I have a confession to make (LTD and Gibson content)

[Rex_Rocker]

So I have a confession to make. I've been playing my LTD EC-400VF way more than my Gibson Les Paul. I don't know if it's still the honeymoon period, but at this point, I would've thought it would wear off.

Since I first started playing guitar, I've wanted a Gibson Les Paul. I finally got one a couple years ago. I loved it. It's everything I wanted it to be tone-wise. It's fat, growly, gutural, yet still tight, attacky, and aggressive. It was just the tone in my head.

A month or two ago, I got a really cheap used Korean EC-400VF from 2007. Looks like the owner didn't like it much, because it was hardly played. It was just really dusty. I initially thought "this plays amazing", much like every other LTD I've owned. But I thought the tone wasn't quite there compared to the Gibson.

Well, I've played with a few different pickups in it, and honestly, all of them sound great. It just sounds different from the Gibson. I wouldn't say better or worse. Just different. It's fatter. It has not got a Maple top, it has a thicker body, and it has a Mahogany neck, so that's to be expected.

I still have a reason to reach out for the Gibson because the Gibson is more attack-y tonally. But honestly, I don't think I ever will like the neck profile on the Gibson as much as on the LTD. It's not bad. I mean, it plays as well as a guitar with a fat neck and tiny frets ever will (it was plek'd from the factory). But it's just not the type of neck that I gravitate towards.

Added to that... I think the LTD just looks prettier, LOL. It has binding and a flamed Maple veneer that, while not extraordinary, is not as poor as may of these mid-priced guitars have.

Just wanted to get it off my chest, LOL. Not sure if I'll keep the Gibson. I'm leaning towards yes, because I mean, it was one of my first nice-ish guitars, and it's got sentimental value. But at the same time, I think I could sell it, and put the money towards another LTD or something.

So... what would you do in my case?

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[Mincer]

I say give it at least 6 more months and decide then.

 

[elelpe]

Those two are enough.

 

[GuitarStv]

I say give it at least 6 more months and decide then.

+1

Make decisions about buying/selling gear very slowly and you won't have regrets.

 

[Seashore]

If you don't have a pressing reason to sell it, don't. You may find yourself liking the neck profile more in a few years, or maybe you'll do a recording that calls for the extra attack or just a different tone, or you'll find a good reason to have one of them in a different tuning. And find some time to go somewhere that you can get your hands on other stuff, like a Schecter Solo and an LP Classic, so you can see what you actually like before you buy another guitar.

 

[ErikH]

Keep the Les Paul.

 

[jeremy]

+1

Make decisions about buying/selling gear very slowly and you won't have regrets.

this is sage advice. i have a decent number of guitars and exactly one gibson les paul. its a '09 traditional and its everything a lp should be. i have a few other similar type guitars, hamer monaco for example, that on paper should be the same. they sound different and play different, honestly i think the hamer is a better guitar, but it doesnt sound like the lp. even when they both have antiquities. its nice having options. at the same time, if you are never gonna play the thing, then might as well let someone else enjoy it

 

[EmiAba]

Keep the Lester and continue to play the LTD. I am in the same position. I started playing guitar in 1993. Slash and Randy Rhoads are my heroes but back in the day my family was not able to buy me a Les Paul. So I took a Stratocaster first and then replaced it with an Ibanez. But I wanted so badly a les paul that after years saving money I got my first standard. Got rid of the burstbucker pros, put in it a 59A4 and a custom (now it's loaded with a pgn and a C8). It has a full sound but I don't play it too much at home. Well I never play it at home. I prefer the prs custom 24 se or the wolfgang. But if I have a gig that standard is the only one I bring with me. I thought more than a couple of times to sell it but, you know, that's My Les Paul, my dream as a teenager and despite I spend much more time with all the other guitars I have, it's a keeper..

 

[Aceman]

Keep the Les Paul.

This is ALWAYS the answer, and there are not two choices.

Choose which guitar to keep:
A) The Les Paul

Those LTD's are fantastic guitars all around. I have always loved the JB/59 combo in the EC-1000's. But, if you are doing anything, lose the Tribute and get a real Les Paul. I know, the Tribute has all of the important stuff, just like a Studio. Screw that. There are really only two models of Les Paul; Standard or Custom. If you don't have one of them you don't have $#!t.

 

[weepingminotaur]

Take time to make a decision, as others have stated.

Whether or not you keep the LP depends on how much worth you attach to sentimental value. There is no wrong answer either.

 

[ErikH]

But, if you are doing anything, lose the Tribute and get a real Les Paul. I know, the Tribute has all of the important stuff, just like a Studio. Screw that. There are really only two models of Les Paul; Standard or Custom. If you don't have one of them you don't have $#!t.

The Studio I had in the early 90's (1991-1992) was every bit as close to a Standard as it was going to get minus the binding. It was all black, chrome hardware, had a carved maple cap, ebony board, trap inlays. Those Studios are something else. That's one I wish I had kept. Not a fan of the Tributes myself.

 

[Aceman]

The Studio I had in the early 90's (1991-1992) was every bit as close to a Standard as it was going to get minus the binding. It was all black, chrome hardware, had a carved maple cap, ebony board, trap inlays. Those Studios are something else. That's one I wish I had kept. Not a fan of the Tributes myself.

I am well known for saying to new Studio owners that a Studio is all you need / everything that makes a Les Paul a Les Paul.

And while I have played a number of tributes, and do agree that there is just something about the looks that "works" I stil say no one "wants" one - they all want a Custom, and will settle for a Standard.l

 

[ErikH]

I am well known for saying to new Studio owners that a Studio is all you need / everything that makes a Les Paul a Les Paul.

And while I have played a number of tributes, and do agree that there is just something about the looks that "works" I stil say no one "wants" one - they all want a Custom, and will settle for a Standard.l

As an owner of 2 Standards, I will agree, because I still want a Custom. Played an Alpine White one at a guitar show about 19-20 years ago that was just incredible all around. Well above what I could afford though. But man, if money was no object......LOL. I do love my Standards, Trad Pro and Traditional as "Standards" were not made when these were.

He could sell the LP Tribute and the LTD EC and find a LP Standard with a neck profile that he prefers on the used market.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

He could sell the LP Tribute and the LTD EC and find a LP Standard with a neck profile that he prefers on the used market.

I doubt I could afford a Standard or even a Classic from selling the Tribute and the LTD. The Tribute I could get, what... 800 for? The LTD... 400? I don't think I could find a Classic for 1,200 that doesn't have like a headstock break or something.

I prefer Standards over Customs, personally. At least as far as specs. Of course Customs are "nicer", but I like the tone, feel, and look of a rosewood board on a Les Paul better.

 

[Mincer]

I only like the modern ones and the 'lite' ones.

 

[ErikH]

I doubt I could afford a Standard or even a Classic from selling the Tribute and the LTD. The Tribute I could get, what... 800 for? The LTD... 400? I don't think I could find a Classic for 1,200 that doesn't have like a headstock break or something.

I prefer Standards over Customs, personally. At least as far as specs. Of course Customs are "nicer", but I like the tone, feel, and look of a rosewood board on a Les Paul better.

Save up to make up the difference. Don’t jump too quick at what’s out there. The deals will show. I was patient for years looking at Goldtops and when I found the one I have at the price I paid, I was not letting it get away. Totally worth it. Flip other stuff you don’t need too. All depends on how badly you want one that has “it” for you.

 

[ErikH]

I only like the modern ones and the 'lite' ones.

I have to say, I do like the modern ones. They are really nice and play really well. Haven’t seen a Lite locally to try yet.

 

[esandes]

Is the LTD chambered? I assume your LP is. I prefer the non-cored out LPs. Have you tried different pups in the LP to give it another chance?

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Is the LTD chambered? I assume your LP is. I prefer the non-cored out LPs. Have you tried different pumps in the LP to give it another chance?

The Les Paul is chambered. Gun to my head, I do very very very slightly prefer the sound of the Les Paul. It's just the EC plays circles around the Les Paul (for my taste), and sounds cool too with the right pickups.

The downside of the EC is it's heavy. Well, "downside". I don't really mind that, though I haven't gigged it yet. I assume that is what the previous owner didn't like about it, because he did mention it being heavy when I got it off him. But I don't think that's what tonally makes the EC not as Les Paul-y as the Les Paul. The bridge on the EC is a few mm further away from the bridge pickup. I suppose adding that to the heavy Asian Mahogany body and neck (the Les Paul has a Maple top and a Maple neck) fattens it up. But I mean... it's cool. It still sounds great. Just a different, les Gibson-y kind of great.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Also, FWIW, I'd much rather get rid of my Strat if I really had to sell one, LOL. The Strat was a big journey (it's a parsts-caster), but I definitely don't like it nearly as much as either the Gibson or the LTD. But it does have sentimental value as well as it being a parstcaster means I probably wouldn't get much for it, so I think I'll keep it around for alternate tunings or something.