Hi all. I will be getting a new guitar shortly. A Les Paul, now my issue is what brand I get, I am going to try both Gibson and Epiphone (the slash signature version). I am aware of other brands that have a LP or single cut style. I am looking for recommendations for ones to try, so i can get the guitar that is correct for me.
I had a Gibson LP deluxe gold top in the early 80's and loved how it played. I switched to bass for decades afterwards and just recently decided to revisit the LP by getting a Gibson LP standard. It plays as well as I remember but, it is heavy (10 lbs 4 oz) but that's what helps give it awesome sustain. The biggest issue most people have with the Gibson's are that they are expensive - some say overpriced. I'm fortunate that at this point in my life I could afford it but if I was in my 20's I might well be looking at the Epiphone to save some dollars.
My opinion is, if you can afford it, get the original from Gibson. Don't get a used one more than a few years old as Gibson was putting out some pretty crappy guitars for a while - definitely do not get a weight reduced model. In the end, try as many as you can - pick the one that feels the best in your hands and fits your budget.
Thank you for the advice. I am going to check out a few of both, then pick the best one.
Gotta say, I have a new 2022 Gibson tribute which has the "modern weight relief" and I absolutely adore it. Sounds no different than an LP with an extra couple of pounds.
I would say between Gibson, Epiphone, LTD, PRS, etc. etc. just play as many as you can and play the one that _feels_ the best. Who cares what name is on the headstock: the better it feels the more you will play and the better you will get. I got an Agile LP style guitar 15 years ago and it was awesome. Most people had never heard of it but it was so much fun to play that I was constantly using it. Only reason I still don't play it is because it was stolen and I never did play another Agile that felt quite as good as that first one.
Thanks for the advise. I have narrowed down the selection. I am going to try the Slash LP standard, a couple of epiphones and a couple of PRS single cuts and pick which one suits me best. If the epiphones come out on top i may purchase more than one lol.
Hi All. I have the new guitar(s). I ended up with 2 out of the 8 i tried. I have a PRS S2 McCarty 594 Single Cut in a limited edition colour Faded Grey black purple burst with a quilted maple top. And the Epiphone Les Paul Standard Slash signature in Anaconda green. I adore the PRS and play that a lot. Thank you all for the advise.
I've had varying degrees of success with finding Epiphones I love, but I've never picked up a PRS that wasn't fun to play. Either way, two guitars is always greater than one :) Congrats!
Thanks. I have never owned either and and certainly would get another PRS possibly an SE version (either the tremonti or Zach Myers semi hollow). The PRS stood out for the colour but both felt great i am a huge GnR fan so that did kinda creep in with the epiphone. I tried 8 different single cut guitars including a new 50's Gibson LP but the neck felt to sticky. In the end it was the colour that sold me on the PRS, there was nothing else like it. It was an exclusive colour for the store i bought it from. it has been set up great and is awesome to play. Lovely low action, coil taps and a really nice tone.