Gibson Guitars Around The €600-€700 Mark

griffin100

Hi all, I'd appreciate some advice. I used to play guitar a long time ago and when I was a teenager I always wanted a Gibson LP......and then later an SG..... but I could never afford one.........

Now I'm almost 40 (feck where did that time go ) and I got it into my head I'm gonna get myself a gibson as a 40th birthday present. My young lad has started playing a bit recently and I think that got me interested again.

Problem is the choice out there seems to be huge as does the difference in prices. I have no idea what's a good deal and what the differences between the different models are. I'm leaning towards a LP over an SG but I'm not sure yet.

I've been looking online and I like the look of these two LP's.
http://www.waltons.ie/Product/View.aspx?id=30398
http://www.thomann.de/ie/gibson_lp_studio_50_tribute_we_tm.htm - I really like the look of this one.

SG wise I played a used SG Special in a local shop last week and really liked it. Shop was looking for €600 for the guitar with a Gibson hard case. Looking online I see that some Special models are around this price new.
http://www.waltons.ie/Product/View.aspx?id=18555

I suppose my question is are Gibsons at this price mark any good? Are they pretty basic guitars with a Gibson label or for someone like me who is going to be playing at home are good enough. I know I am going to pay a premium for the Gibson name and could probably get a much better guitar from a different manufacturer but I've always wanted a Gibson.........Any help or advice would be appreciated.

Ravelleman

griffin100 wrote: »

I've been looking online and I like the look of these two LP's.
http://www.waltons.ie/Product/View.aspx?id=30398
http://www.thomann.de/ie/gibson_lp_studio_50_tribute_we_tm.htm - I really like the look of this one.

There's quite a bit difference between these two, despite both being Les Pauls.

• To start, the pickups are different - the 1950s model has full humbuckers; the other has mini-humbuckers, although they're not the classic type from the 1970s.

• The neck profiles are different - fatter for the the 1950s model; thinner for the 1970s model.

• The necks themselves are also different - mahogany for the 1950s model; maple for the 1970s model - true to 1970s Les Pauls but generally considered a less desirable feature.

• Then you have general cosmetic differences.

To be honest, I've never thought that the Tribute guitars were a great prospect. They're made from scraps of wood, not considered large enough to be suitable for more upmarket guitars.

griffin100 wrote: »

SG wise I played a used SG Special in a local shop last week and really liked it. Shop was looking for €600 for the guitar with a Gibson hard case. Looking online I see that some Special models are around this price new.
http://www.waltons.ie/Product/View.aspx?id=18555

If you're interested in an SG, I'd pay the extra €200 or so and get a pre-2013 SG Standard. The price is higher on the website but I'm sure you could get it cheaper if you went to the shop in person with cash. It was down to €808 during the sale, if I remember correctly.

People disagree about Gibson. Personally, I quite like them and do own one. Others are not as keen. Some are certainly very expensive but deals can be had and high prices only become ripoffs if someone actually pays it. The days of having to pay €2400 for a Les Paul are, thankfully, over.

wild turkey

Personally, I think you should head into Waltons early some morning when its quiet & try as many as you can as
theres a lot to be said for playing before buying
I believe the pickups on the 70s has less output than the 50s
also its easier to get replacement pickups for the 50s
Ive had the 60s tribute & while it was an absolutely fine guitar, it just didnt do it for me
I picked up the Billie Joe Junior & love it
http://waltons.ie/Product/View.aspx?id=19950&cid=278

Seziertisch

To be honest, considering how hit and miss new Gibsons are you should probably do like Wild Turkey suggested and just go into town sometime and play a few of them. Not all guitars of the same model are created equally.

And seeing as it's a birthday present to yourself I would say that the most important thing is to find one that you enjoy playing.

griffin100

Thanks for the advice. I think I'll head into Waltons and try a few different models and see what I like.

griffin100

Thought I'd give an update on this..........

I had decided after much agonising that I was going to get an SG Standard in Cherry Red. Waltons have them for €885 which is a great deal......but in the back of my mind I was still thinking of a Les Paul.

Today I went in to get it. Before I bought I decided to try a Les Paul around the same price and tried this one. I loved it. I preferred the sound to the SG, the feel and the way the neck felt. I tried both guitars through a couple of different amps and preferred the LP to the SG every time.

So I bought it in vintage sunburst and I'm thrilled with it. It was also €100 less than the same model on Thomann which is good as buying it from a shop meant that it was well set up and ready to go. Kevin in Waltons is also a gent to deal with.

Thanks for the advice.

Ravelleman

Excellent work. Enjoy the guitar.

wild turkey

Glad it worked out for you.
Now the hunt for a nice tube amp begins :-)

nelly17

I have noticed Waltons seem to be better on Price than Thomann for a lot of Les Pauls too

comesatime

enjoy -it's a Gibson Les Paul - something which means a lot to older giggers like me -and you got to support Local shops too. Well done.

il gatto

A good choice. A small valve amp and then the only limiting factor is yourself

ednwireland

enjoy ! i got a midlife crisis epiphone les paul plus top 3 years ago love it now i have a vox vt40+ which i got this birthday which is amazing (probably using about 1% of its capability)

wild turkey

Just a heads up !

Waltons is opening a new store in Blanchardstown Shopping Center soon.
They didnt have a summer sale this year so I presume they've been keeping it for the launch of the new store

Hopefully there will be plenty of cheap Gibsons etc.

Ol' Donie

Sat 24th August, according to the email they sent out. Looking forward to it (although i have an Epiphone Les Paul like the one above (only Classic, not Plus Top), which I love, and i won't be replacing anytime soon.

Note: For clarity, i won't be replacing it. This does not mean I can't ADD to the collection.

:-D

mobprop667

Hey everyone, i just popped in here randomly, as i never really frequent boards anymore.
I am Kevin, the gibson guitar nerd at waltons.
I just wanted to say thank you very much for the kind words from griffin.
I take a lot of pride in helping people find the best gibson guitar they can find for their budget, as well as any upgrades they think about doing.
In these tough times, spending the money on a gibson is a very big deal, and i work very hard to hopefully dispel some of the myths and provide as much info as i possibly can.
I have spent most of my life studying gibson electrics, and if you ever have any questions, feel free to ring me at the shop on georges street.

Thanks you again for the kind words, it means a lot.
Cheers,
Kevin Weaver