Les Paul Standard or ES 335


ggar1959
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ggar1959
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12/16/2010 1:09 am
OK, so I want to trade up my Les Paul studio for either a standard Les Paul or a ES 335. Which guitar is better to buy at this time. I heard the new Les Paul's are chambered and that changed the whole sound, and not for the better.
Any information would be appreciated as this is a huge investment for me.

Thanks,

Gary
# 1
Razbo
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Razbo
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12/16/2010 6:05 pm
What style of music do you play and what kind of guitar do you have now?

As you say, it is a big investment, so if it were me, I'd buy only the one I wanted most, not the one that was best to buy at the time.

Obviously that can mean spending more, but how much is it worth to NOT pick up your guitar every time and think "This was not the one I wanted..."
...so ever since then, I always hang on to the buckle.
# 2
Ben Lindholm
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Ben Lindholm
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12/17/2010 12:42 pm
Also, there are plenty of used Les Pauls out there in the world if you want an older model. I bought mine used and I couldn't be happier with it!
# 3
ggar1959
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ggar1959
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12/17/2010 2:05 pm
Ben, I recently spent over $1500 on a Gibson Studio Les Paul, by the time I had the pickups replaced. The guitar was my first Gibson and I gotta tell you, I am very disappointed. My Luthier said the quality of Gibson has gone down (but I see the prices have not). I play Rock (Classic and Southern), Blues, and would like to learn to play some Jazz.
I own a Fender Strat (that I love), but I can't get that Gibson sound from the Strat so I thought I would get a Studio but I can't get it adjusted right and my guitar tech said he wasn't sure but he's heard Epiphone's that sound better. He mentioned chambered vs non chambered as the problem.
Anyway, I cannot put anymore money into this Studio guitar so I am trading up, but I heard the Gibson ES-335 had a plastic nut, I am concerned I could spend up to $2000 and get another lemon from Gibson.
The Les Paul's I believe are all chambered so maybe buying a older model would be better, but when you buy used or new its buyer beware I guess.
So my question is this, is the newer ES-335 a better built guitar then the newer model LPs? And what is chambered vs non-chambered?
# 4
stymye
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stymye
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12/18/2010 1:41 am
you can buy a new Gibson either chambered or, non-chambered(traditional)
the difference in tone is not enough to matter unless you are a pro in a studio listening to every nuance thru a set of $2500 headphones.

I know alot of people who are VERY happy with their Gibson les Pauls... do not spend too much time listening to what someone else says ...go try one for yourself,,,check it out.

the difference between a les paul standard and an es335 are huge. totally different guitars. If your not even sure what type of guitar you want I say go check some out at your local shop

chambered simply means that some of the internal wood has been removed to provide more resonance and it also makes the guitar lighter.Some of the "old school" players don't like Gibson changing anything so thay don't like their guitar chambered...no matter what small difference it makes.
# 5
Ben Lindholm
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Ben Lindholm
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12/21/2010 11:50 am
Originally Posted by: ggar1959Ben, I recently spent over $1500 on a Gibson Studio Les Paul, by the time I had the pickups replaced. The guitar was my first Gibson and I gotta tell you, I am very disappointed. My Luthier said the quality of Gibson has gone down....................buyer beware I guess.
So my question is this, is the newer ES-335 a better built guitar then the newer model LPs? And what is chambered vs non-chambered?


ggar1959, I'm sorry to hear you're not happy with your Les Paul, I guess that as with any guitar brand, no guitar is exactly the same and sometimes you can simply be unlucky.

Personally, I tried out a LOT of Les Pauls before I knew what model I wanted: a Les Paul Standard with a thick 50's neck. That was the one that really felt good to me. To be totally honest, there is a pretty big difference between the Les Paul Standards and the Les Paul Studios.

The ES-335 is a completely different guitar, as stymye says. That's like comparing a strat to a Les Paul almost. I never really liked the 335 much, but that's just me :)

Also, as stymye explained, chambered means you take out some of the wood inside the guitar to make it lighter. This is because light mahogany is hard to come by these days (really old Les Pauls are built with lighter mahogany). Chambering is nothing new though, Gibson started doing it in the early 80's. The difference today is that now they have a more refined process of doing it.

You can read all about it here: Gibson Website on Chambering

They even say themselves that no two guitars sound or react the same to the chambering, so it's all about trying out the one you want.
# 6
kddean66
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kddean66
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12/30/2010 4:49 am
I own a 2009 LP Standard that is chambered and couldn't be happier. I know that sometimes change causes some of the old timers to get upset that things aren't like they were in the old days.

If you want a non-chambered LP, you can still get a new one. As styme said it is called a LP Standard (Traditional). Personally, I'd take the chambered model over the heavier model any day.
Martin HD-28
Fender American Stratocaster
Gibson Les Paul Standard
Egnater Renegade
# 7
JeffS65
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JeffS65
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12/30/2010 7:21 am
I've owned an LP and I've owned an ES.

Mke your purchase on what it is you want to hear. An LP and an ES do not sound alike. You could say similar in that they both have humbuckers but they are different animals.

I find the ES to be a bit more mellow and the LP was more amenable to harder tones. Not that you can't cross over and make an LP mellow or kick it out with an ES but it's more the point of where the guitar is at home in as far as tone. If you're playing jazz, an ES might be better because it will better get to those tones most used with the genre. That kind of thing...

Granted, when I had an LP it was a while back and the LP was a 68 Deluxe (was reconfigured with standard HB pick ups by the time I got it)...so it's been a while. Though I own the ES currently.

I wouldn't buy on what is the best purchase decision but what best suits what you wish to play.
# 8
ggar1959
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ggar1959
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12/31/2010 2:07 am
Thanks everyone for the feedback, I'm trying out the LP tradional plus models right now. I don't mind the extra weight as long as the famous LP sustain is there. I got lucky with my my first purchase, I have a 62 Strat I wouldn't trade for anything. I've had it for 4 years now and I haven't done anything to it and it still plays like butter, tone is great, and stays in tune for ever. I think I just got a lemon on the LP Studio. I wont' make another purchase like that online.

Thanks,
ggar1959
# 9

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