Les Paul vs sg and poker chip or not

man-in-moon

man-in-moon

New member
I stopped in guitar center for the first time in over a year. I was pleasantly surprised they had a good selection. After 3 hours a 2017 sg standard and a 2017 les Paul classic were my favorites. The sg was $1000 and the lp was $1600 both were on sale. Which do you prefer and why? I know they are completely different and classics. But why do you prefer one over the other?
I also noticed a lot of the 2017's didn't come with a poker chip. On the sg it was fine but the lp's looked odd with out one.
 
Re: Les Paul vs sg and poker chip or not

Great music has been made with both.....but the tone is a bit different between them. The LP has more low mids and therefore more low punch in the tone with current pickups. The SG is more true mids.....more barky or sizzle.

The beauty of the SG is the fret access up high.
 
Re: Les Paul vs sg and poker chip or not

I collect SG's simply for the looks. You can make a guitar sound like anything you want. Strap them on and stand in front of the mirror and make a decision that way

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-J320A using Tapatalk
 
Re: Les Paul vs sg and poker chip or not

My Supremes don't have the chip, and yes...it's weird. But, there's more of that beautiful flame visible...a good thing. You can get used to it, or you can add a chip aftermarket.

I do not own an SG. I'm a big guy, and SGs look like a toy on me. My fave is the '61 SG; I like the single guard and the Slim-Taper neck. I think they changed this model for 2017.

I do have several Les Pauls. The four Historic models I have are my faves, with my two mid-'90s 1960 Classic Plus guitars and my Elegant right behind. For many players, weight can be an issue. Most of my Pauls weight within an ounce or two +/- of nine lbs. Some of the chambered models I've seen can run around eight lbs., and SGs about the same. Something to consider.

I'm not familiar with these two new models, so can't advise there, but a good Les Paul is hard to beat.

Bill
 
Re: Les Paul vs sg and poker chip or not

Gibson went with a slightly thicker top on the LP's and it makes it tough to fit the chip on some of them. Don't know if it was a conscious effort or not? Some of them models like the Classic have a very 70's like carve as well.

My new Tribute is as good a Les Paul as I've ever had, killer guitar, ridiculous value.

I haven't played many of the newer SG's but they have a slew of models so you can salt to taste pretty easily.

Oh and none of my LP's have poker chips fwiw, I take 'em off
 
Re: Les Paul vs sg and poker chip or not

I have a Classic and LOVE it. However, I had played literally dozens of LP'S in every flavor they had to find it. I didn't set out for a classic, but I think the way they are spec'd make them have better potential for good tone although I didn't know why, or even how it was spec'd at the time.

SG's sound great too and have more potential to find a good one easier just because there are fewer tone variables in the lumber department. More comfortable to play, like said above better fret access, and a better control layout than the LP.

It would come down to the individual guitar for me, the one that made me feel more tingly when I played it would be the one.. The SG is probably easier to find a good one, but if the Classic was a top shelf example of it's kind it would be hard to pass up. They have a sound that I'm really drawn to, even when I was a kid and beforeI knew I was listening to a LP, that tone to me was King.
 
Re: Les Paul vs sg and poker chip or not

My best friend has a Classic I get to play a lot and the guitar is a beast. I think you will be fine with either axe. If you buy the SG you will have $600 left over for beer.
 
Re: Les Paul vs sg and poker chip or not

I dig an LP more because of better balance, and better tone (to my ears) from the neck pickup. LPs are generally heavier, which is a no-no for me, but I'd still make better use out of it than an SG. As far as the poker chip goes, Gibson is running out of things to change on their guitars from year-to-year so that was an easy one. I don't even know if they ever came out with a 2017 archtop (Memphis) collection this year.
 
Re: Les Paul vs sg and poker chip or not

The original Les Pauls in the early 1950's didn't have the poker chip switchplate.

To me it's them just varying what their year models look like and sticking one toe in their own past to do it this time. Similar to how one year recently they had the split switch replace one of the tone knobs, then other years it was a push-pull and not visible. Just making one year look different to the next.
 
Last edited:
Re: Les Paul vs sg and poker chip or not

They both had their pro's and cons. The lp's had the tone and the sg seemed easier to play. I'm having to face the fact I'm getting older and put my body through a lot of abuse. The 59 neck was always my favorite but the bursitis in my hands does not like it. I always preferred heavier guitars but over the past couple of years I have developed problems with me left shoulder. So I am having to take that into consideration.
The lp's with flame tops and nice grain looked good without the poker chip. The gold tops and solid colors just kind of looked odd,
 
Re: Les Paul vs sg and poker chip or not

90% of Gibsons need setup work, they leave them that way for players to do them how they want to. Make them spiff both of them up to your preference and see how they sound and play.
 
Re: Les Paul vs sg and poker chip or not

I took a few pics of some of the guitars I checked out. I was just looking through them and noticed this on the headstock of one. Since my eyes aren't the greatest maybe you can give a second opinion of what it is. I kind of looks like grain but at certain angles it doesn't. And there aren't anymore spots like that on it anywhere.
IMG_1176.jpg
IMG_1177.jpg
 
Re: Les Paul vs sg and poker chip or not

Looks more like a mineral streak to me too b/c it's widens and changes color a little bit. The second pic shows it jumping through grains lines which it shouldn't really do so much for a mineral streak. Every piece of wood is unique though, i'd have them put som pressure on it as see if it takes it. My LP has a few mineral streaks and they tend to run along the same depth in the growth ring/grain, not really perpendicular to the blank that was used. Hard to say for sure here. I'm leaning 70% mineral
 
Re: Les Paul vs sg and poker chip or not

This as good as the guy could send. He said when you look at it at certain angles you can tell the clear coat isn't as smooth there. And you can feel it when you run your finger over it a little. Now he's leaning toward a filled crack.
IMG_1182.jpg
IMG_1183.jpg
IMG_1185.jpg
 
Re: Les Paul vs sg and poker chip or not

It is a little suspect looking. It's in the right orientation for a mineral streak but it it feels any different at all on the surface I'd walk.
 
Re: Les Paul vs sg and poker chip or not

That just looks like a dark grain line to me, as it should be running that way at the headstock. You have to realise that each grain line is a different winter, so if you have a very extreme winter either cold, wet or warm, you will get a different grain line with perhaps a different level of mineral uptake specific to that area in the cut lumber.
As to the clearcoat.....yes, different density of wood and different structure will cause nitro shrinkage and a 'feelable' line on perfectly ok wood with no 'filled cracks'. Ash is a prime example of the grain/growth ring being the part that sinks the most.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Jermo3178
NGD Triple Threat
Replies
9
Views
174
Jermo3178
Jermo3178
N
What gauge of string to run on my Les Paul
2
Replies
26
Views
343
Mincer
Mincer
AniML
What do we have here? (NGD)
Replies
4
Views
181
80's_Thrash_Metal
80's_Thrash_Metal
B
Gibson Les Paul, a SG, and a EBMM Axis WORTH
Replies
14
Views
350
Mincer
Mincer
Aceman
1 Year and 3 months guitar sober
2
Replies
25
Views
429
Mincer
Mincer
Back
Top