Les Pauls

OnTheFritz · Post by **OnTheFritz** » Wed Jan 28, 2004 9:00 pm

Hello Shane,
Hey, I'm new here, and I was reading somewhere in the forum where you were talking about '59 Ri Les paul's, and it seems you're the " Paul guru".
What's your take on the Epiphone L.P. in any of it's incarnations? (or anybody else out there with an opinoin)
Also, have you seen the Warmoth Les Paul's on the web site? They're bolt ons, but they look pretty awesome.
Thanks
Fritz

Post by **VelvetGeorge** » Wed Jan 28, 2004 10:52 pm

I own two of the Epi LP's myself. I bought them and played them on the road for a bout 4 years. I just couldn't take beating up my Gibsons any longer.

Here's what I did to mine right off the shelf:

1. remove and throw away all of the wiring and pots. They're crap.
2. replace them with some high quality stuff, this makes a big difference.
3. I replaced my pickups with Seymore Duncans.
4. replace tuning machines with locking variety (or your preference).
5. check the neck and frets, set the intonation.

These things made real players out of both of mine. Of course, YMMV.

George

bluefuzzguitar · Post by **bluefuzzguitar** » Thu Jan 29, 2004 4:51 am

I'm no expert on Les Pauls (strat player myself) but I hear the late 70's/early 80's Tokai and Ibanez Les Pauls were good. I can vouch for the quality of Tokai guitars as I own a 1980 Springy Sound Strat myself and I consider that guitar better than most Fenders I've played! I also hear good stories about the new Tokai Les Pauls (Love Rock Model).

Mike

OnTheFritz · Post by **OnTheFritz** » Thu Jan 29, 2004 12:21 pm

Thanks for the info guy's.
I've seen some really sharp Epi's, and I'd have to say that's the way I'll probably go.
I had a pretty nice Gibson Les Paul studio lite from about '92, but was forced to sell it. It played great, but I must say the electronics in it were crap. The volume was either on or off, nothing in between. But it was relatively inexpensive. (by Gibson standards)
Thanks
Fritz

Country Boy Shane · Post by **Country Boy Shane** » Thu Jan 29, 2004 12:28 pm

That's the biggest thing Fritz, Electronics. Epiphone's are made a-okay but the electronics that are installed are next to dirt. I would also say replace the pickups too. I have BurstBucker Alnico V Pro's which are rated at 8.0Kohms neck and 8.5Kohms bridge. They sound pretty dang close to the original PAF's. George has the right idea with Seymour Duncan. They do good stuff. I can't remember which company makes the "Seth Lover PAF" but that's a fave amoung people. I hear Voodoo pickups is picking up a following too.

I wouldn't call myself a Les Paul guru, but i'm probably going to be playing one a damn long time while i'm doing this Detroit Rock circuit. I don't care if my Les Paul takes a bit of wear from all the playing because it was meant to be played. I do keep good care of mine lemon oiling finger gunk off a bit and always polish your finish. When I get back to the blues circuit i'll be getting a Strat from Warmoth.

Sorry about the delay in my post... oopsie doo

OnTheFritz · Post by **OnTheFritz** » Thu Jan 29, 2004 12:45 pm

Thanks Shane
Do you have a gig coming up this weekend at Jimmy's?
Is that the place that used to be called Joanne's or something?

Country Boy Shane · Post by **Country Boy Shane** » Thu Jan 29, 2004 3:09 pm

Ha ha.... i don't know any history of the little neighborhodd dive bar called Jimmy's Sports Rock. It's a good place to play because the acoustics are pretty good and you are guaranteed pay!! It should be pretty rockin' but i don't know if well pull of the same degree of whoop ass we did at Pub 1281...... but we'll rock as hard as we can!!

ROCK ON!

Country Boy Shane · Post by **Country Boy Shane** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 11:33 pm

Want more tone from your Les Paul and don't wanna change string guages?

This is a thing i've been messing with a long time since i got my Les Paul - string height. I of course started with the standard 9's and really low action, but i found myself blowing out the guage of strings to 12's and the action getting relatively higher than a lot of my friends' twangers. The standard height for LP's out of the shop is about 1.5/32nds on the treble side of the 12th, and 2.5/32nds on the bass side of the 12th (measured from bottom of string to top of the fret). I know you are probably gonna dog me on my interpretation of the units, but for the sake of keeping a good representation of what height i'm talking about, i think it's a good idea to keep the denominator the same number. Anyway, i've been trying a bit higher on my LP. As much as 2.5/32nds on the treble and 3.5/32nds on the bass side of the 12th fret. The change in tone is quite awesome i must say. Your strings will have much more room to vibrate and thus make the signal of your guitar that much more SICK! IF you have doubts whether you can play fast high... stop... it is possible. PRACTICE.

Low action may be the cool thing to do, but i urge you to boost it high in an instant. You'd be suprised at what a little action adjustment can do to your Les Paul (or any guitar for that manner) tone!

Country Boy Shane · Post by **Country Boy Shane** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 11:40 pm

I shouldn't forget to say this...

If you have problems making huge/wide bending vibratos on the low action like SRV, Zakk Wylde and countless greats, the raising helps greatly! The instant i changed my action higher, the fight was over. I said to my strings, "I own you now biatch!" as i twisted them with fury.

I thought i should mention this just to prove another point.

Bluesbishop · Post by **Bluesbishop** » Mon May 17, 2004 10:21 pm

I have owned several Les Pauls in 25+ years. My first Les Paul was a Gibson 1978 Les Paul Standard, Tobacco Sunburst. CRAP ! Three peice maple top, bad finish. Good Neck and Sustain, BUT I replaced all of the Electonics ( at the time Dimarzio PAF's...it was 1978!) Pots, wiring, etc. After all the changes, the guitar sounded good, but I Hated the look of a plain, three piece top.

I sold that Les Paul in 1984, I purchased a Gibson 59 RI. GREAT guitar. Nice fret work, beautiful neck, and good stock pick-up. that guitat stayed in my arsenal for a few years, but by 1985 I was mostly playing Jacksons, USA Charvels, Kramers....It was the metal era! At One point I played mostly through my "rack". a ADA preamp, a marshall poweramp, and more effects than I care to think about! If I didn't have at least 4-6 effects goin on at once, I thouhgt it sounded like Sh*t!( GOD I'm glad the 80's are over!!)

Through the present I owed 6 other Gibson Les Pauls and each one had it's own vibe. I recently purchased a Epi Les Paul for my Nephew's 16th birthday. ( Hid dad wouldn't buy him a electric....only a ovation, I got him a Paul and a Marshall....now by brother-in- law hates me!!!!!) I had the Pickups replaced with SD '59 in the neck and JB in the bridge. New tuners and all the potss replaced and rewired. That guitar rocks for the dollar value for just a few hundred in mods!

The Tokai is very sweeet for the bucks, along with Orville. If you haven't seen one...go a H-c Cental search, or look on ebay. Bag for Buck the Orville is the one to get. the are the made in Japan Gisons, MCh better quality than the Epis, with great finish, and great pickups!

Out of all the Pauls I've played...I love my current 2003 Les Paul Standard with 50's neck.....sweet!!!

Ken

flemingmras · Post by **flemingmras** » Mon May 17, 2004 10:36 pm

Hey Ken! I've got 3 of them 50's neck standards! I'll never play anything else!

2 of them are 2004 models and the other a 2003. The 2003 is a lightburst flametop while the other two are heritage cherry flames. One is an actual flame and the other has this wierd flame pattern goin' on! Way cool!

Jon

Country Boy Shane · Post by **Country Boy Shane** » Tue May 18, 2004 11:24 am

I just played a '59 reissue at work today (Guitar Center) and barely noticed any difference from my 2002 Standard with the 50's neck. The biggest difference was the priceL $4499!!! Then my Gibson illiterate co-worker said that the humbuckers were hand wound and unique to the historics.. i about slapped him! They of course just use pickups off the BurstBucker product line. I so affraid of scratching the thing too. Why would anyone buy such a thing and have to be worried about scratching/denting? If you are gonna play any guitar at all, its gonna get beat up sooner or later.