Gibson 2014 Les Paul Futura Min-ETune Electric Guitar (with Case)

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This hot-rodded Les Paul comes loaded with an aggressive P-90H Sidewinder pickup in the neck, a BurstBucker 3 in the bridge, and Gibson's Min-ETune system.

What's special about this item?

Feature: What it does:
Burstbucker 3 pickup Detailed and expressive tone
On-board 15 dB boost Level boost perfect for leads and solos
P-90H Sidewinder pickup Aggressive P-90 tone
Weight-relieved body Lightweight with singing tone

As one of several models for Gibson's 120th Anniversary celebration, the Les Paul Futura 2014 combines an unprecedented set of features with incredible value. Backed by legendary tone and launched into the 21st century by some of Gibson's most stunning innovations yet, this is a guitar primed to rock your world -- and do it in style.

The Les Paul Futura 2014 begins with a foundation of traditional tonewoods, then kicks it up a notch with the pairing of an overwound-PAF-style BurstBucker 3 humbucker in the bridge position and Gibson's P-90H Sidewinder humbucker in the neck, with both enhanced by push/pull coil-split switching and an onboard 15 dB boost. Add the astounding Min-ETune automated tuning system and a whole raft of 120th Anniversary features, and the result is a stunning performance package.

Innovative 120th Anniversary additions for Gibson's 2014 Model Year include larger no-slip strap buttons, black Max Grip Speed Knobs, a black GraphTech nut, long-life proprietary coated guitar strings, cryogenic treated fret wire for longer life and corrosion resistance, a full PLEK setup, and a 120th Anniversary logo inlay at the 12th fret.

Body and Neck

Crafted in the image of the original Les Paul Standard, the Les Paul Futura 2014 is made from a solid mahogany back with modern weight relief for enhanced resonance and a lighter strapped-on feel, with a carved plain maple top (figured AA maple on the Brilliant Red and Pacific Blue models). Its glued-in maple neck sports a read more '60s Slim Taper profile, and a rosewood fingerboard incorporates 22 cryogenic treated frets for long life, plus traditional trapezoid inlays and a commemorative 120th Anniversary inlay at the 12th fret.

Pickups and Electronics

The guitar carries a unique pairing of a "hot-vintage" style BurstBucker 3 in the bridge position and a P-90H Sidewinder humbucker in the neck position. They're wired through the traditional complement of independent volume and tone controls and a three-way selector switch, but updated with coil-split switching and launched into the stratosphere with Gibson's onboard 15 dB boost.

Hardware

The Les Paul Futura 2014 is an unprecedented live performance machine thanks to its factory-installed Min-ETune tuning system, which automatically retunes your guitar on demand in seconds, or calls up any one of 12 factory or 6 user presets at a simple strum of the strings. A chrome Tune-o-matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece lock the strings down for optimum sustain, while enlarged strap buttons keep your guitar secure throughout the set. Black Max Grip speed knobs provide optimum on-the-fly control manipulation.

Case and Coverage

The Les Paul Futura 2014 comes protected in a black hardshell case, includes a truss-rod wrench and owner's manual, and is covered by a Limited Lifetime Warranty and Gibson's 24/7/365 Customer Service.
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Body
- Top: Maple
- Back: Mahogany
- Adhesive: Franklin Titebond 50

Neck
- Species: Maple
- Profile: '60s SlimTaper
- Truss Rod: Standard
- Joint Angle: 5* (+/- 15 seconds)
- Adhesive: Franklin Titebond 50

Neck Fit
- Joint: Mortise & Tenon
- Adhesive: Franklin Titebond 50
- Joint Angle Tolerance: +/- .005"

Fingerboard
- Species: Rosewood
- Frets: Cryogenically Tempered, 22
- Radius: 12"
- Nut/E.O.B: 1.695/2.260
- Inlays: Figured Acrylic Trapezoid with 120th Banner

Nut
- Material: Black TekToid
- Width: 1.695
- Slots: Gibson PLEK SystemNut

Headstock
- Silkscreen: Gold "Gibson" & "Les Paul Model"
- Truss Rod Cover: Black Bell Hot Stamp White "ETune"

Tuners
- Model: Min-Etune With Vintage Keys

Bridge
- Type: Tune-o-Matic
- Material: Chrome

Tailpiece
- Type: Stop Bar
- Plating: Chrome

Hardware
- Knobs: Black Supreme Grip Speed Knob
- Control Plate: Black
- Trim Rings: Black
- Strings: .009 - .046, Genuine Gibson strings
- Strap Buttons: Aluminum

Pickups
- Neck Position: P-90H Sidewinder (Alnico V x 2)
- Bridge Position: BB3 (Alnico #2)Pickups

Electronics
- Potentiometers: 2 Coil Split Push/Pull Volume Controls, 1 Push/Pull - Rhythm - Tone Control (15db boost), 1 Master Tone Control
- Type: 500K Non-Linear
- Toggle Switch: Three-way Switchcraft with Black Plastic Tip
- Output Jacks: 1/4" monoElectronics

Finish
- Sealer: Nitrocellulose
- Process: 1-1.5 mils

Case
- Type: Hardshell
- Exterior: Black with Gibson Logo
- Interior: Plush

For support or warranty questions, please contact the manufacturer:
Phone: 800-444-2766

Reviewers gave this product an overall rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. (22 ratings)
Submitted July 22, 2014 by Doug Emery

"Min-ETune and the Guitar"

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
This review has been selected by our experts as particularly helpful.
I researched the Futura for 2 weeks by watching all the Youtube videos I could find. I actually played the 2014 LPM & SGM models. Originally, I thought I wanted the SG but ended up liking the feel of the Les Paul over the SG. I knew I wanted a model with the Min-ETune. I wasn't fully impressed with the pickups in the LPM model. So, because I wanted a bigger sound, I took a leap and bought the Futura without ever playing one. It was a good gamble. I am impressed with the Futura. The pickup selections are fun and they all sound good. I really like having the options with the coil tap offerings. I bought the Brilliant Red and it looks better than I imagined it would. I just really like this guitar. Just so you know; there are some YouTube videos that say you can wind the tuning keys manually. Nope. You don't want to do that. These people are wrong. You will take the chance of damaging the servos on the Min-ETune system. There is a short instruction manual you can get online that tells you how to use the Min-ETune. I highly recommend you read this quick manual before messing with the system. The unit has a bit of a learning curve, but once you understand it, it all makes sense and is easy to remember. If you don't read this short manual you could end up damaging your Min-ETune system. My review of the Min-ETune is 10/10. I love it. To be able to quickly jump to different tunings is awesome, and it tunes perfectly. I read and play guitar tab, and as you know, not every song is read more in standard tuning. This device has spoiled me. A tip when using the Min-ETune: Strum the strings one time directly over the rhythm pickup. Then do nothing more while the letters flash different colors. Eventually, the colors will stop flashing and you will be left with letters that are solid green and solid red. The solid green strings are finished. Strum the red strings one at a time until all are green. The system will then turn itself off. I have watched people on YouTube and in real life strum the strings more than once before the colors turn solid and the system fails. Or, they will strum more than one solid red string, instead of one at a time, and the system fails. Now that I know how to use the system, when I read complaints about it online, I can tell by their description that they are doing it wrong. Another tip when using the Min-ETune: while you are holding the guitar and you look at the interface of the system (located on the back of the headstock), you might not notice the direction used to display the strings is backwards. For example, if I were to tell you my guitar tab is in standard tuning I would write it like so EADGBe. And you would know that the thickest string is E, the next thickest string is A… and the smallest string is e (or E). Well, while you are looking at the interface (on the back of the headstock), you might not notice that it is backwards! It is written eBGDAE. Because of this, you might get confused as to which string the system is referring you to, to strum! I was confused and thought the system was broken! I then remembered a guy in the music store said, ‘he loved the Min-ETune but had to work his way around remembering the strings were written backwards!’ Seriously, the manual is real short. Just read it and test it out as you read the manual and I am sure you will like the Min-ETune. Again, I really like this guitar. So many sounds, and the guitar feels good to play. I like it.

Musical Background:
Home Studio Musician

Musical Style:
Many forms of rock, heavy, progressive, electronic.
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