Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

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Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

That90'sGuy said:
Les Pauls are simply not my thing, but I respect them. I think you'd be hard pressed to replace them for some rock applications. There's a girth and a fatness that kills with leads and the low mids sit right with 5th chords. They're a classic for a reason, but the feel, playability and lack of versatility in tone led me to sell my 2000 Les Paul Standard.

As a musician, you need to find your own voice. For some folks the Les Paul is it. I've found myself more drawn to the clarity and versatility of telecasters, Rics, Gretsches, etc. and those are all on the other end of the guitar pool.
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Slightly OT :


. . . but seeing that you mentioned Gretsch.

I LOVE what Chris Cornell can do with a Gretsch

young-Chris-Cornell-chris-cornell-31294570-400-530.jpg

Cornell+Lolla+10.jpg


Big Gretsch man.
 
Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

I've had a 2 Lp's since '06.. I LOVE the looks, a lot of my guitar heroes play them almost exclusively, and they have a b*tchin' sound. Upgraded the silverburst and it made her sound like a beast.. BUT... I have never like playing either. I just couldn't get into them for some reason. And I honestly can't pinpoint any real reason.. Last weekend I let the last of the 2 go.. I do miss seeing her, but that's about it. No real remorse at all.
 
Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

Yeah. Done the McCarty, SC, Starla, other PRS thing..dropped many thousands.Totally different food group.
 
Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

Yeah the McCarty is a funny thing. Best playing even within the PRSes I owned but sound is just so-so. A Tele-gibbo would probably be better.

Also, Gibson should have moved to screwed on necks.
 
Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

I've got a clone of a PRS singlecut (A PVX kit). I'd agree that while the tone coming out of it is great, its certainly not quite LP like.
 
Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

I"m a Fender player and don't like the 24 3/4 scale. But I can get into a Les Paul. After about 10 minutes I start forgetting how clumsy and weird it feels and start liking how much I like the tones and how it is making me play better. It has its place. Playing it sitting is no problem at all. I think it was designed to play it sitting down. Playing standing up at a gig though and I'll take a H/H tele instead even if it doesn't sound exactly alike.
 
Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

Lake Placid Blues said:
I"m a Fender player and don't like the 24 3/4 scale. But I can get into a Les Paul. After about 10 minutes I start forgetting how clumsy and weird it feels and start liking how much I like the tones and how it is making me play better. It has its place. Playing it sitting is no problem at all. I think it was designed to play it sitting down. Playing standing up at a gig though and I'll take a H/H tele instead even if it doesn't sound exactly alike.
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That's interesting. I find LPs harder to play sitting down and Fender designs easier. Standing, it's the opposite. I don't like the LP shape when sitting down but I like the TOM distance from body while standing.
 
Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

Johtosotku said:
That's interesting. I find LPs harder to play sitting down and Fender designs easier. Standing, it's the opposite. I don't like the LP shape when sitting down but I like the TOM distance from body while standing.
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i find my LP easy to play both sitting and standing. Maybe a little more sitting. Ive really only played les paul's though, so i guess I'm used to it
 
Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

It occured to me that when I sit down with an unfamiiar guitar, I almost always run through a series of chords and see how it sounds clean, or clean-ish; and my gold standard for this is hollowbody guitars like Ric 360 or ES-335. This may not be entirely fair for a LP. They are darker and deader on chords, especially part-open chords. My routine is to check out rhythm, cleans and then check out lead tones. It strikes me that the LP is really designed to be an expressive lead/phrasing guitar - more like a human voice, for expression, dynamics, etc. - this is a part of my playing that I have only recently begun to emphasize. The 335 does a lot but it has the 57s in it and it's a little hot. The SGs are great for rhythm and leads without a lot of dynamics... a bit brittle.

Maybe since I have been playing like a tree-swinging ape for so many years, I have not really been in a position to appreciate what a LP with vintage voiced humbuckers can do....
 
Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

Go watch some old YouTube video of Les Paul and Mary Ford. Then you can get an idea of what Les' style, criteria/needs were all about. Do not forget, it IS a sig guitar.
 
Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

JeffB said:
Go watch some old YouTube video of Les Paul and Mary Ford. Then you can get an idea of what Les' style, criteria/needs were all about. Do not forget, it IS a sig guitar.
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To be fair, this **** is far more demanding than what most guys who pick up his sig guitar play.

 
Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

I've tried at least a dozen Les Pauls of many price ranges, their sound is great but the way they feel just kills me.
I don't like a guitar I have to adapt to.

I actually prefer the sound AND feel of SGs. Way easier to play.
 
Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

Diego said:
I actually prefer the sound AND feel of SGs. Way easier to play.
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I like SG's a lot too, but they don't sound like LP's. For me, LP's have always been very comfortable and natural. Since they also have the sound I want, they're as good as it gets.
 
Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

I like Les Paul's but honestly, they are truly an acquired taste. Some are good, some are not. The best one I ever played was probably one of the new Les Paul standards in Wine Red. I don't know what it was about that particular one that I played, but it just felt and sounded right. Probably because of the Compound Radius fretboard, which I'm very much used to. But I've played a good number of good ones, and a good number of bad ones. It's truly a guitar that you have to try tons of them before you can make a final verdict.

That being said, I'm more of an SG or Explorer kinda guy.
 
Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

blueman335 said:
I like SG's a lot too, but they don't sound like LP's. For me, LP's have always been very comfortable and natural. Since they also have the sound I want, they're as good as it gets.
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Wish they were natural to me.
With Les Pauls I feel like I'm playing an elephant with strings.
 
Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

My only gripe with LPs are weight and vol knob placement but tone wise I love them. But yes as stated they were meant to replace big hollow bodies on stage where loud volumes would be used.
 
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