whats the best les paul i can get for under $500?

S

stangme01

New member
Epiphone? Agile? Used lower end gibson? And which model of the brand you think is best in that range?

I want something with above average les paul tone, with bite and the most sustain.

I don't want to spend too much, i don't have any 24.75" scale guitars and sometimes i just love to play the shorter scale and the 25.5 gets old since i just don't feel nearly as fast as on shorter scales, but i mostly prefer the clearer tone of the longer scale. So i'm looking for a les paul with that complex rich tone.

I don't mind if its "B" stock, blemished, used, just in great condition.

ANyway tell me what you think!
 
Re: whats the best les paul i can get for under $500?

Burny Greco Orville Bacchus
 
Re: whats the best les paul i can get for under $500?

Good suggestions. Also the Tokai Love Rock, although the cheapest I usually see them is around the $600 mark. (I think a forum bro has or had one recently in the trading post for right around this price).

Probably the easiest to find is an Epi Les Paul. You have to play a few, but there are some very nice one out there if you look. They are just a pickup change and some wiring changes away from being very, very good guitars for that price range. The pickups and wiring are always something you can do later, and get the stuff used (pickups at least).
 
Re: whats the best les paul i can get for under $500?

If you'll spend the money, an Edwards will blow any non-gibson les paul away...They are made to vintage Gibson specs and come stock with Duncans. Not sure of exact prices, lots on ebay. If you dont want to spend much money get the epiphone LP standard.
 
Re: whats the best les paul i can get for under $500?

There's a white Heritage LP Custom style axe with Schaller hardware and electronics sitting at a local pawn shop here in town going for $425.00 with the original hard shell case.
 
Re: whats the best les paul i can get for under $500?

Benjy_26 said:
There's a white Heritage LP Custom style axe with Schaller hardware and electronics sitting at a local pawn shop here in town going for $425.00 with the original hard shell case.
Click to expand...

THAT sounds like a pretty solid deal!

Better then an Epi or an Agile...alder & agathis don't sound like a Paul to me...

Maybe one of those ESP/LTD axes? There's a bunch of 'em at my local shop & they all seem to play pretty well and offer good bang for the buck. WAAAAAY better then the MIC Epi's anyway...

But 'ya know...if you can save about $300 more and are somewhat patient in your search you can probably dig up a used USA Hamer or even a used LP Studio and not have some kinda imitation of what you want.
 
Re: whats the best les paul i can get for under $500?

for me in that case... for myself i'd try and raise a few hundred more and buy a used Les Paul Studio... no fancy binding but still very much an LP....
 
Re: whats the best les paul i can get for under $500?

If you absolutely want the Les Paul shape..go Japanese...Tokai, edwards...(see Skareys post)

Epi is making some real nice paulas these days too...just go try a few. I've had a few that tonally were much nicer than most of my Gibsons :gasp:

If you don't mind some variation in shape, I'd reccommend a Hamer Import or one of these....
 
Re: whats the best les paul i can get for under $500?

These are actually a good bang for the buck,
http://www.michaelkellyguitars.com/archtops/patriot_custom/

The dont look exactly like a LP but, the do have a mahogany body, Maple cap and ebony board. They are new for like $500 but, they can be had used for cheap. I have played some Michael Kelly's and the ones I have played were actually VERY well built with quality wood and their factory pickups didnt sound bad at all. Alot better than 95% of factory pickups out there actually.
 
Re: whats the best les paul i can get for under $500?

WhoFan said:
for me in that case... for myself i'd try and raise a few hundred more and buy a used Les Paul Studio... no fancy binding but still very much an LP....
Click to expand...

ya I agree...I am sure you could get a LP studio by gibson for 6-700 if you tried, and it would be a keeper also with resale value for 10 years later. I have an epi les paul standard that was my 1st guitar that I wont sell. I see guitars like it going for 300 all the time which is a steal.
 
Re: whats the best les paul i can get for under $500?

Happy Dude said:
ya I agree...I am sure you could get a LP studio by gibson for 6-700 if you tried, and it would be a keeper also with resale value for 10 years later. I have an epi les paul standard that was my 1st guitar that I wont sell. I see guitars like it going for 300 all the time which is a steal.
Click to expand...

True, True! A lot of used Epi's and low-end Gibby's and other used guitars have "free" replacement pickup sets in them for nothing extra, installed by previous owners.

One of the best deals I see, is the regular ol' glossy black Epi LP standard. $380 at Guitar Center and e-retailers like Musician's Friend...with the opportunity to return a shabby guitar! I have also seen a number of Epi "plain top" (non-flame maple veneer topped) for the same cash, if you want a guitar that has some wood grain showing.

Regardless, I have never bought a guitar without seeing it first! Asian manufactured guitars (unless a special breed) tend to have softer fret alloys than the US manufactured brands. This can take a few years to show up as fret wear, but it is really the only thing that cannot be economically changed over the life of the guitar.
 
Re: whats the best les paul i can get for under $500?

ya make sure to consider if you want it new or used. how much wear and tear etc. the frets on my epi les paul are pretty worn down because I have shredded on it so much. you could probably get one that has been in the closet and not used for $250 used. you might want to look locally first since playing before paying is always the desired course with guitars imho
 
Re: whats the best les paul i can get for under $500?

I'd say go the Agile route. In my experience they're not as good as people hype them up to me, but they're better than most budget lesters I've played.
 
Re: whats the best les paul i can get for under $500?

If you go Epi, you will need to play a few. My Epi has one of the nicest feels I've ever felt. I absolutely fell in love with it, more than any other guitar I've ever played (besides some Gibbys). I've also played about 20 Epis which felt like utter junk, Epi Standards. Mine may be an anomaly, but it's a fantastic one.

But that'll set you back about $300 used, and new electronics/pups (which you need) will easily push you over the $500 mark. Just saying.

I'm up to over $700 into my Epi, but it's also the most comfortable guitar I've ever played (besides ones going for over $1500).
 
Re: whats the best les paul i can get for under $500?

I'd get a decent Epiphone mate - quality guitars!:bowdown:

I have the first issue goldtop epiphone made (1994? i think) fitted with a JB in the bridge and I love it - I've had loads of others but I always come back to my Epi:laugh2:
 
Re: whats the best les paul i can get for under $500?

yeah i really don't wanna spend over $500, used it fine. Couldn't really get into the Gibson Gothic when i played one it sounded really thin and no sustain, plays pretty good though. I've owned a ESP/LTD
EC-400 and that sounds and plays nothing like any Gibson les paul i've ever played, it was a cool guitar for metal, but it wasn't a les paul guitar really.
 
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