Japanese Lawsuits (SG & LP etc). What makes them different to the originals?

OilCityPickups

I was loaned an Edwards Les Paul Custom some years ago - it was okay - mahoosively heavy like the 1970s guitar it aped, and sounded and felt pretty good if you liked boat anchors. 
I have had several guitars over the years that folks would describe as 'lawsuit' from my original Antoria Les Paul, through to a Gallen three pickup SG Custom (which I had to repair as it had collapsed in the middle due to a tiny and weak neck joint). 

All have felt good ... but to my mind not as nice as a well sorted low price Gibson like the SG Future I had or my current Les Paul Studio. 

Creed_Clicks

robgilmo said:

Creed_Clicks said:

robgilmo said:

Instead of asking which is best why not ask yourself what you actually need, then find someone who produces such a thing.

An SG 

I mean neck profile, frets , radius, pups, weight , you know, If its just an SG then buy any old thing.

True. my bad sorry. A standard SG. I know the neck profiles vary.  My nephew has a faded 50s neck SG. I don’t really have any guitars with thick necks so at times I find that interesting to hold but not sure how I’d get on long term with it.
I think it’s probably more clear cut with the SG. Go for a Gibson. With an LP custom style I would definitely look at the clones like Greco or an old Epiphone 

Philly_Q

Creed_Clicks said:

robgilmo said:

Creed_Clicks said:

robgilmo said:

Instead of asking which is best why not ask yourself what you actually need, then find someone who produces such a thing.

An SG 

I mean neck profile, frets , radius, pups, weight , you know, If its just an SG then buy any old thing.

True. my bad sorry. A standard SG. I know the neck profiles vary.  My nephew has a faded 50s neck SG. I don’t really have any guitars with thick necks so at times I find that interesting to hold but not sure how I’d get on long term with it.
I think it’s probably more clear cut with the SG. Go for a Gibson. With an LP custom style I would definitely look at the clones like Greco or an old Epiphone 

If you usually prefer thin necks, then you'll have absolutely no problem finding an SG.  99% of them have thin necks, including all of the popular and well-regarded '61 models.  New or used, they all have slim taper necks.

Loobs

I have a couple of MIJ Les Paul Customs. I would say the main 'issues' you come across are poly finishes, cheaper pickups/electronics. That's about it tbh. Both mine are killer guitars. 

Philly_Q

Loobs said:

I have a couple of MIJ Les Paul Customs. I would say the main 'issues' you come across are poly finishes, cheaper pickups/electronics. That's about it tbh. Both mine are killer guitars. 

Whether it's an "issue" or not is entirely personal taste, but a lot of MIJ LP Customs have rosewood fretboards.  I don't think that's detrimental to the sound, but it does look wrong.

Neilybob

Redneck said:

It's not as if the words "Made in America" are words associated with quality in any endeavour, from cars through to watches.  

Some of the Fenders, Gibsons, Rick-Os I've owned over the years have left a lot to be desired. Others have been superlative.

While some of these Japanese clones aren't necessarily of lesser quality they are often built to a price and this can show with materials, hardware, etc. That said, I've found Japanese quality and finish to generally be far more consistent than on US instruments - they take QC much more seriously.  My Ibanez LP clone was probably the most evenly finished instrument I've ever owned.

Case (pun intended) and point -

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CygOxGit2L9/?igsh=M3UwcnhtZjdwZ2dj

Neilybob

Instead of forum jam sessions we should have a "my guitar is better than your guitar" shootouts! Bahaha

In all seriousness it would great to do another tFB gearfest and I'm happy to bring a selection of my MIJ twangers for others to try/compare. 

Neil

Redneck said:

It's not as if the words "Made in America" are words associated with quality in any endeavour, from cars through to watches.  

Some of the Fenders, Gibsons, Rick-Os I've owned over the years have left a lot to be desired. Others have been superlative.

While some of these Japanese clones aren't necessarily of lesser quality they are often built to a price and this can show with materials, hardware, etc. That said, I've found Japanese quality and finish to generally be far more consistent than on US instruments - they take QC much more seriously.  My Ibanez LP clone was probably the most evenly finished instrument I've ever owned.

Not true at all IMO. 

The American auto industry had auto transmission, electric windows, V8 engines etc before anyone and I would argue that American cars of the 50's - 60's are some of the best looking cars ever and better quality too made with heavy steel.

As for watches- the US was producing incredibly accurate railroad chronometers back in the the 1890's out of necessity. Nobody else was doing this.

The American Railroad Watch Standards for 1893 were incredible:

The watch must be American made

Must be 16 or 18 size

Must have a minimum of 17 jewels

Must be adjusted to 5 positions for timekeeping consistency

Must keep time to within no more than plus or minus 30 seconds over seven days

Must be adjusted for temperature variations 40 to 95 Deg. F

Must have a double roller

Must be lever set (to avoid accidentally moving the set time whilst winding the watch)

Must have the winding stem at 12 o'clock

Must have a plain dial with Arabic numerals and have heavy hands

rlw

Neil said:

Redneck said:

It's not as if the words "Made in America" are words associated with quality in any endeavour, from cars through to watches.  

Some of the Fenders, Gibsons, Rick-Os I've owned over the years have left a lot to be desired. Others have been superlative.

While some of these Japanese clones aren't necessarily of lesser quality they are often built to a price and this can show with materials, hardware, etc. That said, I've found Japanese quality and finish to generally be far more consistent than on US instruments - they take QC much more seriously.  My Ibanez LP clone was probably the most evenly finished instrument I've ever owned.

Not true at all IMO. 

The American auto industry had auto transmission, electric windows, V8 engines etc before anyone and I would argue that American cars of the 50's - 60's are some of the best looking cars ever and better quality too made with heavy steel.

As for watches- the US was producing incredibly accurate railroad chronometers back in the the 1890's out of necessity. Nobody else was doing this.

The American Railroad Watch Standards for 1893 were incredible:

The watch must be American made

Must be 16 or 18 size

Must have a minimum of 17 jewels

Must be adjusted to 5 positions for timekeeping consistency

Must keep time to within no more than plus or minus 30 seconds over seven days

Must be adjusted for temperature variations 40 to 95 Deg. F

Must have a double roller

Must be lever set (to avoid accidentally moving the set time whilst winding the watch)

Must have the winding stem at 12 o'clock

Must have a plain dial with Arabic numerals and have heavy hands

That was then..........................

Creed_Clicks

Make American made great again …

Loobs

Here are 'my two', while we're on the topic. 

Creed_Clicks

love the Burny !

Loobs

It's a great guitar, thanks! Both are really nice actually. 

Loobs

The Edwards actually has an ebony board, the Burny a super-dark rw board, I think they're dyed to look darker. That one was most likely built in the Fuji-gen factory. 

Neil

rlw said:

Neil said:

Redneck said:

It's not as if the words "Made in America" are words associated with quality in any endeavour, from cars through to watches.  

Some of the Fenders, Gibsons, Rick-Os I've owned over the years have left a lot to be desired. Others have been superlative.

While some of these Japanese clones aren't necessarily of lesser quality they are often built to a price and this can show with materials, hardware, etc. That said, I've found Japanese quality and finish to generally be far more consistent than on US instruments - they take QC much more seriously.  My Ibanez LP clone was probably the most evenly finished instrument I've ever owned.

Not true at all IMO. 

The American auto industry had auto transmission, electric windows, V8 engines etc before anyone and I would argue that American cars of the 50's - 60's are some of the best looking cars ever and better quality too made with heavy steel.

As for watches- the US was producing incredibly accurate railroad chronometers back in the the 1890's out of necessity. Nobody else was doing this.

The American Railroad Watch Standards for 1893 were incredible:

The watch must be American made

Must be 16 or 18 size

Must have a minimum of 17 jewels

Must be adjusted to 5 positions for timekeeping consistency

Must keep time to within no more than plus or minus 30 seconds over seven days

Must be adjusted for temperature variations 40 to 95 Deg. F

Must have a double roller

Must be lever set (to avoid accidentally moving the set time whilst winding the watch)

Must have the winding stem at 12 o'clock

Must have a plain dial with Arabic numerals and have heavy hands

That was then..........................

Well we are comparing guitars that are seventy years old! 

Neilybob

Superb black MIJ LP's @Loobs ;

timmypix

Loobs said:

Here are 'my two', while we're on the topic. 

That's a great photo for showing the difference in the Edwards' shape. Very cool!

rlw

These are relatively new guitars - 5 years old at the most - but with build quality better than any Gibson I have owned.

Total ripoffs of the real thing of course, just made properly.

Creed_Clicks

@rlw are they japanese?

rlw

Creed_Clicks said:

@rlw are they japanese?

All three, yes