The best Les Paul alternative?

[LazyNinja]

Hi all, sorry for a long post

I play and love the sound of my LP Studio, warm and thick but with the added bite and clarity from the Nailbombs. However, I have small hands and I have trouble getting around to the higher frets. If I keep my thumb on the neck, the highest I could go is about 19-20th fret on the high e string. Otherwise I'd have to take my hand off and I dont really like doing that because it's very awkward.

Im frankly getting frustrated with this and I was thinking of replacing it with something that sounds similar but with a better high fret access. I also want slim but rounded profile neck if I can because I like to grab the neck for wraparound barre chords every now and then. I find that with typical thin necks this is too uncomfortable. Something like the neck of LP studio but just slightly thinner and flatter would be ideal I think. The only worry is that I would lose warmth and sustain from a smaller neck, is that likely?

My budget would be up to ~£600, considering I get about £500 for selling my LP. the ones I've thought of so far are:

LP doublecut
Washburn WI series
Ibanez Artist
LAG Roxanne
LTD Viper 400
Explorer
Hamer USA studio (import second hand from the states)
PRS CE22/24 (used)

most of those I have no hands on experience with, so I would appreciate any info on these guitars and also any other suggestions would be useful. Thanks

[Adam.M]

I want an ARX320, i dont like the other ibanez's in the artist range.

[Sifu Ben]

Of the ones you've listed, obviously the Hamer is the best bet, but obviously relies on luck.
 Check out the Dean Evo Special Select and the Hardtail Select. Actually the Hardtail Select sounds better the more I think, it's a double cut with good access, a generous neck that's a bit smaller than a Les Paul,looks killer, and it's easily in your range with change for some BKs. The feeling I got when I played it was kind of like "the best SG you've ever played" (and I've played the Viper 400).

[Philly Q]

I've owned a few double-cutaway Hamers - the neck shapes have varied a bit but they've all been quite slim.  Too skinny for me, but quite close to what you described, I think.

Gibson Explorers usually have quite big rounded necks, probably not what you're looking for.

What about a Yamaha SG or an early 80s Ibanez Artist?  They're excellent, and turn up on eBay quite often.

[Sailor Charon]

How 'bout a Tokai Love Rock/Love Rock II?

[Crazy_Joe]

If your looking for better access to higher frets the Explorer is NOT the way to go. Definatley a more chuncky neck on Tokai and Gibson.

[LazyNinja]

Oh yeah forgot about those Deans. hardtail, caddy, vendetta etc, they definitey are very attractive.
Yamaha SGxxxxs are pretty cool yeah forgot about them too. Theyre quite rare though arent they. Their tobaccoburst looks killer.

Its definitely good news that Hamers have small necks becuase there are some very good deals out there. Like this one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Hamer-Studio-Sunburst-Electric-Guitar-CASE-NEW_W0QQitemZ280081817419QQihZ018QQcategoryZ33042QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

If it wasnt in such a nasty bright red I'd seriously considered it. Philly Q, did you try the USA models or the far eastern ones?

thanks for the ideas guys, keep them coming!

[Sifu Ben]

Tokais'll have the exact same problems for him though.

[LazyNinja]

If your looking for better access to higher frets the Explorer is NOT the way to go. Definatley a more chuncky neck on Tokai and Gibson.

really? considering their shape and strap pin position I would have thought they'd be good for that.

[Twinfan]

Although they sound a bit thinner than a Les Paul, what about some sort of SG?  A fully pimped up Epi (like my '65 reissue) is within your budget, or a Gibson Special?

[LazyNinja]

Although they sound a bit thinner than a Les Paul, what about some sort of SG?  A fully pimped up Epi (like my '65 reissue) is within your budget, or a Gibson Special?

I thought SGs would be too cutting. I tried a lot of Epi SGs and theyre bit brighter and thinner than LPs. I also tried lots of SG specials wasnt really impressed that much. They all tend to have suicidal tendencies too with the heavy neck and light body.

[Philly Q]

Its definitely good news that Hamers have small necks becuase there are some very good deals out there.

If it wasnt in such a nasty bright red I'd seriously considered it. Philly Q, did you try the USA models or the far eastern ones?

Only the US ones - my much-abused '81 Special (like a Sunburst, with an unbound body) was my first "proper" guitar, and I've owned an Artist and a Special with P-90s.  All variations on that double-cutaway LP Junior shape.  I've also owned a couple of other Hamer models.

I suspect that Studio on eBay is a much nicer colour than it looks in the pics.  Good price too.

I don't know much about the far eastern Hamers - they seem fairly low-spec so I wouldn't expect them to be very good.

[Twinfan]

Thought that might be the case!  Sounds like you want a double cut Les Paul-a-like with a 60's slim taper type neck:

Ideal candidate:  Gordon Smith Graduate Double Cutaway

Alternative:  Yamaha SG series (if the neck is slim enough)

[matteo]

what about an ibanez ar300? nice guitars but im not sure the necks slimmer than an lp as ive never played an lp!! nice guitars though. surely your hands cant be that small :roll:
 
id say just try as many as you can till you find one thats comfortable!! :P

[Skybone]

Another vote for an Ibanez Artist, especially the older ones from the late 70's/early 80's. But the recent reissues seem to be pretty good too.

The LAG Roxanne seems to be pretty much an Artist replica.