Gibson Les Paul Studio for £380 - Should I buy it?
Discussion
OK quick question as I need to make a decision tonight, but I am looking at starting up playing guitar again after 6 years away, and am looking at the above guitar.
Basically its a heart over head matter. I used to have an Epiphone Les Paul Custom Plus and an Epiphone Wildkat which I loved but always hankered after a real Gibson. Obviously I am only starting out again so don't if I should just get a £200 Epiphone as I will no doubt suck and even an Epiphone will be a better guitar than I am player.
The Gibson in question is a 2013 model, in vintage sunburst and upgraded with Dirty Fingers humbuckers. What do you guys think?
On the other hand there is also a Gibson Melody Maker for sale locally for £350 with Fender amp, stand, lead, etc but the simplicity and single (single coil) pickup is a bit of a turn off.
Please tell me what to do!
Basically its a heart over head matter. I used to have an Epiphone Les Paul Custom Plus and an Epiphone Wildkat which I loved but always hankered after a real Gibson. Obviously I am only starting out again so don't if I should just get a £200 Epiphone as I will no doubt suck and even an Epiphone will be a better guitar than I am player.
The Gibson in question is a 2013 model, in vintage sunburst and upgraded with Dirty Fingers humbuckers. What do you guys think?
On the other hand there is also a Gibson Melody Maker for sale locally for £350 with Fender amp, stand, lead, etc but the simplicity and single (single coil) pickup is a bit of a turn off.
Please tell me what to do!
Can you play before you buy it? The cheep-ish 50s and 60s tribute Les Pauls have a fairly good rep so I dont see why a Studio should be much different.
An interesting alternative would be something like a Chapman ML2, similar price range to were you are looking and similar shape to a Les Paul but it has its own style so its not an obvious rip off, or maybe a Shekter?
An interesting alternative would be something like a Chapman ML2, similar price range to were you are looking and similar shape to a Les Paul but it has its own style so its not an obvious rip off, or maybe a Shekter?
£350 is a good price - they're nice looking guitars without all of the fanciness of the standard.
the only thing to consider is that you'll need a decent amp to get the best out of it, which will be a few hundred on top of that - don't scrimp and buy a cheap practice amp as they sound rubbish.
the only thing to consider is that you'll need a decent amp to get the best out of it, which will be a few hundred on top of that - don't scrimp and buy a cheap practice amp as they sound rubbish.
Thanks guys I think I will 
Might pop into the local music shop on the way home from the night shift first though and have a look what they have before I pull the trigger. This is the guitar in question. I am unsure whether it is a Studio '70's Tribute' or a standard Studio model with different pickups fitted, not that it matters much
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/162132281653?_trksid=p20...
Might pop into the local music shop on the way home from the night shift first though and have a look what they have before I pull the trigger. This is the guitar in question. I am unsure whether it is a Studio '70's Tribute' or a standard Studio model with different pickups fitted, not that it matters much
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/162132281653?_trksid=p20...
That looks like the humbucker equivalent of my 2013 Les Paul Studio (mine has P90s). I found it a little different from my Epiphone Cherry Sunburst that I've owned for 20 years, specifically the neck feels fatter and the frets were much higher (I had a luthier dress them down for me in the end). Nice guitar though and of course the name on the headstock makes it for me, especially as I waited for 40 years to finally own a guitar made by Gibson.
FWIW I paid £399 for mine brand new last November as Guitar Guitar were knocking them out on a deal, probably because it's satin black, but I've seen them selling the 'burst versions cheap too so don't feel pressured to buying this particular one as others will turn up.
FWIW I paid £399 for mine brand new last November as Guitar Guitar were knocking them out on a deal, probably because it's satin black, but I've seen them selling the 'burst versions cheap too so don't feel pressured to buying this particular one as others will turn up.
Cheers guys,
I have been looking at my local music shops website and they are selling new Studios for £499 which is a surprise. As i said I haven't played in 5 or 6 years but I swear that they always used to be around the £800 mark?
I will pop in on the way home from work and take a look, and I am in Bedford tomorrow anyways so will try to go and take a look at the ebay example in person before making any decisions.
The more I look the bigger the budget gets
http://www.coda-music.com/gibson-paul-studio-faded...
I have been looking at my local music shops website and they are selling new Studios for £499 which is a surprise. As i said I haven't played in 5 or 6 years but I swear that they always used to be around the £800 mark?
I will pop in on the way home from work and take a look, and I am in Bedford tomorrow anyways so will try to go and take a look at the ebay example in person before making any decisions.
The more I look the bigger the budget gets
http://www.coda-music.com/gibson-paul-studio-faded...
Edited by AceOfHearts on Sunday 10th July 22:49
Haha, I know what you mean about budget creep. I was looking at getting some Bare Knuckle pickups to fit to my Epiphone, but then find myself looking at the 2016 Standard T from Coda music instead and just trading in the Epiphone:
http://www.coda-music.com/gibson-paul-standard-201...
I was looking at getting some Bare Knuckle pickups to fit to my Epiphone, but then find myself looking at the 2016 Standard T from Coda music instead and just trading in the Epiphone:http://www.coda-music.com/gibson-paul-standard-201...
davepoth said:
£350 is a good price - they're nice looking guitars without all of the fanciness of the standard.
the only thing to consider is that you'll need a decent amp to get the best out of it, which will be a few hundred on top of that - don't scrimp and buy a cheap practice amp as they sound rubbish.
https://new.andertons.co.uk/p/GTHR10/combo-amps/yamaha-thr10-compact-guitar-ampthe only thing to consider is that you'll need a decent amp to get the best out of it, which will be a few hundred on top of that - don't scrimp and buy a cheap practice amp as they sound rubbish.
These are fantastic.
My son bought one of these..
https://new.andertons.co.uk/p/LPST5HTSECH3/solid-b...
It is great, played well out of the box, sounds fantastic and to be honest there is not much between it and my lp standard..
https://new.andertons.co.uk/p/LPST5HTSECH3/solid-b...
It is great, played well out of the box, sounds fantastic and to be honest there is not much between it and my lp standard..
So to sum up this short thread, today I have bought a new 2016 Gibson Les Paul Studio in Satin Fireburst, Fender Mustang II V2 amp and accessories. I absolutely love it
Can't wait to get some decent time to explore the amp and start getting my playing up to scratch. Since I stopped playing there has been loads of great tuition videos that have been uploaded to Youtube, so I am really excited to get stuck in!
Another nice touch is that in the paperwork Gibson include a picture of your guitar being built
Little things
Can't wait to get some decent time to explore the amp and start getting my playing up to scratch. Since I stopped playing there has been loads of great tuition videos that have been uploaded to Youtube, so I am really excited to get stuck in!
Another nice touch is that in the paperwork Gibson include a picture of your guitar being built
Little thingsEdited by AceOfHearts on Monday 11th July 20:17
Edited by AceOfHearts on Monday 11th July 20:18
You're right about the pricing of Studio models often being higher than that, I think it's due to a wide range under the Studio label these days... For instance gloss white/gold hardware ones were £1200 in January, and I'm not going to check if they've dropped from there since I got mine 
Gassing Station | Music | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff