Les Paul (or not!) recommendations

ultra55ound

I've got a Tele, a Strat and an accoustic and I only just noticed that I don't have a single humbucker, something must be done!

I love the look of Les Pauls, and the sound, love it. But I also love money, probably more than I'd love a Les Paul. So what are the best cheap options?

Are Epiphone LPs any good? There seems to be a fairly big price difference between Epiphone LPs. Are the mid-range/top-range models decent?

Cort/Agile/Other brand LPs, any recommendations?

Studio Les Pauls? Worth the money? I kind of do want something that is nice too look at too, for some reason.

Stretch for a used Standard LP. I've heard lots of bad things about Gibons quality control though, so what would be the best course of action?

Cheers!


Oh ya Budget would be around 500-600 but if something special showed up for around 1000 I would consider it (but it would want to be really special)

Im Only 71Kg

you'll get 2nd hand Les Paul..€1200 if you bargain hard enough. jimismusicstore have a good few. just play hard ball..he'll do the deal. i would personally go for an SG 2nd hand shouldn't cost more than €700.

DHYNZY

I'd save up for a good, 90s or earlier LP Standard, you can get them for €1200 now on adverts.ie if you look hard enough and wait for the right ad to come along. To be honest I've had every LP variant and substitute on the market. Nothing beats the real thing. Only the variants like the PRS Singlecuts are as good, and they are thrice the price. :rolleyes:

z0oT

I had an Epiphone Les Paul around 3 or 4 years ago, which I think I payed something in the region of €500 for. Decent enough guitar, although mind you I've never actually played an original Les Paul so I couldn't offer an opinion as to what it's like in comparison. The one thing I understand about the Les Pauls in general is that you'll never get a nice clean "Strat-Like" sound from them, they always tend to be that bit "dirtier".

I ended up selling it in the end as my playing style just didn't suit the rather thick neck on it, that mind you is just a personal preference though. :pac:

Alanstrainor

I'd probably go looking at an Edwards, for the top end of your budget. I have a gold top and it's sweet. Video time!...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vpvXF1Wgko

I got mine for around 600ish...maybe less.

bad2dabone

loving the Edwards, loving the dine in hell t shirt, loving the skills.

MetalDog

The Chinese made Epi LP's aren't great now, if you were getting one, make sure its about 10 years old, they were made in Korea back then and the quality & feel are better.
Heard good things about these:
http://www.jhs.co.uk/reviews/G&B%20DEC%20(V100MRPGM).pdf

but the "worn in" look mighnt be your thing.

RC88

plus 1 for the v100, great guitar for both practise and gigs,
http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/electric_guitars/vintage/v100/index.html

if you can't get a v100, the vs6(SG) is'nt too bad either

CrackisWhack

Go for a 2nd hand SG

kevin65

A Yamaha SG is a cracking guitar, but are expensive new and not easy to find. Think XMusic stock them. You do see them for sale second hand from time to time. I have mine for 25 years!

population

I have a Tokai LP Custom and it is just an amazing guitar. Set me back about 900 new but have seen them change hands for about the 600 mark second hand. Was going to sell mine last year and put the cash towards a standard but after playing a bunch of Standards I honestly could not see why I was bothering with the change and extra expense so held on instead.

Used to own a LP Studio but had a fair few issues with it and sold it on. Have played an Edwards also and would recommend them too. Vintage seem to be getting a lot of good press atm but have not tried one so cannot say one way or the other.

population

Alanstrainor wrote: »

I'd probably go looking at an Edwards, for the top end of your budget. I have a gold top and it's sweet. Video time!...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vpvXF1Wgko

I got mine for around 600ish...maybe less.

Cool vid Al. What looper are you using?

Alanstrainor

population wrote: »

Cool vid Al. What looper are you using?

Cheers, just a boss rc-2, it does the job. I don't use it anywhere enough though!
Actually, my amp will pick up interference from it, it ticks a little when the lights flash on the looper. It's not all that noticeable really, but it's enough to make me disconnect if im not using it.

Ravelleman

CrackisWhack wrote: »

Go for a 2nd hand SG

An SG ≠ a Les Paul.

They sound quite different. Both are nice but they are certainly distinct.

raindog.promo

I'd 2nd checking out an SG too. Much much lighter and great to play.

Good luck in your search.

Ravelleman

But that's not what he asked for... chap wants an LP not an SG...

hidinginthebush

Hey OP, I bought a second-hand epi LP standard for about €200. I think they cost about €600 new. The finish on it was beautiful, I don't know if it has a full flamed maple cap, or is just a thin veneer, but it looks beautiful.

Sound-wise, it was lifeless and dull, but I swapped in a set of seymour duncan pickups, and it absolutely screams the house down now. I honestly can't believe it is the same guitar, as I always believed changing pickups didn't make that much of a difference. But they really brought the beast to life. So for €450 (incl. all mods) I have a guitar which sounds better than any Gibson LP I've played.

What I'm basically saying is don't be afraid to go for a cheaper LP, but don't expect the world from it. Granted Gibsons charge for the name as well as the guitar, but they will still be better than most stock €300-600 guitars. Changing in pickups and hardware, however, and you will end up with something very close (if not better) than the real thing for an awful lot less.

Im Only 71Kg

Ravelleman wrote: »

But that's not what he asked for... chap wants an LP not an SG...

Les Paul (Or Not!) recommendatios.....is the caption if im not mistaken. an SG is a les paul nothing between them but shape.


Q loads of nonsense!!

Ravelleman

First of all, if you read the body of the message he refers repeatedly to "Les Pauls". The "(or not!)" part refers to other brands, not other styles of guitar.

Secondly, and more importantly, you demonstrate your ignorance of the subject by saying that there is no difference between the SG and the Les Paul other than shape, which there clearly is - fact.

Read up on it, gangsta.

Im Only 71Kg

Ravelleman wrote: »

First of all, if you read the body of the message he refers repeatedly to "Les Pauls". The "(or not!)" part refers to other brands, not other styles of guitar.

Secondly, and more importantly, you demonstrate your ignorance of the subject by saying that there is no difference between the SG and the Les Paul other than shape, which there clearly is - fact.

Read up on it, gangsta.

no yer all right bud. :rolleyes:

Creamy Goodness

Im Only 71Kg wrote: »

an SG is a les paul nothing between them but shape.

so is a ferrari f1 car the same as a ferrari f430? the sg and les paul are completely different even if you take out the fact they look different.

more wood in the LP gives it - in my opinion - more warmth than an SG.

NMK2008

what about a Fret King Eclat standard, one of the best LP guitars available... have a look at adverts, i have details of one up there!

ultra55ound

Thanks for the suggestions folks. I'm gonna keep my eye out.
BTW I should have said Gibson (or not!) Les Paul recommendations. SG is a nice guitar and all but not one thats really on my radar at the moment.

Orando Broom

Are Melody Makers single humbuckers? Waltons have two there for sub €500 FYI.

Glasgow Megasnake

Get an Epiphone Les Paul for <€500 and put these in it:

http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/main/pickups.php?cat=humbuckers&sub=contemporary&pickup=nailbomb (They don't have to come with that strange colour scheme!)

They have 4 wires too so can be split with a push-pull pot.