What to Buy?: Gibson LP, PRS SC250 or Anderson Cobra

[se7en]

Unfortunately I have no dealers close by to demo the PRS and Anderson. I'm looking for a guitar that has a really full sound - real beefy and full on chords and that can sing on leads. I play music in the vein of Alice in Chains/Tool/Porcupine Tree to name a few. I own a PRS Singlecut SE which is really nice, especially for $400 I paid/put in some WCR Godwoods. So I know I like the feel of the PRS. Never owned a Gibson LP, but used to own an Epi LP which wasn't bad for what it was...I guess I don't have a preference for scale length. I guess I'm just looking for opinions on what you guys would buy if you had to choose between these 3...and if you could say what you prefer about it over the other 2 for what you do (if you have experience with the other options). Thanks in advance. Oh, and btw, I'm playing thru a Bogner Ecstasy 101b and a Bogner Fish Preamp.

 

[ctoddrun]

All three of those guitars are a shorter scale length than a Strat-style guitar, so you might have a preference.

I have a Paul and a PRS SC245.

The Paul sounds better, but the PRS is superior in every other way (lighter too).

Tool uses LP's.

Porcupine Tree uses PRS Customs.

Best I can tell, Jerry switches between LP's and his G&L's.


My bet is on the LP for a good chunky tone with your Bogners.

 

[DEWD]

I like the PRS SC250's. They have a slightly longer scale length vs the LP (25 v 24.75) though. I think they are superior in every way to any Gibson I've owned and I've had a ton of Custom Shop LP's.

 

[El Caballo]

I don't have a whole lot of experience with the Andersons, but out of the the Gibsons and PRS's I've played I generally liked PRS better. They seemed to be more playable, the neck joint was easier to deal with when I was playing up high on the neck, and the quality was more consistent. I liked the sound out of the PRS a little better, due to the longer scale length, it was a little snappier sounding. Are you in a band with another guitar player? If so, I would probably go with whatever guitar is going to fill out the sound the best.

 

[JTyson]

I kinda lean towards PRS's, but the lester is gonna be hard to beat for chunk, the PRS has a little more detail in the mids, and upper mids, which I like a lot, it seems to give it a little better definition, but the right lester will have it all..... finding the right lester may be harder than it sounds, Ive had 6 of them, they were all very different. Never found the magic one to keep. PRS seems to have more consistency. I like the Cobra's, they are my favorite Anderson, they are made really well, but I keep going back to McCartys

 

[se7en]

I don't have a whole lot of experience with the Andersons, but out of the the Gibsons and PRS's I've played I generally liked PRS better. They seemed to be more playable, the neck joint was easier to deal with when I was playing up high on the neck, and the quality was more consistent. I liked the sound out of the PRS a little better, due to the longer scale length, it was a little snappier sounding. Are you in a band with another guitar player? If so, I would probably go with whatever guitar is going to fill out the sound the best.

Yeah, my other guitar player plays a Gibson LP Studio. I don't find it as playable as my Singlecut SE. But, I've always kinda figured the right LP will have more mojo than a PRS...Ideally I'd like to find something that isn't super heavy - as I have a back problem (getting a little better nowadays though)...

 

[se7en]

I kinda lean towards PRS's, but the lester is gonna be hard to beat for chunk, the PRS has a little more detail in the mids, and upper mids, which I like a lot, it seems to give it a little better definition, but the right lester will have it all..... finding the right lester may be harder than it sounds, Ive had 6 of them, they were all very different. Never found the magic one to keep. PRS seems to have more consistency. I like the Cobra's, they are my favorite Anderson, they are made really well, but I keep going back to McCartys

So the Cobra was close to what you wanted, but not quite there?

 

[vchizzle]

I'd go with the 250. They seem to average in the 8# range sometimes lighter. I typically like the tone of most PRS over LP's. I prefer the 25" scale to the 24.5. It cut thru in a mix with a little more clarity. Since your other guitar player uses a LP, it would be a good contrast. I haven't played a Cobra. Not sure if you'd get the chunk you're after with one though, just because of the build style and body thickness. Again, that might be a good contrast with the LP. I think the 250 would be the happy medium, good chunk with a little more clarity.

 

[eddyrox]

'68 Historic RI LP Custom, 2 Cobras and an Atom. Never owned an SC, but did have a Cu24.
for the tones you're seeking, flip a coin and go. the 3 guitars will nail what you're looking for. anything else is a matter of re-EQ'ing the 101.

IF and this is just an IF you seeking serious 60's/70's mojo, then the LP is the only choice - as in Bad Co, Frampton, KISS, Cream, Zep, etc.

 

[se7en]

'68 Historic RI LP Custom, 2 Cobras and an Atom. Never owned an SC, but did have a Cu24.
for the tones you're seeking, flip a coin and go. the 3 guitars will nail what you're looking for. anything else is a matter of re-EQ'ing the 101.

IF and this is just an IF you seeking serious 60's/70's mojo, then the LP is the only choice - as in Bad Co, Frampton, KISS, Cream, Zep, etc.

I'm more of a modern - AIC, or Tool kinda guy. How do your Cobras compare to a LP?

 

[RedB4Black]

I own 2 SC250s and I like them better than any LP I've ever owned. Plus, PRS actually stay in tune.

 

[se7en]

I own 2 SC250s and I like them better than any LP I've ever owned. Plus, PRS actually stay in tune.

Cool. I think I'm definately between a SC250 and a Cobra now. Have any clips of your SC250?

 

[se7en]

I own 2 SC250s and I like them better than any LP I've ever owned. Plus, PRS actually stay in tune.

Do they have as much 'chunk' as the LP? How are the stock pickups?

 

[chunktone]

Personally, I'd go with the Anderson. Even if I were a PRS fan, which I'm not, I'd go with the Anderson because they are less common.

 

[RedB4Black]

I own 2 SC250s and I like them better than any LP I've ever owned. Plus, PRS actually stay in tune.

Do they have as much 'chunk' as the LP? How are the stock pickups?

I don't have any clips. Search Erock503 on net musicians. He has done lots of clips with his Tremonti, which is very similar - though he put Barekunckle Pain Killers in his. There is also a youtube demo put out by PRS if you search.

I think the SC250 stock pick-ups are great. Lots of out-put and warm sounding. My guitars have just as much chunk than any LP I've ever owned.

 

[FourT6and2]

I have a '79 Les Paul Custom and an '07 PRS Singlecut. The Les Paul sounds much better, plays much better, and feels much better.

The PRS is a great guitar as well, but it's got a totally different sound and feel.

 

[se7en]

Personally, I'd go with the Anderson. Even if I were a PRS fan, which I'm not, I'd go with the Anderson because they are less common.

I really wish I could demo the Cobra first. I know its gotta be the most versatile of the three.

 

[El Caballo]

Yeah, my other guitar player plays a Gibson LP Studio. I don't find it as playable as my Singlecut SE. But, I've always kinda figured the right LP will have more mojo than a PRS...Ideally I'd like to find something that isn't super heavy - as I have a back problem (getting a little better nowadays though)...

Yeah, if the other guy is playing an LP, I'd probably go with something different for complimentary tones. The Anderson will probably be farther away from the LP than the PRS, and the PRS will probably be a little chunkier, but you should probably be able to get all the chunk you need from the 101b or the Fish though. As far as mojo goes, I've always felt that comes from the player, but that's just me. As far as weight, the Anderson is probably lightest, but the PRS's aren't bad. The LP definitely won't help your back out much. It definitely sucks having back problems.. I have problems with mine too.. it's amazing how quick things can resurface when you think you're feeling better.