Why Guitar Players HATE Les Pauls
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- Опубліковано 4 тра 2024
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00:00 Intro
02:10 My First Les Paul
03:23 The Reputation
04:43 The Social Media Effect
06:47 Conclusion
Sir, you don't need the clickbait titles. Your videos are thoughtful and well made.
Yep. Good video, but definite click bait. Noted.
I am 70 years old. I have been a profession gigging and recording guitarist since I was 13…57 years ago. During that time I have owned and/or played guitars made by every major manufacturer and many custom luthiers. I owned a 1960 Les Paul Standard from 1967 until 1984 when I loaned it to another guitarist during a recording session and never got it back. In those days my main guitars were a 1962 Strat, a 1962 Tele and a 1960 Gretsch Country Gentleman. I rarely played the Les Paul because it was very heavy and it took a lot of work to keep it playing correctly and not making all kinds of extraneous sounds…recording engineers were constantly complaining about the Les Paul’s sound (I am a jazz, blues and light rock player) because it was not the best tone choice or it was noisy. Over the years I owned many more guitars, including a few more Les Pauls. Today I play Paul Reid Smith guitars and my old Strat and Tele almost exclusively. I find that those three give me the range of tones I need and they are all easy to maintain and play. If I played metal or needed a guitar that was suitable for heavily distorted tones, I might use a Les Paul, however, my first choice would be a PRS guitar because of their superior tone and playability (in my opinion). My most current Les Paul, a black 1972 Custom, went to one of my grandsons as a gift last year so I do not own a Les Paul currently.
Never loan a musician anything at all...if you want it back.
I bought a chinese prs turned out the neck/fingerboard has a low spot. The nut was cut badly to. Wasted money. Gotta save up for a real prs lol american made........
@@Vidar.m I own two PRS SE guitars in addition to my PRS Core guitar. My SEs (Paul’s Guitar and Hallow Body II Piezo) are both great guitars…no problems at all. I think your SE issues may be uncharacteristic of PRS’s import line of guitars. The American made Core PRS guitars are amazing guitars but are much more expensive than the SE imports.
It's very nice and most appropriate that you've given your grandson a Les Paul. It'll be worth a million to him.
@@petesmith6434 S2 models fit nicely in between and are made in the USA with a lot of the same parts as core models. Most of the electronics are imported.
The Les Paul was a ground-breaking guitar. When released on the market in the early 50's Jazz and Big Band players loved it. When it was fitted with humbuckers in the late 50's the blues, rock and roll and R n' B guys viewed it with suspicion as it looked old fashioned compared to what Fender were offering. It didn't sell well. But then the influential players like Clapton, Green and Richards to name a few realised how good it was and started being seen with them and a legend was born. Nothing feels like a LP when you know how to play.
I added a 5 pound plate to my Jaguar and now it feels just like my old LP from 20 years ago :)
Keith Richars Guitar solo on "Last time" live on US TV helped lay the foundations .
@timesinktoaster Lol, exactly. The weight is the biggest problem. LP's also don't sit very well on the leg. Not compared to most Fenders.
I think it’s the price, honestly. I grew up thinking Les Paul’s were so cool, Gibson was the big expensive brand that I hoped I could afford one day. Then as I got older and really started playing and touring, I started to appreciate Fender even more. They’re workhouses and tough as hell. And affordable. I think that’s what gets younger kids started on them and sticking with Fender.
After watching.....I have been playing guitar for 64 years. I am very impressed by your ability to pull sweet tone from whatever guitar is in your hand.
Same speakers.
Toan comes from the balls.
After watching, I have now been playing for over 460 years. His skills are god-like. It's very impressive, indeed.
I was a manager at GC and at the time I was never a LP fan, I have always been a Strat or PRS guy. I never found a LP that really spoke to me. One day I just happens to be messing around with some of the new guitars that showed up. I feel in love instantly with a 2000 LP standard. It felt amazing, wasn’t overly heavy, and the tones were thick and creamy. I replaced the nut with a bone nut, and replaced the turners with locking. While I am still more of a Strat guy, that LP will never be sold and I love to take it out from time to time and when I do, it always makes me smile.
Same but the other way around. Always an LP guy and never really liked Strats. Until I got to try one in a recording studio. That guitar was really something, ended up slipping some parts played with that Strat blended with my Les Pauls, it sounded amazing.
We all "hate" a specific model until we play that one guitar.
These generalized proclamations always make me laugh because they are just camouflaged click-bait. Yes..I am here, too so it was effective. My first "real" guitar was a 1979 ebony Les Paul Custom. More than a dozen "real" guitars later, it is still my favorite of several favorites. One of my grandsons has his eye on it. Hope one day he will love it as I do. In the meanwhile, he sits in my lap and we jam together!
I'm a strat guy, but if I can find the right ES Les Paul I'll buy in in a heart beat.
Not true. I’m a Les Paul guy that’s owned several Strat’s & Tele’s and I just can’t bond with them. Super Strats like my Charvels, Ibanez’s, Kramers yes…Fenders no.
"I replaced the nut with a bone nut and tuners with locking" this is exactly why I don't buy Gibson. It doesn't seem like they offer much when compared to other guitars within their pricepoint, even when comparing singlecut guitars with shapes like the Les Paul. A Les Paul Studio is $1600. Thats INSANE.
Born in 84, and when I was getting into guitar in the 90s and early 2000's, strats were the old head guitar. The LP will never die, if only for the human affinity for being different. The SG too will live forever
The Les Paul has stood the test of time for 70+ years. Other brands have been built around making copies of it. Fads come and go but things like blue jeans and certain guitars are going to keep coming back into style over and over. History repeats. It is good cause it sounds good and plays well. If you have a dialed in Les Paul, it stays in tune, sounds great, plays great, and is one of the more versatile electric guitars available. It’s a classic. Signing off. - Dad
If we can not I believe in the words of Dad then........I believe, dialed in. great set-up. Done! Now can we talk about my allowance?
Dad, please don't go. I can buy the milk.
I own a Les Paul Standard and I really like it. I also play through a Marshall Stack :p I really think both pieces of gear are more flexible than given credit for, it's not just for classic rock. You can coax all sorts of tones out of it.
Agreed, I've an older Marshall Plexi that has beautiful clean tones. I'm currently running a dual rig, my Plexi 50W quarter-stack and my old Twin Reverb.
Definitely, especially if you know how to customize your rig in the way that'll get you what you want, with pickups, pedals and the specific amp.
The newer marshalls are great, with multiple footswitchable channels, you can cover absurd amounts of ground without having to touch a single dial, clean crunch overdrive distortion, the amps got you covered for pretty much whatever
If you got a good ear for tone, you can gig a marshall head playing pop, blues, funk, rock, jazz, extreme metal, everything in between
@@mikeimmonen6619 100% agree Mike.
I've an older 1990s 1987x, with a modified A/B Channel Switching Pedal I can bounce between my Treble and Normal channels as well as jumper them. I've a second A/B switch I use when I run my Twin Reverb at the same time. I like to cover a lot of different material and really enjoy the flexibility afforded by those two completely different amplifiers. It would be the best of both worlds if I didn't have to factor in the weight and difficulty moving it all around!
Why would you need any other tone ?
Totally agree mate. Very versatile rig.
I enjoy the passion and authentic excitement you bring to your playing.
The middle position of the pickup selector of an HH guitar is often the most overlooked position by most players, but is super versatile if used correctly. I find myself often switching the middle position if I need the punch of the humbuckers but don't want the low ends which take up too much room in the mix.
Thank you. The middle position is my go to, nearly all the time.
I discovered that one 40 years ago as a young man, you're right, so very verstaile what you can do with it and teaches you how to master your tones.
I just got my first Les Paul Standard. I was so nervous about a purchase this large without playing it first. It almost brought a tear to my eye. It's the most beautiful built/playing/smelling guitar I've ever been graced with. Seriously, Gibson just got a life-long fan. For some context, I've been playing guitar for 25 years and never had the means to have anything better than a good deal on an used LTD or something. So give me some slack, but I'm truly in love. 2023 Les Paul Standard - Custom Color collection - Ebony with wood finish body and neck. It's beautiful.
Beautiful story brother, you deserve that guitar.👏🏽
Good stuff man. I'm 32 and have never had anything better than a 200-300 dollar off brand guitar, I've been playing since I was 14. I made it a goal to get something in the next year. It's never too late and your story actually made me feel less left out lol. I'm glad you love your guitar!
I started playing guitar when I was 14. I'm now 29, own 3 Les Pauls and I never once thought they were the "old guy" guitars. I didn't realize I was already a boomer.
In all seriousness, great video. I loved how you poked fun at your younger self learning the instrument. I, too, made some silly string gauge decisions in my teenage years. I'm now wonderfully content with 9s.
You got a subscribe from me. Great content.
LMFAO your comment about the strings brought back an old memory for me too. When I was first getting started, maybe after a coupe of years with my first guitar, I decided I needed an acoustic 12-string...as one does. So after I'd had it for a while, I needed to change strings and I started thinking about the tone I got from the guitar. I decided I wanted to see if there was a way to get a "warmer" or "thicker" tone from it. Which led me to think "hey, bigger strings mean wider vibration and therefore warmer tone." SO I got the HEAVIEST set of strings I could find.
As if a 12-string isn't difficult to play to begin with, especially for a beginner lol. I'm still shocked I didn't snap the damn guitar in half trying to tune those strings. SOOO much tension.
Oh yeah I put heavy heavy strings on everything...and wondered why my tops warped lol. I played mostly acoustic back then...still do.
Im 20 and only "really" got into guitar like 2 years ago and i definitely have a negative connotation with les pauls being old and not im a cool vintage way lol
@@ahhhhyes well, this new generation seems to have a strange bent towards anything that came before. I'm not shocked to hear that Les Paul guitars are have been tossed aside too.
Les Pauls are piece of art. Classics never die!
I've recently got my first Les Paul and I love it, I already had a strat and a semi acoustic and this is the perfect blend
I just picked up an Epi LP ‘59 and LOVE it. I started out years ago on a Strat but it was always missing something. I feel like the LP can be set up to be incredibly versatile when you have a good set of humbuckers and good wiring so you can make subtle tweaks just by using the knobs.
Those new 59 epis with the America. Burstbuckers are awesome
I currently own one LP made from alder with three single coil pickups and a tremolo. It's got three knobs and a five way selector switch. Love this guitar.
That Les Paul is starting to sound suspiciously like a Strat...
@@launches.loops.and.lapbars it isn't a strat! I SWEAR :o) It's really heavy!
With double cut?
Wait, that's illegal
@@farqueleyou7578 🤣🤣🤣
I was a huge Ace Frehley & Pete Townsend fan as a kid. My first guitar was a Cortez LP copy, then I got a 82 Strat and I never really felt that It was a good fit for me at the time. A good friend had an endorsement with Gibson and asked what my dream guitar would be… I said Ace Frehley… months later he handed me a 1989 Gibson Les Paul Standard, 2 piece cherry sunburst. The most beautiful guitar I’d ever seen. It’s been my main guitar since then, it just feels right.
Great friend. Wish I had one that did that for me lol.
Even growing up in the later 80s/earlier 90s, the Les Paul and the standard Strat configuration were mostly considered "old head" guitars, too. Slash from GnR challenged that, and so did John Sykes (Whitesnake). And a LOT of people who loved Van Halen's first couple of albums had no idea the majority of them were recorded on an Ibanez Destroyer (a Gibson Explorer copy), despite always seeing the Frankenstrat Eddie was known for playing.
In what alternate universe? I was in high school in the late 80s and early 90s. We still had bands then. Everybody played Strats or Pauls. They were revered. One dude played an SG. The only other guitars I ever saw were Strats and Pauls. Actually, one Jackson! I just remembered. But, they were NOT considered "old" by any stretch.
@@e.l.nortonyeah idk what he saying. Everyone in the 80s and 90s still played strats and Les Paul’s
Hi Mike, great video. I've been a single coil kind of guy since the year dot but have recently touched the dark side and bought myself a Burny LP which I totally love. The tone variation across the humbuckers is beautiful. I'm glad I bought it and feel it compliments my single coil guitars perfectly.
Looking forward to learning loads of new and different modes and styles on it.
Mike, I’ll definitely have a better day after watching the video. You are sharing us the times when you are less good and smile about it. That really inspired me to learn. ❤
Les Paul clean neck pickup is my favorite tone ever-right up there with the 335. I do notice that not everyone gets the sort of tone and articulation that I do because they either have way too much distortion or the bass on the amp is too high. I’ve got a few tips for people used to single coils.
I keep the bass pretty low since the volume naturally increases the bass and adding it to the EQ makes it muddy. If I need the volume to be lower, I typically keep the volume the same and just roll down the tone knob a few notches. If it’s really low, then I’ll add bass, but I set the volume and treble before adding in bass.
Also, because there is so much sustain, the amount of left hand tension you have controls the note length, so you can really thin out the tone by messing with that tension. Between muffling the tone and before the note gets bright, but is still in tune is a huge mellow range just from that pressure that really shows up more on the Les Paul than on lots of single coils out there. I combine that with playing near the saddle to get a funk tone that I need.
Also, single coils are so much better for six string chords, big barre chords, capos, and open strings mixed with fretted notes. When I play the Les Paul, I play a lot more 4 and 3 note voicings, or omit the root or 5 then if I’m playing a single coil guitar.
I use less gain even for distorted tones because gain adds sustain and can end up compressing tone more than desired.
The middle pickup has a minor volume drop and tighter sound, so I like to roll the tone or even volume off the bridge and use the middle position for rhythm and switch to the neck for louder parts.
Without changing tuning, if you do gigs where you play more songs in flat keys, Gibsons sound better to me. I don’t know if it’s the scale length or what, but even other longer scale guitars with humbuckers seem to be thinner.
People also complain about tuning stability but this is never going to be an issue for any guitar with the proper setup, all except the cheapest hardware, the right string gauges for the guitar.
Obviously lots of people use Strats and Tele’s with mods as workhorse guitars and kill with it. I play mostly R&B gigs, but I also play in folk/country circles and occasionally with dad rock types and the Les Paul is with me at every gig. I might use a 335 or Strat at the country gigs first, but i always have the Les Paul for noisy rooms or bad wiring. This guitar is really versatile and not just a Slash guitar.
Loved this. Great insight. 1979 Les Paul Custom ebony.
As a sound geek, these tips makes a lot of sense.
hard agree, 2:13 is literally why it's so good
You rock man. Thank you!
The versatility of having separate knobs for each pickup and incredible mellow sustain is what it makes it for me.
I have a Gibson 2008 Standard Faded (for even MORE dad vibes) with a satin finish, tobacco (or honey, can't remember the name) sunburst and zebra (cream/black) humbuckers.
The thing is BEAUTIFUL (no pickguard, of course, I wouldn't cover any of that grain ever)
It has a weight relief chamber that makes it even more resonant if possible and the satin finish on the neck makes it such a pleasure to slide into.
You can tell I love this one.
BUT, I have a luthier custom made knock off Les Paul with a thin profile, a thin body and two Argentina made black humbuckers and matte finish (which I asked for specifically and got a frown from the workshop owner and then ADDED the finish to their catalog because it was dope) that is chippin' out yes, but still works the part; some Gotoh tuners and God knows what electronics. The thing plays like a million bucks and was 1/8th of the price of the Gibson.
And, well, my first electric guitar was an Epiphone Special LP, so you can say I've been perusing the single cut craze a bit.
My only transgression was a Jackson GIO strat back when I was about to start shredding but always got back to the Les Paul paradise, because the feeling, the tone and that everlasting sustain was just too much to leave behind.
Great video, btw!
You’re one hell of a blues rhythm player! I’d love to see you do more stuff like the old clip with the gold top!
I’ve owned the Les Paul tribute you have in your video for more than a year now and I love it. This is my 2nd go on guitar after putting down the instrument after my mid 20’s. Back then I had a Mexican strat and loved it. Now I’m mid 30’s and trying to learn again the right way thanks to great info out on the internet and love my Les Paul. Always wanted one when I started and couldn’t be happier that it’s my entrance back into the wonderful world of guitar 🎉
Sounds a lot like myself. Stopped in my 20's and picked it up again 3 years ago in my mid 30's. When I returned, I vowed to learn fingerstyle. I succeeded in that and I feel more comfortable with my fingers than a pick.
I want a gibson bro but im scared that the head stock will break. Is the q c getting better yet?
Hey Mike, love my strat, just got a SG and dig it too I'm looking for a lp like that next. Keep on pickin whatever you play
Good video. I'm an old head but,I played a strat since I was a kid and only in the past few years did I start playing an LP/SG type guitar. You're 100% on them both just being a different palette. It's great to have both single and hum buckers for when you need a little inspiration, you can just switch it up.
My first guitar was a Epiphone Les Paul Special 2. That guitar was very difficult to play, but it taught me to be able to play just about any neck, and any difficult guitar. 8 years later, I bought my first Gibson Les Paul. It is a Mod Shop 60th Anniversary 59 Les Paul Standard Custom Shop. That guitar was made to be a metal machine. It is my FAVORITE guitar I've ever owned.
I own 2 of those Epiphones and i think those are great guitars, but for some reason i just dont like them. Always prefered a superstrat.
I feel if you took your guitar to a QUALITY Luthier you would realize that set up IS HUGE... lowering the action polish and dressing the frets straightening the truss rod and intonation are not performed off the showroom floor... there's a reason it costs another 200 bucks to do it... but every guitar that I've had it done to by 12th fret custom guitar in Portland Oregon... and even guitar center at Delta Park.... have been set up phenomenally... it is not the same guitar you buy off the wall
@@ABIGD0NK3Y I agree. Set ups are SUPER important, but I feel they aren't really talked about too much.
The newer Epiphone Les Pauls are very nice, sir.
I own an Epiphone Les Paul and I adore it. Using both the humbucker and regolate tone and volume to get the sound that I want has been so cool
Nice job, thank you!
I have a 2019 Les Paul Studio special with the burstbuckers in it and I love it. Can get beautiful clean tones from it and great crunch distortion from it using the amps distortion settings, no pedal needed. It’s all about playing around with the Les Paul’s volume/tone/humbucker knobs and the eq settings of your amp
I have a cheap Les Paul copy and though I am sort of a Strat guy, the Les Paul is so versatile-- you can play everything from Jazz to Heavy Metal on it. Whether you are Les Paul himself, or Jimmy Page or Randy Rhoads, you can make a Les Paul work.
First guitar I (21m) bought, about six months ago, was a les paul. I'd been playing on my dad's old guitar (cheap ES395 copy) for a few years, as well as some other instruments for a bit longer, so I had some chops and understood what I liked in an instrument. However I didn't know anything about the different types of guitars when I walked into Guitar Center to buy my own first guitar. I gravitated towards what looked and felt good, which were these single cutaway designs. I finally settled on an Epiphone Les Paul Standard 50s.
Looking back, I think I'm glad I knew nothing about "strat vs tele vs etc." because it allowed me to find the guitar I liked without these notions and stereotypes attached to them. However, the Guitar Center environment was terrible for testing the guitar because it was too loud to hear anything in there, the strings were gunked up because they never change them, and the guitars on the wall are all at their factory setup. Nevertheless, I love my LP!
You could have got a Dean with perfect strait Ebony fret board and super low action with Seymour Duncan custom pickups and tone pro hard ware with Grover tuners and your purchase wouldn't have supported communist China🤷🏻♀️ but I get it, a guitar speaks to you and feels right you get it, even if it's a brand new Epiphone. Not that there's anything wrong with an Epiphone guitar, aside from what I mentioned above but after Gibson sued Dean I started wondering where my money was going and with Gibson I just don't feel right supporting a company that produces sub par quality control for what their "luxury item life style" brand bull shit prices offer the customer.
Dean guitars on the other hand are made in my favorite factory, world guitar, look em up. World makes PRS, schecter, Dean, Have Hamer and many other big name brands that really demand high quality control far greater than Gibson and Epiphone, there are other brands that are made by world factory Indonesia and I'm sure most any guitar that's made in Indonesia is coming from world factory or Cort Indo. Dean also is using a factory in India that I'm really excited about because the quality of my Dean Cadillac 1980 series rivals the Dean select thoroughbred ocean burst I just got so I'm excited to see what comes next from these truly world class guitar factory ! NEVER been a better time to be a guitar player as the quality of the guitars being built is better than EVER!
I recently got an SG. At first I thought of course I’m going for a single coil fender, but after playing a player strat with a humbucker bridge I started to change my tune. Eventually I picked up the SG and played for hours. Never thought I would have went with a Gibson humbucker but I love that damn guitar
I have a traditional 2014, which is a 59. It was my dream guitar and after 9 years I’m still in love with it!
First guitar I ever fell for was a LP custom as it seemed to be the choice of so many bands in the 90s, and just looked so good! Got my bucket list LP Custom a little over a year ago and I love it more evert time I pick it up. Bonamassa did a great video years ago showing the versatility of a LP, that really got me thinking instead of just turning everything to 10.
I own a Les paul traditional pro V and i’ve only owned it for 3 weeks now. I love the 4 push pull knobs and weight relief, so it makes it versatile and comfortable. Additionally it has a satin finish and the neck feels incredible. Alongside my dsl 40, I get great tones (not just hard rock). I’m incredibly privileged, and I don’t regret spending that money.
Is it the wine red one? I got one of those, and I can hardly put it down.
2016 Goldtop Classic. Uncovered two-tone pickups. My dream guitar since I first saw Tom Scholz play one. Such a beautiful tone and iconic look. Could stare at it all day.
I have a 1975 Les Paul Deluxe Gold Top. Love it. When I first got it I was disappointed but after I had the bridge replaced it was as smooth as butter.
I currently have an Epi Les Paul Custom. It was the first guitar I bought with my own money and I loved it for a while. But I didn't play it much at one point, when I got my Jazzmaster over a year ago. Recently, I began to love it again by tuning the guitar down half a step and I've realize that my LP has to stay in E flat. It became my go-to guitar when I want to play in that tuning. Plus it's not as heavy as other Les Pauls that some of my friends have.
You have great tastes
"this guitar is NOT supposed to be a strat" --- that's it! I LOVE my Les Pauls (I own two recent Standards, one with p90's and one with humbuckers), and they continually inspire. I can get blues, jazz and garage tones out of them with no problem at all. If I had to ditch everything but one, I'd keep one of those. I ALSO love telecaster and jazzmasters -- and they are their own thing and have their own unique characteristics that make me want to get up and play every day. There can never be just one.
I have a Les Paul Trad Pro V. I've had for a year and a half, and I play it almost exclusively now. Great humbuckers, cool splits, and out of phase give me every tone I want. I play in church only, but jam with a couple 90's cover bands. It does everything.
I surprised myself by turning into a Les Paul guy. Love the scale length, radius, set necks, mahogany, maple top where applicable, but most of all I adore blending in the middle position. So much tone shaping control.
I remember this being an argument back in the 70s and 80s. Yeah, I’m old… But the truth is there’s room in the musical future for all the tones that come out of Strat, Tele’s and Yes, Les Pauls. Even in my own experience, about the time I think, I found the perfect tone, I change, guitars, single coil to hum bucker’s and realize I’m pretty moody, and will never be satisfied with just one tone.
Absolutely love my 2016 Studio faded T. The awesome sustain and beefy bridge tone with a nice warm neck pickup just fits a lot of the kind of music I like to play. Also the neck profile feels just right to me. Not for everyone but I love mine.
Stumbled across your profile today and had to subscribe after watching this video. From wharf you said sounds like you're around my age (33) as guitar hero 1-3 came out while I was in high school as well 😂. I'm a les Paul enthusiast myself. Though I do also have a Jackson RR for variety. Although I was a huge GnR and slash fan from the age of 8, I do hugely agree that he was the most recent of huge guitar names to revitalize its image - both in the late 80s when everyone was playing super strats, and again in the mid 2000s with velvet revolver and guitar hero both creating a resurgence in his relevance and popularity.
Can't wait to check out more of your videos.
My first actually good guitar was an epi lp standard, and i still have it
it's somewhat functional although the electronics are really tired and i ruined the bridge pickup trying to get the wax off
But it plays really nicely and when it decides to work it sounds godly
You could upgrade for not too much $ with a pre-wired replacement pots set. All you have to do is solder the pickups and the input jack. Its like having a new guitar, all the issues with the aged electronics are gone instantly. Or get the pre-wired pots set and take it to a guitar shop and have them put it in.
@@thomasayresol yea, just can't afford that rn lol
Personally, I LOVE a good Les Paul. During the 60 years I have played guitar I have owned numerous examples - the very first being a Gold-Top LP Deluxe (bought in 1975) and the last being a Custom Shop "Pearly Gates" Billy Gibbons model - wow, what a guitar!!!! Having said all that, I also feel a good Fender Strat is a great complimentary guitar and if I could only own 2 guitars these would be the two I would own. But, if I was only allowed one guitar - it would have to be the Strat - its flexibility is superb!!
LP was my 3rd guitar(2003). I still love it. Not the easiest to keep in tune but with a little love she keeps me interested. I don't use it much these days as I have given it to my son to practice and take lessons on (his choice over the strat I got him)
I'm 48, I've owned bunches of guitars, including PRSs, Strats, Teles, an Epiphone Casino, a Harmony Comet (really great fiddle btw). As far as Les Pauls I once owned an Epi LP Custom, and now I own a 2020 Gibson Les Paul Classic.... and I absolutely love it. When I play it, it feels like home, and it's my go to for playing live. Truthfully, I love all of my guitars.... they are all just tools. Depending on the sound I need, or the mood I'm in I'll grab the one I think fits the bill. All of them are a joy to play. I never understood hating on any specific instrument or even music or genre of music. I feel like we all miss out that way.
Part of the reason is because only the tribute models are anywhere close to accessible for lower-budget players unless they opt for an Epiphone which usually have really bad electronics in my experience (had to replace the pickups on my casino because they were way WAY too murky). With Fender they can get a reasonably priced strat, tele, or offset model for a similar price that actually looks like a genuine american-made guitar. While I don't mind the satin finish all that much, it does look different; also, the lp tributes lack the binding that the standards have, which really affects the vibe imo. I love my honey-burst tribute, but binding even just on the fretboard would make it look a million times better. Even just doing a fake binding finish on the maple cap would be acceptable. That and there's absolutely no reason for the LP jr.'s & specials to be 2 grand.
I have a Slash Appetite for Destruction Gibson Les Paul and it is my go-to personally. And the reason is I like heavy guitars. And it has a nice round sound, it is a full sound with great sustain. That is why I am a fan of the Les Paul as a guitar but maybe not Gibson as a company. I don’t like how they gave money to an antisemitic organization in 2020 that was rioting all summer. And the Gibson Garage, I visited it the summer of 2021 and the employees were absolutely rude and didn’t want to answer any questions to any of the customers there. So I love the guitars but not the company
What anti semitic organization?
They donated to BLM??? They're not anti semitic dude.
@@stevai6732 they are extremely antisemitic they put up “Jewish privilege” flyers in my area and threw bricks and rocks at me in my downtown area because I had a kippa and a tallis katan on and they burnt down our synagogue as well. If that isn’t antisemitic I donno what is
I’m with you 100%. I love my sunburst but I don’t love the company. I have been watching the culture at Gibson since it fell into Private Equity (PE) hands in the late 1960’s (I know Norlin was technically a conglomerate, but the thinking was very PE). An overdeveloped PE culture isn’t good for product quality (a discretionary cost, in PE terms), customer satisfaction (ditto) and company history (regarded as laughable by many PE firms, but not by customers of the product). PE firms (I was COO of one) are all about maximising growth. Nothing else matters. Not profits, growth as growth equals increased value of the asset and that increase in value will usually far exceed any earnings from profits (unless you own a bank or drug cartel…). But growth often comes at the expense of quality and customer satisfaction. Interestingly, a fantastic luthier I know who worked for Gibson for a few years said he was constantly accused of ‘playing’ by getting involved in fixing quality problems instead of producing products. He is the nicest guy, but I think the place nearly broke him.
Anti Semitic organization?
Yes.... 1976 deluxe.... used to have mini's, the pickup holes were routed out for reg HBs but pups not supported or fastened in there. i bought it 20 + years ago Pups were repalced, had a metal nut, modded with two coil tap toggles.... It is now a wonderful guitar with two unknown but wonderful pups, sperzel locking tuners, i use 9's
i have owned 3 Les Pauls, an Epiphone Adam Jones custom, an Epiphone Traditional Pro2 in wine red, that i sold to get a 2014 Gibson Les Paul Studio 120th anniversary. i've always preferred the 2 humbucker set up to a strat 3 single coil, plus my guitar hero Adam Jones has played a Les Paul for his entire career, so they're what i gravitate to
Les Pauls are very hit or miss. In the late 90s I bought a LP Classic that I ended up very frustrated with. It was very heavy and cumbersome and just didn’t have “it”. In 2002 Gibson released a new line of Les Pauls that went back to their roots. I went to about 10 different guitar stores trying different LP Standards until one day I fell in love. Besides being visually stunning, it had “it” in droves. I bought it and still have it to this day. I’ll put that guitar up against any custom shop LP I’ve ever tried. It’s that good. The Les Paul really is a guitar that is worth doing extensive shopping around for. Some are great, some not so much. Take your time till you find the one that just vibes with you.
Yea I don’t know about hot or miss but I had the opposite experience you had at least with standards n classic. My first Les Paul was a late 90s standard burst and it’s was great but got stolen . Then six months later I got another this time a Les Paul classic gold top just like slash played in 90s. That classic had the best feel and neck I’ve ever had in any guitar . Made me feel like a star!!
I'm still new to the guitar world. But I have seen this general sentiment a lot. If you get "the right" Les Paul it's amazing, but not all of them are. I have a prs McCarty 594. General consensus seems to be less of them have the "magic" of the perfect Les Paul, but also far less of the "hit or miss" aspect. High quality productions across the board. Friends of mine who have Les Pauls begrudgingly prefer my prs
I’ve got a 2014 LPM, some people don’t consider it a Les Paul but it sure looks and plays like one with me.
Swapped the Min-E tune out for Wilkinson’s, and now I have a weird Les Paul with a 50’s profile maple neck with ‘61 zebras.
As someone who loves hardcore, metalcore, emo and post hardcore, this thing is just monstrous and has some serious bite that I feel modern guitars might lack.
I own two Les Pauls, and they’re made for my hands. My #1 is a 2005 Les Paul standard and 50s neck. The pickup switch placement and the separate volume/tone controls are invaluable.
I’m 21 and I’ve had a Les Paul Classic since I was 18. Other guitarists give me shit for playing such and heavy guitar and “supporting Gibson” but for me, it’s just the perfect guitar. Everything about it from the pickups and switch layout to the body shape and tuners is just exactly what I want from a guitar.
There you go! It takes some guys years to discover what you did in a few short years. It's not the brand that matters, it's how it feels to you. Period. Proud of you for that
New Gibson (2019 forward) is amazing
The Strat has a more chimy very clear and thin sound. The Les Paul has a richer sound in the lows and less highs but you can adjust that. It also has many good advantages: 1) More sustain, if you bend or go get that high note, a lot of times the solos you hear from classic rock songs are played on Les Pauls which has a killer sustain (set neck instead of bolt on neck) 2) If you play a heavier rock style, with more gain, overdrive, the Les Paul will get that overdriven sound naturally from the pickups and amp. So then by adding a very transparent overdrive pedal, you will get a richer sound with a low or mid overdrive pedal, kind of like if you stack overdrive pedals. 3) Les Pauls are very underrated for their clean sound. A clean sound coming out of a humbucker guitar such as Les Pauls, ES-335, Casino, etc… is a killer sound for blues rock and other genres. You won’t get that Strat clean sound out of a Les Paul. And you wont get that Les Paul clean sound out of a Strat. Buy both
Or a HSS strat?
Yep. HSS strat why not. But a HSS strat is not a Les Paul. It doesnt have the sound, doesn’t have the Les Paul sustain. Get a single soil Strat. Then get a Les Paul
I currently own an epiphone LP studio (which was my first electric) and then a semihollow LP that i built from a kit. Its got a flamed maple veneer over a mahogany cap and body that i ended up staining green (dark brown on the sides and back with white binding on the front), gold hardware and a duesenberg tremola instead of the standard stopbar. That second guitar i built when i was 14, 6 years later i still absolutely love it to death
Yes, I own a 1981 Les Paul Heritage Series Standard 80 that I bought new; a beautiful flame top that weighs 10lbs. 13-1/2 ozs. but it sustains forever.
I grew up on pointy headstocks and tiger striped finishes. Les Pauls were dated and in the same class as Strats and Teles. Many years later, I still have some pointy headstock shredders, but I am totally in clove with the Les Paul and own several (Epiphones) and few other single cuts. The Les Paul (single cut) design will be eternal. It may rise and fall in popularity, but as in all things, old is new again at some point.
He just thinks it's cool to hate on older stuff
@@corybrown1450 It is. Even electricity has changed in our lifetimes.
@@johnwattdotca well you can hate on old stuff all you want but it doesn't make you any younger and that's from a 16 year old everything was made better before the music has been on a steep decline since the late 80s
@@johnwattdotca electricity hasn't changed in my lifetime as far as I'm aware since 2006 there is only been AC and DC electricity you would have to be pretty old to see the invention of alternating current
@@johnwattdotca I'm seeing is Jimi Hendrix is one of the few people you are subscribed to it is pretty clear you have a bias for strats he wasn't even the best strat player srv was leagues ahead
My #1 go to is the LP because of volume blending and the thickness of the neck. If you have long hands like me it’ll fit like a glove. The LP with a treble booster has no limits in versatility.
I have some pretty big hands too and man I tell ya the LP neck joint is still simply way too bulky. I got a Jackson super strat recently and it's a million times easier to play.
Maybe I'll try downtuning my LP
@@hunter00143 I tried playing a vintage tele with a very thin neck and it’s pretty smooth but I have problems with chords because there’s too much open space for my fingers when I grip the neck.
I have 3 in my collection. A 96 Gibson Studio in black, a Vintage copy and my preferred player is a 1989? Vester sunburst. The previous custodian installed a Kent Armstrong in the neck which offers a wide variety of woman.. I had a 77 gold top in the 80's on semi permanent loan and the Vester is very reminiscent.
hey mike love the vid. so yea i definitely see a resurgence. my 18 year old cousins are trying to bring back 80s metal and one of them doesn't listen to anything past 88. they're just 2 individuals who represent, to me, the pulse of the youth today (at least some of them). also yea it has its place everywhere, the warmth, and of course the excellent build quality, iconic, made in america etc.
I own a lot of Gibsons and love the tone and sustain. But i always come back to my Strat for two basic reasons. 1) the tummy and arm bevels on the body make the guitar integrate into your body and give a lot of comfort especially when playing long hours. 2) the larger variation of tones. I really do love using positions #2 & #4 on a Strat.
Same here. I got an ES 335 clone, and it is so uncomfortable compared to Strat-style bodies! I hate playing it, and my Les Paul with binding. They feel like acoustics (which l also hate to play).
Ah yes, positions 2 & 4. The ones Fender realized they HAD to have on the Strat to keep people from fleeing to Gibson for humbucking. So I like Les Pauls but they are better and more versatile with coil splits (purists are gagging right now), and I also have one with P90s because sometimes you just gotta have real single coil (btw the middle 'both' p/u switch position is humbucking like position 2 or 4 on a Strat). I like Strats but they are more versatile with the 5-way switch, instead of having only single coils and a 3-way (purists are gagging right now). Be honest everybody- purist or not, sometimes humbuckers sound like mud and sometimes single coils sound like a beehive. But in their elements each is beautiful and right. We should all play what sounds and feels good to each of us, and everybody else can STFU.
The only problems I ever had with LPs are ergonomic. They tend to be heavy, so when playing one standing up, I either get tension in my shoulder, or I start having muscle spasms in my back. When playing one sitting down, they have terrible balance. The "waist" is too close to the upper bout, instead of closer to the middle of the body, so the lower bout hangs off the other side of your leg, and it always feels like it's going to fall off my lap unless I counteract the weight by holding the neck down (not a problem if you play in the "traditional" seated position with the guitar on your left leg, but I could never get comfortable with that). Also, the neck is so close to my leg, it puts my wrist in an awkward position, making it uncomfortable to play chords (especially barre chords) higher up the neck. I've owned a number of Les Pauls (and Les Paul shaped guitars), but they always end up collecting dust in the rack, until I realize I haven't played it in a long time, and I end up selling it.
I don't hate LPs... I think they sound great and look beautiful, but I find Teles (I'm a Tele fanatic) and semi-hollow, 335-type guitars are more comfortable to play. I think you can get a Les Paul tone out of just about any guitar with PAF style humbuckers and some EQ tweaking, so I don't feel like I'm missing much.
I own two Les Pauls. Got a red Gibson LP Studio 16 years ago and 5 years later an ESP Eclipse with emg 81, 85 ebony fretboard in matte black. I habe played so much on both of them and I love the sounds. It's what I need. I own a fender strat with Texas specials a fanfret 7 string and some western guitars.
If I had to pick a new guitar it would be a prs because I don't have one. Other than that I'm more than happy with the les Pauls
Your example of how you got into les paul's is exactly how I got a love for them as well (although mines an old epiphone standard). While i'm nowhere near your level, it's great to hear that origin story play out. I know so many people who played Guitar Hero religiously but never picked up a guitar, and it's just a shame how many people missed out.
I’ve got a 2007 Studio! Honestly it wasn’t even Slash that turned me on to the design, it was Jimmy Page. I like teles and strats but I’ve always been more partial to the control layout of a Les Paul because of each pickup having a volume control. Rolling of the neck volume and turning up the bridge basically gives you an instant boost that you don’t need a pedal for and can control with your hands.
LP for R&B and Soul is seriously slept on. Why would you not want a warm full tone for that?
Probably its hard to get an older Gibson
great video, love your content. Question, what's your thoughts on the Boss Katana amps?
This made me LOL! Good job!
I’m a late millennial and started playing guitar because of Jimmy Page. I always thought it was silly to not give older Gibson players a chance. Slash, Page, Clapton, Beck, Allman, Trucks, B.B. King, et al. There are so many players that kids just write off lol.
I think the most important thing I’d say to people getting into Gibson styled guitars is to upgrade the pickups, especially if it’s a low or mid ranged guitar. The first thing companies skimp out on is the pickups and cheap humbuckers sound far worse than cheap single coils imo. If I were to buy an LP today, I’d go for an Epiphone LP and Seymour Duncan pickups.
They write them off? BB King? Too, too bad.
Who tf writtes off Trucks?
Lol......
1) Clapton is known for his strat
2) while BB King played a Gibson, he never played a Les Paul. He always played a Gibson S.
3) Derek Trucks played a Gibson SG, not a les Paul.
This video is about SPECIFICALLY, the Gibson Les Paul.
Oh.... and ZERO people "write off" these guitar greats
@@mikemclaughlin3306 Useless trivia, when Clapton had his big break with Blues Breakers that is widely considered the birth of the "British" tone, he was use a Les Paul and 45w Marshall combo amp. He used the same setup with Cream (he also used an SG). It wasn't until the 70's that he became associated with Strats.
@@MarcLaFleur and after all that, not only did he abandon that for the strat, he is still BEST KNOWN for the strat.
It might be more of a company thing right now. Fender does a great job reaching out to younger artists to promote their line of guitars (which are mostly single coils) and Gibson instead makes deals with past artists. If Gibson did a better job marketing (and maybe cheaper models) I could see a boom in Les Pauls + SG's for sure.
but then Gibson got K-ON and Bocchi The Rock with the main protags of each anime playing a Les Paul, I'm pretty young and that's how I got interested in Les Pauls in the first place
I have a Les Paul studio bourbon burst and it's a great sounding comfortable guitar I love it. I also have a martin acoustic. Two of the best guitars I've ever had
I love Les Pauls and I own six of them: an R9, a 1986 post-Norlin Standard flametop, a 1995 wine red Standard, a 1996 modded black Studio, a 2015 Studio Deluxe T flametop with coil splitting and a 1977 Ibanez LP Custom lawsuit era. Most of them have ‘57 Classics. I also play Carvin/Kiesels and Fender Strats. They’re all great guitars.
I just find that once you get used to the expressiveness of single coils, humbuckers really begin to sound and feel sludgy. Also, if you use the right kind of single coils, like stacked, active or with a silent system, a good boost pedal and amp, you can have the best of both worlds with a strat. You can get a powerful bridge sound, and also still have that strat scream to it, and the quack in positions 2 and 4.
yep
The Gibson Les Paul tribute that he's got in the video don't sound muddy ever !
I've found this to be somewhat true too, but if I'm using low-output humbuckers and readjust my amp and pedals to work with the humbuckers it tends to be more than fine.
Snobs... You guys have no idea how to make a guitar scream... It's not the guitar it's you!!!
I feel pretty sure that the LP will take over the place of the likes of ESs for jazz at some point in this century. The clean tone on the neck pickup is beautiful and they are just so playable, particularly for the customs.
I bought my first electric last year after playing acoustic for 25 years and it’s an Epiphone Les Paul Classic 2020 in worn purple burst. It’s gorgeous and it has the exact sound I’ve always loved and wanted to create. It’s heavy as heck but beauty is pain.
My first “proper” electric guitar is a 1997 Les Paul Studio Gem series with P90’s. Had it sinds 2000. Every time I pick that up to play, it feels like coming home. It just fits naturally in my hands, although I mainly play a telecaster nowadays.
I started playing strats in the 80s. I was a strat guy. About 12 years ago, I traded this hollowbody that did absolutely nothing for me, for a Les Paul that this guy loved, but it was just too heavy for him (he was getting older). I fully expected it to be my secondary guitar and that my strat would continue to be my go-to. I hardly ever play my strat anymore. The Les Paul is arm's length away from me all day long. Never enjoyed playing a guitar as much as I enjoy playing this Les Paul and I couldn't tell you exactly why, but it just does it for me.
My main qualms with a lot of Gibsons is that they're very fragile compared to other guitars. No other brand is as infamous for snapped headstocks than Gibsons because of the way they're designed, and Nitro finish is rather delicate and more prone to damage from its environment. I own a 2010 Explorer, and I just don't like taking it out anywhere because of the risk of damage over my other guitars. Its probably my favorite out of all my guitars to play, but I still think it suffers from compromising structural design flaws.
Yeah, I don’t drive my car anywhere in case I damage it. I just keep it in the garage all safe so I can stare at it 🙄
@@jimherleva4541 Because you can't play guitars in your house. Thats not allowed, ever.
I also sure like driving my nice new Mustang on construction sites and I especially like using the trunk to transport gravel.
I have a restomod customized bolt on 2011 Epiphone Les Paul Junior and I absolutely love it with a wicked metallic purple paint job and Seymour Duncan invader pickup
I have a 1976 les Paul custom and a 1972 les Paul gold top deluxe that has greened out. I got the gold in rural outback Queensland, Australia from a guy that didn’t own a phone or have the internet. I love that guitar. Still have it yo this day.
So, why exactly do people hate this guitar?
They say it’s more for the old heads and all but that’s not true because you can get great tone out of it with other stuff than just dad rock although I think dad rock sounds pretty good too ngl.
Usually because they can't afford one.
I don’t hate it, I just don’t really get it. I like the warmth but I have other guitars with the same dual humbucker tones, and they’re more pleasant to play. I’ve played a few Les Pauls and I just don’t connect with them like I do with other instruments 🤷♂️
@@Necropheliac fair
I feel like Les Paul’s are uncomfortable
I'm always amused when I see people who were born about a week ago taking about how nine days ago seems like ancient history. I've been playing guitar for over 45 years, and I've never heard any musician say they hate LP's. The worst thing I ever heard were the standard complaints about them being heavy. Who exactly are all these musicians who actually hate Les Paul's, now?
My brothers got me an 04 Studio for my 40th birthday 5 years ago. Love that thing, dropped some 36th ann Dmarz PAF in there. Fantastic
Nice playing. I myself use a Schecter LP copy (Solo 2 Supreme) and I love it.
In my opinion, the best, most beautiful guitar model of all time. It’s stood the test of time for a reason. Gotta love the versatility of tones on solely the instrument, and my god, THE BEEFYNESS
I have a Custom Shop ‘57 Goldtop. They’re the best guitars with the fattest necks. A good pair to that is a 1960 Les Paul Special Double Cut in TV Yellow. Great guitar designs.
I own Grassroots' Les Paul. I love it! My first guitar. I was going to buy a Start but when I took LP first time to my hands... :)
Your videos made me realize that I've been looking for a single coil tone out of humbuckers and vice versa and I think that's a massive revelation in my search for the perfect guitar
Oh man, for years I had a strat and was trying to make it sound as warm and fat as possible…. Then I realized…
I've had my Epiphone Les Paul Standard since the day I bought it in September 2008, 3 months after I stared playing again after a 2 year hiatus. It was my second guitar ever (and first I bought with money I saved up), and I still have it to this day. It's become such a sentimental guitar to me, but my main guitar is my MIA Strat with a DiMarzio HSS setup. I've always loved EVH, Slash, and Paul Gilbert, and wanted a vibrato bar.
However, I want to get back into the guitars I prefer the feel of a bit more. I have my eyes on a few different Gibson Les Pauls as well as some Explorers.
That sounds great!!!
I have 4 guitars, 2 of which are Les Pauls: an Ibanez RGIB21 baritone, a Jackson SLATXMG3-6 (a super Strat), an Epiphany Les Paul Standard (pickup swapped out for Seymour Duncan Nazgul/Sentient set), and a Murphy Lab Gibson Custom Shop Les Paul '59 Reissue.
My rule when buying guitars is that they must all serve a different purpose and sound. My favourite is the R9, but I love them all, because they can all allow me to play different kinds of music.
I have a mid-70's red sparkle Les Paul Deluxe . The original mini-humbuckers were microphonic so I replaced them with with P90 pickups as they are my favourite. I find them bitier, for lack of a better term, than humbuckers. I love that thing.
I've got a 2016 les paul traditional and I love it. I play metal and rock mostly and it works great. It sounds great playing anything from Pantera to B.B. King
I have owned a 77 Les Paul Custom since 1980. It's a maple top and maple fretboard. A very unusual beast. It stays in tune and plays like a dream. Has a very unique tone. It was leaning up against my JCM800 dual 4x12 stack when the Northridge earthquake hit and the amp fall down right on top of the LP. The only thing that happened to it was the plastic tip of the selector switch broke. That 3 piece neck got a lot of criticism but that headstock will NEVER break as a result of that design.