Lets talk about Les Pauls for Hard Rock/Modern Rock/Metal

[jwhitman]

I've got a bug... a real bad wild hair in my ass to get my hands on a LP. I'm not looking for some $5000 magically beautiful RI or anything like that. I like them bound, I can't stand studios for that reason alone. My notion is to try and find an older custom and stuff it with BK Aftermaths... I play what you would probably consider hard rock, verge of metal. It's really driving and articulately played metal-esque riffage with primarily clean/sang vocals and an occasional scream. Think Disturbed, Breaking Benjamin, Sevendust, Art of Dying (killer up and coming band btw), Submersed, Trapt etc etc.

All that being said, which Les Pauls (year range, specs, models etc) do you think best fit that bill as a foundation for building MY Les Paul? The fancy "Gothic" and other odd models don't suit me. I really like the traditional Les Paul Custom/Standard/Traditional look.

Money wise, while I can't jump on anything at the moment, I think I'd be ok spending from a grand to two g's on one. Preferably closer to a grand.

 

[Marshall Freak]

I'd probably go with a used Standard, Traditional, or Classic depending on what kind of neck you like. You can find early-mid 90's Standards or Classics pretty reasonable on ebay or in classifieds, and they're great sounding guitars. With the Classic, you might not even need to swap pickups.

 

[Code001]

I'd probably go with a used Standard, Traditional, or Classic depending on what kind of neck you like. You can find early-mid 90's Standards or Classics pretty reasonable on ebay or in classifieds, and they're great sounding guitars. With the Classic, you might not even need to swap pickups.

+1 to this. I was about to say the exact same thing. I'd stay away from the chambered Standards for metal.

 

[Nico]

Well if you are into those heavy heavy bands I personally would not buy a Gibson LP, I'd just get a cheaper LP type guitar
You can even play on a guitar with a faster neck with high output pups and never tell the difference, thing is with tons of gain you tend to lose the natural tone of the instrument, and every guitar starts to sound the same. so I couldn't justify spending so much money for something like that.

If you absolutely must buy a Gibson. Grab a good used regular Gibson Standard LP

 

[Mudder]

I'd go with an Edwards, Greco, Burny, or Orville for the money you're talking. All great guitars that can be had in the $1k range and often less.

 

[locoed]

For the same style of music I play,I use a 1994 standard. It's black however,not chambered. It's 8lbs which is perfect for me,50's neck,M/C Solutions. It's my favorite guitar for gigs. And in today's market you could get one for $1450 to $1600 all day long.
It chunks up pretty good,playing live I like to have a fat tone and less gain.
I wish Gibson made standards with ebony boards but I guess ya can't have it all.

 

[Tawlks]

Well if you are into those heavy heavy bands I personally would not buy a Gibson LP, I'd just get a cheaper LP type guitar
You can even play on a guitar with a faster neck with high output pups and never tell the difference, thing is with tons of gain you tend to lose the natural tone of the instrument, and every guitar starts to sound the same. so I couldn't justify spending so much money for something like that.

If you absolutely must buy a Gibson. Grab a good used regular Gibson Standard LP

This.

Firstly, check out the Les Paul Studio Premium Plus, I think it's called, basically a Studio with binding and a few other cosmetic features.

ESP, Edwards, PRS all make good LP style guitars, the PRS will be alot more streemlined but I've played ones that had a similar feel to Gibsons.

The most 'metal' LPs though in my opinion are

Les Paul Voodoo

Les Paul Custom Silverburst

Les Paul Custom w/Chrome hardware.

 

[TheMagicEight]

I've got a bug... a real bad wild hair in my ass to get my hands on a LP. I'm not looking for some $5000 magically beautiful RI or anything like that. I like them bound, I can't stand studios for that reason alone. My notion is to try and find an older custom and stuff it with BK Aftermaths... I play what you would probably consider hard rock, verge of metal. It's really driving and articulately played metal-esque riffage with primarily clean/sang vocals and an occasional scream. Think Disturbed, Breaking Benjamin, Sevendust, Art of Dying (killer up and coming band btw), Submersed, Trapt etc etc.

All that being said, which Les Pauls (year range, specs, models etc) do you think best fit that bill as a foundation for building MY Les Paul? The fancy "Gothic" and other odd models don't suit me. I really like the traditional Les Paul Custom/Standard/Traditional look.

Money wise, while I can't jump on anything at the moment, I think I'd be ok spending from a grand to two g's on one. Preferably closer to a grand.

Definitely stay away from chambered LPs. Softer attack and more round tone. The LP Faded models from around '05, '06 are incredible. Traditional models are also excellent, though the Plus is my preference due to the thicker '50s neck. Standards before '07 (chambering introduced) should also be great. What it really comes down to is playing them. I'd highly recommend getting to play the guitar before you buy it, as each Les Paul will be a little different. Also, while the Classic models are cheap, I think they're worth staying away from (clownburst finish, greenish inlays and tuners, etc.).

 

[travis bickle]

im using a chambered lp studio with emg's that sounds MASSIVE. i play full throtle metal / hardcore / fusion and ive never been happier with my tone.

 

[JonVengeance]

The chambered Les Pauls aren't good for metal? I recorded my guitar parts with my chambered LP and play with it live all the time. I play melodic death metal/thrash. I love the resonance of my chambered Les Paul Standard. Plus it's easier on my back than my Custom.

You can hear my chambered Les Paul in action:
http://www.myspace.com/absolutevenegeance

 

[Mark Day]

I have a Blackout AHB 1 and Sustainiac in this LP Standard Plus (2001). It has a Tone Pro's bridge and tailpiece and a Hipshot GT-1 D-Tuner on the 6th string.
A real Rock machine. It is my only LP left and it's a keeper.

Mark

 

[axemeaquestion]

I don't get the appeal of having an actual LP. I've played many, done side by side tone comparisons to my humbucker equipped axe, and there was no tone improvement on the LP's, and mine played better.

 

[JonVengeance]

I don't get the appeal of having an actual LP. I've played many, done side by side tone comparisons to my humbucker equipped axe, and there was no tone improvement on the LP's, and mine played better.

You've never played a great Les Paul then. My Gibsons (LP Custom, LP Standard, and SG Standard) just sound heavier, meatier, have more sustain, feel more resonant in my hands, and are more comfortable ( I prefer a chunkier neck, I sold off most of my Ibanez RG Series guitars because of the thin necks.) than my other HB guitars.

What good is doing side by side comparisons when you are obviously biased toward your own guitars?

 

[TheMagicEight]

Please don't feed the troll ^^^

The chambered Les Pauls aren't good for metal? I recorded my guitar parts with my chambered LP and play with it live all the time. I play melodic death metal/thrash. I love the resonance of my chambered Les Paul Standard. Plus it's easier on my back than my Custom.

You can hear my chambered Les Paul in action:
[url=https://www.myspace.com/absolutevenegeance]https://www.myspace.com/absolutevenegeance[/url]

Your stuff sounds great, though I think you meant to post http://www.myspace.com/absolutevengeance. You've clearly made it work and I like your stuff!

Still though, I prefer the non-chambered guitar sound. While your tones are awesome, there's a "stickiness" to them - albeit subtle - that I don't care for. I don't believe it's impossible to get the chambered LPs to work pretty well, but given the choice the OP has, I'd say go solid or weight relieved, but not chambered.

 

[axemeaquestion]

I don't get the appeal of having an actual LP. I've played many, done side by side tone comparisons to my humbucker equipped axe, and there was no tone improvement on the LP's, and mine played better.

You've never played a great Les Paul then. My Gibsons (LP Custom, LP Standard, and SG Standard) just sound heavier, meatier, have more sustain, feel more resonant in my hands, and are more comfortable ( I prefer a chunkier neck, I sold off most of my Ibanez RG Series guitars because of the thin necks.) than my other HB guitars.

What good is doing side by side comparisons when you are obviously biased toward your own guitars?

I expected them to be better than my guitar, after all, they're LP's. I've probably played about 10, which should be more than enuff to get a feel for them. Again, nothing wrong with them, but they aren't the holy grail by any means.

Now the JT Variax, that's the holy grail.

 

[JonVengeance]

I have an '87 LP Custom, an '06 Chambered, and an '08 SG Standard. All of them sound great and are similar to one another. However, the chambered has a more open, organic tone and is more resonant. Also, the "stickiness" is probably due more to the stock pickups. I recorded with the stock burstbucker pros, but have since switched the bridge to a BKP nailbomb which is much better.

Not the best video of us, but here is one where I start things out with my chambered LP with the nailbomb. I really love the tone I'm getting there. Just straight into my JVM.

 

[JonVengeance]

I don't get the appeal of having an actual LP. I've played many, done side by side tone comparisons to my humbucker equipped axe, and there was no tone improvement on the LP's, and mine played better.

You've never played a great Les Paul then. My Gibsons (LP Custom, LP Standard, and SG Standard) just sound heavier, meatier, have more sustain, feel more resonant in my hands, and are more comfortable ( I prefer a chunkier neck, I sold off most of my Ibanez RG Series guitars because of the thin necks.) than my other HB guitars.

What good is doing side by side comparisons when you are obviously biased toward your own guitars?

I expected them to be better than my guitar, after all, they're LP's. I've probably played about 10, which should be more than enuff to get a feel for them. Again, nothing wrong with them, but they aren't the holy grail by any means.

Now the JT Variax, that's the holy grail.

obviously trolling.

On a serious note, you have to play a Les Paul that's been set up nicely. They always have the action set really high at the stores.

 

[tekbow]

I'd go with an Edwards, Greco, Burny, or Orville for the money you're talking. All great guitars that can be had in the $1k range and often less.

or tokai

but basically les pauls are so variable you just have to play a bunch of them until you find one you like. I'm still looking for mine. Try LOTS of second hand as someone said

 

[axemeaquestion]

I don't get the appeal of having an actual LP. I've played many, done side by side tone comparisons to my humbucker equipped axe, and there was no tone improvement on the LP's, and mine played better.

You've never played a great Les Paul then. My Gibsons (LP Custom, LP Standard, and SG Standard) just sound heavier, meatier, have more sustain, feel more resonant in my hands, and are more comfortable ( I prefer a chunkier neck, I sold off most of my Ibanez RG Series guitars because of the thin necks.) than my other HB guitars.

What good is doing side by side comparisons when you are obviously biased toward your own guitars?

I expected them to be better than my guitar, after all, they're LP's. I've probably played about 10, which should be more than enuff to get a feel for them. Again, nothing wrong with them, but they aren't the holy grail by any means.

Now the JT Variax, that's the holy grail.

obviously trolling.

On a serious note, you have to play a Les Paul that's been set up nicely. They always have the action set really high at the stores.

These weren't store LP's. They were actual living guitarists' gits.

Many of you badmouth Gibson all the time on these threads. I'm far from the only one who doesn't think they're all that and a bag of chips.

 

[JonVengeance]

I don't get the appeal of having an actual LP. I've played many, done side by side tone comparisons to my humbucker equipped axe, and there was no tone improvement on the LP's, and mine played better.

You've never played a great Les Paul then. My Gibsons (LP Custom, LP Standard, and SG Standard) just sound heavier, meatier, have more sustain, feel more resonant in my hands, and are more comfortable ( I prefer a chunkier neck, I sold off most of my Ibanez RG Series guitars because of the thin necks.) than my other HB guitars.

What good is doing side by side comparisons when you are obviously biased toward your own guitars?

I expected them to be better than my guitar, after all, they're LP's. I've probably played about 10, which should be more than enuff to get a feel for them. Again, nothing wrong with them, but they aren't the holy grail by any means.

Now the JT Variax, that's the holy grail.

obviously trolling.

On a serious note, you have to play a Les Paul that's been set up nicely. They always have the action set really high at the stores.

These weren't store LP's. They were actual living guitarists' gits.

Many of you badmouth Gibson all the time on these threads. I'm far from the only one who doesn't think they're all that and a bag of chips.

They're far from the best guitars ever, but when you find a good one little else compares. Also I think some of the Japanese LP copies are great, and so are the Heritage H-150s and H-157s, which are made in the USA and can be had far a little over $1,000 used. I think Gibson's pricing is what invites all the hate.