Les Paul owners: advice...?

[hydro]

So I am contemplating a LP of some kind as my next guitar purchase.

I play SGs primarily and the LP has always seemed a bit awkward for me, ergonomically. They are so heavy, also....

I don't want a new one, don't want vintage, I want a player. I plan to mod it anyway, likely with Whole Lotta Humbuckers and an out-of-phase push pull. Probably want a burst of some kind, on the cosmetic front.

What's a good era... hoping for lower weight, but classic LP tone. Budget is probably around 2K, when the time comes.

Am I high to think I can find a good LP in that price range?

 

[El Supremo]

Re: Les Paul owners: advice...?

Anything pre 1983 will (very likely) have a 3 piece maple neck instead of mahogany. Standards and Classics got the chambering treatment from 2005 on I believe (LP Traditionals were still solid though).

So, you'll probably would want something roughly between '85 and '05 and 2K should certainly get you a good Les Paul.

 

[75lespaul]

Re: Les Paul owners: advice...?

It depends on what you consider good. I think you can find a great Les Paul in that price range. You can get a traditional pro used for about what guys, $12-1300, leaving you with PLENTY left over for your mods. But if you don't find them to your liking as far as weight and ergonomics, I think it would be a mistake to try and force the issue. I've played Les Pauls from the time I was 17, but I'm a big guy and the weight never really bothered me. Now that I'm older, I can't play one for the whole night if we do three sets. My shoulder feels like its breaking after one or two. However, I have two Les Pauls from the pancake era (75 & 80) and they are heavy. Good luck finding your dream guitar. Try and try and try one after another, and don't settle until you find the one that just screams "this is me".

 

[Diego]

Re: Les Paul owners: advice...?

Sorry to go against the flow, but why not a PRS Singlecut?
Les Pauls feel weird to me too, and I like the PRS design much better.

 

[LazNovak]

Re: Les Paul owners: advice...?

I know how you feel. I recently got a 2014 Traditional Pro II. I've been a super strat player since the beginning and usually avoided LPs. I tried a few back in the day. One was a 1960s Reissue Gold Top Classic which I liked.

The cool part for me was that it comes with two push/push volume pots for coil split and the neck tone is a boost. The only thing I can see myself doing is changing the pickups. They are good but I'm a metal shredder so I need something more.

What I did before I settled on the Trad Pro II was play as many as I could get my hands on. All years and models, whatever, it didn't matter.

Just like 75lespaul said up there. Try and try and try one after another, and don't settle until you find the one that just screams "this is me".

Good Luck!

 

[LazNovak]

Re: Les Paul owners: advice...?

Sorry to go against the flow, but why not a PRS Singlecut?
Les Pauls feel weird to me too, and I like the PRS design much better.

Yes, that too. Don't rule anything out.

 

[allbutromeo]

Re: Les Paul owners: advice...?

Traditional Pro II'S are really sweet, I've also always been a big fan of the 90's Classic. with that price range there should be plenty of Standards, Classics, Traditional, and even some Customs out there. Another one to look at for similar tones, but ergonomics closer to SG's are the late 90's Les Paul Double Cutaways. The downside is it only has master volume and tone controls, but pickup switch is pretty close to where the neck tone controls is on an SG. Some of them have wrap around bridges and some have the TOM and stop bar, depending on the year and model.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Les Paul owners: advice...?

Sorry to go against the flow, but why not a PRS Singlecut?
Les Pauls feel weird to me too, and I like the PRS design much better.

Been down that road. Back to backed Historics vs. 245s and mcarty singlecuts. They don't sound the same.

Not to say one is objectively better than the other. But they don't sound the same. The construction is different (neck angles, headstock/string break angle, straight string pull, neck joint, etc.) and so are the materials (bridges, saddles, finish).

Hydro- look for a used traditional, or a MIJ clone if you like a chunky neck. Some of the early 90s models have chunky necks too. If you like thinner necks, you have alot more choices. My experience with over two dozen of the blasted things is that a thin neck version is a crapshoot for big boy les paul tone...some have it, most don't. But I have never played or owned a chunky neck that didn't sound good.

 

[allbutromeo]

Re: Les Paul owners: advice...?

Also starting IIRC sometime in the later 80s or early 90's Gibson started weight relieving most standard production Les Pauls. The first and longest running type was the "Swiss Cheese" style. Standards, Studios and Classics (IDK about the Custom) had this until 2008. This is also what the newer traditional pros have.


Starting in 08 they began Chambering Standards and Studios (probably most others too, but I'm not sure what) this is also what the Double Cutaways in the 90's and early 2000s had


Starting in 2012 Standards began using a new Modern Weight Relief I'm not sure what other models use this


Thats the best info can give, anybody who knows more feel free to add/or correct me

 

[JeffB]

Re: Les Paul owners: advice...?

^
Traditionals (NOT traditional Pros) from 2013 beyond are solid- no chambers. no cheese. Traditionals prior to 2013 and all Trad Pros are cheesed.

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: Les Paul owners: advice...?

I have played quite a few from the mid 90's to 2004 that were top notch guitars. Even the studios have been nice from that era.

 

[hydro]

Re: Les Paul owners: advice...?

Man you all are giving me so much great info. Thank you to everyone who weighed in on this thread!

I have thought about PRS. I am not that familiar with them but the ones I have tried out, I have thought were really nice.

It's weird but in my town, it seems like most shops want to push new gear. They don't buy, or sell much used. Or maybe the used stuff is just picked over. Lots of used gear on ebay, Craigslist etc. but I am never going to buy another guitar without putting my hands on it first. Craigslist is a mutant fest, and even ebay seems sketchier all the time.... Kind of frustrating; the used instrument market seems leaner than ever.

 

[Demanic]

Re: Les Paul owners: advice...?

2k ? Start checking pawnshops, craig's list, heck Musician's Friend used section. You should be able to stumble upon something. Used in small name music stores too.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Les Paul owners: advice...?

Weight relief holes started in 82.

 

[vinta9e]

Re: Les Paul owners: advice...?

PRSs go with Boogies the way Gibsons go with Marshalls.

Not a rule set in stone but since you are a Les Paul man, why not go with the flow?

 

[mojosman]

Re: Les Paul owners: advice...?

There have been a lot of good points made. The only thing I would add is buying online or some other way you can't touch, feel and play the instrument is a roll of the dice. However you buy it, playing it is important. Even if you don't like the Gibson pickups, the tone of the guitar is important, as is the neck and feel of it. I think it's a lot of money to spend without knowing exactly what you are getting.

 

[voggin]

Re: Les Paul owners: advice...?

I have the 2008 model (middle picture weight relief or chambered, I forget which they called it). Nice and light, but still sounds very Les Paul. I put a pair of Seth Lovers in it.

I got it used for 1600 CDN, so you can probably get one in the States for 13-1400. Great guitar. Has an asymmetrical neck, so that the bass side is chunky 50s-ish and the treble is thinner. Really comfortable, fits my hand to a T.

 

[Rand-O-Monium]

Re: Les Paul owners: advice...?

As stated,play as many as you can is the best I know to say as well.
May/probably will) take a little chasing,but it'll be worth it!

I'll add don't rule out some Studios,also,but...

Good Luck w/ it,tho,2K'll get you a helluve LP!!!
:headbang:



We'll be looking out for teh NGD post!!!

 

[BluesGuyJ]

Re: Les Paul owners: advice...?

I've owned a PRS 245 with 10 top, Dean USA Soltero MHg, PRS McCarty Standard and a an early 70s SG. The 245 sounded great, but the shorter scale really hurt me for chord work as I went up the neck. The 24.75 scale is a bit easier for doing that stuff. Another idea is to conider a Heritage 150. The 150s with plane maple go for about $1,900 new and PM and CMs go for around 1200-1400 used. GC has some used for even 1000.

 

[crusty philtrum]

Re: Les Paul owners: advice...?

Buy a Hamer and never have to worry about anything ever again. 2K should get you a really nice s/h one.