Which should I keep?

[Brad737]

Hello all,

I'm in a bit of a quandary. I've purchased two amazing Les Paul replicas, and I love them both dearly. The first is an MCI Pearly Gates replica. It's a phenomenal guitar...plays and sounds great, and is quite a looker as well. It's on spec as regards to weight (1 ounce lighter than Billy's original) and has Pearly's serial number on the headstock. And I LOVE the color.

I also spec'd out a 59 replica from Burst Guitars. I picked out all the wood, and paid quite a bit extra for an ultra-lightweight body. She weighs a shade under 8 lbs, and rings like there's no tomorrow.

Like I said, I love both guitars. But I've been fortunate and have added a 1968 Goldtop that shipped from Gibson 7 days after I was born, and a 50s Custom loaded with PAFs. I'll be honest and admit that I don't play the replicas all that much after getting the vintage Gibsons. I've decided to sell one of the replicas just to free up some cash, and because they're not getting a whole lot of playing time.

They're both incredible replicas, and blow a Historic away. Sound-wise, they both sound spectacular. They both play great, although I prefer the neck on the Pearly just a little. It feels identical to my Custom, while the Lemonburst's neck is just a little fuller...sort of like a 58 profile, though not quite as thick. I do prefer the look of the Lemon, and appreciate the lighter weight.

What do you all think? If you were going to keep just one Flametop, which would you keep?

Thanks,
Brad

 

[sleewell2]

hard to say without playing them but just on looks I would go with the lemon burst

 

[GOHOINC]

Pearly. Thats one beautiful looking guitar.

 

[barnesjd]

I'm a software developer, and I like to make decisions with data. So let me try to apply that to this quote:

They're both incredible replicas, and blow a Historic away. Sound-wise, they both sound spectacular. They both play great, although I prefer the neck on the Pearly just a little. It feels identical to my Custom, while the Lemonburst's neck is just a little fuller...sort of like a 58 profile, though not quite as thick. I do prefer the look of the Lemon, and appreciate the lighter weight.

Up to this point we have a tie:

They're both incredible replicas, and blow a Historic away. Sound-wise, they both sound spectacular. They both play great

Now here is one vote for the Pearly:

although I prefer the neck on the Pearly just a little. It feels identical to my Custom, while the Lemonburst's neck is just a little fuller...sort of like a 58 profile, though not quite as thick.

But here we have TWO for the Lemon:

I do prefer the look of the Lemon, and appreciate the lighter weight.

I'd also like to point out that you custom ordered the Lemon. I think you should go with the Lemon.

 

[Badronald]

Sell them both and buy a Stratocaster!

'56 or 57'.

 

[Brad737]

Sell them both and buy a Stratocaster!

'56 or 57'.

I have a 1st-year SRV Strat. I love the way Strats sound, but I really don't like playing them that much.

 

[snowdog]

Both look excellent, I would keep whichever one I liked best...not what a bunch of random people voted on.

 

[Brad737]

Both look excellent, I would keep whichever one I liked best...not what a bunch of random people voted on.

That's the problem. I really like them both. It's like picking which kid I like best.

 

[GOHOINC]

I'll trade you the green 86 custom 24 I bought from you for pearly...

 

[Brad737]

I'll trade you the green 86 custom 24 I bought from you for pearly...

That's a killer PRS. But I have two 85s and two 86s, as well as 5 other PRSes, so I'm set there.
Thanks,
Brad

 

[AmpliFIRE]

Sell me the 50's Custom

 

[Brad737]

Sell me the 50's Custom

Make me an offer I can't refuse.

 

[Tone Zone]

Pearly looks great and is the one you should keep. The color on the lemon burst just looks odd to me, so I'd sell it.

 

[sytharnia1560]

I'd sell the one that will be the easiest to move and you will get the most $$ for

 

[Brad737]

Alright guys, I've made a decision. I'm going to hang onto the Dirty Lemon Burst, for a little while longer anyway. I had a little shootout this morning between the two. I definitely prefer the feel of the MCI Pearly Gates. The neck is simply amazing. It's like Scott computer modeled the neck off of my Custom. But it comes down to the fact that I picked all of the woods on the Lemon Burst, and it's a lot lighter on my gimpy back. I need to take a photo of the Pearly replica because she's now loaded with the double cream Sheptones. She really is a special guitar. Scott and MCI truly nailed it.

My guitar is slightly reliced. I don't know if it came that way, or has just been played. So there are a few scratches, nitro marks, etc., but as you can see, she's still breath-taking. Basically, she looks like a vintage guitar that's been played, but taken care of.

As far as price, MCI now charges $6500 for a replica with a great top. I'm going to offer her for $5500 plus shipping and insurance. I'll place an ad on mylespaul.com soon. If you have any questions, please let me know.

I do truly appreciate your input. Hope you all have a Merry Christmas.

Thanks,
Brad

 

[blackba]

Alright guys, I've made a decision. I'm going to hang onto the Dirty Lemon Burst, for a little while longer anyway. I had a little shootout this morning between the two. I definitely prefer the feel of the MCI Pearly Gates. The neck is simply amazing. It's like Scott computer modeled the neck off of my Custom. But it comes down to the fact that I picked all of the woods on the Lemon Burst, and it's a lot lighter on my gimpy back. I need to take a photo of the Pearly replica because she's now loaded with the double cream Sheptones. She really is a special guitar. Scott and MCI truly nailed it.

My guitar is slightly reliced. I don't know if it came that way, or has just been played. So there are a few scratches, nitro marks, etc., but as you can see, she's still breath-taking. Basically, she looks like a vintage guitar that's been played, but taken care of.

As far as price, MCI now charges $6500 for a replica with a great top. I'm going to offer her for $5500 plus shipping and insurance. I'll place an ad on mylespaul.com soon. If you have any questions, please let me know.

I do truly appreciate your input. Hope you all have a Merry Christmas.

Thanks,
Brad

Before you see the Pearly, I would pack it up for a month and pretend you sold it. If you never long to play it, than you won't miss it. If you do keep wanting to play it, than you should keep it. I personally much prefer the look of the Pearly to the Lemon burst, but I am not sure that the one lemon burst picture you posted did the guitar justice.

 

[Brad737]

Yeah, the Lemon looks a little green in the pic. Doesn't look like that in person. Just the best pic of the top I have...

I do have the Pearly for sale.

 

[BrentSSL]

They are both so sexy I like the lemon burst a little more because it's different yu see a lot of the pearly gates just my op

 

[Shawn Lutz]

I voted lemon but sell them both and add proceeds to the allocated vintage account and buy more REAL vintage Gibson LP's

 

[psychodave]

Lemon.