Let's Talk Les Pauls

  • Thread starter Thread starter Zaphod B
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Zaphod B

Zaphod B

Raccoons-Be-Gone, Inc.
I know this topic has been discussed in various threads, so please excuse one more.

I'm saving up my pennies, nickels, dimes, and US Savings Bonds for my next aquisition, which will be some sort of medium-to-high-end Gibson Les Paul. I'll be buying new rather than used.

Epi's and other clones are not under consideration.

Right now I'm thinking of LPs in the range of the Gibson USA Standard or Classic series (I particularly like the Classic Antique models cosmetically), or perhaps Supremes. I'll even pony up for a Custom Shop model if I thought it would buy me actual quality, but I will not pay extra for someone's signature model.

So, I guess the first question is, what does the Custom Shop bring to the table in terms of quality?

The some of the Custom Shop models, and the Supremes, have chambered bodies, while the less expensive models don't. How do the chambered bodies flavor the sound?

Is it fair to compare, say, a Custom Shop 1960 Standard with a Supreme in terms of sound and overall quality and attention to detail?

Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera........

I haven't done any hands-on research yet - that will come in time. Just preliminary tire kicking for now. Thanks for any comments.
 
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Buy a Heritage :D

I loved mine but never played it because I don't play lead or electric rock much at all anymore... the only electric that still gets use is my Heritage 575.
 
I don't know shit about Les Pauls.

You may be asking yourself why I'm posting in your thread, I'm asking myself the same question.

Carry on.
 
metalhead28 said:
I don't know shit about Les Pauls.

You may be asking yourself why I'm posting in your thread, I'm asking myself the same question.

Carry on.
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Two useless responses so far. :D

Thanks for nothing! :p
 
The way I see it, anybody who was sucker enough to pony up for the big dollar custom shop model is going to tell you that it was totally worth it and that it sounds/plays/sustains/undresses women better than those shitty production models, but that's just because they have to make themselves feel better about spending $4,000 on a $1,500 guitar. :D :p
 
metalhead28 said:
The way I see it, anybody who was sucker enough to pony up for the big dollar custom shop model is going to tell you that it was totally worth it and that it sounds/plays/sustains/undresses women better than those shitty production models, but that's just because they have to make themselves feel better about spending $4,000 on a $1,500 guitar. :D :p
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I hear ya. ;)

Still, I'm hoping that someone can be objective.

Like I said, I don't mind spending for actual quality, but I don't know what makes the Custom Shop more expensive except for a decreased economy of scale, and the cachet.
 
Zaph,

The chambered bodies can be lighter than a full solid but that all depends on the specific block of timber used and that also affects the tonality, consequently, you can't make a blanket judgement on any particular model as each guitar has it's own subtle characteristics. Have a read through this thread......... http://www.homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=224818 .........while not specific to your question, you may get something from it ;).

:cool:
 
I adore my Les Paul Custom (54 reissue). I've never broken a string on that thing - it's 10 years old. I dropped it on the stage once when my strap broke (yes I have strap loks now). Took a ding out of the tip of the headstock and bent a grover. It's my favorite guitar ever.
 
Oh, and I really think Gibson should offer a "Delete Incredibly Ugly Headstock Inlay" option on the Supremes. Other than that they look like pretty cool models. :D
 
my personal experience in looking for a les paul:

in 1983, i started looking for an alternative to my Ibanez Artist (which i bought as my 'les paul killer').

that was an awesome instrument, and it set the bar, for what future guitars i would buy.

so i began a 8 month long search for the perfect les paul.
i had made it up in my mind, to buy a les paul.

didn't care what model, didn't care what it looked like, i was simply basing my decision on craftsmanship and playability...
but it had to come in at under 1500 bucks!!
:p



yeah, maybe i was dreaming, but i was a poor road warrior, and that was all i had.



well, the list got shorter and shorter, and i kept playing them.

the ones i liked, were all typically in the $1800 to $2600 range (remember, this was 1983-84)



i NEVER found one that i really liked, and NONE of them, even the ones i couldn't afford, could touch the craftsmanship, playability and sound, of my Ibanez Artist.


i ended up buying a Carvin DC200K instead. $770.


it's still my number one guitar--and i've continued looking for and playing pauls since way back then..........still looking for a special one.



i found one in '87, a black beauty with a pair of p-90's, alas, i was broke.

that one had the mojo. :(


i've played some VOS models that are really awesome, but for christ's sake, they want 4 grand for them!!!

MEH


there's just too many other manufacturers and models out there, that just dog the paul for bang for the buck.
 
make sure to try a Goddess. i know the hype is that they're for women only but you can get an ebony one making it less obvious you're play a so called girls guitar. the thing is i love mine. it sounds great, plays great, looks great, and feels great. the neck is the 1960 slim taper so it's easy on the hands. and it weighs only 7 lbs compared to the standards 9. :)
 
i think it's important to consider what use you're looking to get out of it.

I never thought in a million years I would own one (no need for status symbols, thought the prices were crazy, too small for my big hands, they're too heavy and awkward, etc.).

Then I met her. A 1979 Gibson Les Paul Custom. The previous owner had played the heck out of it and the feel of the neck was incredible. I played it for 20 minutes before even plugging it in.

Once I plugged it in I instantly knew what the hype was all about. The guitar just "sang". Sustained for days. The tone was amazing. I was in love, but I was broke.

That Pual will forever be THE "one that got away". I tried out every Paul I could after that, but never found another quite like her, which leads to my point:

No two Paul's are alike. You have to spend time finding the one that's just right for you - the way you play, the gear you play it through, what type of music you need it for, etc

Turns out the necks from 79-81 were larger and I could actually fit my fingers on the fretboard better. I ended up finding a Deluxe from 1980. She's the bomb.
 
Thanks all, good stuff. :)

I do want the slim tapered '60s neck, because I have small hands, and even getting around on a Fender-length scale is a challenge.

I guess it all comes down to the laying on of hands, and finding a guitar that speaks to you.

I know Gorty likes his Customs - maybe he'll check in .
 
Why does it have to be new? I have been pretty unimpressed w/ a lot of the newer studios and standards that I have played. Most of the reissues/historics seem to be pretty hot.

I would just keep an eye on Craigslist and your ear to the street and see if ya cant find something w/ some nice aging on it already.
 
Flamin Lip said:
Why does it have to be new? I have been pretty unimpressed w/ a lot of the newer studios and standards that I have played. Most of the reissues/historics seem to be pretty hot.

I would just keep an eye on Craigslist and your ear to the street and see if ya cant find something w/ some nice aging on it already.
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I just bought a used studio (2007 model). I had to do a complete set up on it and polish the frets to get it right.
It's perfect now...as good as any paul I've played.
It screams too.

The factory set up is pretty much hit or miss IMO. That's how you find the one that speaks to you...you end up picking up the one that has a very good (in your opinion)set up.
The truss, the nut, the pickups, the bridge, and the saddles have to be set right to have a great playing les paul.

It looks to me like a quality build all the way....any quality built guitar with a straight neck, correctly leveled frets, and decent fretbord can be set to play like a dream.

By the way, one mans dream can be another mans nightmare...there are many different preferences in setups.
This may be the reason for so much inconsistancy in setups from one guitar to the next...different strokes for different folks.
Shunning a guitar that is not set up exactly the way one likes may steer them away from a great guitar at a killer price.

I try to bear that in mind when shopping for a guitar.
 
I bought a '93 Standard for $1200. It is a magnificent instrument and I would highly recommend an older (not necessarily vintage) Standard. I love the neck and the pups just wail. Does stuff nothing else in my collection can...
 
I've owned several used guitars in the past and have been happy with all of them. This time I want all the beauty marks to be of my own making. :)
 
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