|
|
Post by guitfiddler on May 17, 2024 1:32:21 GMT -6
What are your thoughts on the differences and comparisons with these two guitars?
|
|
|
|
Post by Ward on May 17, 2024 6:11:25 GMT -6
The last days of Norlin era Les Pauls produced the FINEST Les Pauls ever made. 1982-83-84-87 were the finest years. And IYKYK.
|
|
|
|
Post by jmoose on May 17, 2024 10:53:29 GMT -6
Cover similar ground tonally... VERY different feels in hand / on body.
Control layout is different too, if that matters for 'ya. It does to me.
I'm by & large a "les paul" guy... been playing them long enough they feel like an extension of my body. (decades!) Maybe a dozen years ago I was looking for a good #2 / #1 'backup' lester and tried a few of the PRS single cut. Great guitars. All played great, sounded good. Really consistent PRS quality... unlike Gibson. Much as I hate to say it.
Problem was that everything felt wrong. Body shape, location of the knobs.... I couldn't hang and kept hunting until I found a gibson I liked & felt like home.
FWIW I do own & enjoy PRS guitars... and have a strat in my hands now as I type. Love & use all kinds of stuff here.
|
|
|
|
Post by thehightenor on May 18, 2024 5:20:46 GMT -6
What are your thoughts on the differences and comparisons with these two guitars? They may have a similar (ish) shape - but for me that's where it ends. A great Les Paul (may be hard to find) has a thick dark gorgeous tone. A PRS has a modern brighter "faster" tone. Both are great but imho not really a direct comparison. |
|
|
|
Post by guitfiddler on May 18, 2024 5:58:56 GMT -6
Been looking for at least a couple years trying to find that Les Paul. I have the same sentiments when it comes to Les Paul and PRS. I thought just maybe I could get close by going with something that is a little more versatile, however I definitely love the Les Paul sound into my Plexi, in fact any amp. I always wanted one but at $3800 starting and now they are quite expensive, and knowing me I won’t be happy unless it’s a $6-$10k guitar. I found one and didn’t buy it because it was $4500, and I could’ve done it , but I balked and missed out on it. Still kicking myself over it…It was a Custom with a dark brown sparkle under an almost black looking top until the light hit it. The color was rootbeer sparkle, and it was gorgeous and sounded incredible. Now, I’m still looking and can’t believe how much they are going for these days. It’s like finding a needle in a haystack for me, and haven’t found one yet. I wish I had snatched that one I saw and played. I can’t even find one like that now. That one got away, now I’m in a mad rush to find the one.
|
|
|
|
Post by FM77 on May 18, 2024 16:31:49 GMT -6
I feel the same as Jay, tonally they will both cover alot of the same ground, much different feel. The PRS is better crafted, fit, finish, frets etc... but that is not really in dispute or an issue.
If I were looking right now for a new Les Paul, my first 4 choices would be the following (they all have 24.75 scale. if you are open to other choices.
Vintage Fender Esprit
Vintage Ibanez Artist AR500 AR300 Custom
Heritage H-150
Vintage Yamaha SG3000 or 2000
|
|
|
|
Post by thehightenor on May 19, 2024 6:58:29 GMT -6
Been looking for at least a couple years trying to find that Les Paul. I have the same sentiments when it comes to Les Paul and PRS. I thought just maybe I could get close by going with something that is a little more versatile, however I definitely love the Les Paul sound into my Plexi, in fact any amp. I always wanted one but at $3800 starting and now they are quite expensive, and knowing me I won’t be happy unless it’s a $6-$10k guitar. I found one and didn’t buy it because it was $4500, and I could’ve done it , but I balked and missed out on it. Still kicking myself over it…It was a Custom with a dark brown sparkle under an almost black looking top until the light hit it. The color was rootbeer sparkle, and it was gorgeous and sounded incredible. Now, I’m still looking and can’t believe how much they are going for these days. It’s like finding a needle in a haystack for me, and haven’t found one yet. I wish I had snatched that one I saw and played. I can’t even find one like that now. That one got away, now I’m in a mad rush to find the one. My close friend, touring pro, has a Les Paul from way back - can't remember the exact Gibson production year but it sounds glorious, I keep asking him if he'd like to sell it to me. Can cover jazz to heavy rock - it's thick and dark in the perfect Les Paul way - weights a ton too - he complains it's too heavy for long gigs. When a LP is "the one" it really is "the one" .... I've got a 1981/82 JV Strat (those early 80's made in Japan Strats could be fantastic) .... it's now over 40 years old and I've yet to pick up a strat or strat style guitar I prefer. This particular JV is "the one" .... I've been offered silly money for it - I'll never sell it :-) I also have an 80's Epiphone Sheraton II that has a special feel and sound - another lucky find! Like you say, it's like finding a needle in a haystack. Guitars like PRS and Tom Anderson are beautifully made and generally very consistent but for me slightly like a certain character I like in a guitar, very subjective of course. |
|
|
|
Post by guitfiddler on May 19, 2024 10:37:26 GMT -6
I feel the same as Jay, tonally they will both cover alot of the same ground, much different feel. The PRS is better crafted, fit, finish, frets etc... but that is not really in dispute or an issue.
If I were looking right now for a new Les Paul, my first 4 choices would be the following (they all have 24.75 scale. if you are open to other choices.
Vintage Fender Esprit
Vintage Ibanez Artist AR500 AR300 Custom
Heritage H-150
Vintage Yamaha SG3000 or 2000
I narrowed it down to Les Paul, now there are only 100 different configurations and over 1000’s of choices and they are all overpriced! I did find a 59 - R9 that I really liked and it was priced decent, but too far away and I don’t trust any shipping company. |
|
|
|
Post by FM77 on May 19, 2024 10:46:26 GMT -6
It’s not so complicated. if you know the specs you prefer, scale, neck radius, thickness at 1st and 12th, fret type, bridge style, electronics etc. It's not much effort to find guitars that fit within your personal tolerances to explore further. The ‘one’ is often a long term instrument we have developed with or gotten used to, but your chances of finding an exceptional instrument that resonate with you in today’s market, that can potentially become the ‘one’ are very high. It’s more like a needle in a needle-stack, even if you are only looking at LPs variances, they are in massive, massive abundance. If you don’t know what specs you like, yeah, it can take some time because you can't filter out in advance.
Personally I have scaled back to about 30 instruments that I really like, different specs required by default, though I do play professionally.
|
|
|
|
Post by FM77 on May 19, 2024 10:50:01 GMT -6
I feel the same as Jay, tonally they will both cover alot of the same ground, much different feel. The PRS is better crafted, fit, finish, frets etc... but that is not really in dispute or an issue.
If I were looking right now for a new Les Paul, my first 4 choices would be the following (they all have 24.75 scale. if you are open to other choices.
Vintage Fender Esprit
Vintage Ibanez Artist AR500 AR300 Custom
Heritage H-150
Vintage Yamaha SG3000 or 2000
I narrowed it down to Les Paul, now there are only 100 different configurations and over 1000’s of choices and they are all overpriced! I did find a 57 - R9 that I really liked and it was priced decent, but too far away and I don’t trust any shipping company.
Cool. I was responding when you posted this!
Yeah, that is a reality with Gibson - overpriced for the quality. And it is so inconsistent that online shopping, unless new and returnable, is too risky with Gibson. PRS onle, its going to be a great guitar after guitar. Still overpriced!
|
|
|
|
Post by guitfiddler on May 19, 2024 19:24:57 GMT -6
I narrowed it down to Les Paul, now there are only 100 different configurations and over 1000’s of choices and they are all overpriced! I did find a 57 - R9 that I really liked and it was priced decent, but too far away and I don’t trust any shipping company.
Cool. I was responding when you posted this!
Yeah, that is a reality with Gibson - overpriced for the quality. And it is so inconsistent that online shopping, unless new and returnable, is too risky with Gibson. PRS onle, its going to be a great guitar after guitar. Still overpriced!
I have to find my specs that I prefer |
|
|
|
Post by geoff738 on May 19, 2024 21:36:19 GMT -6
I am not really a fan of PRS. Consistently well made? Absolutely.
Best LP I ever played was an R8. Sadly I do think the Custom Shop stuff is a step above the regular line. And that R8 had an enormous, but ridiculously comfortable neck. It sure wouldn’t be to everyone’s taste though.
So my advice is at least try the Custom Shop stuff. You may not come to the same conclusion I have, which would save you some bucks.
Cheers,
Geoff
|
|
|
|
Post by hadaja on Jun 1, 2024 2:59:55 GMT -6
i have owned a few Gibson and a few vintage ones. I have never regretted selling them.
I have owned many PRS and have never regretted them either.
Do i own any Gibson at the moment - not for the last 10 x years and I dont expect to.
But I have one PRS I would never sell as it just has the magic I adore in it and it wasnt even there higher models.
Just a very early 1990's bolt on CE22. It just works for me.
So I would take a PRS over a Les Paul any day but I am more a modern man then a classic man.
I dont need to hold any guitars in store for studio users at my place as I am not running a commerical studio.
|
|
|
|
Post by Ned Ward on Jun 1, 2024 12:01:38 GMT -6
Super subjective, but PRS feels like a sofa bed - not quite a Fender, not quite a Gibson with scale. I don't have a Gibson at the moment, but have a dual-hum bucker tele (Tele Paul) with coil splitters.
If I were to buy, I'd look at either a Goldtop P90 LP or a hum bucker LP, but would need to go to Norm's to try before buying and ensure it works for me.
But guitars are so subjective. If you're buying it for a studio to have as part of the guitars to have for clients, you'll get more "name recognition" with a good LP vs. PRS IMHO.
|
|
|
|
Post by robschnapf on Jun 2, 2024 7:47:00 GMT -6
Is this comparison PRS to any period Gibson or new er Gibsons?
|
|
|
|
Post by dok on Jun 2, 2024 17:59:22 GMT -6
Epiphone has really put out some winners lately with the Inspired by Gibson Custom Shop series. Worth playing a few for sure. And there are a ton of LP Tributes (still made in the USA) for ~$1000 on Reverb at the moment.
|
|
|
|
Post by gwlee7 on Jun 3, 2024 5:53:51 GMT -6
Some PRS guitars have a very “sticky” feeling neck to me. The finish is too heavy for my tastes. My duo partner has a Zach Meyers semi hollow body that is a Les Paul shape and I love how it sounds but won’t make the mistake of using it live again. I have a ‘97 Les Paul that I bought brand new and had the headstock snap when It got knocked off a stand six months after I bought it. Glued it back and have been playing it ever since. It is heavy as hell though.
|
|
|
|
Post by robschnapf on Jun 3, 2024 13:06:37 GMT -6
Plastic Reed Smith
|
|
|
|
Post by geoff738 on Jun 3, 2024 20:49:44 GMT -6
I kinda feel the same but David Grissom sure sounds good playing his. Cheers, Geoff |
|
|
|
Post by robschnapf on Jun 3, 2024 21:14:53 GMT -6
He would sound good playing anything.
And I’d say his model is the exception….
|
|
|
|
Post by geoff738 on Jun 3, 2024 22:03:43 GMT -6
He would sound good playing anything. And I’d say his model is the exception…. Yeah. That guy definitely does not suck. Cheers, Geoff |
|
|
|
Post by smashlord on Jun 4, 2024 19:37:36 GMT -6
The last days of Norlin era Les Pauls produced the FINEST Les Pauls ever made. 1982-83-84-87 were the finest years. And IYKYK. I think the mid-90s birthed the best of Gibson. I have a '87 Custom and while it is a great guitar, the '97 Custom Plus I have and '96 I had at one point are the best I have played, including 50s and 60s ones. A friend also has a 90's Jr. that is incredible and I would take over my other friend's '55 Jr. To OP's question: It's hard to go wrong with a Les Paul. I think every guitarist should have one (or multiple!) in their collection. If you get some unique/desirable finish, it will also appreciate over time. I've never been able to bond with the PRS necks, while a 50's style Gibson always just feels right. In terms of sound, well, a LP with a PAF style pickup is just a classic sound that works on so many things. You don't have to go super vintage to find a good one, either. I have a 2011 Special with P90s that is killer and a few of my clients have ones from the past 10 years that sound fantastic and play great (assuming they don't have the garbage Burst Buckers). |
|
