Guitar halfway between PRS and Les Paul?

N

nikosteph

New member
What kind of guitar would you recommend for someone who finds a Gibson tone too thick, and a PRS tone too thin? In general, I absolutely love the feel of the PRS neck and body size/weight, but the tone is too thin and "tinny" (or "sterile", as I've sometimes heard it described). A Les Paul, on the other hand, has too thick of a tone, the neck is hard to play, and is overall too heavy for my tastes. I do love the growl of the Les Paul bridge pickup, but would like something a little more cutting if possible.

Is there a good middle ground? Some preferences:

- I am a fan of the maple capped mahogany sound overall
- I greatly prefer fixed bridge, though Strat/PRS-style trem is okay (but no Floyd Rose please!)
- Dual humbuckers, no need for coil taps
- I'm looking for classic to hard rock, with possibility for metal, but with a nice clean in the neck for bluesy tones
- Will most likely put in the JB or Custom (probably with the A8) in the bridge position; neck either a 59 or Jazz (suggestions welcome though)

I have a few ideas in mind, but I won't post them so I don't bias anyone in that direction.

Thanks in advance for the suggestions!

EDIT: I also prefer a double-cutaway guitar, though it's not absolutely necessary...
 
Last edited:
Re: Guitar halfway between PRS and Les Paul?

Saying "between a Gibson and PRS" is too vague. A Gibson Les Paul and a PRS what? The PRS Single cut might be close to a Les Paul, but not as thick. What have you tried (pickups etc) to get the tones you want out of a Les Paul or PRS?
 
Re: Guitar halfway between PRS and Les Paul?

ESP eclipse. Especially the custom ones, with 4 knob layout. (I'm in europe)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Re: Guitar halfway between PRS and Les Paul?

That might be the PRS McCarty or the Singlecut, SC245/250. Then, again, it might not.

I have one of the so-called pre-lawsuit PRS Singlecut guitars. I also have a Les Paul Standard. They are broadly similar but they are also sufficiently different that I consider it desirable to have both.

Just the scale lengths and bridge/tailpiece hardware are sufficient to make for different sounds and playing experiences.
 
Re: Guitar halfway between PRS and Les Paul?

Find the one that's most comfortable to play, and then change the electronics to get the sound you're after. Saying "I'm going to put this pickup into that guitar" really limits yourself. A pickup is to get the sound of the guitar into the amp. Using the guitar as a pickup holder isn't the best way to go.

If a PRS is comfortable but sounds thin, grab a Dimarzio Breed, Air Zone, or Tone Zone, or a Duncan PATB-1 or PATB-3.
 
Re: Guitar halfway between PRS and Les Paul?

To clarify, I was talking about a PRS custom 24 (or custom 22). Also, I've never owned a PRS, I've only played them in a store, so I don't know if a pickup swap would help. I guess I've just heard enough PRS's that I'm guessing their tone is more a factor of their build and components, not purely a pickup thing.

I did once own a Les Paul Studio, with the C8 in the bridge, and it was a damn fine-sounding guitar. If I could get a slightly less thick tone (a little "shreddier" if possible) with a slimmer PRS-style neck, I'd be in heaven. I hope this mythical guitar exists :)!
 
Last edited:
Re: Guitar halfway between PRS and Les Paul?

The OP omits to mention amplification type(s).

The OP also assumes that all Gibson Les Paul guitars are created equal in terms of weight, neck profile and sounds.

Less than a Lester, double cutaway, cuttier sounds? Try an SG. (The SG Supreme gets maple facings.)

Coming at this question from the PRS end, have you tried a Hollowbody II?
 
Re: Guitar halfway between PRS and Les Paul?

As already mentioned, the PRS McCarty should fit the bill as it's a thicker body than a CU22/ 24, but there are other variations of LP like the double cut or custom lite to name a couple. Also different eras of LP are variations of the LP tone, it's all so subjective you need to try and play as many as possible through your chosen amp.
 
Re: Guitar halfway between PRS and Les Paul?

So, let me get this straight...

PRS are "tinny" and Les Pauls are "too thick" sounding?

skeptical-baby-meme-plain.png
 
Re: Guitar halfway between PRS and Les Paul?

Thanks for the suggestions! I have indeed been look at a Hamer, and I didn't realize that the McCarty is a bit heftier than the 22/24's, that's a great suggestion (I haven't tried one...). The double-cutaway LP also seems promising, I haven't tried one of those either. I have tried SG's, and there was something not quite right about their feel, but I'm willing to give it another shot!
 
Re: Guitar halfway between PRS and Les Paul?

On a related note, what is everyone's experience with pickup swaps on a PRS? How do the Custom8 and the JB sound in these guitars? Any other pups that mesh particularly well?
 
Re: Guitar halfway between PRS and Les Paul?

nikosteph said:
On a related note, what is everyone's experience with pickup swaps on a PRS? How do the Custom8 and the JB sound in these guitars? Any other pups that mesh particularly well?
Click to expand...

Forget the pickups for now. Get the pickups after you get the guitar. The stock pickups might be perfect for you, or the guitar might need something brighter to cut through.
 
Re: Guitar halfway between PRS and Les Paul?

Cool, it's a little daunting trying to think about so many factors all at once!

And to answer a previous question: I am in the process of moving and thus have sold my amp, and plan to buy a new one when I arrive at my new destination. I'm thinking something that can cover up through the harder/heavier territory, for example the Engl Ironball, or a Mesa Mini Rec (I don't need some crazy 100-watt beast...).
 
Re: Guitar halfway between PRS and Les Paul?

I would suggest playing a tonne of different guitars. As well as from brand to brand, model to model, you will also find noticeable differences from guitars of the same spec. Just approach it with an open mind and see what you like. Case in point, I went shopping for a Gibson about 10 years ago. Tried all sorts, then fell in love with a Dean Hardtail and took it home! That guitar still gets played a lot to this day. Couldn't be happier
 
Re: Guitar halfway between PRS and Les Paul?

Have you tried using the tone knobs on the PRS to make it less tinny sounding?
 
Re: Guitar halfway between PRS and Les Paul?

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone!

Also, maybe "tinny" isn't the best word, because it's not something that can be fixed with the tone knob, or the amp. It's more a thinness to the tone that bothers me, the PRS's I've tried don't have that satisfying throaty roar of other guitars (like the LP). And I know that this sound is largely a product of the LP's bulk and neck, since I've heard a number of PRS guitars and a number of LP's (including with different pickups), and while the sound can vary, this fundamental tonal character remains. And from a quick look online, it seems that others have the same complaint, though they use different words (tinny, raspy, wooden, thin, sterile, etc.) to define them. Hard to put my finger on it, but I know it when I hear it kinda thing...

I suppose my reasoning (which may or may not be correct) is that a guitar that is halfway between the two guitars, in body thickness, weight, neck style, etc., would be likely to land somewhere between the two guitars, and thus give extra thickness to the tone over the PRS but before getting too thick as with the LP (as well as having a neck that's thinner and easier to play than the LP).

Of course, I realize that there's no perfect linear relationship between these two guitars, since each axe has different characteristics, construction, hardware, etc. but I figured it's worth a shot to ask!

The Ibanez, LP double cutaway, and Hamer all seem to fit this description so far. Some additional guitars I've seen online that seem promising (but that I haven't tried) include:

- Dean Cadillac
- Jackson Mark Morton Dominion Pro
- Carvin CT6
- Edwards Potbelly (though unfortunately it appears to be discontinued)
- Schecter Tempest (also apparently discontinued)
- ESP Eclipse

I hope this makes my initial post a little clearer, and as always I appreciate the suggestions and feedback! I definitely want to try any guitar before buying it, so I'm leaning towards things I can go into a store and physically test out, it seems too much of a risk to get a used guitar on eBay, for example, when I don't know for sure it's what I want.
 
Re: Guitar halfway between PRS and Les Paul?

nikosteph said:
this sound is largely a product of the LP's bulk and neck.
Click to expand...

The fact that the PRS Custom has a dirty great vibrato spring cavity cut into it in the immediate vicinity of the bridge might be a contributing factor. The differences in neck to body contact surface area between single- and double-cutaway construction certainly is. So is body thickness and unsupported neck length.

This is why the PRS Custom begat the McCarty which, in turn, begat the Singlecut.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

C
NGD: US PRS
Replies
10
Views
87
GuitarStv
GuitarStv
N
What gauge of string to run on my Les Paul
2
Replies
26
Views
146
Mincer
Mincer
S
Charvel Super Stock 1888-no pickup sounds good.
Replies
12
Views
102
Mincer
Mincer
A
Humbucker advice for PRS
Replies
11
Views
129
CK71
C
blakejcan
how do you make the heel of a Les Paul Jr neck?
Replies
17
Views
118
blakejcan
blakejcan
Back
Top