Face/Off: Gibson Les Paul v PRS 594
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- Опубліковано 20 сер 2024
- Welcome to ‘Face/Off’, a series that will see the world’s most iconic guitars battling for tonal supremacy against some of their more boutique competition.
All of these guitars boast a number of similarities and are viable alternatives to each other, so watch as Jack pits them against each in a battle royale!
Who wins? Well, that’s up to you!
Let us know your thoughts in the comments below….
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Coming from a person who wasn’t a PRS fan 1 year ago, the PRS 594 seems like the modern day holy grail guitar. Have an R8 & 594 and gotta say (even as a lifelong Gibs fanboy) the 594 is the better guitar - by a fair bit. The quality, resonance, tone, playability is like no guitar I’ve ever touched before. You can literally feel the 594 resonate as one piece through you when you strum it... it’s an amazing feeling ... like the guitar is alive.
Not to mention, with straighter headstock pull and locking tuners, the PRS will stay in tune better, and due to the smaller truss rod hole, thicker volute area, and slightly shallower headstock angle, the headstock is far less likely to "spontaneously detatch". ;)
Can it pull off hard rock like the cu24?
@@brandonanderson2066 Yngwie Malmsteen plays low output single coils through a Marshall amp. What's your point? Any guitar can pull off anything, just depends on what sound you're looking for. It's like the question..."will it do metal? " anything will do metal, just depends on the sound you want and equipment used. Metal is a genre....tone is subjective.
@@guidobandito4370 i didn't make any point! Just asked a question because I'm purchasing one or the other. No, not any guitar can do hard rock "like a custom 24" and I'm curious to know if the 594 can nail that sound or if the Custom would be my best bet. And yes, i do metal on my acoustic! Haha, i don't recommend it or single coils for somebody serious about playing that style🍻
Tricko, thank you for saying that! I have had some endless debates on those exact issues; Quality, Resonance, Tone, Playability & how you can Literally Feel the instrument when you strum it. I too was a fan of other guitars and then I got a used PRS SE to Frankenstein and it played better than the Gibson Studio I had. I have not Frankensteined the SE, sold the Gibson and got a SC 594. I'd rather have the inspiration that comes from playing the PRS than have a piece of nostalgia that just feels like dead pieces of wood glued together and I want to overhaul to get 'The Sound".
PRS stays “IN TUNE”!!!!! That’s why I own the 594! Plus so much more control & range with the PRS low turn pickups!
From a few decades of collecting I have both. A TH Les Paul, an 85 LP and 2 recent 594s. There's little comparison in terms of built quality and craftsmanship, the PRS wins easily. There are total differences within the model line of each. But they both sound great. A person just needs to decide is it worth it to carry the extra weight of the LP, not having coil taps, and putting up with tuning instability to have a LP. If not the PRS is the easy decision.
I have a Les Paul that I love and sounds immense, but over time I’ve definitely begun to favor PRS. They are just so much better in every way as far as playability and comfort. Tone is subjective. They don’t sound the same, but I love both of their tones for different reasons. At the end of the day I will always pick PRS.
Is the PRS less ‘tail heavy’ than the LP? I always find LPs want to slide off my leg!
@@kcd2120 The PRS perfectly made and balanced guitar - amazing.
Well just like everything else..there is always room for improvement..remember the les psul came out how many years ago ? Lol ! Didn't really change much if at all really
There’s just something about a nice Les Paul, love or hate Gibson, that body and tone is super rad....
I wanna like PRS but I haven’t found one that hits me like a Les Paul does
DividedByTime this. PRS always reminds me more of dentists and lawyers instead of Rock’n’Roll
@@johnora3857 So a Denist or Lawyer can't Rock and Roll? Idiotic, to say the least, and I'm neither!! PRS today beats Gibsons and Les Pauls hands down. Hell, they even sound as good and better than Holy Grail bursts from the 50'S!
The PRS instrument is more ‘refined’ and more ‘polite’. It’s gorgeous as most of them are and it’s beautiful sounding.
But sometimes...a person just wants a raw rock tone, a jangly Strat or a rough around the edges LP. That’s why I have a Strat, a LP, and a PRS. They all do different things. Each one has something that the other two don’t have and can’t exactly copy.
@G. V. Q - it's not the price, a PRS looks over-decorated and fussy.
The colors look a bit random and the tops look like a fancy coffee table.
A PRS that looks good to me is usually simpler or more classic.
@@YaYa-ke1zr PRS has become what Gibson used to be.
The 60th anniversary 1959 Gibson Les Paul is a particularly fine guitar. I bought a lefty from Peach recently.
The Gibson sounds awesome as usual. The PRS didn't get me until 6:34 . That sounded incredible to me. If I could afford it I would have them both!
The PRS sound is always a wider tonal range, so I don't know if you could dial in a more classic sound or if you would have to monkey with the pickups.
My initial impression was the same. It seemed that the Gibson's cleans are a bit sweeter. It would have been nice if Jack opened with the same clean licks on both guitars. Then l would definitely have been able to hear the differences/similarities.
I agree, from this point its stunning.
I own both and the PRS edges out the LP for me. Both are masterpieces and it came down to the PRS advancements and ease of play for me. The PRS is my go-to for that type of sound. My Tele rules for the ‘other tone’
depends on the Les Paul too though..they do vary
@@michaelcantinieri7890 yes they do and the problem is they can turn to lemons on you quickly. I’ve had several LP’s that were good for awhile then decided to literally fall apart. Neck stability got bad, trapezoids falling out, the nuts are terrible, etc. I just can’t trust them.
Both great guitars. Gibson has more grit, raw tone. Prs is more refined and modern. Can't go wrong with either.
Its really hard to beat the lp's tone.prs very nice but I dig the Gibson sound! Shoulda been a single-cut 594
There's more difference between individual 594s than between SC and DC, at least that's what I found when shopping for one. Being an LP guy I thought I was looking for a SC but the one that found me was a DC. In hindsight I'm glad it went that way, better ergonomics :)
That PRS sounded amazing. Loved your playing!
Jack’s repertoire is so impressive. He’s like Andy from PGS, but even better. Could listen all day.
I was in between a Gibson R9 vs. a PRS Artist Series 594. I went with the PRS. It's just nicer all the way around. Tones are close enough either way, but PRS is a bit more clear. The coil taps on the 594 are fantastic, and it gets closer to a single coil sound than any other split humbucker that I've heard. One of the things that kept me from the R9 was that I wanted a lighter one with a nice flame top. That was nearly impossible to find. Most were >8.5lbs and the flames could only be seen from one angle. When it comes to wood quality, the very best piece of wood coming out of the Gibson factory would be a reject at the PRS plant. PRS makes the body out of a SINGLE piece of mahogany.. and it's GOOD mahogany. Lightweight and resonant, exactly like the original Les Pauls. And don't even get me started on the tops... they are just a piece of art. To get something this nice from Gibson would quite literally cost $20k+.
In some cases I'd agree, but I've seen mind blowing tops on Gibsons and PRS 10 tops that are more like a 6. Historically, Gibson's biggest problem has always been proper bookmatching. It just wasn't important to them until the R9s came along and still isn't on USA Standards. My Modern LP Custom has a narrow flame heartwood maple top that has more movement than any top I've ever seen. My 594 is unique in that it's kind of halfway between a flame and quilt. Both are absolutely stunning. The LP has a one piece select figured mahogany back, the 594 has a SA ribbon mahogany one piece back. LP = 9.5lbs, 594 = 8.6lbs... don't really notice much difference tbh and I'm over 60. As far as unplugged resonance, they're both great, but you can feel more thru the neck of the LP than the 594... and that's with an unfinished solid rosewood neck on the 594. I'm not saying the 594 isn't super lively, it absolutely is, but my LP is even more so. Both are works of art, but my LP definitely has a warmer handcrafted feel to it :)
@@isikcan1530 You are correct. My bad for calling that point out.
@@isikcan1530 I just weighed it, and it's honestly a bit heavier than I thought. It came in at 8.24 lbs. (I thought it was closer to 8.0)
Regarding playing above the 14th fret, I know what you mean. I have a Gibson LP Studio Pro that I don't like playing high up because the frets feel so close together that the tips of my fingers hover above the fretboard. The 594 does feel better. Part of it might be fret shape, and part might be that the PRS is double cut and easier to access.
Personally, I generally gravitate more towards strats. If that's what you like, then the 594 still feels a bit tight compared to that. However, if you are comparing to another 25" PRS, I don't notice much difference between the scale length on my Artist 594 and my Indonesian SE semi-hollow.
One last point to note. The PRS pickups are thinner, more articulate, and about half the output of the modern burstbucker pros that come on a LP standard. I think the R9 pickups aren't quite as hot, but I'm not sure about that.
@@isikcan1530 Definitely! Take your time. I have had GAS over so many guitars in my life, and I've learned that if you wait a bit, you will likely pass that GAS! If you don't, then you've probably found a keeper! =D
Also, I stopped buying new a long time ago. The nature of buying used means I sort of have to wait for it, and if I do, I usually get a pretty good deal on it too!
@@isikcan1530 Man, I saw a used one @ GC for a pretty reasonable price a few months ago. It played so nice too. I don't know what it is about those Gold Tops, but yeah.... I had a hard time putting it back up on the rack! Good luck! :)
I have both and always end up picking up the Les Paul. Just sounds better!
Same
Bingo
It depends on what you want. The Les Paul is thicker and a bit punchier . The 594 has a easy neck to play on, headstock is much better especially on the g string. A but cleaner and chimy sound. Both look amazing
I played a 594 the other day, it is a really good prs from a tone perspective. I use to have a prs Brazilian and the 594 had more of the mojo in tone, however it is different sounding than a Gibson not better or worse, seems like prs is more focused when distorted. The les Paul has that iconic tone that is very hard to replicate.
As a PRS 594 owner, all I can say is the LP has a thiker warmer sound. The 594 is an amazingly versatile instrument and having one just makes me want to play more, its a great guitar to play and you can play jazz, blues and metal with the same guitar
The "thicker" sound just has to do with the pickups and action height
@@darcylea2993 how does action height affect tone?
@@prognacio adjust yours and find out.
Love them Both. Each are their own thing. Personally In a perfect World I would have both. Gibson sound Great, definitely Darker than the PRS but The PRS sounded Great as Well. Tuff decision for me.
Once, I would have agreed. I own a Les Paul 2016 and the quality sucks. Buzz on the 6th & 5th string 1st to 3rd fret, very flat 3rd string on 2nd fret, black paintwork along the neck with rubs off with a fingernail etc. The list goes on. I've taken it to two luthiers and neither could sort it. Personally, I simply don't find it worth the risk of spending £1000 plus for something which they clearly didn't give a shit about. Go straight for a PRS and forget the LP dream. It makes me sad but it's true.
@@hhpp6911 I had the same experience but the 2019 and newer Les Pauls are actually pretty good again. I traded in a couple 2016 era LP’s for a 2019 custom shop 59 and a 2019 standard and they are incredible instruments. With that said PRS’ core range guitars and above deliver incredible build quality and tone. The 594 is the obvious “LP” competitor but their 2020 / 2021 Studio is as good as any custom shop 59 in its bridge position any day!
@@mikewilkinson694 that's good to hear! Such a shame some just weren't worth it as I do love an LP. I have a Custom 24 now with OX4 pickups and it's easily full and mean enough. I got it for £1400 on ebay which is a steal for a core. Decently used but that's also ace as I don't need to worry about adding some character! Which I already have.
My 594 is very similar. Only my top finish is gloss. Gold tuner pegs and pickup pole peace’s with abalone birds inlays with mother of all pearls outline. Same as mine. My fretboard is bit more figured. Sounds very similar.
Ever since I bought my Core 10-Top Custom 24, my desires for a Gibson Les Paul have faded. I've always wanted a Gibson since I was 16, but could only afford two Epiphone Les Paul's back then for about $650 combined.I could've bought like 10 Epiphones for the price of the PRS, but the quality is simply unmatched from any other brand.
As a 594 owner, & former LP Custom owner I can say absolutely that the PRS 594 has greater playability! Chords are so much easier to fret. Note to note clarity is better. Stays in tune!!!!!
Pickups offer far more range & CONTROL!
I’ve bought and sold many PRS guitars. They look great, have a wonderful build, yet I could never find that magic “ secret sauce tone.” This video captures the difference between Gibson les Paul and a PRS really well. The Gibson definitely had a great tone. The PRS sounded sterile to me. Great playing 👍
I agree with you. I have several lespauls and gig alot.( no tuneing issues) One of my main guitars for years was a prs ce-24. Ive been mostly a lespaul guy for the last few years. Ive had Gibson copies over the years. Nothing beats the real thing. Recently I had a cramp in my shoulder area/ neck. So i got the prs back out. They play faster and the tone is good. It just isnt identifiable, like a strat, tele or lespaul, but maybe it dosnt have to be.
Including a 594 (core, not S2)? From what I've heard they really are in their own league.
@@kenfernsler6507 That being able to ID the guitar thing............I'm pretty sure absolutely no one cares other than guitar players. All the listener knows is "Does it sound good?". I actually find the distinctiveness of Strats, Teles, and LP's somewhat annoying. The guitar always imposes itself on your playing a bit more.
PRS for me, really wanted the les paul to be the best as i already a lovely PRS. Need to get one.
You can intonate the bridge and it will stay in tune...... The PRS CORE 594 🎉.
Your playing is exceptional. You sould be releasing solo albums (if you aren't already).
I own both, a 594 Wood Library and a Modern LP Custom. Between amp settings and tone/volume controls on the guitar I can make either one sound pretty much like the other. What's different is the overall feel and impression, with the technical edge going to the 594 and artistic edge to the LP. They're both flawless when it comes to craftsmanship, attention to detail, and the functional things like properly cut nuts and alignments. Honestly, for blues and classic rock you can't go wrong with either one.
That being said I'm not big on either of these looks wise. They got a little too green happy with that LP top, but the back color is just outstanding. The color on the 594 came out fleshy looking and I much prefer gloss over satin, especially with PRS. Both really nice guitars, just not my personal taste aesthetically :)
I agree on the sounds and such. There's a huge difference between gibson's quality control and PRS's though. At every price level. I've had 12 gibsons over the years, from standards down to fadeds, and even copies of the same model are a crapshoot.
Some of the PRS guitars are a bit stale and bland to me, and the 25" scale sounds like it's lost in the middle somewhere, but I've never seen any PRS suffer something that wasn't just due to cost level of the particular guitar.
Higher trim PRS and collings are probably a better comparison, though I think collings is a little better finished - they're also expensive, and they don't quite look and sound like les pauls unless you replace the hardware (their standard stuff like lollar imperials is a little cleaner and more polite. They're far better and more consistent than anything gibson makes, though - I like gibson's pickup offerings better for rock - a little more gritty when they break up).
Gibson shafted me very early on on an expensive '61 reissue SG - first gibson I owned. For some reason, I bought 11 more, and am now down to one guitar. I had to sell the SG (which I bought new) salvage on ebay, and the only thing i can say for it is that the value of the brand was so strong back then (early 2000s) that some guy gave me half of new going street price for the guitar despite the fact that it was a turd with a structural problem - he was happy just to have it).
I am a hobby scratch builder now (not a kit or parts builder) and i expect something to be wrong with a gibson guitar when I get one used. body hump, a strange neck profile at the corners on some guitars, etc). I don't buy many PRS, though the few that have passed through were OK except for cost level things (tuners on one S2 were no prize, but it's a cheap guitar - hard to fault it too much). Only the collings have been perfect - and all were used. If collings decided to make a dead copy of a les paul, it would be better than anything gibson has ever made, and I'm sure they'd get sued in a second as gibson's custom shop staff are probably well aware that they're making something subpar compared to what collings produces. Partially their fault, partially the fault of a business with a different philosophy.
@@daw162 It's 2 years later but why not... I still own both guitars. I've only owned 2 LPs, a limited edition hog top LP Standard, and the Modern LP Custom. Both were flawless by every reasonable standard of measure. The Custom is a work of art, they did such a phenomenal job of achieving that "hand made violin" vintage vibe in an LP Custom with modern features. Granted it's from the Custom shop, but it gives up nothing perfection wise to my 594. It's also a lot harder to make a flawless LP Custom than a 594 just because of the processes involved. If I could only keep one, it would be the LP Custom.
Sound wise I don't know what people mean when they say PRS are lifeless, or bland. The 594 has the same scale length as the LP. Set up and played the same way, most couldn't pick out which was which in a blind test. The pickups on both measure pretty close to 8k, so all else being equal, you wouldn't expect much difference. I think the life of any guitar comes from the player, not the skills per se, but from said guitar inspiring the player to want to bring it to life. Any well designed, well built guitar with a good setup is going to sound great in the right hands. Carlos Santana plays PRS, I've never heard anyone accuse him or his guitar of sounding "bland".
I looked at Collings, both acoustics and electrics. I don't doubt their quality, design, and craftsmanship, they just didn't resonate with me. Part of it is, even if you make a copy that's better than the original, it's still a copy and I hate rewarding creative laziness. Also, how "better" does a guitar have to be? It's not like there's some night and day quality difference between PRS core, or Gibson Custom shop, and Collings. Collings may have a slight edge on consistency, but they should as they're not producing anywhere near the same volume of guitars. Collings might make a perfect guitar, but there's nothing about them that inspires me... and inspiration is everything when it comes to art. :)
Have them both .
594 is modern classic as old classic
Les Paul.
Both guitars belong in that color box.
I’ve never seen one of your videos until now and almost clicked off at the intro, but I’m glad I stuck with it. I’m blown away by the playing on the les paul. very musical style on top of great technique.
Both are great, but I favor the PRS 594.
Gibson shat all over the PRS for me. Both great sounding but so much lovely warmth from that Les Paul! Beautiful playing as always and very comprehensive playing on all the pickups! Would love to know the weight differences and how they sit with a strap etc...all interesting info for live players :)
Jake Rommer I’m with you on this. The les Paul sounds stunning.
Wow awesome playing. So cool licks and rythym:)) like always on peach guitars :)
Apples and Oranges. Love em both. Two great guitars.
Beautiful playing ! I own the SC 594 and love it!
This is a good format...i took decent headphones for this comparison and for me Gibson sounded better but i think because Jack was more connected with that guitar and that came through with his playing. That being said, i am sure PRS is a better guitar in terms of build, tuning stability, intonation, maybe even pickups etc, but here it is the player that makes a difference with his feel.
I was just deciding between them ! This video came from heaven.
And? ;)
@@klontart well.. it's going to be the PRS. Even though this demo goes to the les paul to my ears
@@aapddd keep in mind this is a wood library PRS so its going to be closer to the same price of the 60th anniversay Gibson. Maybe 5-- 6k while the Gibson is 6.5k in the USA. I played 4 of the 60th anniversay and each one felt a bit different and tonally as well. You just have to play them before you buy them IMO.
Ute Castronoova I wonder if PRS guitars are less different?
I would put Gibson or Lollar pickups or Fishmans in a PRS. Best of both worlds.
PRS is definitely ahead on this one, easy win. PRS Sounds better, has more versatility, better qc and overall quality.
Great video👍🏻👍🏻 both guitars are great, ears and heart tug towards the Les Paul. 👂
Love les Paul’s but I’d take the Prs.
I don’t own a Les Paul, but I really like the sound of it over the PRS. Just purchased a mint condition 2017 Gibson SG T back in Sept of last year. My first Gibson. Really like it. I just don’t care for the ergonomics of a Les Paul. But I do appreciate the sound of a good one.. Like the feel of a PRS but not sure of the tone. I own a PRS SE custom 24. My SG kills it in the tone Department.
I have both and the best way I can describe it is they are both equally amazing in their own distinctive way. The Gibson has that "sound." It's just amazing, but the PRS has what I would say a "modern take" on the classic PAF tone. Also it has the added coil splitting which sets it apart as well and is great to have. As for playability, truthfully, I don't find them to be that much different. Flip a coin, you can't lose.
Would be thrilled to have either. They both sound inspiring to me.
I'm 60 years old, I've been playing guitar since I was 7. I can't say how many guitars I've owned in my life, but a lot. The PRS 594 has come full circle. Crazy guitar! It's luxurious, beautiful to look at, to touch, when you play it... it's a real pleasure. You can play everything with it, you can even play in the church choir…😜😂😂
Prs are so well made. Great quality woods and materials. Awesome finishes and a real upper market feel. But the Gibson Les Paul Just has ‘It’. That look and that tone - it’s that simple.
Agreed
Ugh. Nailed it
totally agreed..
This is the thing Paul Reed Smith loves the best. In order to have any sort of comparison at all you have to go into Gibson's custom shop and search out the very best they are capable of producing in order to compete with an every day average nothing special assembly line guitar coming off the line in Maryland. And that is the difference between Gibson and Paul Reed Smith
This is a wood library and not a standard production model, and the Gibson still sounds better.
Preach
@@leedemkiw6085 wood library is just like getting a standard with a plus top. It’s still made on their normal production line.
@@leedemkiw6085 Assembly lying guitar. Wood library just means that it's got a nice flame top on it and most likely a flame on the neck. It's still an assembly line guitar. It's not custom shop. It's just an average everyday guitar with a particularly nice flame on the neck.
@@leedemkiw6085 Gibson's are overpriced guitars. Anyone who builds guitars can tell you that the Epiphones are actually built to higher QC standards than the factory Gibsons. I do repair work, we get a lot of Gibson's in the shop. Frets are everywhere, not seated properly, paint jobs have orange peel, just so much crap that PRS would never stand for. My PRS s2 satin guitars ($1500) blows away my coworkers $12k Gibson Les Paul. His buzzes all over the place and a shitty paint job.
The Les Paul just has a depth that not everyone hears. If you like perfectly a flat eq I could see going the PRS route but to me they sound colorless.
Yup
The PRS sounds like the better “all round” guitar but if you want the Les Paul thing then there’s only one choice.
Forget the guitars, can we trade hands?
Insane playing. Skillful yet tasteful.
I have an S2 594 and a Les Paul Classic. Think the LP has the better tone but idk man the PRS just feels so much more comfortable, its lighter, has a great sound also, I usually opt to play the S2 and probably will sell the LP.
Beautiful playing! As far as the sound goes, it was all about the Les Paul for me. That particular LP might be exceptionally good, but it really had a beautifully woody sound with a slight edge to it. In comparison the PRS sounded rather sterile, but it improved with more gain. Really though, I have to admit that PRS guitars have always come across that way to me. They’re beautiful instruments, but I just don’t understand the appeal soundwise. I wish I understood why because they appear to be so well made.
PRS McCarthy is clearly intended to be a Les Paul with some "improvements", but, since it's another project, some of these improvements can be issues to some players (that's why the inverted commas).
I guess a Les Paul guy should try the McCarthy in order to know it and conclude if this "evolution" is for him.
IMO, I love the classic Les Paul doing the LP sound and I prefer the classic PRS (Custom 24) to get another sound.
Just get one of each and you'll be fine, haha!
Edit: by the way, there's a pretty cool video by Tim Pierce comparing a PRS with an authentic 1959 Gibson LP.
As a PRS guy, I have to say I prefer the PRS but not by much. That Lester sounds damn nice. I always get the feeling from PRSi that they have a brightness that rings for me. But thank goodness others prefer the Gibby. If everyone liked the same thing, the market would be a dreary thing.
I must confess I love PRS, and have got two, I like the tone of the Les Paul and would happily have this one, but the PRS just cuts through so well, stunning tone and I need a 594 badly.
The thing i notice with PRS guitars is that they have a very refined sound, kinda bright, especially on the high notes which really make em stand out, but a good Les Paul just has such an airy and bloomy neck pick up. Idk. They’re both quite similar but quite different. Love them both really
That's a great description of something you can't really put your finger on. I own both and there are subtle differences but nothing that makes one "better" than the other. My LP is a Modern Custom, but still a Custom Shop Les Paul so basically the same comparison. The 58/15LTs on my 594 are 7.8k and Custom Buckers on my LP are 8k for both the neck and bridge, so really close pickup wise :)
I want to see a face off against the core 594 and S2. I'm very impressed with the 594's tone, and I'm confident it plays more freely than the Gibson while keeping better tuning. As a broke boy though...I can't afford either.
McCarty 594 will smoke any guitar. Prs all the way.
The PRS is definitely better made and the quality is better, but the Les Paul is Classic . It would be nice to have both
Gotta say it’s not the guitars that sound good here, it’s just Jack’s insane levels of skill
Gary Moore...doesn't play a PRS 😊
@@michaelcantinieri7890It's the guitarist not the guitar
Here's my take, both sound incredible. :) Find a way to get both and you will cherish them forever.
Hands down the PRS
For me, among big guitar brands (Fender, Gibson, Ibanez, Charvel, Musicman, ESP, Suhr…) PRS is the least appealing. They sound alright, but don’t feel good in my hands, I have tried at least 5 10 tops and all the same. More importantly, I just don’t think they look that good. They do use good materials though. Really hope Gibson can use that level of material and details on their standard guitars and sell them at PRS price. Again, just my personal opinion.
I usually say that nothing beats a lightly over driven bridge pickup on an LP, but this PRS 594 gets pretty close.
I love the PRS but that neck pickup tone from the LP has THE sound. Some of that woody tone that makes me think of Duane Allman soloing live on 'Not My Cross to Bear'. Holy grail LP sound. The PRS is oh so close. Guess I have to own them both!!
great playing and nice demo!!!! I have both and find that the LP has greater strengths depending on the vintage, but it also greater weaknesses like tuning instability. I've also found that my favorite Les Pauls always weigh a friggin' ton. Nine, ten pounds. The PRS is more comfortable and lighter on the shoulder.
Les Paul every time. To me, recorded tones are far more important than fancy woods and build quality.
Solo I like the Les Paul, but in a band situation they're really close, but that PRS will just cut through the mix better.
Swap pickups and see what happens? I think the pickup swap would be 80% of the sound if not more than that since they are close to the same type of build. PRS detail with Les Paul tone, and it depends on what les paul you are going to take the pickups from using 57s, Burstbuckers 1,2,3, burst bucker pros, custom buckers etc.
I have an artist series 594 and it was close to perfect but the nut was a little narrower than the neck and fretboard. Seemed a little weird. The nut functions perfectly and no string hang ups in the slightest but if you look and feel the nut is seems like if should have been done better. The guitar is so great I overlooked that. Also the added wings on the head stock are not matched very well. It's a rosewood neck so maybe it's harder to match the wood?
My les paul has the narrowest fretboard out of 23 electric guitars I have. It's a limited edition 60's midnight manhattan with burst bucker pros and ebony fretboard. After a great set up from a great luthier the gibson functions perfectly, but sitting and playing is not as natural for it's shape.
Both great. These are two of my keepers.
You have to play the single cut 594 to compare correctly. Double cut prs sound much different than the single cut. I have owned 2 custom 24s and they have more open sound than a les paul but not that thick les Paul tone. For me its no contest between them Gibson wins. I played a 594 singlecut and it was very very close to a les paul. I also played 4 of the 60th anniversay les pauls and each one was different. Cant say i would spend 6.5k on one as i am happy with my standard 60s les paul for now.
At times I like each one better than the other, but overall I prefer the Les Paul. That PRS is gorgeous though! Monster guitar playing as always.
They are VERY different!! LP generally sounded better but I suspect that difference is in amp settings, ie different amp settings for PRS would be better. PRS has more clarity on overdrive sounds but weaker on cleaner tones
Outstanding thx. Just bought a 594.
Glad you enjoyed it 👍🏻
While there are plenty of reasons you might want to do a face-off between Gibson and PRS, I am not sure I would have picked these two as comparable models.
Neck pickup on the PRS is fire.
The PRS hands down in every way better than the Les Pauls !!!
Best comparison demo on these 2 guitars hands down. So many memories with the LP’s, think jimmy page on “song remains the same” concert movie, but I have to give it to PRS, clarity, focus and playability, you really want both if you can swing it !
Well I'm looking for my first electric. That PRS sure is pretty. And I hear it's well made with absolute quality control. It just doesn't capture that certain sound the Gibson has. To my ears it's more of a clean studio sound. The Gibson has a growl that I can't put into words being an inexperienced player. I like that growl. I understand Gibson had some issues with policy and production in the last few years. But that there's a new sheriff in town and they are back. I hope so. I would pick the Paul. But anyone would be lucky to own that PRS.
I prefer the sound of the PRS, the LP was a bit too trebly for my taste. Would have liked to see a comparison of the LP with the singlecut 594 though.
I have a 594 Hollowbody II. You can have it when you pry it from my cold dead fingers. Incredible guitar.
The PRS for me. I like the tone and versatility, but your playing definitely shines through both. Great demo.
The player makes the total difference. He knew how to extract the best of the Les Paul. I own a PRS Mccarty with 58/15 pickups, it’s awesome, sounds like a Les Paul. But Les Paul is Les Paul.
Such great playing as always. I'm lucky enough to own a modern eagle and a custom shop les paul. I actively want to like the prs more than the les paul but there's no denying my ears prefer the gibson. Same applies to this video. I did think the neck pickup on the 549 sounded pretty sweet though.
Great playing. I think i preferred the tone of the Les Paul, but would probably buy the PRS S2 594 as opposed to either.
PRS all Day, no doubt in my mind!
Nice review but one thing: PRS doesn’t use coil taps, they use coil splitting. Two different things.
Transients are much louder on the PRS giving it a sense of attack and clarity. A compressor with low ratio and fast attack would get it sounding closer to the LP.
That's the greenest Les Paul I've ever seen. Nevertheless, it wins hands down for me. Saw another video with a gorgeous flame top Les Paul and a single cut 594. Les Paul won again...and it was lighter. Thanks for giving the rig specs. That's important. I don't know what the price difference is, but I'd pay it if it.
Both great sounding guitars. I've traded a few reissue Les Paul's for high end PRS's but after a time traded back to a Les Paul........LP's have longevity for good reason!
I'm liking the 594 and that may be in the near future. Just ordered a S2 35th anniv Custom 24 and waiting for that to arrive.
For more direct comparison I would use PRS Single Cut 594
The question is not which one sounds better but which one actually sounds the most like a vintage les paul . PRS pickups are a different beast then a gibson pickup even the 57/08 58/15 and 59/09 which are Prs most vintage like pickups still sooind somewhat modern and quite different from a vintage 57 58 or 59 gibson pickup.
Super sweet playin👍. I Almost forget that the guitars are being compared ☺️
PRS are better made and easier to play but Gibson have the sound. This is the dilemma hitting every guitarist trying them both out. If you play them to a non guitarist they will choose the Gibson, purely on sound, as that is what they are most used to hearing on record.
Les Paul has a depth in its tone .. sounded bigger and warmer
Likely because the body is thicker. The PRS 594 single-cut version is thick like the Les Paul and will most likely give you that warmth. Check it out!
You really should try playing one. The McCarty is very versatile with tones. It can go from one of the warmest guitars youll ever hear to Strat like in a minute. Although he did'nt really deep dive into it's warmth in this video, trust me when I say it's very capable of a very thick warm sound on the neck, then transitions quickly when you split the coils.
Loved both for different reasons a think the 594 probably will fit better in a band context
Because it’s more focused but that les Paul what a sound !!!!! For someone that play with a small band and don’t have a lot going on in that mix or to play by it self OMG 😱 that Gibson rules big time but I wold get both for different purposes this is my 2 cents 😂😂😂
I think they both sound great! I have a Les Paul and a 594... Gibson for me please...
Truth, you need both. And I love my PRS!
Sweet Jesus that’s good playing 👍
In your hands, both sound remarkable. You can obviously do more with PRS, but it is not a Les Paul. I pick Les Paul for its unique tonal timbre!
The Gibson is iconic since the 50s and the sounds of so many songs from guitar heros are in our heads. Its very hard for a company to come on the scene in the 80s and compete but PRS does. I have an R& gold top with a Brazilian fret board and it is the most amazing LP I have ever played. I also have a 594 and it is perfect. I feel it covers all the shortcomings from yesteryear and is more dynamic in some ways. It will never be a LP and a LP will never be it. But it will pull anything off you want, especially with the coil taps.
Very useful video. I love them both. If i was playing blues, I’d prefer the LP. It sounds just like I want a great single cut guitar to sound. However, the PRS might be easier to use in a cover band - it sounds very versatile. Brighter for sure, but still with a very vintage type tone.
Great face off. Two of my favorite axes. The random elk skull... +1
After writing that last comment, I saw a Tim Pierce video comparing a 594 single cut with two vintage Les Pauls ('61 Burst ands '57 Gold Top) The 594 sounded better than both of the old ones. So now I'm wondering how the Gibson from your video would compare to a vintage Les Paul. I'm sure you've got closets full of them,,,right?