Description

Golden Goodness! 80s MIJ Northern Artist Les Paul with upgraded ES-335 pickups and new frets. Bolt-on neck. $499!

The Korean made Northern Artist Les Paul is a lesser-known but well-regarded Les Paul-style guitar, offering players an affordable alternative to higher-end models while retaining many of the key features associated with the classic Les Paul design. Northern Artist, like many other brands, produced these instruments during the 1980s and 1990s, leveraging Korean manufacturing to create budget-friendly yet solidly built guitars for musicians on a tighter budget. These guitars are known for their classic looks, solid construction, and versatile sound.

KEY FEATURES:

Les Paul Body Shape: The Northern Artist Les Paul follows the traditional single-cutaway body design, providing the familiar aesthetics and playability that players expect from a Les Paul-style guitar.
Mahogany or Maple Body: Many Korean-made Les Paul-style guitars feature a mahogany body, often with a maple top, providing a warm, resonant tone with plenty of sustain. This wood combination is crucial to achieving the thick, rich tone associated with Les Paul models.
Humbucking Pickups: Upgraded ES-335 Pickups
Bolt-On Neck: Some Northern Artist Les Paul models may feature a bolt-on neck, rather than the set neck construction of higher-end Les Pauls. This makes the guitar more affordable while still providing stable playability and decent sustain.
Rosewood Fingerboard: The guitar usually features a rosewood fingerboard, providing smooth playability and a warm, rounded tonal quality. The rosewood’s darker tone helps balance out the brightness from the pickups.

SOUND PROFILE:

Classic Les Paul Tone: With humbucking pickups and a mahogany body, the Northern Artist Les Paul delivers the thick, creamy tones Les Paul guitars are known for. Its sound can range from warm and mellow to bright and biting, making it versatile enough for a variety of music styles.
Sustain and Warmth: Thanks to the mahogany body and humbucking pickups, the guitar provides plenty of sustain and warmth, making it great for solos, lead work, and rhythm playing.

APPLICATIONS:

Rock, Blues, and Jazz: The Northern Artist Les Paul is ideal for players in rock, blues, and jazz genres, where its warm, full sound and versatile pickups can handle clean tones and overdrive alike.
Live Performance and Studio Recording: While a budget-friendly option, the Northern Artist Les Paul performs well in both live and studio settings, offering solid tones and reliable construction for regular gigging or recording.
Affordable Entry-Level Guitar: As a more affordable Les Paul-style guitar, the Northern Artist Les Paul is perfect for beginner or intermediate players looking for a quality instrument at a lower price point.

BUILD QUALITY AND AESTHETIC:

Classic Les Paul Look: The guitar retains the traditional Les Paul aesthetics, with its single-cutaway body shape, sunburst or solid finishes, and chrome hardware. Its timeless design makes it visually appealing to players who want that iconic look.
Solid Construction: Despite being a budget model, the Korean-made Northern Artist Les Paul is well-constructed, offering durability and reliability for musicians who need a dependable instrument for live performance or practice.

COUNTRY OF MANUFACTURE:

The Northern Artist Les Paul is made in Korea, where many high-quality, affordable instruments were produced during the 1980s and 1990s. Korean-made guitars from this era are known for offering great value, with solid build quality and performance at lower price points compared to American-made models.

COLLECTIBILITY AND MARKET VALUE:

While not as collectible as American-made Les Pauls, the Korean made Northern Artist Les Paul is appreciated by players who are looking for a vintage-inspired instrument with a classic design. These guitars typically offer good value for money on the used market, and their solid construction makes them a reliable choice for gigging musicians or those looking for a backup guitar.