Gibson

I use a Prs 513 I have been thing about switching to a Gibson Les Paul here is what is confusing it looks you can stat at $1,000.00 $5,000.00 I am looking to be in the $3,000.00 range and I do not want one that you need to put a nime volt battery in THanki You FRank

I use a Les Paul Faded. I love it compared to my PRS Singlecut, much better action, and it just feels better (heavier)

I'd proceed with caution when considering a Les Paul Standard or equivalent model from Gibson. Those guitars are so popular right now, they are cranking them out and selling as quickly as they can make them. I'd recommend a head-to-head comparison with Epiphone and other brands to see if the Gibson Les Paul feels and sounds that much better.

Originally Posted by: Slipin LizardI'd proceed with caution when considering a Les Paul Standard or equivalent model from Gibson. Those guitars are so popular right now, they are cranking them out and selling as quickly as they can make them. I'd recommend a head-to-head comparison with Epiphone and other brands to see if the Gibson Les Paul feels and sounds that much better.

Slipin Lizard:

Will you expand your comment? The one about a highly demanded product and a company trying to satisfy the demand for that product? :)

I also have a LP faded and love it. It's a little "rough" in that it lacks binding, the Gibson logo is painted on the headstock, and you can feel the woodgrain on the back of the neck and the fingerboard.

In your price range, you won't have to worry about this and you should have some choices.

From when I was researching Les Pauls, here is what you need to figure out because you have some choices:
- Do you want a 60's or 50's style neck (60's is slim taper, 50's is fatter).
- Do you want humbuckers or not?
- Do you want to be able to switch the pickups between single coil and humbuckers? Just know that switching them to single pole mode doesn't magically make it sound like a strat.
- Do you care about the fingerboard wood? At least for the Studio line, this year they changed to a different fingerboard wood. If you care, you may want to find a used guitar with a rosewood fingerboard.

Unless you have experience with these parameters, you'll have to spend some time comparing them in the store.

Originally Posted by: john of MT
Will you expand your comment? The one about a highly demanded product and a company trying to satisfy the demand for that product? :)

Actually, I think, John, your question has made my point.

Slipin' :

Is your point a negative one? Do you see too many of those Gibsons being made, perhaps implying a lower quality or an unlikelihood of them ever becoming collectible?

Or is the situation a positive one? The popularity of the guitars based on a perceived good value for money spent?

I don't have a dog in this race but I thought I detected a negative connotation in your post about the mass consumption of the mass production of this particular Gibson model.

Is that what you intended?

Originally Posted by: john of MTSlipin' :

Is your point a negative one? Do you see too many of those Gibsons being made, perhaps implying a lower quality or an unlikelihood of them ever becoming collectible?

Or is the situation a positive one? The popularity of the guitars based on a perceived good value for money spent?

I don't have a dog in this race but I thought I detected a negative connotation in your post about the mass consumption of the mass production of this particular Gibson model.

Is that what you intended?

John, not really sure what you're trying to get at. Regardless, I think my first post is very clear and without ambiguity. :)

My suggestion is, if you really want a Gibson Les Paul, buy it used. You will save a lot of money.
But if I were you I would also look at other company's that make les paul models. Gibson used to make the best ones back in the days but there's some great cheaper alternatives out there nowadays that can sound as good or different in a positive way.

But remember, stick to your own personal taste/ears and dont buy a guitar because that model is cool or artists that you like use it or someone on a forum says its good :) Always try before you buy ! Nobody as the same body and the same life experience. What sounds good to millions can sound like crap to you.

I have several guitars, my favorite is my Epiphone Les Paul Prophecy. Has a nice thin neck like most strat style guitars. It plays sooooooo easy and so nice!

Listen to SebastBerg, get out there and try the guitar. Especially if you are going to drop 3k on one. My Gibson's are up in age and I don't know anything about mass production, but this is the new America, quality is just not there. Go with a small company, they are the ones trying to please you, Stick with Custom shop made.

Be careful out there...all generalizations are false. ;)

John, I don't understand your post??

Be careful...when buying a guitar. Make sure it sounds good, is in good shape and plays nicely. Unfortunately, that pretty much rules out mail order and online purchases. So if that's the way a buyer wants to go...be careful out there.

Beware of generalizations. "I don't know much but" (gonna make that a macro key for future postings :) ) I can quickly name six brands that have a great reputation for quality yet many if not all have had their duds, periods of slack quality control, production and/or material/component issues. It is unwise to blindly heed generalizations that any brand is consistently bad or consistently good. Still, there are more than a handful of brands that one can immediately put their trust in...and then verify.

Blah...blah...blah. The above is all well and good for the experienced musician but the beginner or relative nubie might not 'hear' how nice or how poorly the guitar sounds...may not be able to detect physical problems...may not realize it doesn't play well. In my way of thinking that's a situation that calls upon leaning on the manufacturer's reputation -- the Gibsons, Martins, Fenders, Ovations, PRS's, Taylors, etc. of the world (actually, despite some individual models, those are all U.S. makes). And seek the advice of a trusted musician or dealer.

And when the guitar shopper thinks the advice has all been collected and heard beware of the guitar snobs and brand ultra-loyalists...Ford vs Chevy, Apple vs MS, Pepsi vs Coke, Gibson vs Fender vs PRS....

But most of all -- I just love the oxymoron of "All generalizations are false."

:D

I understand now. I bought on line a few times and made sure it was money back if not happy. I have been lucky but I know where you are coming from

I haven't bought online but I came close. The electric I found on EBay turned out to be an half-hour away. We both felt bad about getting EBay involved before we found each other and I split the EBay fee with him. :)

My acoustic came from a very good friend at a very good price. So I too have been lucky.

Originally Posted by: john of MTBe careful...when buying a guitar. Make sure it sounds good, is in good shape and plays nicely. Unfortunately, that pretty much rules out mail order and online purchases. So if that's the way a buyer wants to go...be careful out there.
[/QUOTE]
Buying a guitar is hard, even if you know what you are doing and what you are looking for. First off, there are the multitide of options within a given brand and model - bridge style, neck shape, fretboard material, etc. When I bought each of my electric guitars (Fender Strat and Gibson LP Faded Studio), I spent hours in the store playing them. In both cases, after a week or so of using the guitars at home, I picked up on things I wasn't too keen on that I should have picked up on in the store. Fortunately they weren't deal breakers that gave me buyer's remorse, but they were eye opening for me because I felt I did so much research and spent so much time with the instrument in the store.

When I purchased my amp, I walked in with the intent of buying a Line 6 modeling amp and walked out with a Peavey tube amp.

So, with that experience, as tempting as it is sometimes, I will never purchase a guitar or an amp online.
[QUOTE=john of MT]
But most of all -- I just love the oxymoron of "All generalizations are false."
:D

Yeah, that's a classic quote! :-).

Originally Posted by: john of MTBeware of generalizations. "I don't know much but"

Just like to ask... are you directing that comment at me, or others who have posted here?

Originally Posted by: maggior after a week or so of using the guitars at home, I picked up on things I wasn't too keen on that I should have picked up on in the store

Yup this happens. Unless you play for an hour in the store or have a lot of experience with guitars, there are some things you wont notice right away.
Like the shape of the neck for exemple. You might play the guitar in the store and think that you like it then go back home and play several hours to realise you would have prefer something fatter, thinner, a V shape, or modern C shape etc

Originally Posted by: SebastBergYup this happens. Unless you play for an hour in the store or have a lot of experience with guitars, there are some things you wont notice right away.
Like the shape of the neck for exemple. You might play the guitar in the store and think that you like it then go back home and play several hours to realise you would have prefer something fatter, thinner, a V shape, or modern C shape etc

I played them for 2 hours or more in the store :-). Apparently this isn't uncommon because I didn't feel rushed at all. I'm certainly not an expert, but after playing for 15+ years (at the time), I felt like I had some experience and knew what I was doing.

I guess what I was trying to say is that even with experience and spending many hours with the guitar, you can miss something.

For most people, it's a large financial investment, so it's worth spending the time and even making numerous trips to the store the try different guitars out...even if you think you know what you are doing :-).