Les Pauls

[JeffB]

Just ain't for me....No matter how many I own, no matter what pickups, they just do not give up that Barking woody maple tone my ears want.

Pulled out my 335 Studio last night, gave her a fresh setup, some new strings and a little bit of TLC. Cut this impromptu clip 10 min or so ago

Crappy fingers>Fender Celluloid Heavy pick>Gibson 335 Studio w/ 57classic>Whirlwind Phase> Badass78 (you will know when its on)> Mooer Reecho> Xotic EP boost (bright on, db boost on, set full blast)> CLEAN Channel of Tubemeister 18 (1950s OS Mullard in V1, Jan 5751 in V2> JJ El84s)>Celestion Heritage/EVH G12m.



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[Letus]

Re: Les Pauls

You know, Gibson has just come up with a Les Paul made up mostly of maple: http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/Les-Paul/Gibson-USA/The-Les-Paul-All-Wood.aspx . I'm sorry if this triggers your GAS, because it's a real beauty!

 

[JeffB]

Re: Les Pauls

Not sure that one would do it for me. Still a solid body with a mahogany core.

But that new ES Les Paul is pretty cool.

 

[Letus]

Re: Les Pauls

And the ES LP body is maple/basswood, not mahogany.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Les Pauls

Semi hollows with a prepondernace of maple, i.e. a 3x5. If that wasn't clear from my OP :bigthumb:

I have had well over 20 Les Pauls in my lifetime, and I always end up going on a pickup swapping tirade because inherently they do not deliver the tone I want. Right out of the case, not considering pickups, semis deliver the fundamental I want.

 

[Letus]

Re: Les Pauls

Just asking, do you like Alex Lifeson's ES tone?

 

[JeffB]

Re: Les Pauls

That is a safe Bet .

Up until 1979 or so anyway.

 

[Letus]

Re: Les Pauls

Is that like what you're aiming for?

 

[JeffB]

Re: Les Pauls

Not exactly. His tone changed quite a bit between the Marshalls, Super Reverbs, and then HiWatts, anyway.

My tone is probably like a mix of him , pre- wah schenker, and Brian Robertson.

I just cannot seem to pull out MY sound with Les Pauls (or other solid body Gibsons or similar). When I plug in the 335, it's always a "ahhh..that's it" moment. Same with Teles when I want a Fender single coil tone. Strats always leave me wanting.

 

[Andrew Lamprecht]

Re: Les Pauls

Dig the sounds man.

I feel the same way, I keep looking at Les Pauls but everytime I play one I end up wanting something that isn't there. .

 

[JeffB]

Re: Les Pauls

Dig the sounds man.

I feel the same way, I keep looking at Les Pauls but everytime I play one I end up wanting something that isn't there. .

Thanks for giving a listen!

It's not the Les Pauls sound bad. A helluvalot of my fave music was made with Les Pauls, or Strats. But yep, something just isn't there.

I blame Chuck Berry. I saw him on TV when I was about 4 years old, and knew I wanted to be a rocknroll guitar player! That sound imprinted into my brain

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Les Pauls

the 335 is a pretty cool instrument.

 

[Letus]

the 335 is a pretty cool instrument.

I agree. As a metal player, I'll assert that it can produce a wide array of killer tones, and can sound huge if you know how to tweak it.

Alex Lifeson's piercing tones and Eric Johnson's solid overdrive remain imprinted on my mind to this day. Not to mention this; http://youtu.be/S1i5coU-0_Q

 

[dystrust]

Re: Les Pauls

the 335 is a pretty cool instrument.

Gibson's best design IMO. I remember thinking they looked ridiculous when I first started playing guitar, but once I finally played one several years later major GAS set in. I was finally able to afford one a couple years ago, and it just may be my favorite guitar.

 

[Letus]

Re: Les Pauls

IMO The most iconic semi. Gibson's decision to trademark the shape was somewhat understandable.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Les Pauls

I've checked out the blacked out LP Studio, and dig it's simple design. I don't remember a trapeze tailpiece on the one I tried though. It was a tune'o'matic.

I think most Gibson lovers start with a Les Paul, and then start branching out from there, just as Fender players usually start with a strat.

I'll always love LP's for what they do, although I've also gravitated toward my two ES-335's and SG Diablo. If the LP is dead center, the 335 and SG hit right and left of center.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Les Pauls

I assume you meant 335 studio, Joe?

The 2013 339 Studio had a stop TP. 335 has the trap. Which I actually really dig. It doesn't seem to have the sustain like a stop, but it has this airy/more open tone thing going on. It also allows for behind the tuneomatic bends. Much easier than bending strings above the the nut.