thecajunboy Posted July 18, 2005 Posted July 18, 2005 So I've never owned a Les Paul. I've got the itch. I've been turned off by Gibson's overall quality and would likely not buy anything new for a few reasons. Right now I've narrowed down what I think I'd like to have to either a R7 Goldtop, or 30th anniversary Goldtop. I played an R7 at Guitar Center over the weekend and for the most part enjoyed it except for the poorly cut nut that wouldn't allow me to get the G string in tune. Now don't turn this into a Gibson bashing thread. I'm looking for reasons to buy or not buy a Les Paul based on what I already have. I've got a 25th Anniversary Artist (Voodoo Gregwinds), and a Studio Custom (ebony board, sustain block, Rios). Will a Les Paul be much different soundwise? Other than just having a Les Paul, is there any justification to owning one?
discountsounds Posted July 18, 2005 Posted July 18, 2005 I think Les Paul goldtops are just super cool beautiful guitars. If you get one with soapbars, there's your excuse: you'll be adding to your sonic palette. Or you could just feed your goldtop monkey the way I did and get yourself a Monaco Elite Goldtop!
pesocaster Posted July 18, 2005 Posted July 18, 2005 A LP is it's own beast.... After owning many and selling them all ... I came to the conclusion... I love the way they look and sound.... never fealt comfortable with the way they play.... This is just my opinion.... My best advise... play MANY!
kizanski Posted July 18, 2005 Posted July 18, 2005 Sure there's a reason!"BECAUSE!" THAT'S your reason!"BECAUSE YOU WANT ONE!"There's nothing like a Les Paul. I don't care how many Hamers you have stacked up. There's nothing like a Les Paul.It's not better. It's not worse. "It is what it is."There. I know that was of absolutely no help to you, but it needed to be said.Carry on.
hardheartedbill Posted July 18, 2005 Posted July 18, 2005 my feeling is that if you've never owned a Gibson Les Paul then yes, you should get one ( how long you keep it is the real ? )
serial Posted July 18, 2005 Posted July 18, 2005 I have been fortunate enough to have pretty good experiences w/LPs over the past 25 years (well, aknost of those-I haven't owned an LP since the late 90s). I've been looking to get another LP for the past couple of years, sometimes more motivated than others. I will get another one someday-they do that Les Paul thing better than anything else, even if they aren't as well made as Hamer stuff is (in most cases). For a long time, I had Hamer Sunbursts that did most of what I wanted out of an LP and then some, but I guess I kind of miss the "feel" of a good LP. I've been Strat-less for even longer even though I've played Strats and Teles more than anything else over the years. Recently picked up a Strat and have had a hard time putting it down, even with the skinnier neck, thinner sounding single coils, etc. It's more of the "old shoe" mentality I think.
kizanski Posted July 18, 2005 Posted July 18, 2005 ...oh, and I forgot to mention:Make sure you get one with plenty of MOJO and Tone for Days!
Jack C Posted July 18, 2005 Posted July 18, 2005 I know where you're coming from. The LP bug is a mean one. Like you, I have a custom-ordered Studio (although it's not nearly as cool as the Cajunburst). Mine's a keeper and I don't ever plan on selling it. With that being the case, I told myself I would not buy another maple-topped mahogany bodied humbucker guitar. Sure, the LP would sound somewhat different and "nothing sounds like a Les Paul" but in my case, I don't even want to have anything that competes with my Studio. I'll do what it takes to make it work for me. Why custom order your dream guitar, only to go buy something that does basically the same thing? That's my thinking, at least.It's bad enough that my Studio (and every other guitar I've ever tried) can't compete with my pawnshop P90 Duotone. But that's another story...
MCChris Posted July 18, 2005 Posted July 18, 2005 This one's a dead ringer for the Les Paul I had in high school, right down to the large headstock and plastic case. I want it. Badly.http://www.elderly.com/vintage/items/30U-12740.htmI sold it and put the money toward a car, which was totalled three months later.
sw686blue Posted July 18, 2005 Posted July 18, 2005 ...oh, and I forgot to mention:Make sure you get one with plenty of MOJO and Tone for Days! and plays like buttah... Nick P.S. WTF does play like buttah mean anyway???
belikerick Posted July 18, 2005 Posted July 18, 2005 I chose a bit of a different route to a LP...I bought a Monaco Elite Mahogany (sight unseen off of eBay) that I thought might get me into LP territory, but it was not quite there, a darker tone (no maple cap I assume) than I wanted but nice and crunchy. But then I played a GMP Classic Pawn Shop and fell in love! It's got a great crunchy LP rock tone with no mud in the bottom end and cleans up beautifully. Plus I love the 25.5 scale neck and neck carve of the GMP. For me the perfect rock guitar hands down! I have played another one since I got mine cause, of course, I was curious to see if there was any difference in the "mojo" (essential for any LP) and they both played and sounded very much alike. This confirms various things I've read about the GMP quality and consistency of build as compared to the opposite stories I hear about Gibsons.Anyhow, it's another avenue you might look at in your search.
bruce919 Posted July 18, 2005 Posted July 18, 2005 If you are not picky about the name on the headstock. Go find a Epiphone Elitist Les Paul. They have the long Neck joint. Nickle hardware. Made in Japan. Top quality. I have played three of them & own one. All were great players. I could not find a fault in any of them.
guitfiddler Posted July 18, 2005 Posted July 18, 2005 "If you are not picky about the name on the headstock. Go find a Epiphone Elitist Les Paul. They have the long Neck joint. Nickle hardware. Made in....."I second that.Here is mine.... picked up about 6 weeks ago on ebay for about $750., shipped to USA. 1 pc mahog. neck, maple top, Gibson pickups, no flaws 8.5 lbsAnother good LP to look for (from Japan) is "Orville by Gibson." Just watch the weight.... should be 4.0 kilos (9 lbs.) or less, for a Standard. The Customs tend to run a little more toward 10 lbs. (4.5 Kilos.) . I have 2 Orville LP Customs also, 1 black, 1 transp. cherry. http://www.hamerfanclub.com/memberpages/gu...dtop%20back.jpghttp://www.hamerfanclub.com/memberpages/gu...dtop%20neck.jpg http://www.hamerfanclub.com/memberpages/gu...dtop,%20top.jpg
cswilder Posted July 18, 2005 Posted July 18, 2005 CB, You already know my answer. You're welcome to come try my R7 and R8 the next time you're in town. The pinging nut problem is extremely common with Historics. It takes 10-15 minutes with a thin file or tiny exacto saw to remedy. For this reason it seems odd that Gibson doesn't fix it, but I've just accepted it as a given that I'll have to set up/tweak ANY guitar I buy. You know how to get into a guitar at the right price so it probably won't cost you much to evaluate one for a while. Personally, I prefer the historics from 2003 onward, but usually find the nicest boards on the 03s. Both of mine are 03s. One of my boards is Brazilian and one is not, but they both look great. Feel free to give me a call or email off line if you want my list of check points for Historic shopping. I've owned nearly 14 or so at this point and I feel they are very special instruments. Chris
mario Posted July 18, 2005 Posted July 18, 2005 I have a 1970 Goldtop that is amazing. That being said, I have also played some clunkers. Play as many of them as you can until you find that magical one.
thecajunboy Posted July 18, 2005 Author Posted July 18, 2005 Chris,I'm probably gonna be at hte Arlington show, and looking for something there. I'll also be at the James Burton Festival in Shreveport in August. Hopefully there will be some stuff to look at there. No Epiphones. Only a real Les Paul with Gibson on the headstock is gonna put the itch in check for me.
JordanL Posted July 18, 2005 Posted July 18, 2005 So I've never owned a Les Paul. I've got the itch. ... Other than just having a Les Paul, is there any justification to owning one? What more justification do you really need? I only have an Orville, but its been fun to play. A distincltly different feel, Even strummed acoustically you can tell it really wants to be plugged into a Marshall. It is THE classic hard rock guitar.
guitfiddler Posted July 18, 2005 Posted July 18, 2005 I also figured, if a Greco LP was good enough for Ace Frehley..... which it is..... it might be good enough for me. (Which it is) With the $6,000. that I didn't have to donate to Gibson Inc. on my "LP" dead-ringer replica acquisitions, I've had some fun, gone to some concerts, bought a couple great amps and a couple great basses, and still saved over half of it. http://www.hamerfanclub.com/memberpages/gu...20headstock.jpg http://www.hamerfanclub.com/memberpages/gu...ower%20bout.jpg
sirDaniel Posted July 18, 2005 Posted July 18, 2005 All about the look (yawn).I found I can't play them anymore. Been away from that shape/size/weight too long. Like PRS, if every Tom, Dick or Harry didn't have one. in burst no less...Okay, if you MUST have "the look" go get one...Better get a home equity loan to get one better then most stock HamerUSA.
morningstar Posted July 19, 2005 Posted July 19, 2005 I have owned Les Pauls.Get an ESP Eclipse II. The 2004 model with the now Gibber-banished four knobs. Avoid the EMG one. The Duncan units are outstanding and lighter than expected.I own two and doubt I will ever own another Les Paul.Your mileage may vary,morningstar
thecajunboy Posted July 19, 2005 Author Posted July 19, 2005 Thanks for the comments so far. I should have clarified earlier that I'm not looking for suggestions on what other guitars might be just as good or better. It's gonna be a real Les Paul or none at all. Looks like I'm getting more convinced to grab one. I expect to take time and find one that I feel comfortable buying. It'll be used because I realize that should I decide to sell later, that I likely won't take a beating, and might actually make a dollar or three.
hamersandstrats Posted July 19, 2005 Posted July 19, 2005 The best deal in Gibsons right now are the 57 RI Goldtops and the 58 RI Plaintops. Its true that Gibson could spend more time fine tuning these guitars before they are shipped out, but for the most part, they play and sound incredible. I recently bought 2 58 Plaintops for $2000 each, and kept the better player while selling the other for the same money. The historics have lighter mahogany bodies than the regular Gibson USA Standards, as well as a lighter nitro finish. Some people dont like the stock electronics and Burstbucker pickups, but they sound great through my rig. It hits the front end of my Fenders harder than any of my Hamers and the notes have much more sustain and "bloom" to them. The tone is also more woody and organic than the Hamers, although not as "creamy" sounding.
Hamer95USA Posted July 19, 2005 Posted July 19, 2005 Hey the cajunboy, You know you want this: You want a Les Paul Custom with EMG 85 pickups in it!!! Let your neighbors know your home from work when you're banging away on your Les Paul in the family room real loud on your Marshall (or amp of your choice). Guitar George
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