Les Paul copy guitars, where can I buy them?

Brevamusic · Post by **Brevamusic** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 8:50 pm

I've been going to the local GC to try out Gibsons every couple of months for the last year and I have now come to the realization that they are not worth the money. They are actually really shitty for the money. They're still ok guitars, but every single one I've tried has had some level of fret buzz, usually pretty bad. I've decided that paying $2000-$4000 for a guitar that has fretbuzz is not logical. Since then, I've also tried some older Japanese lp copies and although some of them have the same fretbuzz problem, it's usually not that bad and when prices are less than $800 I pretty much think that they are worth the money. Besides eBay, does anyone know where can I find a reliable source to buy good les paul copy guitars (Burnys, Grecos, Orvilles, Tokais, Edwards, etc.)?

marT · Post by **marT** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 9:08 pm

Well fretbuzz is usually just poor setup. The neck relief is probably adjusted poorly. I spent a lot of time looking at 355 style guitars the other day and A LOT of them had a back bow to the neck.

Having said that, I agree with you that Gibsons simply are not worth the money. Of all the guitars I played, the Gibsons were not the highlight for me. The highlight was an Ibanez "artcore" jazz style guitar with two humbuckers, it was simply amazing. It was probably just a bit too "big" for what I am after. I think even the epiphone 355 dot out classed the Gibson 355 in acoustic tone. I was going by acoustic tone and feel mind you so the electrics probably sounded better plugged in with the Gibsons but seriously, the Acoustic properties are more important because electronics can be swapped out easily and cheaply. Woods can't.

So anyway I am interested to hear where I can pick up the even better copies that you mentioned. Hopefully someone can chime in. I think ebay is the only option these days unfortunately.

For interests sake I told the les paul forum of my tone discovies and they don't even want to know. They are just too loyal to gibson over there. Its really hard to get objective info on copies.

p.s. even the finish and workman ship, while mostly better than some copies were poor on the Gibsons. These are $5000 guitar over here. I can't justify paying that much, its $500 worth of woods etc and $4000 for the name on the headstock.

fillmore nyc · Post by **fillmore nyc** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 9:47 pm

Brevamusic wrote:I've been going to the local GC to try out Gibsons every couple of months for the last year and I have now come to the realization that they are not worth the money. They are actually really shitty for the money. They're still ok guitars, but every single one I've tried has had some level of fret buzz, usually pretty bad. I've decided that paying $2000-$4000 for a guitar that has fretbuzz is not logical. Since then, I've also tried some older Japanese lp copies and although some of them have the same fretbuzz problem, it's usually not that bad and when prices are less than $800 I pretty much think that they are worth the money. Besides eBay, does anyone know where can I find a reliable source to buy good les paul copy guitars (Burnys, Grecos, Orvilles, Tokais, Edwards, etc.)?

If it doesnt have to be an exact copy of a LP, then Godin makes a really good guitar for the money. They consistently have good necks, they have really nice pickups stock, and especially on Ebay, they sell fairly cheap. I have a few of them and I love 'em.

AbbeSauniere · Post by **AbbeSauniere** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 1:10 pm

I just bought a Edwards E-LP130LTS/RE. 500KCTS pots, high quality caps, Seymour Duncan Antiquities, 100% nitrocellulose lacquer finish, lightly relic'ed finish, 1 piece mahogany back, two piece maple top with flame maple veneer. Mine weighs 7.5 pounds and is just an amazing guitar. $1060 plus shipping from Japan, which runs between $100-150. Even if you end up paying Duty, you're in the price range of a Gibson Studio, but getting a guitar that can go easilly head to head with a Standard.

AbbeSauniere · Post by **AbbeSauniere** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 1:14 pm

BTW, MarT, Edwards also makes a 335 clone with solid wood tops/bottoms, rather than laminated tops/bottoms like a Gibson.

Brevamusic · Post by **Brevamusic** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 2:25 pm

Wow, that Edwards looks amazing! I've been watching a couple of those Edwards on eBay and I'm just waiting for the right one to come along. How does it play? Is the neck straight and does it have any fretbuzz? That's my biggest concern really.

AbbeSauniere · Post by **AbbeSauniere** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 2:42 pm

Brevamusic wrote:Wow, that Edwards looks amazing! I've been watching a couple of those Edwards on eBay and I'm just waiting for the right one to come along. How does it play? Is the neck straight and does it have any fretbuzz? That's my biggest concern really.

Has a bit of buzz, but the action is set pretty low. Haven't gotten around to setting the action to my liking. It's a phenomenal guitar. Especially for the price. Workmanship is unbelievable. If I'm ever in the market for another Les Paul, I wouldn't hesitate on another LTS130.

Billy Batz · Post by **Billy Batz** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 3:25 pm

Are those guitars weight relieved?

AbbeSauniere · Post by **AbbeSauniere** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 3:59 pm

Billy Batz wrote:Are those guitars weight relieved?

ESP is claiming they are solid backs with no weight relieving/chambering. A member of the Tokai Forum had his underneath a airport Xray machine and saw no weight relieving. There's someone on The Gear Page who had his smashed during delivery and plans on sawing the top off to check the backs. I'm patiently awaiting the pics!

marT · Post by **marT** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 9:58 pm

That edwards looks great and a semi hollow would be saweeeeeet!

However, I really like to play a guitar before I get one. I don't know if I would want to ship one from japan and find out its no good when it arrives.

I might actually go the second hand route, There are a lot of sleepers out there that need good homes.

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Les Paul copy guitars, where can I buy them?

Les Paul copy guitars, where can I buy them?

Re: Les Paul copy guitars, where can I buy them?