• Registered: 2006-05-25
  • Posts: 444

Topic: Will probably buy a new 'paul

Yeah I'm a crazy monkey. Now I prefer Les Pauls over Strats again. I've tried several LP's and found a LP traditional that is significantly better than my classic. Thats why I will sell my classic and buy the traditional - probably.

I'm just wondering if anyone has a traditional, or maybe you have some opinions on them in general. I haven't spent enough time with it yet but from what I've tried it's a great guitar, and especially a great example of one. It's weight-relieved and not chambered like my classic. It resonates a lot better, it has more sustain and articulation, the neck fits my hand like a glove and it sounds awesome. I recorded a lil' clip of me playing it in the store today with my cell phone. I just plugged it into the stores JVM. This is a bit sloppy though so bear with me. Also keep in mind the tone is messed up by the phone...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvnYo1op0u8


Will appriciate input

Thanks
/Sam

  • From: Massachusetts
  • Registered: 2008-10-27
  • Posts: 577

Re: Will probably buy a new 'paul

Sam,

Back a few months I was in the need for a new LP...I had a great qouted price of less than $3,400 for one of Joe's glossy LP's but for weeks I tried like crazy to put he money together to get one (a regret I will have for not doing so) but I was unable to do so.  So I bought a Traditional LP Goldtop.  I figured I would create my own poorman's Bonamassa LP.  I switched out the cream plastic parts for the black but I kept the '57 pups.  I have to admit I am very pleased with the Traditional.  The sound is down right creamy....I wouldn't trade this one for any...  The other guitarist that I jam with has a '59 reissue, in its own right it is lovely....but I think the Tradtional holds itself up withthe 59 RI without a problem.  So if you like it and it is in your price range..definitely go for it...you will be very happy with it.  I know I am and most guys i play with are very jealous over it...including the guy with the 59 RI. 

now I just need to have her play through a sweet amp and I'll be all set.....

Hope this helps...

Barry

2009 Gibson Les Paul 1958 VOS (with black plastic)
2008 Gibson Les Paul Traditional Goldtop (with the cream plastic from the 58RI)
> Marshall Bluesbreaker 2 pedal >Boss sd-1> DD3 > Vox Ac15cc1
  • From: Belfast
  • Registered: 2009-05-04
  • Posts: 34

Re: Will probably buy a new 'paul

I have one and a US Std Strat. Love them both, but really they are chalk and cheese.

Can't really advise as to whether you should take the plunge as it's all about how you feel with it.

Great clip by the way!

  • From: Germany
  • Registered: 2008-04-23
  • Posts: 553

Re: Will probably buy a new 'paul

Zampraz, this LP must be the right for. At least it sounds very good and articulated what you do with it.
For your young age you have a pretty good technique. Go ahead!! smile
I wish I've been that good with 15 (Jeez, how long is that ago.. yikes )
If you feel its the right guitar then sell your classic and buy this one. I would do so.

Alex

...it's a musical journey
www.u2-experience.de

Stratovari's Website

  • From: Florida, USA
  • Registered: 2008-06-04
  • Posts: 1,420

Re: Will probably buy a new 'paul

As killer as that guitar sounds (and your playing as well) for the price of a new Traditional you can easily get a used Custom Shop R7 or R8.  I played plenty of standards, classics, traditionals etc because I REALLY wanted that flame top but then I played an R8.  The R8 went home with me.  It's solid wood and it just has that magic sound.  Not to open up the weight relieved vs. non weight relieved debate again, but if it were my money I'd try and go Custom Shop if at all possible.

'67 and '74 Fender Twin Reverbs, '74 Marshall 1987 lead mkII, Metro Superlead 100. Pedals from TC Electronic, Ibanez, Dunlop, BK Butler, Electro-Harmonix, Fulltone, Maestro/Gibson, Loopmaster switching, VoodooLab, Boss. Gibson and Fender guitars, Dimarzio pickups.
  • Registered: 2008-10-02
  • Posts: 373

Re: Will probably buy a new 'paul

I am looking to get a LP myself going shoping this weekend. Its just time to move on from my Studio. I have played some Traditionals I liked a lot a few classics. For me its going to come down to neck size and tone. I really like the faster thin 60's profile necks better. My Studio has the fat 50's and I feel like I am playing a baseball bat. My Studio sounds good but never has sounded great despite all the money in pup changes and refrets. I am looking for that guitar you put on and it just says "Your Home"

7 Reply by ZampraZ (edited by ZampraZ 2009-05-09 00:49:08)

  • Registered: 2006-05-25
  • Posts: 444

Re: Will probably buy a new 'paul

Yeah, the market for used stuff is much smaller here in Sweden, I can only find one ad for a used historic and that's also for a '59 which is much more expensive. However I've considered an R8 and decided I won't pre-order a guitar I haven't tried... I also do not/won't have an opportunity to try one. This too me feels like a very good one as well, one that sticks out of the bunch.

And I absolutely hate playing guitar without a track/band because most of the time I end up playing boring pentatonic stuff because silence is boring smile Maybe after I get my next les paul I could post a real clip up. And to admit I got lost in my "imaginary" BT so I messed it up smile Well, doesn't matter.

  • From: Massachusetts
  • Registered: 2008-10-27
  • Posts: 577

Re: Will probably buy a new 'paul

Sam and other LP lovers,

Just stumbled across this reasonable gem (not a Custom Shop)....

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/prod … sku=581715

Taking design and visual cues from the Les Pauls of the 80s and '90s, the Les Paul Traditional Pro features BurstBucker 3 and '57 Classic pickups with coil-splitting, '60s neck profile, Grover locking tuners, antique binding, period-correct pickguard, vintage Gibson top hat knobs and the revolutionary Plek set up.


Wish it came out at the end of last year...Love the features and the pickup combo is very intriguing....Right now I have my heart set on getting a new amp then selling a few of my axes to get a RI 56...but I can certainly change my mind...going to have to go to the local guitar Centers to see if they have any in stock and check it out...


well, just another option for you Sam...

Barry

2009 Gibson Les Paul 1958 VOS (with black plastic)
2008 Gibson Les Paul Traditional Goldtop (with the cream plastic from the 58RI)
> Marshall Bluesbreaker 2 pedal >Boss sd-1> DD3 > Vox Ac15cc1
  • Registered: 2008-10-02
  • Posts: 373

Re: Will probably buy a new 'paul

I played a lot of high end Les Pauls, PRS & G&L's this weekend at a great guitar shop in Tuscon AZ called Rainbow guitars. My favoret Les Pauls where the Classics and I did get to play a Les Paul Traditional Pro which is the guitar I loved and want to buy. Sadly I think its a Guitar Center/Musicans Friends exculisive and the cost of almost 2K is to rich for me. So I am thinking of getting a Used classic with the 60's neck and adding the Humbucker spliting, which I really loved.

Also played a PRS I really liked but it didn't have quite the soul of the Gibson. I also played a couple of really great G&L's I haven't played a bad one of there guitars, its a shame there not more popular. After the Les Paul purchase I will be looking for a nice G&L maybe in a year or so.

10 Reply by ZampraZ (edited by ZampraZ 2009-05-13 20:08:26)

  • Registered: 2006-05-25
  • Posts: 444

Re: Will probably buy a new 'paul

I've played some US standards and traditionals today. The us 50's standard neck doesn't feel chunky to me. I don't think I have big hands but I have piano fingers (long fingers). The traditionals neck was larger than the US 50 standard and it felt great. It's supposed to be like a rounded '59 from what I've read so maybe the R8 won't be to bad. The US 50 did not feel like a baseball bat at all to me...

Saturday I will get the chance to play 2 different R8's

  • From: Germany
  • Registered: 2008-04-23
  • Posts: 553

Re: Will probably buy a new 'paul

I had a '57 Goldtop which I sold to afford the JBLP and also I have a '58 LP.
The '57 had a much fatter neck than the '58 and also than the JBLP.
They seem to be different even within the same model series.

Alex

...it's a musical journey
www.u2-experience.de

Stratovari's Website

  • Registered: 2009-03-07
  • Posts: 74

Re: Will probably buy a new 'paul

The committee has given me permission to buy a new guitar with next years tax refund and while I've been GASing for an oly white Fender 62 Vintage Hot Rod for the past few years, lately I've been leaning towards a Gibson Les Paul Traditional.  They are in the same ballpark price-wise, I have an 92' SRV Strat w/ braz board and sights on a 1978 Fender Strat in a few months so I think I'm ok Strat wise.  I've gotten into recording lately and I think a Les Paul would be a great addition to my modest collection.  I've been looking at Studios but I'd rather go for the gold and the next best thing is a Traditional.  Besides, it's hard to get a Studio in heritage cherry sunburst.

I know, I only have around 10 months to make a decision, HELP!!!!

  • Registered: 2006-05-25
  • Posts: 444

Re: Will probably buy a new 'paul

I just got back from trying two R8's (tried an R9 briefly as well)...

I tried one in Washed Cherry and Ice tea. In the end I decided the cherry one was better. It had more bite and more of a direct tone, better neck (slighter smaller). The Ice Tea (preferred color), had a bigger neck, sounded less direct, more "loose and mellow", weighed slightly more and didn't feel as good. Both great guitars though...

Loved the R8, great guitar. Looking forward to buying one

  • From: Florida, USA
  • Registered: 2008-06-04
  • Posts: 1,420

Re: Will probably buy a new 'paul

Voodoo Blues wrote:

The committee has given me permission to buy a new guitar with next years tax refund and while I've been GASing for an oly white Fender 62 Vintage Hot Rod for the past few years, lately I've been leaning towards a Gibson Les Paul Traditional.  They are in the same ballpark price-wise, I have an 92' SRV Strat w/ braz board and sights on a 1978 Fender Strat in a few months so I think I'm ok Strat wise.  I've gotten into recording lately and I think a Les Paul would be a great addition to my modest collection.  I've been looking at Studios but I'd rather go for the gold and the next best thing is a Traditional.  Besides, it's hard to get a Studio in heritage cherry sunburst.

I know, I only have around 10 months to make a decision, HELP!!!!

If it was my money I'd take the refund and buy a used Historic series Les Paul.  There's nothing wrong with a Traditional but for that kind of money I personally want a guitar that is more or less the same as they were back in the day.  That's the look, tone, and feel that everyone seems to be trying to capture.  I usually can't get my thing working on a modern style guitar as well as something based of a vintage one.  The exception to that rule being PRS guitars.  I bought my R8 Les Paul for about $500 less than new so try and see if you can deal on one if they have one in stock.  If not, EBAY is relatively safe because the CS Gibson's are very good sounding guitars and much more consistant than their USA brethren.  Just play as many as you can until you find one that speaks to you.  Cool Strats man, I'd like to see some pics of those!

'67 and '74 Fender Twin Reverbs, '74 Marshall 1987 lead mkII, Metro Superlead 100. Pedals from TC Electronic, Ibanez, Dunlop, BK Butler, Electro-Harmonix, Fulltone, Maestro/Gibson, Loopmaster switching, VoodooLab, Boss. Gibson and Fender guitars, Dimarzio pickups.
  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: Will probably buy a new 'paul

I was just wondering.... do you like the feel of your current guitar?  I have a classic and for a long time I did what your thinking about doing buy a new guitar.  But I was never happy with the Classic sound wise that is until I put 57' classics in the thing.  So anyway my suggestion is swap pickups out and save your money for med school.

AD3THREE's Website

  • Registered: 2006-05-25
  • Posts: 444

Re: Will probably buy a new 'paul

No I don't! This neck is way to small! On a scale of 1-10 I would say the R8's were 6-7 in neck size. I didn't find them that large. The 60's neck feels like a matchstick, but my hands were plenty smaller when I bought it. The R8's were also incredibly much more comfortable to play and better guitars. When I bought my LP I was not able to pick out the best of the bunch, but I am now.

  • From: Florida, USA
  • Registered: 2008-06-04
  • Posts: 1,420

Re: Will probably buy a new 'paul

I also went to the store with my eyes on a Iced Tea R8 and they had a Washed Cherry R8 next to it.  Well I had to play them both and check them over with a fine tooth comb...I took home the Cherry one.  It has the straightest, prettiest grain on the back and neck I've ever seen on a Gibson.  The top is gorgeous with some maple figuring and swirling with a subtle overlapping flame in the right light.  From 10 feet away you can't pick up the flaming but when you are close in the right light you can see it.  It's an expceptional example of a R8.  It's a tone monster.  People say a guitar can't make you better and practice only makes you better...I say hogwash.  My guitar made me play cleaner and sound better immediately.  Good luck in your hunt for THE Les Paul.

'67 and '74 Fender Twin Reverbs, '74 Marshall 1987 lead mkII, Metro Superlead 100. Pedals from TC Electronic, Ibanez, Dunlop, BK Butler, Electro-Harmonix, Fulltone, Maestro/Gibson, Loopmaster switching, VoodooLab, Boss. Gibson and Fender guitars, Dimarzio pickups.
  • Registered: 2006-05-25
  • Posts: 444

Re: Will probably buy a new 'paul

I agree! Sounded so much better while playing the R8. It was so nice, they played much better and sounded a lot better. On top of that they looked so nice and vintage. The difference between the two were even more clear when playing unplugged. The cherry was brighter with a more striking sound. The Iced tea sounded more tinny unplugged with less articulation and sustain.

The difference between the two was more than I would have expected. I think I'll buy the cherry one as soon as I've sold my paul (it's possible to give them the guitar + cash though, haven't asked how much they will value my guitar at). The Cherry was easily the best paul I've tried...