Alternatives to Gibson Les Paul Studio?

[TRex]

Re: Alternatives to Gibson Les Paul Studio?

Don't want to sound CHEAP, but, I recently bought one of Rondo Music's Agile A-2000 used for $220. All mahogany, set neck, rosewood board, LP style body. Neck feels really good and not too thick like I've felt some Epis. My budget was a LOT lower than yours. But I enjoy this guitar.

Yea, those look like a great deal

I'm actually suggesting one of those for my cousin who can't seem to keep more than a few hundred in his pocket without spending it.

 

[TRex]

Re: Alternatives to Gibson Les Paul Studio?

I'd shop around and get yourself a '90's Studio that speaks to you. They tended to be much better made than the ones from the past 10 years or so, IME. As a bonus, you can also get an ebony board simply by buying a white one, at no additional cost on the used market. And you'll also be coming in well under budget, and you can use the "change" to equip the guitar in any way you'd like. As for whether the top is maple or not, I have not heard of large numbers of them NOT being maple. But if the guitar is solid so you can't see...and you like the way it sounds...who cares what the top is?

FWIW, I sold an early '00's Les Paul Studio Plus (wine red flametop with gold hardware) about 8 years ago. At that time, I would have been lucky to have got $700 cash for the thing. (This bummed me out, so I ended up trading it for a camera kit that had an original retail value of about $4,000.) And that's, like I said, a flame top. Used Studios are a killer deal.

Well I'm not sure how an ebony fretboard will mesh with me, I really love rosewood for anything besides most fender strats. Ebony looks really neat for a Black or white LP though.

 

[Securb]

Re: Alternatives to Gibson Les Paul Studio?

It's not that I dislike bolt ons, but it feels strange on a Les Paul

I love me a bolt on strat or RG

My Sonex was a bolt on and I never gave it two thoughts. That guitar rocked.

 

[VinceT]

Re: Alternatives to Gibson Les Paul Studio?

I would add Reverend to the mix - fantastic guitars. At your price point, the PRS S2 range becomes possible too. I tried a S2 Vela a couple of days ago, it's a fantastic guitar.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Securb]

Re: Alternatives to Gibson Les Paul Studio?

Ibanez Artist will definitely get you there for short money.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Alternatives to Gibson Les Paul Studio?

Ibanez Artist will definitely get you there for short money.

oh hell yes!

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Alternatives to Gibson Les Paul Studio?

If you insist on only buying American, a Hamer will give most Gibsons a good run for their money.

 

[Hecubus]

Re: Alternatives to Gibson Les Paul Studio?

They are not American, but Edwards hold their own against Gibson and come loaded with Duncans.

 

[guitarSQUIRELL]

Re: Alternatives to Gibson Les Paul Studio?

If you insist on only buying American, a Hamer will give most Gibsons a good run for their money.

+1 on this aspect as well....I have the Hamer Vector Flying V, and it plays like a dream....super low action and i think mine came with Duncan Designed pups as well....Im about to change the bridge one out to the custom/hybrid when i get it.....but all in all, my Hamer is a sweet guitar....Oh and you can see it in my signature picture as well if you wanted to put a picture to the name....

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Alternatives to Gibson Les Paul Studio?

I know about the Hamer XT series - I own a couple - but, in my previous post, I was referring to US-made Hamer guitars.

 

[guitarSQUIRELL]

Re: Alternatives to Gibson Les Paul Studio?

I know about the Hamer XT series - I own a couple - but, in my previous post, I was referring to US-made Hamer guitars.

Gotcha....I didnt think of that....

 

[Wattage]

Re: Alternatives to Gibson Les Paul Studio?

Have you looked at any used LPJ's?

 

[shawn7oh]

Re: Alternatives to Gibson Les Paul Studio?

I have a 2014, and it's great. I did replace the bridge with a full shred, and had to reverse some wiring for it to work, but it really kicks ass.

Sell the 2015 and get a 2014, it has the Anniversary inlay at the 12th fret. DOn't get a 2013.

I was thinking the 2015 looked like a nice package.

Other options, MIM Tele, I'm telling you, if you like to write, it's a writing machine. And after you set it up, it starts to like gel, the pups and stuff, the tone gets better every day, no bs.

Good luck! message me if you get a 2014 or otherwise want my suggestions for how to wire an SD pup into a Gibson FAT TAP circuit. I solved it, and Duncan liked it...

 

[shawn7oh]

Re: Alternatives to Gibson Les Paul Studio?

Yeah I wish I had a standard too, some day, but for now, no way, lol. The studio and tele are fine.

 

[phred]

Re: Alternatives to Gibson Les Paul Studio?

How about a Peavey Odyssey?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Black-Peavey-Odyssey-Guitar-Early-1990s-Handcrafted-in-the-USA-/231640403974?hash=item35eed81006

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Alternatives to Gibson Les Paul Studio?

Ibanez Artist will definitely get you there for short money.

definitely. Sorry to add the cork sniffer caveat but make sure you are looking at one of the old late 70s early 80s artists. There is a night and day difference between them and the current production offerings. If you can find one tho, there are serious axes and when you have one in your hands you will wonder why gibson still can't make axes that good.

 

[Securb]

Re: Alternatives to Gibson Les Paul Studio?

definitely. Sorry to add the cork sniffer caveat but make sure you are looking at one of the old late 70s early 80s artists. There is a night and day difference between them and the current production offerings. If you can find one tho, there are serious axes and when you have one in your hands you will wonder why gibson still can't make axes that good.

I was thinking about picking one up. What are the issues with the new Artist?

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Alternatives to Gibson Les Paul Studio?

I was thinking about picking one up. What are the issues with the new Artist?

Cork un-sniffed

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Alternatives to Gibson Les Paul Studio?

I was thinking about picking one up. What are the issues with the new Artist?

Different woods, different hardware, different pickups, different feel, different sound.
Its not too much of a stretch to put it in the ball park of comparing epiphone vs gibson. They look more or less the same from a distance but thats about it.
If you ever get the chance to play one of the old ones and one of the new ones, the differences are really obvious.
The old artists tho...geez....really nice axes. Sustain for days.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Alternatives to Gibson Les Paul Studio?

I am still a fan of 1980-1990 made in Japan Les Pauls.

It is a bit fuzzy learning which ones are good. But if you were to buy used on mylespaulforum or a similar place you would know specifically what you would get. It won't be as cheap as ordering one from Japan but way cheaper than $1400. If you spend $1200 on a MIJ you get a really high end one.

The PRS McCarty is also a nice LP like guitar that you might want to try.