Les Paul type rip offs/clones in the 400-750$ range?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Kapo_Polenton
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Kapo_Polenton

Kapo_Polenton

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What do you guys like? I have an old epiphone that is on long term borrowed status from a friend that sounds great with alnico II's and plays great. Love the feel of it. I have a san dimas on the other hand, that I am just not bonding with. I don't like the neck at all. I already have two other strat types so I was thinking, why not get something les paulish that I can call my own and maybe upgrade the pickups to some duncans or dimarzios. I noticed the LTD EC256 had some good reviews and people seem to like their Agiles quite a lot. What else is Les Paul shape in either distressed or spanking brand new paint jobs and plays great? Go nuts, from Hagstroms to whateversomes... need some ideas to look into things.
 
Agile 3100 can't be beat for $400. Mine plays like butter, sounds killer and has a flawless finish. Can't ask for more..
 
Tokai, Epiphone and Edwards would be my top picks. I have no experience with the Agile LP's but I hear good things. Some Dillion's are super nice as well.

I have a Tokai Custom Bullseye that's smoking! The Epiphone Prophecy in black cherry is also killer, and has a satin finish to the back of the neck that just makes it a speed machine. Plus it comes with coil tapping Gibson Dirty Fingers. It's a hot axe!
 
I like the used Gibson Les Paul Studios. Like any les Paul you have to look at bit, but I have liked the 3 LP studios I have played.
 
blackba":zi1dtm0q said:
I like the used Gibson Les Paul Studios. Like any les Paul you have to look at bit, but I have liked the 3 LP studios I have played.
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That's exactly the route I would take. In that price range you can easily find a Gibson Les Paul Studio that will hang with any Classic or Custom with playability and tone. It wont have the pretty binding, but you can wear some high heels and a nice blouse to compensate if that is a deal breaker for you. :thumbsup:
 
new or used LTD EC-400AT, EC-400VF, EC-401VF

The older MIK 400AT's are sweet. Real Duncans (usually a JB/59), full thickness and good hardware.

I think the current EC-1000 T/CTM are full thickness as well.
 
Thanks for the tips guys... what about the Michael Kelly Patriots? Anybody ever take a spin on one of those?
 
The Kelly Patriots are very solid. Another option, with some looking, would be a Czech Dean Evo. Killer made guitars.
 
Personally, I'd look for a Vintage Japanese Les Paul copy (Matsumoku). My brother picked up a late 70s Dixon Les Paul with bridge/tuner/pickup upgrades for I think under $300 on Craigs last year. It is a beast, and destroys any Epiphone I've ever played. Regardless, if you find a nice one, you'll be in your budget (and most likely under).
 
Matsumoku made a lot of nice guitars... LP knock offs were just one type.

I have also played some of the Chinese $500 knock offs and they played better than the $2000 listed ones in GC.
 
There was an old copy I played years ago.. I think it was a japanese company, but I'm not too sure. They were called Electra and they had this mother of pearl "Peace" like logo on their head stock. I believe Peter Frampton played them for a while too!
 
I once played a Tokai, that would have totally fooled me had I been blindfolded. It was £280 I think.
 
I'd get an Orville. They're the Japanese division of Gibson (discontinued in the mid 90's). I have four of them. As with almost any Japanese guitar the pickups/pots/caps need to be swapped, but past that if you give them a decent setup, cut the nut properly and perhaps a light fret dressing you're good to go.
 
My EC-1000 is the best $450 (used) I've spent on a guitar...feels better than most of the LP Studios I've played.
 
Those EC-1000's look pretty nice but i have to admit that I was not a fan of all that flashy binding and multi colored sparkles on the fret markers. A nice simple line would have been so much better. 450$ is a good price though.. I see people trying to sell them for 750$.. I'm not paying that. Been on the lookout for tokai as well but they have different models of love rocks it seems. How do I know what a good price for one of those is?
 
I got the vintage black, has a simple aged cream binding on a satin black finish...though I had to remove the EMG's and put some passive Duncan's in there to better suit my taste. The fret markers are MOP. I've seen people try to get $650+ for them used, but you should be able to find them in the $500 range and below...
 
Like everyone said, you can check out the ESP/LTD LP shaped guitar. You can buy a LTD eclipse for around $450-$550 nowadays.
Tokai, Burny and Epi comes to mind.
 
The classic Japanese guitars like Greco, Burny, and Orville are killer but most likely at the top or over the $750 price limit. The matsumoku guitars are nice but most likely bolt on necks. Not that there's anything wrong with that, just a heads up. I had an Electra with the wave headstock and peace symbol inlay that just rocked.
 
nwright":270jvr47 said:
new or used LTD EC-400AT, EC-400VF, EC-401VF

The older MIK 400AT's are sweet. Real Duncans (usually a JB/59), full thickness and good hardware.

I think the current EC-1000 T/CTM are full thickness as well.
Click to expand...
+1 on the LTD EC400VF .i have one, full thickness,duncan pickups,59 and a JB
 
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