Gibson and Japanese Les Pauls

[Ben1962]

Re: Gibson and Japanese Les Pauls

I am being sarcastic. I dont give a flyin crap what Scott Grove thinks. And I also dont give a crap about Japanese ice baths. If I were to drop the major coin on a Japanese guitar, it would be on a Caparison or some shred stick

 

[jeremy]

Re: Gibson and Japanese Les Pauls

see, i have seen crap fly and it was pretty cosmic

 

[Darg1911]

Re: Gibson and Japanese Les Pauls

Crap flying would be pretty cosmic after the blotter or microdot ...

 

[Ben1962]

Re: Gibson and Japanese Les Pauls

What are they? I think I got lost or something? No idea of what you are talking about?

 

[stupendous silly]

Re: Gibson and Japanese Les Pauls

Well, nice to see you liked the tread and are having a good time LOL... I like to think Yamaha will fix things in Gibson, and we are going to get great stuff from them soon. But in the last few years it appears like Gibson made improvements anyway, in quality control for instance, so the Classic plus 2017 still sits at the top of my list, I may pull the trigger anytime. I think I pretty much know what I am getting with a Gibson, but not much idea what I would feel about the others. Like: https://reverb.com/item/9869243-japan-ls-128f-honey-burst-tokai
Anybody has anything to say about these Tokais? These are not the 70s 80s Tokais that get so much love.

 

[stupendous silly]

Re: Gibson and Japanese Les Pauls

I think Gibson is a great brand that did some wonderful things that still make us happy today, so we should pay due respect, but times change and it is not easy to come to terms with it. I was unhappy with my Traditional, so I gave to Gibson bashing myself for a while. What I think about this whole affair, without claiming exceptional knowledge on it, is that corporatism works better in some sectors, and not so well in others. In general, it also tends to breed sluggishness and blindness. So there is a constant revolution going on, and it is sort of like the cycle of life, nothing to get too upset about.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Gibson and Japanese Les Pauls

Well, nice to see you liked the tread and are having a good time LOL... I like to think Yamaha will fix things in Gibson, and we are going to get great stuff from them soon. But in the last few years it appears like Gibson made improvements anyway, in quality control for instance, so the Classic plus 2017 still sits at the top of my list, I may pull the trigger anytime. I think I pretty much know what I am getting with a Gibson, but not much idea what I would feel about the others. Like: https://reverb.com/item/9869243-japan-ls-128f-honey-burst-tokai
Anybody has anything to say about these Tokais? These are not the 70s 80s Tokais that get so much love.

I don't know much about recent Tokai models. It might be worth finding out whether that model has a long tenon neck- that could be a way of finding out whether they have downgraded the model or still adhere to the old design standards. I imagine the build quality is still consistent, as long as the specs for this model are good.

I looked at a couple of similar listings for the same model. Headstock angle is said to be 18°, which is much like the 17° ones on vintage Gibsons. However they're all listed simply as "set neck." I think if they had the long tenon they probably would be listed as "deep neck." The LS128 is said to be their best selling model so there will be a lot of them for sale. Still, IMO you might look for the next step up, the LS140- this one has the long tenon neck and is likely to have better wood and slightly better specs for other things like pots, pickups & tuners. The LS140 costs more, but I think if you can find a used one it might be in your price range.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Gibson and Japanese Les Pauls

Here are mine. All are excellent except for the '77 Greco LP Custom which was just a mid-grade model; it has a very small neck and cheap pots. But it also has Duncan Distortion pickups (which I sweetened by swapping in double thick A5 magnets) and it still rocks, even though it isn't quite up to the quality level of the others.









And there's an Edwards LPC on the way; it should be here Wednesday.

I also have a 1980 Tokai Strat.

 

[stupendous silly]

Re: Gibson and Japanese Les Pauls

I don't know much about recent Tokai models. It might be worth finding out whether that model has a long tenon neck- that could be a way of finding out whether they have downgraded the model or still adhere to the old design standards. I imagine the build quality is still consistent, as long as the specs for this model are good.

I looked at a couple of similar listings for the same model. Headstock angle is said to be 18°, which is much like the 17° ones on vintage Gibsons. However they're all listed simply as "set neck." I think if they had the long tenon they probably would be listed as "deep neck." The LS128 is said to be their best selling model so there will be a lot of them for sale. Still, IMO you might look for the next step up, the LS140- this one has the long tenon neck and is likely to have better wood and slightly better specs for other things like pots, pickups & tuners. The LS140 costs more, but I think if you can find a used one it might be in your price range.

Thanks... that long tenon issue is a useful point. But little info on Tokais anywhere, caught an interesting LS172 used, it probably falls within the premium group you are talking about. https://reverb.com/item/10975470-2014-tokai-ls-172-vf-vintage-flame-sunburst-mij-made-in-japan
Not at all comfortable buying used online though, really like a low action well-playing neck, how do we know that online right? This one also likely got a 50s style neck, at least the photos suggest that to me.

 

[stupendous silly]

Re: Gibson and Japanese Les Pauls

I can't see the photos for some reason, I really would like to hear about that new Edwards Custom. They are everywhere and not expensive.

 

[stupendous silly]

Re: Gibson and Japanese Les Pauls

Anybody can tell me about mid-priced Tokais like the LS128 mentioned, how the sound/feel compares to USA Gibson. A long tenon may be good but I dont think I am getting that with a Les Paul classic plus either. In my experience Gibson is using very heavy wood, I don't complain the guitars are heavy since they may be weight-relieved, but a full, lightweight resonant Tokai might be the way to go for better tone, sustain etc. Gibson has resale value obviously. I am checking the Cites situation at the Customs before pulling the trigger so please let me know if you have a word on these Tokais.

 

[Johnny-DK]

Re: Gibson and Japanese Les Pauls

Current production high end MIJ from Fujigen or Deviser are second to none. They have the same specs as Gibson Custom Shop reissues, and from that perspective they are very competitive.
That said you can get a Gibson Les Paul Classic or Traditional for about the same price as an American Fender, so Gibson do make competitive guitars. Standards and Custom models are somewhat expensive though.

 

[stupendous silly]

Re: Gibson and Japanese Les Pauls

Thanks. Can't tell where that high-end you guys are talking about starts though. Mainly looking at mid-priced varieties. For Tokais that is 'lower than LS 140' I guess.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Gibson and Japanese Les Pauls

there is one Les Paul maker, Gibson. There are good copies but they are not Les Pauls and if they don't have a carved maple cap and nitro finish they are not even copies just shapes kinda like...

This post is not only ridiculous, it's ridiculously wrong!

"Les Paul" is not a brand that belongs to the Gibson family, it is a type of guitar, that is actually manufactured by some other companies even better than the ones made by Gibson.

Unplug that cork from your nose and get out in the real world some time. Heck, I've made a couple "Les Pauls" that are far superior to Gibsons.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Gibson and Japanese Les Pauls

Yes I think Gibson has its own vibe that is different, apparently more low end than the Edwards ones I am listening on utube. People love those nice Bacchus models, and I bet they are great, but they sound like a thing of their own, if utube listening counts for anything.

And it doesn't.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Gibson and Japanese Les Pauls

Freedom of Choice, i spend my money on what i choose.
The Customer is always right.

Except when he's wrong.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Gibson and Japanese Les Pauls

Well, nice to see you liked the tread and are having a good time LOL... I like to think Yamaha will fix things in Gibson, and we are going to get great stuff from them soon. But in the last few years it appears like Gibson made improvements anyway, in quality control for instance, so the Classic plus 2017 still sits at the top of my list, I may pull the trigger anytime. I think I pretty much know what I am getting with a Gibson, but not much idea what I would feel about the others. Like: https://reverb.com/item/9869243-japan-ls-128f-honey-burst-tokai
Anybody has anything to say about these Tokais? These are not the 70s 80s Tokais that get so much love.

Yeah, I know what I'm getting with a Gibson too...and I'm not willing to pay the price for it.

 

[justFred]

Re: Gibson and Japanese Les Pauls

This post is not only ridiculous, it's ridiculously wrong!

"Les Paul" is not a brand that belongs to the Gibson family, it is a type of guitar, that is actually manufactured by some other companies even better than the ones made by Gibson.

Unplug that cork from your nose and get out in the real world some time. Heck, I've made a couple "Les Pauls" that are far superior to Gibsons.

Wrapping an erroneous assertion with insults does little to support your position.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Gibson and Japanese Les Pauls

Wrapping an erroneous assertion with insults does little to support your position.

"Erroneous assertions" was the very reason for my post in the first place.

 

[justFred]

Re: Gibson and Japanese Les Pauls

This post is not only ridiculous, it's ridiculously wrong!

"Les Paul" is not a brand that belongs to the Gibson family, it is a type of guitar, that is actually manufactured by some other companies even better than the ones made by Gibson.

Unplug that cork from your nose and get out in the real world some time. Heck, I've made a couple "Les Pauls" that are far superior to Gibsons.

On the couple of copies you made whose signature is printed on the headstock?