Feature:
Timeless design.

Quality:
No issues. 2004 and newer are made in Gibson's Custom Shop.

Value:
Yes they are expensive but you will have a real instrument designed to out live you!

Desirability:
Black Beauty.......

Sound:
The 498T is bright compared to the PAF of yesteryear. I like the 498T though. The quality is there, those who rate it down don't know how to set up a guitar or just have an axe to grind (no pun intended). They are made of wood, made by human hands and hey guess what...THE ARE ADJUSTABLE FOR A REASON!

Ease of Use:
Ebony fretboard plays like butter

Support:
Always respond quickly to email questions

It's the last cloud you can get to when in heaven. Oh yes, I am not stopping the music. My Black Beauty is coming with me to my grave. It's that addictive!

Feature:
It's a Les Paul Custom in a nice hard shell case...What else do you need?

Quality:
I would have put this score higher, but the fret work in not what you would expect from a $3000.00 guitar. For that price, I think that the fret work should be top notch directly from Gibson. Everything else...finish, binding, and inlays is very sweet.

Value:
Again, the price tag is a bit steep. Especially when the fret work isn't top notch. I mean, we are talking $3000.00 for one of these things new. I've baught used cars for less. Still, it is a Les Paul Custom. Just lower the dang price some.

Desirability:
IT'S A LES PAUL CUSTOM!!!! Does anything else need to be said? This guitar is the quintesential rock and roll machine. When it says "CUSTOM" on the headstock...nothing else compares.

Sound:
The Custom sounds really good as it came from Gibson, however, I use Seymour Duncun Pick-ups in all of mine (Screamin Deamon, bridge and 59, neck). I have to say, this sounds even better. I find that I have more control over the sound from the guitar. I don't need to change settings on the amp.

Ease of Use:
I have found that Gibson guitars usually are a bit inconsistant with the fret work. Overall, this thing is still awsome, but I also have a complete fret grind and polish done. If you like the way it plays out of the box...Let someone do a fret job on it!

Support:
I own 5 Les Paul Custom's and a 1986 Flying V. I've dealt with Gibson several times and they've always been very helpful and have went out of their way to get things done or just to help out. I can't say anything close to that about Jackson and I own two 1988, USA made Soloists.

Overall:
I refuse to get rid of any of mine. I faught like heck to buy them, for a long time. I can play another guitar any time I want, I just don't choose to very often. Only when the tune needs a tremolo. These things are built like tanks, so they'll last. My 1970 Custom plays like it's new, it just has more "character". I haven't found another top end Axe I'd trade for.

Feature:
Average features, but not much for options from Gibson. The one big plus here is, you get volume and tone knobs for each pickup. Not many other guitars doing this any more.

Quality:
The quality of the wood, the craftsmanship, and attention to detail in the construction of this guitar is great. Don't kid yourself, this is no Epiphone crap cardboard. My problem is, why would anyone build such a great guitar, and load it up with such CHEAP electronics!!???!! My pickup switch has never worked properly, gotta f### with it all time when switching pickups.

Value:
Expensive guitar, but aren't they all now? I'd rather pay 1K for this than 500 for the korean trash.

Desirability:
Every guitarist needs a LP for their arsenal.

Sound:
Good full tone. Could use some boost in the upper-mids, but overall very good.

Support:
Haven't tried to deal with them.

Overall:
I'll keep this one until something better comes along.

Quality:
Mine is a '79, so it's made it 25 years with only a few dings here and there. The quality seems top notch.

Value:
These may be costly, but mine has lasted 25 years and still is in great shape and plays beautifully

Support:
Gibson has customer support? Since when?

Feature:
it came with a guitar cord which i don't use since i've got my own. allen wrench for adjustment. the knobs are ok, but i will change them to skull design ones to match the black color of the guitar.

Quality:
will probably last a lifetime i am sure. looks very sturdy and can stand up to a beating.mine had paint chipped of near the first fret, but then again it's just paint so who cares, sound is more important than looks for me.

Value:
for the price, it is worth it definitely. it's almost like a bargain for the features and quality this axe has.

Desirability:
standard Les Paul look but in black. i'd probably have the chromed parts of it sand blasted or painted black to give it that Goth look. but you cant go wrong with black, fits any occasion, be it a wedding or a funeral.

Sound:
the sound is fantastic! i read reviews about Les Pauls and all of them were good. i was blown away by the sound of this baby. crisp and clear, no hums even with heavy distortion. i had an Ibanez before, and there was this tremendous hum that i hear when i turn hit my effects, and it got even worse when i turned on the overdrive on my amp. i guess it might have been the stock humbuckers that came with it, not grounded well or something. But this guitar sounds Great!

Ease of Use:
i didn't quite expect that the clearance of the strings from the fret is quite far. 3mm from from the first fret and about 4.5 or 5mm on the 22nd fret. im used to the Ibanez, maybe that is why i find it a bit awkward to play in such clearance. but hey, once i get used to it, it'll be better. the knobs are very responsive especially the volume control. i might change the humbuckers to Seymour Duncans, but i'll give these HBs a chance first and see...

Support:
never dealt with them, and i don't think i will ever have to.

Overall:
i'd probably keep this and buy another Les Paul. but this ones definitely a keeper.

this is probably the greatest guitar ever built, its the only guitar that can outmatch the LP standard, and thats really freakin hard to do, a little costly but its also a guitar u can keep for life and it'll never get old

Feature:
the features are great.

Quality:
best you can get. period.

Value:
the price is good for quality. it is expencive, but it is the best.

Desirability:
i drool over this guitar. it looks so good. it has the best feel ever, and it plays like a dream.

Sound:
Gibson les pauls are the best. this one sounds awesome, in all tones.

Support:
gibson offers the best support around.

Overall:
everything is good about it.

Feature:
Typical Les Paul Luxury. The headstock artwork is very nice and is exclusive only to the custom.

Quality:
Made extremely well.

Sound:
This tone kicks my ass over and over each time I play it. I NEEED to own this axe.