Is owning LP's a sickness?

[Mr 9finger]

I'm using the term LP as a broad term or specific type of guitar, not necessarily just Gibson's. I don't know why, but I find myself playing my Goldtop and my Dean EVO more than my other guitars. Don't get me wrong, I love to play and the sound of a good Strat or a good shredstick, but there's just something about the combo of woods, and the construction that equates to this awesome tone, comfort and ease of playability I just can't explain.

I have a couple Kramer bodies I need to finish up, and a couple Ibanez shredders I'd like to do some work on, but I'm really gravitating toward this type of guitar more and more. I don't know how many more Gibson's I'll buy, but I can guarantee that there's at least a few more of these style guitars worth building or picking up! I'm beginning to think I need a carved top LP style guitar with a flat mount Floyd and an HxS pickup layout!

So discuss, are these guitars really an addiction?

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Is owning LP's a sickness?

Addiction or you simply have a preference for them? Even if it was an addiction so what... Play them and be happy. I can think of much worse vices to have.

I defiantly dont agree that its a universal thing though. I've owned 4 les pauls in my time and Ive only kept 1. The plainest jane LP standard from 1991 you would ever see but that particular guitar is wonderful. The guy in the finishing shop must have been one on that day as the neck is thinner than any other 60's slim ive ever encountered. But even that guitar as much as I love it doesnt get much playing time. But I dont worry about I play whatever is feeling good that day.

 

[LtKojak]

Re: Is owning LP's a sickness?

Owning one and NOT play it, THAT's unhealthy, to say the least.

 

[richard parker]

Re: Is owning LP's a sickness?

My first guitar was a very cheap LP copy. I was in love with it and used to prop it in the corner of my bedroom so I could look at it as I was going to sleep. I haven't owned an LP type guitar since but now I find myself wanting one just so I can put Bare Knuckle pickups in it.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Is owning LP's a sickness?

The best direction to go after using LP's for awhile is straight to the ES-335 or ES-339.
Not copies, but the real things. It's like a LP with amazing acoustic properties.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Is owning LP's a sickness?

The materials and construction of a Gibson Les Paul give it certain natural tonal and sustain characteristics that no other design possesses. (The PRS Singlecut and Yamaha SG2000 get close but only by following the same constructional ideas.)

Your first try on a guitar of this type is like your first drive of a very powerful car or motorcycle. That extra power is undeniable and it is under YOUR control. It is easy to get carried away. You are probably going to want some more of it.

ES-335 or ES-339. Not copies, but the real things. It's like a LP with amazing acoustic properties.

By Jove. He's right. Electric Spanish GAS.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Is owning LP's a sickness?

In a word - YES

 

[Simon_F]

Re: Is owning LP's a sickness?

In a word - YES

I disagree. NOT owning Les Pauls is a sickness.

 

[BTMN]

Re: Is owning LP's a sickness?

Ummm I'm BTMN and I "like" LP Shape guitars.

I also have a SERIOUS Pointy Guitar sickness. :headbang: My opinion is that it is just the comfort factor you desire to be able to play. That said you "could" adapt just as easily and enjoy the comfort of most body styles were it all you had to play on.

Dean EVOs are nice lil guitars.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Is owning LP's a sickness?

Recovering addict here- they were my main guitar for nearly 20 years. The sound is glorious- whether P90s, staples, vintage PAF styles or a good distortion type pickup in it. They just bother my CTS so much, I can no longer play them for any length of time before it becomes very painful for me. Cramps my hands up like Fred Sanford Otherwise I'd still have one...perhaps if I could find the exact right shape neck and nut width, but so far I have not been able to find anything within a reasonable price. However I have GAS for a special/junior, so I'll continue to search!

 

[metlking]

Re: Is owning LP's a sickness?

The best direction to go after using LP's for awhile is straight to the ES-335 or ES-339.
Not copies, but the real things. It's like a LP with amazing acoustic properties.

Don't do this to me! I swore I had enough guitars!! :scratchch

 

[muttznmongrelz]

Re: Is owning LP's a sickness?

Well...I've always liked Les Pauls myself. I find the scale to be comfortable to play and love both the look and tone.

That said, I have built out a few Floyd Style 25.5" Scale guitars over the last few years (Vintage Kramers/B.C. Rich) and have hung onto 4 of those. I love them for what they are, but I did pick up a Fernandes Monterey Elite Sustainer as my last guitar purchase and have been really enjoying it.

Nothing wrong w/having a couple of each style to choose from. :friday:

 

[Powdered Toast Man]

Is owning LP's a sickness?

I'm like this except with Telecasters. I've already got 3 of them and I still drool when I see other models.
An LP is just one of those guitars I have zero interest in playing. I just got an LP Jr, but that's as far as I'll go into the Gibson camp.

 

[Jessie's ghost]

Re: Is owning LP's a sickness?

When I get excited about a certain type of guitar (body shape, etc.), the gear whore in me wants one with each of several major pickup types… low-output PAFs, hot-rodded rock'n'roll, high-output ceramics, actives, etc. The LP is no exception. I'm still deciding on what model(s) I really dig and want to do this with.

 

[guitfiddle]

Re: Is owning LP's a sickness?

Recovering here, too. Had one for a few years, and found over time that I prefer the longer scale of the Tele. Each time I pick an LP up and play, within five minutes I say "Yup. Feels the same" and put it down.

Oh well.

 

[BTMN]

Re: Is owning LP's a sickness?

Hey 9finger, Thanks to you these two have gotten new strings and some playing time today! :cool2: :naughty: :friday:

Schulte Les Paul, Lil Lester.....

Dean Korean made EVO60, Gevo....

 

[Mr 9finger]

Re: Is owning LP's a sickness?

The best direction to go after using LP's for awhile is straight to the ES-335 or ES-339.
Not copies, but the real things. It's like a LP with amazing acoustic properties.

It's funny that you mention that Joe. I've never been a big fan of any kind of hollow body guitar really, but I find myself stopping to look at them more and more. I wouldn't say it's developed into full blown GAS yet, but I'm sure one of these day's I'll pick one up.

In a word - YES

Most obvious post ever from you Ace.....

Ummm I'm BTMN and I "like" LP Shape guitars.

I also have a SERIOUS Pointy Guitar sickness. :headbang: My opinion is that it is just the comfort factor you desire to be able to play. That said you "could" adapt just as easily and enjoy the comfort of most body styles were it all you had to play on.

Dean EVOs are nice lil guitars.

I can see where you're coming from. I use to have one of the 79 Dean imports in Brazilaburst a long time ago, and I remember it being an awesome guitar to play. Similar to an LP style in materials and construction, just a different shape. What amazed me about it was how comfortable it was to play setting down. It wasn't something you'd really expect from a guitar shaped like that. I may have to pick another one up sometime. Might go for the Dimebag FBD model though since it has a Floyd on it lol! All that being said, I play my EVO more than my Gibby. There's something that's just "right" about that guitar. I rewired it and put a set of pearly gates that I got from TGWIF in it, and it just smokes now. I'd like to change the hardware to black, but I'm afraid it'll change the tone.

Recovering addict here- they were my main guitar for nearly 20 years. The sound is glorious- whether P90s, staples, vintage PAF styles or a good distortion type pickup in it. They just bother my CTS so much, I can no longer play them for any length of time before it becomes very painful for me. Cramps my hands up like Fred Sanford Otherwise I'd still have one...perhaps if I could find the exact right shape neck and nut width, but so far I have not been able to find anything within a reasonable price. However I have GAS for a special/junior, so I'll continue to search!

I really hope I never have this problem. I try to take really good care of my hands. I do have big hands though, and that really helps. I've found that I'm more at home on thicker necks. My hands don't get tired as quickly and I can keep a comfy grip on them. I love my Ibanez Sabre, but it's so thin that it's hard for me to keep a good grip on it.

Well...I've always liked Les Pauls myself. I find the scale to be comfortable to play and love both the look and tone.

That said, I have built out a few Floyd Style 25.5" Scale guitars over the last few years (Vintage Kramers/B.C. Rich) and have hung onto 4 of those. I love them for what they are, but I did pick up a Fernandes Monterey Elite Sustainer as my last guitar purchase and have been really enjoying it.

Nothing wrong w/having a couple of each style to choose from. :friday:

I'll say this bro, as long as we've been posting on the same forums together, you've had some killer guitars and definitely have an eye for the creative when it comes to parts. You've earned your name well

 

[Mr 9finger]

Re: Is owning LP's a sickness?

When I get excited about a certain type of guitar (body shape, etc.), the gear whore in me wants one with each of several major pickup types… low-output PAFs, hot-rodded rock'n'roll, high-output ceramics, actives, etc. The LP is no exception. I'm still deciding on what model(s) I really dig and want to do this with.

I feel this way about Strat style guitars in general. I don't know if it's that I'm just able to do it easily, or just the modular ability of them. I'm a tweaker of sorts, and I enjoy putting my own guitars together, so that doesn't really help the cause any either. I've come to terms that there will always be some kind of Strat around my house, even if I can't make them sound good. Just last night I seen a new kind of Strat bridge and thought, I have to build a guitar around one of those.......Off to the Warmoth showcase I went lol!

Recovering here, too. Had one for a few years, and found over time that I prefer the longer scale of the Tele. Each time I pick an LP up and play, within five minutes I say "Yup. Feels the same" and put it down.

Oh well.

Totally understand that. I feel the same way about the later Kramer guitars. Every one I see or pick up, just doesn't do anything for me anymore. There's really only one Kramer I want, and I have the body for it, and it won't have a Kramer neck lol!

Hey 9finger, Thanks to you these two have gotten new strings and some playing time today! :cool2: :naughty: :friday:

Schulte Les Paul, Lil Lester.....

Dean Korean made EVO60, Gevo....

You say that like it's a bad thing man! I'd rock the crap out of them! Of course, if I had as many guitars as you did, they'd get played by lottery. Pull a couple names out of a hat and those are the ones that get played for that day!

 

[JeffB]

Re: Is owning LP's a sickness?

I really hope I never have this problem. I try to take really good care of my hands. I do have big hands though, and that really helps. I've found that I'm more at home on thicker necks. My hands don't get tired as quickly and I can keep a comfy grip on them. I love my Ibanez Sabre, but it's so thin that it's hard for me to keep a good grip on it.

Actually a big fat neck helps me as well. Thin necks like the 60s style LP (or other Gibson model) necks absolutely are the worst offenders as far as my CTS. I need something that fills my hand too. Neck angle of a Gibson style instrument is another problem: it causes me to break my wrist at a hard angle as I play thumb over the neck (no classical stylings from me!).

At any rate, I'm getting OT. I wish I could enjoy LPs like I used to cos nothing else sounds like them, thats for sure!

 

[JOLLY]

Re: Is owning LP's a sickness?

I personally think it's awesome.