The Electric Guitar I DON'T Recommend To Complete Beginners
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- Опубліковано 22 тра 2019
- The #1 electric guitar shape to avoid as a complete beginner.
In this video I share some of my experiences from my teaching days and can hopefully help you think about the issues that can occur from buying a guitar in the style of one of the most iconic guitars of all time!
As always PLEASE click on my live chat button via my website at www.rguitars.co.uk for advice most hours most days. You will be amazed how often I am available (sad but true).
Just to clarify! I "picked" on the Les Paul because in my experience its one of THE most commonly purchased guitars for beginners. As the video explains, once they begin playing they THEN realize the issues that come with such an instrument. I am sure there are many many hundreds of thousands of people that started on and loved their Les Paul.... That is not the point of the video. The point of the video is to provide my experiences to help beginners be aware of the pros and cons of different guitars.
Lets use an analogy. IF I was to begin playing golf, I may want a set of gold clubs like my idol .... lets say Tiger Woods. His golf clubs would be completely inappropriate for me. It doesn't mean however that I couldn't learn to play with them and simply work around / live with the inconveniences until I become a better player.
IF however someone was around to say "hey, you don't have to have that - you can have this - and you may find its more comfortable and more enjoyable for you in the short term" you may appreciate the help.
Lets remember there is no one universal truth - We all have views and opinions and my opinion is based on at least 10 years teaching maybe 30 people a week. You get to meet a lot of people, get a lot of feedback and witness a lot of hurdles these people are overcoming. So those experiences are now being shared with you.
Love and peace and all that! xxx
I bought that Love Rock. It's amazing but I agree, not as good as a beginners guitar. Thanks, Richard.
If WEIGHT isn't an Issue for you, then buy the LP STYLE GUITAR and NOT the STRAT STYLE. The reason being the LP STYLE has the SHORTER SCALE LENGTH, which in turn makes it Easier to Play CHORDS and BEND STINGS. LP STYLE guitars can be as LIGHT as STRATS if you buy CAREFULLY. THINK EASTMAN among other Brands if you can't stretch to the 'REAL THING'😂😂😂.
I’m nearly 60 and have been playing on and off since I was 15. I’m still crap but this is my favourite guitar channel. I so wish I’d been given this advice when I first started in 1978. My first two guitars were LP copies.
Oh thats SO kind. Thank you
Agree with everything you have said Richard but personally I would choose a T style Thinline guitar which combines simplicity with an unplugged acoustic resonance and volume that makes it great for practice when the rest of the house are asleep :-). I would never turn down the other two given a chance/choice although the S would just edge it for me.
I'm "Les Paul for life" kinda guy, but looking back, I would probably be better off if I started out on something like Pacifica 311H, single + humb are more versatile, it has more ergonomic, comfortable shape.
Love tuning in to your videos Richy 😁 you got the love and feel of guitars in your blood, keep up the great work. I totally agree with you over the cons of the LP especially if you go from acoustic to lecky LP 1st which is suicide & sadness ... but then you discover the the 335 style lecky guitar like your review of the Vintage vsa 500 ( which was brilliant by the way ... beautiful in Black for 380 quid a steel .
I found this helpful. Thank you for sharing.
my first electric guitar was a semi hollow with coil tap humbuckers. For beginners i think the most important thing is to get something that is comfortable to play. Weight and its distribution is important but also I would avoid U-shaped neck. Look for a relatively flat fret board with a large radius. Fret board width is also important, you dont want something with strings too close together or so far apart that the high e slips of the frets.
Love your videos mate always helpful. I still prefer my Epiphone Les Paul standard as I just couldn't get on with the strat style I originally had. Though it was a cheap one .
I needed this video! I'm just beginning to learn at 50. So, being retired and not dead I purchased a knock off of each not having any friends to point me in any one direction. My Les Paul style is a Leo James. I can hear it's good qualities. I'm simply not experienced enough to bring them out yet. I also have been practicing simple cords, and not liking the tones coming out. Now I have a much better feel of what's going on. Each guitar is unique for sure. Thanks
I bought a Leo Jaymes also.
I'm 57, been pickin for a few yrs, nothing special, but I've picked up so much more since purchasing it.
Have fun, that's all that matters
Richard, the solution to your problem is behind you!
An es 339 style semi hollow body. No weight issues. Humbuckers, with splitting. Warm fat tone, playability, versatility.
Think Gibson& Epiphone- though you're not keen on big buck marketing brands. Perhaps d' Angelico or twist the arms of Eastman. Perhaps you could talk your friends from Northamptonshire to building you some. You managed to make them change to a 45 mm nut on acoustics.
Good luck anyhow. You deserve it. P
Thank you that helped me out alot,
Great advice... also with the LP style across the left knee it can cause back and neck discomfort/problems because the body frame is twisted muscles are stretched. Moesro with the beginner additionally leaning over the guitars as they learn to make chord placements.
Hi Richard, the simple fix for the Les Paul slip is a strap. I use a strap even when I'm sitting down. I am self-taught but naturally play it on the left leg. I must be a good guitar teacher lol. I did learn on a Strat but I never really liked them, even though I own a 35 year US Strat. Harley Benton does a great range of guitars with coil taps. I wonder if a Gretsch center block Streamliner would be a good guitar to begin with. Half electric and half acoustic with a sparkly sound. I only came late to Gretsch because they were unaffordable in my day.
I learnt on a Tanglewood Les Paul Copy
I'm showing my age here , my first playable guitar I started with was a Korean made Satellite LP Custom copy , complete with wonky inlays & a bolt on neck . It's in my loft in bits . Weird thing is the bridge is actually a decent ABR-1 copy with the retaining wire ..
I always loved the Les Paul, both the look and the sound so I've got myself one of those japanese tokai's. As you say, the guitar has it's issues as any other guitar. When i played it at first, i felt like it was all but indulgent with my current right hand technique. I was kinda unconfortable but as the days passed, i could realise that the physical design of the guitar has forced me to play in a different way. When i came back for my strat bridge, this new technique adapted perfectly to the ST flat body and low bridge. I watch myself in a recording and saw my hand going smoother with more precise and "professional" kind of move. I think the lesson was that if you got the chance, you may want to try as different guitar as you can so it can't provide you different feedback of your own playing. I love my Tokai and from all the guitars i've played, it's the one that has the sound that i like, but i gotta admit it's not the most confortable guitar at all. In fact i've hear so many times people claiming they don't use Les Paul guitar types due to this uncomfortable and different feeling. I guess that if you get used so deep to a kind of things it may be pretty difficult to adapt to other different things, and above all of that...the personal taste of what someone look for on his instrument.
Great video, i'll subscribe for more ;)
I love "the big full sound" it's the sound I always wanted to hear my guitar make, and wasn't happy until I got one. At one point I did get a t-style, whilst I love listening to the rawness of these, in playing I found the single coil sound just too sharp for my ears - it hurt (still does actually, ALWAYS have to use ear plugs if I'm jamming with a single coil player). Now after 25+ years of playing I'm only just starting to get into S style guitars - even then, I'm choosing my pickups very carefully!
Wish i had seen this before i bought my epi LP when i first started as i have to agree with your comments on weight, positioning, reason for purchase etc. Re-positioning to my left knee made a big differnce esp with my fretting hand. Also dont like the chord sound and often revert to my acoustic for this. May consider getting a coil split on one of the pups? Very much liked your vids on theory and blues which have really improved my understanding and playing. Many thanks.
Really enjoyed the video. Guess is doesn't really apply to me as I've been playing quite a while and absolutely love my Les Paul (perversely, I even like the weight of it) but your perspective was interesting and the presentation of your thoughts and views very engaging. Ended up watching all (just shy of) fifteen minutes of it despite not actually intending to watch any more than a couple of minutes I thought it would take to confirm that the guitar you wouldn't recommend was a Les Paul style body. So an enjoyable quarter of an hour's distraction. I even found myself briefly wondering how I could maybe sneak a Strat style guitar home without my wife noticing 😆
Start on a guitar that has 6 strings.
@richards guitars
Such a useful video - I indeed "burnt" - Bought a semi hollow guitar (vintage brand) which sounds good but I couldn't find a good posture.
I was always strangling how to sit with it, my back was hurt because of it. eventually I ended up going back to the store and just trying to find first, a guitar that would sits comfortably on my lap, than I looked up for playability comforts, and last - how it sounds.
So I ended up getting a tele style which I cant stop playing and learning it.
This video would have saved me so much time and pain .
I find all the Gibson designs to be awkwardly balanced or shaped;, LP is back heavy, SG is neck heavy, 335 is just awkward, all the jazzboxes moreso. Less of an issue when you're stood up though. At least they don't make the pick-ups to original PAF factory spec, loud as hell whilst being extremely treble-y.
That said my favourite guitar is my epi Les Paul 56' Goldtop with p90's and 12 strings lol, so pay no attention to me.
I find the explorer, rd, and firebird comfortable...agreed to the rest.
I find jazzboxes and the 335 very conviniend to play. And my most loved electric is a telemaster.
Thank you Richard that was invaluable, and kind of ironic as i mention in in your comments on your comparison with the Vintage V Gibson , that i rush over to ebay only to find no left handed ones , you have just save me further pain by discouraging me , as a beginner , not go for such a larger heavier style , and go for the pure electric type, which is just as well ebay could not get me the lefthand version ;-) i am still unsure between the semi acoustic verses the Stratocaster style ?!
The thing I would say is if you pick a style you like you are more likely to pick it up and play it. I agree with the comfort aspect but I find the thinner sound of singles pups (and 50 cycle hum) can be as off putting!
Going "off piste" with my comment here (sort of) but I had a deep bowl Ovation which was a real beauty but I had to sell because of it "submerging" (slipping to the horizontal) all the time. Even Glen Campbell himself had the same trouble with deep bowls as you can see in UA-cam videos. My point is that playability is fundamental to your enjoyment so a place like Richard's, where you can try out without hassle, is a godsend.
Started on an SG and attained a Global Les Paul soon after (miss that one a lot). I'm a big guy so I tend to go between the legs or on the left. The right leg has always felt very uncomfortable to me.
I started playing a year ago and started on a Gibson LP Classic awesome guitar have a few of them now. Shorter scale length takes 9 and 10 gauge string, stunning neck.Here’s one though not to start on a Duesenberg TV now that’s not a beginner guitar.
I can't play an LP with 9's ! I usually use 10's on Fenders too . In the early years of my playing I only had one or two guitars ,a Gibson & an Epiphone , same scale length ..I used to visit all the guitar shops & pick up packets of strings from the bargain basket (don't know if that's still a thing) , and try out 8's up to 11's , hybrids ,many different brands & types . Over the years I learned that Nickel 10's on a '52 reissue Tele is a bit of a fight , but imo it also influences your approach & ultimately contributes to your tone. 👍
Do you find those problems with the weight and the balance also with the Eastmans ab59s??? Since they weigh less
Coil splits turn a humbucker into a single coil Richard. Coil taps don’t. 😛
Advantages to learning on a Les Paul style guitar:
- shorter scale length makes chord stretches easier;
- shorter scale length reduces string tension for the same string gauge which makes fretting chords easier, string bends easier, etc.;
- no trem system to worry about (for tuning etc.) or distract you whilst you’re learning the basics. Also creates a stable platform for learning techniques like string bending (no fighting against trem movement as you bend strings);
- balances beautifully on a strap when standing up (absolutely will not neck dive like some other guitars, eg. SG or some semis).
For lower output and more chimey chord playing put a Les Paul in the middle position. 🤷🏼♂️ Tweak amp to taste.
Personally I would say buy the guitar that inspires you as a beginner. If that means the style of guitar your hero plays whether that’s a Strat or an LP or something else then just go for it - inspiration is the most important thing as a beginner.
All guitars have pros and cons for beginners or experienced players alike.
David Burke the second I said that I knew someone would pick up (pardon the pun) on my wording. The video is aimed at beginnners so trying to speak in a simple way. Regarding the rest of your comments of course we can talk about pros and cons but my video is purely talking about the obvious downsides for a beginner. So for example how many beginners starting out have you seen playing with a strap standing up? 😆. Same with string bending. I totally agree about the term and in fact I would recommend we block it off entirely for a total newbies. Also I was going to mention the tele for that reason but wanted to keep things simple. The strings bending concept is something that beginners really don’t have to be concerned about. Clearly there is no 1 answer but this is a video to help someone get started. Put 10 beginners in a room to learn their first chord and how many of them do you think will say the les Paul was the most comfortable to play or pleasant to listen to? From my experience less than those who appreciate the Strat
Richards Guitars The smiley face meant I knew I was being picky and it was sort of a jokey criticism over tap vs split. 😛
I usually play standing... have done pretty much from the beginning. I guess I bring that/my own bias to that kind of comment.
Another pro I just thought of about the Les Paul... it helps teach and develop good right hand damping technique because it’s just so necessary on that style of guitar to control the sustain and risk of dominance of the lower strings within chords and riffs. I get that that makes things a little more complicated, but sometimes it’s better to develop the good technique early rather than get into bad habits because things are too easy.
Just my opinion though, and based on the fact that I learned on LP style guitars, they’re still my absolute favourites (and I really still don’t like Strats... although I have a soft spot for Teles).
I might have some disagreements but still a good video. 😃
@ David Burke
- shorter scale length = easier chord stretches is simply *not that simple* . String spacing, radius/es in the case of compound, neck profile, nut width...
- lighter string gauge on Strats & Teles offsets shorter scale length for fretting or bending tension
- Teles have no vibrato bridge, and in 2019 numerous contemporary Strat designs come with fixed bridges if preferred.
- Les Pauls weight a figurative tonne, and are universally *sh1ttily balanced* (rubbish CofG) sitting or standing. Sitting they're a neck wrestling ill-sitting nightmare. Standing, the strap does help with reducing neck-wrestling to a push and shove match, but oh those poor intervertebral discs compressed by that 10+lb of imbalanced Mahogany log!
- In 2019 twin humbuckers - can be put into, are put into, and work just as well in other body styles. Coil split too.
- Why would you/anyone (even if they could afford to) buy an antique relatively rubbish handling envelope English Electric Lightning, Mirage III, or MiG-21 to learn to fly on regardless the way they look might "inspire" them as a know nothing neophyte? "Inspiration" isn't the most important thing as a beginner at anything. That's a romantic right brain dreamer notion. Inspiration might light the kindling, but it doesn't sustain the fire, especially if you pour water on it making the learning experience even harder than it already is or needs to be. That's setting up the average punter up for failure, certain to disaffect enthusiasm in all but the most persevering and determined.
- Pros and Cons. In the case of Les Pauls, for average sized humans it's predominantly cons. In the case of suitability for beginners, it's ALL cons.
I learned on a Squier Strat then switched to a Les Paul but that was just an accident,nice to have both if you can but most people go one way or the other as their main Guitar.As an aside that Tokai is drop dead gorgeous.
Ergonomics, yup: I play mostly sitting down and the Strat or the Jazzmaster especially are much more comfortable for me. Standing up with a Les Paul or PRS is another matter - and hence Gibson weight-relieving the LP...it's whatever suits you....
BTW Richard, humbuckers are coil split to produce single coil sound, whereas single coils are coil tapped to reduce output or change the sound 😊
Unfortunately Gibson insist on referring to splits as taps and for some reason the entire industry has just decided to go along with it.
Sorry, I stuck it out for the entire video. What did I win😎
Seriously, the entry level guitars today are just so much better than what I had back in the 70's. My first electric guitar was one of those tulip guitars. It never stayed in tune, the neck couldn't be adjusted, forget about intonation, and the fret ends were deadly assassins waiting to slice open a finger that got to close. You know, I loved that $29 Wonderland special guitar. The entry level Squires and Epiphones of today are so much better than that old tulip guitar.
Over all, I agree with the idea that a full size Les Paul style guitar that has all that weight isn't the best guitar for the beginner, but some of the entry Les Paul style guitars that are lighter would be ok.
When I saved up enough money, I ran out and bought a Hondo Strat copy. Like you said, no matter how I placed that guitar, it just fit. The best thing about the Hondo was, the fret ends were properly finished.
Sales of bandages plummeted😎
my first electric was a 1980s m.i.j fender strat with a khaler bridge still got it, 2nd was a m.i.j aria pro ii ta 30 still got it . had both for about 25 years got a few japanese guitars now . they are quality .
Hey cool to know you didn't rip the Kahler off it 👍
@@shaunw9270 yeah man its still on the guitar bit of a pain to intonate but would never replace it.
A good strap on a Les Paul makes all the aforementioned positioning problems go away.
Although I appreciate what you said about weight, I think I am on the side of those that love the deep sound of a Lespaul. From a beginners point of view, it forces you to build muscle memory and yet to be subtle in your playing to avoid blowing people’s head off. 😅 thanks for the vid.
Another advocate of the left leg method. I started doing this after reading an interview with Kirk Hammett in the early 2000's. He said years of playing on his right leg had caused issues with his back. It's interesting that so many don't adopt this approach.
Hi Richard is what is the best guitar to start with electric or acoustic
That's true. Singlecut with humbuckers it's not best guitar for chord play. And when i need, can easily did metal tone with my Strat + tube preamp and noisegate.
Well i have to agree with you, no matter that i love LP i have similar experience and beginners d have sometimes issues with LP, last time o got beautiful Hamer sort of LP with FR due to guitar was ment to be 1st electric for one kid and simply was to heavy etc so people have to sell it.
I had the opportunity to play a les paul for a weekend gig 50 years ago because my fender mustang broke. I hated the les paul. Couldn’t keep it in tune and hard to play for me. Bought a tele the following Monday that still plays well today. I did love the sound on the les paul though.
my first guitar was a les paul body purely for esthetics, had no idea how all the tone knobs worked and i couldn't get it to sound right no matter how much i fiddled with it, it was heavy and didn't fit well under the arm either. I ended up selling it and going for a telecaster which was so much easier to hold/understand as a beginner.
One other major problem with the LP is keeping the thing in tune. Usually the G string goes out if your really diggin in. The problem is with the head stock angle. Strats don't have that issue.
Sound advice I reckon. Again I wish there had been someone like you to advise me back ..long time ago 😉👍
Sorry Richard. I have a strat and a Epiphone LP and 9 times our old 10 when I am learning (using your tuition, of course. Which I think is as good as it gets and would like to congratulate you on your style) I pick up the LP. I think it is a much easier guitar to play. I very rarely muffle other strings when playing it whereas with the strat, possibly because of the shape of the neck, I oftentimes do. Don’t get me wrong I totally agree with you on the weight comparison and would think if I used the Epiphone on stage for any length of time I might develop a groove on my left shoulder but as I am old and, to be honest not very good, I don’t see that being a big concern. The other possibility is the setup of the guitars may be better on my LP rather than the strat. Just my opinion and I would finish by saying that I love them both. Thanks and keep up the good work in promoting British. Stay safe.
David West hi! How dare you! Disagree? Lol 😂. No I really appreciate your feedback and really useful for people reading the comments too: I would put this down to string spacing and possible that your les Paul does have a wider string spacing. Another REALLY beneficial thing for a beginner or anyone with fatter fingers . For this reason I have Gordon Smith guitars made for me with 45mm nut for players that would benefit: Always value and encourage real heart felt views. Thanks 🙏
Richard, you are absolutely right. It can be a nightmare playing a “Lee Powell” in a guitar shop where the only seat is one of those tall bar stools ( not your shop of course!). Trying to play something cool whilst stopping the guitar from sliding off your lap can destroy any rock and roll credibility you may still have. Ask me how I know!
Depends on the singlecut. Prs and ltd singlecuts are very very comfortable. My lp tokai is indeed heavy but theres a wide raange of singlecuts if you like the shape. Regarding the strat its a longer scale and thus harder for stretches and the floating trem for beginners .. i dunno. I’d recommend to start out choose a shape you like , something motivating to look at and THEN find a suitable model for that. There’s tons.
SUPER8 that was my point. My video was to help people who want a direct copy or an original version of this guitar. To help them understand the issues that come with it. Your views don’t change the reality of my experiences as a tutor. In over a decade teaching not a single one mentioned an issue stretching for notes on a Strat. Not a single one. Many many many complained of discomfort playing a les Paul hence the video to relay those experiences so people can make an informed decision
Richards Guitars might have misunderstood you. What i got from the video was don’t start on lp style guitar. And I remembered a friend (40’ish) learning on an ltd EC -1000 and finding my S styles hard to play :) Tried the LTD and was surprised how light, easy access.. thin neck profile... just easy really which got me thinking that might be ther "EC" in EC-1000
Can I butt in as a mediocre player (lefty) I was obsessed with an SG and spent a grand on one second hand. What a long neck! Not good for young starters surely? Is it me? Bloody hate it and pissed off that I bought it on a childish dream
@@seansweeney7643 i understand.. i have a hard time with SG's.. i play a lot sitting down and the position it rests in makes the neck slide too much to the left. Much like it happened to you i bought a guitar without trying it ( a prs torero.. incredible specs and beautiful ) but when i got it... it felt huge, never gelled with it. I now buy guitars i try .. lol
SUPER8 top man for replying, I won't do it again that's for sure! Cheers
First guitar was a bronze warlock that my parents got me. Despite its looks, it was actually very comfortable. Still have it actually.
I go with resting your guitar on the left leg when sitting, regardless of whether its a Strat or LP style of guitar, it seems so much more natural if you learn from the start. Classical and Flamenco players do, unless they are using these now popular rests with suction pads on!
Barry S yes that is the way you are supposed to. As well as being more like when you stand up it also stops you slouching and improves posture
My first guitar was sg 😎
Could someone please buy that Tokai so Richard can afford new pants? 😜
I bought it, it's lovely. Richards pants are lovely too.
Can the GS S style guitar be ordered with a stop tail bridge?
Brian Rocks yes no problem at all
I'm thinking about purchasing my first guitar soon
Nebby Noo112 click on my live chat at rguitars.co.uk for help and advice. Always happy to help
In my humble opinion, the best electric guitar to start learning on would be a Telecaster style guitar. One volume, one tone, two pick ups and one three way selector switch. Lovely tones and superbly comfortable to hold. Plenty time to move on to more complicated guitars. I love my MIJ Loverock, but I'd love it more with one volume and one tone control!
WOW, that Gordon Smith Stratalike is gorgeous.......
Les Pauls are better for a thick raunchy rock sound but beginners should start with a strat and then move to a more straight forward over driven Les Paul. Both are essential
I wish there were good, cheap, LP copies around when I was a beginner! I had to make do with an Eros Jumbo from the Bells catalogue and Play In A Day 😳
The sad thing is they were available, but there was no youtube to tell us about Greco, Tokai, etc. They used to be cheap too!
@@DearArianaMusic I don't think cheap, reasonable quality copies of major brands were available from Greco, Tokai or anybody else in the late 50's/early 60's. The burgeoning UK bands of the time were playing Hofner Clubs, Harmony Meteors and the like. My first half decent electric happened to be used Harmony Meteor. From memory, it played OK but didn't sound that great. I've now got a few far eastern made guitars and the quality is outstanding for the price.
Richard,
this video really resonates with me(lol). I have only been learning guitar for about 6 years now and my first guitar purchase was a Gibson LP.
Initially I thought an s style was too flashy for me. Despite the rock and roll history associated with the LP, I viewed it as a more conservative style.
Personally I struggled tremendously to get comfortable and consequently my development suffered.
All of that changed the day I went to a local music shop and demoed a Fender strat. The guitar just fit me better in every way.
Today the LP sits mostly idle. I am pleased with the pace of my progress with my strat. It inspires me in every way to play and practice. I can truly say that I have bonded and it is such a joy. The fact that's it's a Custom shop is just the icing on the cake.
Enjoy your channel and subscribed.
Playing a LP sitting always on left leg,S or T type either way works for me
Always left leg from day one, in fact I can't play my guitar on my right leg it's just so uncomfortable I don't understand how it's so popular.
Thank you Richard for this video very informative. I used to teach guitar as well but quit doing it after a while. I never really gave this much thought because students did usually come to first lesson with a guitar that they had already bought. I have always thought that Les Pauls are not in my opinion a good strumming type of guitar and you are so right about the weight being a problem as well. Strats are more comfortable and sound better as a strumming guitar. Another issue with Les Pauls at least Gibsons is that they are not very stable they don't stay in tune well which is because of the design. Thanks for your work so now I can recommend a first guitar for people if they ask and share some of this information.
My Les Paul Standard always on the left leg - but always with the strap too. Can't understand people playin LP's without a strap on their right leg.
Totally agree, it is easier to progress to a LP, once the basic work has been completed on a S.
Yet with budget priced guitar my ultimate pet hate is the tuners ... if you don't have locking tuners ... the guitar will go out of tune faster than they will expect it too . Even leaving it unplayed for a week it will go out of tune ..
I'm disappointed in you Richard 😁..I started on an LP ..love em
James Lowe so do I!! 😂. But I don’t recommend a heavy imbalanced lump of a guitar with overpoweringly powerful pickups to someone learning their first few chords. Many more comfortable options to play with greater range of tones to suit a range of playing styles that most beginners will appreciate.
@@RichardsGuitarshop Minor side issues Richard..if your going to struggle you may as well look cool doing so 🤣
James Lowe couldn’t agree more!!!
I love the neck on my LP and despite the weight ,on a strap, standing , it's pretty comfortable, you get used to it I suppose, but sitting down with it is so flipping awkward lol 😊👍
@James Lowe That's just misplaced associative owner ego or right brainer nonsense. What Richard says = true. That you did it doesn't mean it's optimal. He's not saying they are a "bad" guitar, although I will about many of their ill thought through quirky features even if you "love em" (sic). He's saying *there are smarter choices for beginners* . I have a love hate relationship with mine. Config the PUPs as desired and give me a Tele or Strat based body evolutionary contemporary design any day. Les Pauls remind me of an aircraft which is held in romanticised awe in lay imagination but is in reality an utter handling pig, or a motorbike which looks the part but rides like a bus. Beautiful to look at, dreadful to drive.
Couldn’t agree more Richard, my LP is exactly as you say, I tried a the Strat and went wow so comfortable... but stuck it out with my LP because Iove it... but life would have been easier with a different design. Don’t really understand why people put negative messages against this post... it’s just an objective view point, at no point are you saying don’t do this or don’t do that... just your findings. Keep up the great work I’m learning a lot.
In love with that amp, bloody expensive and near on impossible to get I imagine
Sean Sweeney chat to my friend at yellow rock amps. Google him! He will make you one
Richards Guitars cheers Richard, will do!
Well I'm one of the ones that got to the end. Not sure what the point is in watching only 4 minutes of a video if your intent is to learn off someone who knows what they're doing?!?
It's interesting to think that my wife prefers the sound of the HB but doesn't like the weight of a LP and isn't a fan of the S or T type ... So I got her a Parker which is insanely light weight and plays well. I just wish it had better electrics as it makes it horrid to my ears. But she likes it...
Since 13 years old I've loved the les Paul. It is just so damn pretty.
But I'll never buy one, it's the most uncomfortable thing I've ever played.
sound advise, I am just a 2 years in my journey but as a older learner the heavier the guitar , the old shoulder injuries pop up, I currently have a Ibanze RGA 42FM which I find the wieght perfect, the other brand you sell Vintage Les Paul types , they are not too bad in weight,
On another note whats that red ES 335 type guitar on the right wall with double bound body.. gorgeous.
SUPER8 Eastman T59 ... incredible !!
Interesting that your stats say average viewing times are around 5 minutes ... maybe there's a lesson there = compress and control all the key information, opinion etc. into that first part and only then launch into classic Richardian chat in which you expand on those initial all-important details? Otherwise' you're wasting a lot of time.
Totally agree Richard. I love the Les Paul sound but they are awkward buggers to play. I've owned 2 and neither lasted more than 6 months before I moved them on. My solution was to install bridge humbuckers in 2 of my Strats. An almost perfect solution in my book.
squire telecaster is the best starter
Now this could explain a lot. I have A 2016 GLP Standard and often go to my Tele as an easy player. Slow progress 🤣...👍
Les Paul the man was a genius but he was not an industrial designer and the ergonomics on the LP are horrible, weight and balannce is marginal, and the original PAFs were horribly squawky. The only good thing about the LP is its shorter scale length.
All engineering is compromise, but the LP makes poor ones for most beginners.
The Fender Duosonic style guitar is probably an ideal first electric guitar. The LP Junior/Melody Maker style guitar would be good too.
I would start with a Pignose amp and then get a Champ or a Princeton Reverb or Deluxe Reverb when you are ready to play with other people.
Stock Strats are my second least favorite beginner guitar because they are just too complicated to set up, unless you get a hardtail with bar magnet pickups that don't cause string warble. A Tele would be better. Some of the PRS SE models wouldn't be too bad either.
The one thing the LP has going for it is the shorter scale length, which I find makes it much easier to play scales... And that is a VERY pretty Tokai, love the lemon burst! And left leg sitting allows you to practice with the guitar in 'standing' position, and it's also the traditional way to play Classical nylon string guitars.
Leo new what he was doing...
Sorry Richard Beth disagree with you I do recommend the electric guitar for beginners because in my opinion what beginner once some acoustic guitar where the strings are so high off the fretboard they have to press down really hard to Fred a cord
Garrick McGowan 😂. Sorry to laugh but this may be a classic case of actually watching the video before commenting. It’s ok... we all do it!
You re dead on. When you re learning you want something light with a thin neck. Then when you progress you find your thing.
Left leg.
Your point is correct, but I think the true message here is to start on acoustic. They're light, made to play chords, and you don't need an amp. It's the perfect platform to learn guitar basics, and after those are grasped you can move on to electric and go anywhere you want with it.
Built better an epiphone
Haha... (n)+ thumbs down from all the butthurt LP owners!
You mean you didn't teach the kids to play with a strap fitted - always ;-)
G R only when using my straps guitarstraps.co.uk 😆
@@RichardsGuitarshop Good point :-)
Another urban myth to placate ego. There is *no need* to stand requiring a strap unless one is going to gig publicly. And of ALL the people who *start* to learn learn to play guitar, let alone those who persevere to continue learning guitar until they can play at a standard they might gig, how many of them play anywhere but at home? If they do actually ever gig at all, of those, how many do so *professionally* for any length of time once the harsh reality of "I need to find a real day job which pays the bills!" reveals itself? Those who choose that path have a need and by the time their skills are sufficiently accomplished to head there, putting on a strap and adapting is just another adaptive step, easier IME after the basics are well and truly mastered aka "How did I ever learn to play without standing and wearing a strap"? I know. I didn't learn with a Les Paul. Hahaha.
Any good American made electric guitar with a proper set is good enough. You do not want a piece of Chinese made junk
complete progressive