Advice - Need a Non Terrible Les Paul

rlw

I nearly bought from one of the European firms advertsing here but found a Traditional just down the road.  Some really good stuff I think.

https://reverb.com/marketplace/electric-guitars/solid-body?query=Tokai&page=3

rlw

Like this in fact

https://reverb.com/item/30776597-tokai-love-rock-ls136f-vf-ls136-flamed-violin-finish-made-in-japan-new-free-ship-1941322

or this

https://reverb.com/item/25940226-guitare-electrique-tokai-japan-ls-129-love-rock-ls129-plain-top-violin-finish

hollywoodrox

Epiphone and Ltd EC series. 

NelsonP

My Epiphone, Squier, Fender and Ibanez are all rock solid, tuning wise.

My Gibson has a G string with a mind of it's own. I'm sure it's a poorly cut nut. It's the only guitar that I've bought new in 30 years and is still rather take it to my tech than go through the hassle of taking it back to the retailer to get Gibson to look at it.

TeleMaster

Hands down my favourite Gibson to own is my Les Paul Modern. Such a great guitar. 

Gerz6558

Been looking at FGN Neo Classics lately. Take a look on Coda Music, very good specs and build quality for not a lot of cash based on the threads I've read.

johnl

Which Gibsons have you had? With your budget there's no reason you couldn't get a good one, particularly used. 

tony99

Gerz6558 said:

Been looking at FGN Neo Classics lately. Take a look on Coda Music, very good specs and build quality for not a lot of cash based on the threads I've read.

Wowzers, wasn't aware of them, some very tasty ones there

Nunogilberto

ESP Eclipse? Thin/wide necks, quite comfy to play.

Fiftyshadesofjay

johnl said:

Which Gibsons have you had? With your budget there's no reason you couldn't get a good one, particularly used. 

Mainly Standards, had a couple that were okay but we’re still a bit rough tuning wise compared to my Fender and EBMM. 

Had two other Standards that got returned because they were such terrible quality. I’m just hesitant to get another, especially used as there’s no way to return.

John_A

Some cracking deals on e-ii’s here

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ESP-E-II-Eclipse-Seymour-Duncan-Vintage-Honeyburst/124021775691?hash=item1ce0461d4b:g:gWwAAOSwbn1eAhru

rlw

Fiftyshadesofjay said:

johnl said:

Which Gibsons have you had? With your budget there's no reason you couldn't get a good one, particularly used. 

Mainly Standards, had a couple that were okay but we’re still a bit rough tuning wise compared to my Fender and EBMM. 

Had two other Standards that got returned because they were such terrible quality. I’m just hesitant to get another, especially used as there’s no way to return.

Define terrible quality.  I've bought 6 or 7 new LPs and every one of them has been of sufficient quality to me.  And I'm a really picky bastard too.  I'm intrigued.

Tuning issues are easily sorted out too, as others have said.  Mine are all rock solid, even the Special with the iffy intonation....

Bellycaster

I got a 2017 Classic, quick set up by a good tech and use D'addario NYXL's 9 - 46's. It stays in tune really well.

markdty

Japanese Burny / Grec  / Orville / Tok, Esp / washburn parallaxe 

tony99

Fiftyshadesofjay said:

johnl said:

Which Gibsons have you had? With your budget there's no reason you couldn't get a good one, particularly used. 

Mainly Standards, had a couple that were okay but we’re still a bit rough tuning wise compared to my Fender and EBMM. 

Had two other Standards that got returned because they were such terrible quality. I’m just hesitant to get another, especially used as there’s no way to return.

Well you can buy used from a shop and still return if you want, most shops have pre-owned, that's where I got my LP standard

gregm

Like to hear other people's response as maybe controversial, but my experience is that the Maybach LP's 59 are the best made and highest quality I have tried so far. Everything from the case to the shielding are top class. The sound and play ability match, not cheap new but bargains 2nd hand are there and I have yet to find a better LP and I have tried!

metalmohan

Gerz6558 said:

Been looking at FGN Neo Classics lately. Take a look on Coda Music, very good specs and build quality for not a lot of cash based on the threads I've read.

I can vouch for this. I distribute FGN in the UK, the Neo Classic range is a superb LP style guitar. Bit more about FGN:

FUJIGEN (FGN) guitars Made in Japan

Heritage factory set up in 1960 based in Matsumoto, Japan and responsible for MANY of the larger brands most successful guitars – think MIJ Fender strats from the late 80’s to mid 90’s, Yamaha artist basses, Ibanez Prestige. Wanting to have a little more control over their futures they are focussing more on their own brand FGN Fujigen electric guitars & basses, which are all 100% hand made in the same factory. Great history, great guitars, great price points.

Www.facebook.com/fgnguitarsuk

Give me a shout on here or on the FB page if you need any help locating a dealer. 

KrisGee

Another vote for an LTD. Got one one of these very recently and honestly dunno how they manage to squeeze out so much attention to detail at this price point. I had a full fat Eclipse years back and not much difference there quality wise. 

I like Gibsons, still consider them as the real thing but wouldn't consider them as the only choice when it comes to les pauls.

impmann

tony99 said:

Fiftyshadesofjay said:

johnl said:

Which Gibsons have you had? With your budget there's no reason you couldn't get a good one, particularly used. 

Mainly Standards, had a couple that were okay but we’re still a bit rough tuning wise compared to my Fender and EBMM. 

Had two other Standards that got returned because they were such terrible quality. I’m just hesitant to get another, especially used as there’s no way to return.

Well you can buy used from a shop and still return if you want, most shops have pre-owned, that's where I got my LP standard

Or go try some... and buy one that isn't crap. I'm Kettering based, and travel to Coda Music if I want to buy/try stuff - yes its not on the doorstep but there's fuck all else around here, and its not that far. It saves a lot of disappointment with the pain of distance selling and the moronic box shifter mentality of other big stores.

As someone else said 'define quality'. If its just paint finish and poorly cut nuts, I genuinely don't have sympathy - as soon as you start playing it, nitro starts to mark so paint imperfections become irrelevant. As for set up - just take it to someone who knows their stuff... I have to reset most Fenders because of the girly, whimpy strings they fit from the factory (and that often involves recutting the nut), so I just accept that as being a necessity. Should you 'have' to do it... no, but then again everyone's tastes and playing style is different - a mate of mine puts every guitar he touches out of tune within two songs, yet I can play the same guitar all night without issue... (basically, he really needs to up his string gauge - and use a thinner pick, but thats another story).

Get out there and try some - I've yet to play a Les Paul copy by any brand that sounds as good as a Gibson. And that includes all these highly respected Jap brands - theres always something not *quite* right. Plus, at the end of the day... its a copy, its not legit...

Fiftyshadesofjay

impmann said:

tony99 said:

Fiftyshadesofjay said:

johnl said:

Which Gibsons have you had? With your budget there's no reason you couldn't get a good one, particularly used. 

Mainly Standards, had a couple that were okay but we’re still a bit rough tuning wise compared to my Fender and EBMM. 

Had two other Standards that got returned because they were such terrible quality. I’m just hesitant to get another, especially used as there’s no way to return.

Well you can buy used from a shop and still return if you want, most shops have pre-owned, that's where I got my LP standard

Or go try some... and buy one that isn't crap. I'm Kettering based, and travel to Coda Music if I want to buy/try stuff - yes its not on the doorstep but there's fuck all else around here, and its not that far. It saves a lot of disappointment with the pain of distance selling and the moronic box shifter mentality of other big stores.

As someone else said 'define quality'. If its just paint finish and poorly cut nuts, I genuinely don't have sympathy - as soon as you start playing it, nitro starts to mark so paint imperfections become irrelevant. As for set up - just take it to someone who knows their stuff... I have to reset most Fenders because of the girly, whimpy strings they fit from the factory (and that often involves recutting the nut), so I just accept that as being a necessity. Should you 'have' to do it... no, but then again everyone's tastes and playing style is different - a mate of mine puts every guitar he touches out of tune within two songs, yet I can play the same guitar all night without issue... (basically, he really needs to up his string gauge - and use a thinner pick, but thats another story).

Get out there and try some - I've yet to play a Les Paul copy by any brand that sounds as good as a Gibson. And that includes all these highly respected Jap brands - theres always something not *quite* right. Plus, at the end of the day... its a copy, its not legit...

I know a lot of people get defensive over Gibson’s but I honestly think the quality can be terrible. When you’ve had to take one back because of serious neck issues and then another one because it seems fine in the store but you play the first gig with it and the inlay pops out... 

I mean come on. 2 in a row and for the money they charge? It’s hardly any wonder I’m looking at alternatives.

As for setups and stuff, I always set my guitars up to my spec but it’s only Gibson that need the nut to be cut to be vaguely playable. It’s a bit of a joke.