Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Gibson's been catching heat for years, online critics calling them "overpriced" "poorly built" "boomer nostalgia" etc. But after playing 5 flagship Les Pauls from Gibson, Heritage, PRS, and Duesenberg side by side... I think the real problem with Gibson is something many people are missing.
πΈ THE LINEUP:
β¬οΈ Affiliate links (shopping through these supports the channel at no extra cost to you!)
π‘ Gibson 50s Les Paul Standard Gold Top
π sweetwater.sjv.io/X4x4Pb
π€ Heritage Standard II H150
π sweetwater.sjv.io/B5X5WW
π΄ PRS McCarty SC 594 (40th Anniversary)
π sweetwater.sjv.io/n414O9
π PRS S2 McCarty 594
π sweetwater.sjv.io/dyoyx7
π΅ Duesenberg Fantom S
π sweetwater.sjv.io/MKXKZ2
π¬ CHAPTERS:
0:00 β The problem with Gibson (it's not what you think)
2:33β Let's Hear The Les Paul
3:41 β Gibson 50s Les Paul Standard Gold Top
5:41 β Let's Hear The Heritage
6:35 β Heritage Standard II H150
8:17 β Let's Hear The PRS SC
9:28 β PRS McCarty SC 594 (40th Anniversary)
11:24 β Let's Hear The S2 McCarty
12:35 β PRS S2 McCarty 594
14:18 β Let's Hear The Duesengberg
14:28 β Duesenberg Phantom S
19:06 β The Duesenberg has a few issues
19:41β So who's building the best Les Paul?
20:53β Gibson's REAL problem
24:30 β What do you think?
π WANT TO LEVEL UP YOUR PLAYING?
Check out my guitar courses π rhettshullguitarcourses.com
π§ LISTEN TO THE PODCAST:
@dippedintone w/ Rhett Shull & Zach Broyles β available everywhere you listen
π± FOLLOW ME:
Instagram β @rhettshull
TikTok β @rhettshull
π€ Huge thanks to Sweetwater for making this comparison possible. These guitars were sent on loan for this video β they all went back to Fort Wayne when we wrapped. Sweetwater did not influence the results.
@sweetwater
#gibson #lespaul #heritage #prs #duesenberg #guitar #sweetwater #guitarreview
Gibson's been catching heat for years, online critics calling them "overpriced" "poorly built" "boomer nostalgia" etc. But after playing 5 flagship Les Pauls from Gibson, Heritage, PRS, and Duesenberg side by side... I think the real problem with Gibson is something many people are missing.
πΈ THE LINEUP:
β¬οΈ Affiliate links (shopping through these supports the channel at no extra cost to you!)
π‘ Gibson 50s Les Paul Standard Gold Top
π sweetwater.sjv.io/X4x4Pb
π€ Heritage Standard II H150
π sweetwater.sjv.io/B5X5WW
π΄ PRS McCarty SC 594 (40th Anniversary)
π sweetwater.sjv.io/n414O9
π PRS S2 McCarty 594
π sweetwater.sjv.io/dyoyx7
π΅ Duesenberg Fantom S
π sweetwater.sjv.io/MKXKZ2
π¬ CHAPTERS:
0:00 β The problem with Gibson (it's not what you think)
2:33β Let's Hear The Les Paul
3:41 β Gibson 50s Les Paul Standard Gold Top
5:41 β Let's Hear The Heritage
6:35 β Heritage Standard II H150
8:17 β Let's Hear The PRS SC
9:28 β PRS McCarty SC 594 (40th Anniversary)
11:24 β Let's Hear The S2 McCarty
12:35 β PRS S2 McCarty 594
14:18 β Let's Hear The Duesengberg
14:28 β Duesenberg Phantom S
19:06 β The Duesenberg has a few issues
19:41β So who's building the best Les Paul?
20:53β Gibson's REAL problem
24:30 β What do you think?
π WANT TO LEVEL UP YOUR PLAYING?
Check out my guitar courses π rhettshullguitarcourses.com
π§ LISTEN TO THE PODCAST:
@dippedintone w/ Rhett Shull & Zach Broyles β available everywhere you listen
π± FOLLOW ME:
Instagram β @rhettshull
TikTok β @rhettshull
π€ Huge thanks to Sweetwater for making this comparison possible. These guitars were sent on loan for this video β they all went back to Fort Wayne when we wrapped. Sweetwater did not influence the results.
@sweetwater
#gibson #lespaul #heritage #prs #duesenberg #guitar #sweetwater #guitarreview



![If I Lost Everything Tomorrow... Id Buy These First
After years of buying, selling, and swapping out more pedals than I can count, these are the ones that stayed. These arent the most hyped or the most expensive β theyre the ones that actually make me sound like me. Im breaking down why each one earned a permanent spot on my board and how I actually use them on tour with The Midnight and in the studio.
Thanks to @sweetwater for sponsoring todays video
πΈ PEDALS IN THIS VIDEO (Some Affiliate Links, Some Not)
Boss FZ-1W Fuzz β [AFFILIATE LINK]
https://sweetwater.sjv.io/ZVQGq0
Xotic BB-Preamp β [AFFILIATE LINK]
https://sweetwater.sjv.io/E0K6x9
Strymon Timeline β [AFFILIATE LINK]
https://sweetwater.sjv.io/OYrDaK
Vongon Ultrasheer β [NON-AFFILIATE LINK]
https://www.vongon.com/products/ultrasheer
Chase Bliss Mood MkII β [NON-AFFILIATE LINK]
https://www.chasebliss.com/mood-mkii?srsltid=AfmBOorJm7Qsk5k6UcIjA9Nklj7DwCJ6rLb3u-XRizpy9yO_QrrzNg-p
Hologram Electronics Chroma Console β [NON -AFFILIATE LINK]
https://www.hologramelectronics.com/products/chroma-console?variant=50128739533104
β±οΈ CHAPTERS
0:00 β Intro
1:09 β Boss FZ-1 Waza
2:52 β Xotic BB-Preamp
4:50 β Strymon Timeline
6:16 β Vongon Ultrasheer
8:13 β GFI Synesthesia
9:34 β Chase Bliss Mood MKII
11:19 β Hologram Chroma Console
13:56 β Final Thoughts
π Subscribe for more β https://www.youtube.com/@RhettShull?sub_confirmation=1
πΈ Follow me:
Instagram β https://www.instagram.com/rhaborean
TikTok β https://www.tiktok.com/@rhettshull
π΅ Listen to The Midnight β https://open.spotify.com/artist/2fMGAOGJiZKjiNKYEMz2o5
ποΈ Backstage Journal Podcast β https://open.spotify.com/show/1q8Rrv42WhyOgk080LZOe2
#guitar #pedals #pedalboard #guitartone #guitarpedals #guitarrig #theMidnight #rhettshull #touringmusician #guitargear If I Lost Everything Tomorrow... Id Buy These First](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XmdarX_hxXY/mqdefault.jpg)

![I Didnt Think Id Ever Do This Again [on tour with The Midnight]
The Midnights Live Band:
β Tyler Lyle β Vocals, Guitar [@tylerlyle]
β Oliver McEwan β Bass, Music Director [@olivermcewan]
β OBLVYN (Cat Bliemel) β Synth, Vocals [@oblvyn]
β Kwesi AyoKwe Robinson β Drums [@ayo_kwe]
β Rhett Shull β Guitar [@rhettshull]
The Crew:
β Chris Dwight β Front of House Engineer / Production Manager [@chrisdwight1]
β TJ Elias β Monitor Engineer [@tjthunder]
β Reena Ye β Lighting Director [@reena.ye]
β Dan Avery β Tour Manager [@freedanavery]
The Midnight is managed by Justin Little of Brilliant Corners Artist Management
https://brilliantcorners.com/
@themidnightofficial
After over six years of being off the road, Im finally back with a full time touring band, The Midnight. In January of 2026 we started a three week run through China, India and Australia which was my first time out with the band. This is episode one of the newest season of Backstage Journal.
Check out the gear I used on tour [affiliate links]
Pedalboard ποΈ
Neural DSP Quad Cortex
β https://sweetwater.sjv.io/EE5v52
Temple Audio Pedalboard w/ Flight Case
β https://sweetwater.sjv.io/bOW9Wv
CIOKS Power Supply
β https://sweetwater.sjv.io/vPoqov
Chase Bliss Mood (non affiliate link)
β https://www.chasebliss.com/mood-mkii?srsltid=AfmBOoprXpXrZPokZannm75mVcjTnSrgQDbq3ABCVLpKDh6nNV8u_qtr
Benson Delay
β https://sweetwater.sjv.io/LKz3zM
Strymon Conduit MIDI Interface
β https://sweetwater.sjv.io/55X3an
Guitars πΈ
Novo Miris Custom (non affiliate link)
β https://www.novoguitars.com/products/miris-j?srsltid=AfmBOorsMGiABeONTBqdIMd_5PipwzmkDZtvjsjI7oRr ZASEfI7hQh
Fender Ultra II HSS Stratocaster
β https://sweetwater.sjv.io/9Lb3Ge
πΈ My Guitar Courses
Fretboard Fundamentals
β https://rhettshullguitarcourses.com/p/ff-ultimate
Breaking Out of the Pentatonic Box
β https://rhettshullguitarcourses.com/p/breaking-out-of-the-pentatonic-box
The CAGED Course
β https://rhettshullguitarcourses.com/p/the-caged-course
Join The Discord
https://discord.gg/j7aRfUyzMH
πΆ Listen to my music
Spotify
β https://open.spotify.com/artist/5llKYgJlzPpMaDPmuATus5?si=d_cQn0D7SuGpdmQoRk4a0w
Apple Music
β https://music.apple.com/us/artist/rhett-shull/990499912 I Didnt Think Id Ever Do This Again [on tour with The Midnight]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/aOq5rhL4O68/mqdefault.jpg)




