Gibson Les Paul BFG Electric Guitar (with Case)

Feature:
This is a bare bones guitar. But that is a plus. Nothing gets in the way of playing. No complicated choices to make here. Just straight ahead blues or rock or metal - whatever your fancy. (But this is not a shred machine.) The best part of the rough finish is that it feels great and I don't worry about it getting a knock or two on stage. The kill switch is a kool idea, but some don't like it. (I say: get a different guitar.) There is only one tone control, but that is all you need. Being able to control the volume for each pickup is enough. I give this a 10 because this guitar has all you need.

Quality:
The BFG is made well. The rough finish might not be for everyone, but the guitar is rock solid. I played several of these in the store before buying this one and they were all good. The only reason I rated it an 8 is because this is no match for high end instruments (pricier Gibsons, PRSs and the like). But that is not what this guitar is about.

Value:
This is a great value for the money. If you want an LP and can't afford the big boys, Give this a look before you think about the cheaper brands. If you look hard enough you'll find a used one, but not for very much less than a new one. These will hold their value.

Desirability:
I would say this is an acquired taste. It's not for the boutique hungry, but it is a looker. At least it will turn heads and start conversations. Personally, I love it. It is my new best friend.

Sound:
This is now my favorite pickup combination: A P90 in the neck and a Burstbucker Pro 3 in the bridge. Both pickups kick butt individually and the combination is a sweet, open clear tone you can't get any other way. The P90 can be rough and raw, but it cleans up nicely through the right amp. The Burstbucker is just and awesome humbucker that screams when you want it, but can be pulled back if you have to. The chambered Mahogany body and Rosewood board give this guitar a nice warmth. A very responsive guitar. The only thing that beats it is my Hamer Newport with two Seymour Duncan P-Rails.

Ease of Use:
This guitar is very playable. I did a minimal setup on it. The BFG was pretty much ready to play from Gibson. My only complaint was that the fret board seemed a little dry. That was easily fixed with a little oil (the right kind, search for fret doctor). Getting great sounds with this guitar is easy. The rest is in your hands.

Support:
I have had no need to contact Gibson and I don't expect to.

Overall:
If something happened to this, I would want to replace it immediately. This fills a hole in my collection I didn't know I had until I played it. This guitar is a player and a great workhorse.

Quality:
Mine is excellent. This guitar is supposed to look worn, but do not get the impression that they threw together a bunch of crap. The neck has a wonderful, worn feel, and the body may be unsanded, but it is lightly finished. It does not fell like a "cheap" guitar. One note is that the body is chambered, which makes the guitar light and resonant.

Value:
The price is fair if this is what you are looking for. If you want something more pretty and with two humbuckers that sound smoother, then buy the Les Paul Studio. This guitar is definitely unique. The combination of the P90 and Burstbucker is more in-your-face than other Les Pauls that I have played. I personally love mine because I like the feel of a worn guitar and do like not worrying about scratching finishes or dinging binding.

Sound:
I own this guitar and it is killer, but it depends on what you are looking for. It looks like "crappy" in the photos, but it is actually a really cool guitar to play and has a distinct vibe. If you are into a guitar with a neck that not super, glossy finished, then this guitar will be right up your ally. It plays super well for people that enjoy guitars with satin-finished necks. The tone of this guitar is like a gladiator punching you in the stomach. That is, the P90 is high-output and will kick your amp into crunch fairly easily. It is darker than a single-coil, but will clean up if you kick it down with the volume knob. The bridge PU is a Burstbucker... its bright and cuts through the mix. Blending the two produces some very interesting tones, turning the volume up on one and down on the other PU get some cool mixes. This guitar is for rock and works well for metal, unless you are really into having a humbucker in the bridge for sweep picking - do not buy this if you play jazz or something.

Overall:
I imagine I will keep this guitar for a long time. It screams, plays unbelievably well, and gets certain tones that you will not be able to wrangle out of another Les Paul or a strat.