Potential first time Les Paul buyer

[NateD81]

Thank you to everyone for your suggestions! I went back to GC and tried the Epiphone Standard 50s, which sounded and felt pretty nice. They had that Les Paul Traditional Pro V and a Tribute. I liked the Traditional, but honestly, the Tribute has a nice and chunky neck, sounded, and plays great, I had to pick it up. Ultimately, the Standard 50s was super nice, but it was 1,500 nicer than the Tribute.

Thanks again everyone!

 

[Lonn]

Used. There are TONS of very nice Gibson LPs well under $2k to be had. Play as many as you can first to orient yourself to the different models, then put money in your pocket to buy.

 

[tlsmack]

I have had no luck with Epiphones, so I would look a Prs or maybe a Hagstrom Swede.

 

[northernguitar]

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Don't mess with the fragile headstock problem Gibon has. Most get broken when you try to sell during shipping. They fixed the issue on Epiphone.

Be wary of buying repaired headstock Gibson's passed off as original. Repaired are worth half of unbroken.

Be wary of fakes.

I'd check out PRS S2 or SE 22 fret models. 24 fret ones will be more like SGs.

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Most get broken in shipping is a load of malarkey. I can’t tell if this is misinformation or disinformation.

 

[msalama]

repaired headstock Gibson's

Well worth the half price though when they're repaired properly. I've owned a couple myself and had no complaints whatsoever.

 

[northernguitar]

Well worth the half price though when they're repaired properly. I've owned a couple myself and had no complaints whatsoever.

And they aren’t that readily available. Contrary to his opinion, most LP’s have their headstocks intact.

 

[msalama]

No, they're not. And some folks ask too much for theirs, especially on Reverb. But those you either haggle down or walk away from...

 

[NHFlyCaster]

2015 Gibson LPM used for reasonable money. Some seemed to have come with or without G-Force tuners. Came with a case.

 

[1 21 gigawatts]

I love the satin finishes of the Tributes; especially the Tobacco burst and Iced Tea burst. Some of them have some nice figured wood too. Sweetwater shows you four or five to choose between and lists the weights.

You may also want to watch the Gibson demo shop page on Reverb. They usually have some pretty good deals on slightly blemished LPs (if you don't mind a ding or scratch). They will sometimes try out some different mods to them as well- so you can find them with uncovered pickups, different knobs etc. They come from Gibson, so they include a warranty.

 

[basher]

I liked the Traditional, but honestly, the Tribute has a nice and chunky neck, sounded, and plays great, I had to pick it up.

Ah, so you bought it? Congratulations and post pix, please.

 

[OmegaWoods]

Hi.

If it were me today, I’d be looking at two Epiphone models, the 50s Standard and the 1959 Standard. I believe they’re essentially the same guitar, except the 1959 has Gibson pickups. And they come in different colour choices. Also, even though the necks have different profile names associated with each model, they are apparently the same.

I only know this stuff from being a curious (online) window shopper. But, having examined the matter a little, that’s the way I’d be leaning. Probably the 50s model, as with the money saved, I could try a couple of pickup options from Bootstrap.

Pax/
Dean

My 59 Epi came with Gibson pickups. Look Em up on Sweetwater. You won’t be sorry! I made a thread about it here a few months back.

 

[Mr Ridesglide]

I was in this spot once a few years ago - perhaps 10 years ago. I finally decided to save more money and get one that would appreciate instead of depreciate. Ended up with a 2006 R8 that was so pretty. It was a great guitar, but we just didn't speak the same language in the end. I paid $2400, sold it about six years later for $3000.
Got a wonderful telecaster instead! So never go halfway is my take. Get the good one, it'll pay off in the end.

 

[old wrench]

The Les Paul "Traditional" is a great LP

I've owned a couple and still have one from 2015, and honestly, it's not a whole lot different from my 2006 LP R9

Nice full neck, excellent pickups

It had the G-Force tuners, which although they were very accurate and functioned well, I just couldn't bond with them - so I replaced those with a set of the old Tone-Pro vintage style tuners

I think that if you want a "real" LP but can't afford the high-end models - the Traditional is the way to go



edit - The 2015 LP Traditional was sort of an outlier year - same as most of the 2015 Gibsons

It had the G-Force tuners I mentioned and also had the zero-fret nut and a slightly wider than normal neck

Easy enough to swap out the tuners if you like, but there is absolutely no reason to change the zero-fret - it functions flawlessly

And the little bit of extra width to the neck in 2015 puts it right in the the mid-fifties neck width category of the originals - feels great and plays great

The 2015's were fantastic deals for a couple of years after they came out, because of all of the controversy surrounding the changes made to the 2015 models - although I imagine the market has caught up with the pricing disparity by now

.

 

[Cosmic Cowboy]

I dont think you should settle. If you're feelin like getting a Gibson.. get one. There are no guitars Ive found that do like my LPs.

I dont play em much anymore doing the country rodeo scene...but I sure do love em.

 

[Sgt Pepper]

I would try to find a Korean PRS SE Singlecut or SE 245 if I didn't just have to have a Gibson Les Paul. Even the Indonesian PRS LP types might be good. I just know for sure that the 2 Korean PRS SE guitars I have owned are good.

That aside, if you can just give it time I am pretty sure the used gear market it going to correct. I can already see it trending down a little. Before Covid, electric guitar sales were not great. During covid people were at home and guitar sales went crazy. There are a lot of guitars out there not being played.

edit to note that I do own a Gibson LP, but more often take the PRS to play in bars, as it's already...slightly reliced ...from previous nights in bars.

 

[Silverface]

Drive down to "guitar row" in Hollywood, where Guitar Center and other dealers are concentrated and have fairly large inventory of used ones. You can check the Hollywood GC's used stock online.

I bought an exc condition Sunburst with a plus top a couple of years ago for $1200, and a Goldtop With swappable mini-hums/P90's and removable Bigsby(also in excellent condition) for $1150.

Personally I don't think Studios are worth the money - and do not be afraid of LP's with quality headstock break repairs. We have a running joke in the guitar tech circles: there are 2 types of LP's - Those that have had headstock breaks...and those that will.

A quality repair can literally be done with hot hide glue overnight, the clamps removed and excess glue cleaned off in the morning - many requiring no finish touchup or quick, invisible lacquer touchup - and ready to string up and play the next day with a STRONGER joint than before the break.

Stick with used ones - and where you live there are plenty within a 70 mile radius.

 

[TCA117]

Life's too short - if you want a Gibson Les Paul, and can afford it - buy it.
I see many for under $2k.

 

[mikeford]

I always wanted to play one, but the weight was too much. I would have had to hire a back specialist at the same time.

They do have a sound though.

Mike

 

[northernguitar]

I always wanted to play one, but the weight was too much. I would have had to hire a back specialist at the same time.

They do have a sound though.

Mike

Chambered ones are quite manageable. Or a Junior or a Special. Great guitars!

 

[teletail]

Buy once, cry once. If you want a Gibson Les Paul, buy one. I had an Epiphone and a Heritage Les Paul. Nice guitars, but not a Gibson.

As others have said, buy used, you’ll have no problem getting one for well under $2,0000 IF you’re patient.