SX Electric Guitars

Trip Hazard

I've been learning on an acoustic guitar for the last few months and now Im thinking i want an electric, so I've done the Research and I know its definitly a Les Paul model I want, So Gibson was out of the question anyway(I'm not loaded) So I was looking at Epiphone and even the Epiphone Les pauls are pretty pricey by what I want to pay for my first Electric.

I then saw some SX Les paul style Guitars and thought, they seem good, But im wondering are they good quality guitars or are they just cheap knock offs, and do they sound simalar to the expensive LPs. The Acoustic I have is SX and Its fine but I haven't played many acoustic guitars so I cant compare.

Anyway these are the three I've been looking at, and just looking for opinions and If anyone plays Les Pauls and can tell me about the SX ones

http://waltons.ie/waltonsshop/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=27&products_id=10011

http://waltons.ie/waltonsshop/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=27&products_id=10006

And

http://waltons.ie/waltonsshop/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=27&products_id=10012

Cheers

Dregon

I can't comment on the SX Les Paul style guitar, but I have an SX strat, and I think that its well worth the money. Build quality was very good apart from the tuners, and the neck is suprisingly good. Have played a couple of the SX LP's and they seemed pretty decent aswell.

Voodu Child

Trip Hazard wrote:

I then saw some SX Les paul style Guitars and thought, they seem good, But im wondering are they good quality guitars or are they just cheap knock offs, and do they sound simalar to the expensive LPs.

My opinion on very cheap entry-level guitars is that you want a good solid, simple, quality instrument.

You wouldn't expect your first car to have a V12 engine, and you shouldn't expect your first guitar to have fancy flamed maple tops, or something that looks 'just like one of those guitars wot Slash plays'...

So...you've said you definitely want a Les Paul model, and I appreciate that, but i'd still have to recommend that if your budget is just e200, you should be looking at simple bolt-ons, such as the Yamaha Pacifica.

In my personal opinion, at that extreme end of the market, the simpler the better - hopefully, more of your e200 is going towards craftsmanship rather than appontments like set-necks, binding, carved tops etc. It's much more important to have a guitar that plays well and is well put together than to have one that looks just like a LP or whatever.

-=al=-

ewww a les paul with an alder/maple body


thast a neddy no no!


its hard to find a decent cheap lp without goin second hand id choose the sx over the harley benton guitars though!, the sx strats seem to be ok for the price but i dont know about the sx les pauls, but yea if it is jus somethin u wana mess around on for an electric the pacifica are great for startin off electric

8k2q1gfcz9s5d4

voodoo_child wrote:

So...you've said you definitely want a Les Paul model, and I appreciate that, but i'd still have to recommend that if your budget is just e200, you should be looking at simple bolt-ons, such as the Yamaha Pacifica.

couldnt agree more. i played a pacifica a few weeks ago, they have a good tone and a great neck. also you get two single coil pickups and one humbucker so they are a bit more versitile. Yahama guitars are much better than SX anyway.
http://www.thomann.de/ie/yamaha_pacifica_012dbm.htm

if you still want a les paul i would suggest an epie les paul spiceal. they are not as good as a standard epie les paul but still good for the money and bettar than SX.
http://www.thomann.de/ie/epiphone_les_paul_special_ii_vs_ltd.htm

Blackhorse Slim

I'll second the Epiphone LP rec. I like SX strats, generally play well with a nice neck, pickups are ok and easily changed, but don't know about SX LPs. I'd stay away from the Harley Bentons though.

Generally it's better to buy a guitar from a shop rather than online, you can get a feel for the guitar and whether you like it or not.

Paladin

If the reason you want a les paul model is for the 'look' than fair enough. Everyone wants a nice looking guitar as well as a nice sounding guitar.
However, if you are choosing it based on music taste, playability, that 'les paul sound', then forget it. For E200 you are not going to get that. Get a Yamaha Pacifica and dont bother looking around any more, because at best you will only equal and not beat the pacifica for value for money.

Best of luck with your learning.

Eoin Madsen

Trip Hazard wrote:

But im wondering are they good quality guitars or are they just cheap knock offs, and do they sound simalar to the expensive LPs.

Hehe. Of course they're just cheap knock-offs, and no, they sound nothing like a real LP.

I'd throw my vote in for the Pacifica. It's by far the best knock-off going.

I can see why you'd want to get used to a Les Paul shape for future (they don't play the same as other shaped guitars) but imo, the cons of learning on something nasty outweigh the cons of having to adapt a little in three or four years when you buy a real guitar.

darrenw5094

I own an Epiphone Les Paul custom in white...fitted it with Dimarzio X2N pickups and is fairly good.....sound is os much better with the pickups.
If you get serious in a few years...you could do alot better than the Epiphone.
The Epiphone does not feel like a Gibson at all.

I also have a Gibson Les Paul Standard.....I wouldn't sell it for anything.....unless it was a lot of cash so i could buy another one.

But i also bought an Edwards Les Paul.....imported from Japan.
You won't see Edwards in the shops because they don't sell outside Japan.
They are the Japanese section of ESP, which are expensive.
Value for money 10/10.
Cost €500....shipping €100.....and customs 21% extra.
I was lucky....customs didn't do their job right and i wasn't charged the tax.
So i was all in for about €600.

Quality build (typical of Japanese)...fitted with Seymour duncan pickups......looks top quality.....feels like it and sounds excelent.
It plays great too. Not far off the real deal (Gibson at €3000)

Check them out on ebay to see a few photos.
http://www.katanaguitars.com/main/top.html

You won't be disapointed by one of these.

highlydebased

I have had an SX for ages, my first electric guitar

Not alot bad about them, only dodgy part is the input jack!

Trip Hazard

Thanks for all the advice guys, I like the Idea of the Pacifica is there any shop in Dublin that sell them, so I could go in and check them out. I was playing a Nice Basic Epiphone Les Paul in Waltons that cost 270 and the fact that its epiphone almost convienced me. But id like to play a pacifica first before I buy the Epiphone.

Keep it coming, hope to buy it in the next few weeks.

Voodu Child

Trip Hazard wrote:

I like the Idea of the Pacifica is there any shop in Dublin that sell them, so I could go in and check them out.

There's a Yamaha store up the road from Waltons (or there was last time i checked ) they should have it.

I was playing a Nice Basic Epiphone Les Paul in Waltons that cost 270 and the fact that its epiphone almost convienced me.

Im not sure if you're joking or not, but the Epiphone brand name doesnt mean anything tbh, certainly shouldnt be a factor that would 'convince' you to buy the guitar. They make reasonable guitars, and they make lousy guitars, you have to take each on it's own merit, and not assume 'oh, its an Epiphone by Gibson, must be great...'

Trip Hazard

voodoo_child wrote:

There's a Yamaha store up the road from Waltons (or there was last time i checked ) they should have it.

Georges St?

voodoo_child wrote:

Im not sure if you're joking or not, but the Epiphone brand name doesnt mean anything tbh, certainly shouldnt be a factor that would 'convince' you to buy the guitar. They make reasonable guitars, and they make lousy guitars, you have to take each on it's own merit, and not assume 'oh, its an Epiphone by Gibson, must be great...'

Well Im not joking, but am I wrong in saying that an Epiphone Les Paul would be better than an SX hence why a reasonably priced epiphone would convience me more.

Paladin

Ive found the Epiphone Specials to vary wildly in quality. 2 of the same guitar could be completely different. Terrible machine heads going out of tune is the worst one, right after terrible variation in neck quality. You *could* get lucky...
The Epiphone LP Standards are a bit better than the specials, but still not great. I owned one as a backup guitar. Grew to really dislike it. Flogged it and use a Pacifica as a backup now.
I have no experience with SX so I cant comment on that.

Voodu Child

Trip Hazard wrote:

Georges St?

Yep. Or probably Aungier street, look them up to get the exact street name. But on the same side as Waltons, just a few hundred m south.

but am I wrong in saying that an Epiphone Les Paul would be better than an SX hence why a reasonably priced epiphone would convience me more.

Not wrong, just not specific enough. Like i say, the Epiphone brand name doesnt mean a thing - they make high-end Japanese guitars, average Korean LPs, and tonnes of rubbish e200 guitars.

So it's unfortunately meaningless to say 'an Epiphone Les Paul is better/worse than brand X', despite what any clueless shop-assistant will try to have you believe.

I couldnt compare a particular Epiphone with a particular SX without having both in front of me.

Trip Hazard

I see exaclty what you mean, I do like the Pacifica and so many people here are recommending them, I'll try one out and see how it feels, but the Epiphone I was playing seemed ok but I really dont want to buy a **** guitar that I;ll have nothing but trouble with.

What about any other brands of Les Pauls or Strat designs around the 200-300 mark that would be a good starter elecrtic?

Great Advice by the way people, Cheers!

8k2q1gfcz9s5d4

Squire would also be worth a look
http://www.thomann.de/ie/fender_squier_affinity.htm (first guitar i ever played!) again they are good for the money, one of my mates has had one for years, never gave a bit of bother

deaddonkey

stay away from cheap LP copies

cheap strat copies are ok, but the LP design doesn't lend itself to cost cutting

the epi LP standards are great beginner les pauls, they're quite nice.

8k2q1gfcz9s5d4

deaddonkey wrote:

stay away from cheap LP copies

cheap strat copies are ok, but the LP design doesn't lend itself to cost cutting

the epi LP standards are great beginner les pauls, they're quite nice.

+1
the only thing i dont like about them is the clean tone is very bassey

one other thing, if you are of a small build or a young teen, you would find them very heavy. im of a pretty big build, and when im practising with the band, (which is usualy the entire setlist twice) the back does get a bit sore!! but it is worth it!

-=al=-

yea i noticed that i had an sg as my first electric when i was 16 or 17 then i got a lp. jesus that thing was heavy at first,

but you get used to it pretty fast

Trip Hazard

Juan Quaint Zeal wrote:

+1
one other thing, if you are of a small build or a young teen, you would find them very heavy. im of a pretty big build, and when im practising with the band, (which is usualy the entire setlist twice) the back does get a bit sore!! but it is worth it!

Dont worry thats isnt an issue.

But anyway, im gonna check out the Pacifica, I was thinking maybe I should buy a Cheap Strat design, learn off that, then in a few years if im still playing(which I do see happening) I'll splash out on a decent Les Paul.

ferdi

sugarman wrote:

tried to do it myself couldn solve it, neither could waltons but insisted i payed 20 quid for something they didn fix or i wouldn get my guitar back, of course there was no way i paid, rang trading standards in front of em, that sorted the problem..

i know i'm off topic here but fair play to you for not taking that ****e off them, demanding to be paid even though the job hadnt been done and then trying to threaten and bully you into paying by saying you wouldnt get the guitar back? the bloody cheek of those arseholes! you should have called the gardai too.

On topic try this for a LP type: http://www.thomann.de/ie/ibanez_arc100bk.htm
its got the mahogany body at least and while its not that pretty, i'd say its a good alternative

Rustar

I think the most important concept in this entire thread (espoused by Voodoo and others) is try before you buy.

I can't even wrap my mind around purchasing a guitar through the mail...an instrument is something that you'll be spending serious time with, and rolling the dice and hoping you'll come up a winner isn't my cup 'o tea. Regardless of brand name or perceived value.

At my local Guitar Center I have the chance to try out everything from Squiers to PRS and Schecter customs. I don't automatically rule out a specific guitar just because of its price range.

Case in point: Last week I went in and started drooling over a white&gold Epi LP Custom. Tried it out and put it through its paces, detuning, retuning, trying to put it out of tune, testing neck and knobs, etc.
I imagined throwing a couple of DiMarzio SD's in it, and at that point they had a sale. Sure hope it's there when I go back at the end of the week with actual cash in my pocket.

My whole point here is that there are dogs and gems in every price range and every brand. Buying without trying seems like getting a mail-order girlfriend.

8k2q1gfcz9s5d4

Rustar wrote:

getting a mail-order girlfriend.

Link?:D

Voodu Child

Rustar wrote:

I think the most important concept in this entire thread (espoused by Voodoo and others) is try before you buy.

Erm, well, actually I'd buy an Edwards LP Custom without having played it over an Epi that i had played...:o

Rustar

voodoo_child wrote:

Erm, well, actually I'd buy an Edwards LP Custom without having played it over an Epi that i had played...:o

Even if it showed up through the post with a cracked neck and took you 3 months to get a replacement?


MOG-

Russian Babushkas Just For You

http://www.mailorderbrides.com/

Trip Hazard

ferdi wrote:

On topic try this for a LP type: http://www.thomann.de/ie/ibanez_arc100bk.htm
its got the mahogany body at least and while its not that pretty, i'd say its a good alternative

Oh i like this one, but would it be decent for a LP design, anyone have any experience with Ibanez. Also I would be slightly reluctant to buy online but could easily come around to it. But Id like to play it and see how it feels before I bought it. How does the 30 day money back guarantee work with Thomann. Doubtful but is there any shops in Dublin that would have this Ibanez guitar.

Voodu Child

Rustar wrote:

Even if it showed up through the post with a cracked neck and took you 3 months to get a replacement?

Happy to take the risk. I'd be a poorer man if i'd bought all my guitars in Ireland...not that I could have..:D

darrenw5094

Like i said earlier...i too bought an Edwards Les Paul for about €600.
Different class to Epiphone.....not far off the Gibson Les Paul at all, which i also own.

I think i bought an Edwards because of a previous post by the Voodoo Child.

Money well spent.

Trip Hazard

Ok so where do I buy Edwards guitars they dont seem to be on Thomann, and is it only a case of buying online.

Voodu Child

Trip Hazard wrote:

Ok so where do I buy Edwards guitars they dont seem to be on Thomann, and is it only a case of buying online.

The discussion of Edwards guitars was off-topic, nobody was suggesting them as an alternative to the beginner-level guitars you are looking at. They're a good bit more expensive than the likes of a Pacifica.

Trip Hazard

Oh really, didnt realise that, yeah but that Ibanez one I like alot, anyone have any opinions on it and Im thinking more and more about buying online the more I think of it.

darrenw5094

I suggested Edwards a couple of times on this post.

They might be a bit expensive for beginners, but are not far away from Gibson at a fraction of the price.

Powersellers on Ebay.....just key in Edawards in the search engine.
You will see some there.
They do not export outside Japan...i do not know why.....one of the best kept secrets i've heard.

Another one is www.katanaguitars.com

Please allow for customs tax too!!!

franzoni

hello

i have a old yamaha sg 2000s it looks like a cross of a gibson sg and a les paul,the build quality is excellent as is the sound and even though i mainly use strats i would never sell this guitar....carlos santana played this model for many years before going with prs.... yamaha have reissued this guitar and i've seen them priced for as much as £1100 in the u.k......but heres the gas thing....i've seen original models in the buy and sell for as little as 380 euro......:eek: ...all i can suggest is keep your eyes peeled in the small ads and on the net...i've also heard good things about the old tokai and the early 70's ibanez 'lawsuit' models......... good luck.....:)

Trip Hazard

I think i've made my mind up, I'm strongly thinking about going with the Ibanez ACR100 and ordering it from Thomann, probably in the next 2-3 weeks. This tread has been a great help, Cheers guys!!!!

Trip Hazard