Les Paul copies?

blue42

Hey Peeps!

The itch has kicked in again. Time for a new toy. Of all the Les Paul "style" guitars out there, which do you reckon are the best value? The real deal and the Epi's are out my league so I'll settle for a very much more affordable but not altogether crap copy.

Your opinions would be appreciated

DonovanB

Ibanez ART series are ok. Not great-awesome-fantastic but ok...

inflames

If I were you I would rather save up for a Epiphone Les Paul Custom.
You can get one new for about R5500 from a forum member that imports them.

Bob-Dubery

If it's just an itch rather than a real need then start putting money in the piggy bank instead.

Buying a cheap copy won't be the end of it. You'll get fed up with the pickups and spend more money. You'll get fed up with the hardware and spend more money. Etc etc.

The best value for money in generic Les Paul guitars are the Tokais. Not cheap, but really good value, less expensive than a Gibson, and a high quality instrument.

dee

* I'm sure the Tokais will get mentioned, although they are a bit more pricey.

http://www.tokaiguitars.co.za/

* Vintage has some very nice copies, with the V100 Icon going for about R4500-R5000.

http://www.jhs.co.uk/vintageiconguitars.html (For the Icon range)
http://www.jhs.co.uk/vintageelectric.html (For the normal V100 range)

* ESP/LTD has the Eclipse/EC range which is also nice.

http://www.espguitars.com/guitars_deluxe_ec.html
http://www.espguitars.com/guitars_ec.html

inflames

The best value for money in generic Les Paul guitars are the Tokais. Not cheap, but really good value, less expensive than a Gibson, and a high quality instrument.

I agree with Bob. My flow would be Epiphone -> Tokai -> Gibson
There will also be a bunch of people that say Tokai is better than Gibson. The might be correct, since Tokai is excellent quality!!!

The ESP/LTD is also a very good choice like dee said, but still more expensive than the Epiphones.

chris77

Les Paul copies are tricky. I had lp gas not so long ago and also looked for a cheapie. (If I'm going to spend on an lp it will have to say Gibson on the headstock and I cant afford one now :'() The problem with the Ibanez and Corts are that the look les paulish but the one has only three buttons and the Cort has this funny body contour thing. The ltd looked more traditional, but still not there imo. That left me with epiphones, agiles and vintage in the budget range. Epiphones are overpriced at the moment and a lot of guys are selling 2nd hand for more than what they paid new, so no. Agiles are specced incredibly well, but only available as imports. My one and only correspondence with them didn't really inspire confidence in a process that will involve shipping a guitar a across the atlantic. So I kinda settled on the idea of the Vintage. They look traditional and the reviews are good, plus they wont bankrupt you. I then found a 20y old aria pro ii in a pawnshop and that was the end of that. Now, you might not agree with my personal conclusion, but the approach is solid. Find out what you can afford and eliminate the candidates according to your personal likes and dislikes. Once you know what brand you want, start looking for the individual instrument by playing as many examples as you can and choosing the one you like best. And keep an eye on the second hand market.?

djpauw

Hohner all the way.

Odds are you won't find one though, very scarce... I count myself as one of the lucky few.

DonovanB

chris77 wrote The problem with the Ibanez and Corts are that the look les paulish but the one has only three buttons and the Cort has this funny body contour thing. The ltd looked more traditional, but still not there imo.

Thats what I like about them, they are not direct copies, but similar.
I'd much rather take an esp or Ibanez single cut guitar over a straight copy any day

chris77

Depends on what you're gassing for. If you want a well built, good sounding and easy to play instrument, how it looks will be less important. If you have an itch though its no use scratching next to it. I scratched my itch by buying a traditional looking copy, albeit with a bolt on neck, for a few hundred bucks. I ACTUALLY want a Gibson. Two tone plain top or a slightly quilted cherry burst. But they cost a bloody arm and a leg. I still want one and will bide my time until I can get one, but for the time being the itch is gone.

blue42

thanks for the replies guys. when i bought my ibby sa260fm from cash converters hillfox there was an epi lp standard in cherry sunburst with gold hardware for R1400. 2 days later when i went back for her she'd left the building. i coulda kicked myself but didn't have the means first time around. i had a look at the agile lp copies on another forum and they look really good. also read some reviews and guys who own them only have praise for them. made in korea and they look prime. are these available anywhere or do i have to ring my brother in law (lives in imsil, south korea) and tell him to send a "gift"?

i also played an ibanez artcore as83 semi hollow job the other day and it was real nice. might even go back for that if all else fails.

again, thanks for the input!

blue42

sorry! just realised chris77 already answered the agile question. they do make some fine guitars. wouldn't mind one but shipping will probably make me grey.

blue42

settled. i'm importing an agile al 3000 from rondo. can't wait.

singemonkey

That's a good choice, imo. In the Epiphone price range and below I think Agile are probably unbeatable (comparing new prices with new prices of course). Even the more expensive Agiles are apparently excellent guitars.

For me, if it's got to say Gibson on the headstock, get a second job and save for a second hand custom shop Gibson. R30 grand is about the least you'll pay for an historic Les Paul (probably a '57 VOS). That's the only way to get one of the guitars that made the company famous with the Gibson logo on the top.

I don't like factory Gibsons as a rule because either, like my '83, they're solid and weigh a ton because they used much heavier mahogany than in the '50s, or they're like the modern ones which have holes cut in them or are basically hollow. But if that's not an issue, you can find excellent factory Gibsons for around R15K if you play a few.

If you want an historic type LP and either can't afford a VOS Gibson, or don't care about the name, top-end Tokais or Navigator by ESP will get you all that vintage mojo a lot cheaper (R16K - R40K, new prices).

Likewise, if '50s mojo is more important than the brand name, there are a lot of great options in the middle of the price range that are imo much better bang for buck than a factory Gibson: Tokai, Burney, Edwards by ESP, Agile. That's at about R10K new. Spec that comfortably matches or beats factory Gibsons but a lot cheaper. In fact some of these guitars, especially Agile and Edwards by ESP can be had for similar new prices to Epiphones - and are much better spec'd.

When you get to Les Paul style guitars - the choice becomes almost endless. Ibanez and Yamaha are very good companies to look at. Great quality at excellent prices.

blue42

I've had a chat with Kurt from rondo and he's put my mind at ease regarding delivery. Either going with the AL3000 or the AL3100 in one of these colours. Opinions please.

Flamed Tobacco Sunburst

Rootbeer Spalted

Tribal Blue Quilted (leaning towards this)

chris77

If I may be so forward as to ask, What is it costing you inclusive of shipping? I was quoted on shipping for the guitar and the case as separate items, when I reckon if the guitar goes inside the case it should ship as one item. There is a masterbuilt al-3000 on there with this gorgeous two tone burst plain top, that ships with a case for a little under 8000.00. I seriously considered that one, but its just a little too much for me. I dont make debt to buy gear and would have had to save for a few months too many. I remember the rootbeer finish and it looked really great as well. Not a fan of the quilted blue finish though, but the choice is yours. Let us know what you decide?

blue42

Guitar = $389,95, Case = $59,95, Shipping to local couriers office = $ 201,00. When it lands you pay 14% VAT on the rand value (unless you've exceeded your R20000,00 free imports per year) plus a 0,01% fee.
Total = R6000 give or take (assuming 1$ = R8). That, for an instrument rated by some to be the best LP "copy" out there, is a bargain in my humble and totally worthless opinion.

Sean

blue42 wrote Guitar = $389,95, Case = $59,95, Shipping to local couriers office = $ 201,00. When it lands you pay 14% VAT on the rand value (unless you've exceeded your R20000,00 free imports per year) plus a 0,01% fee.
Total = R6000 give or take (assuming 1$ = R8). That, for an instrument rated by some to be the best LP "copy" out there, is a bargain in my humble and totally worthless opinion.

Seems like a good deal. That quilted blue finish is interesting, I'm generally a conservative guy, but for some reason, I find I'm both attracted and repulsed by that thing... ?

singemonkey

I'm anti quilt. I think it looks kitsch. But that's just my opinion. I reckon you should go with the rootbeer.

Bob-Dubery

singemonkey wrote I'm anti quilt. I think it looks kitsch. But that's just my opinion. I reckon you should go with the rootbeer.

I liked the rootbeer the most of the finishes same. If you want the authentic Les Paul look then go for the sunburst.