Les Paul hater gets his (my story inside)

[Bengal65]

My new '68 Custom Shop Gibson Les Paul Reissue (Triburst) has the best tone, sound and attributes of any guitar I've ever owned. Hands down. This is over my 41 years of playing the guitar. The guitar is my main player now and it's almost too pretty to take out. I've been putting off my review for 2 reasons, get over the new guitar syndrome and getting a digital scale to weigh it. It is a heavy one, but maybe that's the secret. My PC1's now fall in behind in terms of "Tone", although they are great in their own right.

[Tashtego]

I agree, I have a regular 2005 LPC and the tone continues to amaze me. I don't have a lot of experiece with lots of different guitars though. I stuck with 1 Ibanez parts mutt for 20 years then I picked up the Les Paul and finally bought a Jackson late last year. I love the Jackson too, it is a sweet guitar as well and I can do certain things on it that I can't do well on the Gibson. The neck on the Jackson is a fantastic work of playability. I'm fantasizing about how to get a Gibson V with a Jackson style compound radius, neck-through body, with binding and block inlays.

[demeyes]

I'm not an LP fan all. I just can't get over the playability of them. I hate the fat necks and the poor upper fret access. The only thing that is really good about them is they have good tone. Not enough for me to buy one though.

[Joe_Steeler]

Which amp did you play them through?

[toejam]

I'm not an LP fan all. I just can't get over the playability of them. I hate the fat necks and the poor upper fret access.

See, I have smaller hands, but I love the fatter '59 neck profile, and I have no problem with upper fret access either.

[Big D]

Les Pauls are OK, but neither of those guitars have the rockin tone of a USA Charvel.

[Megalightning]

Why did this have to turn into a KH/ESP hating thread. I like my KH-602. Could use an 85 in the bridge though.

[Death metal soloist]

I dont hate ESP by any means but the KH sucks bawls!

[siggy14]

I love my Pauls, no other guitar gives me that balls end meat that has been described. I am sure however some les paul copies probaly will, but nothing like a slab of mahogany.

As to comparing it to the ESP, if i remember right that guitar is made out of alder, so of course there is gonna be a huge difference in tone.

Demeyes, there are pauls out there with nice necks, check out the classics, the necks are thinner then most jacksons, or check out a regular paul with a 60's neck, maybe a little beafier then a jackson. But there are many flavors of the paul out there.

I'm not an LP fan all. I just can't get over the playability of them. I hate the fat necks and the poor upper fret access. The only thing that is really good about them is they have good tone. Not enough for me to buy one though.

[Bryan]

Which amp did you play them through?

Marshall DSL 2000 401. The combo I ended up buying.

I do play an ESP MII w/EMGs and my guitar sounds much better than this KH did.

So I certainly am not bashing ESP. I'm just floored by the fact that this high dollar top of the line guitar got put under the table by an $800 Epi LP w/EMG HZs in it.

[dtt001]

Gibson Les Pauls are good guitars. If you are looking for a thin neck, try the 1960 reissue series. If possible look for a 1990 reissue of the 60's gold top in all bullion. It will set you back some gold, however it was one of those good years for Pauls. As well, my first experience with Tonepros hardware was on a Les Paul. I was surprised at the noticeable improvement (at least to my ears) in the overall tone of the guitar with a locking bridge and stop piece.

[Endrik]

I don't get the "neck is too fat and fret access is bad" thing, you want good playabilty, then learn to play. If you really want then you can get used to every type of neck. Tone is the most important thing after all. You go to a studio and have to play massive rhythm tracks. NO OTHER guitar sounds like a good LP. You want to sacrifice a good fat tone because it's uncomfortable to play with LP? Or you want the thickest lead tone ever, LP delivers it, some superstrat with wizard neck does not.

[satch0922]

love my LP. Still my favorite....plays itself. Of course I have been playing one since I ws 13...(41 now...or so I am told).

As stated before there are thinner styles of necks on the LPs if you know what your looking for. As far as the weight.....if your in a pinch they double as a weapon!

I played a custom shop Zakk Wylde with the "tone tail" stop bar tail piece (like Zakk uses).....TALK ABOUT TONE AND SUSTAIN!!! Unreal is all I can say.

[toddstaples]

I don't get the "neck is too fat and fret access is bad" thing, you want good playabilty, then learn to play. If you really want then you can get used to every type of neck. Tone is the most important thing after all. You go to a studio and have to play massive rhythm tracks. NO OTHER guitar sounds like a good LP. You want to sacrifice a good fat tone because it's uncomfortable to play with LP? Or you want the thickest lead tone ever, LP delivers it, some superstrat with wizard neck does not.

+1

[danastas]

Bottom Line...ya can't beat a Les Paul for tone.

I've heard better.