Roswell Posted June 11, 2008 Share Posted June 11, 2008 Hey all, I'm in the market for a guitar between $400-$700, depending on what I decide to get. I'm a lefty as well so this limits me quite a bit. To make it short, I'm looking for a guitar that fits the type of music I play (I do both rhythm and lead). I generally do older 60s/70s stuff - The Beatles (and the solo Beatles), Pink Flloyd, Stones, that kind of thing. I've narrowed it down in my mind to either a Sheraton or a Les Paul but was hoping you guys could help me narrow it down a bit further Thanks in advance! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JefferySmith Posted June 11, 2008 Share Posted June 11, 2008 Either one would serve you well. I think the Sheraton might be more comfortable for playing live. And I wouldn't count out the Casino or SG-400. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy1281734003 Posted June 11, 2008 Share Posted June 11, 2008 Hi Roswell, I have a Sheraton and 2 Les Pauls, and I love em all. That being said you might want to look at a 56 reissue or a 56 Goldtop, they both have P90 pups and are great for that snarly classic rock sound. I find myself grabbing my 56 reissue more often. Does anybody know if they make the 56's in a lefty? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roswell Posted June 11, 2008 Author Share Posted June 11, 2008 I've been looking around at GuitarCenter (best place of purchasing for me since they're within about 30 minutes of here), and from their website they've only got about 25ish guitars that are available for lefties. If you're interested you can take a peak at the selection for me and maybe make some recommendations. As for the Casino, I've looked into it but it appears Epi no longer makes lefty Casinos so I may be out of luck there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted June 11, 2008 Share Posted June 11, 2008 Considering your musical tastes, either would be great. I'd get both! ;>) However, I'd get the Sheraton, FIRST, I think. For a lot of those old songs, a 335 type guitar just seems to fit, a bit, better. And the "Sheri" has just a bit better upper fret access, if that's any consideration. They have a nice "rounded" tone, but can "Bite" too...especially the bridge pickup. Work well in lots of different applications. Then, get the "Lester," as an addition, later. Anyway...just my 2-cent's worth. CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roswell Posted June 11, 2008 Author Share Posted June 11, 2008 Thanks for the feedback, CB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parabar Posted June 11, 2008 Share Posted June 11, 2008 In my humble opinion, the Sheraton is more versatile than the LP. They each have their own characteristics and advantages, but the Sheri (and its relatives in the semi-hollow family) can range from approaching the LP's rich, thick sustained tone to a much brighter and lighter tone, even approaching country or rockabilly twang. (You wouldn't mistake 'em for a Tele, but ya gnomesane?) Most LP players like to overdrive 'em a bit, and they tend to be at their best for either single note lead playing or crunchy chords. Even diehard LP fans sometimes complain about muddiness in rhythm parts. Sheratons will go from clean to gnarly or warm to snarly with no problem. You mentioned Beatles and Stones as some of your favorites, along with Pink Floyd. Dave Gilmour mostly played Strats, but gets a much richer melodic tone than most stratslingers. Keith Richards has used a Gibson ES-345 for many years, not so much with the Lesters. George Harrison played an LP on several famous Beatles tracks, but is much more commonly associated with brighter-sounding guitars --- Gretsches, Fenders, the Casino, and his Rickenbacker 12-strings. He also played an ES-345 on several Beatles tunes (notably "Day Tripper"). I think a left-handed Sheraton would make you quite happy --- and you might eventually opt to put some P-90 pickups in it if you want even more of that 60's tone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roswell Posted June 11, 2008 Author Share Posted June 11, 2008 Yes, I've been thinking likewise. Lennon and Harrison both used hollowbodies (Casinos) during their middle years if I recall correctly (Lennon using it much longer than that). Out of curiousity, how much of a difference/price would P-90s be? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parabar Posted June 11, 2008 Share Posted June 11, 2008 You could get a pair of GFS Dream 90's or Mean 90's (which fit nicely into the humbucker routs with no further surgery to your guitar) for about $80 --- lots of folks here have been very happy with the results! Or there are any number of boutique versions of P-90's --- Kent Armstrong, Seymour Duncan, et al for up to several hundred bucks a pair. Tonewise, I'd recommend playing some P-90 equipped guitars to get a feel for yourself how they sound and respond. They're very sensitive to pick attack --- with the right amp setting you can go from clean to crunchy just in how hard you play. My best description would be to imagine a continuum with Mark Knopfler's "Sultans of Swing" --- clean Fender single coil --- at one end, and Angus Young's "Back in Black" --- humbucker distort-o-rama --- at the other. P-90's combine some qualities of each. As single coils, they have really good note definition and stay clear in the low register even overdriven, but they are MUCH fatter and rounder sounding than anything Leo Fender ever made when played clean. Their output is fairly high also, so they will drive an amp nicely. In that middle territory is P-90 land --- a place well worth visiting! Check out the "Examples of P-90 Tones" thread on this site for more comments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roswell Posted June 11, 2008 Author Share Posted June 11, 2008 Alright, thanks for all the help Parabar! Now to save up my $620+tax for my guitar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Norm Posted June 11, 2008 Share Posted June 11, 2008 I adopted the Les Paul Ultra for the same reasons you are talking about , Roswell... A light almost hollowbody Les Paul with a crystal clear sound when desired... I'm playing the same music as you are and this Ultra just do it perfectly IMHO... Now, let's see if Epi is doing it lefty !!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roswell Posted June 12, 2008 Author Share Posted June 12, 2008 I've done a bit of research and thus far it appears the Ultra isn't available for Soutpaws like myself I'll go with the Sheraton then and get a LP later on. Cheers guys! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lpdeluxe Posted June 12, 2008 Share Posted June 12, 2008 I'm not sure I can even give advice: it's like the endless "Jazz vs Precision" debates over at talkbass.com. I own a Sheraton II and a Gibson LP, and they really break out like J and P basses: Sheraton (Jazz): more versatile, less personality Les Paul (Precision): one sound, but lots of personality. The LP is my go-to axe except at church, where the natural Sheraton II looks more trad, and tone isn't so crucial (but fitting into the ensemble is). Get both. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roswell Posted June 12, 2008 Author Share Posted June 12, 2008 I've noticed that there's about a million different kinds of LPs, and two or so are right around the same price (the Standard and Custom). Is there really a difference, or is it just a general rule that the higher the price just means more quality? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Sentry Posted June 12, 2008 Share Posted June 12, 2008 Hey all' date='I'm in the market for a guitar between $400-$700, depending on what I decide to get. I'm a lefty as well so this limits me quite a bit. To make it short, I'm looking for a guitar that fits the type of music I play (I do both rhythm and lead). I generally do older 60s/70s stuff - The Beatles (and the solo Beatles), Pink Flloyd, Stones, that kind of thing. I've narrowed it down in my mind to either a Sheraton or a Les Paul but was hoping you guys could help me narrow it down a bit further :D Thanks in advance![/quote'] Honestly? I'd spend the 300+ on the Epiphone LP (whichever model you prefer) and then go about the upgrades. I'm not kidding, either. If you can get your hands on a lefthanded Sheraton for about 3-400 dollars? Awesome. I don't see a lot of these, and chances are you would have to buy it without playing it first. There's always some risk associated with that. Nah...get a LP, get a bone nut cut for it, some new pickups (I like the Gibsons myself, but they're a bit pricey), and if you're really a maniac, maybe some replacement saddles for the bridge. I like the Grover tuners...but they do take a while to break in. If this was me...(and I'm speaking from buying a left handed guitar online) I would rather have the option of playing the specific guitar first before buying it. There are some lemons out there... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Sentry Posted June 12, 2008 Share Posted June 12, 2008 I've noticed that there's about a million different kinds of LPs' date=' and two or so are right around the same price (the Standard and Custom). Is there really a difference, or is it just a general rule that the higher the price just means more quality? (sorry, didn't see this) Not necessarily. I've played Epi LP standards that were just as good as my LP custom when it came out of the box. Granted, it didn't have the gold hardware or the black finish...but you know? It wasn't a bad guitar at all. I'm really serious about finding one at a store, and playing that model....and then purchasing it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stan 58 Posted June 12, 2008 Share Posted June 12, 2008 I have both, I love my sherry BUT the Les Paul is a rock machine. I would also look at an epi SG custom, very good playablity.Stan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roswell Posted June 12, 2008 Author Share Posted June 12, 2008 I'm really serious about finding one at a store' date=' and playing that model....and then purchasing it.[/quote']I'll probably try to chase down a store (there's about 5 Guitar Centers within about 50 miles of here) and see what they have for me to play with, and probably choose the one I like the feel and sound of :D Out of curiosity, around how much would those upgrades you spoke of cost? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Sentry Posted June 12, 2008 Share Posted June 12, 2008 I'll probably try to chase down a store (there's about 5 Guitar Centers within about 50 miles of here) and see what they have for me to play with' date=' and probably choose the one I like the feel and sound of :D Out of curiosity, around how much would those upgrades you spoke of cost?[/quote'] If you go to the Guitar Centers, the model they are most likely to have in stock is the LP standard. Since you are looking at vintage sounds, honestly? The standard Epi pickups wouldn't be a bad way to go. They're not as powerful as the pups installed in the Gibsons, and the biggest reason I changed out my pickups in mine was because the pickups didn't seem as responsive when putting out notes on the high end. (But that was the LP custom.) In truth...I went to a Guitar Center yesterday. I played a LP standard for about 90 minutes plugged into a Fender Deluxe, and a Marshall combo amp. The Deluxe and the Epi delivered....(really, really nice tone.) But, in terms of lemons? Yes, they had one there. 2 LP standards...one was really playable and felt great, the other didn't. The bone nut, if it's a fair price? About 75 bucks for a custom cut nut, with installation thrown in. (which was certainly the case for me....left handed hardware again.) I would have loved to have found a tremlock for about 10 bucks and installed it myself, but the nut (just by itself) made a huge difference in terms of tone on that guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tulsaslim Posted June 12, 2008 Share Posted June 12, 2008 I've been looking at this thread for awhile but really can't give a definitive answer. All guitars mentioned as great! When I was in LA last summer I went to the Hollywood GC & played about 20 guitars (from $99 Deans to $5000 Gibsons) and, to me, the best guitar I played all day was a Sheraton. I think some depends on whether of not you're a 'road player'. I traded my 335 in for an LP many years ago because I felt the 335 was too delicate to take out on the road & too hard to work on (with no control cavity). LPs are pretty much indestructable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Sentry Posted June 12, 2008 Share Posted June 12, 2008 I've been looking at this thread for awhile but really can't give a definitive answer. All guitars mentioned as great! When I was in LA last summer I went to the Hollywood GC & played about 20 guitars (from $99 Deans to $5000 Gibsons) and' date=' to me, the best guitar I played all day was a Sheraton. I think some depends on whether of not you're a 'road player'. I traded my 335 in for an LP many years ago because I felt the 335 was too delicate to take out on the road & too hard to work on (with no control cavity). LPs are pretty much indestructable.[/quote'] In truth? The biggest reason I am pushing a vote here for the LP is that because he is a leftie, the OP would actually have a chance to play the specific guitar he would plan on buying. A Sheraton is much bigger gamble in light of how he probably wouldn't even get a chance to even test one out before buying the specific model. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe G Posted June 12, 2008 Share Posted June 12, 2008 +1 On the GFS Mean 90's. I have a set in my SG-400 and they have terrific sound! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Notes_Norton Posted June 12, 2008 Share Posted June 12, 2008 While either is a good choice, if I couldn't get a left-handed Casino, I'd go for the Sherry. But then I'm a big fan of archtops. My advice, if you can get to a guitar store that carries both, go and play them. See how the fit on your body, and listen to the sounds they can make. Notes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evol04gt Posted June 12, 2008 Share Posted June 12, 2008 get the sherry before epiphone raises the price way way up in the next yr or two, unless you get black or white on the les paul, you are stuck with the cherry burst as a lefty, and honestly, cherry burst looks really cheap compared to honey burst.... used sheritons lefty are REALLY hard to find for a low price. however if you search guitar centers used section online, you can find used les pauls going for 300-550 depending on the model. i play blues and a lot of harder music with my semi hollow bodies just fine.. the hollow wings make up for what the stuck pick ups lack.. i feel epi standard lp pick ups and g400 pick ups to be kinda.... thin totally unless overdriven.. pick up swaps, even for GFS are nessasary and also fret dressings are ness. on the les paul and on the g400..every sheriton i have played has more level frets because they get a little more dressed from the factory than the les paul or the dots do. hope that helps. and they sherry is only avail in the yellowy centered vintage burst./// the edges have a slight yellowing to the black since they tinted poly is so thick and looks older.. and the vintage burst is gorgeous in person. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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