KVR Audio

Funkybot · Post by **Funkybot** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 3:03 pm

I just picked up a very nice 72 Tele Deluxe Reissue (the one with the large strat headstock and dual humbuckers), and haven't touched my Epi Les Paul or Mexistrat since. The store I bought it from actually had an original as well, and playing both felt quite different (as the original had a much slimmer neck) but as far as sound goes the reissue help up lurvly. It feels great too, that wide neck is great if you're not a shredder (and why would you be if you owned that guitar) and kind of used to wider acoustic necks. Back to the point though, I'd never buy an actual Gibson as I can't see where the money is going, but I think Fender has gotten on the ball as of late in regards to getting what you pay for. A cheap Strat just feels delicate, with terrible unglossed necks, and electronics, whereas if you're willing to spend an extra 300 bucks US you'll probably walk away with something that feels like a real piece of wood with a nice glossy playable neck. And let's net even get into the intonation problems on most cheap strats. Epi Les Pauls are worth the price as well IMO, but Gibson needs to just call it quits at this point.

Hink · Post by **Hink** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 3:18 pm

Meffy wrote:I don't care if you people have found one more gibson not to like Reason. It's a great program! GREAT, you hear me??? Grar, snarl!

I love a good play on words ....somehow though, I dont think that will come as a surprise to anyone

I really expected to get flamed for this thread. I guess because I know so many people who believe real guitar players play Pauls...however such people have forced me to coin a new term...I call those people "egotarists"...

Meffy · Post by **Meffy** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 3:25 pm

Heh... IMO the truly "real guitar players" can make great sound whether they pick up a Silvertone Sears Special, a 'Caster, or any of the amazing oddities shown in this rather interesting thread on a French music board. ;-)

Me? On guitar I can produce two, maybe three chords tops. But they'd sound just as bad on a classic Les Paul as they did on the junk guitar I used to have. :-D

Meffy

Meffy · Post by **Meffy** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 3:40 pm

normal wrote:what about the barry bonds signature model ?...

You asked, you got.

Spiggy · Post by **Spiggy** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 4:15 pm

spaceman wrote:the gibsons of the last 20 years are total bollocks
and gibson fanboys are even worse than Mac twats

Not ALL of the Gibsons from the past 20 years are bollocks - same as not all 50/60's Gibsons are classics

It's shame the QC has seriously dropped off and Gibson have been seriously messing their distribution about - hence their reputation as a company is getting somewhat battered. I'd certainly agree that prices are a bit over inflated in terms of the brand name..

You're far better off trawling the pawn shops, finding an old beat up SG or Les Paul - and doing it up. A proper nitro-cellulose respray and hardly anyone will spot the difference - and chances are you won't be selling it so bugger the S/H value

Anyway that's my first post on KVR - hope it worked

Stupid American Pig · Post by **Stupid American Pig** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 4:18 pm

I agree, there are still some nice gibsons being produced, and just like it is with *any* guitar, some are better than others...

IIRs · Post by **IIRs** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 4:25 pm

My Les Paul is f**king gorgeous: worth every penny (approx 2 million of them!)

The laws of diminishing returns applies of course: a Gibson will never be as good value as an Epiphone, but if you want top quality you have to pay a premium..

Try buying a Stradivarius violin one day!

Spiggy · Post by **Spiggy** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 4:25 pm

S_A_P® wrote:I agree, there are still some nice gibsons being produced, and just like it is with *any* guitar, some are better than others...

Well if money isn't an object, and I wish it wasn't

, check out a handmade Sid Poole Les Paul. Sadly the luthier passed away last year - but he made some truly gorgeous guitars.

billybk1 · Post by **billybk1** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 4:39 pm

Well, I have a gorgeous vintage original 1978 wine red Gibson Les Paul Standard (yes, actually made in the USA), and it is worth every penny I spent for it, so there.

Actually, compared to today's prices, I got in real cheap! I bought it, brand spanking new, at a local music shop, in Clarkston, TN., back in 1978. As a scrawny, pimply-faced tenager, I had just survived boot camp @ Ft. Benning, Ga., and had reported, to my first active duty station, with the 101st Airborne, at Ft. Campbell, Ky. I then used part of my enlistment bonus to buy the guitar, for $785.00.

I still have the original receipt.

For electric guitar, it is still my main axe.

One of the few things, in my life, that has actually gone up, (like way up), in value.

Markleford · Post by **Markleford** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 4:43 pm

$6000 for a guitar without sweat, blood, or jism from the original guitarist? What a rip-off!

There's a sucker born every minute, I guess. And sometimes these "suckers" are affectionately called "collectors".

Strangely enough, I've moved people with the playing of my shite Korean Squier Strat ($200 or so), and none of them complained about it being a cheap ugly guitar.

Then again, nobody said, "Dude! It's a Jimmy Page! AWWWEEESOME! Play 'Stairway'!" If that's what you're into, more power to ya.

My reason for hating Gibson? They acquired both Opcode and Oberheim and proceed to flush both product lines down the shitter.

- m

Spiggy · Post by **Spiggy** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 4:59 pm

Markleford wrote:My reason for hating Gibson? They acquired both Opcode and Oberheim and proceed to flush both product lines down the shitter. - m

Unfortunately the people who own Gibson appear to be doing the same with that brand too

Like I said the QC has gone out the window - at least compared to the Kalamazoo days. Same problem the world over I'm afraid - the f**king suits only know how to make money : everything else is irrelevant.

Agree with you that a great guitarist will sound good on either a POS or a '57/'58 Les Paul - tone is predominately in yer fingers. But a nice guitar makes it easier for the player to convey his ideas..sometimes you can dig in and the guitar will do something you'd never thought of

Bluezplayer_AJ · Post by **Bluezplayer_AJ** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 5:00 pm

I revamped my Epiphone Les Paul ( or I should say my guitarist did most of it ). New pickups, tuning pegs, bridge, refinished ( Sunburst ). At the end, he tried it out and I think he likes it better than his Gibson Les P.. go figure..lol

I like strats, but I guess they don't like me so much. My Fender of choice is the oft maligned Tele. I just seem to get more of what I want out of it than a Strat.

Someone mentioned the Silvertone.. LOL.. Both my first guitar and first Organ were Silvertones. I had the old maroon silvertone guitar with a built in amp in the case. Man I loved that thing when I was a kid. I practically gave it away... kind of wish I hadn't now.. The organ was gawdawful, but I was happy to have it.. that is until I burnt it up when a homemade distortion box I made and put in it caught fire.

AJ

Hink · Post by **Hink** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 5:29 pm

platinumears wrote:My Les Paul is f**king gorgeous: worth every penny (approx 2 million of them!)

The laws of diminishing returns applies of course: a Gibson will never be as good value as an Epiphone, but if you want top quality you have to pay a premium..

Try buying a Stradivarius violin one day!

Bull...please tell me one thing better quality in your Les Paul that makes it "better" then my Warmoth Strat. It's got a Shecter fixed bridge, Schaller machine heads, EMG pick-ups, low impedance pots, I custom wired 5 way switch. The body is birdseye maple with a natural finish. Over the years my sweat and natural oils have truly brought out I real personalized look (no it's not filthy, but it does have my dna

). It has a maple neck with a Brazilian rosewood fingerboard. The heel joint at the neck is tapered down for maximum comfort when soloing high on the neck. Unlike you I can swear to the quality of the wiring and electronics because Ihand did it my self, I even have my eletronic cavities fully sheilded with copper sheilding tape (does your Les Paul?) which is a must. Many commercial guitar companies dont do this at all and every guitarist should have a roll of copper sheilding tape.

So besides the obvious neck through the body which merits are debatable...what part of my guitar is not "top quality"?

BTW it has an ultra thin neck and truly the best action of any guitar I have ever played...remember I worked music retail for years, seen and played a lot of guitars...it is one sweet playing guitar.

For me, and I consider myself a craftsman, I think if I spent the same money it cost for a new Les paul I would build a much finer guitar. I can even build neck-through if I so choose and good enough is not acceptable when I build a guitar...

IIRs · Post by **IIRs** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 5:47 pm

Every guitar is unique. Once you reach a certain quality level, its not really a question of "better" or "worse", but "what suits me best". I've never played your guitar, but I suspect I wouldn't like it as much as mine, because no guitar I have ever played has felt or sounded as good to me. (Your description confirms it btw: thin neck and low action? ugh!

)

If you want my guitar, and nothing else will do, you have to pay the price.

I have no regrets!

Oh btw, Les Pauls have glued-on necks, not through body..

Markleford · Post by **Markleford** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 6:09 pm

platinumears wrote:Every guitar is unique. Once you reach a certain quality level, its not really a question of "better" or "worse", but "what suits me best".

Amen to that! I auditioned a whole shopful at up to double my price range and settled on the one that called to me. Just happened to be cheap!

- m

1 more reason I don't like Gibson