differences in Les Paul models??

[trader56]

Hi All,

 

Forgive a strange question, but I am returning to the guitar after over 25 yrs off (long story!).

 

In the 70's, I owned a Gibson ES 335 (no, I don't still have it-sold it in '75 to pay for chasing a red-hot love to CA, and no, she didn't marry me, LOL).

 

I've always wanted a Les Paul, but never knew much about them. In looking at ads for used guitars, I see this:

The Les Paul Special - MUCH less expensive

The Les Paul Studio - Huh?

The Les Paul Standard - 2-3 time more expensive than the Special.

 

Can anyone help with telling em the differences here, and why one might be the best choice?

Why is the Special so much cheaper?

 

If it helps, I like Blues, what's now called "Classic Rock" (Clapton, Hendrix, etc), not as technique-oriented as the Van Halen and later stuff, but great respect for these, nonetheless.

 

Thanks for any time and help - this looks like a great board!

[Strategery]

Hi there Trader56...Welcome back to the rat race! :grin:

 

I've been playing since 1974 and have bought 3 new Les Pauls over the years.

To be honest, they're one of the most beautiful guitars in the world, but I always wound up selling them.

The reason? They're almost 1-trick ponies and they're heavy as hell.

They sound fantastic for what they do, but nowdays, a versatile guitar is a much better value and asset to have...which is why I play a strat and put the pickups in there that suits my style.

You may want to try Paul Reed Smith.

 

But if you've got to have a Les Paul, Gibson has lost their minds on their pricing.

My last one was a Les Paul Classic. But now they're only 3 or 4 hundred cheaper than the Standard, which is my favorite Les Paul.

THe Classic has aged fret inlays and knobs. THe pickups are ceramic instead of Alnico also.

In my mind, buy a NEW one. You KNOW it's in great shape and you're not getting ripped off.

If it were me though, I'd get a lighter guitar with a tapered back for we senior citizens. hahahha

 

I'm playing an 89 Strat Plus with Seymour Duncans with an ash body and it sounds fantastic!

I'm also playing a Gretsch Nashville for rockabilly.

The single coils nowdays no longer have the 60hz hum problems of the past and you can get stacked humbuckers for the bridge position that sounds ALMOST like a humbucker!

 

Here's a link to MF on the Les Paul page.

Just go through there and you can READ what the differences are.

You're going to have to re-educate yourself since you've been out of the loop so long.

THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF CHANGES to gear....I think for the better to be honest with you.

 

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/navigation?q=Gibson+Les+Paul

 

Good luck and let us know what you think!

 

Randy S.

 

My personal favorite!

 

http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/5/9/5/270595.jpg

 

 

[Big Red 67]

Hey welcome to the forum!

[Dr. Ellwood]

Welcome TRADER to the best Guitar Forum on the internet! I own 4 Les Pauls and have for many years. yeah they are a little heavy but not for a full grown adult LOL! Anyway welcome back to the fraturnity and we will expect to see lots of posts from you in the future...If you have questions once you really get into your search, we can help you...also with amps and effects and theory.

[Dr. Ellwood]

Trader, you might be interested in a thread we made permanent that is located at the top of the opening page. This thread is named: The Theory Thread (Now with free Jam Tracks!)LINK: https://forums.musicplayer.com/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/1582022/page/1#Post1582022 ..there you will find free downloadable MP3 files of Jam Tracks that my band and others have put there for Forum members to jam too for practice..feel free to use them, we also have a thread where you can record your lead work over these Jam Tracks once you get comfortable with recording (we can help you with that also!) when you get a chance take a look it them.

[Bluesape]

The Special is a flat mahogany bodied guitar.

 

The Studio is typically a thicker, carved mahogany body.

 

The Standard, Deluxe, Custom, and other high end ones have a carved maple top, and indeed get heavy.

 

They are wonderful guitars for specific areas where they outshine just about everything else, but don't really cut it for twangy, edgy sounding tones. The PRS is a very happy medium between the LP and Strat, with great playability and tone. The Strat is the most emulated and versatile guitar on earth.

[Strategery]

Exactly....and well put.

 

Randy S.

[trader56]

Thank you so much everyone for the warm welcome, and all the help!!

 

I HAD thought about a Strat, too, Hendrix being one of my all-time favorites (bought the Experinced album as a teen when it was first released, so yeah, senoir citizen LOL).

 

One more for the experts:

What do you like for a guy with shorter fingers?

I don'r have those long spidery fingers Jimi had.

 

Thank you all again!

[Hardtail]

I HAD thought about a Strat, too

 

I have one Strat and one LP. I don't know which one I like better. I'm just glad I have both.

 

[mdrs]

Trader56, eh? First and formost, WELCOME TO OUR FORUM

 

Before we get down to business, I see the "56"....that wouldn't be the year you were born, would it? It IS the year I was born!! You will find at least several guys, just like you, who played, stopped, and have come back to it as we hit "our prime"!! LMAO!! Hang around here, and you'll meet them eventually. By the way, we do allow select young upstarts here as well, just to keep us more mature specimens on our toes!! :grin:

 

Now...Guitar Talk!!

 

There are as many guitar favorites as there are players!! You'll find that I'll suggest you have ONE OF EACH KIND!! :grin: But, I'll try to give you a couple of tips.

 

First, do you have an amp? Will you be playing at home? Do you play lead, or rhythm?

 

I am more of a Strat player (I like lead). But, I LOVE LES PAULS! As much as I play a strat, I feel most at home with a good Les Paul.

 

You'll hear guys talk about how Les Pauls are heavy. THE HEAVIER THEY ARE THE MORE I LIKE THEM!! Some small children can't handle the heavy ones :grin:. But, as Ellwood said, most male adults can. LOL!!

 

Some LP's are heavier than others. I have a bunch of Les Pauls, and weight is the last thing I ever pay attention to. I've yet to play one that is too heavy.

 

If you can, play as many as you can. My experience with all guitars, and in particular Les Pauls, is that even with the top end ones, some sound great, and some sound bland and bad. Again, I'd play as many as you can. And, I'd not rush into buying one. Find one that when you play it, you KNOW IT WAS MEANT TO GO HOME WITH YOU. Then buy it!! If you can play it and evaluate it first, used is a fine idea.

 

I have a LP Classic, that is very edgy and very clear sounding and will rip you a new one. I've got a couple who's neck pickups are warm fuzzy blues machines!! Some have thinner necks, while others have thick necks. And, you can make a good variety of tones with a LP.

 

Try to figure out which amp you are going to play thru. Then, when you are trying out different LP's play thru that amp. Places like Guitar Center are hard to beat, because they typically will have a variety of "stuff" you can try out. Go during the day, or morning hours, during the week it you can. If you are going to play at home, don't buy a Marshall stack first!! Don't get me wrong, I love Marshall stacks matched with a good LP. But, it's not practable for home use!! When I was first able to buy good equipment, I bought amps that were too big!! Check out something like a Fender Blues Deluxe, or better yet a Rivera Clubster (a GREAT little amp...personally, I'd get this one as a first in home amp). You can play at reasonable loudness with either, and you could play out in a smaller venue with either as well;

 

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Fender-Blues-Deluxe-Reissue-40W-1x12-Combo-Amp?sku=483718

 

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Rivera-Clubster-25-Watt-1x10-Combo-Amp?sku=486325

 

Now, I love Strats. Since a Strat gives you a wider variety of tones due to the three pickups, you might consider buying one of these first. An American Strat is affordable, and a great all around choice. I have a decent vintage collection, but my American Strat from the mid '90's is a fine instrument, and holds it's own against those old wood vintage ones. And it's much less expensive than a LP.

 

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Fender-American-Stratocaster-Electric-Guitar?sku=510590

 

I own a whole bunch of collectable Paul Reed Smiths. IMO, they make the finest best finished, most beautiful electrics out there. With a few exceptions, however, I find their tone disapointing. To my ear, they sound too neutral. I can tell if someone is playing a Strat or a Les Paul, but not a PRS. They do play very well, and are just lovely guitars.

 

Bottom line, if you want a Les Paul, buy a Les Paul. Play as many as you can, and you'll figure out what you like and need to make yourself happy.

 

Let us know how you do, and what you get! And, stick around here. We have a great forum!!

[BillWelcome Home Studios]

I'm one of the old farts around here, and I (generally) believe that if you want a 56 Chevy you should buy a 56 Chevy. There have been some cool advancements in the art of guitar and amp building since the 1970s, but it sounds to me as if you aren't really going to care.

 

I like the Special, Standard, and Deluxe. The Custom is okay I guess. Given my preference, I'll pick the P-90s over the Humbuckers, but that is just me. A two pickup Special or Standard gold top just floats my boat.

 

In an amp for such a rig I'd probably be looking at a Vibrolux Reverb or a Deluxe Reverb, possibly a Marshall combo of some tube sort. My own choice was a THD UniValve with THD 2x12 cab, but that might be too tweeky for you at this stage.

 

 

Bill

[Strategery]

More good points made by all here....with the exception of the Girly Man comments. :grin:

I tell ya'....after playing a 5 setter with a Les Paul's weight on my shoulder and it's edge digging in my ribs...Geez...I'm done for. :grin:

 

Yeah, I'm either a one or the other guitar person myself.

Like a Coke....nothing beats the REAL THANG!! :grin:

I USED to keep a Strat and a Les Paul to swap out with each other.

The reason I sold my Les Pauls and basically stopped playing humbuckers is....that when I swapped them out...I had to change all the tone and volume settings on my amp.

It just got old so I stuck with the Strat.

What I DID do....was buy 2 different strats....one with a maple neck and one with a rosewood neck.

One is more a Snappy-Stratty sound and the other more mellow-bluesy & rock & rolly.

 

But like the others said, any guitar even though the same style, can sound completely differnt.

You're just going to have to wade through them...at volume.

 

Also another good point the others made is....get you a 1/12 or 2/12 amp...not over 50watts. You can drive it to get that good over driven power amp sound out of'em.

 

Myself, I've owned stacks and will never buy another one.

I'm a combo man.

I've used 2/12's for years but am now very happy with my Fender Concert Reverb 4/10.

It KICKS but I did change the speaker to Eminence Copperheads.

A Strat or a Les Paul will always sound great through a good Fender tube amp.

Fender amps come with a standard 5 year warranty too.

I did buy a little Carvin Nomad 1/12 for the heck of it and changed out the tubes to JJ's blues. They come stock with Celestion Vintage 1/12's in them that sound great.

 

Anyway, let us know how it works out.

 

And now....back to our regularly scheduled program.

 

Randy S.

[trader56]

mdrs, Randy, and everyone,

 

Thank you all SO much for yuor kindness and help - I'm very pleased to have found this forum with so many great people!

 

Yes, Guilty as charged, I was born in March of '56.

 

As to playing, while I'd love to play with others at some point, I think my marginal skills have rusted to the point where I'm looking at a year of getting reaquainted with the fundamentals. I have a small Fender amp right now - my dream had always been a Marshall stack at some point.

 

More and more, yuo guys are really getting me to think about starting with a Strat! As you say, less expensive, and would be great for the kind of music I'd love to play! Believe it or not, right now I'm hacking around on a Bentley Series 10 that I picked up some years back. Ok for just trying to get the fingers moving again I guess.

 

Again, my sincere thanks for the time, help, and encouragement you've all given me!

[mdrs]

Geeze Trader, YOU'RE OLD!! I didn't arrive till August of '56 :grin:

 

I always wanted a Marshall stack. And, when I could start to afford good stuff, I bought a couple!! Only, I should have started with the small amps first!

 

Which small Fender do you have? Is it new, or old?

 

I like the way a fender guitar (Tele or Strat) sounds thru a fender amp better than a LP, personally. The humbuckers in a LP seem to overwhelm a little Fender amp at times.

 

So, if you already have a decent small Fender amp, maybe go with the Strat, FOR NOW!

 

DON'T GIVE UP THE DREAM.....GET YOUR LP IN TIME!!

[Zuben]

(a bunch of spring chickens)

 

Trader 56,

 

Lots of wisdom these masters have endowed upon you.

 

I will add just one thing. Guitars and cars Never buy one with out test driving the one you end up buying! Not just the same model, but the one you test drove and like. Much like cars, one off the assembly line will and can be the evil twin of the one before it or the one after it.

 

Peace

[Dave da Dude]

Well, I'm going to throw another one into the mix. I did a LOT of guitar auditioning about two years ago. I had bought a Highway 1 Strat on impulse... and loved it. First one I had ever liked the action on in twenty years.

 

I was looking for an LP or clone. I tried all the LP's and loved the tone, but not the price. I started (unsuccesfully) auditioning clones. My conclusion... not too many GOOD ones. I did like the Gibson DC LP. It has tone chambers and cost half as much as an LP (why, I wounder?).

 

Also... the Godin LP w/ P-90's was an AWESOME guitar for half the price of the DC LP. Just my two cents. Oh, btw, Godin, a French Canadien guitar assembled from USA made (Maine) parts. Very plain looking (for that model, you can spend more if you'd like) guitar... but all solid mahogany (neck too) and well built.

 

But, if an LP is what you want, you won't be happy with anything else. Sorry if I've confused the mix. Whatever you do good luck!

[mdrs]

more like winter chickens, I'd think......

 

How's the spine, father time?? :grin:

[mdrs]

Well, I'm going to throw another one into the mix. I did a LOT of guitar auditioning about two years ago. I had bought a Highway 1 Strat on impulse... and loved it. First one I had ever liked the action on in twenty years.

 

I was looking for an LP or clone. I tried all the LP's and loved the tone, but not the price. I started (unsuccesfully) auditioning clones. My conclusion... not too many GOOD ones. I did like the Gibson DC LP. It has tone chambers and cost half as much as an LP (why, I wounder?).

 

Also... the Godin LP w/ P-90's was an AWESOME guitar for half the price of the DC LP. Just my two cents. Oh, btw, Godin, a French Canadien guitar assembled from USA made (Maine) parts. Very plain looking (for that model, you can spend more if you'd like) guitar... but all solid mahogany (neck too) and well built.

 

But, if an LP is what you want, you won't be happy with anything else. Sorry if I've confused the mix. Whatever you do good luck!

 

Agreed, Dave.....I've played a ton of LP's over the years...the large majority dissapoint. But, the thing is, that the one's that are great, ARE GREAT!!

 

The key thing is, find a great one. Then BUY IT!!

 

 

[Strategery]

Yep, I'm the baby around here I guess.

I wasn't born til December of 57...Mwahahahahahaha. :grin:

I'll turn the big Five-O this year....DAMN!!

 

Yeah, I think every musician should get the instrument of their choice...all kidding aside. You gotta chase your dreams.

 

You know...if you really have to have a Les Paul, Gibson makes a FADED and another line I believe that are still American made, but don't have the binding and pretty stuff. They're under 1G for sure.

I bought a new Faded SG a couple years back and I really enjoyed it. It was about $650 I think.

I sold it...but I enjoyed it. :grin:

I always wanted an SG...so I bought one. I think I bought it because Angus had one. I just had to get it out of my system. hahahha :grin:

 

Another thing. Even if you buy whatever...if you find out you don't like it later on....as long as you take GOOD care of it, you'll get most of your money back to reinvest in a new one.

I do that kind of stuff all the time.

 

As a matter of fact, I'm selling a 2003 American Strat right now.

There's not even a scratch in the clear finish. That's how good of care I take of my instruments.

It's 2 tone tobacco sunburst, maple neck, and I have hand wound Van Zandt Blues single coils in it. $850 for those interested, you pay shipping.

Ehhh...I have plenty of guitars and I want a Roland Fantom X6 keyboard to add to my arsenal. hahaha

 

For the record, I'm enjoying the vast amount of knowledge here myself!

 

Party on Garth!! :grin:

[Strategery]

Case in point...$769 with gig bag. Cases are cheap.

This one even has alnico pick ups.

Great price, just not as pretty. Try it out if you like.

 

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Gibson-Les-Paul-Special-Faded-Electric-Guitar-with-Humbuckers?sku=517199

 

Les Paul Special Faded

http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/6/8/3/273683.jpg

 

*490R alnico magnet humbucker at the neck

*498T alnico magnet humbucker at the bridge

*Mahogany body

*1960 slim taper neck

*Rosewood 22-fret fingerboard

*Chrome hardware

 

 

 

[Guitarzan]

Dave mentioned the Godin LGsp90, yes a rockin choice for sure.

here is a pic of my former LGsp90.

LGsp90 and yamaha aes620

here is my LP vintage mahogany

LP vintage mahogany

[trader56]

I'm in awe of the knowledge here - man, I've got a lot of catching up to do!

 

I think a good point is made about trying out many guitars and models, and finding the best fit.

 

We've got a few really good consignment shops here in town, as well as a Guitar Center, so I can have some fun window shopping while finding just the right guitar.

 

The little amp I've got right now is a Fender 15. Don't really know anything about this one (shuold've Googled it in before writing this, which I'll go do now).

 

Oh, and I'm Dave, too.

[Hardtail]

As to playing, while I'd love to play with others at some point, I think my marginal skills have rusted to the point where I'm looking at a year of getting reaquainted with the fundamentals.

 

It'll come back with time and practice.

 

[Guitarzan]

hi Dave. welcome to our little piece of the net.

[alittlebatty]

Welcome to the forum! And as I've never owned a Les Paul,I'll leave the advice to those that have.........:-)

[Guitarzan]

you know you want one

[mdrs]

Dave,

 

The Fender 15 looks like a fun place to get back into playing at a very reasonable cost.

 

Next step is tubes.......

 

Have fun!

 

 

[Dave da Dude]

You know...if you really have to have a Les Paul, Gibson makes a FADED and another line I believe that are still American made, but don't have the binding and pretty stuff. They're under 1G for sure.

I bought a new Faded SG a couple years back and I really enjoyed it. It was about $650 I think.

I sold it...but I enjoyed it. :grin:

I always wanted an SG...so I bought one. I think I bought it because Angus had one. I just had to get it out of my system. hahahha :grin:

I forgot about those. I've auditioned those too with very favorable impression. I even like the finish! :grin:

[mdrs]

you know you want one

 

I know he wants one............

[mdrs]

you know you want one

 

I know he wants one............

 

I want one....ANOTHER ONE!! :grin: