View Full Version : Just bought a Les Paul...
Was either that or a Gyrodeck...two things I lusted after when I was a kid.
Mid lifer you reckon? :)
The Barbarian
18-05-2014, 19:03
You could always buy the Gyro when you get bord wiv the geetar loike..
the Gyro's next Month Andre (probably....) :lol:
julesd68
18-05-2014, 19:21
We need pix please Gary - did you go vintage or new?
I also lusted after guitars in my youth and also the Source turntable. I now have the deck and also a '77 Strat... :eyebrows:
Mind you it was a Gibson Flying V I wanted back in the day... :lol:
Ali Tait
18-05-2014, 19:26
Nice one mate, pics please!
Stratmangler
18-05-2014, 19:32
D'ya play then, Gaz?
Firebottle
18-05-2014, 19:45
As to mid lifer.........depends how old you are.
Anyway who gives a stuff, it's only a number, enjoy it my friend!
Alan
The Barbarian
18-05-2014, 20:28
If i ever bought a geetar it would be a Gibson 'J200' red scratch plate like what Greg Lake uses, Beautiful looking & sounding geetar..
I bought a standard Gibson J200 with rosewood fretboard and god was I disappointed. Sold it very quickly.
They are not all created equal. Some are much better than others. I bought a SJ200 Custom Cutaway from the Custom shop and it is excellent. So good I've had it ten + years.
The Barbarian
18-05-2014, 20:43
It would be an original. As for lecky geetars always like the Gibbo 'SG' Special that Iommi had early on..
Now you just need to start/join a band. Otherwise it will be wasted. I used to play in a band with 2 brothers who both played LPs with half stacks for even our smallest gigs. We usually got noticed. It can make a big sound.
costerdock
18-05-2014, 22:40
Congratulations I was just looking at a LP this morning on Guitarcenter. I figure I'm a couple of years away for sure - I may get a Epiphone LP next year if I can stay with it and my skills improve and I'm still as devoted as I am now - that is the carat.
Here is my baby which I bought about 2 months ago - a nice Seagull in natural cherry.
http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af280/costerdo/IMG_2586_zps82c3adf6.jpg
Used to play regularly, always played more for my own enjoyment, though was in a few high school bands.
Fell away from it during my 20s and 30s but always enjoyed having a strum of my dads when I was down seeing him.
Being so into the music and HiFi side of things, felt kinda natural to enjoy making crappy versions of it myself :)
Bought a Washburn acoustic a few years back and enjoyed myself strumming that when the mood took.
All happened like this...
A random shopping trip a few months ago saw me and the boss in a big guitar shop in Glasgow.
She's a singer and needed a new Shure mic for gigging.
She was away looking at those,.I wandered off to the guitars.
Always loved the look of the Jimmy Page style sunburst LP's, (just as nice to look at than to hear)
So started strumming away.
Within 2 minutes knew I wanted one!
Played a few different types, but kept coming back to the LP.
Like a cat picks its owner, this thing picked me!
Tried a few different Gibson's and some Epiphones and whilst I preferred the Gibson's sound (but tbh the Epi got very close?) They were thousands of pounds not hundreds.
Better, yeah, but like HiFi and diminishing returns for the money not THAT much better?
I was looking at the Les Paul Standard Plustop Pro model, which is near the top end of the range. With the cheaper Epi guitars you could tell it didn't do what the Gibson did.
The five grand Gibson and the Epiphones "felt" the same to play (at least to a noob like me :)) and given how close they sounded and looked was good enough for me.
Turned out (though) the Epiphone I played had had the stock pickups replaced with Gibson "bustbucker" ones for a previous demo!
Ah, OK then...
So asked the guy to swap out the pickups for Gibson ones.
The Epi had that same Gibson "crunch" and depth to it, looked almost identical and really it sold itself.
Found out Epiphone are licenced by Gibson to make Les Paul guitars and browsing about on guitar forums they are made to similar specs, just not in the USA.
Picking her up this week, pics to follow.
Looks like this:https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&ei=o7F5U7aYE8iTPez8gQg&url=http://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DP3RL0lR8jTk&cd=14&ved=0CEwQtwIwAzgK&usg=AFQjCNHRtNaWxxlVX2IFFiHhRsndtvbEBQ
(Party on Wayne...)
Stratmangler
19-05-2014, 07:43
The current Epiphone line are very good vfm instruments, and for the price the finish is generally good.
We have a few here.
I have heard that switching out the pickups can make a noticeable improvement over the stock items, although I think the stock items sound fine in some of the guitars - I like 'em in the ones we have.
I'm pleased you like yours, and at least it's not going to be an ornament.
Naa..it'll be getting played.
Will look kinda cool in the livingroom though :)
Need a wee practice amp to get me started, any suggestions Chris?
My boys a bass player, so might nick a couple of pedals off him sometime...
With Gibson you are just paying for the name and the quality of the workmanship and woods used.
You can buy great guitars for far less money. In fact, some of them may well play or sound more to your preference.
Now you just need to start/join a band. Otherwise it will be wasted. I used to play in a band with 2 brothers who both played LPs with half stacks for even our smallest gigs. We usually got noticed. It can make a big sound.
My Sons just started his own funk band (as well as the other 2 he's in...) Niles Rogers type stuff, but with less flares.
Wonder if he needs another guitar player... :)
Cheers Chris, that's a nice looking acoustic. Same finish as my speakers!
For me there's no "endgame" with this, just doing something I enjoy.
No matter how my strumming turns out, just gonna have fun doing it.
Congratulations I was just looking at a LP this morning on Guitarcenter. I figure I'm a couple of years away for sure - I may get a Epiphone LP next year if I can stay with it and my skills improve and I'm still as devoted as I am now - that is the carat.
Here is my baby which I bought about 2 months ago - a nice Seagull in natural cherry.
http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af280/costerdo/IMG_2586_zps82c3adf6.jpg
Chris,
Do your Epi's have the newer ProBucker pickups?
The current Epiphone line are very good vfm instruments, and for the price the finish is generally good.
We have a few here.
I have heard that switching out the pickups can make a noticeable improvement over the stock items, although I think the stock items sound fine in some of the guitars - I like 'em in the ones we have.
I'm pleased you like yours, and at least it's not going to be an ornament.
Stratmangler
19-05-2014, 16:28
The ES339 has Probuckers, the G-400 has the bog standard Epiphone 'buckers.
My little amp is a Blackstar HT-1R; I can't say enough nice things about it :)
yUCI8WOJ16g
My son's Marshall MG15FX is a nice amp too, but I much prefer the baby Blackstar, what with it being valve driven and all.
I also quite like the Roland Cubes.
PaulStewart
19-05-2014, 20:34
With Gibson you are just paying for the name and the quality of the workmanship and woods used.
Yep! :)
You can buy great guitars for far less money. In fact, some of them may well play or sound more to your preference.
Meh! You've either got or you haven't got style :lol: :lol:
Seriously Gary, great guitar, enjoy :)
Ninanina
19-05-2014, 21:42
Need a wee practice amp to get me started, any suggestions
Gary I have a Roland Micro Cube GX and it is superb for the money, about £110
Yep! :)
Meh! You've either got or you haven't got style :lol: :lol:
Seriously Gary, great guitar, enjoy :)
...surely you mean an extra four and a half grand! :)
Stratmangler
19-05-2014, 22:59
...surely you mean an extra four and a half grand! :)
Not four and a half ....
http://www.pmtonline.co.uk/gibson-les-paul-standard-2013-electric-guitar-in-tea-burst-aa.html
yeah, they had those ones in the shop too Chris, it was the '59 reissue LPs I was looking at.
Really nice.
I had a pretty good charvel predator back in the day.
as I had ideas about being the next eddie van halen this was the perfect axe for me....or so I thought!!!
spent many moons toying with the Floyd rose whammy to get her to sing, even invested in a replica black and yellow stripe paint job to get the full effect...even learned a few of his trademark licks and squeals.
THEN CAME THE CHILDREN !!!!
after a pretty hectic day with the young kids I retired to my ahem..studio. In reality the spare room with a blackout blind and a pretty knackered AC 30.
"oh, take the daughter up and run a bath" shouted the wife.
so, precious axe in one hand and erm..also precious daughter in the other arm I mounted the stairs.
about threequarters of the way up, my very overtired darling made a bid for freedom and in the split second I was presented with a stark choice, axe or sprog.....axe lost.
the sound of my guitar going boing, bang, boing, bong, crack down the stairs lived with me for many years and as my daughter grew and morfed into a adult I sometimes barely recognised, I often pondered my choice of which to let go!!!!
however, all well that ends well and not too long back I rediscovered my muse with a cheap but not bad Yamaha pacifica.
And better than that, my now adult children both enjoy the sonic bliss of van halen. !!!!!
Enjoyed reading that :)
What goes around comes around mate.
I had a pretty good charvel predator back in the day.
as I had ideas about being the next eddie van halen this was the perfect axe for me....or so I thought!!!
spent many moons toying with the Floyd rose whammy to get her to sing, even invested in a replica black and yellow stripe paint job to get the full effect...even learned a few of his trademark licks and squeals.
THEN CAME THE CHILDREN !!!!
after a pretty hectic day with the young kids I retired to my ahem..studio. In reality the spare room with a blackout blind and a pretty knackered AC 30.
"oh, take the daughter up and run a bath" shouted the wife.
so, precious axe in one hand and erm..also precious daughter in the other arm I mounted the stairs.
about threequarters of the way up, my very overtired darling made a bid for freedom and in the split second I was presented with a stark choice, axe or sprog.....axe lost.
the sound of my guitar going boing, bang, boing, bong, crack down the stairs lived with me for many years and as my daughter grew and morfed into a adult I sometimes barely recognised, I often pondered my choice of which to let go!!!!
however, all well that ends well and not too long back I rediscovered my muse with a cheap but not bad Yamaha pacifica.
And better than that, my now adult children both enjoy the sonic bliss of van halen. !!!!!
Took some pics..
https://www.dropbox.com/s/0zttr9xxp0dkag5/IMG_20140531_100137574_HDR.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/hm7ngog70vo9kvr/IMG_20140531_095529340_HDR.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/qquxbq6lfj0xybp/IMG_20140531_100404235_HDR.jpg
Only thing Im not 100% chuffed with is that its a little bit too shiney and new looking...needs a bit of wear and tear. :rock:
Audio Al
04-06-2014, 13:37
Only thing Im not 100% chuffed with is that its a little bit too shiney and new looking...needs a bit of wear and tear.
Needs to look a bit more analog ;)
julesd68
04-06-2014, 15:37
Nice one Gary - looks like a nicely made instrument ... I look forward to you uploading your performance of 'Dazed and Confused' on YouTube soon ... :lol:
Nice one Gary - looks like a nicely made instrument ... I look forward to you uploading your performance of 'Dazed and Confused' on YouTube soon ... :lol:
Naa, that's just me when I'm trying to play it! :)
kininigin
05-06-2014, 11:38
Naa, that's just me when I'm trying to play it! :)
Hi Gary,your inbox is full mate!
Has it got an ebony fretboard? Looks like it in the shots...
Nice - feels better than rosewood. Looks better too. Costs more though:)
Stratmangler
05-06-2014, 22:38
The Epiphone spec says Rosewood, but that does look more like Ebony.
The tuners are metal Tulip keys too, when the normal keys are metal kidney buttons, so maybe it's a tarted up version of Plustop Pro.
Nice looking geetar, that's for sure :)
Plays well too.
Currently plunking my way through John Lee Hooker's back catalogue... :)
Chris, you at Owsters this weekend?
Stratmangler
05-06-2014, 22:52
Plays well too.
Currently plunking my way through John Lee Hooker's back catalogue... :)
Chris, you at Owsters this weekend?
More than likely.
D'yawanna see/play with my luvverly Yankee Strat Deluxe? I can chuck it in the boot if ya fancy ;)
Same with the baby Blackstar ....
Hey Chris,
I'd only embarrass myself with my lack of playing ability.... :rolleyes:
But hey, we can talk shop!
Maybe next year when I wont embarrass myself!
(ps. bring 'em anyway.., mibbay I can learn a few licks! :))
Ali Tait
06-06-2014, 07:52
If ye don't get stuck into the beer too soon and start acquiring cakes..
:lol:
Figlet108
09-06-2014, 21:55
Gary, it was great talking guitars with you and Chris at the weekend at Owston.
Here's my left handed 2013 American Deluxe Strat. Similar to the one Chris brought to Owston but different in a few details, e.g. no fancy locking nut thingy (whatever it was called) and no strap clamp thing - just the regular button hole design:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pFEr9b4iyW8/U5YovE-pd7I/AAAAAAAADJU/LKTQRLvJ4J8/w430-h645-no/2014-05-20+08.41.38_resize.jpg
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-9rd93YCqdUg/U5YovATAu9I/AAAAAAAADJI/pERhoydLXEE/w430-h645-no/2014-05-20+08.42.51_resize.jpg
The WahWah pedal in the picture is frankly awesome (imho) and is the BBE Ben Wah (http://www.bbesound.com/products/stomp-boxes/wah.aspx).
The other great gadget I highly recommend is this Line6 Pocket POD (http://uk.line6.com/pocketpod/)
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-QPdV-_jQ_go/U5YowFokXHI/AAAAAAAADJY/fYvNYheE5zk/w834-h556-no/2014-05-20+08.43.26_resize.jpg
Loads of preset 'Tones' of classic amps and classic guitarists, manual effects, great for practicing late at night, built in tuner etc etc
And the best bit: "Pocket POD lets you sound like a rock star wherever you go." What's not to like :D
I actually never bothered buying a dedicated guitar amp, I just plug the Line6 into a regular hifi amp.
Figlet108
09-06-2014, 22:17
By the way, this is the guitar (http://www.fender.com/en-GB/guitars/stratocaster/american-deluxe-stratocaster-ash-rosewood-fingerboard-tobacco-sunburst/) I really wanted that I was trying to describe, but it wasn't available left handed:
http://www.themusiczoo.com/images/9-23-10/Fender_American_Deluxe_Stratocaster_Tobacco_Sunbur st_DZ9341942_a.jpg
Stratmangler
09-06-2014, 23:54
The nut thingy is the LSR roller nut, and it does a grand job to minimise friction
http://tdmiller.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/lsr-roller-nut.png
I'm surprised that Fender ditched the Schaller Straplock system - to my mind it's the best way of ensuring that a guitar doesn't hit the deck inadvertantly - as you saw, it is very secure in operation, and I'd recommend it to anyone with an expensive guitar
http://www.richtonemusic.co.uk/Data/Product_Images/SCHALL5448b.jpg
The Barbarian
10-06-2014, 00:09
Ive never really been into Geetarz although i know pretty much everything about vintage jobs cos my dad was really into em...It early modular Analogue Synthesizer ie: Moog, ARP, EMS, Polyfusion, EMU Modular & all those beauties with me proper creative instruments that sound so luvery warm & cuddly..
Figlet108
14-06-2014, 21:28
...I'm surprised that Fender ditched the Schaller Straplock system - to my mind it's the best way of ensuring that a guitar doesn't hit the deck inadvertently - as you saw, it is very secure in operation, and I'd recommend it to anyone with an expensive guitar...
Chris, guess what... it turns out Fender haven't ditched the Schaller Straplock system!
I was rooting around my guitar 'box of bits' yesterday and came across 2 of these:
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-k-NuwXUV6rI/U5yyRVnZsaI/AAAAAAAADMY/_az6M0QPiXk/w957-h638-no/2014-06-14+11.04.16_resize.jpg
I must have looked at them blankly when I first got my guitar and thrown them into box, not sure what they were :)
Now they are installed and I have a warm happy feeling when I hang the guitar from its strap...
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-jlSKNF_MMhQ/U5w8l0irYoI/AAAAAAAADLQ/PPlroEHahHc/w957-h638-no/IMG_7277.JPG
So thanks again for showing us your Strat :guitar:
Stratmangler
14-06-2014, 21:37
I'm pleased to have been of service :)
One other point to bring up - check the tightness of screws and fittings on your Strat on a regular basis (every six months or so), especially the parts that move.
It's worth checking that the tuner bushings are tight too, as they can loosen over time with vibration.
On the strap lock thing this video shows the benefits ...
UjI3skPlCms
Just catching up with this thread...
Awesome pictures Jason and a great looking guitar mate.
Love that finish, doesn't look any worse than the right hand only strat...just different?
Still Leftie discrimination going on...criminal! :)
I wanted the Jimmy Page look, but the cherryburst Epiphones were a lot more "candy red" than the pukka Gibsons and the blend between dark and light wasn't gradual.
My son described it as looking like a zit, red and yellow!
The Honeyburst I got (after picking from 5!) was a lot closer to what I was after.
Think were a picky bunch!
One thing I want to do with mine is swap out the cream coloured pickguard, pickup covers and "poker chip" switch for white ones.
Working on getting that done, some great LesPaul forums out there.
Good info on the Line 6 Pocket Pod. Could have some fun with that!
Does it plug in between the guitar and amp?
Once I master the hand/eye/fretboard co-ordination I'll start using my feet too!
WhaWha pedal is on the list, know which one's a good 'un now.
Good to see you again at Owsten mate, enjoyed chatting over dinner.
@Chris
Good to see your Strat Chris, didn't look very mangled just well loved!
Your Boys been practicing eh? Pretty good. (i.e. better than me!)
Your strat felt "right" somehow in a way my guitar doesn't?
Subtle things like one fret sitting slightly higher than the rest, intonation not being spot on, that kind of thing.
Will take it to Glasgow guitar shop and get it set up properly.
The 5K Gibson I played in there felt right in the same way your Strat did, guess as you said that's what you pay the money for.
Figlet108
14-06-2014, 22:28
...
Good info on the Line 6 Pocket Pod. Could have some fun with that!
Does it plug in between the guitar and amp?
...
Yes, exactly. Or you can plug headphones directly into it.
The other great gadget I highly recommend is this Line6 Pocket POD (http://uk.line6.com/pocketpod/)
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-QPdV-_jQ_go/U5YowFokXHI/AAAAAAAADJY/fYvNYheE5zk/w834-h556-no/2014-05-20+08.43.26_resize.jpg
Loads of preset 'Tones' of classic amps and classic guitarists, manual effects, great for practicing late at night, built in tuner etc etc
And the best bit: "Pocket POD lets you sound like a rock star wherever you go." What's not to like :D
I actually never bothered buying a dedicated guitar amp, I just plug the Line6 into a regular hifi amp.
Big mistake I think. Massive, in fact. Take that strat to a guitar shop with some decent guitar amps. A digital effects box + hi-fi just doesn't work. If you do what I say and try even something as lowly as a Cornford Harlequin you WILL understand what I am saying. Lest you're deaf, of course, or for some other reason really are happy with what you have. Each to their own, I guess.
Figlet108
15-06-2014, 10:36
Justin, I have no doubt that you're absolutely right. My particular situation is that I have such limited space in my attic/office that to justify making room and squeezing in a dedicated guitar amp, I'd want to be a lot better than I currently am. And almost all my playing is at night so I'm usually plugged in with headphones anyway.
So, it's just the phase I'm in right now. I would love to get a great guitar amp at some point though.
PaulStewart
16-06-2014, 21:28
Ive never really been into Geetarz although i know pretty much everything about vintage jobs cos my dad was really into em...It early modular Analogue Synthesizer ie: Moog, ARP, EMS, Polyfusion, EMU Modular & all those beauties with me proper creative instruments that sound so luvery warm & cuddly..
P know Moog were first and all that, but to my mind the EMS AKS and the VCS3 were the most influential on the nascent prog rock scene in the late 60s and early 70s, not least of all because it was portable and didn't need a van of it's own when you were playing a gig :lol: I had an AKS with the flat touch sensitive keyboard, but usually used it as a processor patched into the mixing desk. As you say Andre, great sounds :)
PaulStewart
16-06-2014, 21:33
Big mistake I think. Massive, in fact. Take that strat to a guitar shop with some decent guitar amps. A digital effects box + hi-fi just doesn't work. If you do what I say and try even something as lowly as a Cornford Harlequin you WILL understand what I am saying. Lest you're deaf, of course, or for some other reason really are happy with what you have. Each to their own, I guess.
Yep plus one with bells on...... A mate of mine is selling a genuine Marshall JTM 45 fully serviced and re-valved at Marshall (who gave him the original valves back in case he sold it to a collector) they told him to insure it for at least £10K but he'll take a shade under £4K if you're interested :laugh:
Great to read about the Les Paul. I'm the proud owner if a Les Paul Standard 2012 model. It's a lovely instrument and a joy to play. I'm fortunate in having no near neighbours and my own project studio so I can play loud! I play it through an Orange Micro Terror head and PPC108 cab - you can get am amazingly good overdriven tone just by increasing the gain. The head also let's you plug an ipod in to play along with and you can plug in headphones too.
I also have a Babicz Spider acoustic. This is a really cool guitar which allows you to adjust the action on the fly and you don't even need to retune! Sounds great too.
The problem with guitars is there's always another one to covet - at last count I had 9 plus a bass and a mandolin.
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