The annoying "Should I buy this or that" thread that I'm embarassed to post but will

[blakejcan]

The annoying "Should I buy this or that" thread that I'm embarassed to post but will

I'll start by asking for forgiveness. I hate these kinds of threads.

That said, I do think that the kind people of the SD forum know a lot more about guitars than I do and that your feedback would be helpful. Alright, here it comes.

I'm looking to drop around $2000 on a new Gibson Les Paul. There is some wiggle room in there for sure but that's my target.

The following things (for various reasons) are going to happen:

1. I am going to buy from Musician's Friend
2. It is going to have humbuckers
3. It is going to be a Gibson and not an Epiphone even tho they are great too
4. It is not going to have a robot tuner. I don't trust robots. I saw the Terminator movies. I know what can happen. Skynet......the whole thing. Robot tuners is how it starts.

Knowing the things above, this is what looks like the most likely candidates. Why should I get one or the other? Or is there another flavor I'm missing?

Gibson Les Paul Traditional (Tobacco Burst)-http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/gibson-2014-les-paul-traditional-electric-guitar#productDetail

Features

Body: Mahogany / No weight relief
Top: AA figured maple
Neck: Mahogany, Late-'50s thickness
Fingerboard: Bound Rosewood, Trapezoid Inlays with 120th Anniversary inlay
Hardware: Chrome tune-o-matic, TonePros Vintage Style Tuners
Electronics: New ‘59 Tribute Humbuckers with orange drop capacitors
Plastics: Cream, Gold Speed Knobs with dial pointers
Case: Vintage Brown Hardshell

Gibson Les Paul Traditional Pro II (Vintage Sunburst)-http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/gibson-les-paul-traditional-pro-ii-60s-neck-electric-guitar/h88457

Features

A user-adjustable 10-dB boost--Not sure I care?
True bypass ensures pure passive Les Paul tone
New “Super ’57” bridge pickup with wider frequency response
Easy-to-use push/push pots engage coil-splits and boost circuit--Again, would I use this?
“Straight Split” coil-splitting offers pure single coil tone
Includes hardshell case

As far as I can tell, they are pretty much the same except for the pickups, pots, tuners, 120th anniversary logo, neck choices (only 50's on traditional) and boost circuit and of course......price. Am I missing something?

Thanks!

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: The annoying "Should I buy this or that" thread that I'm embarassed to post but w

Re: The annoying "Should I buy this or that" thread that I'm embarassed to post but w

In that price range, if you can swing the cash, I would look for a Historic Les Paul. If you like big necks, then you should be able to find a good used '57 Gold-top or a '58 Plain-top Reissue for no more money than the Traditionals, and I think they are much better guitars. If you like the slimmer neck, look for one of the Guitar Center 1960 Custom Shop Plain-top Reissues, again used. I have two of the 1960 Tobaccoburst VOS models; wonderful guitars, and my favorite LP necks. I have other Les Pauls, but the four Historics I have are the best. These are straight ahead LPs, no fancy switching, and you won't need to do any upgrades.

I know some guys like all the switching options, but I don't. When I want 2HB tones, I play one of my LPs or a 335. When I want single coil tones, I grab one of my G&L Legacy-bodies.

If you must order from MF, be sure to talk to one of the guys from Private Reserve. And ask for their best price--you can often do better than the MAP price.

Good luck.

Bill

 

[blakejcan]

Re: The annoying "Should I buy this or that" thread that I'm embarassed to post but w

Re: The annoying "Should I buy this or that" thread that I'm embarassed to post but w

Thanks. Looks like all the historics on MF are $4k and up. Even below MAP it will be well out of my range even w/ wiggle room.

Yes, I must order from MF.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: The annoying "Should I buy this or that" thread that I'm embarassed to post but w

Re: The annoying "Should I buy this or that" thread that I'm embarassed to post but w

It is not going to have a robot tuner. I don't trust robots. I saw the Terminator movies. I know what can happen. Skynet......the whole thing. Robot tuners is how it starts

:rocket:

Sorry I really can't be of help...I don't personally like Les Paul's due to the shorter scale...I would say go with the cheapest option if the differences don't really matter to you...and definitely don't get the robotics

 

[AlexR]

Re: The annoying "Should I buy this or that" thread that I'm embarassed to post but w

Re: The annoying "Should I buy this or that" thread that I'm embarassed to post but w

The Trads are what the good old fashioned LP's were like. Solid body, 2 pickups and a 3-way switch.

The Pro adds weight relief I think, plus a host of switching options. I think they used to have the thinner 60's neck profile too (plus from memory they had open coil pickups).

So the Pro is like a much more versatile guitar for those who don't just want the basic LP recipe. If you like the basics (and the vintage like specs then the plain Trad is the way to go.

 

[Drunken Bowling]

Re: The annoying "Should I buy this or that" thread that I'm embarassed to post but w

Re: The annoying "Should I buy this or that" thread that I'm embarassed to post but w

Also, the Pro has a smooth "satin" finish on the back of the body and neck, where as the regular Traditional has the standard glossy finish. The satin isn't like the finish on the LPJ and other lower end Gibsons, it's a much nicer, smoother-feeling satin. Some people prefer the satin over the gloss. Personally I think both are cool.

 

[Oinkus]

Re: The annoying "Should I buy this or that" thread that I'm embarassed to post but w

Re: The annoying "Should I buy this or that" thread that I'm embarassed to post but w

Tronical tuners are pretty fantastic , no idea why they get the bad rep (might be the robot name Gibson gave them?) Instantly tunes your guitar and you can change/ save a bunch of tunings Eb drop D DADGAD etc so you don't have to switch guitars during a set. 99% chance they tune better then you do too. They have 4 traditionals used would buy one of those 1800 to 2k , you could do a lot better on CL or evilbay.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: The annoying "Should I buy this or that" thread that I'm embarassed to post but w

Re: The annoying "Should I buy this or that" thread that I'm embarassed to post but w

PRS Singlecut 245. Pre-owned, if necessary.

 

[crusty philtrum]

Re: The annoying "Should I buy this or that" thread that I'm embarassed to post but w

Re: The annoying "Should I buy this or that" thread that I'm embarassed to post but w

Buy a USA Hamer (s/h only now, unfortunately, but you guys in the USA should still be able to get them. Pay whatever it takes).

I wanted a LP. I worked long and hard to get the money. I did the research.

I bought a Hamer. The guitar Gibson wish they could build but can't.

 

[Bludave]

Re: The annoying "Should I buy this or that" thread that I'm embarassed to post but w

Re: The annoying "Should I buy this or that" thread that I'm embarassed to post but w

I'll start by asking for forgiveness. I hate these kinds of threads.

That said, I do think that the kind people of the SD forum know a lot more about guitars than I do and that your feedback would be helpful. Alright, here it comes.

I'm looking to drop around $2000 on a new Gibson Les Paul. There is some wiggle room in there for sure but that's my target.

The following things (for various reasons) are going to happen:

1. I am going to buy from Musician's Friend
2. It is going to have humbuckers
3. It is going to be a Gibson and not an Epiphone even tho they are great too
4. It is not going to have a robot tuner. I don't trust robots. I saw the Terminator movies. I know what can happen. Skynet......the whole thing. Robot tuners is how it starts.

Knowing the things above, this is what looks like the most likely candidates. Why should I get one or the other? Or is there another flavor I'm missing?

Gibson Les Paul Traditional (Tobacco Burst)-http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/gibson-2014-les-paul-traditional-electric-guitar#productDetail

Features

Body: Mahogany / No weight relief
Top: AA figured maple
Neck: Mahogany, Late-'50s thickness
Fingerboard: Bound Rosewood, Trapezoid Inlays with 120th Anniversary inlay
Hardware: Chrome tune-o-matic, TonePros Vintage Style Tuners
Electronics: New ‘59 Tribute Humbuckers with orange drop capacitors
Plastics: Cream, Gold Speed Knobs with dial pointers
Case: Vintage Brown Hardshell

Gibson Les Paul Traditional Pro II (Vintage Sunburst)-http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/gibson-les-paul-traditional-pro-ii-60s-neck-electric-guitar/h88457

Features

A user-adjustable 10-dB boost--Not sure I care?
True bypass ensures pure passive Les Paul tone
New “Super ’57” bridge pickup with wider frequency response
Easy-to-use push/push pots engage coil-splits and boost circuit--Again, would I use this?
“Straight Split” coil-splitting offers pure single coil tone
Includes hardshell case

As far as I can tell, they are pretty much the same except for the pickups, pots, tuners, 120th anniversary logo, neck choices (only 50's on traditional) and boost circuit and of course......price. Am I missing something?

Thanks!

Not for nothing..... but why are you buying from MF? Why not go to a music store & play it first. Make sure the neck feels right, make sure your happy with the weight, feel, tone, etc. I mean MF is a great place for a lower priced guitar, or if you have nothing close by. but when you are buying a guitar that you will probably have forever what is $50.00 more or less gonna do?

 

[blakejcan]

Re: The annoying "Should I buy this or that" thread that I'm embarassed to post but w

Re: The annoying "Should I buy this or that" thread that I'm embarassed to post but w

I appreciate the help everyone. Some good feedback here.

I'm buying from MF as part of my strategy to save money. I purchased a gift card at 15% off from them a while back. Now I'm lurking to see how far they'll go down on pricing for the end of year stuff. Seems very likely they'll have to blow them out because they have the 120th logo on them which clearly marks them from 2014 plus the crazy price hikes on the 2015's. I am going to then use that gift card to buy a Les and I want a Gibson. Just how I prefer to do it. I've had good luck buying online so I'm ok going sight unseen. By saving 15% on the gift card plus another however much on the purchase I'll probably makeout pretty well.

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: The annoying "Should I buy this or that" thread that I'm embarassed to post but w

Re: The annoying "Should I buy this or that" thread that I'm embarassed to post but w

Makes sense.

Bill

 

[allbutromeo]

Re: The annoying "Should I buy this or that" thread that I'm embarassed to post but w

Re: The annoying "Should I buy this or that" thread that I'm embarassed to post but w

I have a Traditional Pro II 60's neck in the Merlot finish, I absolutely love it. The Super 57 is like an improved beefier sounding Classic Plus. The guitar sounds great, looks, great, and plays great all of the things you expect a Les Paul to be. It souds killer through my MkV. I like the boost and the coil split is nice, but I don't use it that much. I do believe that it is weight relieved, but its the swiss cheese relief from the 90s instead of the much more hollowed out modern relief. All in all it was worth every penny and I've barely touched my studio or old Norlin era custom in the ten months I've had it.

 

[allbutromeo]

Re: The annoying "Should I buy this or that" thread that I'm embarassed to post but w

Re: The annoying "Should I buy this or that" thread that I'm embarassed to post but w

Easy-to-use push/push pots engage coil-splits and boost circuit--Again, would I use this?

I was really into the coil splits when I bought it and could've cared less about the boost, now I find that I rarely use the splits and keep finding ways to bring the boost into songs. On a clean amp with just a little bit of grit the boost will overdrive the amp beautifully.

 

[80's_Metal]

Re: The annoying "Should I buy this or that" thread that I'm embarassed to post but w

Re: The annoying "Should I buy this or that" thread that I'm embarassed to post but w

Love this in the ocean blue!!!


http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/gibson-2014-les-paul-standard-electric-guitar