Stratol Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 Hi, I'm looking to buy a Gibson and I want a LP and only have about $1500 to spend. I bought a Studio and it was set up wrong, nut was filed too much and getting fret buzz and it's being sent back. I don't know if I want another Studio or not. Seemed like a nice guitar, just would like to hear some other options if there are any. Anyone have any suggestions I'm all eyes. My equipment...I have a Strat ('82 '57 ARVI sunburst), MIM Jaguar Player Special, Epi Casino. Amps, Fender Champ X2, Fender M-80 Chorus from about '90 and a Hughes and Kettner Tubemeister 18 running thru 2x12" cab. Thanks in advance for any and all help! Stratol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabs Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 Hello and welcome. Well theres nothing wrong with a good studio... You can get some bad set up standards too... The thing is to get it set up properly by a guitar shop is worth the money if you like the neck and the sound and how it looks.. So id say just go and try as many as you can.. that's really the best thing to do.... You may find a really nice set up studio or find one that needs a setup but you like everything else... I would say.. save up a little more and get a Classic :) http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/2014/Les-Paul-Classic.aspx What you want to look out for really is neck shape and pickups... You can get hotter and more mellow pickups varying on the model. And you get 50s (fatter) and 60s (slim tapered) necks, but even that varies greatly as they are hand finished. Some so called 50s necks feel more like 60s and vica versa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryan Sutherland Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 To piggy back on what Rabs said... figure out what pickups you want, neck profile, binding/no binding, etc. For $1500 you should be able to find a nicely appointed Studio new... I've never purchased a Les Paul second-hand so I do not have much experience in that department. Good luck and welcome to the forum!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryan Sutherland Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 Hi, I'm looking to buy a Gibson and I want a LP and only have about $1500 to spend. I bought a Studio and it was set up wrong, nut was filed too much and getting fret buzz and it's being sent back. I don't know if I want another Studio or not. Seemed like a nice guitar, just would like to hear some other options if there are any. Anyone have any suggestions I'm all eyes. My equipment...I have a Strat ('82 '57 ARVI sunburst), MIM Jaguar Player Special, Epi Casino. Amps, Fender Champ X2, Fender M-80 Chorus from about '90 and a Hughes and Kettner Tubemeister 18 running thru 2x12" cab. Thanks in advance for any and all help! Stratol Fender M80... I wanted one of those so bad back in the day Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capmaster Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 Hello and welcome. Well theres nothing wrong with a good studio... You can get some bad set up standards too... The thing is to get it set up properly by a guitar shop is worth the money if you like the neck and the sound and how it looks.. So id say just go and try as many as you can.. that's really the best thing to do.... You may find a really nice set up studio or find one that needs a setup but you like everything else... I would say.. save up a little more and get a Classic :) http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/2014/Les-Paul-Classic.aspx What you want to look out for really is neck shape and pickups... You can get hotter and more mellow pickups varying on the model. And you get 50s (fatter) and 60s (slim tapered) necks, but even that varies greatly as they are hand finished. Some so called 50s necks feel more like 60s and vica versa. Can confirm it all except for the 50s and 60s neck vice versa thing. Although often mentioned and reasonable due to final sandings done by hand before and after finishing, I never experienced this. To me dozens of 50s and hundreds of 60s necks felt exactly as specified. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabs Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 Can confirm it all except for the 50s and 60s neck vice versa thing. Although often mentioned and reasonable due to final sandings done by hand before and after finishing, I never experienced this. To me dozens of 50s and hundreds of 60s necks felt exactly as specified. Well actually to be more specific I have tried 50s necks that were HUGE and some that were much closer to a 60s... For instance my brother in law has a Faded Studio LP which is meant to have a 50s neck, but when I played it, I would have accepted it as a 60s... But yes of course they should more often than not be the size that they should be and usually are... I just know that's theres some that feel much closer to each other compared to some of REALLY fat necks ive tried over the years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capmaster Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 ... I just know that's theres some that feel much closer to each other compared to some of REALLY fat necks ive tried over the years. You're spot on. Late 50s necks are far from being "baseball bats" or "telephone poles". ;) I was surprised about the fat Brian May Red Special neck when I first got in touch with one. However, to my taste rounded, C-shape and D-shape profiles feel better than V necks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milod Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 Even on totally robot-made guitars, necks will vary somewhat due to climate - including altitude. Some of us are more sensitive to neck shape than others, though. Seriously, I'm sure there are a few pickles here and there, but normally one should expect a Gibson to be a fine instrument. A person's physical geometry and the specific geometry of a given guitar will make a huge difference in comfort levels. For example, a 24 3/4 inch scale neck and standard Gib/Epi nut width seems much longer and narrower nut on a semi-hollow to me than on a full hollow thicker body instrument with identical scale/nut width. Why? it's where/how the guitar's weight distribution falls and how my left arm is reaching a bit more giving a different angle on the neck at the lower frets. But... most important. Proper setup to a given player is a huge variation in a given player's physical comfort level and the playability of a given instrument. Even if you ran into a close-out sale with a $5,000 Gibson, if the instrument is poorly set up with your strings for how you play, it's really of little more value as an instrument than the least expensive Epi version also as poorly set up. I'll wager that most of us would prefer an emergency "on stage" backup Epi set up to our personal preferences than a Gibson with heavier/lighter strings and neck relief too much or too little... I guess what that means is I'd say keep lookin' until you find something you basically like, and then if you're within reach of a good luthier, make an appointment, bring your favorite string set, let him/her watch you play... m Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capmaster Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 ... I'll wager that most of us would prefer an emergency "on stage" backup Epi set up to our personal preferences than a Gibson with heavier/lighter strings and neck relief too much or too little... I guess what that means is I'd say keep lookin' until you find something you basically like, and then if you're within reach of a good luthier, make an appointment, bring your favorite string set, let him/her watch you play... m Agree completely in every respect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GibsonKramer Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 Just brought home a Les Paul Studio Pro this weekend and I love it. Was setup perfectly, though I did play several while i was there and grabbed the one that played/sounded the best. Retails for just under $1600, got it for under $1400. http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/2014/Les-Paul-StudioPro.aspx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stratol Posted September 3, 2014 Author Share Posted September 3, 2014 Thanks folks, and I'm gonna keep looking. Sweetwater will take this back and send me something good, I have faith in them. The way it was set up should not have been done in the first place but I had something to do with that. I ask them to make sure the strings were no higher than 1/16th off the fret (not board) and that was a mistake given that it has a shorter scale. I'm used to playing 10s and this came with 9s, that makes a difference so I was told. Anyway, I'll keep looking!! Stratol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capmaster Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 ... I ask them to make sure the strings were no higher than 1/16th off the fret (not board) and that was a mistake given that it has a shorter scale. I'm used to playing 10s and this came with 9s, that makes a difference so I was told. Anyway, I'll keep looking!! Stratol String action and neck relief will have to match string make and gauge a well as player's preferences and the actual guitar, in particular scale and reaction to attack. I experienced that there's no simple "one for all" solution. Adapting a new instrument to the player's touch may also require some refinements during the break-in period. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tabeck5 Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 You might want to wait to see if there are any closeouts at the end of the year, last year there were some pretty good gibson les pauls going for cheap money. I pickup up a LP trad for less than $1500 and it is a keeper, and the guitar I had my eyes on all year. I saw some LP classics on sale for under 2K just today. I have demoed alot of Gibson's lately, and for all of the negatives I see on this board about quality of the Gibson line, I believe they are putting some great electrics out there right now. The level of craftsmanship I think is pretty good. This is a pretty significant investment, so I would not settle, be patient, better to get the one you want the first time around then spend that kind of money and then wish you had something better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GibsonKramer Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 Thanks folks, and I'm gonna keep looking. Sweetwater will take this back and send me something good, I have faith in them. The way it was set up should not have been done in the first place but I had something to do with that. I ask them to make sure the strings were no higher than 1/16th off the fret (not board) and that was a mistake given that it has a shorter scale. I'm used to playing 10s and this came with 9s, that makes a difference so I was told. Anyway, I'll keep looking!! Stratol OH! OK, that makes a lot more sense. Sorry if you spelled that out earlier, dyslexic and I tend to scan. Yeah, those are going to make a difference. Typically, I can't stand 9s just because I feel they're buzzy on everything. I've got the worst annoyance to that tinny sound. I don't mind my action a little higher, either. For whatever reason, the strings on the LP fine for me, not too slinky... though the way the it was setup, they took it into account. I probably wouldn't like 10s on it, if its playing like this, currently. Ernie Ball and EVH used to market a set of strings, that the high E was a 9, but the others were a heavier gauge. Been a long time, don't remember the details, but those were actually my favorite strings. Good luck in your search. I hope you find a Les Paul that suits your desires... I'm so happy to finally own one. EDIT: I've seen a few people mention quality of Gibson's over the last few years. Gibson has gone through several period, where the vibe was, quality was lacking. Check the history on the 17/14 degree necks. Check the tone/sustain difference between them. However, once you get past their "lower end" and move into the mid-priced guitars, you're basically getting the same quality they've always put out. A $1500 Gibson is a very nice guitar. Sure, you'll find a lemon now and then... but we're still talking about a guitar that any musician at any level, should be able to appreciate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milod Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 Actually all but one of my electrics and my fingerpicking AE guitars wear 9-42. My "flatpicking" flattops wear 10s. The one exception electric? 8-38. It's all in how you play. I've had folks who didn't know what I was doing on the old Guild S100c with the 8-38 figure I was playing a "jazz guitar" - they were jazz fans and didn't know it shoulda been an archtop with 13s on it. Again, it's all in how you play. m Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stratol Posted September 4, 2014 Author Share Posted September 4, 2014 I got it straightened out with SW and got a deal on a new Studio Plus in Fireburst Candy for a lil over a grand. I told my sales rep to let the tech set it up however he sees fit. I'll try it with 9-42s and if that don't fit me I'll put heavier on it. It has a 24+" scale instead of the 23 of the plain Studios. Wish I could save the money for a upper end LP but I really am going into debt with this one. Can't beat SW's customer service. The guy stay ed late to get me took care of and they don't even have the 1st guitar back! Thanks folks for your advice! Really nice of yall. Really Milod a jazz guitar with 8-32s!!!! Like to hear you play sometime! That's is unusual but I'm not much of a jazz player....use some 'jazz' chords sometime passing and such but ain't very good at it. Thanks! Really cool place!!!! Stratol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabs Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 That's why we are here, to share our GAS (guitar acquisition syndrome).. And of course we want to see pictures when you get her (or by forum rules it didn't happen ;)) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LPguitarman Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 I got it straightened out with SW and got a deal on a new Studio Plus in Fireburst Candy for a lil over a grand. I told my sales rep to let the tech set it up however he sees fit. I'll try it with 9-42s and if that don't fit me I'll put heavier on it. It has a 24+" scale instead of the 23 of the plain Studios. Wish I could save the money for a upper end LP but I really am going into debt with this one. Can't beat SW's customer service. The guy stay ed late to get me took care of and they don't even have the 1st guitar back! Thanks folks for your advice! Really nice of yall. Really Milod a jazz guitar with 8-32s!!!! Like to hear you play sometime! That's is unusual but I'm not much of a jazz player....use some 'jazz' chords sometime passing and such but ain't very good at it. Thanks! Really cool place!!!! Stratol Congrats on the new guitar. Can't go wrong with a properly set-up LP. Even with the SW set-up, it may not be to your liking. When you get it, make sure it feels good and plays good all over the neck. And if you decide to go up or down in string guage, you'll probably have to tweak the truss rod a little. Good Luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GibsonKramer Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 That's why we are here, to share our GAS (guitar acquisition syndrome).. Oh, please no. I've gone through enough Acquisition Syndromes, with other items. I have two (classic) electrics now and a decent Takamine acoustic. I don't need any more guitars. Just the single electric did me fine for most of 30 years... Though, I really do want a SG... I got it straightened out with SW and got a deal on a new Studio Plus in Fireburst Candy for a lil over a grand. I didn't know they offered it in the Fireburst Candy? Do they still make Studio Plus, or was that a typo and you got a Standard Plus? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjsinla Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 I got it straightened out with SW and got a deal on a new Studio Plus in Fireburst Candy for a lil over a grand. I told my sales rep to let the tech set it up however he sees fit. I'll try it with 9-42s and if that don't fit me I'll put heavier on it. It has a 24+" scale instead of the 23 of the plain Studios. Wish I could save the money for a upper end LP but I really am going into debt with this one. Can't beat SW's customer service. The guy stay ed late to get me took care of and they don't even have the 1st guitar back! Thanks folks for your advice! Really nice of yall. Really Milod a jazz guitar with 8-32s!!!! Like to hear you play sometime! That's is unusual but I'm not much of a jazz player....use some 'jazz' chords sometime passing and such but ain't very good at it. Thanks! Really cool place!!!! Stratol A Studio has a 23 inch scale length? Gibson is now putting 9 to 42 sets on? Since when? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casey_vee Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 Doesn't always have to be new, you can go on Craigslist and find one to go play that's in good shape and already set up and broken in... You may even be able to move up a tier above studio at that price. The country has fallen on hard times, you never know if there's a deal perfect for you in the second hand department. Best of luck. Sorry I hadn't read the whole thread before replying. (Hoping I'm not just another echo) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stratol Posted September 4, 2014 Author Share Posted September 4, 2014 A Studio has a 23 inch scale length? Gibson is now putting 9 to 42 sets on? Since when? Well the specs on SW said it had a 24 3/4" scale and I think I asked for 9s to be put on it. Then when I complained about it I was told it has a 23" scale. Some miscommunication there. Not sure what I was thinking and am thinking going to 9s, just thot I'd try it, we'll see with the Pro As to the Plus, I ment Pro, sorry...http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/LSTPF3CH-14/e So many LPs these days to choose from. I don't think it was like that when I started playing years ago, tho I didn't pay much attention then. I was a Fender guy from the start I guess but there's a lot of years past since and I wanting to try something different. I did have an SG for a few mins but didn't like it but it was a while back. Things change.. Stratol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RRIDER Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 I got it straightened out with SW and got a deal on a new Studio Plus in Fireburst Candy for a lil over a grand. I told my sales rep to let the tech set it up however he sees fit. I'll try it with 9-42s and if that don't fit me I'll put heavier on it. It has a 24+" scale instead of the 23 of the plain Studios. Stratol Someone gave you some bogus information. The "plain Studios" have a 24.75" scale length as do most Gibsons. The strings they are putting on most of them now are like a hybrid set..9-46 the E B G strings are like 9's, D A E are like 10's. the first thing I do is change them to 10's. Never needed to adjust truss rod. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capmaster Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 Oh, please no. I've gone through enough Acquisition Syndromes, with other items. ... Though, I really do want a SG... I didn't know they offered it in the Fireburst Candy? Do they still make Studio Plus, or was that a typo and you got a Standard Plus? Seems you got these sorted. Now it's about guitars. :o :P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjsinla Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 A Studio has a 23 inch scale length? Gibson is now putting 9 to 42 sets on? Since when? Well the specs on SW said it had a 24 3/4" scale and I think I asked for 9s to be put on it. Then when I complained about it I was told it has a 23" scale. Some miscommunication there. Not sure what I was thinking and am thinking going to 9s, just thot I'd try it, we'll see with the Pro As to the Plus, I ment Pro, sorry...http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/LSTPF3CH-14/e So many LPs these days to choose from. I don't think it was like that when I started playing years ago, tho I didn't pay much attention then. I was a Fender guy from the start I guess but there's a lot of years past since and I wanting to try something different. I did have an SG for a few mins but didn't like it but it was a while back. Things change.. Stratol I've been playing Fenders for years, too. Just got back into Gibbies. I've staying with more vintage style Gibsons; solid bodies, P90's, AlNiCo 2 PAF's, and neck style does not matter. I did get a "scratch and dent" 2013 Les Paul Trad in your price range last year. And, the end of year sales will be starting soon. Keep that in mind if your new one doesn't work out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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