Import LP Tone VS. Genuine Gibson LP Tone

GuitarGuy503

GuitarGuy503

New member
When comparing a Genuine Gibson LP (classic or standard let's say) to Import LPs such as Greco,Edwards,etc...... Is it possible to achieve a superior or better LP tone from an Import LP over a Genuine Gibson LP?
 
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Re: Import LP Tone VS. Genuine Gibson LP Tone

some people will say yes, others will say no.

I'll say that the cheaper models will get you in the ballpark, but many fall short.

Even some "genuine les pauls" don't quite nail the les paul tone...studios in particular are kinda hit-or-miss.

The variations aren't necessarily bad though. Both my dad and I own LP studios, I own an LP studio lite and he owns an LP studio plus. His nails the "LP tone". Mine is a bit brighter, and a little more aggressive. Both are great-sounding axes though.

Different companies will have different takes though...Hamer, PRS, Heritage, etc make great lp-like axes to varying degrees of "wallet-ouch-ness"

I've only ever played one edwards, it was a black LP-custom copy. Great-playing axe, but it sounded a little dead to me. However, that might not be true of all their axes. I'm particularly interested in their jimmy page model...relic'd goodness :D
 
Re: Import LP Tone VS. Genuine Gibson LP Tone

Depends on the model. High-end Tokais are pretty "on" specwise so they fair pretty well. I have a Burny LP Custom that holds up well also. But really any guitar, US made or not, is going to be hit or miss to some degree. All manufacturers have their dogs.

I guess to answer your question, if the specs are on and you get a "good one" then an MIJ will do the LP thing just as well as (or maybe even better than) a US Standard.

My Tokai LS-150 (kinda high-end LP) does great, but the specs are a little better than a Standard US Gibby.

The MIJ LPs tend to be heavy. No weight relief holes like a US Paul.
 
Re: Import LP Tone VS. Genuine Gibson LP Tone

Yes. Don't worry about it. As stated above, there are good ones and bad ones. I think any sort of 'you can't get *real* LP tone from an import' is the realm of cork sniffers who would turn their noses up at this guy's set up:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7lbQDKhShE

He sounds pretty good to me, and it's not even his guitar.

Rock on.
 
Re: Import LP Tone VS. Genuine Gibson LP Tone

It depends on what you think the Gibson LP tone is. I don't think there's just one Gibson tone - some of them are good, some of them are bad.
 
Re: Import LP Tone VS. Genuine Gibson LP Tone

I've had Les Paul GAS for the last little bit, so I went to the local Long and McQuade to play some. I compared an MIK Epi Custom to a US Gibson Custom. The Epi played pretty well and had wicked grinding top end but lacked what I would want in the bottom. The Gibson had the bottom and the mids, but was rather dark on the top. I then grabbed a Historic that was perfect tone-wise, but the neck was a just bit too big to be totally comfortable and I would hate to spend $2200 on a guitar and then strip the finish and thin the neck... But the tones were not there with the imports. I'm sure there are better ones out there tho...
 
Re: Import LP Tone VS. Genuine Gibson LP Tone

there are too many non-Gibson copies today that match/ out-perform the original in terms of tone/ feel. love my Edwards...
E-LP-85SD_P.jpg
 
Re: Import LP Tone VS. Genuine Gibson LP Tone

Epiphones are made with different woods than Gibsons....I think they do this intentionally so the Epiphones never quite get "THE SOUND."

Japanese lawsuit companies like Tokai and Burny seem to be gettin more popular. I want one but can't justify it right now. You could ways check out that rondo site.
 
Re: Import LP Tone VS. Genuine Gibson LP Tone

Duane Allman, Ace Frehley, Jimmy Page, Zakk Wylde, Peter Green, Slash, Paul Kossoff - those are some pretty diverse tones, all achieved with LPs!

I think you have to judge every guitar (Gibson or otherwise) individually and decide whether it meets your particular "LP tone" requirements.
 
Re: Import LP Tone VS. Genuine Gibson LP Tone

Something to consider too is, how many of the "great" players picked up a guitar off the wall and took it as it was and went on to greatness? Not that they couldn't given their talent but they or their techs probably made changes to suit them particularly. Look at all the "signature" guitars being produced. Thats the guitar companies saying, "Hey look what he (or she) did to our guitar and alot of people like it! Lets make some like that!"
So like Simon said,
those are some pretty diverse tones, all achieved with LPs!

I think you have to judge every guitar (Gibson or otherwise) individually and decide whether it meets your particular "LP tone" requirements.
Click to expand...

...or pick and modify one to do so.

Jim:cool2:
 
Re: Import LP Tone VS. Genuine Gibson LP Tone

I think it's more than just sound. My Gibsons have a certain "feel", or cachet, to them that is very hard to define. Tone-wise, I have a couple of Ibanez GR-520 Ghostriders that will hang with any of my Pauls. I can guarantee you that the binding, fret-work and finishing on the Korean-made Ghostriders is far superior to any of my Gibsons. And the Ghostriders are as rare as hen's teeth compared to the dime-a-dozen Les Pauls out there. Still, the Les Pauls have a feel to them that is just delightful, and I love them--flaws and all.

I've heard race car drivers talk about the thrill of speed, yet they are all very sensitive to how the car communicates "the road" to them. One of the thrills is having a car that communicates quickly and clearly, and then responds to the driver's touch. Having a great guitar is a lot like that. It becomes more than the sum of its parts and technical specifications--by responding to the player's demands. Like the race car that delivers input to the driver, my Gibson Les Pauls not only respond to my touch; but they fill my senses with beautiful sights, sounds and aromas.

Many of the imports I've played can capture the raw sound of a Gibson, but I've never played one that had that really special feel.

Bill
 
Re: Import LP Tone VS. Genuine Gibson LP Tone

GuitarGuy503 said:
When comparing a Genuine Gibson LP (classic or standard let's say) to Import LPs such as Greco,Edwards,etc...... Is it possible to achieve a superior or better LP tone from an Import LP over a Genuine Gibson LP?
Click to expand...

I'd say the tone is equally good from both, but the Grecos/Edwards/etc do have a slight difference from the Gibson ones...

Gibson: Meedly meedly meeee!!!

Edwards: Meedry meedry reeeee!!!
 
Re: Import LP Tone VS. Genuine Gibson LP Tone

Boogie Bill said:
I think it's more than just sound. My Gibsons have a certain "feel", or cachet, to them that is very hard to define...

Many of the imports I've played can capture the raw sound of a Gibson, but I've never played one that had that really special feel.

Bill
Click to expand...

I know what you're talking about -- this certain 'mojo' that every Gibson has but other guitars that are the same shape and wood just seem to lack for some reason. I noticed it the first time when I played my friend's 59 (not a reissue) Les Paul and then on a trip to Guitar Center noticed the 'vibe' from all the Gibsons but none of the Epiphones. Then when I ordered my Gibson from eBay, pulled it out of the box and there it was...that Gibson mojo.

Now this might seem like some weird speculation, but what do you guys think the odds are that Gibson uses some kind of crazy voodoo spirit ritual to infuse their guitars with mojo? I mean it seems like a lot of companies try to 'cop' the Gibson style but none of them seem to be able to get it 'just right'...so it's GOT to have something to do with witchcraft.

-X
 
Re: Import LP Tone VS. Genuine Gibson LP Tone

Empty Pockets said:
I know what you're talking about -- this certain 'mojo' that every Gibson has but other guitars that are the same shape and wood just seem to lack for some reason. I noticed it the first time when I played my friend's 59 (not a reissue) Les Paul and then on a trip to Guitar Center noticed the 'vibe' from all the Gibsons but none of the Epiphones. Then when I ordered my Gibson from eBay, pulled it out of the box and there it was...that Gibson mojo.

Now this might seem like some weird speculation, but what do you guys think the odds are that Gibson uses some kind of crazy voodoo spirit ritual to infuse their guitars with mojo? I mean it seems like a lot of companies try to 'cop' the Gibson style but none of them seem to be able to get it 'just right'...so it's GOT to have something to do with witchcraft.

-X
Click to expand...


Differences in pickups, mahogany neck versus maple, maple cap versus alder, honduran mahogany versus sapelle and luan, thin nitro finish versus thick polyester finish, differences in pickups.....
 
Re: Import LP Tone VS. Genuine Gibson LP Tone

GuitarGuy503 said:
When comparing a Genuine Gibson LP (classic or standard let's say) to Import LPs such as Greco,Edwards,etc...... Is it possible to achieve a superior or better LP tone from an Import LP over a Genuine Gibson LP?
Click to expand...

Abso- $#%$# - lutely. My epi classic with a set of PG/CC blew away my two real Pauls. Until I put the DD in!
 
Re: Import LP Tone VS. Genuine Gibson LP Tone

A couple years ago I was perusing Gibsons looking for one that'd be a little more versatile than my Deluxe. I had some serious GAS for a Custom when I came across a short-lived auction for a Greco that had been re-branded as a Gibson.

It threw me for a loop and I spent a few weeks just kind of lurking and researching the vintage Japanese clones.

Late one night I threw a number at an auction before I went to bed. When i woke up I had won it and a few days later it arrived. I took it to a rehearsal that night and was blown away. Everyone else in the place was floored as well.

It's at that point that I stopped really looking at Gibsons. I ended up getting another Greco for stupid money and that was it. Game over and done.

My Greco's ARE Les Pauls. Not NEAR Les Pauls. Not KINDA Les Pauls. They ARE Les Pauls. When I sling one over my shoulder and play I don't see the name on the headstock. But I can assure you, it's just as much a Les Paul as any other I've played.
 
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