Lets look at our guitars thread
Discussion
Personally my cut off with Les Pauls is around 2006. It's my opinion that those made afterward in non Custom shop form suffered a bit from workmanship issues, and robotic issues also. Not all of them, mind. But when you're spending close to £2k new, you'd want something that's not going to need a bit of looking at, living with (binding not set properly) small repair or a proper set up (ie why's the bridge jacked up on one side) soon as it comes out of the box.
Some of the ones I looked at on display were like that (they were the better ones from the shipment according to the staff). Some werent at all, and were lovely guitars.
Also, Plek, e-tune and active boost switches piss me off.
I've heard great things about post 2016 models, and the 2017 I played earlier in the year on loan was an absolute stonker of a guitar but I havent bought one in 10 years so I could be well off the mark.
Some of the ones I looked at on display were like that (they were the better ones from the shipment according to the staff). Some werent at all, and were lovely guitars.
Also, Plek, e-tune and active boost switches piss me off.
I've heard great things about post 2016 models, and the 2017 I played earlier in the year on loan was an absolute stonker of a guitar but I havent bought one in 10 years so I could be well off the mark.
I've had three LP's & not liked any of them ergonomically. It must be me as the common denominator I suppose. I just find them too heavy, the necks too fat & the bridge elevates the strings too high above the body. This might be years & years as a strat player with all those lovely designed in comfort features Leo thoughtfully provided.
All I know is I have a rather delightful black studio with sexy gold hardware hanging up on the wall with a lot of dust on it. Shame really because they nearly always have absolutely killer tone.
All I know is I have a rather delightful black studio with sexy gold hardware hanging up on the wall with a lot of dust on it. Shame really because they nearly always have absolutely killer tone.
I think the Traditional line alongside the Tribute line didn't suffer so badly - the tributes offered great stripped back playability in a value package and the Traditional IMO should be the Les Paul Standard - no weight relief, beautiful tops and no gimmicks.
I know the 100th Anniversary 2015 Traditional line are sacrilege for a lot of people due to the neck profile, Nut and Robot tuners, but the tops are stunning and they're something of a bargain on the used market!
I know the 100th Anniversary 2015 Traditional line are sacrilege for a lot of people due to the neck profile, Nut and Robot tuners, but the tops are stunning and they're something of a bargain on the used market!
Anyone tried the Boss Katana? Think I'm going to sell on my other two practice amps (Blackstar HT1R and Fender Mustang I V2) and get one instead. They get great reviews and sound brilliant on all the youtube vids. I'm looking for that classic blues strat sparkly clean but at living room volumes!
Eddie Strohacker said:
I've had three LP's & not liked any of them ergonomically. It must be me as the common denominator I suppose. I just find them too heavy, the necks too fat & the bridge elevates the strings too high above the body. This might be years & years as a strat player with all those lovely designed in comfort features Leo thoughtfully provided.
All I know is I have a rather delightful black studio with sexy gold hardware hanging up on the wall with a lot of dust on it. Shame really because they nearly always have absolutely killer tone.
I'm with you all the way on that; but from an opposing perspective.All I know is I have a rather delightful black studio with sexy gold hardware hanging up on the wall with a lot of dust on it. Shame really because they nearly always have absolutely killer tone.
I've never bought a Strat, despite being lovely to play and have tones that resonate with my some of my favourite players such as Gallagher and Gilmour. Yet, I've always found a Strat to be "uncomfortable" to play in terms of its body shape / contouring / neck angle. The last time I tried one, though, I was a lot porkier than I am now, so they may now "fit" me a little better. I may not find out as I'm considering selling the PRS, keeping the Ibanez, and getting a nice acoustic.
vournikas said:
Eddie Strohacker said:
I've had three LP's & not liked any of them ergonomically. It must be me as the common denominator I suppose. I just find them too heavy, the necks too fat & the bridge elevates the strings too high above the body. This might be years & years as a strat player with all those lovely designed in comfort features Leo thoughtfully provided.
All I know is I have a rather delightful black studio with sexy gold hardware hanging up on the wall with a lot of dust on it. Shame really because they nearly always have absolutely killer tone.
I'm with you all the way on that; but from an opposing perspective.All I know is I have a rather delightful black studio with sexy gold hardware hanging up on the wall with a lot of dust on it. Shame really because they nearly always have absolutely killer tone.
I've never bought a Strat, despite being lovely to play and have tones that resonate with my some of my favourite players such as Gallagher and Gilmour. Yet, I've always found a Strat to be "uncomfortable" to play in terms of its body shape / contouring / neck angle. The last time I tried one, though, I was a lot porkier than I am now, so they may now "fit" me a little better. I may not find out as I'm considering selling the PRS, keeping the Ibanez, and getting a nice acoustic.
I started out with a strat style guitar, but have grown to appreciate other types. I got into a tele that weaned me off the comforts of strats. I too have always found Les Pauls very uncomfortable, until that day maybe 8 or 9 years ago, I got a chance to try out that custom shop '58 LP. Strangely felt so comfortable, the fat neck shape was a little bigger than I could handle, meant there's more wood to hold on to (!), the 'board was butter smooth. The sounds it made, made me feel like a god of Rock! And such beautiful cleans, I've not heard from an LP. Sadly, I was too skint to even look at it then. No other LP I've played since then has come close. Although my current Tokai is very nice, it's not that Les Paul. Maybe one day, I'll find one like it.
All I know is, it was a '58, plain top, cherry burst CS jobbie.
I agree with that. I have my Duesenberg which I love but had to spend a good chunk of time learning how to play it if that makes any sense. I mean in terms of the little differences in shape & size that confound the muscle memory I've developed playing the same guitar for years. Hard to explain it but I definitely felt the differences & heard them in the bum notes & crappy right hand technique until perseverance prevailed.
LP's have always felt a bit too much of a stretch for me to get comfortable with & it's consequently much easier to reach for my comfort blanket Strat. Sorry Les, it's not you, it's me.
LP's have always felt a bit too much of a stretch for me to get comfortable with & it's consequently much easier to reach for my comfort blanket Strat. Sorry Les, it's not you, it's me.
counterofbeans said:
Are there any Les Pauls worth buying purely for investment purposes?
(probably heresy even to ask, so I apologise in advance...)
Your only hope is when they do historic artist runs - they recently reissued the Knopfler Les Paul, finding a well price Yamano Gibson or a real Tom Murphy aged with the signed scratch plate. These will already cost a fair bit though.(probably heresy even to ask, so I apologise in advance...)
Of course if you have over 250k spare a sorted 59 Les Paul shouldn't lose money.
counterofbeans said:
Are there any Les Pauls worth buying purely for investment purposes?
(probably heresy even to ask, so I apologise in advance...)
I think some have already peaked (but I said that about house prices in 2004, make of that what you will). (probably heresy even to ask, so I apologise in advance...)
Small returns - something from the custom shop; a Slash sig, an R8 from a few years ago.
The thing is, for the money you'll make and the time you'll have to wait for the right buyer to come around (and the time spent sat on it) there's possibly other things you could buy.
I'd hunt out something famous if you have the money, saying that though Denmark St have probably already got it so you'd end up paying top dealer prices.
This could be worth a look; https://www.denmarkstreetonline.co.uk/product-deta...
counterofbeans said:
Are there any Les Pauls worth buying purely for investment purposes?
(probably heresy even to ask, so I apologise in advance...)
Was watching this vid:(probably heresy even to ask, so I apologise in advance...)
15 Vintage Gibson Les Paul Guitars Comparison
A nice selection of guitars, and it's interesting how the sound gets fatter as the years went by. I think the '58 hits the sweet spot for me.
Was surprised how good the 2008 R9 sounded relative to the vintage '58/'59. I'm not the most clued up on the reissues, but it would put the guitar I had played, made around that time. Must go out and try some of the newer ones.
Nanook said:
It’s really heavy, it’s awful for playing sitting down due to the shape.
That's because the default Les Paul playing position is this:
counterofbeans said:
Are there any Les Pauls worth buying purely for investment purposes?
(probably heresy even to ask, so I apologise in advance...)
Depends on budget of course but maybe look at 1968 standards. Gold top with P90s.(probably heresy even to ask, so I apologise in advance...)
The 68 were the first reissues and were built more like a 50s than later ones including the 69s.
You still struggle to get one under £8k though and then they go up considerably depending on condition.
I picked one up about six years ago for £4.5k from the US but it had "possibly" been refinished a very long time ago in black. I contact Gibson with pics, serial and pot codes and they confirm august 68 and said they did do special,order colours but they lost a lot of the detailed ledger stuff years ago... I didn't care about the possible refin it's a 68 LP with p90s FFS! And it sounds fantastic.
Jazzmaster done! Very happy with it! 
Just in time for the remembrance day gig!
Has some mods for the electronics; lead circuit master volume & tone are now independent vol controls for the p'ups. Rhythm circuit roller pots have been re purposed as bass & treble cut controls (acts as master tone). Changed the vol pots from 1meg to 250k, which has beefed up the single coils somewhat. Has become a more versatile beast now compared to the standard jazzmaster wiring.
Maybe need to change tuners to the locking variety, and change the 'tone' knob to vol.
Just in time for the remembrance day gig!
Has some mods for the electronics; lead circuit master volume & tone are now independent vol controls for the p'ups. Rhythm circuit roller pots have been re purposed as bass & treble cut controls (acts as master tone). Changed the vol pots from 1meg to 250k, which has beefed up the single coils somewhat. Has become a more versatile beast now compared to the standard jazzmaster wiring.
Maybe need to change tuners to the locking variety, and change the 'tone' knob to vol.
FreeLitres said:
Interesting neck on that Jazz. Is that rosewood?
Wenge wood. Took a punt, as it's well known for bass guitars. It has turned out well, I think. Can't tell the difference it has made on the tone as the electrics has changed a lot from the previous set up. At least it's not sounding like a bass guitar.
enjo said:
Wow! I would never have put those colour combos together but something about it is just right. I'm building a Tele right now and I thought I was being out there with gold vol/tone knobs...
Thanks, yeah it seems to work. Seeing how dark the neck looks, I didn't want to have a pickguard that's too contrasty with the rest of the guitar, and the brushed gold seemed to work better than some other options available.Also wasn't sure whether the gold pickguard would work with the nickel/chrome hardware (have a general aversion to gold hardware), but when the whole thing was put together, I liked the results.
What colour is your tele?
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