Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: Brian G on July 04, 2006, 02:59:22 PM
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Hi - I presently have a set of Crawlers in another guitar (Carvin CT3), but I've now started the search for a Les Paul to go with that and my CS Strat. The LP will almost certainly be a candidate for the BK treatment.
I've looked at and played a few, from Standards to Customs to even a Supreme (chambered - what resonance, but only played in unplugged). I will consider paying for a Custom Shop if it's really worthwhile. I'd like something with a little pizzazz, but preferably not over the top. The sound I'm interested in is somewhat vintage, capable of that creamy, full overdrive but clean and open when called for.
Can those of you with extensive experience with LP's share your thoughts . . .
1. The Supreme was great unplugged - never got around to plugging it in. Does anyone like Supremes, or is this a "non-LP"? (Would have to come to terms with those gold-colored frets, though . . .).
2. Can a Studio be expected to sound the full measure compared to good Standards, Custom Shop's etc.?
3. I understand that current-production Standards, etc. are drilled with weight-relief holes. Without knowing for sure, it seems to me that the best LP's are not "weight-relieved" - any comments?
It should be clear from the above that I'm trying to narrow the search, so your thoughts are welcome - I'm not prepared to buy from eBay, for the obvious reasons.
Thanks,
Brian
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:D I allways thought that the difference between a Studio & a Standard was that the Studio had no binding ?
The problem with LP`s is that they vary between each batch. With Gibson now building down to a price it`s impossible to now how well a "Gibbo" will do untill you`ve put `em through there paces.
Also when you BK it you`ll change the sound of the thing from the original any way. If that`s the case you might be better buying a second hand one that feels right then Mule it :P And if that`s the case why even bother buying a Gibbo any way why not get a really well made "Copy" Tokia, Yamaha, Greco, Ibanez even Epithone make acceptable LP copys & your going to BK `em so they`ll sound great & wont cost you a fortune.
:D 8)
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(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v662/felineguitars/it-will-be-mine-oh-yes.jpg)
Twilight Odyyssey finds the answer........
(ok - I'm being cheeky and shameless here)
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That LP DOES kick major booty!!!
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^ I had a go on that LP and it's fantastic!
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The problem with LP`s is that they vary between each batch. With Gibson now building down to a price it`s impossible to now how well a "Gibbo" will do untill you`ve put `em through there paces.
Totally agree. During my search for "my ideal Les Paul" I played dozens of different LP Stds - some were very nice instruments & many were absolutely dreadful. It wasn't just poor setups (which are mainly the shop's fault), there were plently that had no resonance or sustain whatsoever & sounded really dull even with new strings. There were varying degrees of the most godawful microphonic feedback (not such a big deal as I always intended to change the pickups). Fingerboards & fretwork in particular were highly variable.
In the end I found a really nice Std that ticked all my boxes for spec, weighs a ton, sustains forever & sounds absolutely fantastic :) it now has a Nailbomb bridge/VHII neck & is one of my favourite guitars :)
IIRC I found something similar when I bought my Flying V in the early 90s - had tried a few not liked them then played one that was nothing like the others, loved it, & bought it :)
In other words, buy whatever takes your fancy for looks/style/colour etc but don't buy it unseen!
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Hello Brian, I must admit when I was reading your post I was thinking "Feline" with a set of Mules. If it has to have Gibson on the headstock fair enough but the Feline guitar I saw at the London Guitar show( which TO is holding aloft) was a beautiful piece of workmanship. As you are in Canada, however, I could understand you perhaps wanting to keep things North American.
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Hi Brian, I tried a lot of Les Pauls last time I bought a new one (back in the early 90's), but I had a friend who worked at Sam Ash, and she let me in the back to try all the ones they had! There was a huge difference in them. All I can suggest is to try as many as you can. There is a difference in the weight relieved models, but I had it done to one of mine when it was renecked and it made it sustain for days! Don't worry about the sound of the guitar plugged in. Find one you like accoustically and that has the feel you want. Once you have that, you can get the sound you want by changing the pickups.
I traded in the new one many years ago for a 71 55-Custom Limited Edition. I would look at second hand guitars, rather than new.!
The custom shop guitars are a bit overrated, unless you pay for a real custom build, though I have heard really good things about the VOS series.
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Hi Brian +1 for trying as many as you can till you find what you like. Iwas lucky with mine was only the third Standard I tried and I bought it off Ebay but the guy selling it only lived ten minutes away from me and it felt great when I tried it. I changed the stock Gibsons for BKP zebra Mules so now it is even better. There are some pics so check it out ,hope you find what you want. http://photos.wanadoo.co.uk/album/2324601
cheers
keith
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+1 on trying out many guitars - it really opens your eyes when you see how different specific Les Pauls play/sound/feel. I did this when I got my LP std 12 years ago & it paid off - it's still my main guitars when others have been & gone. It's nothing special either, just a plain black '91 LP std but it plays great with excellent resonance & always sounds amazing plugged in.
:twisted:
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Thanks all for the comments, particularly PhilKing's as you responded to my question about chambering, at least a bit. Even from the little "shop playing" I've done, it's clear that every sample is a bit different. Yesterday I noodled with roughly 8 samples of various LP models (unplugged), and what shocked me was that the one that felt the best and felt the most resonant by far was a Supreme. Now, I think of this model as being the "trollip" of the lot (gussied up and ready for a few evening clients) . . .
The salesguys were also adamant that the Supreme was built by the Custom Shop, and I don't think it is, based on Gibson's websites.
I'm going back into the jungle to hunt for the wild and elusive Gibbo . . .
Brian
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^ I had a go on that LP and it's fantastic!
i quadruple that!
and that pic always cracks me up!
see.. that's what i call a great weekend.. it makes you laugh even when it's long over
:D
thanks guys!
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^ I had a go on that LP and it's fantastic!
i quadruple that!
and that pic always cracks me up!
see.. that's what i call a great weekend.. it makes you laugh even when it's long over
:D
thanks guys!
You are in the pic too - I just see you at the back - probably talking to me on the BK stand!
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don't know what store you are shopping at, but supremes are NOT made in the custom shop, I can guarantee you that, though they are very nice guitars, but, not custom shop.
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Here's a good article for anyone shopping for an LP
http://www.dinosaurrockguitar.com/interviews/MrX.shtml :twisted:
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I wouldn't go near the new Japanese Tokai's anymore. I played a 'custom' model not too long ago and was shocked by just how bad the cosmetics were. Little holds next the the inlays so they could insert them better (even though you can feel the inlays stick out of the fretbooard. The paint had been applied carelessly as there was some 'overlapping' on the body binding. The resonance wasn't that good either, sounded like a toy. Maybe the old ones are better but i won't touch the new ones anymore.
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Bird,
Great article on Gibson and LP quality.
However, as the owner of a very heavy, 1989 LP Standard, you have now left me quite depressed!
Looking on the bright side though - it only cost me £700 and it does have a set of Mules in it!
:-)
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Great article on Gibson and LP quality.
However, as the owner of a very heavy, 1989 LP Standard, you have now left me quite depressed!
Yes, it is a very good article. Totally agree with the comments about fingerboards & fretwork - some of the guitars I tried were appalling - I wouldn't have paid £200 for that quality of workmanship let alone £1100.
I guess I must be lucky though, because my Les Paul is a heavy one but sounds fantastic acoustically. Of all the Les Pauls I tried (& I made a real nuisance of myself in several shops before buying) it was clearly nicer than the others.
Having said that, I have no idea what it weighs, only that it's a lot heavier than any other guitar I have. For interest's sake, I'll get it on the bathroom scales when I get home today! :lol:
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Great article on Gibson and LP quality. However, as the owner of a very heavy, 1989 LP Standard, you have now left me quite depressed!
[...]I guess I must be lucky though, because my Les Paul is a heavy one but sounds fantastic acoustically. Of all the Les Pauls I tried (& I made a real nuisance of myself in several shops before buying) it was clearly nicer than the others. Having said that, I have no idea what it weighs, only that it's a lot heavier than any other guitar I have. For interest's sake, I'll get it on the bathroom scales when I get home today! :lol:
Likewise! :lol: I have what feels to me like a pretty heavy Gibson LP Std of '90ish vintage which I bought used in a shop in '93. I cruised around a bit, at the time, trying different Gibson LP Stds that I found in used guitar shops (of which there were many in Boston, USA where I then lived) and finally settled on one that felt right. I couldn't really compare it to everything else I'd played over the month or so I was on my LP-walkabout, but there was just something when I picked it up and strummed and noddled that said "Me!". It was just plain black, no fancy tops or nuthin', but I don't care much about looks when the sound starts doing the job.
I did have a guy I knew who played LPs in a nationally touring band (who, having played a gig locally the previous evening, conveniently wandered into the shop while I was there) check it out quickly, and actually hauled it to a luthier to have it looked over before finalizing the deal, but they liked it well enough, so I went with it. Always been happy with it ever since (espcially since putting in the Crawlers 8)), though I do want to change out those lousy Kluson tuners some time! :P
I'll have to stick it on the bathroom scales now too, though! :lol:
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I got mine from a girl who was 'selling it for her boyfriend'..... Stumped up the cash, left no details and got out of there quick!
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An interesting thing not stated explicitly in that article and worth taking note for you if you're looking at a high end Lester, the Heritage H-150 is reckoned to be the best sounding singlecut in general production.
Interestingly, the best guitar I've ever played (and I've played a PRS artist, a Parker Deluxe etc) was a 70s Studio :o
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You are in the pic too - I just see you at the back - probably talking to me on the BK stand!
yea, i saw.
it was either you or i was talking to steve .. or drac
and no, supremes arent made in the custom shop.. albeit the price is pretty near lol, that aside, it SHOULD be very resonant because of the chambered body and imo, it is the top gibson model before hitting the custom shop.
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I would add that, much though I love my Gibbo LP, I probably wouldn't get another LP-style guitar. I've got one I like and it does the job -- next guitar will be different.
I really fancy something along the lines of the original intention of the PRS, combining tasty elements from LPs and Strats: a 24 fret, 25" scale HSS or HSH (with coil tapping on the Hs to go all single coily if I feel like it!) with plenty of access to the high frets. Smokin'. OK, I'm drifting off topic here -- sorry! :)
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OK, just checked out the price for that Feline LP, and I'd take that over a custom shop Gibson anyday (of course I'd have to sell my wife for either, but heh :wink: )