amt7565 said:
OK- I was at GC today and played an Epiphone LesPaul Gold. Loved it! One thing I miss is the unreacheable high frets and the lack of a tremolo arm, Anyway the sales guy told me that considering the special Labor day sales tomorrow, he would be willing to give me a $500 discount off of an original Gibson Les Paul itself.
I am tight on budget, so I like to know what the Gibson experts here think about this selection-if I decide to get one tomorrow.
Which one should I consider?
1. Gibson-Lespaul Studio
2. Gibson-Lespaul Vintage Mahagony
3. Gibson-Lespaul special SL humbucker
Advise and opinions are appreciated.
Thanks.
Because of their construction, each of these is going to sound quite different than the other.
The Studios are Mahogany body with a carved Maple cap and
the 490R/
498T pickups. The Vintage Mahoganys are Mahogany body with carved Mahogany cap and the Burstbucker pickups. Both have a rosewood fingerboard. So, I'd wager that the Vintage Mahogany is going to sound a bit "darker" than a Studio or even a Standard, since the basic difference between the Studios and Standards is the lack of binding and the finishes...and now
the Burstbucker pickups (Standards used to come with the 490R/498T pickups). The Special is Mahogany with no cap and the 490R/498T pickups, but because of the thinner body, it should be brighter than the Vintage Mahogany.
I do agree, however, with many in this thread who have suggested buying used. I picked-up a used 1990 Studio in July for $550.00 with a HSC (pic
here).
Someone mentioned the Classics...just keep in mind that they have a slimmer neck and hotter pickups (
496R/500T ceramic magnets), so that may not fit your particular playing style.
You do need to play several and see which one(s) towards which you gravitate.
I'd also recommend checking out the
Les Paul Forum and going to the "Sunburst Pub". Just do some searches...there are plenty of threads about the differences between Studios, Standards, Classics, Reissues, etc.