Time to buy a Les Paul

Cleric · 2012-08-29T09:44:43+00:00

Hi All, After many hours of research and many phonecalls to Marshall Music (thanks Stuart!) I've narrowed down my decision to 1 of 3 guitars that fit into my budget. I will have a chance to play them when they arrive in November and then make a decision from there. Was always going to be tough being a lefty. My options are: - Epi LP Standard + Grover Tuners + new pups - Epi LP Custom Pro + Grover Tuners + new pups - Gibson LP Studio I'm more than willing to put in the work and money to get the Epi's to their best, but I'm still open to the Studio winning me over, despite the fact that I'm not crazy about the looks. I'm still on the fence on the gold hardware on the Custom though. Regarding the pups, I'm torn between doing 59 Classics or Burstbucker Pros. Any recommendations? So basically I'm asking for any advice, things I might have missed, or general thoughts on my approach. Thanks!

rossgun

deefstes wrote
IceCreamMan wrote if i may add my 3cents , have a look at the Tokai Love Rock models as well. very very good lefty LP's.

The Epiphone Les Paul Standard in lefty format is a pretty good guitar too. i sincerely believe that the lefty guitars are well made.
I'm probably going to get lambasted for this comment but I've got a thick skin.

You wanted a Les Paul, then I'd suggest you get a Les Paul. In my mind the Epi Les Paul Standard, Epi Les Paul Custom, Tokai Les Paul Love Rock or such are more Les Paul than a Les Paul Studio, even though it comes from the Gibson stable.

The question is, what makes a guitar a Les Paul? As far as I'm concerned, an arched top is as much part of the formula as the pickup configuration, tonewoods, scale length etc. With a Gibson Les Paul Studio you're getting something that is sort of a Les Paul but at least it comes from Gibson. With a Tokai Les Paul or Epiphone Les Paul you get a Les Paul, only it doesn't come from the Gibson stable.

Just my thoughts.

Fully agree. I have a few Standards and a Studio and it ( as you say"just my thought") the Studio never really does it for me. Always feels like I should Hotrod it ☹ Strange people us Lesterplayers....................

Cleric

I just spent an hour in Marshall bouncing between the Epi (R4k) and the Traditional (R20k). That Epi is actually a really nice sounding guitar, but I'd say I liked the Traditional more, but probably not R16k more.

But I kept finding my eyes drifting up to the black glossy Studio they had with the coil tap. If they'd had her in a lefty, I would almost certainly have taken her. Not sure why, but I've really come around on the look of the Studio, actually preferring it to the ebony with white binding on the Trad/Standard. And in black or desertburst she looks fantastic. She may be the one. Now to find her in left.

deefstes

Cleric wrote I just spent an hour in Marshall bouncing between the Epi (R4k) and the Traditional (R20k). That Epi is actually a really nice sounding guitar, but I'd say I liked the Traditional more, but probably not R16k more.

But I kept finding my eyes drifting up to the black glossy Studio they had with the coil tap. If they'd had her in a lefty, I would almost certainly have taken her. Not sure why, but I've really come around on the look of the Studio, actually preferring it to the ebony with white binding on the Trad/Standard. And in black or desertburst she looks fantastic. She may be the one. Now to find her in left.

Like this one?
http://www.howzit.co.za/stuff-for-sale/musical-instruments/western-cape/cape-town/2-46-42704/gibson-les-paul-studio-lefty-ebony-new.html

Cleric

Haha, pretty much that one exactly, thanks! Gonna get in contact to find out if it's the one with Coil tapping though as that seems to be the burst-bucker model, which I think doesn't include a proper Gibson case.

deefstes

Cleric wrote Haha, pretty much that one exactly, thanks! Gonna get in contact to find out if it's the one with Coil tapping though as that seems to be the burst-bucker model, which I think doesn't include a proper Gibson case.

Good luck. I saw somewhere a pic of a Gibson LP Studio ebony with a white pickguard and it looked yummie!

eric-vaxxine

I worked my way up the ladder....

In 2006 I bought a 1980's Gibson LP Std for £900.
In 2009 I sold it for £1200 to finance buying a 1973
Gibson LP Deluxe at £1650.00.
In Feb 2012, I traded that 1973 LP Deluxe for a 1997
Blonde Gibson Dot re-issue ES335 and £100 cash in hand additionally.

singemonkey

Wait. Why's a Dot reissue up the ladder from a '73 Deluxe? ?

Cleric

Well I am certainly decided. LP Ebony Studio, no doubt about it. No luck on my hunt for a second hand one yet, but will keep looking. Lefties seem to hold onto their axes tighter than most

Arno-West

Cleric wrote Well I am certainly decided. LP Ebony Studio, no doubt about it. No luck on my hunt for a second hand one yet, but will keep looking. Lefties seem to hold onto their axes tighter than most

Wait as long as possible for the real thing to come along. I've played the LP Studio and LP Standard through an AxFx unit without changing any settings. Let me just say this, there is a lot of tone amongst the wood dust that's lying on the Gibson factory floor where they machine the Studio bodies...

nick

Arno West wrote
Cleric wrote Well I am certainly decided. LP Ebony Studio, no doubt about it. No luck on my hunt for a second hand one yet, but will keep looking. Lefties seem to hold onto their axes tighter than most
Wait as long as possible for the real thing to come along. I've played the LP Studio and LP Standard through an AxFx unit without changing any settings. Let me just say this, there is a lot of tone amongst the wood dust that's lying on the Gibson factory floor where they machine the Studio bodies...

Disagree, and this is from A/B'ing my studio with an R9, even recording both of them and trying to pick which one is which.

ZarK

nick wrote
Arno West wrote
Cleric wrote Well I am certainly decided. LP Ebony Studio, no doubt about it. No luck on my hunt for a second hand one yet, but will keep looking. Lefties seem to hold onto their axes tighter than most
Wait as long as possible for the real thing to come along. I've played the LP Studio and LP Standard through an AxFx unit without changing any settings. Let me just say this, there is a lot of tone amongst the wood dust that's lying on the Gibson factory floor where they machine the Studio bodies...
Disagree, and this is from A/B'ing my studio with an R9, even recording both of them and trying to pick which one is which.

Based on your back-to-back recordings: +1

(I actually prefered your Studio's tone to the R9 ...at your settings ...through my headphones ...over the interweb) ???

Then again, I have less traditional taste in Gibson Les Pauls... Generally I prefer the black LP Custom or the stripped down brown Faded LP Studio... Two polar opposites.

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