Cheap LP alikes

[tomjackson]

I was just going to post this in a new topic but it fits this topic really well.  I tried one of these the other day

http://www.tanglewoodguitars.co.uk/products/electrics/tsb58/TSB58HB.html

It was really good, I only tried it unplugged but it really had a great acoustic tone and felt very nice.  It was £299 from Purple Turtle Music.

The neck was fairly shallow which I usually don't like but I'd have made an exception for this guitar if I had some money.  It was better than any Epi I've tried and had more vibe that the lower end MIJ Tokai I Tried.
Also much better than the non Icon V100 next to it (which was £100 cheaper to be fair)

I didn't try plugged in but from what I hear the pickups are pretty good and at least Alnico rather than the cheapie ceramics on some of the budget Lester's

[roland_rat]

+1 vintage lemon drop is very close to budget and well within 2nd hand.

My money would go on a Vintage V100 - the "Lemon Drop" or "Appetite" models are best  :)

[Ian Price]

Cheers all, I think if it was me buying a LP alike I would go for a Vintage. The person who wants it though is firmly in the Gibson camp and although they can't afford a Gibson they would want one that looks pretty much the same. For this reason I think the cheaper Tokai models will do it - I'm assuming that they are the 'nearest' to Gibson looks wise?

[Twinfan]

I reckon this looks pretty close to a £2000 Gibson personally...

http://www.jhs.co.uk/vintageelectric.html

[Ian Price]

Indeed it does!

[Philly Q]

I still find the pointy cutaway on the Vintage a bit troubling, and I don't like their headstock logo.  But that's just me being picky......  :lol:

For this reason I think the cheaper Tokai models will do it - I'm assuming that they are the 'nearest' to Gibson looks wise?

I think so.  Tokai is a strange brand, nearly all their guitars are undeniably "copies", no more no less, but the high-end ones cost as much as the real thing!  For example, Rich Tone Music have some lovely goldtops with P-90s, but they're £1,500, which just seems a crazy amount of money for a "copy".  :o

But I digress.... yes, I think Tokais look the closest to Gibson, in this price range.  Unless you can stretch to a beat-up old Greco, Burny, Orville or something.

Just thought - there are some new Burny models, Chinese(?) made.  Bit more pricey, but you might be able to grab a bargain:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Burny-Fernandes-Les-Paul-Custom-New-Ex-Demo-/290543943316?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item43a5c4be94

[Ian Price]

Well, I've bought the Tokai. Might be a mistake, 7 day money back guarantee though so should be fine either way.

[Telerocker]

Congrats. I agree with Philly the Tokai looks better than the Vintage, although the top is very nice for this money.

[Ian Price]

Cheers - it's not for me though. Just someone who wanted to play but has no experience if guitars!

I've already committed myself to any LP shape guitar to being a custom made jobbie. Years off yet though!

[Philly Q]

Hope it's a good 'un!

[Ian Price]

Well, I certainly hope so! It will be here on Thursday(ish) and I'll have a month or so of holding at my house before it is handed to the new owner.

[WezV]

Tokai is a strange brand, nearly all their guitars are undeniably "copies"

I always liked the hummingbird (now done by eastwood i think), ok - its essentially a mosrite copy, but with enough of its own pointier style to make it worthwhile

[Philly Q]

Tokai is a strange brand, nearly all their guitars are undeniably "copies"

I always liked the hummingbird (now done by eastwood i think), ok - its essentially a mosrite copy, but with enough of its own pointier style to make it worthwhile

I must confess, that's the first time I've seen one of those!

[WezV]

the old ones have a different trem and and a 'hummingbird' decal across the forearm contour - some of the even older ones are a bit more teisco like

[Telerocker]

Eastwood copies a lot of odd shapes from past guitardesigns.