Help me make a decision

[tonejones]

No, Im not going to buy an expensive guitar based solely on this, but I will take it into account. Im at either extreme. Most of the gear I have Ive bought very impulsively. Other times ll research a piece of gear for years before I get one (tho the act of finally getting it is usually still uber-impulsive ).

The 59 Historics are still very tempting to me. I half feel Ive played LPs for a while so I want to get something different but I also feel like to finally own a really nice LP would be it. I have an excellent Epi Custom thats all mahag with a rosewood board that has a darker woodier quality then the Gib Customs Im used to, which isnt good or bad, but probably more like a 'regular' LP but I cant say thats definitely what Im wanting.

The cream historic SG customs are sweet as hell. Theyve been a lustful pipe dream for a long time.

Ive heard so many good things about Hamers I have to include those.

Whadayou guys think?

Lesters are always nice and no doubt the SG is sweet.....but what the hell, be original.

Go with the Hamer

FWIW

[Billy Batz]

TJ thats my whole impulsion for adding Hamer to the list. That and I feel more secure in their standards.

[fillmore nyc]

TJ thats my whole impulsion for adding Hamer to the list. That and I feel more secure in their standards.

Well, another good choice if Gibson is not the end all of discussion would be a Godin. They make really nice guitars, and have very high quality control. A humbucking equipped LG, or LG Signature (especially with the "Tetrad" pickups) is a really excellent guitar, and its almost weird how reasonably priced they are.
I recently picked up a LG SP90 and its just a killer. I love 'em.

[ThunderOne]

The only thing I don't like about 3 humbucker guitars is that I always hit the middle pickup with the pick.

I agree with that. I had a '71 SG Custom with 3 PUs and even if it looked real cool, I let it go for that reason and that I found it unconfortable to play. I just didn't like the way that your left hand naturally falls on the 3rd fret. But most importantly, I simply prefer the weight and feel and sonic depth of a Les Paul.

[M. Hendrix]

The Historic Les Pauls (no, not last year, or the year befroe that, or the year before that... NOW) are FANTASTIC.

The last three I have played were GREAT guitars, the neck profiles are RIGHT FINALLY, and the wood/worksmanship is fantastic.

That said, you buy an eight-thousand dollar guitar, make sure you take 2 hours worth of labor money, and a set of pickups that don't suck completely. The frets need crowning (WHAT THE F**K!?) and the pickups may as well be magnets wrapped in blankets. The nut action is as miserable as any '60s Yamaha 12-string.

Fantastic guitars though. The tops are very realistic too.

My next advice would be a PRS McCarty.. 1/4 the money minus, and they sound fabby. (but you din't axe about it)

M