How do Flying V's and Explorers compare to Les Pauls?

[SixShooter]

I'm not a Gibson guy. I was wondering if V's and Explorers sound and play the same as a Les Paul or is there something different about them? It appears thet=y have the same bridge/tailpiece and pickups. Headstocks are different and obviously the body shapes are different.

 

[Warren Pederson]

They are pointier.

 

[3waytie4last]

I had an Ibanez V and, perhaps surprisingly, it reminded me of a tele more than anything else in feel and playability.

 

[dannew02]

I've heard V's described as "Tele on steroids" more than once, but never V's being compared to LP's.

 

[Derek Kiernan]

Going to matter a bit what the pickup style and the electronics are like - LPs rarely come with open coil pickups, at least from what I've seen. Also, if one has a maple top, that's going to make a noticeable tonal difference.

 

[Octave Doctor]

I had an original Ibanez Destroyer, which sounded closer to an SG, without being neck heavy. It was a little awkward being so long, but not nearly as bad as a Firebird.

Also had a couple V copies, one mahogany, one plywood, also leaning to the SG side.

 

[doc w]

IMHO, most solid body Gibsons with two humbuckers sound and play very similarly. Even a ES-335 sounds like a Les Paul when cranked. If they have the classic thick neck they all feel pretty much the same. The big diff is how they feel hanging on the player. I think that the Flying V is sort of weird to play but I never owned one and never played one for a long period of time. I suppose one could get used to it. For sure they are a pain in the arse to play sitting down because they slide off your leg,

 

[Speedy454]

I have had a couple Vs, I have an explorer and a couple LPs, an SG and a Sheraton II with Gibson pickups. If the pups are similar, they sound similar. If the pups are same, it is really hard to tell them apart. My LPs and Sheraton have '57 classics. I cant tell them apart. One LP has a maple cap, the other is all mahogany. The explorer has the 490/498 pups, the SG has the 490R/490T pups. Those two can sound remarkably similar at times.

 

[Paul G.]

Gibson Humbuckers are pretty powerful pickups. With the volume on full or near it, you're driving the amp hard and this makes most Gibson solid bodies sound quite similar regardless of body style. Still there are differences.

As far as feel, Gibsons all play similarly.

An Explorer is surprisingly comfortable strapped on. The guitar balances well, and despite the extra wood on your picking side, it feels small. They have a plankiness to the sound that I like. Great sustain.

Flying Vs are weird. I could never get comfy on one, but that could be just me. They sound a bit more hollow than your typical Gibson. Sustain is good but not super.

For comfort, you can't beat an SG. Light, small, thin. They sound brighter and more aggressive than most Gibsons. There is a tendency towards neck-heaviness but a sueded strap fixes that. I like smooth leather straps and don't have a problem with it -- when I'm playing, neck is in my hand, when I'm not, who cares how it hangs?

P

 

[jtees4]

The Vees and Explorers play and sound more like an SG IMHO.....and other than shape the construction is more similar than most LP's.

 

[SachaPlusDeluxe]

My 84 Tokai Flying V is the closest guitar I've tried (and own) to that late 50's les paul sound.

But all in, if it's got humbuckers (PAF style) then any guitar will sound like a Les Paul. IMHO

 

[vintage clubber]

Is there really that much difference in sound between a LP and an SG?

 

[Paul G.]

Les Paul: Thicker, more sustain, rich tone. Lots of treble, lots of bass. But...low strings don't sound defined and can get tubby as you move up the neck.

SG: Brighter, crisper, definitely much more aggressive. Less wide range tone, big peak in the upper mids. Sustain excellent below 12th fret, but a tendency for dead spots here and there above.

That said, an SG can sound rich if you set the amp right and a Les Paul can scream if you know what you're doing.

P.

 

[Mightyaxeman]

IMHO, most solid body Gibsons with two humbuckers sound and play very similarly. Even a ES-335 sounds like a Les Paul when cranked. If they have the classic thick neck they all feel pretty much the same. The big diff is how they feel hanging on the player. I think that the Flying V is sort of weird to play but I never owned one and never played one for a long period of time. I suppose one could get used to it. For sure they are a pain in the arse to play sitting down because they slide off your leg,

Not to me. I have a couple Vs, SGs, a Les Paul, an Explorer and a ES335. They all sound very different. I'm partial to the Les Paul and ES335 sound my self. Vs and Explorers are fun to play but they are moving targets for mic and cymbal stands.

 

[Paul G.]

Forgetting looks, the best-sounding, most versatile Gibson is the ES335. The only other instrument that can cover as much territory is the Fender Telecaster.

You show up with either guitar and it doesn't matter if the gig is jazz, blues, rockabilly, rock, standards, experimental, country, oldies, swing, western swing, whatever.

In my opinion of course.

P.

 

[jtees4]

Forgetting looks, the best-sounding, most versatile Gibson is the ES335. The only other instrument that can cover as much territory is the Fender Telecaster.

You show up with either guitar and it doesn't matter if the gig is jazz, blues, rockabilly, rock, standards, experimental, country, oldies, swing, western swing, whatever.

In my opinion of course.

P.

You're correct on the 335....lot's of people are shocked (as was I) when they find out that "Cliffs of Dover" was recorded on a 335.....everyone always assumes it was a Strat because that's what Eric Johnson normally uses when live.

 

[doc w]

Not to me. I have a couple Vs, SGs, a Les Paul, an Explorer and a ES335. They all sound very different. I'm partial to the Les Paul and ES335 sound my self. Vs and Explorers are fun to play but they are moving targets for mic and cymbal stands.

I could never tell the difference but maybe I just never played Explorers and V's enough. The difference in sound between a LP and a 335/45/55 is minimal in my opinion. I play both (I have a 345) and the main difference is that I can get really sweet feedback with the 345. The LP is very similar in that regard, but those hollow bits just add that extra.

Remember, Clapton played his famous Crossroads solo on a 335, not a Les Paul, as everyone used to think. Easy mistake to make.