CodeTitan wrote:Stratocasters, Telecasters, and Les Pauls are all great guitars and sound totally different from each other. In my opinion one isn't better than the other. I have played plenty of crappy LP's at guitar center that felt like toys. When I finally plunk down the cash to buy an LP, I think I'm going to have to go the custom shop route...
You are right, the Custom Shop Les Pauls are night and day better in my opinion (there are always some exceptions of course).
The Historic line of Les Pauls R8,R9, 1958 reissue (etc) are real nice. They are like a production run by the Custom Shop.
The best buy around a while back was the 1957 Gold Top reissue (also known as a R7). They used to run only a couple/few hundred
more that a USA Standard. Used ones are probably a better deal.
I am the proud owner of a 2001 R8. I chose it after trying everything from USA Standards, Classics (etc). I NEVER found a good playing Les paul of any kind at Guitar Center though. You owe it to yourself to find a reputable dealer nearby (if possible). Just my 2-cents.
Russ B.