Best LP and BASS To Start With

I am interested in buying a cheap bass, just for jamming and composing, nothing serious. Looking at the Squier's. What do you think?

What is the best Les Paul to start off with. I know I know, I never said much good about them, but I played a $6000 one, and loved the clean sound. So what's a better, cheaper one to start off with?

You should look at kramer focus basses...they are cheap and have a good sound.

I got my wife a Squire Bass Starter pack, 300 bucks and it is very cool !

Squire P- Bass w/ MN
Squire Bass amp 15W
Fender cable
Strap
Video
Gig bag

(and a nice big box to put them in)

These are easy to find on line where they are probably cheaper

As for an LP, I just dropped 700 USD (Inc shipping) on a Teal Green Gibson LP Studio on eBay.

It is lovely!

On account of the fact that I’ve been playing for 20 (twenty) years, that is longer than most of the people on this forum have been alive, I think I can tell a starter guitar when I see one and at 1100 bucks, the LP studio is not one. Nor is it a car !

I would advise against buying a new anything as a starter. I suggest picking up a good used axe from one of the many shops in your area. I used to live in Ottawa, so I know you have access to at least three good stores that specialise in used equipment, plus the 'used' sections of several more. I can recommend Used Sound, on Preston Street, and Songbird, on Gladstone Avenue near Bank Street, in particular.

I bought a Yamaha RBX 350 on eBay for $150 Canadian, and it turned out to be a wonderful instrument. I happen to think you can't go wrong with a Yamaha, which is why I was willing buy before I tried. Any used axe is going to represent better value for your money than a new one, and you aren't going to commit a pile of coin to something you may not decide to stick with.

Basses are trickier to build. The necks are longer, and even a 4-string has a lot of tension on it. I'd have a bit more faith in a used bass, simply because it has already had time for any problems to show up. If it's good after someone else has played it for a while, it's likely to be good for as long as you own it.

... a 'starter' Gibson Les Paul??? That's an oxymoron!

What he means is a "Starter Les Paul", as in "I want to get a jumpstart into the world of Les Pauls, what is a good Les Paul to get, before I spend the real cash on one?", and not "I'm just starting.....what's a good les paul". Of course, I'm just interpreting what he is trying to say, but I believe that is it.

The High End Epiphones are better than the Low End Gibsons, keep that in mind.

Me, I play a Gibson Les Paul Double Cutaway +, the only Les Paul with 24 frets, and a double cutaway that basically allows you free reign on the fretboard. Simple electronics, Master Tone/Master Volume/3 way toggle, it is definitely a steal.

I got mine Brand New from Music123.com for $1087; They do the price-match system, and I found a website that was selling them brand new for $1099, so music123 beat the price.

The LPDC+ is a steal at $1400, and for $1000, that sweetens the deal.

~Incidents

I dont think Les Pauls are the kind of guitars that you find a beginner one. Les Pauls are the kind of guitars where you spend $3000 but get a truly amazing look and sound...that is my idea of what a Les Paul is. Right now this is my aim for a guitar: http://www.gibson.com/products/gibson/lespaul/lpsu.html
It costs $2,800 on musician's friend...im hoping ill be able to buy this sometime soon...

True, I am looking for a Les Paul that is at a cheaper price, Gibson or Epiphone. Hopefully something under $1000, and I have bought alot of used items before and am very comfortable buying used items so that is not an issue.

As for Bass guitars, I was looking at Songbird Music, and noticed some Jay Turner basses for $200. A Neighbour who has been pkaying music for 30 years, just bought a Jay Turner bass(the same kind I am looking at), because he said they are cheap but good quality, of course nothing compared to a high end Fender or something like that. I beleive I will be buying this bass next week....pay day.The Les Paul will have to wait, but I am considering them.

I am lloking at the Epiphone Les Paul Studio..good choice for first LP?