Les Paul help

jasona84

jasona84

New member
So I'm thinking about taking the plunge on an LP. I'm really digging the LP Custom in white. I'm a small dude so I saw Slash playing a thinner LP than I'm used to seeing, and I know he had a custom one built. I wasn't sure if some models were thinner than others. Also to all the huge Gibson guys, when are good years? Better necks? Something I should look out for? I'm trying for a 70's or 80's model.
 
Re: Les Paul help

A lot of people are going to say avoid 70s and 80s les pauls because some had maple necks and norlin quality wasn´t so great and yaddayadda, but in all honesty what makes the most sense is just to play as many lles pauls as you possibly can and buy the one that screams at you to take her home. There are gems, dogs and middle of the road instruments from all eras ;)
 
Re: Les Paul help

I havn't heard of smaller gibson les pauls, exept for the vixen models, or what ever they called em.

Does it have to be a gibson, or are you open to other companies?
 
Re: Les Paul help

I have never seen Slash play anything but Standards, never anything thinner or smaller to my knowledge.

For something lighter, you might want to check the 90's Studio Lites. I have one and it screams and plays just as good as my 03 Standard. The body is just a bit thinner and it also has the chromite center block. I would say it's maybe 2 or 3 pounds lighter than my Standard. They also made the Custom Lite for a littlewhile, but you seldom see one for sale and when you do, they are expensive. I saw one last year on eBay that was a Goldtop that was absolutely amazing!
 
Re: Les Paul help

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWvUOQkjBNo
At about 2:40 it shows a pretty decent side view of the guitar. It looks thinner than most LP's I've seen. I could be crazy though. I've seen him with the mockingbird and doublenecks too. You'll see (hopefully) what I'm talking about in the video....maybe?
 
Re: Les Paul help

Looks like a regular width Standard to me. Here's a side shot I just made of mine. I don't have any pics of my 91 Studio Lite from the side. I left it at my buddies last week. I'll have to go pick it up in the next few days so I can take a side by side comparison shot for ya. It's not much slimmer, maybe an 1/8th inch, maybe less.

DSCF0001-71.jpg
 
Re: Les Paul help

The custom lite that someone else mentioned is what you want, I think they may have had a belly contour also but I'm not sure. I've seen them go for around 1800 at the lowest, that's not a bad price on a used custom if you ask me
 
Re: Les Paul help

jasona84 said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWvUOQkjBNo
At about 2:40 it shows a pretty decent side view of the guitar. It looks thinner than most LP's I've seen. I could be crazy though. I've seen him with the mockingbird and doublenecks too. You'll see (hopefully) what I'm talking about in the video....maybe?
Click to expand...

That's the infamous "Max" guitar which is a replica... not a Gibson, though built to that spec.

Best advice was the first advice... you want a Lester? Go play a bunch until you find one that blows your skirt up. There's a lot of really great guitar shops in the greater Boston region... go visit them!
 
Re: Les Paul help

Yep, find the one that speaks 2 Ya!

My Burny Speaks 2 me!
Burn6.jpg



I need to take some new pics. this is not my house.. wish it was!!


On the flipside, I saw Matt Heafy holding a white one once that looked about 1/2 times thicker than a normal lp. Prob just the angle
 
Re: Les Paul help

jasona84 said:
So I'm thinking about taking the plunge on an LP. I'm really digging the LP Custom in white. I'm a small dude so I saw Slash playing a thinner LP than I'm used to seeing, and I know he had a custom one built. I wasn't sure if some models were thinner than others. Also to all the huge Gibson guys, when are good years? Better necks? Something I should look out for? I'm trying for a 70's or 80's model.
Click to expand...

Oh can of worms.

The current regular LPC are swiss-cheesed for weight relief. They are made in the custom shop but aren't historics. The historic 57 model is not weight relieved but has a mahogany top, be careful with that beast, a lot of dissatisfied buyers. The historic 68 model is chambered.

1980ties LPC aren't maple neck anymore, even though still Norlin until 1986. 1980-1986 are generally considered more usable than 76-79 which were the worst years. But a lot of people love their Norlins, any year. All of them are heavy, though.
 
Re: Les Paul help

Zerberus said:
in all honesty what makes the most sense is just to play as many lles pauls as you possibly can and buy the one that screams at you to take her home. There are gems, dogs and middle of the road instruments from all eras ;)
Click to expand...

Totally agree with Zerb. I have owned a couple of great Gibsons from the 70s (Norlin, yikes!). Currently I have a couple of 90s Les Pauls that are fabulous. Just get out there and play some Les Pauls and buy one you like. Pick one that you like the feel of and that sounds great acoustically - you can always change the pickups, pots, caps etc.
 
Re: Les Paul help

uOpt said:
Oh can of worms.

The current regular LPC are swiss-cheesed for weight relief. They are made in the custom shop but aren't historics. The historic 57 model is not weight relieved but has a mahogany top, be careful with that beast, a lot of dissatisfied buyers. ....
Click to expand...

Though to Gibson´s defense here, the dissatisfaction very often comes from idiots who order a 57 historic thinking "Even older than a 59, badass" and don´t even think half a second that the reason for there being different models in the first place might be a spec change that happened in that timeframe. 57´s never had maple tops to start with ;)
 
Re: Les Paul help

Right, my point is don't buy a mahogany top Les Paul if you want a "regular" Les Paul sound. The ebony fretboard probably messes with things enough.
 
Re: Les Paul help

Zerberus said:
Though to Gibson´s defense here, the dissatisfaction very often comes from idiots who order a 57 historic thinking "Even older than a 59, badass" and don´t even think half a second that the reason for there being different models in the first place might be a spec change that happened in that timeframe. 57´s never had maple tops to start with ;)
Click to expand...


This is very true, they don't have the same bite as a maple capped LP. However, with the right pick ups they can sound truely awesome and they are a bit lighter too! Mine sounded absolutely fantastic once I swapped the classic '57 bridge pick up out for a Brobucker, but I do think a simple magnet change from A2 to A5 would have been a marked improvement especially for the neck as those all mahogany LP's tend to be darker and warmer sounding!
 
Re: Les Paul help

JB_From_Hell said:
An ESP Eclipse might be a good lighter option.
Click to expand...

That was my thought as well.
Has a thinner back than a LP.

Some other thoughts are
Carvin CS
PRS Singlecut.
Dean Soltero (MIJ or USA)
Washburn Idol (USA)



Anyways, Jason.
I'm a small guy too. Just under 5'6" .
I have no problems playing my LP inspired guitars.
All are full thickness.

Diodati 59Q, Edwards Sykes LPC, Diodati 58, Fernandes Ravelle Deluxe.
 
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