School A Strat Lover on Les Pauls

[funkStrat_97]

So while on the Musicians Friend website recently, I saw that Gibson has a new LP Standard for 2012.  Beautiful looking guitar that also incorporates some features (that may be a way of competing with Fender's American Deluxe Stratocaster) including a compound neck radius, coil splitting (lol @ Gibson: "to replicate the sounds of other classic guitars equipped with single-coil pickups"), a pure bypass switch (akin to Fender's Passing Lane button on the Dlx. HSS), and a gorgeous AAA flame maple top.  Overall, it's one sweet guitar and the weight has been reduced too.  But I was also looking the more wallet friendly Les Paul Studio and the potential bang-for-your-buck Epiphone Ltd. Edition 50th Anniv. 1960 reissue V1 (which costs almost as much as the Gibson Studio and boasts Alnico II Burstbuckers 1 & 2).  Aside from cosmetics, what are some key differences between the various Les Paul models?  What are your opinions of the various humbuckers offered by Gibson and do you have any thoughts about P-90's?

[gtrdave]

The difference between Gibson Les Pauls is normally cosmetics and electronics. Meaning, a Studio and a Standard are both going to have mahogany bodies and necks and maple tops and nitro-lacquer finishes, but the Studio is going to lack binding, might lack flame or at least AAA flame top (might be AA) and the neck/body tenion joint might be slightly different.
Standards are named such because they are the "standard" by which all other Les Pauls are judged, so to speak. Customs add more cosmetics (triple binding, 3 ply pickguard, different heastock inlay, etc...) and Classics usually use uncovered ceramic magnet humbuckers and lose the pickguard, but are similar to Standards in many other ways.
The compound radius neck is a cool feature and I've yet to play one.

side note: I wonder if the passing of Mr. Lester Polfus has lifted any former restrictions that he may have placed on the making of the guitars with his name on them? Gibson seems to be really stretching the LP in it's newest models as never before when Les was alive. Just wondering...

Every Epiphone that I know of is going to be made of similar materials, albeit probably sourced from cheaper suppliers, and will have polyurethane finishes. Poly is strong and shiny looking. That said, most of the major guitar manufacturers that I know of use lacquer finishes. Epiphones are nice, but they're no Gibson.

The various humbuckers use different magnets and wire to achieve different sounds and output levels. Differences are subtle, but they are there. I'm not up on every single Gibson humbucker, but I do like the Burstbucker 3/P-90 combo in my Les Paul BFG. P-90s are AWESOME pickups! The bite of a single w/ the warmth of a humbucker.

[funkStrat_97]

The Studio seems to be really popular among the frugal crowd. I'd figured the differences were mainly cosmetic.

A bit off-topic, but what do you guys think of P90's on a Strat (since we're talking about P90s)?

Never tried it on a Strat, but I did play a friend's P-90 quipped Godin.  From what I've heard, Seymour Duncan's Quarter Pounder Strat pickups sound pretty close to P-90's.

[gtrdave]

The Studio seems to be really popular among the frugal crowd. I'd figured the differences were mainly cosmetic.

A bit off-topic, but what do you guys think of P90's on a Strat (since we're talking about P90s)?

Yeah, I've tried P-90s in Godins and some Teles, but don't remember ever playing a P-90-equipped Strat.

[funkStrat_97]

The compound radius neck is a cool feature and I've yet to play one.

That's one of the nice features on the Amer. Dlx. Strat.....I usually don't play much in the upper registers of the neck, but with the compound radius it was so comfortable that I rather enjoyed spending time on what is often referred to as "the dusty end of the neck".

Epiphones are nice, but they're no Gibson.

This is true.  If you want a Gibson Les Paul, then get one.  The higher end Epi's are nice guitars though, and are worth some consideration if you're looking to add a little different flavor on a budget.....but yes.....there is a difference!  It's like the PRS SE series.....they're great, but once you've experienced an actual PRS, there's no looking back.

[gtrdave]

This is true.  If you want a Gibson Les Paul, then get one.  The higher end Epi's are nice guitars though, and are worth some consideration if you're looking to add a little different flavor on a budget.....but yes.....there is a difference!  It's like the PRS SE series.....they're great, but once you've experienced an actual PRS, there's no looking back.

I agree. The PRS SE guitars are some of the nicest imports out there. I'd gladly own one...and get this: I'd probably own one OVER a genuine PRS. 
Serious. I've played several PRS guitars and just have not bonded with them, but I've played several SE's and could have bought them on the spot.
Weird.

[Sonar]

One thought about the differences between the Studio models and heading up toward the Les Paul Standard....

I'm typically a Fender player, so the larger Standard necks aren't my favorite, BUT you might consider looking for a used Les Paul Classic as it features a smaller 1960-style neck cut that feels more familiar to Fender players. I just don't favor chunky necks. 
I say buy USED because I've seen some real deals on the Les Paul Classic models used -- in fact, I have TWO because they were smokin' deals I couldn't pass up.

The Classic models do have ceramic pickups and they don't sound bad, but I'm a pickup switcher anyway. Whatever pickups were in there would have come out in time anyway, so I'm better off putting a less expensive pickup away in the drawer collection. 

Also, I believe the Les Paul Classic is the first model after the Studio models that has body binding (which was a must to me in terms of anything looking like a "real" Les Paul.  Yeah, I know....I've played some very nice Studio models -- but mine has to have that binding to pass my personal Les Paul test.  Oh well.   

[gtrdave]

All good points.
On a related note, for years Gibson released various Les Paul models with a choice of '50s, '59 rounded or slim taper '60s necks.
There's also the 30/60 neck profile and then the asymmetrical of the last gen. Standards and now the new compound radius... *phew!*

Classic models are some of my favorites. I used to own an early Classic Premium Plus model w/ AAA top and transparent cherry finish. That was one of my fav. guitars of all time, but a need for cash forced its sale. 

A pic of me and it in the studio circa 1992...

[gtrdave]

Lol, that's such a cool snapshot. Quintessentially early 90's, haha.

What does AAA mean?

It's the grade of the wood-figure. Of figured maple, A is the lowest and AAAAA is the highest.

[funkStrat_97]

Classic models are some of my favorites. I used to own an early Classic Premium Plus model w/ AAA top and transparent cherry finish. That was one of my fav. guitars of all time, but a need for cash forced its sale. 

I hate when that happens....and then you've gotta come up with the cash to replace it  (why couldn't I be the lucky individual to have won the Lottery twice in one day???)

[gtrdave]

I hate when that happens....and then you've gotta come up with the cash to replace it  (why couldn't I be the lucky individual to have won the Lottery twice in one day???)

Yeah, really.
The good news is that the money I got for it helped me to get my first REAL 4 track cassette studio and some other recording gear.

[funkStrat_97]

The Studio seems to be really popular among the frugal crowd. I'd figured the differences were mainly cosmetic.

A bit off-topic, but what do you guys think of P90's on a Strat (since we're talking about P90s)?

Well, this isn't a Strat, but the Offset Special looks pretty cool.  Wish it had a stop tail piece though.



The Reverse Jaguar Bass looks way cool too!

[lilBB]

whatsup fellas and gallas. i don't know if this post subliminally got to me, but i just picked this up last week. Epiphone Plus Top Pro FX.

I'm definitely pleased. Never really ventured into Paul territory, but I wanted all the features this guitar had, but didn't wanna shell out the money for the comparable (for my wants) PRS Swamp Ash Special.

I haven't gotten it set it up yet, but I gigged with it over the weekend to see if I could identify exactly what I would want done to it. man, it was a real pleasure to play. only thing I may do, besides a traditional set up, is lower the action to the lowest you can go on a floyd rose. it wasn't hard to play, but if it can go lower, i'd like it to.

 you don't see a lot of gospel/jazz/soul/r & b cats playing something like this, but i like making different stuff work. this may be my new go to axe!

oh yeah.... i've been looking for a naturally creamy overdriven tone...and this thing nails it!!

[lilBB]

click the attachment!

[lilBB]

Thanks sketch. Was the pic too large? Too small? Have no idea how it showed up since I could only attach it. Showed up as a full screen on my end which I would want to see for details, etc.

The guitar is coil tapped and the black rings are just paper showing which knobs were pullable. there just stuck under the knob so you can easily pull em off.