Les Paul Copies

Boleslaw Gers 666

New member
Who has experience with these things? Christian began to tell me about them. Name what brands you've played, how they sound and compare to Gibson Les Pauls. Also how much it cost. Thanks. I'm looking for an alternative to the Les Paul Classic. I want that honey burst finish and will be changing the pickups anyway. I've heard of Orville and Edwards, and I've heard more that I can't remember. I also assume it wouldn't be hard to replace the decal with a Gibson one, would it? Thanks guys.
 
Last edited:
Re: Les Paul Copies

Check out Greco, Burny and Tokai. They all play and sound like LP's. Might need to find them used though.
 
Re: Les Paul Copies

Tokai, Edwards, Greco, Burny, Orville are all pretty good clones. I have to tell you that it would be "easy" to change the headstock to say Gibson, but why bother...do you want the tone of a n LP for less money or are you shopping for a Gibson...who gives a flying **** what the headstock says as long as it sounds good!?!
 
Re: Les Paul Copies

Orville = great les paul copy. I have played them, and feel thye easily compare to USA Les Paul Standards in feel and sound. Very good LP copies. I have seen them go from anywhere from 600 to 1000. Ocasionally I see them with a actual flame top. More frequently they have "photo" flame tops. the actual flame copies usually sell for 900-1150.

In the same vein are the Burny LP copies. I feel they are the same quality as the Orvilles. they for some reason sel for about 100-150 less than the orvilles.

I have played the previous two, but the one I havn't played are the Edwards. the word is they are constructed in the same place, and to the same standard as the orvilles and burnies. I hear they are Nitro finished, where as the previous two are not.

Like I said the Orville and Burnies are great in feel and tone. Many have the long tenon in the neck. I have no reservations recommending either one, and the edwards have a great reputation from what i hear.

Craig
 
Re: Les Paul Copies

the guy who invented fire said:
Tokai, Edwards, Greco, Burny, Orville are all pretty good clones. I have to tell you that it would be "easy" to change the headstock to say Gibson, but why bother...do you want the tone of a n LP for less money or are you shopping for a Gibson...who gives a flying **** what the headstock says as long as it sounds good!?!


+1...if you play well enough, and the axe sounds good enough then hopefully people will be looking at your hands...not your guitar
 
Re: Les Paul Copies

54stratlover said:
Oh, I have played the ESP LP style guitars. they have a little bit different feel, but are great also

I agree that they are great sounding, and they play great, but they just dont sound like a LP to me. I find it to be brighter. That is probably just down to the pup's but several others I've talked to says the same.
 
Re: Les Paul Copies

Agiles are great copies as well. My wife has one of the 3000M LP copies and it plays and sounds very nice. No, its not a Gibson, but for the money, its a great guitar with the same type of feel and sound. The stock pups are okay, not great. Thats an easy enough fix. The body and neck are Mahagony with a 3/4" Maple Cap, Grover Tuners, and an Ebony FB. Not bad for $450 bills....

I'll echo what Christian said about changing the headstock logo. DON'T mess with it.
 
Re: Les Paul Copies

tokai Les Paul reborn , the best Jap LP copy
http://www.flyingvintage.com/gcmag/reborn.html
THEAD.JPG

TLP.JPG
 
Re: Les Paul Copies

bryvincent said:
tokai Les Paul reborn , the best Jap LP copy
http://www.flyingvintage.com/gcmag/reborn.html
THEAD.JPG

TLP.JPG



:32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32:
 
Re: Les Paul Copies

Stringmachine said:
I agree that they are great sounding, and they play great, but they just dont sound like a LP to me. I find it to be brighter. That is probably just down to the pup's but several others I've talked to says the same.

Ya, that is my feel also. the ones I played had EMG style pups in them. I don't think I have played one that had "vintage" style pups in it.
 
Re: Les Paul Copies

Well I'm looking for essentially the exact same as a Gibson (whatever the finish is, Nitro or not) with a flame top in a honeyburst/cherry suburst type of finish. Ebony vs. Rosewood is pretty negligible of a difference, isn't it? I'm going to be changing the pickups and probably pots anyway. They all seem to have the same headstock, I want a Gibson style.
 
Re: Les Paul Copies

Boleslaw Gers 666 said:
Well I'm looking for essentially the exact same as a Gibson (whatever the finish is, Nitro or not) with a flame top in a honeyburst/cherry suburst type of finish. Ebony vs. Rosewood is pretty negligible of a difference, isn't it? I'm going to be changing the pickups and probably pots anyway. They all seem to have the same headstock, I want a Gibson style.

If you're convinced already that you need to change the pickups then I'm not going to tell you a damned thing about them.

Go get an ESP and mung the **** out of that.

Leave the perfectly decent vintage guitars alone.

Oh...and there's a world of difference between Ebony and Rosewood.
 
Re: Les Paul Copies

Tokai's are pretty close to the Gibson headstock. Orvilles are made by Gibson and shipped to Japan, so pretty much the same as a Gibson would be. Edwards and Navigator's are made by ESP but almost never exported out of Japan.

your best bet would be ebay. Theres also Diodati guitars, and any 70's and 80's Ibanez Yamaha or Aria guitars. If you want to go to a luthier, look up Max Derrig or Keebler. I think Max is on the les paul forums, couldnt tell you about the other two because I've never been there... I dont think people there would take too kindly to my "guck fibson" approach to Les Pauls.
 
Re: Les Paul Copies

boy those tokais are a law suit waiting to happen lol

i havent really had an expereince with lp copies otehr than epiphones. The elitist models are worth a try you might find you really like there. The lower end epis however are more of a diamond int he dirt type of thing where you'll have to search for a good one.
 
Back
Top