Les Pauls

[Cathedral]

I had a 1975 Les Paul Custom that i paid $700.00 for in 1980. it was silver burst on black and i sold it after a year for what i paid for it due to the pain i had in my shoulders from playing out with it.

Most idiotic move i made outside of getting married 9 years ago.
I will never be able to replace that one for that money unless it's beat to hell and back.
I fucking HATE Strats with a passion though cause at the time the only axe i could find that sounded like the Paul was a Charvel, and it took me a couple years to find one.
I used an Aria Pro II RS Classic in the meantime which wasn't a bad axe but only had the single coil "tinny" sounding pickups in it and lots of push and pull tone controls.
Only bad part about that was it had no mid tone. either too damn deep or to thin, even with all the stuff.
It was Pearl White and just a beautiful axe for 6 bills out the door.

Been playing Charvels since the mid 80's and still very happy with them.

But, nothing beats a Les Paul for tone, and sorry to bust any bubbles here but i never played an Epi that even started to compare to a Paul.
I was pitched on one by a salesman that tried to convince me they were the same simply because they were made at the same factory at the time, WRONG...They are made with the same wood but that is where the similarities ended and the cheapo compromising began.

[Panamark]

I love Les Pauls. But I also love strats.. (CAT ?? NO CAT IN THE STRAT ?? )

But the best guitar I have ever played is my mid 80's Ibanez Destroyer II. I wouldnt swap it for any Les Paul. Im actually looking for a Paul at the moment...

[Panamark]

Oops, that didnt make sense, Im looking for a Les Paul for my collection, not to replace the Destroyer..
Ive also got a Strat and a Tele..

[Cathedral]

Tele's are way cool, I love Tele's.... But a Strat? I will not play it here or there, I will not play it anywhere, I do not like them, Pan from Cat, I don not like the Fender Strat.

Huh uh huh huh...

[BrownSound1]

I love strats...and I love teles.... I guess I'm more into playing a Tele these days than a Strat though I don't know why. Must be that I'm going through an early Jimmy Page phase for like the 50th time in my life. Now if I could only find that Tonebender fuzz and a Supro amp, then I would be set.

[Panamark]

I really want a nice Paul again, its the missing link in my collection.
Ive owned two previously, but was young and stupid and sold them.
Its such a different feel and tone from the Fenders, its worth having
it .. Would have to be a black and white one !! But not paying $5000.

[jacksmar]

“The only axe I could find that sounded like the Paul was a Charvel” –

That’s the reason I own 2 Charvel’s. The only other guitars that plays BETTER than Les Paul’s are Jackson’s. That action on Jackson’s from the factory is superb. Jackson’s will hold through an entire gig if need be and the neck thru gets the best sustain I’ve ever heard.

The only Les Paul worth owning right now, imo, is the Ace Frehley Les Paul. Ace’s guitar plays well all the time. It is simply the most consistent neck I’ve ever dealt with. It isn’t like baseball bat Les Paul radius. It required so little adjustment from the factory and the sustain is just phenomenal along with the tone. The price $5000. Now how would anyone justify paying that price? Two words I’ve already mentioned: Tone and Sustain. Ace’s Les Paul has the most balanced sustain from the top end that I’ve encountered. What I mean by this is if I’m playing the high E or B, the sustain won’t change from the A or D. I think this was the closest to what Ace had in one of his original Les Paul’s according to an interview. (The guy’s kind of a flake, so you really don’t know if what he’s saying is totally total.) This is due to the attention Gibson put into the Ace Frehley Les Paul neck. There is nothing for me to compare it to. I’ve never really played to many old Les Paul’s. I’ve played it through a JMP1, a JCM2000, and a JCM 800; no difference and it can really take a beating. (roadworthy) The weight is like under 10 pounds. What I don’t like is 22 vs 24 frets. I like the extra octave for pick tapping.

I’ve seen some guys in Louisville play some Les Paul Epi’s with new hardware and pickups but the tone was not there at all. They let me try one of the Epi’s at a practice and the guitar didn’t feel right at all. The neck was so inconsistent I didn’t want to play it for more than a minute. I didn’t have the guitar plugged into an amp either because they played more chords than solos if you know what I mean.

The hardest point for me to understand with the Les Paul is like the Les Paul classic, Les Paul Standard, Les Paul studio, Les Paul Supreme, Les Paul Standard Premium Plus, Les Paul Standard Double Cut Plus, and of course the Les Paul Custom. And they’ve discontinued so many models including the Ace Frehley model that it makes me wonder if the some of other Paul’s (Joe Perry or Paul SL) play any different from the Epi’s.

I hate to say you get what you pay for, but I have 3 Jackson’s, 2 Charvel’s, and now only one Gibson. The other Gibson was a mid 80’s Explorer and it had a great neck. It was really close to the Charvel and that’s one I can’t figure out. Did anyone see the mid 80’s Explorer with the really awful paint jobs? I put KISS stickers all over the guitar instead of stripping the paint off. Just lazy I guess but I called the guitar the KISS Destroyer and people really liked it when I brought it out for “Hotter Than Hell into Firehouse”

I’ve heard talk about a Neal Schon Les Paul, has anyone heard or can confirm this? The guy just wails and his tone is perfect live. You really have to hear him play live to get what Neal can do because all those sappy love songs get a pair of nuts of them when he play them live.

Last question: I’ve played a Gibson SR71 Strat-style guitar and it was awesome. It wasn’t there a week later and I’ve not found one since. Anybody? Wasn’t this the model or something else?

[Figs]

If you want to go on a budget, I have an Ibanez Iceman that I think it's pretty damn good. Goes for 400-500

[GAR]

You know what I used to think was a piece of shit which I don't mind now in a Paulish single-cutaway type guitar, is the Gibson L6.

They're like 1-1/2" THIN but solid maple. Ceramic magged but low-power output pickups, they got bite and go for way-under $500.

[Panamark]

If Gibson use the same wood for the EPI's, does that mean they weigh the same as the real Les Pauls. There's seems to be an urban myth that the EPI's are a lot lighter....

Never had one side by side.. Someone must know ?

[ZahZoo]

Les Pauls are far far too overpriced... IMO.

If you are looking for a really good quality Paul type guitar and very affordable prices check www.rondomusic.bigstep.com

For example:



Agile AL3000M Prestige Left or Right Handed




Color: Choose Color... Cherry Sunburst Heritage Sunburst Heritage Sunburst Lefty


Quantity:
Agile - AL-3000M



Weight: 30.0 lbs
List Price: $649.99
Sale Price: $399.99

Brand new for the second half of 2004 – the Agile AL-3000M features a SOLID 3/4"+ MAPLE CAP on top of a 1 1/2” solid 3 piece mahogany body. (The cap is just over 3/4" thick at the top of the arch towards the center of the guitar). The maple cap increases the brightness of the guitar dramatically.

The AL-3000 includes many important upgraded features over the AL-2800 and 2500 such as improved Nickel plated hardware, including nickel die-cast Grover tuners 102-18N for ultra fine tuning (18-1 turn ratio), and a one piece Mahogany neck. Neck Taper (thickness) at the first fret is 21.5mm and 23.5mm at the 12th fret. (vs: 17 mm at the 1st fret and 21.5mm at the 12th fret for the slim taper AL-3000 model). The neck has an ebony fret board with real abolone inlays, book matched Canadian maple top, improved pickup selector switch, and Type V Alnico Wilkinson pickups.

New for 2004. The AL-3000 now comes with improved wiring (single conductor braided 18 gauge American wire for pickups), improved pots (now higher voltage with brass shafts for reduced noise).

Standard features (also included in the 2800 model) include: GHS strings (10-46) installed at the factory and a professionally cut bone nut A pre-cut graphite nut is also included in the bag with the trus rod adjuster for those who prefer graphite. The 3000 and 2800 also have individually hand filed frets (vs machine filed frets on the 2500), for professional feel and playability, and a thicker top quality Canadian maple top (100% real wood top-not a photo top!).

Features in common with the 2500, 2800 and 3000 are full body binding, jumbo 2.7mm frets, a 13.7” (350mm) radius neck for “fast” play, and a beautifully bound neck, headstock and body.

Width of the neck at the nut: 1 10/16", at the 22nd fret 2 3/16". Total length, including strap button: 40". Width of guitar at its widest point (lower bout) 13", thickness of neck at the first fret approx 11/16". Scale length 24.7". Body thickness 2" at edge.

[alexpgrimes]

Originally posted by Panamark
Im pretty sure the EPI's are a lot lighter too ?

Mine is alittle on the heavy side too. I also have an 85 strat with the single humbucker and a floyd rose. Real nice guitar Pearl white. I've never had a problem with it either. I also have a washburn Billy T -3. Nice guitar but it needs some work.

[Hecubus]

What about the Les Paul Faded series? Anybody try those?

Those can be had for around $5-600...

I tried one out in the Guitar Center last week & it wailed. It had a great feel to it but it was heavy. I picked up the EBMM after that & it was as light as a feather.

[Panamark]

Originally posted by alexpgrimes
Mine is alittle on the heavy side too. I also have an 85 strat with the single humbucker and a floyd rose. Real nice guitar Pearl white. I've never had a problem with it either. I also have a washburn Billy T -3. Nice guitar but it needs some work.

Must be an urban myth then. Ive had stacks of dudes try and tell me the EPI's were lighter. Thanks for setting me straight

[SweetSecrets]

Les Pauls are great! I have a 2001 studio plus desert burst. It is my baby. I'm thinking about trading it in and getting a wolfgang, but I doubt I could part from my Gibson.