Which among these LP style guitars is the best?

[Jakedog]

Out of those? PRS. Hands down.

 

[-Hawk-]

Another PRS vote. Really nice guitars.

 

[Pickcity]

IMO the PRS SE will have the most familiar "feel". They have great quality and sound. I've never played the ESP, but I hear good things about them.

I owned a PRS SE Santana and it was excellent. Because of the shorter scale it sounds more "Gibson" to my ears.

This is the one I would pick as well, and you are right about the familiarity aspect. I would compare the PRS SE more to a Strat than a LP. I played an SE for a while and found it to be versatile and very well made.

I have played on a couple of the LTD-256 models and the neck feels great, and they look great, but all of the ones I have come across required some serious work in setting them up. The PU's were pretty weak too.

I have always liked Epiphone guitars but the most recent makes have really odd feeling necks to me. They do not feel anything like a real LP, and I don't want to sound too negative, but the necks feel like I'm holding onto a 2x4...I was looking to possibly get one earlier this year so I tried several of them, and within seconds I immediately placed them back on the hangers, all because of those hideous necks. YMMV...A nice used one may be a better find. The older Epi LP's were great.

I know nothing about Vintage brand.

 

[telemnemonics]

I've picked up lots of the Epi LPs in shops and never really was impressed by them as guitars, though they look nice enough for the money.
Those PRS SE always impressed me though, and I'd probably buy one if it was a tool I needed.
I have an old Gibson LP and a Strat with '57 Classics in it, but seldom play them, so an SE doesn't really make sense to add.

Re: the 339 Pro, I bought a 335 Pro last Christmas and after a few weeks returned it because it just didn't stack up for me as a guitar.
Nice enough woodworking and finish but a sort of rubbery neck, mediocre fretwork, and a bridge radius that didn't match the board radius.
I wish those guitars were a little better, and I understand there have been some Epi semi hollows over the years that were better.
Plenty of players seem to love the current 335/339 though.

The Ibanez Artist double cut LP style is another good LP option, not sure if you can get them.

 

[nashsed]

I've had an Epi and a Vintage. The Epi felt cheap, the back was mahogany veneer on some unspecified wood, I sold it on. The Vintage feels and sounds like the real deal and isn't going anywhere.

Good to hear. I've seen a couple of videos of the Vintage Lemon Drop and it sounds fantastic.

The lower end LPs are terrible but I've heard good things about the Plustop Pro since it's on the higher end in Epiphone's catalogue.

 

[nashsed]

The PRS SE guitars rival most USA made products in terms of quality and feel. It is pretty spectacular, actually.

Sure, some of the components represent a compromise but the bones are almost always solid.

Aren't the SE and SE Standard two different ranges of guitars?

I am not a fan of the feel of an LP even though that is all I played when I was younger. But nothing but an LP sounds like an LP. The PRS will sound like a PRS.

I think the Epi or Vintage will be your best bet if you want a Guitar that sounds like an LP. The other two are very well built guitars, and will approximate an LP sound.

I love the sound of an LP, but can’t get along with the feel of one as mentioned above. I have settled on a Schecter C1 Plus and an old Ibanez SZ to get my humbucker sound. And looking into getting a Schecter Solo as well. The Ibanez is closer in sound, but just not there. A true LP has a thickness and bottom end that other guitar designs just can’t produce. I owned a PRS Tremonti at one time. It was a great playing guitar, very well built, but heavy and did not sound like an LP. Also owned a G&L Tribute ASAT Carved Top that came very close as well. Very nice playing and well built guitar for little money.

I would suggest getting out and playing a few if you have that option. You might be ok with the PRS as others have mentioned, which is a well built Guitar. This is just my opinion on my experiences and use it just as that, just an opinion. Good luck with your quest.

Glad to see some love for Schecter. My first guitar was a Schecter Omen 6 and I loved that piece of wood! Was a solid guitar with a lightning fast fingerboard. Still regret selling it.

Was actually able to try a friend's LP Standard today and I agree with you. Don't think the neck is my cup of tea. Just seemed a bit too chunky despite my having above average sized fingers.

 

[Dismalhead]

Out of your choices, PRS. Never picked up an SE that I didn't like.

 

[IronSchef]

I can't say anything bad about the others on your list - but I am a big Epiphone fan.

I have an Epi LP Tribute Plus, as well as an LP Studio, they are both great guitars -- The Plus-top Pro is an excellent choice for a Lester

 

[cousinpaul]

I bought a used SE Singlecut Korina to fill my HB slot. My only gripe was the pickups were a little too hot. A set of SD 59's brought it much closer to vintage Gibson tones although I think the SG might be a more apt comparison. I haven't tried the other guitars mentioned but the SE stands tall beside actual Gibsons I've checked out.

 

[Flat6Driver]

I went down this same path last week. Theres a thread below on it. The PRS while nice didn't do it enough. The humbucker Revstar was as close to the LPs as I could find. (But I already have one). I ended up with a Studio. It's great.

 

[nashsed]

I went down this same path last week. Theres a thread below on it. The PRS while nice didn't do it enough. The humbucker Revstar was as close to the LPs as I could find. (But I already have one). I ended up with a Studio. It's great.

Hey which Revstar did you buy? The online retailer I intend to buy from has the Yamaha RS320 but decided against it as I read the ceramic pups are very hot and don't produce great cleans. Plus the shape just didn't do it for me. It's interesting but just doesn't have the appeal of a single cut.

 

[Flat6Driver]

I have the green one with the P90s and the long tailpiece.

The fit and finish is top notch. I was amazed at the quality.

 

[deytookerjaabs]

I would wait and get a Les Paul.


If you want a traditional Les Paul sound...I'd not recommend the Les Paul DoubleCut or an SG or a Heritage H-140 just like I wouldn't recommend a PRS.


Meanwhile, locally, Les Paul Traditionals & Classics are creeping down to $1000! Then, Studios/Tributes are going even lower and can be had for $600 easily. Then, go on Ebay and certain vintage Greco's, Fernandes, Burny's are creeping down as well as new Edwards guitars. Those are all better Les Paul substitutes..only because they're basically Les Pauls. Plus, they're so cheap right now, years ago I was buying them at higher prices.


The "vintage" guitars are okay, there's a dealer right near me with a huge stock of them, I'd still not plunk down on a new one when $200 more will go very far.

 

[3-Chord-Genius]

I love the LTD Les Paul-type guitars.

 

[nashsed]

I love the LTD Les Paul-type guitars.

In your experience how do the ESPs stack up against the Epis?