Les Paul Copies

BostonB · 14-10-2012 09:32AM

steveone wrote: »

maybe i'm just in the dark but there never seems to be as much of a hoo haa about strat copies....and god knows there's a sliding scale, some are as good as(or better than?) the real thing and others....well...

I think there is. There's as much fuss about certain squires and certain jap, esp strats.

fret_wimp2 · 14-10-2012 07:07PM

I decided that I wanted a Les Paul last year and started a loooong search. I started obviously with Gibson. I played 5 or so Standards, and they were all horrible. Set up was terrible and general fit and finish was appaling for the price on the guitar. Im not saying Gibson are bad and I am not trolling, but I am saying that any new ones i played were not worth a third of thier price.

I then started looking at copies, Edwards, Tokai, Burny etc. After getting a go on an Edwards and loving it I was about to get one, but then I found a Japanese Tokai LS160 (135 depending on what catalog you look at) for an absolute steal and its absolutely blows any Gibson I have played away. Manufacture, fit, finish and feel are just awesome.

I had it set up and rewired with better pots by Derek Nelson (even with the cost of this I was still saving on a Gibson), and now its a guitar I know i will never get rid of.

Ravelleman · 14-10-2012 08:38PM

fret_wimp2 wrote: »

I decided that I wanted a Les Paul last year and started a loooong search. I started obviously with Gibson. I played 5 or so Standards, and they were all horrible. Set up was terrible and general fit and finish was appaling for the price on the guitar. Im not saying Gibson are bad and I am not trolling, but I am saying that any new ones i played were not worth a third of thier price.

In my experience, the majority of guitars you find in shops need a proper set-up to really be able evaluate them.

In terms of Gibson's quality, I have yet to see anything that I could really call a fit and finish issue in person, having played many in the past. I can say that I've seen a lot of fit and finish issues on cheaper, often South-East Asian guitars though.

The prices are high but then again, paying full price for guitars is for suckers. If a person can't find a good deal then perhaps they deserve to pay more.

BAKER95 · 17-10-2012 07:30AM

westwood les pauls are worth a look .

dazberry · 17-10-2012 09:31AM

Ravelleman wrote: »

I've always though Gordon Smith guitars (and Eggles for that matter) were pretty ugly.

Sacrilege!!!

Ravelleman wrote: »

Just looking at the site there and they don't even seem like they're great value, certainly not new anyhow. £888 for the Graduate 60, which is roughly LP-like is very pricey considering its spartan features and unusual wood selection.

Way back when I bought my first GS back in 94, which was the "low end" GS1.60. Price wise it fitted in nicely between the cheap-not-so-good and the quality-but-too-expensive, yet felt as good as those brand instruments. Times have changed and I do agree that GS seem that bit more expensive now, especially the more you go up the range.

I've only saw a Graduate 60 in-the-flesh once, a couple of months ago in Some Neck Guitars. It was in for repair and not for sale, but once I picked it up it was just such a quality instrument I would have made an offer on the spot.

D.

Ash.J.Williams · 26-10-2012 01:33PM

dazberry wrote: »

Sacrilege!!!

Way back when I bought my first GS back in 94, which was the "low end" GS1.60. Price wise it fitted in nicely between the cheap-not-so-good and the quality-but-too-expensive, yet felt as good as those brand instruments. Times have changed and I do agree that GS seem that bit more expensive now, especially the more you go up the range.

I've only saw a Graduate 60 in-the-flesh once, a couple of months ago in Some Neck Guitars. It was in for repair and not for sale, but once I picked it up it was just such a quality instrument I would have made an offer on the spot.

D.

Never played a Gordon Smith but the price for something hand made isn't that bad. Is it?

Ash.J.Williams · 26-10-2012 01:35PM

There is a Burny silver sparkle in the liffey st shop for 550 ish. Anyone any knowledge or experience of such a thing?

wild turkey · 26-10-2012 06:41PM

Ash.J.Williams wrote: »

There is a Burny silver sparkle in the liffey st shop for 550 ish. Anyone any knowledge or experience of such a thing?

I was the previous owner of this one http://www.adverts.ie/1636632

Very nice guitars with a great build quality for a chinese guitar but never took to the floyd

Out of the 14 /15 les pauls ive owned the best non Gibson ive owned was an Orville lp junior followed by Edwards 98 lts & Gordon Smith & then the burny
As for Gibsons, Ive an exceptional 92 standard that will stay with me forever apart from that the other 5 lps ive owned have been ok to meh, the Orville would be a better guitar anyday

flyswatter · 29-10-2012 02:55PM

Grolschevik wrote: »

I've got a late '70s or early '80s Pearl branded LP copy with Di Marzios. It's a great guitar.

Pearl as in the company better known for making drums?

punchdrunk · 29-10-2012 02:58PM

flyswatter wrote: »

Pearl as in the company better known for making drums?

yep,I used to have a pearl 8 track based space echo copy!

Ravelleman · 29-10-2012 04:41PM

flyswatter wrote: »

Pearl as in the company better known for making drums?

A friend of mine has a Pearl Les Paul copy. It's incredible heavy.

Grolschevik · 30-10-2012 01:18PM

flyswatter wrote: »

Pearl as in the company better known for making drums?

Yep. I mailed them about it years ago. They licensed the name out; it wasn't made in their own factories. It's a great guitar. They sent me a brochure from the '70s, too...

flyswatter · 30-10-2012 01:27PM

Grolschevik wrote: »

Yep. I mailed them about it years ago. They licensed the name out; it wasn't made in their own factories. It's a great guitar. They sent me a brochure from the '70s, too...

That was decent of them.

wild turkey · 30-10-2012 08:45PM

Grolschevik wrote: »

Yep. I mailed them about it years ago. They licensed the name out; it wasn't made in their own factories. It's a great guitar. They sent me a brochure from the '70s, too...

Pearls were made in the Matsumoku factory alongside aria's, epiphones etc
My first electric guitar was a Pearl & a good one at that !

Ash.J.Williams · 06-11-2012 07:35PM

I think these are made here..
http://www.vintageandrare.com/product/C.agnew-LP-1-BluesBelle-2011-8555

Ash.J.Williams · 31-12-2012 11:58AM

I've encountered a tokai lespaul custom (jap) ...is that guarenteed quality??

I'm trying to get the model number at present.

wild turkey · 31-12-2012 12:03PM

The one in X music ?

Ash.J.Williams · 31-12-2012 12:33PM

wild turkey wrote: »

The one in X music ?

shhhhh!!

(yeah...you know of it?)

slavetothegrind · 31-12-2012 12:44PM

how much they looking for?

Ash.J.Williams · 31-12-2012 12:45PM

slavetothegrind wrote: »

how much they looking for?

€599

slavetothegrind · 31-12-2012 12:53PM

mmmm, your safe enough i ain't got the dough to buy:D

Have a good play of it and if it's poorly set up ask them to set it up as you are seriously considering it

hope it works out for you!

wild turkey · 31-12-2012 01:21PM

I haven't played it but its been there a good few months
There was a very similar one floating around adverts a year or so ago
http://www.adverts.ie/678320

There's nothing guaranteed with any guitar.
I had an Edwards very similar & while built exceptionally well the guitar was lifeless
I did everything to get it right, pickups, caps, pots, Graphtech saddles etc & it only slightly improved it
So go try it & try it against a Gibson studio or similar
Also for that type of money your into a new Gibson in Waltons sale

http://www.waltons.ie/Product/Search.aspx?search=&mid=115&searchMid=&cid=272&searchCid=&min=&max=&sort=price&dir=asc

Ravelleman · 31-12-2012 01:47PM

I agree. Waltons' prices are excellent at the moment and for a little more you'd have yourself a shiny Gibson. I haven't seen what stock they have left but it's reasonable to assume that if it's still on the website it's still there as they have two shops.

Ash.J.Williams · 31-12-2012 01:59PM

I really like those billy greenday juniors!!

darrenw5094 · 31-12-2012 02:17PM

I have a Tokai LP standard LS75 from 2003 and it's super guitar. Was going to sell it as i also have a '93 Gibson, but after playing it last night, it would be hard to let it go.

Basic model has poor 3 way switch and input jack, but the rest is as good as the Gibson equivilent. Those 2 parts are an easy fix anyway.

wild turkey · 31-12-2012 02:19PM

Yes, I picked got one on Saturday, I tried them all & they're a much better deal than the ordinary ones,
The BJ's have gloss finish & rosewood board, a much hotter pickup & then there's the case
You will need to fully shield it though as the H-90 pickup does hum
Junior's are made for picking up & bashing out chords on , Ramones AC/AC etc
Just great fun guitars to play, nothing technical.

I really enjoyed playing the single coil melody maker,it had a lot of balls & was my second choice

Go & try a few !

Ash.J.Williams · 29-01-2013 01:49AM

Hypothetical question.

If you had €1,100 and had your eye on a shiney new Jap tokai, do you think a person should throw in another €300 and buy a gibson les paul classic custom?

(resale not an issue, quality and tone essential)

Celly Smunt · 29-01-2013 02:11AM

Ash.J.Williams wrote: »

Hypothetical question.

If you had €1,100 and had your eye on a shiney new Jap tokai, do you think a person should throw in another €300 and buy a gibson les paul classic custom?

(resale not an issue, quality and tone essential)

I'd take a jap Tokai over a new gibson anyday.

darrenw5094 · 29-01-2013 10:22PM

You could get a used Tokai LP for €500-€700.

wild turkey · 29-01-2013 11:25PM

Or Orville, Edwards, Burny etc for around the same
Theres a few nice ones on adverts, I've been keeping an eye on this one.
http://www.adverts.ie/2484145

Les Paul Copies

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