Wtf is it with L. P ''s

[King Loudness]

Where in Canada are you? I'm going to assume you're talking about Long and McQuade as the chain. FWIW, I've owned two or three LPs (a Traditional Plus, a Custom Lite and a Junior) and they were all killer. I don't tend to like the guitars as much after they've been sitting on the wall at a store - in my opinion that should ALWAYS be factored in when testing a guitar at a chain. Gibson's also the mother of inconsistency too. However, to say that they're all shitty is just silly... we know how long it takes to find a GOOD Lester, and obviously you didn't in the batch you tried.

W.

 

[Heritage Softail]

Probably just not in the mood that day. If 20 guitars feel off? Its me

 

[Shawn Lutz]

I also call bullshit. Les Paul's aren't for everyone. I find it hard to believe you went 0-20.

There are dogs in every line including Suhr, Anderson, PRS, Jackson, ESP, Gibson and Fender.

I've been playing since the early 80's never cared one bit for LP's and bought one in March/April of this year. I didn't lay my hands on it before buying (eBay) and my other guitars are not being touched hardly since.

If you don't like them that's cool but you are full of it if you went 0-20.

These were all new 2012 models, and the 2 stores are the largest music chain store in Canada. Also their mother company owned the music chain store is the distributor for the entire country. Maybe their lower quality (rejects) that are shipped to Canada ?
I invite anyone to come and visit, and check it out.
Perhaps we have different expectations
And have u played many different era l.p's. ?
I've always been l.p player 40 years

I have a 2012 model traditional plus. What specifically made you think all 20 guitars were junk, was it set up, feel,sound finish? I could see maybe 30-40% hit or miss but 100% and that included CS and R9's? just doesn't see right. Unless the retailer is buying factor seconds to increase profit margins I just do not believe not one of the 20 would be a good one. I'm fully aware of Gibson's inconsistencies and guess beat all lotto odds and got a killer LP my first purchase lol.

I admit I've not played a lot of LP's but I did use a vocalists mid 70's LPC's for a few songs of the set. It played well as sounded good but I was a Floyded super strat guy so I really didnt care for it as at the time I thought they were old dudes guitars . The only other one that I ever played was a 2012 Standard at Guitar Center when they first came out shortly after buying my Trad+. The guitar was pretty much perfect and I was looking for issues, didn't find any on that one.

 

[pstar]

Where in Canada are you? I'm going to assume you're talking about Long and McQuade as the chain. FWIW, I've owned two or three LPs (a Traditional Plus, a Custom Lite and a Junior) and they were all killer. I don't tend to like the guitars as much after they've been sitting on the wall at a store - in my opinion that should ALWAYS be factored in when testing a guitar at a chain. Gibson's also the mother of inconsistency too. However, to say that they're all shitty is just silly... we know how long it takes to find a GOOD Lester, and obviously you didn't in the batch you tried.

W.

Yes, Burlington and Toronto locations

 

[Tone Zone]

Played over 20 new l.p's, std. , c.s, r9, all were junk. Unbelievable garbage.
Will be looking at the alternatives.

Nowadays, that sums up Gibson in a nutshell.

 

[fuzzyguitars]

i would find that hard to believe

in fact , i think the newer gibsons are actually quite consistant.

just own up to the reality that les pauls may not be for you

 

[Chris O]

I haven't played a LP that wouldn't be perfect with anything other than a pickup change. Huh. Slight variations, but no showstoppers.

 

[some dude]

These were all new 2012 models, and the 2 stores are the largest music chain store in Canada. Also their mother company owned the music chain store is the distributor for the entire country. Maybe their lower quality (rejects) that are shipped to Canada ?
I invite anyone to come and visit, and check it out.
Perhaps we have different expectations
And have u played many different era l.p's. ?
I've always been l.p player 40 years

L&M has a lot of stock and in my experience they don't maintain them very well. Think about how many times each guitar gets handled, sweat on, tuned, detuned and drop tuned every day. Fretting out, buzzing and bad intonation are all signs they need a setup. Dead sounding means it needs new strings.

It's way out of your way but if you're serious about a new Gibson check out Lauzon Music in Ottawa. Word is he has some sort of arrangement where he gets to hand pick the ones he wants in his store. I've bought two off him sight unseen (I currently live in Manitoba and ordered them over the phone) and I don't really see myself dealing with anyone else.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

That's why I buy 5-600 guitars and tweak a bit for playability and then swap the pups.

 

[tbritton]

+1 Supersonic. I have a Charvel Pro-Mod and a PRS Ted McCarty DC 245. Picked up a 2000 L.P. "classic" a few weeks ago and love it. I need to figure out why it has a limited edition logo on the back of the headstock though and I doubt ill get a reply from Gibson. So far it plays great and I dig the looks of it. What are some thougbts on the ceramic pickups?

 

[pstar]

Gentlemen, talking about brand new on the wall 2012 production l.p's, not 70-9o's.
read my posts. Sales buddy, comments that he jut buys the Elpi l.p. copies, during testing these guitars.

 

[Ventura]

Gentlemen, talking about brand new on the wall 2012 production l.p's, not 70-9o's.
read my posts. Sales buddy, comments that he jut buys the Elpi l.p. copies, during testing these guitars.

Sure thing. And ya, Long and McQuade or Tom Lee Music don't get the top drawer guitars like what most of us here speak about. I don't walk into either shop in Vancouver and see perfect - or play perfect - LPCs or RIs. So it goes.

That being said, I've got a few solid Lesters - and each on of them took some detail and time to "set up" perfectly. Only 1 came straight outta the case set up to "my" perfection. And is still, to this day, perfectly set up. It's all about that tune-o-matic bridge, grooved nut, perfect truss, and from there - intonation. But it does take time.

I wouldn't be surprised if the 2012s were a bit off, I've never picked one up yet - and I doubt I will knowing the story behind the woods today. I've spoken with Bartlett in Ontario and maybe we're going to go about things slightly differently. But regardless of going this route, my ESPs kick ass straight out of the case, and cost about 50% or less than a new Lester RI and about 1/3 that of a Custom.

 

[Aristocat]

I'm an LP nut but some are worse off than others but inconsistencies between are not so night and day. I will say that simple things such as swapping pickups and tuning keys can drastically change the tone of the guitar.

I bought my LP because of the way the wood resonated and sustained. I knew I was going to change the pickups and pots. Now the guitar is everything I want.

 

[metalmaniac93]

Buy a Heritage!!!

 

[sixstringking713]

I got my first Les Paul in 1980. I have owned literally dozens and dozens since. I owned John Norums early 70's gold top that Mark Cameron (Norums former tech) said was the best Les Paul he ever heard. That's a double name drop in one sentence And after handling all these Les Pauls and truly wanting to find one of the good ones, I have decided, "Meh".

Double name drop??? Rookie

I'm with you....LP's are not my thing, no matter how great everyone tells me they are

i 2nd this

 

[johnpace2]

I have les pauls from varying eras and they are all great. I've never experienced these so called dud Les Pauls.

 

[messenger]

I bought my Studio from L&M and it was far from perfect off the rack. They had their tech file the nut, dress the frets (especially the ends) and do a complete setup and then it was perfect. I didn't have to pay anything for the setup. I just figured Gibson sent them like that and the store was supposed to do the final setup.

 

[King Guitar]

You just need to try allot of them...

 

[USN_Ag06]

I've always loved the look of a lee paul, but I've never played one I liked.

 

[colimofsmoke]

I agree, actually. all the Gibsons in general, not just LP's, that I've played that have been made in the last 5 years have been total garbage. although I played a 99 SG yesterday that was AWESOME. and I played a 2007 '71 reissue V that was one of the best guitars I've ever played.