1 Topic by PoppaPlayedAGibson (edited by PoppaPlayedAGibson 2014-01-06 06:52:00)

  • From: Alabama Boy In Montana
  • Registered: 2014-01-04
  • Posts: 41

Topic: Need Some Suggestions On Buying A Gibson Les Paul !

Hello guys, I am thinking about selling something so I can take the money and buy a Gibson Les Paul. I have never owned a Gibson Les Paul but that's what I want . Not to picky about color, just want a decent one for a good price.

I have been checking some out on ebay just to get a little bit of an idea of prices, I was wanting to get a Standard Model but most of them seem to be out of reach price wise. But on the other hand I see that a lot of the Studio Models are in my price range.

Oh, It may help for me to tell you how much I can spend max, $700.00 to $800.00 would be the range I can spend on one.


So My questions are as follows:

1.Can I get a decent Standard Model for my budget or would I need to settle for a Studio Model ?

2. Can someone elaborate on the differences both positive and negative between Standard & Studio Models ?

3. Would it be possible to get a decent deal on a Les Paul in a Pawn shop ?

4. Do I need to be careful of fakes ? If so what is the best way to identify Genuine vs Fakes ?

5. Any other tips or pointers that anyone can give me I am all ears !

    Thanks Guys !

  • From: Georgia
  • Registered: 2010-12-01
  • Posts: 278

Re: Need Some Suggestions On Buying A Gibson Les Paul !

$800 will not get you a Standard, you are firmly in the Studio range though. they still sound good, just not with a lot of the bells and whistles.

  • From: New Hampshire, USA
  • Registered: 2010-12-21
  • Posts: 3,650

Re: Need Some Suggestions On Buying A Gibson Les Paul !

Hi
It is not clear to me if you have tried a LP. I suggest you go to your local guitar center and do the following. Grab a Gibson LP of the rack that is in your price range ( do not jump to the most expensive or what is clearly out of your price range …yet) and plug it into a amp that resembles what you are currently using. Take a lot of time to get the feel of it, how it reacts to your playing, if it does not give you that moment that you say "that's it" move on to the next guitar in your price range. Once you find a guitar in your price range that is "the one" put that aside. So now go to the rack and pick out a top of the line Gibson Les Paul $$$$. Play it for sometime then compare. You need to see, feel and listen to the difference. The point here is you need to do this yourself for neither I or anyone else can decide which is best for you. You need to try them out yourself, with your fingers, your ears. Also if you are coming from a Fender type guitar to a LP you may have to get use to it. Some have a problem going from a Strat type to a LP type.
Good Luck I am always excited when someone is in search of that new guitar day.
Cheers Ron

"Joe B saved my soul, forever grateful Ron"
"Some people dream of worthy accomplishments while others stay awake and do them"
Skinner #1,JBLP 145(aged),252, (unaged),#285HM, Bburst #026, Joes 052 BCC black LP, Strat> RT,EC Gilmour,Beck,Lenny LP> PK 83,CC#2,3,4,9,Amps>Carol Ann RAH JB-100 SN 001,JB100 Red SN02,OD2, OD3,Tucana 2&3 Triptix,Twinkle land, Plexi ,JB Jub, Jubs,Plexi,Satch,Two Rock>others

4 Reply by dknight16 (edited by dknight16 2014-01-06 18:39:28)

  • Registered: 2006-05-08
  • Posts: 1,996

Re: Need Some Suggestions On Buying A Gibson Les Paul !

Studio LP bodies are not quite as thick as Standards.  Studios don't have body and neck binding like Standards.  Studios are generally made from lower grade (but still good) wood.  Gibson classifies their woods with letter designations (ex. AAA, AA, A, BBB, BB, B).  Studios are generally in the B family (and bodies often 2 or more pieces glued together).  I'm not an electronics expert, but some lower grade (but still good) components (switches, wiring, capacitors, PCBs, etc.) are likely.  Hardware is generally chrome rather than nickel.  Headstock shape is a little different too.

I own a Standard and two Studios.  I like all three of them a lot, but the Standard is more special to me.  Regardless, if you have less than $1000 to spend, I expect you will love a LP Studio.

Gibson 60th Anniversary 1959 Les Paul Reissue, Gibson LP Standard Faded CSB, Gibson Gary Moore LP Standard, Epi Joe Bonamassa GT LP, Epi Zakk Wylde LP, Dean Michael Schenker Flying V, Jackson Randy Rhoads V, ESP/LTD George Lynch Kamikaze, EVH Striped Series R/B/W, Fender/Squire John 5 Telecaster, Fender Joe Strummer Relic Telecaster

5 Reply by PoppaPlayedAGibson (edited by PoppaPlayedAGibson 2014-01-06 22:06:32)

  • From: Alabama Boy In Montana
  • Registered: 2014-01-04
  • Posts: 41

Re: Need Some Suggestions On Buying A Gibson Les Paul !

I appreciate the responses, all really helpful.  I'll clear this up to avoid confusion, I don't currently have a guitar nor do I know how to play one yet (I know a few chords is all).

I do have one of my dad's acoustic guitars he passed on to me but it's sitting at my mom's house in Oregon waiting for me to get it. It's a nice old guitar in near mint condition.

I really want a electric guitar though and the one of choice for me is a Gibson LP, there is only one other I would consider for a second choice and that is a Fender Telecaster. big_smile

I think the suggestion that cindyron made about going to the guitar shop & getting a feel for em' & checking em' out for sound quality is a good way to go.

The reason I was asking if I may be able to get a decent one at a pawn shop is that the item I am thinking of selling to get the cash for a LP could probably be traded pretty easily at a pawn shop for a guitar. I may be able to get a better deal by trading my item for their guitar. I don't know.

I have seen some nice guitars in Pawn shops and was thinking I may be able to get a really good trade that way. Not sure, but I will check some out to see what they got. Who knows I may find a really good LP or Telecaster to trade for.

Maybe keep my eyes open on craigslist , I may find someone hard up for cash wanting to sell a good one cheap there as well. I am not going to get in too big of a hurry though as I want to make sure I make the right choice.

Thanks Guys !

6 Reply by Ian916 (edited by Ian916 2014-01-07 07:11:28)

  • From: Sussex UK
  • Registered: 2009-07-12
  • Posts: 1,465

Re: Need Some Suggestions On Buying A Gibson Les Paul !

Telecaster and a LP pretty different guitars, although their are loads of styles of Tele’s. Think you might need to work out what sound you want out of it. My 2 cents: Gibson make expensive guitars, well those with that name on them are, - you have to spend quite a lot to get a good one and at the cheaper end you might better off with a different name on the headstock.

I would suggest you go to a specialist guitar shop rather than a pawn shop, find a helpful assistant, and listen, feel and play. Whilst there are more fake Fenders perhaps with parts put together because of their bolt on neck you might still pick up a problem Gibson from a pawn shop. Guitar shops are specialists at what they do, - support their years of knowledge and take the opportunity to absorb some of it, they will guide, and importantly set it up, and be there in a years time when you have a question or need help. Generally speaking they are there because they love guitars whereas a pawnshop exists to make money out of anything they can. Not saying it is wrong, just that a guitar is something special.

My YouTube channel with plenty of my Joe's videos dating from 2009 inc his first Hammersmith Odeon ones:
http://www.youtube.com/ian916fun

Ian916's Website

  • From: Atlanta
  • Registered: 2013-09-05
  • Posts: 22

Re: Need Some Suggestions On Buying A Gibson Les Paul !

2014 Studios are much better than the 2013 , both material and electronics.  You can't go wrong with one.  It is a good bang for your available buck :-)

Hector

8 Reply by PoppaPlayedAGibson (edited by PoppaPlayedAGibson 2014-01-07 20:26:25)

  • From: Alabama Boy In Montana
  • Registered: 2014-01-04
  • Posts: 41

Re: Need Some Suggestions On Buying A Gibson Les Paul !

Thanks Ian916 & hrfdez,

Again , some good information and things to think about. My dad used to have a buddy he picked with who owned a really nice Blonde Telecaster and it sounded pretty nice.

His buddy was killed in an accident in 1979 and my dad wanted to buy it but his wife didn't want to part with it. Can't blame her though.

I like the looks of the Telecaster and I am seeing that there are a lot of em' out there that are in my price range. But I do need to figure out what sound I want to achieve before I make the jump.

I am still leaning towards Gibson LP though. big_smile

Is the wood on the 2014 Studio LP's better as well ??? I take it that it is .

  • Registered: 2006-05-08
  • Posts: 1,996

Re: Need Some Suggestions On Buying A Gibson Les Paul !

I don't agree 2014 LP Studios are better or upgraded vs. 2013s.  The 2013 Les Pauls in general were really well received as they featured some desirable changes vs. the last "big" changes made to the LP line in 2010 and of course the fretboard crisis of 2011 & 2012.

2014 Studios changed to a maple neck vs. the typical mahogany.  This will not appeal to many LP traditionalists.  I think the 2014 Studio finish is now satin-like with the higher cost Studio Pro being the typical high gloss.  However, 2014s added coil tapping which many people find desirable.

If you like coil tapping, you can convert to it at reasonable expense.  But you generally can't swap neck material or get refinished for cheap.

Gibson 60th Anniversary 1959 Les Paul Reissue, Gibson LP Standard Faded CSB, Gibson Gary Moore LP Standard, Epi Joe Bonamassa GT LP, Epi Zakk Wylde LP, Dean Michael Schenker Flying V, Jackson Randy Rhoads V, ESP/LTD George Lynch Kamikaze, EVH Striped Series R/B/W, Fender/Squire John 5 Telecaster, Fender Joe Strummer Relic Telecaster
  • Registered: 2006-06-30
  • Posts: 2,835

Re: Need Some Suggestions On Buying A Gibson Les Paul !

Buy a good used one and help recycle them......broken in vintage is better anyways....unless you're looking for a wall hangar!

And so castles made of sand melts into the sea, eventually.........
  • From: Alabama Boy In Montana
  • Registered: 2014-01-04
  • Posts: 41

Re: Need Some Suggestions On Buying A Gibson Les Paul !

airportdon wrote:

Buy a good used one and help recycle them......broken in vintage is better anyways....unless you're looking for a wall hangar!

LOL, but seriously I believe you are right !