The Metallian Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 Hello! I´m struggling with what guitar to buy. If I want the most genuine LP tone with outstanding substain, what should I look for then? And what makes that tone? (Body, neck, top?) Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryUK Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 Just get a Les Paul Traditional or a studio. Try some amps in a shop But it's in the hands. You'll get all the info you need here. What's your budget? What gear have you got now? How far is your standard of playing? What player's sound do you like? Lots of questions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krock Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 I love the traditional's. They sound amazing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FirstMeasure Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 Like this tone? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rogerb Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 A Les Paul traditional will get you real close. I guess the closest would be a 59 reissue with Burstbuckers 1 and 2, a little pricy though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 Like this tone? Wow, a real "Bird Land!" CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FirstMeasure Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 Wow, a real "Bird Land!" CB Tone is in the Bird Foot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
damian Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 Each and every one of my Gibby Les Pauls sound different........ Anyhow, to the O.P., get yourself a nice Gibby Traditional............... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 Most genuine LP tone??? For what genre? Les Paul's own "Les Paul" tone would be the most "genuine" LP tone, to me. But, in relation to Rock, or (WB) Blues...probably Mike Bloomfield, early Eric Clapton, and Duane Allman, Dickey Betts, Peter Green. I've always liked Blodwyn Pig's Mick Abrahams' tone, as well, although his guitar was often an SG "Les Paul." 1st, the player, and 2nd, the amp, are the bigger factors...IMHO. CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 Hello! I´m struggling with what guitar to buy. If I want the most genuine LP tone with outstanding substain, what should I look for then? And what makes that tone? (Body, neck, top?) Thanks! In all seriousness, to answer your question, as far as guitars go, the Les Paul Custom! Outstanding "Les Paul Tone," and remarkable sustain, with little to no effort. CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy R Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 I disagree, and the reason why is in every store that sells the LP Studio. If thats true then Gibson would have never came out with the studio which was designed to play in the studio without all the bling. All LP's sound the same, the difference is the person who plays it. Have to disagree with you on this one a bit. Even Identical twins have different finger prints. No two guitars sound exactly the same. Some may be negligible but some can be quite dramatic even from the same production run. Also, even some of "The people who play them" find certain ones they like better than others tonally ... Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 Yeah, you definitely need to play a bunch, of each model, through your (same brand/model) amp, and find "the one," that does it, for you...I agree! CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morkolo Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 All LP's sound the same, the difference is the person who plays it. I can't agree with you there, that's like saying all Stratocaster's sound the same... which is definitely not the case. Now if they do to your ears then count yourself lucky, but for the extremely picky like myself who can find major differences in tone among Les Paul's it tends to make guitar shopping a tedious process. I can and have turned down dozens of the exact same model until I found the right guitar that just felt right, sounds right and makes me want to play. As for which one has the most genuine Les Paul tone that's for you to decide really, the Les Paul Traditional did it for me. But the Studio's a great sound too that's not that far removed from the tone of today's Standard's, an excellent value. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rct Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 I disagree, and the reason why is in every store that sells the LP Studio. If thats true then Gibson would have never came out with the studio which was designed to play in the studio without all the bling. All LP's sound the same, the difference is the person who plays it. This is so not sense making I'm not even sure where to start. "designed to play in the studio without all the bling"? huh? The tape machine knows if yer using a bling-y guitar or not? The kid in the transcamaro wants a record made with more bling-y or less bling-y guitars? How does that work? Seriously. "All LPs sound the same"? I think you can only say that if you've only ever played one Les Paul. rct Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest farnsbarns Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 when I bought my standard (pre chambering) I played about 15, every single one was different. When I bought my R6 I got lucky, it was only about the 5th or 6th and the first one I played with the money in my pocket. every LP I've played was slightly different, as for current standards, well they are a different guitar if you ask me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EVOL! Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 I'm sorry but a Studio sounds like a Traditional sounds like a Custom and sounds like a Standard the only real variance is the person who is playing that guitar and of course the amp. Gibson has many pickups and except for the new active humbuckers they all pretty much sound the same since all the humbuckers are modeled after the 57 which used to be known as the PAF. I disagree, firmly. Gibson 57s do not sound like 490s. The 490s are supposed to be modern updates to the 57, but to my ears they might as well be made by different manufacturers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morkolo Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 I disagree, firmly. Gibson 57s do not sound like 490s. The 490s are supposed to be modern updates to the 57, but to my ears they might as well be made by different manufacturers. I couldn't agree more, apples and oranges to say the least. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EVOL! Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 You are just being suborn about this. Please do not tell me 490 series pickups sound like 57s. They just don't and your ears know it. That quoted description is just marketing fluff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChanMan Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 The answer is to play as many as you can and find the one that sounds best to you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silenced Fred Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 Word. the 100 dollar Epi sounds the exact same as an R9, you fools dropping 6 grand on a guitar are stupid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duane v Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 For me it's a Gibby LPC It's the baby grand of all Les Pauls Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duende Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 The OP If you have the money and want the look and sound of a good Les Paul I agree the Les Paul Traditional is a great choice. As far as guitars sounding different its because they react to the person who plays them. This is why someone like EVH who has been through many different guitar companies, pickups and amps yet his tone is basically still the same. +1 Of all musical instruments; electric guitars companies in particular, use a 'belief system' form of marketing that so many people buy into. I often think of the emperor clothes story with a lot of examples of Gibson's guitars and the way the same thing is sold again with the slightest alteration, yet given a dramatic new name (and inflated price). Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SweetMarie Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 It would help if you gave us an example of this tone you're looking for, but let's start with what you probably want... 1. A mahogany body with a maple cap. There are all-mahogany Les Pauls with a somewhat darker tone--the maple cap adds some snap. 2. Humbuckers! Your choice depends on your amp and your musical style. In general, modern music requires high-output pups and retro uses lower output (low to high Burstbuckers to classics 57s to 490 series I think), but humbuckers are the way to go for that "classic" tone unless you're talking about Neil Young ;) ...single coils on an LP are an entirely different animal. So, anything from an original 59 (it you need to ask you can't afford it) the late 50s reissues ($$$$$) to a Studio with a maple cap and HBs ($$) would cover those bases. You can try most of those guitars at your local big box music retailer-no one can explain the difference in tone with written words. You have to hear it. You then have to find "The Amp For That Classic Les Paul Tone" but that's another thread... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Searcy Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 You guys really think Eddie Van Halen's tone has remained the same over the years? I need to get my ears checked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rct Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 You guys really think Eddie Van Halen's tone has remained the same over the years? I need to get my ears checked. I'll be right behind you. rct Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.