nick
Ive always been more of a gibson les paul fan than a strat one, but was offered a strat at a really good price, so took it.
now I know of quite a few friends with strats ranging from squiers to american deluxe plus's and Ive played quite a number of strats.. Ive only ever played on a single genuine gibson les paul.. (late 70s one I think, really heavy)
how come? why are there seemingly so few of them? and Im not talking old 59 gold tops etc..
what does a 2008 Gibson Les Paul standard for example go for?
Martyr
gibson dropped SA for gibson and epiphone guitars,hence why they are so rare
you basically have to order from overseas or find a 2nd hand one in SA,but the prices are quite steep
Gibson Les Paul Classic after transport and import duties is around R25 000(friend ordered one)
nick
Martyr wrote:
gibson dropped SA for gibson and epiphone guitars,hence why they are so rare
you basically have to order from overseas or find a 2nd hand one in SA,but the prices are quite steep
Gibson Les Paul Classic after transport and import duties is around R25 000(friend ordered one)
hrm, and therefore the secondhand market prices will be somewhere around there too. that sucks ☹
AlanRatcliffe
From the beginning, when they were introduced to compete with the Tele, they have always been much more expensive, which ultimately means there are less of them around. Also many players find them too heavy and the edges too square to make them comfortable to play for a whole show. Fenders are cheaper, more ergonomic, and more flexible sonically.
The good ones are nice and have a tone and playability you can't get in a Fender design - not better, just different. At one time, if you wanted to get an amp to distort, you had to use a humbucker guitar, so LPs became de rigeur for the late 60's - 70's rock player. These players influenced a whole generation of players (like Slash) who are now influencing a new generation.
I'm not going to be popular here, but the newer ones are, quite frankly, crap until you get up to the models costing nearly R50K. I usually see better quality and quality control in the Epiphone guitars. The company is basically selling them based on it's own history. Add to this the fact that you only have to breathe on one to hard for the headstock to fall off (a design fault they have never bothered fixing), and expensive as they are, they are just not worth the money for most people. Not when you can buy a well-made Epi for a tenth of the price or get a Fender with 'buckers or high output rails-type pickups and get 95% of the way there.
Most players who are into them don't have one - they are their "dream" guitar, based on what their heroes played in the late 60's early 70's. They may eventually get one, but chances are they'll buy an old one (likely from an older player who doesn't want to carry the weight any more).
nick
Alan Ratcliffe wrote:
From the beginning, when they were introduced to compete with the Tele, they have always been much more expensive, which ultimately means there are less of them around. Also many players find them too heavy and the edges too square to make them comfortable to play for a whole show. Fenders are cheaper, more ergonomic, and more flexible sonically.
The good ones are nice and have a tone and playability you can't get in a Fender design - not better, just different. At one time, if you wanted to get an amp to distort, you had to use a humbucker guitar, so LPs became de rigeur for the late 60's - 70's rock player. These players influenced a whole generation of players (like Slash) who are now influencing a new generation.
I'm not going to be popular here, but the newer ones are, quite frankly, crap until you get up to the models costing nearly R50K. I usually see better quality and quality control in the Epiphone guitars. The company is basically selling them based on it's own history. Add to this the fact that you only have to breathe on one to hard for the headstock to fall off (a design fault they have never bothered fixing), and expensive as they are, they are just not worth the money for most people. Not when you can buy a well-made Epi for a tenth of the price or get a Fender with 'buckers or high output rails-type pickups and get 95% of the way there.
Most players who are into them don't have one - they are their "dream" guitar, based on what their heroes played in the late 60's early 70's. They may eventually get one, but chances are they'll buy an old one (likely from an older player who doesn't want to carry the weight any more).
nice response and I do agree with you, Ive even been browsing the epiphone site this morning ? I see slash has a signature epiphone gold top out.
Explorerlover
+1 Alan...That's why I opted to buy the Epi's in the first place and then bought the Eclipse [ Blows LP's out of the water ] imo. I would however still like a Explorer
dee
I agree. I've always wanted one, and I finally got hold of a friends 2003 Les Paul Standard, and had it for quite a while. It did not take too long before my dream of owning one turned out to be exactly that. Just a dream...
The Les Paul was heavy and uncomfortable and the neck felt like a baseball bat. I could not play it sitting down. It would just keel over and head ass first towards the ground.
So I returned the Les Paul and bought the Vintage VS6 (SG). I should just have done that from the start.
JoeyBones
My buddy offered me his 86' LP Studio, but the neck feels too chunky for me. He picked up an 86' LP standard that sounds amazing ad has a slimmer neck, so it's much more playable. He was the one who warned me off buying the newer LP's. I'm happy with my Duo Jet. Comes close enough to LP tone for my liking and you can still pick them up of ebay for around $1200. Personally, I'd buy another Gretsch before I buy an LP. It would have to be a really good deal for me to choose it over a Gretsch, but that's just my opinion.
LMinnie
Like i said earlier my search for an epiphone special II ha scome to a grinding halt...
Iam definately leaning towards an LTD or an ESP with the EMG pick-ups...I playe da Gibson Les paul copy and i was dissapointed..to say the least...
Its amazing how Alan nailed it....Gibson sorta have a following until the following gets to play one and then shock and dismay set in... ?
And I have to admit..I was one of them....
Heath
was the same with me , i idolised the LP until i owned one , it lasted about 2 months , and got changed for the cort
Manfred-Klose
IF anyone is looking for a Gibson Flying V(Black), i know of someone selling his 2003 model for R12 000.
It's a great offer, but for me its a lot of money for a guitar.
It's standing at Music Mate in Brackenfell, Cape town if anyone is interested.
AlanRatcliffe
Its amazing how Alan nailed it....
...and here was I expecting to be on the receiving end of a flame war! ?
To be completely honest, I may be a little biased as I did all the repairs for the local Gibson agent for nearly 10 years, so I got to see the absolute worst stuff. Gibson told him that they did not do any factory setup as the difference in climate makes it useless and that he would have to do all the setup on this end. I disagreed as while the guitar may need a setup tweak after it arrives and acclimatises, it's never more than a little tweaking. And you can
not do QC on a guitar that has not got at least a basic setup - so that means there wasn't any QC at the Gibson factory. Certainly the stuff I was seeing confirmed that they were just slapping them together and sending them out without checking them at all.
JoeyBones
Alan Ratcliffe wrote:
Its amazing how Alan nailed it....
...and here was I expecting to be on the receiving end of a flame war! ?
To be completely honest, I may be a little biased as I did all the repairs for the local Gibson agent for nearly 10 years, so I got to see the absolute worst stuff. Gibson told him that they did not do any factory setup as the difference in climate makes it useless and that he would have to do all the setup on this end. I disagreed as while the guitar may need a setup tweak after it arrives and acclimatises, it's never more than a little tweaking. And you can
not do QC on a guitar that has not got at least a basic setup - so that means there wasn't any QC at the Gibson factory. Certainly the stuff I was seeing confirmed that they were just slapping them together and sending them out without checking them at all.
That a scarry thought considering the price you pay for an LP. I wouldn't mind the LP my buddy bought. The neck feels a lot like my Duo Jet and it's not as heavy as his studio. I like the L-5 CES that John Mayer used on the new DVD.
Spyke
I never used to be fan of the single cut away shape, especially when I first started, I was lured in by the infamous Strat shape.
Over the years it grew on me to the point where I too am looking for one. I'll buy one too, if only to be able to say I had one.
I picked up an ESP and that felt much better than any LP I've ever played. So the bar has been set.
I also now have the Epi Special which, while the lowest on the 'Gibson' ladder, is actually a great little axe. I say little because it is litterally half the thickness and weight of a full blown LP. It plays well and sounds good and with a few tweaks would probably feel and sound amazing.
So here's my question (bit of a sidetrack but related none the less, re the rarity of Gibson / Epiphone in SA): I like modding my guitars, makes it something personal.
Should I leave the Special standard or will it be ethical to modify it? My ideas are to change the colour to a matte black with silver bindings (ala ESP Eclipse), chrome knurled knobs and Graph Tech odds and ends. I'd also like to contour the body (contoured waist and cutaway - once again ESP inspired.)
Yay / Nay...?
AlanRatcliffe
Should I leave the Special standard or will it be ethical to modify it?
If you want to do it go for it. Doesn't matter what it is, if you can make it suit you better, it's all good.
Even if it were a '59 LP I'd say go for it. I might also say you're an idiot, but still tell you to go for it if you really want to.
Martyr
i saw an add on gumtree for a ebony epiphone les paul standard for R3500,i got my epiphone les paul custom for R3400 with hardcase and cables(guy needed money) at the beginning of the year...
but if you REALLY wat a brand new one,you gonna have to order from ebay or something
Vintage-Vibe
I myself am still looking for a WELL-MADE Gibbo LP Std, Deluxe or SG that is not going for silly money - emphasis on STILL.
There's also a large perception that Gibson sent the worst of the worst here - the new 2008 LP Standard and Traditional Series could be a glimmer of hope (if you live in the States) since they're now using Alan's fave Plec machine for the frets - I always found dry rosewood on the boards & poor frets were the biggest downfall of the models I saw in Bothners etc ...
There's even a guy asking R 30 000 for a 70's LP Deluxe without the original pickups & bridge - crazy ! The last one on Gumtree went for R 10 000 ! (Although the colour on this latest one is sweet !)
Fans of Les Pauls in Epi budget should try the Yamaha AES620 - I got one and hotrodded it,and it sh*ts on all the Epi's I've played too !
If you REALLY want to play aquality LP design, try the PRS Singlecut 245 - wraparound bridge and a SMIDGE shorter in scale length than the originals, but a WAY superior build quality to any Gibbos I've seen lately - they had one in a glass display case in Marshall in CT !
VV
VV
genman
If you really are intent on finding a Les Paul I would try out a Gibson custom shop Pat Martino signature there are a few around even in SA, its a Les Paul shape and size but with a hollowed out body & much much lighter. Its got a straight pull head design very different from other Gibson’s which negates the problems that Alan mentioned. I picked a new one up for less than half price (been sitting in the shop for 3-4 years - overpriced). I took off the flat wound jazz strings put on some 11,s round-wound set it up and now it gives everything a Les Paul has got plus some. The Ebony fret board and lack of inlays make it understated but the maple body top is quite something. I have seen some pretty poor new Gibson’s and fenders over the last decade but this is not one of them.
One thing that did annoy the hell out of me was the little triangular springs in the bridge buzzing and this is common with all the newer Gibson tun-o-matic bridges but I removed these and replaced them with telecaster springs problem sorted.
I also have an American Deluxe Telecaster the one with the rounded body cut out and the s1 switch which I also love and I don’t find the Gibo more uncomfortable just different.
Each to his own but I think when you pick up a guitar it sort of chooses you and not the other way around.
The only trouble is that there are so many guitars choosing me a - PRS hollowbody II is stalking me at the moment 8) better not let the wife find out mmm. ☹
Regards Lloyd
