What to look for when buying a Les Paul (Trad, Trad Pro...)

[Jakem]

I've been GASing for a LP lately and I'm gonna go to Helsinki at the end of the month to check them out. Anything specific I should be cautious about? Neck Angle?

I was thinking about these models:
-Traditional
-Traditional Pro
-Custom

Opinions on the Traditionals?

Thanks!

 

[thiswaythatway]

I would say ignore what it says on the headstock and play as many Singlecut style guitars that you can.

 

[Ventura]

I love 'em, but it's all about how they play... Spend some time with 'em. I love the Customs, and I am a HOOOOOGE fan (and owner!) of the '57 models. The goldtop '57 reissue is probably one of my best playing guitars...like buttah, and sustain and soul for decades!!

Hard to say what to watch out for - I guess don't get bamboozled with the VOS nonsense unless that's your thang. Make sure there's a COA to the guitar; if it's used, flip the pups to make sure they're genuine and same goes for the electronics panel. Stress marks around the neck-headstock joinery; poor binding; good seal along the tenon; no popping or static in the pots....

Shit man, just play 'em and find one you love!!

Signed,
Devout Fanboi V.

 

[Jakem]

I love 'em, but it's all about how they play... Spend some time with 'em. I love the Customs, and I am a HOOOOOGE fan (and owner!) of the '57 models. The goldtop '57 reissue is probably one of my best playing guitars...like buttah, and sustain and soul for decades!!

Hard to say what to watch out for - I guess don't get bamboozled with the VOS nonsense unless that's your thang. Make sure there's a COA to the guitar; if it's used, flip the pups to make sure they're genuine and same goes for the electronics panel. Stress marks around the neck-headstock joinery; poor binding; good seal along the tenon; no popping or static in the pots....

Shit man, just play 'em and find one you love!!

Signed,
Devout Fanboi V.

I played an amazing ´57 VOS goldtop 3 years ago! It sounded amazing and played very well although it had a baseball bat size neck... I'm not too fuzzed about goldtops but I regret not buying that guitar a bit.

 

[Ventura]

I love 'em, but it's all about how they play... Spend some time with 'em. I love the Customs, and I am a HOOOOOGE fan (and owner!) of the '57 models. The goldtop '57 reissue is probably one of my best playing guitars...like buttah, and sustain and soul for decades!!

Hard to say what to watch out for - I guess don't get bamboozled with the VOS nonsense unless that's your thang. Make sure there's a COA to the guitar; if it's used, flip the pups to make sure they're genuine and same goes for the electronics panel. Stress marks around the neck-headstock joinery; poor binding; good seal along the tenon; no popping or static in the pots....

Shit man, just play 'em and find one you love!!

Signed,
Devout Fanboi V.

I played an amazing ´57 VOS goldtop 3 years ago! It sounded amazing and played very well although it had a baseball bat size neck... I'm not too fuzzed about goldtops but I regret not buying that guitar a bit.

You know, I used to peruse the Les Pauls....all the Les Pauls... And always thought to myself "Ewwwww, what an UGLY guitar, who the hell would ever BUY or WANT a goldtop, they're just so, BLECH!!". Then one day, seriously, it went from dislike to must-have, a switch just went off. I started seeing them as these classic, beautiful, original style guitars - I ended up ordering a '57 goldtop darkback, got the 4th one made in 2010 according to the S/N. It plays probably the best out of all my Les Pauls - straight out of the case. Perfect action, perfect feel, amazing tone, amazing resonance and sustain. Just a really awesome guitar.

As for the neck, my '57s all share the same neck, but it's by no means the baseball bat style neck that's on my '68. That thing feels almost 2x as fat and thick - still - an incredible player, but that neck is serious baseball bat material.

Just sayin'.

V.

 

[SFW]

Play as many as you can until you find the one that speaks to you. Then buy it!

 

[tekbow]

look for one that says tokai or edwards on the headstock and get a better guitar for less money.

gibsons are fine, but the just don't seem to really give a damn anymore about quality control or you know musicians.

buy one second hand and as the the other guys say, play as many as you can

 

[axemeaquestion]

Consider the new James Tyler Variax which will be coming out by the time you by your Paul. The 59 model is based on a Paul and it has traditional humbuckers (non-modeled) as well as models of many different Pauls, strats, teles, 12 strings, gretches, acoustics.

Their is a video review done by Guitarist magazine floating around the information superhighway.