Would I like a Les Paul?

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Hi guys,

I've had a Strat now for quite a while, but I'm finding that I just don't like the neck. The radius is too small (i.e. fingerboard too curved, so bends are out of the question when action is close, meaning action has to be high), and the neck is generally a little bit too thick for my liking.

So, having never played a Les Paul, I'm wondering - how does it feel compared with a Strat? I know I can view specs online, but I don't know if I'd be overlooking something.

If there are people here who feel the same about the Strat but like the Les Paul, I might just go ahead and buy an Epiphone LP Studio from thomann.

Cheers!

Don1

Pop into a shop and give a few guitars of different types a spin. It's the only way you'll know if you like it or not tbh.
Far more out there than just Strats and Les Pauls too.

Also depends what style/sound you're after.

Alanstrainor

Bacchus Duke, no question :pac:
Man o man, i wanna bacchus. It's not as straight forward as les paul v strat, there are so many others to consider. And if you think your strat's neck is too fat then a les paul might not be the way to go.

Don1

Some of the Daisy Rock guitars are meant to be good, if your hands are that small. Also Angus Young Gibson SG has thinner than standard neck too.

Feelgood

I bought a Custom LP after playing a friends Epiphone LP for a while and let me tell you, the Epiphone was a lovely guitar to play and had savage action on it. Really was a dream to play.

Don't like the custom LP at all, regret buying it even though I got it at a great price they aren't all they are cracked up to be, don't be fooled. I have a €400 Maverick F1 guitar that I play non-stop over the Custom LP that I paid €2500 for!. That goes to show you what I think of the Custom LP.....

I do think however that you will love an Epiphone LP, though they have a completely different feel to them than a strat and will take some adjusting to.

Eoin Madsen

OK-Cancel-Apply wrote: »

So, having never played a Les Paul, I'm wondering - how does it feel compared with a Strat? I know I can view specs online, but I don't know if I'd be overlooking something.

It hangs and sits completely differently, and the whole neck sort of ends up in a different place. Personally, I like both, but I started with a Pacifica and then a Strat, so that shape has always seemed a little more comfortable. The fingerboard radius on my Mex Strat seemed reasonably flat to me. Compared to a Les Paul Studio, I never noticed a huge difference in that way. When you're checking out LPs and other guitars, don't forget to try different Strats as well - they do vary.

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Yeah I don't have a huge budget, so I thought that something like a Les Paul might have better quality in the lower prices ranges.

Eoin, I've played a friend's SG once, so I think I know what you mean about the neck sort of being in a different place :P Are LP necks similar to SG necks?

I tried a Strat in the shop before I bought one, and I was aware of the fatter C-Shape neck, but I thought I'd get used to it. I didn't. I wouldn't mind but I'm 6'0" and my hands are perfectly normal size for that height.

I was just chancing that perhaps someone here would say, "Oh yeah if you find strats too fat and round Les Pauls are the way to go!", and then I'd get the aforementioned LP Studio. Maybe I'm just being lazy!

Voodu Child

Ibanez RG sounds right up your alley :pac: Very flat radius and slim neck, low-action heaven

But seriously, you can stick with a strat and get the type of neck you want, they come in some variations of thickness and radius. Or a strat clone, loads of manufacturers build strat types with different necks. I hear Blade are excellent if you're after something with more of a modern profile.

Eoin Madsen

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Eoin, I've played a friend's SG once, so I think I know what you mean about the neck sort of being in a different place :P Are LP necks similar to SG necks?

I haven't played a lot of SGs, but I haven't found them that much like an LP in terms of how the guitar balanced. I don't like SGs much.

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A lot to think about... Thanks for all the replies!

Don1

+1 for the RGs. Thin as hell necks. Super easy to play! S-series also sweet and slimmer.

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Don1 wrote: »

+1 for the RGs. Thin as hell necks. Super easy to play! S-series also sweet and slimmer.

Yeah I considered an Ibanez RG in the past... I can't say I'm too keen on RGs - don't need whammy bar, don't want bolt on neck, don't need active pickups, don't need that pickup arrangement...looks like a shark :P

I'm not sure though if it's the thickness as much as the curvature of the fingerboard that gets me. I assume Les Pauls generally have flatter ones than Strats, right?

I suppose I'll just have to play one to know for sure.

If I find it's comfortable to play, I might get this: http://www.thomann.de/ie/epiphone_lp_studio_worn_brown.htm?sid=f5de96cd9e9ca1a0df092817039b7001

It has all the features I want, looks nice and is within my budget. I've heard nothing but good things about them too.

Voodu Child

What you're looking for is what could generally be described as a 'modern' profile. Flat radius (usually 12-15") and fairly narrow. You'll find that kind of neck on all sorts of guitars, but its synonymous with the 'super strat' type guitar - Ibanez, Jackson, Charvel, ESP etc.

Gibsons 'thin' neck profile (60s) could be loosely described as a modern profile, but its still a good bit away from the above examples. ESP/Ltd do a lovely LP style guitar, the EC-1000, which definitely has a slim/flat neck. It might be outside your budget, but they do cheaper ones in the EC range, and there's always second hand also.

mloc

I have a 50s neck Les Paul and a Ibanez J-Custom (RG style... thank you very much voodoo_child). They both are fairly different players, I can't say I really prefer either. I had the LP first though so the massive neck was something I was used to. The J-Custom has a fairly thick neck for a Ibanez.

I had a tele before the LP, and to be honest, the LP felt nicer to me to play.

Don1

Not all RGs are bolt on neck. Mine is neck thru! No joint at all. Not all are active pickup loaded either. Lower end ones also have a strat style trem instead of the Floyd Rose style, which can be nicer for beginers. I know I found the double locking string changing very daunting when I started out.
Bottom line, try out loads of different guitars and find one you like. You could be very pleasantly susprised.

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I'm not a beginner I just was used to a certain type of neck before I got the strat. I tried a bunch of Les Pauls and SG's today, and I find the SG to be better for me. With the LP, it's really hard to reach the 22nd fret, and easy with the SG...might go with one those. The action seemed to be set extremely high on most of the guitars I tried, but think I know why.

68 lost souls

I have an Epiphone SG and love the neck on it. I have played plenty of Ibanez guitars and find they have a very small C shaped neck, my hand tends to cramp up cause I prefer playing with the fatter U shaped neck on the SG.

-=al=-

cant stand my sg

I think you would like one

fourmations

a note that rarely comes up is that the access
to the upper frets on an LP is really bad

rgds

4

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-=al=- wrote: »

cant stand my sg

I think you would like one

Gibson or Epiphone? Just curious...

-=al=-

Epi, twas my first electric, i havnt played it in years, but either brand Sg's just wern't for me, everyone should own a les paul! i love strats more though, but u cant beat that nice chunk of wood that the lp will give ya

68 lost souls

fourmations wrote: »

a note that rarely comes up is that the access
to the upper frets on an LP is really bad

rgds

4

This has come up earlier in the thread and I agree. I was undecided between LP and SG when I was buying one and went with the SG mainly for two reasins, the weighed and the ability to easily reach the the upper frets easier. As has been said many times before though. Just go and test out as many as you possibly can in the guitar shops and you will find the one for you. It doesnt mean you have to buy it there you can still order online but get a feel for them in a shop first.

Don1

I have no bother reaching the upper frets on the LP. But I have long fingers and the way I play it I don't need my thumb round the back all the time. It is kind of clamped down with my right hand, if you get me?
Best access ever is neck thru. Yummy.

As I said yesterday though, keep trying guitars until you find one that you like the best in terms of feel, sound and look. (look is important, I don't care what anybody says)