LP Custom Look at half the price

Re: LP Custom Look at half the price

For a high quality axe with the appointments of a Custom, personally I'd be looking at 80s-90s Japanese LP Customs. Higher-end series from Greco, Burny, Tokai, or even Orville-By-Gibson. They compare very favorably with Gibsons and they're still remarkably affordable considering how good they are. The only problem is, often you don't have the opportunity to try them out first. Still, the build quality of the best models is extremely high and quite consistent. I've had very good luck with three of these. Only one is a Custom, but all three are great guitars.

Oh yeah.. I have an early 80s Burny that is a magnificent guitar! heavy as all get out tho..

If you want a Les Paul Custom look, then buy a used Heritage H-157.

Even new, they are thousands less than their Gibson counterparts.

Yes, Heritage is a great choice. I personally dont care for the headstock , but would NOT prevent me from buying one as Im more about great guitar than looks. Quite honestly, and Im sure Ill get some flaming for this, but Epi is building some amazing guitars these days and priced WAY more realistic. But again, headstock doesnt appeal to some people
 
Re: LP Custom Look at half the price

For a high quality axe with the appointments of a Custom, personally I'd be looking at 80s-90s Japanese LP Customs. Higher-end series from Greco, Burny, Tokai, or even Orville-By-Gibson. They compare very favorably with Gibsons and they're still remarkably affordable considering how good they are. The only problem is, often you don't have the opportunity to try them out first. Still, the build quality of the best models is extremely high and quite consistent. I've had very good luck with three of these. Only one is a Custom, but all three are great guitars.

Eastman also has many instruments at thousands less, and many come stock with Duncans. Excellent guitars. They can usually be found for hundreds less than the website's prices.

Any hands on with one of these? Id never seen an Eastman single cut like this before.. Look interesting! They arent inexpensive, but not as much as brand G.
 
Last edited:
Re: LP Custom Look at half the price

I've played many Eastman's at NAMM, and probably spent more time in their booth than any other brand (unless I was standing in line to meet someone). Eastmans are great guitars, with an even better price when you find the model you want used. The LP-ish ones I tried are miles better than any Epi, and as good as many of the Gibsons I've tried.
Plus they come up with cool designs like this (my next guitar?).
 
Re: LP Custom Look at half the price

The LP in the original post just looks wrong, like a std neck on a custom body, I like the Custom Classic that regan posted much better, the binding on the headstock kind of balances it out and makes it look finished.

FWIW, I owned a real LPC years ago, found it used for ~$1200 IIRC, and Customs are beasts, very heavy, great guitar though, one of the ones I wish I still have even though I've never been that comfortable playing LP style guitars.
 
Re: LP Custom Look at half the price

Yes, Heritage is a great choice. I personally dont care for the headstock , but would NOT prevent me from buying one as Im more about great guitar than looks. Quite honestly, and Im sure Ill get some flaming for this, but Epi is building some amazing guitars these days and priced WAY more realistic. But again, headstock doesnt appeal to some people

The headstock grows on you. I've spoken at length with the original owners of Heritage. Their headstock design pays homage to some of the older Gibsons with snakehead type designs. Supposedly, the string angle to the nut is improved using this method, placing less stress on the nut and neck.

Gibson has also recognized their own tribute to a much older design, very similar to Heritage...

yolv1ke4ifecvjwp1yfw.jpg


This thing is over the top ugly...
 
Last edited:
Re: LP Custom Look at half the price

Q: What's better than a Les Paul Custom?

A: An SG Custom.
 
Re: LP Custom Look at half the price

Unless your Les Paul himself...

I like my SG Custom okay. But Les sure hated 'em. Not just the guitars, which he said weren't classy and were no good structurally. But I think it was even more about the insult. He once told me Gibson didn't even let him know they were changing the design. The first he knew of it was walking past a music store one day, when he saw an unfamiliar guitar in the window. With his name on it. He was still annoyed more than twenty years afterward when I first met him. I guess the thinner SG body was more comfortable for Mary (I saw her SG/LP Custom once) and she kinda liked it. But Les didn't, and he made them take his name off 'em. For almost five years Gibson didn't offer a Les Paul model, until they started building the original style 50s body style again with his name and endorsement.

Les wasn't wrong about the structural problems either. SGs have had more neck joint issues than any other Gibson model, I think. They're notorious for it and a lot of players won't even put heavy strings on an older one.

As I said, I do like my SG Custom. But I much prefer the original Les Pauls. As long as they're not ridiculously heavy, which is not unheard-of.
 
Back
Top