Why do you like Les Pauls?

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Why do you like Les Pauls?

You can keep yer planks of gluewood....hehe
Like the sound of a few...
Never ever liked the feel of one, and it is not for the lack of trying either!
And I like Jr's and TV's the most with P-90's.
But I still do not dig the feel of them much.
Still like the sound of one though....but not enough to look past the shortscale and akward feel of playing one.

 

[Markk]

Re: Why do you like Les Pauls?

Besides the obvious Ace Frehley influence....

The guitar just FEELS like rock. It is heavy, it is solid. It just SOUNDS like rock. The power of the humbuckers, the pushing mids, the thickness. I like the 24 3/4 scale.

I read this fast and it came out like this

"The guitar just FEELS like a rock. It is heavy, it is solid. It just SOUNDS like a rock."

And I thought to myself, wait a second, doesn't Acemen like....oh....oops.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Why do you like Les Pauls?

Hey Funkfingers, is that an R6?

"That" is a 2006 LP Std P90 Goldtop Limited Edition. (Well, that's what my friend told me when I bought it from him. Of course, it could actually be the best farking MIC Fibson ever built!) Completely stock. Light corrosion on the TOM left by the previous owner's corrosive sweat. Looks right. Feels right. Sounds right. Combines the grizzly grind of Neil Young with a rootin'-tootin' rudeness that would suit the Reverend Willy G.

The other one is a Junior Special with Duncan Antiquity and SP90-3n pickups. (Yup. Two neck position pickups.)

 

[75lespaul]

Re: Why do you like Les Pauls?

My first guitar influences were Tom Sholz and Jimmy Page, then Ace Frehley, all Les Paul users. My first pro guitar was a Les Paul and I was sold from there. It was all just feel and sound to me. I preferred Les Pauls to strats. Later, I realized why, but I love both now and each is a different tool for a different sound.

 

[jmh151]

Re: Why do you like Les Pauls?

Towards the end of Hendrix's career, Gibson was courting him, gave him the Gibsons you see, (actually building them for him) hoping he'd switch to Gibson or be seen with them. I don't think there were endorsement deals then, Hendrix bought most of his strats.

No matter what he played, he still sounded like Hendrix.

 

[Markk]

Re: Why do you like Les Pauls?

No matter what he played, he still sounded like Hendrix.

See, tone in the fingers!

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Why do you like Les Pauls?

I don't think there were endorsement deals then, Hendrix bought most of his strats.

Hendrix famously insisted on paying Jim Marshall for all of the amplifiers that he had. I imagine that Chas Chandler wrote the actual cheques and recouped his outlay very shortly afterwards.

Endorsement deals. Lemme think...
Gibson "Les Paul" model
Gibson Johnny Smith model
Gibson Tal Farlowe model
Gibson Barney Kessell model
Gibson Trini Lopez model
Gretsch Chet Atkins Country Gentleman

Fender, meanwhile, made personal specials for celebrity artistes (e.g. The Buck Owens Telecaster) but regular customers could not order those.

 

[mrturtle_91]

Re: Why do you like Les Pauls?

Les Pauls just have a certain tone to them you can't get out of a Fender. They're fat, thick and very full sounding. I however, love Fender's as much as I love Les Pauls.

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: Why do you like Les Pauls?

They sound bad-assed.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Why do you like Les Pauls?

See, tone in the fingers!

No, Hendrix was just using playback all the time, that's why he sounds the same with Gibbos

 

[blueman335]

Re: Why do you like Les Pauls?

I like them because of the sound. They have a thick tone to them. I also like the neck angle as I feel it's a bit more comfortable to play than a guitar where everything is in a straight line.

+1. Just a great design: for looks, playability, and tone; and the sound hits you like a hammer. LP + PAF's = match made in heaven.

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: Why do you like Les Pauls?

this:

 

[The Dali]

Re: Why do you like Les Pauls?

Chicks dig them.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Why do you like Les Pauls?

Chicks dig them.

Always a selling point.

 

[MetalManiac]

Re: Why do you like Les Pauls?

Becasue they are the "standard" by which all other guitars are measured.
Ive heard people say you can do anything with a Les paul you can do with a Jackson/Charvel, but thats total B.S.
You'll never get the action off a Paul thjat you would off a dedicated shredder.
But the tone and feel is why I liek em.

 

[DonP]

Re: Why do you like Les Pauls?

Why do I like Les Pauls?

Hmm, that's a tough one. I'm not really sure. I'm a Metal Head with plenty of Jackson/Charvel/ESP/Kramer/BC Rich guitars, but for some reason I just love playing Metal through a Les Paul. Maybe because I like going against the grain?

Strats have a limited appeal, but you really can't do metal with true single coils. Once you start sticking a hot humbucker in there, I don't really consider it a Strat anymore, it's now a SuperStrat.

Also to me, Strats are fairly simplistic to put together and I can't see spending that much for a simple guitar. I have 6 Les Pauls and spent an insane amount of money on them, but they are works of art, tonally as well as by looks, IMO.

See, I've always been a Fender guy. I own 2 americans and I think they're absolutely amazing. All my friends LOVE Les Pauls, and swear by them day and night. But Strats have just always been my cup of tea, and anytime I play a Les Paul, its usually a random variety at my local GC- so they've never really blown my face off.
But I've been internet lusting lately (much more than just Lela Star), and ******, this thing is BEAUTIFUL
http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/...rd-Traditional-Pro-Electric-Guitar?sku=581715
That vintage sunburst is gorgeous, and next time I hit a GC, I'm going straight to the Traditional Pro to see what its all about. Obviously, I'm going all on looks at the moment, which is why I ask:
What do you think about this guitar?

For you, I think it's a good choice. Trad Pro is the Classic reborn, with the slim neck. You are a Strat guy so splitting the humbuckers into single coils should appeal to you.

Why do you like it, and better yet what should I look for when I go in and play it?

I don't like it. I don't like that finish, I'd rather have a Classic like my 96 Premium Plus where I put in push/pull pots to split the zebra 496r/500T

Like, I know what I want from a strat, but a Les Paul is complete alien territory to me. Help?

 

[DonP]

Re: Why do you like Les Pauls?

Also quick question, some of you guys mentioned PAF's..I'm not sure I know what these are, can someone elaborate?

PAF stands for Patent Applied For. The first humbuckers Gibson designed had PAF stickers, so they were called PAFs. These are the most highly sought after pickups. Many cottage businesses are in being because they try to make the most accurate reproduction of a PAF.

 

[stratocastered]

Re: Why do you like Les Pauls?

Why do I like Les Pauls?

Hmm, that's a tough one. I'm not really sure. I'm a Metal Head with plenty of Jackson/Charvel/ESP/Kramer/BC Rich guitars, but for some reason I just love playing Metal through a Les Paul. Maybe because I like going against the grain?


For you, I think it's a good choice. Trad Pro is the Classic reborn, with the slim neck. You are a Strat guy so splitting the humbuckers into single coils should appeal to you.I don't like it. I don't like that finish, I'd rather have a Classic like my 96 Premium Plus where I put in push/pull pots to split the zebra 496r/500T

That's the thing, I've always thought of them as more hard rock or metal, and I dwell much more on funk and blues, a lot of mellow stuff where I'll use either a light distortion or none at all. I really wanna give them a try now just to see if I can get what I want from them, and to check out if theyre versatile guitars. Although from what I'm hearing they are amazing for blues, and I just haven't picked up the right one and given it a good field test.

 

[Markk]

Re: Why do you like Les Pauls?

u, I think it's a good choice. Trad Pro is the Classic reborn, with the slim neck.

True, it could get you closer to that single coil sound out of strats, although not 100% there. Can be cool though.

 

[Jackson Distortion]

Re: Why do you like Les Pauls?

Anybody know how to keep hardtail guitars from going out of tune constantly besides just keeping fresh stings on 'em? That's the only thing I hate about owning a guitar with a standard bridge. Thanks.