who makes a good Les Paul copy?

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bunghole

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I'm talking more or less straight up LP copies, like the old Japanese lawsuit guitars

set neck only, I don't want a bolted LP
 
Orville or Burny are both good. I had a late 70's/early 80's Burny that rocked! Edwards is also good. I have a Les Paul by them but it's a Sugizo model and not a traditional Gibson rip off.
 
Browse this site and surf the forum http://www.japanaxe.com/ Lots of good info on Japanese copies old and new. I love some Japanese guitars and own quite a few. The best quick advise I can give is to do some research and know what you're getting. There were lots of brands coming out of there, many from the same factories with different logos and headstock shapes. Not all of them are great, there are some set neck paul copies with arch/molded plywood tops. Middle to high end models from the product line up are the ones to get regardless of brand. I've got a late 70's Aria Pro II that's nicer than some of the much heralded Greco's and Tokai's, then again you'll probably find mostly junk aria's floating around, there are also crap Greco's and Tokai's from the lower range too.
 
Nigel Tufnel":1cop07ob said:
Browse this site and surf the forum http://www.japanaxe.com/ Lots of good info on Japanese copies old and new. I love some Japanese guitars and own quite a few. The best quick advise I can give is to do some research and know what you're getting. There were lots of brands coming out of there, many from the same factories with different logos and headstock shapes. Not all of them are great, there are some set neck paul copies with arch/molded plywood tops. Middle to high end models from the product line up are the ones to get regardless of brand. I've got a late 70's Aria Pro II that's nicer than some of the much heralded Greco's and Tokai's, then again you'll probably find mostly junk aria's floating around, there are also crap Greco's and Tokai's from the lower range too.
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:thumbsup:

Aria FTW
 
Edwards all the way IMO. I just picked up my second and they're my favorite guitars ever.
 
murch33":1qav5n81 said:
Edwards all the way IMO. I just picked up my second and they're my favorite guitars ever.
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Which model is the second you have?
 
nbarts":u1sspt2c said:
murch33":u1sspt2c said:
Edwards all the way IMO. I just picked up my second and they're my favorite guitars ever.
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Which model is the second you have?
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Same as the one you just sold me. Black Custom with JB/'59 pups:

DSC_0415.jpg
 
I have one of the black ones too, only I've modded the shit out of it. The 98ltcs are probably the best sounding edwards, they look kinda weird though.
 
fearhk213":1kbxpeua said:
Duke of Metal":1kbxpeua said:
Navigator guitars:
http://www.espguitars.co.jp/navigator/index.html

Their specs are exact to Gibson's Specs.

Edwards are suppose to be really nice.

Both Navigator and Edwards are by ESP.
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I've never heard of Navigators. Have you heard if they are supposed to be better than the Edwards?
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When I talked to my friend whos a guitar tech about them, he said they're even built better than Gibson. They're equal to ESP build quality. better than Edwards.

I've never tried/played an Edwards, but they seem to be a great guitar for the buck. specially the Lespaul type guitars they have.
 
Orville. They're the Japanese Gibson versions. I have two of them, plus an Explorer. You can find them for under $800 for plaintop/goldtops, flame tops cost much more.

You have to gut the cheap electronics (typical for most Japanese guitars IMO), pots/caps/pickups, toggle switch and wiring, but after you do that they work pretty damned well.

And the headstock is the same as a Gibson, with a Les Paul logo, too. They were made from around 83-94 then discontinued and only made for the Japanese market. Search on eBay, etc.
 
murch33":iqddhuk5 said:
nbarts":iqddhuk5 said:
murch33":iqddhuk5 said:
Edwards all the way IMO. I just picked up my second and they're my favorite guitars ever.
Click to expand...

Which model is the second you have?
Click to expand...
Same as the one you just sold me. Black Custom with JB/'59 pups:
Click to expand...

How do you like the 57s BTW? Must sound thick as hell in comparison to JB/59.
 
Depends how much you want to spend.

I got my Vintage V100 Icon for a little over £100. In shops they're about £250ish. I absolutely love it (Even though it's for sale, just moved and have to unload gear :aww: )

Totally beats Epiphone and ANY other Sub £500 LP copy IMO. Full mahogany body and neck, flame maple top, all wilkinson parts :) Lovely weight. Lovely thin smooth neck too!

Breakout_Degree_16_08_08_-4.jpg


Ofcourse, if you want to spend more, you have the LTD EC-400 and above range, Tokai Japanese range (Some of the Chinese ones are good too), Washburn Idol, ESP Eclipse, Burny, ETC!
 
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