Advice on Les Paul buying.....

Doodlegame

Hey,
So I'll try to keep this post short, but I'm just wanting some advice from more the more experienced buyers...

So I'm 16 in 2 weeks, I currently have an Ibanez RG370AHMZ and a custom hart guitars explorer.  I'm gonna put a new SC in my Ibanez and rewire it to make it even more versatile.  I also have quite a few other guitars along with my dad's, but these are my two main guitars.  I'm into metal primarily, but also blues, rock, jazz...  whatever really

I'm now thinking that I could open a new savings account and pay a bit in each month and gradually build up to being able to afford a Gibson Les Paul...  In 20 years obviously lol.  I see a few on the classifieds now and again, 80s models for £2k ish and I know it would obviously depend on the individual guitar but I feel like I'm covered for gear at the minute and wondering wether saving up for a guitar I've always wanted is better than buying several more midrange guitars...

Also, what would you look at? A new or old LP? I'd like one with a finish that will wear (nitro??) or has worn by being played, just something that will develop character and has/ will develop its life with me if that makes sense. It would have to be a heavy (in weight) guitar for mainly heavy (sonically) rock/ metal/ blues...

There is just so much out there, so many snobs and people voicing their opinions as fact and it's hard to know where to start looking other than to see one and say you like it or not...


I really appreciate any help,

Cheers! 

gringopig

.

TTony

If you really want a LP, then anything else you buy won't satisfy your desire for a LP.

There are lots of good guitars out there though, and at your tender age, you've probably not tried all of them yet.

So, whilst saving, get out there and play as many different guitars as you can.  That might be in shops, or trying out your mates guitars, or whatever, wherever.  

Doodlegame said:

people voicing their opinions as fact 

The only opinion that's really fact is your own

thegummy

Doodlegame said:

 wether saving up for a guitar I've always wanted is better than buying several more midrange guitars...

Yes.

You're already covered for gear so what would several more midrange guitars give you? Some novelty value at first then nothing?

Is your desire for a Les Paul from experience of playing one? I ask that because they feel very different to something like an RG.

ICBM

For heavy weight and heavy rock/metal tone, get a Custom.

Yes, one great guitar is better than several average (or even good) ones. A Les Paul Custom is actually a very versatile guitar, you can play anything from jazz to metal and anything in between on one.

At the price they are new I wouldn't even consider anything other than second hand.

merlin

You could buy mine. It sounds amazing, has a wonderful neck and looks beautiful. It will age in a lovely way too. And it's not hideously expensive!

https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/157081/fs-gibson-les-paul-traditional-2014-120th-anniversary#latest

markj

I might be tempted to sell my traditional gold top if you’re interested. I live quite local to you.

Doodlegame

TTony said:

If you really want a LP, then anything else you buy won't satisfy your desire for a LP.

There are lots of good guitars out there though, and at your tender age, you've probably not tried all of them yet.

So, whilst saving, get out there and play as many different guitars as you can.  That might be in shops, or trying out your mates guitars, or whatever, wherever.  
The only opinion that's really fact is your own

Yeah, I play most guitars I see and while I've not played every one in existence, pretty much all my time is spent playing guitar, looking at them or making coffee lol. Having an LP has always just attracted me and I've never gone off it... don't know where it comes from but it's there..

Thanks man!

TINMAN82

There are too many flavours and ranges of Les Pauls for someone to give you a worthy answer here. You need to go and play lots to decide which neck profile (primarily) you prefer. Then take it from there based on your budget.

You’re RG may already cover the tonal bases well enough for what you play (and it’s probably easier to play than many LPs).

Doodlegame

thegummy said:

Is your desire for a Les Paul from experience of playing one? I ask that because they feel very different to something like an RG.

Yeah, played a few and they're  just magical instruments... My RG would be for heavy shredding, this would be for.. not that..... you know what I'm getting at!
Cheers!

pmbomb

by well second hand and if you don't get on with it you'll sell it for about what you paid for it.

a Les Paul doesn't have to be heavy to rock.

Doodlegame

ICBM said:

For heavy weight and heavy rock/metal tone, get a Custom.

Yes, one great guitar is better than several average (or even good) ones. A Les Paul Custom is actually a very versatile guitar, you can play anything from jazz to metal and anything in between on one.

At the price they are new I wouldn't even consider anything other than second hand.

Why would you go for a custom over a standard? What are the differences and is it worth the extra money?

terada

If you’re lookong second hand, there were especially good ones around 58 and 59 

OilCityPickups

I would agree with several others that if you want a Les Paul ... get a proper Gibson Les Paul ... you will no doubt get the usual chorus of get a Greco or a Tokai etc etc, but if you really want a Gibson Les paul any of the substitutes will leave you still yearning for the real thing. 
No I don't agree with Gibson's current stance re 'play authentic' and all that bollocks, but get yourself a nice older one and you'll have a guitar for life (I personally wouldn't touch a new one with a barge pole). 

Doodlegame

merlin said:

You could buy mine. It sounds amazing, has a wonderful neck and looks beautiful. It will age in a lovely way too. And it's not hideously expensive!

https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/157081/fs-gibson-les-paul-traditional-2014-120th-anniversary#latest

Thanks for the link, beautiful guitar but I'm not quite there yet...

Doodlegame

markj said:

I might be tempted to sell my traditional gold top if you’re interested. I live quite local to you.

I won't be able to afford it but just out of interest, how much is the asking price?
Love my goldtops, the finish will be the most difficult choice for me

TINMAN82

Doodlegame said:

merlin said:

You could buy mine. It sounds amazing, has a wonderful neck and looks beautiful. It will age in a lovely way too. And it's not hideously expensive!

https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/157081/fs-gibson-les-paul-traditional-2014-120th-anniversary#latest

Thanks for the link, beautiful guitar but I'm not quite there yet...

In that case go for a used studio. Loads of nice ones around including interesting colours like pelham blue.

Doodlegame

terada said:

If you’re lookong second hand, there were especially good ones around 58 and 59 

Dunno if you saw... I'm 16

Doodlegame

OilCityPickups said:

I would agree with several others that if you want a Les Paul ... get a proper Gibson Les Paul ... you will no doubt get the usual chorus of get a Greco or a Tokai etc etc, but if you really want a Gibson Les paul any of the substitutes will leave you still yearning for the real thing. 
No I don't agree with Gibson's current stance re 'play authentic' and all that bollocks, but get yourself a nice older one and you'll have a guitar for life (I personally wouldn't touch a new one with a barge pole). 

Seems to be the common advice.. I love Gibsons still but the play authentic disaster, and then destroying hundreds of Firebirds.... I cried at that video

Doodlegame

TINMAN82 said:

Doodlegame said:

merlin said:

You could buy mine. It sounds amazing, has a wonderful neck and looks beautiful. It will age in a lovely way too. And it's not hideously expensive!

https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/157081/fs-gibson-les-paul-traditional-2014-120th-anniversary#latest

Thanks for the link, beautiful guitar but I'm not quite there yet...

In that case go for a used studio. Loads of nice ones around including interesting colours like pelham blue.

To be honest I think I'd rather go for a straight LP, maybe JP wiring at the most. I think cool switching has its place but for me, a Gibson is a plug and play kinda thing... Unless @ICBM can convince me to look at customs 

Doodlegame

pmbomb said:

by well second hand and if you don't get on with it you'll sell it for about what you paid for it.

a Les Paul doesn't have to be heavy to rock.

ooohhhh yeeaaahh it does man