Les Paul vs. Yamaha SG1000

[JumpMarine]

Re: Les Paul vs. Yamaha SG1000

The Yamaha's are really nice and with you being a strat player you may feel more comfortable with their necks.

 

[alba44]

Re: Les Paul vs. Yamaha SG1000

Yep... had a 3000's and wish I'd never sold it, in fact I'm trying to get it back.
I did however get one for my boy 16years ago (gave it him last year) and it's F'in awesome. I personally think the Yams blow Gibson away for build and duarbility and yes they can sound very L.P ish. I put a set of '59s in mine before I sold it and it was superb, easier to play and more sustain and warmth than any of my L.P's. I guess maybe snobbery got the better of me, and I really wish it hadn't! I'd go for a Yamaha.. they are class guitars.

Yes, agree 100% the sustain, warmth & playability are just so much better than my '74 custom. I wish I could have purchased one of these first

 

[KeeperOS]

Re: Les Paul vs. Yamaha SG1000

KeeperOS, they're gorgeous looking guitars, again the problem would be availability in the UK, and price, hence my thought about the Yammies..

Can't really help you with availability although there are plenty of places to order one on-line (in Europe) but about price, that's the beauty of it, they go between 350 and 550€ which translates to 280 to 440 GBP, can't imagine getting a better deal with a Yammy although if you do them by all means go for it and be happy

Huh? :eek13: I've played sev of those MK Patriots and the fret access is not all that good AFAIC. Yes, its better than a typical les Paul, but certainly not as good as an SG, V, Explorer, or even a double cut Hamer/Yamaha SG type.

Well, I can't talk about Vs, Explorers or Hamers but I've played Epi SGs and I could never get to the 22nd easily (and even then not much lower than the B string), with the Michael Kelly I could solo all the way up to the 22nd fret and down to the D string no problem, the cutaway just fit to my palm like a glove...

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Les Paul vs. Yamaha SG1000

Fret access is for hosers; those Yamahas look great. don't think too hard about it, play guitars and buy the one you like the best.

 

[stevie_bees]

Re: Les Paul vs. Yamaha SG1000

Those 80's Ibanez Artists do pop up on eBay UK fairly often, and they are definitely worth the wait.

How much do they usually go for Rich?

 

[Rich_T]

Re: Les Paul vs. Yamaha SG1000

How much do they usually go for Rich?

I've seen them all over the shop pricewise, some seem more desirable than others, but a nice one in good nick can usually be had around the £500 to £600 mark. You are getting a guitar that is every bit as good as a Gibby for that money.

A mate of mine picked up one that had taken a bit of a beating for £200, absolutely unbelievable guitar.

 

[KeeperOS]

Re: Les Paul vs. Yamaha SG1000

Fret access is for hosers...

I can't really agree with that...

...don't think too hard about it, play guitars and buy the one you like the best.

...BUT I can WHOLEHEARTEDLY agree with this one

 

[FBloke]

Re: Les Paul vs. Yamaha SG1000

I'm a confirmed Les Paul man, a Gibson ho. I've also owned two Yamaha's and played another owned by a friend. The Yamaha's are consistently excellent in terms of build quality, tone and finish. They take a lot of pride in their work and get it right pretty much every time. Les Paul's are beautiful, a landmark guitar, but you might try 20 that all vary in terms of sound, playability and finish. The ONLY criteria in my opinion is DO YOU SOUND LIKE YOU AND FEEL GOOD WHEN YOU PLAY THE GUITAR? Brands alone cannot provide this, it's so random. I had a really cheap Kay guitar shaped like a rifle fitted with DiMarzios that could kick the ass of anything else I'd played - it was a bad move to sell it. I've also had my socks blown off by Tokai's and Ibanez's - there seems to be a theme developing here with Japanese makers. I think the Japanese are fanatical about detail when they get into something they like - a mindset that they share with us guitar players. In my opinion some American manufacturers could do themselves a favour by getting this level of passion back into their production.

 

[KeeperOS]

Re: Les Paul vs. Yamaha SG1000

Well said man, well said. Except I find it in other Asian manufacturers than Japanese as well.

Yes, I've DEFINITELY seen it with Japanese but I've also seen it with Korean and even Indonesian (have yet to see it with Chinese but, who knows...).

What's even more impressing with those people is that because of the way things are the only thing they can put out and actually have a chance of selling are cheap guitars, at least in price because, who'd ever buy a 1000-1500$ Korean or Indonesian guitar anyway?

So they HAVE to work with very little and be EXTRA careful with which corners they cut, too few and they can't sell it, too much and again they won't sell it because cheap crappy guitars are a dime a dozen.

I've noticed that the way they usually prefer to go is to use inexpensive hardware that they try to make work as best as they can and whatever local wood they will deem as appropriate for instrument building, even if it's not a "recognized tonewood" and then put their all in the construction quality.

IMO these guys have both the pride, the passion and the HUNGER to put out the best product they can for the price, or any price.

Something that the US builders, being so stuffed as they are have long since forgotten...

 

[Mimasu]

Re: Les Paul vs. Yamaha SG1000

I own several old Yamaha's. I think an old SG is just as good, perhaps even better, than a Gibson from that time (mid 70's to mid 80's).
I'n not very fond of the new Yamaha SG's. The ones to look for are the older SG700's, SG1000's, SG1500's and 2000's. I also have a SG3000 but it hasn't got the feel of a good SG2000. I think you should be able to buy a good SG700 or SG1000 in the UK from around 400 to 500 pound. There are some on ebay at this time.

Always look at the pickups. They should be the "closed type", the best sounding Yamaha pickups.

You can find more information, and some of my Yamaha's, on japanaxe.com.

 

[Blue_Fingers_Jay]

Re: Les Paul vs. Yamaha SG1000

There are some older SG 1000's on Ebay UK for less than £400.

If you can't get comfortable with a les paul and want the tone get a Yamaha SG.
I tried a couple of old ones and they were awesome, very thick and warm tone, but the neck and fret acess is closer to a strat and they sustain for days.
Plus I love the way they look, except for the Santana buddha thing that's just ugly.

 

[Dru Edwards]

Re: Les Paul vs. Yamaha SG1000

Rick Emmett of Triumph played a Yamaha (not sure which one) and he rocked the hell out of it! Give it a try.

 

[Thunder7]

Re: Les Paul vs. Yamaha SG1000

Rick Emmett of Triumph played a Yamaha (not sure which one) and he rocked the hell out of it! Give it a try.

+1 to that. I forget what model his was based on but if I remember correctly it was loaded up with Dimarzio pickup's. The fretboard was wider than normal because of his classical playing style, also the strap button on the upper horn was moved to give him a steeper angle when standing, again because of his more classical style. Right now Emmett is playing a Yamaha Pacifica among other things, I have his Starlicks tape and he gives a run down of the Yamaha he's using, I think you can even find parts of the video on Youtube now.

 

[FretFire]

Re: Les Paul vs. Yamaha SG1000

Watch the used market for a USA Hamer. I recently grabbed a Studio for $750 shipped. SMOKIN' deal on a guitar like this.

 

[stevie_bees]

Re: Les Paul vs. Yamaha SG1000

Watch the used market for a USA Hamer. I recently grabbed a Studio for $750 shipped. SMOKIN' deal on a guitar like this.

I'd love something like that, but there's no way we'd get a deal like that in the UK!!!

 

[stevie_bees]

Re: Les Paul vs. Yamaha SG1000

I'd love something like this...

or this...

 

[Lu_B]

Re: Les Paul vs. Yamaha SG1000

Like the wine one, will look cool with the flares and the hat!

What do you think it will go for £575 - £650ish?

 

[stevie_bees]

Re: Les Paul vs. Yamaha SG1000

Like the wine one, will look cool with the flares and the hat!

What do you think it will go for £575 - £650ish?

Of course!!! Yeah, thats about what I reckon it'll go for. The SG1000 will be less.