What kind of Les Paul and Why?

[imrae]

Scale Length makes a difference in feel and tone. 24.7 will always feel easier to press down on than comparative 25.5

I think the conventional wisdom is that you should go down a string gauge when switching from 24.7 to 25.5, no? It's not quite the same, of course. I'm still figuring out the best gauge for my Jaguar...

(I hope I'm not derailing the Les Paul thread; was hoping to emphasise the differences and "what makes a Les Paul"! )

[pekbro]

heres that greg koch guitar, i thought they
had one with the p90s and no bigsby. Maybe
not, anyway the scale is the same as the lp
and the neck is set in.

[ghettosynth]

I've never been a fan of actual Les Pauls, or frankly, almost anything Gibson. The closest thing that I have to a Les Paul is my very much entry level Grestch.



https://www.guitarworld.com/reviews/gre ... lub-review

It's a bolt-on, doesn't have four controls, but does have a 24.75 scale length. It was under $300 brand new on sale and I tried it because I was in an exploration of whatever GC had on the used rack trying to find something that wasn't a tele that suited me. I bought it because I like the tone balance of the beefy P90 in the neck and the humbucker-ish pickup in the bridge. FTR, I typically hate single coil in the neck with humbucker in the bridge, this only works because it's a P90. I initially thought that I would swap out the bridge pickup for something else, but it's sound has grown on me a bit more. I think that this paragraph from the review captures it for me:

As supplied with that pickup imbalance, the over-big-sounding neck pickup rather dwarfs the more classic-sounding bridge pickup, and it comes across as a bit of a roots-rock bruiser. But the rather unusual circuit means that if you’re happy to use the volume and tone, you can clean things up a little and evoke more of that 50s/60s vibe.

So, it has a great balance of simplicity in the controls that has some meaningful variation in tone. It's probably as close as I'll ever get to a Les Paul. I've owned one Gibson IIRC, a Sonex 180. I replaced it with a Tele, decades ago. I find it a bit funny how those initial experiences have had such a long term effect on my preferences.

[jens]

the thing humbucker-ish pickup in the bridge.

Should be a Filtertron

[tapper mike]

I think you raise a valid point.

That being said. I hate 09's on any guitar.
- They take longer to set up when changing strings
- They have faster and brighter note fall off
- They require you to rethink your bends all the time as you have to push further to achieve the same note value.

On the plus side if you are playing out every night live you'll enjoy the comfort and will be able to play longer without finger fatigue. And whole chord or single note vibrato is made much easier.

It's always a strange balance for me. I like low action subtle response. I especially like legato playing with up to three pull offs on the same string while holding down a chord with my left hand (I tap both left and right on all 8 fingers, not impossible just lots of practice and paitence)

[ghettosynth]

the thing humbucker-ish pickup in the bridge.

Should be a Filtertron

It is, which is a humbucker with slightly different construction and materials. Hence, why I refer to it as humbucker-ish.

[tapper mike]

I played one Gretsch LP ever. Only for about five minutes it was 1981 at a pseudo GC called wonderland music. It retailed for $6000. SIX THOUSAND FREAKING DOLLARS IN 1981. It had a thick neck, higher action than a Gibson. Sounded damn good but not 6k good in 1981

[CapnLockheed]

This one: 1963 Les Paul Custom Reissue with Maestro Vibrola, Classic White

[Uncle E]

And while I firmly believe that it's more about the artist than the guitar it really brought out my best playing

This sums it up for me. The combination of scale length, smooth tone, and soft transients is like a cheat code. Les Paul's, 335's, and some PRS's have those qualities more than others, IME.

Based on what you've said here and what I think some of your preferences are, I'd recommend getting a PRS. I've had some older Korean PRS SE's and the sound was too plinky, not smooth like a McCarty 594. People say the current SE's are better, plus I'm guessing one of the all mahogany models (SE McCarty 594 Singlecut Standard, SE CE 24 Standard Satin) would sound smoother.

The "one that got away" for me was the PRS Korina Mira. I sold it because it was ugly and I got the triple P90 version, but that one turned out to be a dud compared to the Mira. The SE Korina was also a dud.

[revvy]

This one: 1963 Les Paul Custom Reissue with Maestro Vibrola, Classic White

What makes this SG a Les Paul?

[guitarzan]

This one: 1963 Les Paul Custom Reissue with Maestro Vibrola, Classic White

What makes this SG a Les Paul?

The SG was intended to be the new replacement Les Paul model and were designated Les Paul until late 1963.

The classic Les Pauls were sales duds at the time and considered ‘old man guitars’, Fender ruled the day and the SG design was Gibson’s answer. Les Paul hated them, but his name just wasn’t driving sales anymore by the early ‘60s.

https://www.guitarworld.com/features/th ... -gibson-sg

[revvy]

This one: 1963 Les Paul Custom Reissue with Maestro Vibrola, Classic White

What makes this SG a Les Paul?

The SG was intended to be the new replacement Les Paul model and were designated Les Paul until late 1963.

https://www.guitarworld.com/features/th ... -gibson-sg

Crazy!

[tapper mike]

My dream LP woyld be a 54 gold top w the p 90s......probably wouldnt play it though.

Honestly Gibson put out a lot of B stock. I had a 57 standard with p90's and a 72 reissue Gold Top with a P90's.

P90's are overrated.

[Uncle E]

Try a passive bass cut with P-90's. Makes them sound like a Strat.

[tapper mike]

Try a passive bass cut with P-90's. Makes them sound like a Strat.

I think it's funny we've got all these great ideas for passive controls on the guitar that are nothing but novelty on rare ones which never catch on.
7 way pickup selector (5way + 2way) which will give you every combination of a 3 pup guitar
Varitone on the old 335's
SD Triple shot pickup ring (actually 4 way for a humbucker)
Peavey's phase selectors.