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

[BloodRose]

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)...

Nice family there! That gold LTD a EC400ats? I had one of those and it was awesome! Ive never been a gold top fan, but I got it used at a good price. I sold it cuz I wanted the traditional 4 knob layout and Ive hated myself for that ever since. It was a KILLER player, sounded great and sustained for days.. Was heavy as heck tho.. Rarely ever see them for sale used. Guess that is a good endorsement.

 

[Red_Label]

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

Nice family there! That gold LTD a EC400ats? I had one of those and it was awesome! Ive never been a gold top fan, but I got it used at a good price. I sold it cuz I wanted the traditional 4 knob layout and Ive hated myself for that ever since. It was a KILLER player, sounded great and sustained for days.. Was heavy as heck tho.. Rarely ever see them for sale used. Guess that is a good endorsement.

Yup. That one and the black one are the ATs. The sunburst ones are the VFs. I still have the black one. I call it my "black widow". It's playing backup to the new LP Standard right now. The Dean USA Soltero at the top of the pics would be backup, but I'm trying to keep it mint-ish since I've got it for sale.

Anyways... Ltds are awesome guitars. I've also owned a pair of EC1000s, and a pair of Hybrids. So that's ELEVEN ESP/Ltd guitars that I've owned. All were great guitars and well worth the money. I wish I still had some of them. That flat-black ESP Eclipse was special. It just had something in the tone. I would have been wise to have kept it. But I was in acoustic mode at the time and sold-off a bunch of electric stuff and bought a bunch of flamenco guitars. Binge and purge... that's my gear cycle! I'm REALLY trying to end that cycle somewhat. Hoping the new Paul becomes my main squeeze and I settle-down for some monogamy. :headache:

 

[Laughing Kookaburra]

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

Carvin does a nice LP style model, the California Single cut, IIRC. I did play one once, very nice. 25" scale, and great prices to boot.

Carvin guitars have a good rep for consistency, so having played one guitar held water for me. YMMV.

 

[RoteGitarre]

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

Schecter C1 Classic could definitely get you into the territory you want, if you like/can get past the flashy inlay. The vine of life inlay really kills it for some people. They do have a neck that's more akin to an LP than most shredders, but sound and play wonderfully with a much nicer neck joint and upper fret access than a traditional LP body style.

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[kherman]

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

Since you're doing a few different styles of music, I would suggest looking for a used ESP LTD PB-401 or PB-500.



It came with the Duncan P-Rail pickups.
I always thought they were a sharp looking guitar.

Check Ebay and music-go-round.

 

[tubecrunch]

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

Dean deceiver.

 

[Aceman]

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

ESP/LTD 1000's and Dean Soltero's - hard not to love.

I personally consider the Dean CAdillac a Les Paul, but not-lea Paul…

 

[Boogie Bill]

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

I like the Ibanez Artists, and don't forget the Hamers.

The G&L Ascari is really nice. The Ascari has a 24-fret brother, the Fiorano. Both are very nice. And they also have Tribute versions of the ASAT Deluxe. Quality of these is excellent.

Bill

 

[phred]

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

I had a Fender FMT and hated the huge frets, if you like that then a LTD would work fine. What is the price range? Have you looked at a PRS SE 245 or a SE Bernie Marsden? Both are short scale mahogany with maple tops without jumbo frets. They can be anywhere from $450 used to $650 new.

 

[Matt42]

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

I like the Ibanez Artists, and don't forget the Hamers.

The G&L Ascari is really nice. The Ascari has a 24-fret brother, the Fiorano. Both are very nice. And they also have Tribute versions of the ASAT Deluxe. Quality of these is excellent.

Bill

I tried the Ascari at a shop in Spokane and wasn't that impressed. I think they might have gotten a bad batch in, cause none of the G&L's I tried felt very good. I was very interested in the Ascari and ASAT Deluxe Tribute, but the ones I played soured me a bit on them.

Budget is around $500, but I wont complain if I can get away with less, which is one of the reasons I'm looking at Schecters and Michael Kelly's. It seems like I can get a good one for $300 give or take $50.

 

[astrozombie]

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

I never thought les Paul necks were "enormous".

Have you played a 70s Gibson?


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[Oinkus]

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

ESP/LTD Hybrid II Never thought a Les Paul had huge necks but this is based on a LP Jr I am guessing , neck is pretty thin XJ frets. The pups are STK-1 s don't really sound like P 90s but they sound good. Got it used on MF for under $500. I did a ton of upgrades and still am going to wire the pups to series/parallel , think this is more along the lines of what you might like.

 

[Matt42]

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

I never thought les Paul necks were "enormous".

Have you played a 70s Gibson?


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Enormous might have been an overstatement. They just feel so thick in my hands (I have fairly small hands). And something about they way they hang just feels uncomfortable to me. It may just be because I'm used to Strats, Tele's and my Gretsch, but they never really sit right with me.

 

[formula73]

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

If you're not afraid of Korean/Indonesian/Chinese:

Dean Caddy
Dean Deceiver

Honestly the BEST LP-style guitar I've ever played was the Czech Dean Caddys. Thin mahogany bodies with a nice thick maple top. They feel more like SGs but maintain enough mass in the body to stop neck dive. They're hard to find, and the looks are...an acquired taste, to say the least...but they're 6-700, tops. Nice slim neck profile with a flat board and nice frets. The stock pickups were either no-names that weren't so good or Duncan Pearly Gates in some models. Some I've had:

I still own the blue one. Wish I still owned the purple one. That top...

I also have tiny hands.

 

[Oinkus]

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

You know that you can change the shape and size of a neck with your bare hands and sandpaper right ?

 

[Matt42]

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

You know that you can change the shape and size of a neck with your bare hands and sandpaper right ?

I could, but I'd rather find a neck that I like that doesn't require sanding.

 

[formula73]

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

You know that you can change the shape and size of a neck with your bare hands and sandpaper right ?

That's a little more involved than swapping hardware or electronics.

 

[Matt42]

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

Since you're doing a few different styles of music, I would suggest looking for a used ESP LTD PB-401 or PB-500.

View attachment 53931

It came with the Duncan P-Rail pickups.
I always thought they were a sharp looking guitar.

Check Ebay and music-go-round.

I like the look of these. I'll have to keep my eyes open. Seems like $400-$450 is about right for them, and I'd spend that much getting a Schecter or something and putting a set of P-Rails in it. I'd probably end up rewiring it a bit, so I could get all 4 sounds, rather than just three.

Thanks for the idea!

 

[voggin]

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

Since you're doing a few different styles of music, I would suggest looking for a used ESP LTD PB-401 or PB-500.

View attachment 53931

It came with the Duncan P-Rail pickups.
I always thought they were a sharp looking guitar.

Check Ebay and music-go-round.

Wasn't there a Les Paul in the seventies that looked something like that, with low impedence pickups with cream covers? Might have been a semi-hollow.

Anyway, I really like the look of that.

 

[Matt42]

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

I saw some with Flamed Maple tops when I was searching around the internet. I like the FMT better than the Gold Top, personally, but both are very nice looking guitars. I really like the shape.