tell me the truth about Gibson LP Studio vs. copies...

[smauk43]

I've got a Tremonti SE, pretty good LP style guitar. Love the wide/fat neck. Looking at Studio LP's, can pick and choose from the local store to avoid some Gibson QC issues, and have played a few there. Don't want to spend the money on a Standard, I only play around at home and I can't find any used ones to actually test out. I'm not "hung up" on the Gibson name though, my problem is I can't test any copies, like Edwards, Tokai, Agile, ESP etc.....most brands around here local are Gibson, PRS, Fender, and Peavey, slim pickings. I just want some honest opinions (and I will take them as opinions only) as to would a nice 1000 dollar copy be as or more justified than a Studio. I really prefer bulk (which the Tremonti lacks) and big necks. I would be willing to order from the net and take a chance on getting a good one without playing, if I think it would be worth it. I just haven't played any other brands and most likely can't unless I drive 2 hours. Thanks for any opinions!!

 

[Innocent_Bystander]

Re: tell me the truth about Gibson LP Studio vs. copies...

I've got a Tremonti SE, pretty good LP style guitar. Love the wide/fat neck. Looking at Studio LP's, can pick and choose from the local store to avoid some Gibson QC issues, and have played a few there. Don't want to spend the money on a Standard, I only play around at home and I can't find any used ones to actually test out. I'm not "hung up" on the Gibson name though, my problem is I can't test any copies, like Edwards, Tokai, Agile, ESP etc.....most brands around here local are Gibson, PRS, Fender, and Peavey, slim pickings. I just want some honest opinions (and I will take them as opinions only) as to would a nice 1000 dollar copy be as or more justified than a Studio. I really prefer bulk (which the Tremonti lacks) and big necks. I would be willing to order from the net and take a chance on getting a good one without playing, if I think it would be worth it. I just haven't played any other brands and most likely can't unless I drive 2 hours. Thanks for any opinions!!

I look at it this way, it doesn't matter who makes the guitar or where it comes from, it could be great or it could be horrible.

I think it's more important to play the guitar yourself prior to purchasing it than it is to take a risk that a guitar will be good because someone says it or the brand is.

I say buy something you can look at and feel and play and plug in. Play as many as you can and if you can't find one you like than maybe that make or model isn't really what you're looking for.

 

[The Golden Boy]

Re: tell me the truth about Gibson LP Studio vs. copies...

You're going to find your Gibson "fanboys" and people who have a need to chop at Gibson. I've owned many Gibsons, and I've never owned a "dud." I've had excellent results with their Customer Service department. The only bad thing I can say about Gibson is their new business policies. I've heard of QC problems- and I don't doubt they're out there, I just haven't seen them on the instruments I've picked up.

If you're not hung up on the Gibson name, play a bunch of guitars and figure what you like best. If, deep down, you really want a Gibson- find some and play some. If you get a copy, it's always going to nag at you that you don't have what you really want- even if you're happy with your guitar.

The straight up on Studios- great guitars. Especially if you buy used.

 

[Mr. B]

Re: tell me the truth about Gibson LP Studio vs. copies...

The only strict copies of a LP that I have played that would out-do a Gibson Studio are the Elitist Les Pauls by Epiphone. The one I own and the 2 I have played at the store were VERY well made. Two of the students who come to my guitar club meeting at our high school have Gibson Les Paul Standards, and I would not trade my Epiphone for either. I think they are about the same as the Studios price wise. I got mine on sale at MF for 699$, but I think they have gone up since.

 

[Skarekrough]

Re: tell me the truth about Gibson LP Studio vs. copies...

I own two Greco Les Paul clones. They're amazing instruments.

Note, I didn't say "for the money." They're straight up amazing instruments.

If you NEED to have the instrument in your hand before you hand over your money then you're really out of luck. Rarely do i see any locally, and what few I do stay in the market for a very short span of time, mostly due to the reputation. When I bought mine two years ago I got them both for under a grand combined. The prices have risen dramatically so no doubt the word is out.

 

[JeffB]

Re: tell me the truth about Gibson LP Studio vs. copies...

The truth is...the clones are dang good.

The Epi elites, Tokais and Edwards instruments are incredible values, and incredible guitars in their own right. Greco, Burny, Orville-Epi-Japan (predecessors to the Epi Elites) all get high grades too from my research. Construction wise, they are as good as anything but the top dollar high grade USA instruments, and truth be told, the MIJs construction-wise are far better than your average production Gibson. The nuts are cut much better, the saddles are perfect, the binding is fantastic, fret jobs are as good as any high end PRS/Hamer USA, etc.

The only cons I see with them, they don't quite capture the tone and feel of the best Gibsons. The mahogany is different, and they nearly all use a poly finish, sometimes quite thick (as on my Edwards). They tend to sound darker, and compressed compared to a good Gibson.

Studios when you find the right one, are the best way to get the real deal Les Paul sound and feel. But you are going to need to search through several til you find a really good one. They tend to get the heaviest, and lowest quality wood. And like every production Gibson you can go through 5 of them and they will all vary widely in quality of construction. You'll get a total dog, 2 or 3 "OK" ones, a couple nice ones, and once in awhile stumble upon an exceptional one.

Gimme $1000 to spend, and I'll buy a clone over a Studio nearly any day of the week. Gimme 2 grand and I'd go for a used Historic over any clone. No comparison in the Historics to the production Gibsons or the low to mid price MIJs.

I don't think you have anything to worry about buying a MIJ clone sight-unseen from an aesthetic/quality standpoint...your only crapshoot is gonna be the wood/tone quality. at least buying the Gibson, you can try several and pick and choose the best sounding one.

 

[smauk43]

Re: tell me the truth about Gibson LP Studio vs. copies...

Thanks for the words guys. Jeff, I know you have talked about your Edwards and like it. I'm willing to spend around a $1000, does the Edwards have the bigger neck and weight. I'm a big guy and smaller necks and bodies just don't "feel" right. I had an SG, and while it was a nice guitar, it just felt small. I've also acquired an interest in an Explorer since I played one the other day. More comfortable than I thought it would be and I liked the tone, seemed not as bassy as the Studio, but more so than the SG.

 

[34029324079]

Re: tell me the truth about Gibson LP Studio vs. copies...

good call; you can tell the difference in tone between a clone and a les paul; just depends on what you want to hear. I would personally get a les paul standard if I were gonna fork down over a thousand - I would just buy used. That way you get the bindings and the cut of wood may be better & a little heavier. Of course I ultimately want a les paul custom; the custom weighs 10 pounds and gets you to heaven in a locomotive

 

[greendy123]

Re: tell me the truth about Gibson LP Studio vs. copies...

Thanks for the words guys. Jeff, I know you have talked about your Edwards and like it. I'm willing to spend around a $1000, does the Edwards have the bigger neck and weight. I'm a big guy and smaller necks and bodies just don't "feel" right. I had an SG, and while it was a nice guitar, it just felt small. I've also acquired an interest in an Explorer since I played one the other day. More comfortable than I thought it would be and I liked the tone, seemed not as bassy as the Studio, but more so than the SG.

The necks are similar to a 59 style, so basically a little bigger than a 50s style neck. The weights are usually from 8-10lbs, if you buy it from ebay the weight will be shown if you buy it from Katana guitars.

 

[JeffB]

Re: tell me the truth about Gibson LP Studio vs. copies...

Thanks for the words guys. Jeff, I know you have talked about your Edwards and like it. I'm willing to spend around a $1000, does the Edwards have the bigger neck and weight. I'm a big guy and smaller necks and bodies just don't "feel" right. I had an SG, and while it was a nice guitar, it just felt small. I've also acquired an interest in an Explorer since I played one the other day. More comfortable than I thought it would be and I liked the tone, seemed not as bassy as the Studio, but more so than the SG.

Explorers are super comfy. Love 'em!

The Edwards was a great guitar. I had my issues with it..mostly feel, and mine was a very warm/dark soudning piece of wood. Even a 59 in the neck sounded dark. I also didn't care for the cheesy looking binding (the customs are nice, the Edwards Standards copies seem to vary.I've seen "correct" binding, and then the crap that I got). I didn't like the thicker poly as well, but otherwise, excellent guitar. For $800 bucks (with shipping) it was a steal in the grand scheme of things. I do prefer my Tokai from a feel and tone standpoint. It has better sustain, the poly is thinner, is a bit more open toned than the Edwards,and feels/looks more like the real deal.

Both of them have a big R9 style neck..if you've played a current Gibson SG standard (not the 61 reissues) or a current Gibson LP Studio you will be in the ballpark...the Edwards neck though is a bit flatter on the back...the Gibson neck is slightly rounder..the difference is slight. Not huge.

I'm going to keep my Tokai to satisfy my paula needs, but I'd buy another Edwards if budget was a consideration. Tak @ Katana is great to deal with. He's got sev up on ebay as of last night.

 

[Jacques]

Re: tell me the truth about Gibson LP Studio vs. copies...

Always try before you buy - it is a lot of money and a bad instrument will annoy you for a long long time!
My Heritage H150 is a great Les Paul type guitar (MIA if you prefer that, plus it is a relatively small factory) with all the traditional goodies. Maybe you can find one second hand.

 

[Voxman]

Re: tell me the truth about Gibson LP Studio vs. copies...

GLP studio is the best sounding lp style guitar in that pricerange,period
I agree with those who think the nut on those is cut to high but this is just a minor issue,it`s not a QC problem.
A good guitartech will cut the nut perfectly and it won`t cost you much.
What a glps offers is pure quality without all the fancy stuff(bindings etc).
I bought a gpls in 1996,back then gibson used cheaper switches etc to get the costs down.I had it for 8-9 years giging a lot and it did`nt cause me any problem at all. Buy a copy and it will cause you problems,unstable tuning,stringbreaking,pot issues and of course less sound quality
I`m not a "gibson fan" but i`m only being honest about the truth.
Try before buy is a rule of thumb no matter what guitar your looking for!

 

[myxolidian]

Re: tell me the truth about Gibson LP Studio vs. copies...

Buy a copy and it will cause you problems,unstable tuning,stringbreaking,pot issues and of course less sound quality

Yeah! And a copy will spontaneously burst into flames too. :smack:

 

[Voxman]

Re: tell me the truth about Gibson LP Studio vs. copies...

Yeah! And a copy will spontaneously burst into flames too. :smack:

Thanx for the compliment,i`m a smoking guitar player:smokin: