Aside from Gibby, Epi andAgile what do you think the best LP style guitar is there?

[The Rossness]

USA Dean's

[MetalMedal II]

I'd like to know others' opinions. Ever since I sold my '95 Jimmy Page LP 7 years ago I've been on a lookout for something in it's place (but cheaper!).

The Akerfeldt PRS SE looks pretty intriguing, though it's not too LP like other than the single-cut body, with 25 in scale, 24 frets and 3-way toggle not at the upper bout. I like the bird inlays like a US PRS.

Specs on the Akerfeldt:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/prs-se-mikael-akerfeldt-electric-guitar

[SausageofPower]

A buddy of mine actually got the Akerfeldt SE after playing my Tremonti SE. He's in love with it. Also, a lot of the SE's started sporting the PRS birds this past year. My Tremonti has them, for example.

[roodyrocker]

Gibsons have always been expensive. But you also have to avoid lumping them all together as there are some differences that may not be apparent to the eye at first. By that I mean aGibson Les Paul Custom is sold in various configurations. Yes, they look the same at first glance but a USA LPC is not identical to a 68 RI LPC or B7 LPC. They are all expensive but even within that price range there are better grades. I really don't think any of the copies have the same quality as a high end LPC. Thats not to say there aren't some really good and relatively inexpensive copies. One of mine is an Edwards LPC. I have no issues with it at all and it has some really nice fret work from the factory along with factory Duncan pickups, Gotoh tuners, etc... These Edwards copies are roughly in the same price range as a Gibson Les Paul Studio. They have the look of a Les Paul Custom however, complete with block inlays even.

[bombtek]

I'll have to look into Edwards!
I agree completely about there being better grades in the LP lineup. However, it shouldn't take $4-6K (new) to get the quality that should be present in any of their USA LP's.
I wasn't kidding at all about my Agile outplaying all of the Gibson Studios that I got my hands on. I have done nothing whatsoever to that guitar other than restring it. I bought it online (actually both of them) from Rondo. Those studios were not up to par, but they should have been at the very least a better playing instrument than a $225 Korean knockoff of LP's. I wish Gibson would get on the ball and take charge of their QC department, as well as take a look at what else is out there and what they are charging.

[rhoadsfan11]

navigator

[beachjammer]

Carvin!

[jdr94]

I second the ESP Eclipse

[Flatpicker]

Ive been wanting to try the Marsden SE. Looks nice. http://www.prsguitars.com/seberniemarsden/

[charvelguy]

The Edwards and Navigators higher end models really look very impressive. There was a time not long ago when these were going for 600-700. However, looking at eBay for guitar dealers from Japan today; cost wise, you'll be in used LP studio to a used Gibby std range. You can still buy a Std for about 1800 new...and there are occasions when I've seen a Std pop up on eBay like new - slightly used - a year or two year old for 1650 or at times 1500 with case for nice Std's.

I know there's a number of newer companies out there that are producing Gibby copies (in Europe?) that are getting great reviews. I've have them written or bookmarked somewhere but I've have to look into it as I cannot recall what the names were offhand. The Tokai's from the 80's, Yamaha from the 80's, Orville's from the 80's and 90's are very nice. Even Aria produced some decent LP copies.

I own a number of Grecos; they can vary a great deal as they produced so many models. The Super Reals are quite nice but, now they're getting crazy money. All the dealers, investors and rockers bought up a ton of them over the past 10 years.

[charvelguy]

What the heck is goin on with the forum? Never had so many problems posting before.

The PRS SE models are a great value still. I wasn't really a fan of the Santana SE when they came out and they were so mass produced that the market flooded and there was huge inventory leftovers at GC until they started blowing them out at 399. They've discontinued a number of them over the years. Some of the singlecuts seem really decent. I've been meaning to pickup an SE soapbar 2 for many years.

The new Taylors are cool guitars.
Yamaha Wellingtons are well made.. but these are slight deviants on a LP, probably closer to like an L6S.

[chrisolson]

Hi Tom!!

[charvelguy]

Hey Chris!

[TX-Joe]

I second the ESP Eclipse

Yes!

http://imageshack.us/f/155/ec4h.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/f/715/ec3s.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/f/214/ec1j.jpg/

I can never get pics to work right.

Edited to add.
Figured it out finally!!!

[Predator1]

Les Paul Standard Traditional pros are priced at $1699.00 this weekend at GC and MF. I know a guy who got one yesterday from MF ( Vintage Burst ) $1699 shipped.