Looking for something similar to a Les Paul, but not a Les Paul, suggestions?

Matt42

Matt42

New member
I've only played a few Les Pauls that I liked the feel of (a Gibson Double Cut LP and some Les Paul Jr.'s). I'm looking for something similar (double Humbucker, mahogany body), but without the enormous neck. So far I've considered Michael Kelly Patriot's, Schecter C-1's, and the Fender Telecaster FMT HH. The Tele is my leading candidate at this point, I've owned one before and it's on my "should never have sold" list. I'd love to hear some suggestions, though, as I'm sure there are guitars out there that I'm unaware of. I'd like to keep it around $500 or under.

I play everything in the blues, rock, country spectrum. I've got a traditional(ish) Tele for the country stuff, so this guitar will be mostly blues/rock stuff. Going for a Warren Haynes, Joe Bonamassa kinda sound.

Thanks in advance.
 
Re: Looking for something similar to a Les Paul, but not a Les Paul, suggestions?

Gibson does make LPs with smaller (60s) necks.

But if you're set on other mohogany-bodied, humbucker-equipped guitars... then may I suggest ESP/Ltd, PRS, Schecter, etc. I've owned many awesome examples of all of them and all were great, and had small necks. I have small hands, so most of the time I HAVE to have smaller necks. But I found an LP Standard last weekend that's got THAT tone, and it has a bigger neck. I think that after many years of refusing to own guitars with big necks, I'm finally giving-up on that. This guitar has such a big, chunky, clear, ringing tone that it's worth getting used to. And I have been doing just that.

Anyways... I few of the other-than-LPs that I've owned (and loved)...

IMG_1061_zps073b3d99.jpg


IMG_1012_zps8485da89.jpg


IMG_1002_zps4df63a6c.jpg


DSCF0328.jpg


001.jpg
 
Re: Looking for something similar to a Les Paul, but not a Les Paul, suggestions?

I'm not totally opposed to a true LP, but it would definitely have to be a special case, and I'd have to play it extensively to make sure it gelled with me.

I hadn't considered ESP, I'll have to keep my eyes open in some of the shops around here for one to try out. I've played a few PRS SE's, and liked them. They were all P90 models though. I really liked the PRS SE One.
 
Re: Looking for something similar to a Les Paul, but not a Les Paul, suggestions?

I would recommend either a Dean Cadillac or a Dean EVO. Personally I love the slightly wider but a lot thinner necks on Dean's. The Cadillac is a slightly brighter guitar and the EVO I tried was slightly warmer.
 
Re: Looking for something similar to a Les Paul, but not a Les Paul, suggestions?

Maybe a used Ibanez Artist?
 
Re: Looking for something similar to a Les Paul, but not a Les Paul, suggestions?

Well, the ones on my list are the Godin Icon (this one with the SD p-rails standard. Hand-rubbed varnish on them)
IMG_8650.jpg

I have a Godin Radiator with the same body shape and it's pretty smooth to play.

The Vox SSC series. I really like them from top to bottom, with the interesting p90/rail hybrid pickups in them. The interesting bridge, and the toned-down aesthetic.
ssc55tb__69410_zoom.jpg


Epiphone Nighthawk
HB_Splash.jpg

These are weird. 25.5in scale. SD supplies a replacement slant bridge pickup in two flavors too.
 
Re: Looking for something similar to a Les Paul, but not a Les Paul, suggestions?

I like that Godin. I'm debating P-Rails in this guitar anyway, so that'd be nice.
 
Re: Looking for something similar to a Les Paul, but not a Les Paul, suggestions?

i was going to recommend either a Michael Kelly (I have a patriot custom and LOVE it!), a Dean Soltero or an LTD. I had Soltero that I NEVER should have sold.. and also an LTD EC400at that I only sold cuz I preferred the 4 knob setup and have been mad at myself ever since
 
Re: Looking for something similar to a Les Paul, but not a Les Paul, suggestions?

I have two Fender Telecaster FMT HH guitars, I wouldn't recommend them if you want something close to a Les Paul. They are much thinner and lighter and sound nothing like Les Pauls. In fact, a real, heavier Tele with humbuckers sounds more like a Les Paul than the Tele FMT HH.
 
Re: Looking for something similar to a Les Paul, but not a Les Paul, suggestions?

Honestly, it should come down to scale length. If you don't want a big neck chances are you'll be looking at a 24.75" guitar. In that case, I don't think you'll be sad with the deans/esp/etc guitars.

If you're fine withe the longer scale, my recommendation 10 times out of 10 is the telecaster. I can't sell all of my other guitars for sentimental reasons, but believe you me that's about the only thing stopping me.

I'm dead serious. I've got a ~7.3k unpotted neck pickup in there, and a jerry donahue bridge, and there's not a lot that it won't do. Steeley strat neck sounds, these just achingly sweet smooth neck humbucker sounds, and even rich subdued traditional tele neck sounds in parallel. The middle position has everything from funk slap to kind of like an almost p90 thing. The jerry donahue bridge suits me perfectly, but in a hh configuration a 59/custom with a2 would be teh secks.

Come to think of it, I kind of want a HH telecaster with a 59/jazz neck and a 59/custom bridge. And a strat 6 point trem. Now that's a guitar that could do everything.
 
Re: Looking for something similar to a Les Paul, but not a Les Paul, suggestions?

Ibanez Artist:

ibanez+art320.jpg
 
Re: Looking for something similar to a Les Paul, but not a Les Paul, suggestions?

Crissaegrim said:
I have two Fender Telecaster FMT HH guitars, I wouldn't recommend them if you want something close to a Les Paul. They are much thinner and lighter and sound nothing like Les Pauls. In fact, a real, heavier Tele with humbuckers sounds more like a Les Paul than the Tele FMT HH.
Click to expand...

I really liked the one that I had. I know the sound isn't exactly LP, but it'll do what I'm after.

jimijames said:
Honestly, it should come down to scale length. If you don't want a big neck chances are you'll be looking at a 24.75" guitar. In that case, I don't think you'll be sad with the deans/esp/etc guitars.

If you're fine withe the longer scale, my recommendation 10 times out of 10 is the telecaster. I can't sell all of my other guitars for sentimental reasons, but believe you me that's about the only thing stopping me.

I'm dead serious. I've got a ~7.3k unpotted neck pickup in there, and a jerry donahue bridge, and there's not a lot that it won't do. Steeley strat neck sounds, these just achingly sweet smooth neck humbucker sounds, and even rich subdued traditional tele neck sounds in parallel. The middle position has everything from funk slap to kind of like an almost p90 thing. The jerry donahue bridge suits me perfectly, but in a hh configuration a 59/custom with a2 would be teh secks.

Come to think of it, I kind of want a HH telecaster with a 59/jazz neck and a 59/custom bridge. And a strat 6 point trem. Now that's a guitar that could do everything.
Click to expand...

I really like Fender necks, I love my Strat and my Tele. I've also thought about something like a 72 Deluxe Tele, not necessarily with the Wide Range's, but putting P-Rails, or a 59 or maybe the WLH set in there.
 
Re: Looking for something similar to a Les Paul, but not a Les Paul, suggestions?

The Godin is going to be a 24.75 scale with the shallower neck than an SG but the same nut size. Fast and smooth with nice bendy string action. I like it better than the Epi SG, and thinking hard of cutting out the SG in favor of a 25.5 or longer.

off u see did MRSAge, I m on tapa talk and auto correct is hating on me
 
Re: Looking for something similar to a Les Paul, but not a Les Paul, suggestions?

The Ibanez ARZ are 25" scale, IMO that feels absolutely perfect and closes the gap between tiny 24.75" and big 25.5" especially in the higher register (frets 20->24).
Here is mine :
14142817035_a561f5f117_c.jpg
 
Re: Looking for something similar to a Les Paul, but not a Les Paul, suggestions?

I've played some of their really cheap models, I'll have to keep my eyes open for a nicer Hag sometime.
 
Re: Looking for something similar to a Les Paul, but not a Les Paul, suggestions?

I'd definitely look at the PRS Singlecut of whatever flavour appeals...
 
Re: Looking for something similar to a Les Paul, but not a Les Paul, suggestions?

This is the guitar I have. The Hagstrom Ultra Swede. Lots of options, lots of fun. It also has the thinnest neck I have ever played on a guitar, and that includes all the shredder Ibanez and Jacksons.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/hagstrom-ultra-swede-electric-guitar

It's also priced right too. Also, if you like splitting coils, it has a switch for that. Try to find a dealer near you, and give one a test run. I think you will be impressed.
 
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