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What's the verdict on these?

i have the humbucker version of that and i like it alot. I prefer it to any Epiphone ive played for sure

gaahhh

I liked everything til I saw quot;maple neckquot;

thats just a no-no for me on a Paula. with P90s to boot, that thing could be icepick in the eyeball bright...


Originally Posted by JeffB...that thing could be icepick in the eyeball bright...

Even with a mahogany body?

i have a Phat Cat in the bridge of mine, and it sounds full and deep, not too bright whatsoever....... i find it sounds like any Les Paul ive ever heard, so the maple neck doesnt seem to make a difference since it had a mahogany body, at least to me ears


Originally Posted by JB_From_HellEven with a mahogany body?

ever play a Norlin era Paula?

Yes, the neck makes a BIG difference tonally.... whether it's material, or dimensions.

You'll find most hardcore Paula people don't like the maple necks at all. There are exceptions of course, but in general they are very bright and make for a noticeably different sound that people don't care for.

I'd personally never buy a maple neck Paula ever again. I had one...blech....

I know that the neck obviously makes a huge difference, but tonally, my favorite combo thus far has been a (set) maple neck in a mahogany body. I've played tons of guitars like this, and never thought any of them were too bright.


Originally Posted by JB_From_HellI know that the neck obviously makes a huge difference, but tonally, my favorite combo thus far has been a (set) maple neck in a mahogany body. I've played tons of guitars like this, and never thought any of them were too bright.

By all means then if you like the sound, go for it, bro!

It may be a quot;good soundquot; with the right pups, but it's not what I want to hear in a Paula, if that makes sense? For me, it quot;ruinsquot; the classic LP sound.

I should clarify....

Maple neck..mahog body..NO MAPLE CAP rosweood board...I don't find to be bad...But maple neck and cap..too much maple IMO.


Originally Posted by JeffBI should clarify....

Maple neck..mahog body..NO MAPLE CAP rosweood board...I don't find to be bad...But maple neck and cap..too much maple IMO.

Ok, I didn't think about that. I really prefer no maple cap, period. I'm pretty sure most of the maple neck/mahogany body guitars I played had a veneer rather than a cap, too.


Originally Posted by JB_From_HellOk, I didn't think about that. I really prefer no maple cap, period. I'm pretty sure most of the maple neck/mahogany body guitars I played had a veneer rather than a cap, too.

Makes a big diff to my ears at least.

Veneers are like my ex mother in law's chicken soup...she just kinda waved the chicken over the pot...not much flava


Originally Posted by JeffBMakes a big diff to my ears at least.

Veneers are like my ex mother in law's chicken soup...she just kinda waved the chicken over the pot...not much flava
So Jeff, are you pretty well schooled in the ways of LP knockoffs?


Originally Posted by JB_From_Hell

So Jeff, are you pretty well schooled in the ways of LP knockoffs?

Not terribly...I've always gone the real deal..I've played a few...but only ever pulled the trigger on an Epi. I was not impressed with most of the knockoffs I've played.

In lower priced models that is...I've messed around with the higher end stuff...Heritage, etc...

I should mention...erikH and I have had some discussion lately, and he's been playing one of the new Hamer imports...sunburst quilt, I think? And it's got him to where he's thinking about selling his epi Std Plus to get it. He said it basically killed his Chinese Epi for tone and sustain. I've not played one of the import Hamers but I know how much he loves his Epi and how good it sounds..so..that may be another way to look? :shrug: It's a $450 guitar. I'm curious to if he's gone and pulled the trigger on it yet.

I just don't mess around with import guitars except for the occasional Ibanez/Jackson....strat type thingies where I'm not terribly concerned with fit amp; finish, pure tone, etc.... as long as it's playable...

I'm not convinced that's a mahogany back. I've played a Tokai that was identical and it had an alder back. Which takes you even further away from the LP formula. It was a cool guitar in it's own way, though...

What's the neck shape like on the Tokai's? Is it the slim '60, fat '59 or something else?

It's supposed to be close to a 60 neck. That one listed are the korean versions. I think the made in japan ones are all mahogany for neck and body.

the ones you can get from Canada are Mahogany bodies (this is the guy i got mine from)...the ones in Europe are alder bodies