les paul

[slash-#1]

i know the Les Paul is a grate guitar but i have a quiestion.

the les paul has nothing that other guitars don't have so what makes it so special??
i don't have anything against the lae paul (saving to ge 1 myself) but it would seem that the legendary guitar isn't much better (spec wise) than most of the other guitars on the market.

I'm just wondering wether the only selling point on the les paul is that it has become inbedded into rock's history. :)

Just a thought :P

[aiwass]

There is nothing special about the Les Paul, apart from the name. Moreover, it is extremely heavy (shoulder problems aplenty) and it's damn near impossible to play on the higher frets, due to its ENORMOUS neck heel (where the neck meets the body). On top of all this, Gibson guitars cost an arm and a leg, yet are of no higher build quality than your average Korean-made LTD or Ibanez - in other words, pretty crappy.

If you're already preparing for the Gibson price tag, check out some REAL guitars:

http://www.parkerguitars.com

http://www.vigierguitars.com

http://www.suhrguitars.com

http://www.andersonguitars.com

http://www.ernieball.com


*End of propaganda rant*



[Edited by aiwass on 02-02-2004 at 05:45 AM]

[slash-#1]

yeh ur rite

thing is there is sumthing about them (as u say probably just the name) but it seems that when ur playing 1 it fells sum what special :S dunno mayb i'm jus slightly screwed in the head.

i always used to say that i would buy an SG but since i tried out a les paul (epiphone) (can't afford the real 1 yet) it felt different to my other guitars.
could it be jus because it has a fat neck it fells like a bigger stronger guitar, there is jus sumthin about them.

[Axl_Rose]

Hmm... you no am gona disagree with that! The Gibson is embedded in rock history because of its tone not its image! Think of all the classic songs n riff penned with the les paul.
If you compare it to the copies like epiphone it kicks there ass's!
I no there are excellent cheap guitars out there, but if you can afford a Gibson you shouldnt be condemned. And I really dont see how people think they are so expensive... you can get one second hand for around $850, compare that to the price of a car... or a washining machine!

[slash-#1]

thats more towards the kinda conclusion that i came to...i jus wondered what makes it gr8 (the tone is one aspect)

however if you look at the SG it has the same layout (pickups, bridge) but it dosen't seem to be AS famouse as the Les paul.

[MadGuitarest]

Les paul gibsons sound warm but yeah they are very heavy. Try playing an ax serious ibanez guitar, ( lightest guitar ever i bet)

[Tele Master]

I don't find the Les Paul heavy, my Tele weighs more. I think the reason its so appealing, is so the owner can say "I have a Les Paul". I mean ya they sound great, but I still prefer my Tele.

[Axl_Rose]

Originally posted by Tele Master
I think the reason its so appealing, is so the owner can say "I have a Les Paul".

I dont believe thats true for one minute, infact its embarassing saying "I have a Les Paul" then having to admit its a Gibson.

[guitarmanxxxx]

The gibson les pauls are not the same as all the other guitars, most of the high pricing is do to the quality of wood they use, mahogany, rosewood, this is why they are so heavy, and why they get such a beautiful sound, resonation from the wood. pickups are a lot of the sound you get , but so is the quality of wood the guitar is made out of. the rest is in your fingers.Even though the quality of wood is the best, I still think it is overpriced. as far as tele master saying his tele weighs more than a les paul that really boggles my mind, I have two les pauls, a tele, and a jackson, my tele is way lighter than any of them ??? Ive had my les pauls for thirty years so Im a little bias on anything else. lol. ROCK ON

[Dinkybinks]

I have a gibson les paul standard, and it's the same weight as my strat is, or at least pretty damn close. It sounds so much better through my marshall than the strat does. I will admit they're a bit overpriced at most stores, but since i know the guy, I got my standard for $1600 with the case.

[Axl_Rose]

Yea but on ebay (LOL thats all I talk about) you could get yourself a good condition 2nd hand 90s model for around the $1000 mark. Is that really that expensive?
I got a beautiful cherry sunburst one for $800. It had had a repaired neck but was immaculate in ever other way.

[Lordathestrings]

Originally posted by Axl_Rose
... I got a beautiful cherry sunburst one for $800. It had had a repaired neck but was immaculate in ever other way. Gypsons are notorious for 'losing their heads'! You'd think that by now they would have figured out how to build them so the headstock doesn't snap off. :rolleyes: I got an immaculate (no repairs!) 1984 Yamaha SBG1000 on eBay last year for $610. It's every bit as good as the one I bought new in '84. I passed up a Les Paul Custom to get that first SBG1000. LP's weren't even a consideration when I found the second one!

[sme331]

I have an Epiphone Les Paul Standard... The price tag was right on and the Fat tone and killer sustain is why I have it. Of course, there is some prestige in having a Paul also. I think the Fender Srat is more of an all around usable guitar and you dont wind up with shoulder arthritis at 30 yrs old. Differnt ax for different sound and feel. Dont get one just because. Go play them and play some of the others, see what sound you want and playability. The price will go up with quality, neck speed, ease of fingering, etc. Oh yeah, Ace Frehley made it cool to play a Les Paul.

Tim

[Yngtchie Blacksteen]

My Line 6 Variax does a mean Les Paul impression, that's all I need.

[aiwass]

So you finally got the Variax? Cool. Is it the newer version, or the old one with the pickguard?

[Axl_Rose]

Originally posted by sme331
I have an Epiphone Les Paul Standard... The price tag was right on and the Fat tone and killer sustain is why I have it.

Tim

I have to disagree with that, the pickups on epis are notoriously bad, Ive had three and the first thing I did was buy seymour duncans for them.

[sambob]

I'm glad to see someone else in here mention Vigier!

I've been playing a Vigier guitar recently (Indus). Best playing guitar I've ever had.

[aiwass]

Vigier, you say? Chances are my next axe (when I get enough money) will be an Excalibur Custom...

http://www.vigierguitars.com/GCatalog/GIcata/VE6CCDBL.JPG

*Drools*

[sambob]

Rock on, you'll love it.