Gibson Les Paul, Best Value/Quality For The Money?

[JimmyO]

Hi folks,

Was looking at the current range of Gibson Les Paul's and wanted to get your input to see what you think the best value/quality model is for the money. I have an Epiphone Les Paul with Burstbuckers that sounds pretty good, but I'd like to save up for a US made Gibson. I play mostly classic rock, blues and some jazz through a JTM 45 and a Mesa Lonestar.

So far I'm looking at the LPJ and, Les Paul Studio and comparing them to the more expensive Les Paul Traditional. I'm looking for a traditional style les paul and don't care for switching, push/pull pots and think the Min E Tune looks horrendous so that rules out the Standard.

Is the main difference between the LPJ vs Studio vs Traditional the increasing levels of bling, binding, flamed tops, finishes etc or does the tone get better, richer and construction quality improve too?

My main concerns are the tone and playability rather than strictly appearance, flame tops etc are a nice bonus.

Thanks!

 

[Myaccount876]

Re: Gibson Les Paul, Best Value/Quality For The Money?

Tone and playability are the two things that will differ from model to model. I'd just head to the local store and try every LP that generally fits your criteria, and then report back.

My experience with lower-end Gibsons has been pretty great, maybe you'll like it too if that helps at all.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Gibson Les Paul, Best Value/Quality For The Money?

Curious about this as well...

 

[JimmyO]

Re: Gibson Les Paul, Best Value/Quality For The Money?

Tone and playability are the two things that will differ from model to model. I'd just head to the local store and try every LP that generally fits your criteria, and then report back.

My experience with lower-end Gibsons has been pretty great, maybe you'll like it too if that helps at all.

Yep, that's what I'll be doing, but thought I'd still ask the question. I've had mixed results getting the complete picture about a guitar in a music store setting. Not all stores set up theirs guitars before putting them on the shop floor and previously I've walked away from examples that I was pretty sure would sound and play a whole lot better after a setup. Good advice though, I'll be trying a few out before choosing which one is right for me.

 

[Rockstar216]

Re: Gibson Les Paul, Best Value/Quality For The Money?

Depends on what you call quality. Really it's a crap shoot some are above and beyond some are not.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Gibson Les Paul, Best Value/Quality For The Money?

IMO, no Gibson Les Paul that you can buy new is a good value. Even their inexpensive models cost about 2x what their quality dictates they ought to cost. They feel like they are slapped together by third graders.

The exception to that statement might be if you find a great sale on something. For instance, I scored by getting a '12 SG Special Faded out the door for $470. Some sort of mistake in pricing, I figured, but I didn't ask any questions. I just went to the bank and pulled out the cash immediately, played ot for a few months, then resold it for $550 on Craig's List.

To me, the best Gibson brand Les Paul for the money will be a Junior or Special from the late '80's to early '00's. If you want humbuckers and a carved maple top instead, go for a Studio from the same time period. (Hint: if you want an ebony fretboard, get a white one).

 

[JimmyO]

Re: Gibson Les Paul, Best Value/Quality For The Money?

IMO, no Gibson Les Paul that you can buy new is a good value. Even their inexpensive models cost about 2x what their quality dictates they ought to cost. They feel like they are slapped together by third graders.

The exception to that statement might be if you find a great sale on something. For instance, I scored by getting a '12 SG Special Faded out the door for $470. Some sort of mistake in pricing, I figured, but I didn't ask any questions. I just went to the bank and pulled out the cash immediately, played ot for a few months, then resold it for $550 on Craig's List.

To me, the best Gibson brand Les Paul for the money will be a Junior or Special from the late '80's to early '00's. If you want humbuckers and a carved maple top instead, go for a Studio from the same time period. (Hint: if you want an ebony fretboard, get a white one).

Wow, good to know. What if I was to also put Heritage guitars in the mix? I have heard good things about them, and they come stock with Seymour Duncan's. Their construction methods look traditional, but they are not as common in stores.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Gibson Les Paul, Best Value/Quality For The Money?

Wow, good to know. What if I was to also put Heritage guitars in the mix? I have heard good things about them, and they come stock with Seymour Duncan's. Their construction methods look traditional, but they are not as common in stores.

They are made well IME. The headstock is a matter of taste; personally, I can't do it.

Also, I didn't mean what I said as "knowledge." Just my opinion, based on playing thousands of guitars over my life. Gibson today might turn out a decent guitar from time to time, but they are anything but a good "value" in most cases. My point was really that the used market is the way to go, because they are so overpriced when new. Buying used, you avoid the ridiculous sticker prices, and if you go old enough, back to that period I talked about, you'll actually end up with a much better quality guitar most of the time, both in terms of materials used and the craftsmanship.

 

[JimmyO]

Re: Gibson Les Paul, Best Value/Quality For The Money?

They are made well IME. The headstock is a matter of taste; personally, I can't do it.

Also, I didn't mean what I said as "knowledge." Just my opinion, based on playing thousands of guitars over my life. Gibson today might turn out a decent guitar from time to time, but they are anything but a good "value" in most cases. My point was really that the used market is the way to go, because they are so overpriced when new. Buying used, you avoid the ridiculous sticker prices, and if you go old enough, back to that period I talked about, you'll actually end up with a much better quality guitar most of the time, both in terms of materials used and the craftsmanship.

Thanks for the advice, it makes sense that you would be paying a bit more for the name. I guess that's why I was wondering about this years LPJ and studio models, they don't seem that expensive so was wondering how they'd compare sonically to the higher priced Traditionals/Standards. Of course the more expensive models have more going on visually, binding, flame tops etc.

 

[Laughing Kookaburra]

Re: Gibson Les Paul, Best Value/Quality For The Money?

Maybe check out a Carvin CS series model. Seems that they try to be decent.

 

[Wolferine92]

Re: Gibson Les Paul, Best Value/Quality For The Money?

I think the lower priced models from this years line up make pretty solid and decent value guitars. Provided they are set up well. Just play a bunch buy one and walk away. Ofcourse secondhand studio from say 07 will be even better value but thats something only you can prefer or not.

 

[epi]

Re: Gibson Les Paul, Best Value/Quality For The Money?

I preferebly like the 2013 studio models they were great I never bought one but played them at a local store a lot

 

[epi]

Re: Gibson Les Paul, Best Value/Quality For The Money?

That being said I have yet to play a 2014 model but studio is the most I would go I am not a fan of the standard.

 

[phil_104]

Re: Gibson Les Paul, Best Value/Quality For The Money?

I still think you can find some great Traditionals out there, if you look hard enough.

 

[Chris of Arabia]

Re: Gibson Les Paul, Best Value/Quality For The Money?

Tokai...



/thread

 

[JimmyO]

Re: Gibson Les Paul, Best Value/Quality For The Money?

Tokai...



/thread

Does anyone know if you can get Tokai's in the US? I used to live in the UK and they were pretty popular, but I'm not sure if they are distributed in the US. They sure look nice.

 

[Chris of Arabia]

Re: Gibson Les Paul, Best Value/Quality For The Money?

I'm not sure, they're hard to find in the UK these days. It just so happens that just about the only place I know has them is approximately 1.5 miles from my house back in the UK. He's done some good business out of me in the last 6-7 months.

 

[JimmyO]

Re: Gibson Les Paul, Best Value/Quality For The Money?

I'm not sure, they're hard to find in the UK these days. It just so happens that just about the only place I know has them is approximately 1.5 miles from my house back in the UK. He's done some good business out of me in the last 6-7 months.

Just did a quick search of both japanese and UK retailers and for a new japanese flame top love rock in cherry sunburst you'd be in the ballpark of about $1400 plus taxes and shipping. So it's up there in price.

I think biding my time and finding a bargain used Gibson maybe where this is going..........

 

[superpete]

Re: Gibson Les Paul, Best Value/Quality For The Money?

Gibson today might turn out a decent guitar from time to time, but they are anything but a good "value" in most cases.

Exactly. Gibson makes good guitars, but they aren't known for their great bang for the buck.

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Gibson Les Paul, Best Value/Quality For The Money?

A few important points:

1. Every manufacturer that mass produces guitars in such volume to feed a worldwide dealer network will have QA issues, especially those who do not employ skilled luthiers to do everything. It's long been S.O.P. to sort through a pile of Gibsons until you find the "right one".

2. The used market is populated with the old "they don't make them this good anymore" b.s. to trick you into paying nearly the cost of a new one. You have an equal chance that any used one is just as bad as any new one drawn randomly from the pile. If you're going to overpay, buy a new one. At least you'll get a warranty.

3. If you're looking for a Les Paul, get a Les Paul. I'm sure Edwards and Tokai make a respectable LP copy. The Agile I had was a respectable LP copy. But it wasn't a Les Paul. It was a copy. My USA Gibson Les Paul Standard was a Les Paul, not a copy. Only Heritage can claim to make a real Les Paul besides Gibson.