If you had to get a Les Paul

[eakinj]

I know most will face palm at this, but I have two Agile les paul copies and after changing the pickups they sound and play extremely well. Nothing (not even my Jackson USA) touches my edwards (Which actually shames me to say) but the Agiles are very very nice.

[Adieu]

Go Japanese unless you luck out and find an unusually spectacular Gibson by accident (usually old Studios).. otherwise, prepare to spend >$3k to break through the glass ceiling of Les Paul mediocrity

[asix]

i got a new 2017 classic new last month and it has some finish issues. there were non for sale near me so we ordered it unseen from Dawson’s music in the uk.

the fret work is plecked so imo its perfect no end issues and very smooth. the neck strap button is lose, there is a slight ridge on the binding to neck transition at the 3rd fret. there is a finish issue on the transition from neck to body next to the switch at about the 19th fret.

its got a 1 peace neck so strength wise who knows. i have dropped my 97 explorer on its head and it bounced not snapped.

however it sounds like you imagine a Les Paul does in your head and because its been plecked the frets are fast and perfect. i might post some pics when i get home from work as im really happy with it as im not that fussed on the finish. im sure after a couple of years of gigs it will be beaten to hell.

[BenoA]

Just got my first LP in +30 years of playing. It is a 2018 LP Tribute in Satin Gold.

Had played a few LP in my life but those that I liked were so expensive.

A few months back, played a few of those new 2018 Tribute and each liked each one I tried. Price was fitting my budget, loved the Satin Gold finish and the kind of wood finish of the back of the neck and the guitar.

I bought mine only, without trying it. Took a chance as I got a good price. It played super nice out of the box. Sustain for days and sounds loud when unplugged. Made me re-discovered my Marshall DSL50 head when I tried my new LP with it.

These Tribute come with a nice padded gig bag.

All in all, I really love mine. Glad I took the plunge.

[catzodellamarina]

I was after the Les Paul sound and bought a Les Paul Traditional. It was awful. I ended up with these instead:





They are MEGA comfortable to play, even with the fat necks, and sound gorgeous.

Rats! I was meaning to ask you about these specific PRS models when we were at the bar. Give me some more details. BTW.. now that I'm home looking at most of my guitars, I forgot I also have a late 80's or early 90's Charvel (toothpaste logo) Fusion Special. Loaded with my oldest pickups: original SH-8 Invader I bought new in 1987.

[slayer]

Don`t over look a Dean EVO in either Korean or Czech made. The Czech made ones are really nice. I have 3 of them. Very high quality.

[markD]

Rats! I was meaning to ask you about these specific PRS models when we were at the bar. Give me some more details. BTW.. now that I'm home looking at most of my guitars, I forgot I also have a late 80's or early 90's Charvel (toothpaste logo) Fusion Special. Loaded with my oldest pickups: original SH-8 Invader I bought new in 1987.

That's cool about the toothpaste logo Charvel. I always liked those - I had a Surfcaster with that logo. Cool guitar, wish I had kept it!

Regarding the PRS'.....

The blue one is an SC250 with an Artist Package. SC250 stands for "Single Cut 25.0 inch scale length". So it's a Single Cut with PRS' regular scale length. An Artist Package is a factory upgrade where the figured top is BETTER than the "10 top" but less than the Private Stock tops. This Artist Pack (AP) also has Macassar Ebony for the fretboard and headstock veneer. Most APs these days are Gaboon Ebony 'boards and overlays, and you can get Maple or Brazilian Rosewood too. The neck and body are Mahogany. The pickups are PRS 250s (same as the Tremonti pickups). The neck is a Wide/Fat - which means the neck is thick (not too much more than I remember a Soloist having) and the nut width is 1 11/16".

The 'burst is an SC245 Limited Edition 57/08. There are only a few out there. This was the guitar that introduced the 57/08 pickups. They are without a doubt my FAVORITE pickup for everything. I am not sure of too much about them other than they are supposedly wound with wire from the machines that made the wire for Gibson in the 50s. The output is on the lower side - maybe 8K on the bridge? This guitar has a Dalbergia fretboard, a Peruvian Mahogany neck, and an African Mahogany body. The top is a "10 top" Quilt. I modded mine with push/push tone pots to split the pickups. The tone is KILLER, and I have a variety of tones on tap, which I enjoy for recording. The neck is a Wide/Fat also. Oh, and the 245 stand for 24.5 scale length.

The SC250 is a more aggressive instrument. The output is hotter - more in the 15k range. In fact, this would probably the more "comfortable" guitar for a Jackson player to use. It's a "modern" Single Cut - powerful and crunchy. I don't play it very often, lol. I had it out last week, but cased it back up in favor of my Santana.

The SC245 is, without a doubt, my favorite guitar PERIOD. If I had to keep only one, it would be the 245. There is just something magical about the woods. PRS knocked it out of the park with this run. The woods, the 57/08s....it just makes for the PERFECT guitar for every style of music. I gigged it in my classic metal band. I have recorded country with it. It kills when playing the blues or classic rock. It really does everything.

[JacksonPyro]

I have a Greco i think 1978 EG800 and its the most awesome sounding guitar. I have EMGs new Graphtech tune-o-matic in it and it roars and sustains forever. I use it when i sit in with a band or get called on stage in my home town to sit in at a club. Stays in tune and it is light as heck.
Love it.
The Greco i'm sure is better than the best vintage LP just wasnt made in the US in the 50s ;-)

[rjohnstone]

I had two LP copies.
The one on the right is an Austin. Chinese built. Great guitar, crappy electronics and hardware. So I replaced the crappy parts and now it's a keeper.
The on on the left is Memphis, built around 1977 or 78. 100% LP rip-off right down to the headstock shape. Beautiful guitar had a birdseye maple top. Good player, but not perfect.
It is no longer with us as it sustained a fatal fall and the neck snapped off right in the middle. Would have required a new neck as the original literally splintered. unrepairable.

[AngelDeVille]

Get a Gibson. I have several (not Les Pauls) I have never seen a broken headstock in person, and none of mine have spontaneously combusted either.

Gibsons are one of the few guitars you don't immediately have to buy pickups for.

A cranked 57 is a thing of beauty, and if you must replace them, a Super Distortion has no equal.

[Vass]

I had two LP copies.
The one on the right is an Austin. Chinese built. Great guitar, crappy electronics and hardware. So I replaced the crappy parts and now it's a keeper.
The on on the left is Memphis, built around 1977 or 78. 100% LP rip-off right down to the headstock shape. Beautiful guitar had a birdseye maple top. Good player, but not perfect.
It is no longer with us as it sustained a fatal fall and the neck snapped off right in the middle. Would have required a new neck as the original literally splintered. unrepairable.

Neck snapped led in the MIDDLE? Wow!

Memphis design board: “look you fuckers, I care about one thing and one thing only. Make me a Les Paul with a headstock that doesn’t snap off at the first sign of a spring breeze. In fact, make me a Les Paul that will break EVERYWHERE before the headstock breaks off. I want a headstock that can survive anything. Do I make myself clear?”

[rjohnstone]

Neck snapped led in the MIDDLE? Wow!

Memphis design board: “look you fuckers, I care about one thing and one thing only. Make me a Les Paul with a headstock that doesn’t snap off at the first sign of a spring breeze. In fact, make me a Les Paul that will break EVERYWHERE before the headstock breaks off. I want a headstock that can survive anything. Do I make myself clear?”

Yep... crazy. Snapped around the 5th fret.
It was a bad fall from a wall hanger. Hit another on the way down which apparently caused it to basically "slap" the ground, instead of simply dropping straight down.
I have a pic of the aftermath somewhere.

[asix]

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bn4OuWDBiks/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

here is mine

[P I K A]

Nice axe asix

[asix]

40th Birthday presents from my wife.