Alternatives to Gibson

beardedmoose

This is just my take one Decent Solid body guitars. If someone has any other idea. Please run another poll. :goodtimes:

(old forum) Poll Results: What guitar would you buy now that Gibson took themselves out of the market?

Tokai: 18
PRS: 8
Heritage: 1
ESP: 5
Epiphone: 1

ajdebeer

The reason I Choose ESP over Epiphone cause Epiphone is not really an alternative its just a cheaper model.
I have both a Gibson and a ESP both unique but its more an alternative than Epiphone.
With Tokai I cant really talk caused I never played one but they sure looks nice.
Prs just don't make the LP shape

beardedmoose

ajdebeer wrote: The reason I Choose ESP over Epiphone cause Epiphone is not really an alternative its just a cheaper model.
I have both a Gibson and a ESP both unique but its more an alternative than Epiphone.
With Tokai I cant really talk caused I never played one but they sure looks nice.
Prs just don't make the LP shape

MR The bEar. I understand Prs doesnt make the shape.... Buuut it's still a quality solid body guitar as for epiphone. It's also a company on it's own if you think about it because they also have original design if you look at the likes of the Wilshire etc...

But i use this following epiphone as an example http://www.epiphone.com/Products/Les-Paul/Prophecy-Les-Paul-Custom-Plus-EX.aspx

I played it at MArshall the other day, and its Fantastic. Not my vibe as im a traditionalist but worthy for me to put them on this poll as a manufacturer of quality alternatives . Remember Gibson also makes more affordable guitars.. Melody maker, the studio etcc...

ajdebeer

beardedmoose wrote:
ajdebeer wrote: The reason I Choose ESP over Epiphone cause Epiphone is not really an alternative its just a cheaper model.
I have both a Gibson and a ESP both unique but its more an alternative than Epiphone.
With Tokai I cant really talk caused I never played one but they sure looks nice.
Prs just don't make the LP shape
MR The bEar. I understand Prs doesnt make the shape.... Buuut it's still a quality solid body guitar as for epiphone. It's also a company on it's own if you think about it because they also have original design if you look at the likes of the Wilshire etc...

But i use this following epiphone as an example http://www.epiphone.com/Products/Les-Paul/Prophecy-Les-Paul-Custom-Plus-EX.aspx

I played it at MArshall the other day, and its Fantastic. Not my vibe as im a traditionalist but worthy for me to put them on this poll as a manufacturer of quality alternatives . Remember Gibson also makes more affordable guitars.. Melody maker, the studio etcc...

I Understand that but alternative for me mean same Quality or even Better and im sorry Epiphone makes very good guitars by all means but its not the same Quality as Gibson or ESP.

and for PRS they are AWESOME like really Awesome guitars but again alternative for me atleast means the same.

Tokai for what I seen I can only like them it looks like real great guitar but I haven't played one so cant really give an opinion there

beardedmoose

Horses for courses my friend ? But Dude do yourself a favour and go play on a Japanese tokai... they are everything Gibson was back in the day. if not better.

Stoffeltoo

beardedmoose wrote: Horses for courses my friend ? But Dude do yourself a favour and go play on a Japanese tokai... they are everything Gibson was back in the day. if not better.

+1
Wot 'e sed

chris77

ajdebeer wrote: Prs just don't make the LP shape

Well, let me be the one to introduce you gentleman to the PRS SC245. ?

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SC245FBCB

Not exactly cheap, but still about $800 cheaper than the Big G's newest Standard...

beardedmoose

I forgot about Trev Wilkinson and the team at JHS.... if your looking for a quality players guitar. Check out these guys. Personally i think the "Vintage" VS6 replica kills epiphone. If you dont believe me.. Theres a Blues Duo down here in the colony who uses Vintage guitars Mean black mamba and their sound is incendiary. here is Guy Collins and Mean Black Mamba

and here is Vintage Guitar's Homepage. http://www.jhs.co.uk/vintageelectric.html

Check it out. :goodtimes:

Banditman

Taking it as a strictly "replacement for a Les Paul" and not "something Les Paulish", it'd be a toss-up between the Tokai or the Heritage for me. The Tokai's all a Gibson is while the Heritage is made by ex-G employees (originally if I recall correctly) and in the same part of the 'States if geography means anything to your guitar purchase.

The PRS is a lovely instrument but - like the very good ESP - are evolutions of the original idea.

The Epiphone and Vintage are decent instruments, but not in the same class as the competition unless you mean the Masterbuilt examples.

peterleroux

Banditman wrote: ...while the Heritage is made by ex-G employees (originally if I recall correctly) and in the same part of the 'States if geography means anything to your guitar purchase...

Heritage Guitars are based at Gibson's old premises in Kalamazoo, and many of the founders were Gibson employees- as you said, for what it's worth.

chris77

Banditman wrote: Taking it as a strictly "replacement for a Les Paul" and not "something Les Paulish", it'd be a toss-up between the Tokai or the Heritage for me. The Tokai's all a Gibson is while the Heritage is made by ex-G employees (originally if I recall correctly) and in the same part of the 'States if geography means anything to your guitar purchase.

The PRS is a lovely instrument but - like the very good ESP - are evolutions of the original idea.

The Epiphone and Vintage are decent instruments, but not in the same class as the competition unless you mean the Masterbuilt examples.

Ja for sure, if I wanted a copy of the Gibson Les Paul I would go with Tokai in a heartbeat. I don't really know that much about Heritage as a brand and they seem to make good stuff, but Tokai is building them like Gibson used to do in their better days and the value for money you get when comparing apples with apples is just insane. Plus they are readily available locally and the guy behind the brand here in SA is somebody that I would love to support.

At the moment though I can't really say that I have "Gibson" LP GAS that would make me want to consider either an original Gibbo or one of it's copies. Not that I'd mind one, but if the Lotto Fairy left me a surprise under my pillow it would probably be one of the more evolutionary versions that gets my vote. So PRS it is for me. (Unless it's the Euro Lotto Fairy, in which case it will be something like the Nik Huber Orca http://www.nikhuber-guitars.com/orca.html, or Collings CL Standard http://www.collingsguitars.com/Instruments/?ID=35.... ?)

Attila

? damn if I had a R200 note every time this discussion came up.

Les Paul may have invented the LP and so doing Gibson owning the rights and title to the patent: FACT - There are literally 100's of boutique builders who build better instruments than Gibson same with Fender.

Psssst..... believe it or not a few of them live in SA.....

warrenpridgeon

chris77 wrote:
Banditman wrote: Taking it as a strictly "replacement for a Les Paul" and not "something Les Paulish", it'd be a toss-up between the Tokai or the Heritage for me. The Tokai's all a Gibson is while the Heritage is made by ex-G employees (originally if I recall correctly) and in the same part of the 'States if geography means anything to your guitar purchase.

The PRS is a lovely instrument but - like the very good ESP - are evolutions of the original idea.

The Epiphone and Vintage are decent instruments, but not in the same class as the competition unless you mean the Masterbuilt examples.
Ja for sure, if I wanted a copy of the Gibson Les Paul I would go with Tokai in a heartbeat. I don't really know that much about Heritage as a brand and they seem to make good stuff, but Tokai is building them like Gibson used to do in their better days and the value for money you get when comparing apples with apples is just insane. Plus they are readily available locally and the guy behind the brand here in SA is somebody that I would love to support.

At the moment though I can't really say that I have "Gibson" LP GAS that would make me want to consider either an original Gibbo or one of it's copies. Not that I'd mind one, but if the Lotto Fairy left me a surprise under my pillow it would probably be one of the more evolutionary versions that gets my vote. So PRS it is for me. (Unless it's the Euro Lotto Fairy, in which case it will be something like the Nik Huber Orca http://www.nikhuber-guitars.com/orca.html, or Collings CL Standard http://www.collingsguitars.com/Instruments/?ID=35.... ?)

Damn... http://www.topnotchguitarandbass.com/shop/nik-huber-guitars/orca/
$7250... That's a lot of cash (for me) for a guitar!

Chabenda

I'm being cheeky now but if it's an alternative to a Gibson that you are looking for then check these beauties out

Big-G

For an exact kind of Les Paul 'copy' then Tokai is the obvious choice, and I would choose one of them over a Gibson today anyhow, though I would also look at the Carparelli S4. Having owned the Carparelli Slimm, and knowing how good the quality of that instrument is, the S4 is of an even higher standard, so much so that Mike Box of Uriah Heap plays one all the time.

But if we are talking about basic single cut shapes, then there are many to choose from, including ESP, PRS, Gretsch and a few others, and again they are all choices that I would take over Gibson anyhow, regardless of whether they were still around or not!

Infact the only reason I would buy a Gibson would be because I got it for super cheap, and know it would be a long term investment. So a financial reason would be my only reason for owning one. In my book, that's not a good enough reason, as I own guitars to play them, not to sell them on. ?

Regards
G!

AlanRatcliffe

chris77 wrote: Well, let me be the one to introduce you gentleman to the PRS SC245. ?

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SC245FBCB

Not exactly cheap, but still about $800 cheaper than the Big G's newest Standard...

Still not a Les Paul: 24.5" scale length, contoured rib cut, contoured neck joint. Also properly built and properly setup too - so definitely not a Les Paul... ?

Big-G

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: Still not a Les Paul: properly built and properly setup too - so definitely not a Les Paul... ?

Haha! Nicely put Alan! My sentiments exactly! You always have a way of saying what I'm thinking, but can't express properly! Hehe!

G!

bindog

Tokai... All i can say is, they are truly, beautifully well made... My bro in law gave me grief when buying mine until he lined it up against his gibby... Whenever the Tokai is around now, he's playing it

Leon_AiA

Being a Jackson fan and a fan especially of the flatter neck profile and particular contour radius I chose a Charvel Desolation DS-1-FR for my LP shape guitar. Mine has a factory Floyd Rose too (available without too) and plays brilliantly. Standard active pickups might be a bit hot for clean playing for some, but I happen to like some more oomph before the preamp valves. Pricing was $999.00 before discount when I got mine.

http://www.charvel.com/en-ZA/guitars//search.php?partno=2971010576

The current colour on the website is appliance white but mine is the other available colour, transparent black:

ArieRS265

I love the Higher End LTD models " les paul shape" I own the EC1000 Deluxe VB and The EC401..the EMG's in them are a breeze and the feel of the guitars are sooooooooo comfortable...will NEVER part them ?