Sitting with a Les Paul

TINMAN82

A lot of Les Paul hounds on here...I wonder how you all feel about it as a “sitting” guitar.

I think they are the most beautiful solid body guitar design and in many circumstances the best sounding.

But I’ll be damned if my R8 isn’t a pain to sit with. It probably gets overlooked too much for home playing as a result. Needs a strap when seated really. On the right thigh it tends to slip backwards so without a strap I’m too tense and distracted. Between the legs and the position is kind of shifted too far to the left, more so than when standing.

Very comfortable standing to play but an awkward bugger sitting down. Strat, tele, firebird, SG all much more comfortable to sit with. 

Snags

Waist over right leg and angle the neck forwards. Works for me. But I have long legs and arms. 

ICBM

I've always found them very comfortable to play sitting down, except when they're so heavy they leave a dent in your leg. (Right one.)

tony99

always play mine sitting down no probs

TINMAN82

Snags said:

Waist over right leg and angle the neck forwards. Works for me. But I have long legs and arms. 

Just tried. You’re right it works better holding the neck forwards, although kind of relies on the guitar body being trapped under the right elbow, which I think I’d find restricting after a while.

My R8 is 9lbs dead so not ridiculous. The relatively forward shifted waist on the Les Paul no doubt shifts the weight to the rear when balanced on a thigh.

BloodEagle

youre overthinking it man

Flanging_Fred

I find my R8 a little awkward to play sitting down as well. So it’s not just the OP.  

Funkfingers

If your strap is correctly adjusted, when you assume a seated position, it will take some of the load off your leg. 

richardhomer

Ergonomically they just don’t work for me - I’ve owned five over the years - so I’ve given LPs a good go.... 

terada

It's less about the overall weight and more about how balanced the guitar is. 

My best Les Pauls are about 7lb15, 8lb12 and 9lb dead and with no hands balance on my right thigh.

Quite often though Les Paul bodies feel like they want to fall down to the right. I've passed on some great sounding Les Pauls because they do this. Almost like reverse neck dive.

TINMAN82

BloodEagle said:

youre overthinking it man

Not really, I’ve had a Les Paul of some description for nearly 10 years and always found this. There’s obviously a design related reason for this happening, no doubt a combination of weight/weight distribution and shape. No doubt influenced by individual player shape too!

robgilmo

Yup, my big fat belly doe4snt help when sitting with an LP.

Schnozz

I found a PRS SC a pain to play seated, but I'm usually fine with Les Paul and use a strap if it's a heavy one.

notanon

I can't play any guitar seated without a strap. I play with the neck at approximately the same angle as a classical player or my hand is cramped. The strap controls the guitar and doesn't force me to contort my legs with diffident guitars or use a footstool.

webrthomson

I find sitting with a LP fine - standing I find the lack of tummy cut means that the guitar leans forward - which is really just a sign I need to lose the belly

Sassafras

Guitars are for Rock & Roll, not bloody chamber music. Get up, stand up.

terada

Sassafras said:

Guitars are for Rock & Roll, not bloody chamber music. Get up, stand up.

Meh. Guitars are for whatever people want them for. 

TINMAN82

terada said:

Sassafras said:

Guitars are for Rock & Roll, not bloody chamber music. Get up, stand up.

Meh. Guitars are for whatever people want them for. 

Exactly. The LP was partly designed by a Jazz guitarist after all!

TINMAN82

Was just a “musing” really. We’re all different shapes etc. Love LPs too much to let it go for this reason, it just stays in a strap.

tony99

Sassafras said:

Get up, stand up.

Stand up for your rights!

notanon

Sassafras said:

Guitars are for Rock & Roll, not bloody chamber music. Get up, stand up.

Depends on age and lifestyle - a few great players have taken a seat in later life. Also the practicalities, I'd love to jump around like early Townshend, it would cost me a fortune in house insurance :-)