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Hey guys,

So I'm still on the hunt for a Les Paul. At the moment I'm thinking of getting a Gibson USA Les Paul. I've considered copies or Epi's, but I'd like something that'll hold some value and the 2 Gibson's I played yesterday played and sounded great (keep in mind I've never been an LP fan and am just now experiencing enjoyment from them).

The Classics and Standards are pretty pricey for what you get, IMO. I played a Studio and it seemed pretty nice, but I'm not sure about an all mahagony guitar. I know the classic LP has a maple cap. So my questions for all you LP lovers are: How do the all mahagony ones compare to the capped ones? Can the mahagony ones get the same tones as the others? Should I just go for the gold and get something with the maple cap? I don't really want to do this twice, so I just want to get something I'll really dig. If I decide I really need the more standard arrangement I might have to resort to copies or Epi's.

Thanks!

Mike

if maple is what you really want and you don't want to spring for a classic or standard, i would consider going with one of the studios from the early 90's, i've ran across alot that were made with the maple top cap, and the prices are usually in the 6 to 8 range. just an opinion.

Any easy way to tell which ones are capped and which aren't? Obviously I can tell if it is a transparent finish, but are there any indicators for solid coloed varieties? I'm not looking for a flame top or anything, I'm mostly concerned with getting that LP tone.

Thanks!

Mike

I own a killer '59 Gibson Historic LP but IMO the Epi Les Paul Custom is a great guitar for a great price. Replacing the stock Asian made pickups with new Duncans is a must though and will make the Epi into a guitar that will equal the tone of most Gibson LP's and personally, I'd prefer the Epi to the LP Studios I've worked on. My nephew has one of those newer Epi LP Customs and I put a set of Duncan Jazz and JB pickups in, replaced the tone controls with push/pull tone pots so he split each pickup individually and then did a little fret leveling, recrown and polish. That made that guitar into a totally professional guitar with great looks, great tone and great playability. Lew


Originally Posted by LewguitarI own a killer '59 Gibson Historic LP but IMO the Epi Les Paul Custom is a great guitar for a great price. Replacing the stock Asian made pickups with new Duncans is a must though and will make the Epi into a guitar that will equal the tone of most Gibson LP's and personally, I'd prefer the Epi to the LP Studios I've worked on. My nephew has one of those newer Epi LP Customs and I put a set of Duncan Jazz and JB pickups in, replaced the tone controls with push/pull tone pots so he split each pickup individually and then did a little fret leveling, recrown and polish. That made that guitar into a totally professional guitar with great looks, great tone and great playability. Lew

1, but I would also recommend replacing the tuners, and maybe the switch and pots. I had an Epi LP Standard that I eventually sold, but if I had put a bit of work into it I'm sure it would have been an awesome guitar.

I had a '90 Studio in white with an ebony fingerboard, it was the best sounding, most resonate guitar I've ever played. Not to say that all of them are good because I picked thru 5 different ones and this one just had it! Wish now I wouldn't of sold it. Gibson's are not very consistant so you should try as many as possible because I've played Standards and Customs that were bad.


Originally Posted by LewguitarI own a killer '59 Gibson Historic LP but IMO the Epi Les Paul Custom is a great guitar for a great price. Replacing the stock Asian made pickups with new Duncans is a must though and will make the Epi into a guitar that will equal the tone of most Gibson LP's and personally, I'd prefer the Epi to the LP Studios I've worked on. My nephew has one of those newer Epi LP Customs and I put a set of Duncan Jazz and JB pickups in, replaced the tone controls with push/pull tone pots so he split each pickup individually and then did a little fret leveling, recrown and polish. That made that guitar into a totally professional guitar with great looks, great tone and great playability. Lew

I would think about a tonepro bridge as well worh the money and you would still be below budget

If you add up the cost of all of the upgrades to an Epi to make it better, aren't you getting up there quite a bit? Wouldn't it be more prudent to just get the right Gibson from the get go and forgo the upgrades? Just food for thought.......

I own a 2003 Studio it plays great and there isn't any issues. Definately my all time fave I have played over the years!


Originally Posted by msawitzkeAny easy way to tell which ones are capped and which aren't? Obviously I can tell if it is a transparent finish, but are there any indicators for solid coloed varieties? I'm not looking for a flame top or anything, I'm mostly concerned with getting that LP tone.

Thanks!

Mike

the only ones i have ran across in a solid color where the alpine white, and all had an ebony fretboard with the full size trapazoid inlays. a few of the other alpine whites i have seen from the same quot;eraquot;, that did not have the maple top had a rosewood board and the slightly smaller trapazoids. that is not to say there are alpine white studios with an ebony board but solid mahoany and vice versa, but in the ones i have seen this is the norm.

Some interesting thoughts here...

The epiphones say they are mahagony/alder bodies. What does that mean? Are they 2 or 3 piece bodies? Are some Mahagony and some alder? Only some have the maple cap.

I'm trying to wrap my brain around the effect of the different woods on the performance of the instrument. All the nicer LPs are mahagony/maple, so I'm pretty sure I should follow the formula. I've played non-ash strats and definitely noticed a difference. Some with mahagony archtops and acoustics. I want straight up, classic LP to start with.

As I said ealier I have limited experience with LPs. I've played lots o' strats, archtops, 335s, acoustics, classicals, etc., but am just now learning about LPs. I'm concerned an all mahogany(hey, I typed it right!) one might be a little dark/thick/inarticulate. I want to be able to use considerable gain with it when necessary and I think the maple top should help it speak in that situation.

I'm also diggin the ebony finished ones, which seem to not have the maple as often since you can't see the flames. I'm only concerned about tone, really.

Keep 'em coming! I know you guys have played this a crapload more than I have!!

Mike


Originally Posted by JumpMarineIf you add up the cost of all of the upgrades to an Epi to make it better, aren't you getting up there quite a bit? Wouldn't it be more prudent to just get the right Gibson from the get go and forgo the upgrades? Just food for thought.......

This is a good point. One thing I'm leary of is how much gibsons are better than anything else. I've always felt they were seriously overpriced. When I play 175s or Pauls I notice a lot of minor flaws that shouldn't be on $3000 guitars. That is why I like old Ibanez guitars. Super well made and well priced. I do kinda dig the idea of having a mojoriffic Gibson though. Ya know, just to have one of the most signifcant icons in the history of my instrument. I have a USA strat and love it, so it seems only fair to have a USA Gibson!

Mike

when i was buyin my guitar it seemed to me like every lp at guitar center had a slightly different sound. maybe it was just me. but it just seemed like they were all different. my advice is to try alot of them and see wat feels and sounds best. when i played mine it was kinda like yeah.. this is the one. i knew i had to get that one.

I believe the Epi LPs are mahogany body (not sure how many pieces) w/alder cap as opposed to the mahogany body/maple cap of a Gibbie Les Paul. That should be the case regardless of the finish (i.e. transparent, burst or solid).


Originally Posted by JumpMarineIf you add up the cost of all of the upgrades to an Epi to make it better, aren't you getting up there quite a bit? Wouldn't it be more prudent to just get the right Gibson from the get go and forgo the upgrades? Just food for thought.......

Even with the upgrades, I doubt an Epi LP Standard would be much more than $1,000 US. The Gibson equivalent costs far more than that.

Where did you hear than Gibson LP Studios are all mahogany? The specs on their web site indicate that all color variations include a maple top and mahogany back. The only variation is the finish of the hardware and the use of ebony fret boards on one or two colors (and in some prior years) instead of rosewood fret boards.

I have a '99 LP Classic (bought used) and a '03 Studio in wine red (bought new), and like 'em both. The Studio is generally a good buy, especially used. Just make sure you like the neck profile (as opposed to the bigger quot;early 50squot; or the slimmer quot;60s slim taperquot; necks) and can live without the gingerbread (binding on neck and body). My only complaint is that my Studio is heavier than I'd like, although the tone and sustain are there. I lucked into a fairly light Classic, but I think the Standards and Classics are generally just as heavy or heavier than the Studios.

If you find an Epi you like and mod it, you'll probably be happy if you keep it, but don't be surprised if you take a bath on resale.

I have recently been fiddling with this very issue. I messaged Aleclee with questions about the tonal differences between a pure mahogany PRS and one with the mahogany back/maple top combination.

He replied:Originally Posted by AlecleeAs for the solid mahogany thing, it depends on what kind of tone you're looking for. With high gain timbres, it's important to have some quot;edgequot; coming from the guitar to prevent the tone from turning to mush. More mahogany might add fatness but there can sometimes be too much of a good thing. IMO, the two best ways to add that edge are by adding maple and using brighter pickups. My personal inclination is to add maple. The added quot;snapquot; of the maple neck on my CE was probably what gave it better articulation (relative to the Custom I was A/B'ing it with) under high gain.

Originally Posted by KelseyWhere did you hear than Gibson LP Studios are all mahogany? The specs on their web site indicate that all color variations include a maple top and mahogany back. The only variation is the finish of the hardware and the use of ebony fret boards on one or two colors (and in some prior years) instead of rosewood fret boards.

I have a '99 LP Classic (bought used) and a '03 Studio in wine red (bought new), and like 'em both. The Studio is generally a good buy, especially used. Just make sure you like the neck profile (as opposed to the bigger quot;early 50squot; or the slimmer quot;60s slim taperquot; necks) and can live without the gingerbread (binding on neck and body). My only complaint is that my Studio is heavier than I'd like, although the tone and sustain are there. I lucked into a fairly light Classic, but I think the Standards and Classics are generally just as heavy or heavier than the Studios.

If you find an Epi you like and mod it, you'll probably be happy if you keep it, but don't be surprised if you take a bath on resale.

Oh, ya know what, I bet I was playing a Special. It was all mahogany. Whoops! I'm having a hard time keeping the models straight. They don't seem to have huge differences between them.

The neck profile is a bit of an issue. I've played a lot of Ibanezes with thinner necks, and strats. Oddly my bachelors is in Classical guitar, which is the beefiest neck imaginable, but for some reason I've grown accustomed to thin necks on electrics. Are there 3 different necks? Standard, 50s, and 60s? I'm soooo confused!

I REALLY like the binding on LPs. It just gives it that look. I can probably live without it though if the price goes from $800-$1800.

I am concerned about the resale on an Epi. I'm very finicky with my axes and the rotation can be pretty fast, though I've slowed down as I've learned what works for me. I certainly don't buy with the intention of selling, but I've sold a lot of guitars. If I got a Gibson, particularly a used one, it'd probably hold its value pretty well.

my 90 LP studio has a maple top. i love it

*edit: and I also only payed $400

Nice...wanna sell it?!