Members MillenniumBlues Posted October 2, 2010 Members Share Posted October 2, 2010 Hello everyone, I'm a bass player who is thinking about getting his first Les Paul-ish guitar. I've always liked Gibson Les Pauls (looks and sounds), but I'm willing to look at other similar brands. I'm not a gigging guitar player, but I like owning and showing up to jams with nice gear (well, what I consider nice gear anyways... I've been playing for years, but when it comes to guitars, I'm definitely a member of the "more gear than talent" club. I'm currently not in an area with music stores, but I'm travelling to a city in a few weeks. This Gibson Les Paul Standard looks great to me ( http://www.long-mcquade.com/products/1480/Guitars/Electric/Gibson/Les_Paul_Standard_2008_Desert_Burst.htm ) - but I've read endless horror stories about Gibson quality control and headstock snapping to be just a little bit apprehensive about buying one. PRS looks like the logical alternative, but I really don't know much about guitars (other than Fenders, which I don't need another of as you can see from my sig.... Suggestions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members diceman1000 Posted October 2, 2010 Members Share Posted October 2, 2010 personally, if you've got the scratch, i'd go PRS over Gibson any day. not to say that Gibsons are bad by any means, but i think PRS puts a little more love into their QC... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Assumer Posted October 2, 2010 Members Share Posted October 2, 2010 If you like the les paul look go with Heritage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Les Paul Lover Posted October 2, 2010 Members Share Posted October 2, 2010 PRS sounds very different to gibson LP's. The Standard, IMO, is a very fine instrument, and their burstbucker pro are my favorite humbuckers to date.Don't be afraid about gibsons, most of their instruments are very good, even their "lesser" more basic models such as the melody maker or les paul studio.Anyway, just go try some gibson LPs, some PRS, and some others, you'll know what you like pretty quickly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MillenniumBlues Posted October 2, 2010 Author Members Share Posted October 2, 2010 PRS sounds very different to gibson LP's. The Standard, IMO, is a very fine instrument, and their burstbucker pro are my favorite humbuckers to date. Don't be afraid about gibsons, most of their instruments are very good, even their "lesser" more basic models such as the melody maker or les paul studio. Anyway, just go try some gibson LPs, some PRS, and some others, you'll know what you like pretty quickly. Good to hear some support. I was also thinking of checking out the Traditional. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MillenniumBlues Posted October 2, 2010 Author Members Share Posted October 2, 2010 personally, if you've got the scratch, i'd go PRS over Gibson any day. not to say that Gibsons are bad by any means, but i think PRS puts a little more love into their QC... Which models? What about this one: http://www.long-mcquade.com/products/9400/Guitars/Electric/Paul_Reed_Smith/McCarty_-_McCarty_Sunburst.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GCDEF Posted October 2, 2010 Members Share Posted October 2, 2010 Good to hear some support. I was also thinking of checking out the Traditional. I have a Traditional Plus. It's by far my favorite of the Les Pauls I've owned. I prefer the sound of 57 Classics to Burstbuckers. While I don't doubt Gibson has occasional problems, rumors of QC run amok are greatly exaggerated. Most of them are really nice guitars. If you're thinking non-Gibson, look at Heritage, but they're getting to be about the same price now. Gibson and PRS are both nice, but they're not interchangeable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members diceman1000 Posted October 2, 2010 Members Share Posted October 2, 2010 Which models? What about this one:http://www.long-mcquade.com/products/9400/Guitars/Electric/Paul_Reed_Smith/McCarty_-_McCarty_Sunburst.htm i've heard and read nothing but great things about the McCarty... as you can see from my sig, my high end gear experience is extremely limited. i'm just going off of the general concensus of what i've read here and what others have told me... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mnewb1 Posted October 2, 2010 Members Share Posted October 2, 2010 Man, I love them both. I've had a Custom Shop Gibson R7 ( 57 goldtop) that had an amazing tone, but the 50s chunk neck was just too much for me in the end. I also have a PRS singlecut that I have kept and is my main humbucker. It is an awesome guitar, but it does not have a Les Paul tone. there are some PRSs that do come closer to this tone like an SC-245 or a McCarty. I recently played a custom shop Gibson LP with a sixties style neck that was absolutely awesome and had I the money, I would have grabbed it in a second. You can't go wrong with either one, but if I were to get another Gibson, I would spend some extra bucks and go with a Custom Shop edition. I also agree with the statement above recommending Heritage...they are a solid excellent guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Elias Graves Posted October 2, 2010 Members Share Posted October 2, 2010 For that kinda scratch, you should also see if you can find a Collings. Many of theirs can be extremely spendy but they do offer some more reasonable models. Gibson's QC problems are greatly exagerrated. They build nice stuff. Try before you buy is always a good rule though. EG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members metalheadUK Posted October 2, 2010 Members Share Posted October 2, 2010 I personally think their are "better" alternatives to Gibson and PRS, but I would rather have a Gibbo over a PRS any day of the week.The PRS's I have played just dont do it for me...no heart, no soul.Gibson have the Heritage anbd the history, and it does make a difference.Does Pagey play a PRS? Did Slash play a Chris Derrig copy of a PRS?The weight of history does make a difference for me.I dont think Gibsons are "better" than PRS, but I would rather own a Gibson.Given the option overall, I'd rather play a nice old Tokai. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Clinically Deaf Posted October 2, 2010 Members Share Posted October 2, 2010 If you like the les paul look go with Heritage. hread Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Special J Posted October 2, 2010 Members Share Posted October 2, 2010 If you're interested in high quality Gibsonesque guitars, let me suggest Hamer USA. They've got the traditional designs with boutique build quality. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Saturn Posted October 2, 2010 Members Share Posted October 2, 2010 Gibson's QC problems are greatly exagerrated. They build nice stuff. Try before you buy is always a good rule though. EG +1 I just bought a SG and played every SG I could get my hands on and not one had an quality issues. People just like to bash the big names. Both Gibson and PRS are great guitars. I have never played a PRS that really tripped my trigger so I would probably be looking more at the Gibsons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Wyatt Posted October 2, 2010 Members Share Posted October 2, 2010 Gibson puts out plenty of guitars with QC issues, most of cosmetic, some are structural. I can walk in any GC and write-off half of the Gibsons right away and a few are so bad they should have been feed to the bandsaw (which is what any of Gibson's competitors would have done). But it only takes 15 minutes to weed through them. There is nothing "hidden" about the QC issues and most are minor, but for the price, I'll pick them over. They sure wouldn't deter me from buying Gibson, because, like I said, it's easy to sort the crap out fast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ΨWindingΨ Posted October 2, 2010 Members Share Posted October 2, 2010 but I've read endless horror stories about Gibson quality control and headstock snapping to be just a little bit apprehensive about buying one. If you have the cash get a Historic, you'll be happy you did. As for headstocks snapping off, that is user error more than the guitar. Les Pauls have a solid neck normally and that makes them susceptible to breakage if you drop it on its back. If you don't take care of your gear get a Fender.My Les Paul below is a Historic 59 and nothing sounds like it. PRS don't, although good they sound nothing like a Lester. Oh and if you can buy the Historic save yourself some cash and look for a quality used instrument. You'll know of $1500 right away for a typical Lester. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members The Bear Posted October 2, 2010 Members Share Posted October 2, 2010 I have 2 Traditionals that I love, and a Standard Plus that I really love.The Standard Plus is the best Les Paul I've ever played.Everything just fits, and the asymmetrical neck is the nicest I've played.I also like my PRS Custom 24.I like having 24 frets and the neck is one of the most comfortable.As others have said, it sounds nothing like an LP.Try a bunch out, have fun, and one will just bite ya' in the ass.That's the one you take home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Strung_Out Posted October 2, 2010 Members Share Posted October 2, 2010 Try a bunch out, have fun, and one will just bite ya' in the ass.That's the one you take home. This. I'm a Les Paul man personally but I certainly wouldn't let that steer me away from another humbucking guitar that speaks to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DavidMgT Posted October 2, 2010 Members Share Posted October 2, 2010 Hello everyone, I'm a bass player who is thinking about getting his first Les Paul-ish guitar. I've always liked Gibson Les Pauls (looks and sounds), but I'm willing to look at other similar brands. I'm not a gigging guitar player, but I like owning and showing up to jams with nice gear (well, what I consider nice gear anyways.. . I've been playing for years, but when it comes to guitars, I'm definitely a member of the "more gear than talent" club. I'm currently not in an area with music stores, but I'm travelling to a city in a few weeks. This Gibson Les Paul Standard looks great to me ( http://www.long-mcquade.com/products/1480/Guitars/Electric/Gibson/Les_Paul_Standard_2008_Desert_Burst.htm ) - but I've read endless horror stories about Gibson quality control and headstock snapping to be just a little bit apprehensive about buying one. PRS looks like the logical alternative, but I really don't know much about guitars (other than Fenders, which I don't need another of as you can see from my sig... . Suggestions? I'd go with the Standard - I had one (I regret selling it!) and it was an outstanding guitar. I don't really care what people say about their QC . I ordered mine from Wildwood guitars in Colorado and it was perfect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mnewb1 Posted October 3, 2010 Members Share Posted October 3, 2010 I'd go with the Standard - I had one (I regret selling it!) and it was an outstanding guitar. I don't really care what people say about their QC . I ordered mine from Wildwood guitars in Colorado and it was perfect. I think Wildwood has an excellent reputation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DavidMgT Posted October 3, 2010 Members Share Posted October 3, 2010 I think Wildwood has an excellent reputation. Most definitely. I would not hesitate to order another guitar from them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Alecto Posted October 3, 2010 Members Share Posted October 3, 2010 I noticed you're in Ontario, so Buyer Beware: the Gibsons that get imported up here are more problematic than most. Of the 3 people I know who bought recent-issue Gibsons, two ended up with outright lemons (busted truss rod, messed-up paintjob and disintegrating tuning head) and the third needed some serious work to get it playing right. A nice-playing Gibson is a thing of beauty but they really are putting out way too many lemons these days for me to recommend them. Another word to the wise: I suspect that with the flooding and confiscations this year, Gibson's wood stocks are more depleted than usual. They may be cutting even more corners in the next little while to meet demand. If you can find them, both Heritage and Hamer USA are excellent deals on the used market. Used PRSi are also a good deal but, as you can see, a lot of people have a love/hate relationship with that brand. If you get the chance, head down to Toronto and check out Capsule Music, Paul's Boutique and The Twelfth Fret. I've had good experiences with all three shops. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members clay sails Posted October 3, 2010 Members Share Posted October 3, 2010 I own a PRS and its definitely a well made, kickass guitar However, I have always liked LP's too. Here are a few suggestions: PRS Mira or PRS Starla (good value PRS)PRS Singlecut 245 or DGT (newer models similar to LP)Gibson LP Studio (good value) (these range in features/looks)Edwards LP (check on Ebay)Hamer gets good reviews around here.Parker makes some nice HH guitars. If you are worried about the headstock snapping on an LP and don't care about the name on the headstock, try getting a tricked-out Epiphone with a bolt-on neck. If you want a great playing guitar but don't need the label, buy a nice PRS SE (Korean made), upgrade the pickups, and enjoy a kickass guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JTEES4 Posted October 3, 2010 Members Share Posted October 3, 2010 Nothing to do with quality. Very different animals...you like Les Pauls....get a Les Paul. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members strtdv Posted October 3, 2010 Members Share Posted October 3, 2010 They're very different guitars. A 25" scale PRS will not sound like a 24.75" (and often less than this) Les Paul. They're both great, now seems to be a good time to buy a used PRS as the resale value seems to have dropped a bit recently. For either guitar, either try before you buy or buy from a reputable dealer that goes over each guitar they get in stock (like Wildwood). The PRS that is most similar to a Les Paul is a Singlecut 245, which is discontinued as far as I know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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