Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

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hydro

hydro

Prayin' to Cheeses
Let me preface this by saying:

it really pains me, because I think the Les Paul is the most beautiful, iconic solidbody electric guitar ever made. But every time I have played one I have been left cold. The single cutaway bothers me, the weight bothers me, the neck (especially up near the body) bothers me, and the tone is so dark, almost remote sounding to me... They just always felt like I was playing a log.

Maybe i never played a really good one, or maybe i just don't get it.

I mostly play SGs and hollowbodies. I have always wanted a Les Paul but to be brutally honest, only because of their looks.

My main guitar idols (except Iommi and Jimi) all played LPs at some point or another. Am I just a mutant? Am I missing a chromosome? WtF?
 
Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

Have you just picked one up, played it for a few and then put it down? It may be that you're not giving yourself enough time to adjust.
 
Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

Les pauls have never been my cup o tea. I never could get into them at all
 
Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

I play my LP 99% of the time, and when I which to my PRS or strat, it feels real funky. Gotta give yourself time to adjust
 
Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

They're poorly designed guitars in many, many ways. It's not odd at all that you dislike them in real-world use. They were a failure in their day. Then a few famous guitarists took a liking to them once music styles had changed a bit, and they took off in popularity.

I have two carved-top Pauls. They do what they do, but they aren't by any means my favorite guitars, or the world's most versatile guitars. There is some stuff to like about Pauls...and a lot to dislike about them. But one thing is for sure: nothing does the Les Paul thing except for a Les Paul. If you have a use for that thing in your music, then you should have one, because nothing else will do. If you don't have a use for it, then don't bother with them, because they will just frustrate you.
 
Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

Like Itsabass said....there is more wrong with a LP than there is right, by design. But when you get a good one, there is nothing quite like it
 
Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

I play a Les Paul because of the sound. It is distinct and a sound that I like. I have to adapt to deal with the playing-a-huge-brick feeling it has. The scale is a little shorter than Strats and Teles, so at least that lends a small degree of comfort. But for certain music it sounds perfect and cuts through even bad amplification and bad recordings.
 
Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

I can tell you this about Les Pauls, you really have to find one that "works" for you. I have owned plenty of strats, and they all seem "connected" as cousins. Even the worst sounding one (to me) having some similarities with the best one. Les Pauls on the other hand seem very "on or off", and it took me going thru several duds before I found one that I really liked.

Of course I talking about the sound, and you mention several things about the physicals. I actually like the way they feel in my hands, but I had to have one that sounded as good.
 
Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

I've never been a Les Paul guy either...except for the slab bodied specials.

However...

I repaired a late 80s Custom a couple years ago and I found myself really liking the tone and feel. Very smooth, clear tone. Not sterile, but "clean" is the only way I can describe it. The thing weighed in at over 10lbs though, and that was a huge turn off for me. I like 'em lightweight.
 
Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

Y'all are right, I have not logged many hours on a Les Paul. I think I should give them another chance. Recently I have been jonesing for a little deeper, richer tone on leads, without resorting to the neck pickup sound every time. My ES-335 kinda gets me there, but it's still missing that...kind of haunting, pushed sound that I associate with les pauls.

But it's ergonomics too... I'm used to headstock-heavy guitars like SGs, hollowbody gibbys and Rics.

It's not like I *need* another guitar, but a nice, no-frills LP goldtop would be pretty dope.
 
Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

hydro said:
Y'all are right, I have not logged many hours on a Les Paul. I think I should give them another chance. Recently I have been jonesing for a little deeper, richer tone on leads, without resorting to the neck pickup sound every time. My ES-335 kinda gets me there, but it's still missing that...kind of haunting, pushed sound that I associate with les pauls.

But it's ergonomics too... I'm used to headstock-heavy guitars like SGs, hollowbody gibbys and Rics.

It's not like I *need* another guitar, but a nice, no-frills LP goldtop would be pretty dope.
Click to expand...

I almost always play my leads on the neck HB, even on my les paul. Most les paul players do as well
 
Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

Why can't you dig a Les Paul?

Because you haven't installed a Whole Lotta Humbucker set in a good one yet...
 
Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

Horses for courses, my good fellow. I couldn't get into a strat after being a semi-hollow guy (Ibby 335 clone) at first. I just had to have one, though, for that chimey rhythm sound. So I built one that felt good to me. Advantage, Leo.

The feel of a guitar is like anything else designed for the hands. If you can rock an SG like no tomorrow, plug in and turn up to 11. No regrets.

Maybe an LP Jr. Special or a Melody Maker is more your speed.
 
Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

hydro said:
I have been jonesing for a little deeper, richer tone on leads, without resorting to the neck pickup sound every time.
Click to expand...

And nothing does that like an LP. You can look at LP's as having flaws, or you can look at the design as what makes it sound so good. The short neck, arched top, and single cutaway all give it a deep, rich tone. I like SG's and 335's a lot (my 2nd and 3rd favorite guitar designs), but they just don't hit as hard as an LP.
 
Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

Hydro, what's your priority, the sound or the feel in your hands? When you establish the criteria, then the evaluation can be more definitive.
 
Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

Like others have said, it is a very flawed instrument when you get down to it.

I saw Slash play one and had to jump on the bandwagon, but over the years I've found there needs to be very specific factors to make one feel right to me.

For one, the body NEEDS to be heavy. There's just no getting around it. If the body is chambered, it won't balance right, it'll be neck heavy, and you'll get carpal tunnel.

...that damn G string. For the love of God...even with Grovers/Sperzels/whatever locking mechanism you want, it just won't stay in tune consistently.

It sure is slick to play though. Gibson got the fretboard radius right from day one. Flatter board is more fun to bend strings on, resulting in better vibrato. All the famous Les Paul players had great vibrato. Though a good Schecter or Ibanez nowadays will give that to you and more, with less inherent problems.

Some people just don't like the short scale length. To each his/her own.
 
Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

Ayrton said:
I can tell you this about Les Pauls, you really have to find one that "works" for you. I have owned plenty of strats, and they all seem "connected" as cousins. Even the worst sounding one (to me) having some similarities with the best one. Les Pauls on the other hand seem very "on or off", and it took me going thru several duds before I found one that I really liked.
Click to expand...

This has been my exact experience, more or less.
 
Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

I have owned a few and played a lot of them... Lots of love and honor for the tones but I am the same way... just cant get the "feel" of the guitar... it has always felt awkward on my body... too short or small or the angle is awkward for me, ended up selling them all off over the years.

Love the tone, can't play them very well.
 
Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

Ginormous - ergonomics/feel are really important. But sometimes I feel like I could do something with a more... substantial guitar, on leads especially. Sustain has never been a big part of my style, but I feel like maybe a LP could let me do my thing with a little less gain, while adding more body/depth to the sound. I am getting more conservative about gain/saturation in my old age... :-p

I'm not unhappy with what I have, but I wonder if I'm missing out on something; I have never owned a Les Paul. This being said, I'm also not sure what to look for in a LP because I know there are tons of variation within the style; pickup choices, wood, etc. My instincts tell me to look for a 70s or 80s LP standard because I tend to like guitars of that era.... I am not interested for collector/vintage value but rather, a guitar that would see a lot of action.

Of course I need another guitar like I need a hole in my head!!
 
Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

I have always wanted to like them... I still love the looks and the sounds some people get out of them but whenever I play one I'm left cold. I played an R9 years ago that was really nice but even then I don't think I would go out of my way to buy it. There are just so many other guitars that work for me. If a guitar doesn't work for you, it doesn't work for you... no need to force it.
 
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