SGs and LPs

[gwEm]

ablomb?

sorry, aplomb... should really check my spelling.

[Jonny]

aplomb?

lol..

[gwEm]

lol ;)

it means 'poise and confidence'. in other words i meant SGs can have a go at anything and do it well.

[Dakine]

It's all NUANCES!

Males brains work in a way that we are visual (aka women ;)  ).

LP's tend to LOOK the part.

Now, the nuances. An LP is a big heavy piece of tree so sounds fat and rich. Is a SG gonna sound the same? NO. But it can sound very similar to many ears.

Over the years it has become very apparent that an amp/speaker will ultimately show the tone. IMO playing with just slight grit (none of this 11 gain raging on drop z tuning or whatever, thats a 6 string Bass people) will show the tone of any given guitar better.

Les pauls are iconic, thus many desire/want/have one. Does it make you play any different? I would say not. Your fingers make YOU play like you! Thats why trying to 'cop' a fave tone is nigh on impossible.

Gibson have/do make some fine instruments. They also make very high priced packing crates! Quality control is a swear word for the most part these days with many :(

I think about it like this.
Your picking hand is set, string spacing is marginal in it's change as is bridge etc.
The NECK is where you spend your 'intricate' time. So the neck of a guitar is paramount to me!

If a Les Paul feels right on the neck then I am happy, or if it's a 200 quid partoguitar same thing.

I had some 'maleness' recently when I bought my PRS. I always looked upon them as 'Wall Hangers' (that is pretty pieces of wood too nice to play even if they are good). I picked one up and could'nt put it down, due to it's neck mostly.

This is why so much trading goes on, IMO, guys look at guitars, like what they SEE, think it's right and buy it. Only to receive it and be unhappy with what they bought.

I know it's not easy to demo gear (trust me the States is NO different) but truly to spend time (and NOT in a noisy rushed enviroment) with a potential purchase is a much more assured way to choose gear.

[Jonny]

Going into my Economics Mode..

I think it's just from brand loyalty, etc. cause you have people like Slash playing the Les Paul and other artists, then you have people who buy it the fact that Slash plays it, then you have people following that and so and so on, and even people who have no idea but say 'Oh, that's a great sounding guitar! Slash plays a Les Paul'

And the flashy cool finishes, etc. just keep the eyes latched on Gibson. They're probably good guitars nonetheless.

I'll hopefully try a Les Paul (TOKAIPLZ) and maybe an SG on Saturday or something. I've never tried a real Stratocaster either, I've got a copy one, but I assume the feeling of body and neck is totally different.

[Dakine]

fwiw Slash started out playing Les Paul custom made copies, NOT Gibsons.

See, it's a visual thang :)

Therefore, your strat copy may be a better player for you than a Fender, see how it goes :)

And BTW Slash is a veritable ameba when it comes to the LP.

[badgermark]

My Dad is of the school that Gibson and Marshall= quality. He couldn't wrap his head round that I traded down my USA made Gibson SG for a MIM Strat. Never mind the SG was an arse to play, and the Strat is what I was wanting.

Now you bar-stewards have me confused! My Epi LP is getting retired (massive fret wear and I can't face paying money to upgrade it) and I plan on building a Warmoth guitar, Gibson body, Fender neck scale, single humbucker. Swinging between a LP and a SG though. I can't decide.

[Jonny]

fwiw Slash started out playing Les Paul custom made copies, NOT Gibsons.

See, it's a visual thang :)

Therefore, your strat copy may be a better player for you than a Fender, see how it goes :)

But I can't play a guitar, and think - oh it's too fat of a neck and then pick up another and go, this is thinner.

Unless it's extreme.

[Jonny]

fwiw Slash started out playing Les Paul custom made copies, NOT Gibsons.

See, it's a visual thang :)

Therefore, your strat copy may be a better player for you than a Fender, see how it goes :)

But I can't play a guitar, and think - oh it's too fat of a neck and then pick up another and go, this is thinner.

Unless it's extreme.

[Dakine]

fwiw Slash started out playing Les Paul custom made copies, NOT Gibsons.

See, it's a visual thang :)

Therefore, your strat copy may be a better player for you than a Fender, see how it goes :)

But I can't play a guitar, and think - oh it's too fat of a neck and then pick up another and go, this is thinner.

Unless it's extreme.

then simply put, and cannot help you with this, only YOU and time will tell. You hav'nt played enough or played enough guitars. NOT being sarcastic, but it only comes with time.

[sambo]

fwiw Slash started out playing Les Paul custom made copies, NOT Gibsons.

See, it's a visual thang :)

Therefore, your strat copy may be a better player for you than a Fender, see how it goes :)

But I can't play a guitar, and think - oh it's too fat of a neck and then pick up another and go, this is thinner.

Unless it's extreme.

Playability isn't all about neck size. And I'm sure between a Les Paul and a strat/superstrat you will tell the difference in neck size anyway.

[Scotty477]

I have to say that before I got my Gibson LP I played a '94 Korean built Epiphone LP for a few years - for gigs as well.

Now this Epi LP was and still is a good one but it simply can't compete with my Gibson LP, in terms of tone, feel and build quality.

In my book the reason that lots of people - 'stars' and us normal people - use a Gibson LP is simply the fact that when you actively compare a copy LP against a Gibson LP you will clearly see/hear and feel a difference between them.

I may well buy a copy LP in the future (80's Yamaha) but knowing what a real one is like I wont be expecting the same quality.

[Dakine]

I may well buy a copy LP in the future (80's Yamaha) but knowing what a real one is like I wont be expecting the same quality.

Owning a GOOD Les Paul from 90' if I remember (give take a year) I usually expect many copies to be better quality these days off the shelf compared to a newer LP, sad to say.
Of course depending how you class copy, Tokai, Greco, PRS, Custom etc.

[Jonny]

fwiw Slash started out playing Les Paul custom made copies, NOT Gibsons.

See, it's a visual thang :)

Therefore, your strat copy may be a better player for you than a Fender, see how it goes :)

But I can't play a guitar, and think - oh it's too fat of a neck and then pick up another and go, this is thinner.

Unless it's extreme.

then simply put, and cannot help you with this, only YOU and time will tell. You hav'nt played enough or played enough guitars. NOT being sarcastic, but it only comes with time.

That's true. :)

Since I haven't tried a Les Paul, SG or Fender, lol..

[sambo]

I may well buy a copy LP in the future (80's Yamaha) but knowing what a real one is like I wont be expecting the same quality.

You get what you pay for, even in the vintage MIJ market.  I think a lot of people expect to get an insanely top-end LP for a budget-price by buying an old MIJ copy, which is of course, not the case.

Speaking from total hearsay (so don't quote me on this whatsoever :lol:), the actual high-end MIJ clones are supposed to be every bit as good as the best Gibsons.

I also think playing a les paul (as opposed to a GIBSON les paul), comes from more than just branding. The design, feel, sound, and looks are all great. Even if every favorite guitarist of mine used an Ibanez RG and the marketing was forced on me immensely, I doubt I'd ever buy one.