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Gibson Les Paul Axcess Standard £2499
Classic electric with contemporary features
Simon Bradley, Mon 8 Jun 2009, 3:45 pm UTC
It's interesting that a simple coil-split can vastly increase a Les Paul's tonal palette and, with a smoother blues-style drive, the coil-split middle position resembles a boosted Strat's central coil – all body and restrained sparkle.
For super clean sounds, meanwhile, the split tones benefit from the associated lack of mahogany push to give tones that are full yet distinct.
Set stiffly as it is here, the Floyd Rose vibrato feels solid and substantial (they can be unnervingly flightly). Cool undulations are as simple to perform as outrageous dives. And shredding is certainly made a whole lot easier thanks to the reduced heel.
The only niggle is that the coil-split pot can be a little tricky to pull up – a push/push knob would be better, but you soon get used to it.
Modern features
Flying in the face of our preconceptions, the Les Paul Axcess is a truly gorgeous guitar that perfectly mixes Gibson's heritage with a number of features designed for the modern player. If a Floyd's not for you, the guitar is also available with a stop-tail configuration and the reduced body mass makes it an easier guitar to get to grips with than a Standard.
Gibson's suggested/retail prices aren't quite as removed from reality as they once were, but even at full whack this seems like fair value. The traditionalists won't like it for certain, but whammy-abusing rockers will find its charms hard to resist.
Verdict
Don't let the Floyd put you off – this is a great blues and rock guitar with added versatility courtesy of a simple coil-split. The contouring takes the playing experience to a new level. Available without a Floyd if you so wish.
MusicRadar rating:
Where to buy
Buy product from Andertons Music Company
Buy similar products from Wood Brass
Buy product from Thomann
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MusicRadar rating
Pros
The new features – lighter weight, improved access, coil-splits and, yes, the Floyd Rose!
Cons
The coil-tap pot can be a little tricky to grasp at times.
Verdict
Don't let the Floyd put you off – this is a great blues and rock guitar with added versatility courtesy of a simple coil-split. The contouring takes the playing experience to a new level. Available without a Floyd if you so wish.
Review Policy
All MusicRadar's reviews are by independent product specialists, who are not aligned to any gear manufacturer or retailer. Our experts also write for renowned magazines such as Guitarist, Total Guitar, Computer Music, Future Music and Rhythm. All are part of Future PLC, the biggest publisher of music making magazines in the world.
Where to buy
Buy product from Andertons Music Company
Buy similar products from Wood Brass
Buy product from Thomann
Specification
Les Paul Axcess Standard
- Price:
- £2499
- Country of Origin:
- USA
- Available Controls:
- 2 x Tone, 2 x Volume, 3-way Pickup Selector
- Available Finish:
- Iced Tea Burst, Gun Metal grey
- Body Style:
- Single-cutaway, solidbody electric
- Fingerboard Material:
- Rosewood
- Guitar Body Material:
- Mahogany
- Hardware:
- Original Floyd Rose double-locking vibrato, Gibson Kluson Deluxe tuners
- Neck Material:
- One-piece mahogany
- No. of Frets:
- 22
- Nut:
- Floyd Rose R4 locking
- Scale Length (Inches) (Inches):
- 24.75
- Scale Length (mm) (mm):
- 628
- Top Material:
- Carved maple
- Weight (kg) (kg):
- 3.45
- Weight (lb) (lb):
- 7.6
- Pickup:
- Gibson Burstbucker 1 (bridge) and Burstbucker 2 (neck)