncalf]

If you've ever worked with Black Walnut, it is a very hard wood and router bits wear very fast, and getting that "sheen" in the finish takes a lot of craftsmanship. It was probably easier to work a piece of Maple over the truss rod, and maple is softer, and may lend more flexibility when making truss-rod adjustment, allowing for the wood's natural expansion/contraction, and to prevent warping of the neck...

[NONAME-GIVEN]

Well.... I bought one of the originals (The Paul) new in 1979-ish as it was all I could afford as a kid. I think it cost around $400. It played great and was way lighter that a normal LP. I played it for many years, It sounded fantastic. The wood makes a huge difference in the sound of this one. "I named it table top" for obvious reasons. The finish on the reissue seems better/different.

[triplesevensix]

I like it. That walnut has some nice grain to it. I like the fact its so stripped down & no frills. An honest guitar. A workhorse.

[Bldyiii]

Gibson charging the most they can for doing the least they can.

[fuzzcous]

Fantastic guitar, beautiful grain. Can't wait to see the comparison.

[jperryfan]

Bought mine new in 1979. Ebony Fretboard paid $350 with a hardshell case. Still have it and love it.

[vmat]

I'm In!!! When The Airborne Again promo showed up for the '58 style V, i ordered a poster since i had a RR Sr. They were nice enough to send lots of lit. Played the companion 335S but this offering with The Paul in print was hung up in my garage for over 30 years. PU switch is unPaul like but OK, , , , pinky flick. I dig this RI!!

[billg]

What a coincidence, I was trying to remember "Electric Eye" this morning. Thanks for the dissolves instead of hard cuts. I remember when the original issue came out.

[guitarmdpittsburgh]

Walnut "The Paul" and "The SG" were some of the best low cost instruments Gibson ever produced
The density of the wood makes the instrument bright and sustain well.. . .

[dawnrussell]

I've built many walnut guitars, they all have one thing in common.
Punchy mid-range, that one does also. Love walnut, smells as good
As it looks when you're cutting or sanding it.

[MrJhonbaker]

I want one of these to go with my 1980 The Paul - It was my first Gibson and after owning and selling many of them - it is still in my collection and my favorite.