Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

[uOpt]

Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

and detachable headstocks.

Standard feature on most Gibsons.

[AlexR]

Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

I've got a clone of a PRS singlecut (A PVX kit). I'd agree that while the tone coming out of it is great, its certainly not quite LP like.

[vinta9e]

Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

Standard feature on most Gibsons.

Yeah, sadly. Doesn't want to reattach itself via ribbon cable and a molex connector though.

[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

I"m a Fender player and don't like the 24 3/4 scale. But I can get into a Les Paul. After about 10 minutes I start forgetting how clumsy and weird it feels and start liking how much I like the tones and how it is making me play better. It has its place. Playing it sitting is no problem at all. I think it was designed to play it sitting down. Playing standing up at a gig though and I'll take a H/H tele instead even if it doesn't sound exactly alike.

[Johtosotku]

Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

I"m a Fender player and don't like the 24 3/4 scale. But I can get into a Les Paul. After about 10 minutes I start forgetting how clumsy and weird it feels and start liking how much I like the tones and how it is making me play better. It has its place. Playing it sitting is no problem at all. I think it was designed to play it sitting down. Playing standing up at a gig though and I'll take a H/H tele instead even if it doesn't sound exactly alike.

That's interesting. I find LPs harder to play sitting down and Fender designs easier. Standing, it's the opposite. I don't like the LP shape when sitting down but I like the TOM distance from body while standing.

[Christopher Caruana]

Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

That's interesting. I find LPs harder to play sitting down and Fender designs easier. Standing, it's the opposite. I don't like the LP shape when sitting down but I like the TOM distance from body while standing.

i find my LP easy to play both sitting and standing. Maybe a little more sitting. Ive really only played les paul's though, so i guess I'm used to it

[hydro]

Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

It occured to me that when I sit down with an unfamiiar guitar, I almost always run through a series of chords and see how it sounds clean, or clean-ish; and my gold standard for this is hollowbody guitars like Ric 360 or ES-335. This may not be entirely fair for a LP. They are darker and deader on chords, especially part-open chords. My routine is to check out rhythm, cleans and then check out lead tones. It strikes me that the LP is really designed to be an expressive lead/phrasing guitar - more like a human voice, for expression, dynamics, etc. - this is a part of my playing that I have only recently begun to emphasize. The 335 does a lot but it has the 57s in it and it's a little hot. The SGs are great for rhythm and leads without a lot of dynamics... a bit brittle.

Maybe since I have been playing like a tree-swinging ape for so many years, I have not really been in a position to appreciate what a LP with vintage voiced humbuckers can do....

[JeffB]

Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

Go watch some old YouTube video of Les Paul and Mary Ford. Then you can get an idea of what Les' style, criteria/needs were all about. Do not forget, it IS a sig guitar.

[Archer250]

Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

Go watch some old YouTube video of Les Paul and Mary Ford. Then you can get an idea of what Les' style, criteria/needs were all about. Do not forget, it IS a sig guitar.

To be fair, this **** is far more demanding than what most guys who pick up his sig guitar play.

[Diego]

Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

I've tried at least a dozen Les Pauls of many price ranges, their sound is great but the way they feel just kills me.
I don't like a guitar I have to adapt to.

I actually prefer the sound AND feel of SGs. Way easier to play.

[blueman335]

Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

I actually prefer the sound AND feel of SGs. Way easier to play.

I like SG's a lot too, but they don't sound like LP's. For me, LP's have always been very comfortable and natural. Since they also have the sound I want, they're as good as it gets.

[Mad-Max]

Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

I like Les Paul's but honestly, they are truly an acquired taste. Some are good, some are not. The best one I ever played was probably one of the new Les Paul standards in Wine Red. I don't know what it was about that particular one that I played, but it just felt and sounded right. Probably because of the Compound Radius fretboard, which I'm very much used to. But I've played a good number of good ones, and a good number of bad ones. It's truly a guitar that you have to try tons of them before you can make a final verdict.

That being said, I'm more of an SG or Explorer kinda guy.

[Diego]

Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

I like SG's a lot too, but they don't sound like LP's. For me, LP's have always been very comfortable and natural. Since they also have the sound I want, they're as good as it gets.

Wish they were natural to me.
With Les Pauls I feel like I'm playing an elephant with strings.

[Rockstar216]

Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

My only gripe with LPs are weight and vol knob placement but tone wise I love them. But yes as stated they were meant to replace big hollow bodies on stage where loud volumes would be used.

[blueman335]

Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

My only gripe with LPs are weight

I find a 10 lb LP to be very reassuring. As soon as I start playing them I don't notice the weight for the rest of the night. All I notice is the great tones.