When will I realize that my LP sucks?

[Blues Power]

Originally Posted by dwagar

if you like the neck and it sounds good to you, don't sweat it.

In the old days, we knew nothing about modding and tweaking guitars. If it didn't sound right, you sold it and moved on. I don't even want to think about the fantastic guitars I sold.

Spend some time reading this forum. You'll find out lots about tone and how to change your guitar into what you want (when you realize what that might be).

I think there are a lot of guitars that guys think 'suck', when some very simple things (eg a pro setup, pickups, etc.) could turn them into fantastic guitars.

i couldnt agree more

[captain tightpants]

+1 to the above. I bought my '70's Les Pauls when those were the worst guitars out there, according to a lot of narrow minded folk. They were dead wrong, and still are. Are they the same thing as they were in the '50s? No. Are they really good players with a tone all there own? Hell Yes!!! Point is, who care what anybody else thinks, if it's doin it for you, you're all good.

[les strat]

I know someone who has a great '89 Standard that weighs only 8 lb.! The only weakness to it is the circuit board pickups, which, honestly, were not the best sounding pickups made by Gibson.

If it sounds good just play it.

[LoKi]

Originally Posted by les strat

I know someone who has a great '89 Standard that weighs only 8 lb.! The only weakness to it is the circuit board pickups, which, honestly, were not the best sounding pickups made by Gibson.

If it sounds good just play it.

I yanked those 'The Original' pups first day. Goby has a Custom though... so it may even have Shaws... Not sure when Shaw left Gibson...

[tarddoggy]

Originally Posted by LoKi

Hey you know the old saying... A butterfly flapping his wings in New York will cause a monsoon in Asia...

[Fuelish]

Originally Posted by dwagar

I think there are a lot of guitars that guys think 'suck', when some very simple things (eg a pro setup, pickups, etc.) could turn them into fantastic guitars.

I believe you're spot on..... I turned down the opportunity to buy an old ebony LP from a friend back in the late '70's because the neck wasn't quite right (12th fret wasn't quite an octave) and intonation sucked......looking back, I was just an naive/uninformed teenager who should've snapped it up - he wanted $300. Oh, well, ya live and learn, eh ?

[zplapplap]

Originally Posted by goby

So when will I get good enough to learn if my LP is a winner or a stinker? My LP neck feels great, much better than a Fender Strat neck. Those that have played it like it. If my LP does stink, what could stink about it?

Ignorance is bliss, so I currently love me guitar, but when will I discover the wonderful/awful truth?

[JW123]

Originally Posted by goby

In 1994 I bought my dream guitar, a 1988 Les Paul Custom. With 2 kids and a law practice, there was no time to get out the guitar and learn to play.

Well my wife moved 3 hours away to be near doctors (we're still married and happy---we see each other at least 3 days per week) and I've got time to play. I've been playing consistently for about 2 months and can actually play an entire song for the first time in my life!!

Well LoKi said he owned late 80's early 90's LP that he really didn't care for. I've also read plenty of posts about LP's (from '59 Bursts to Epi's) that suck. Stupid me, I thought a guitar with a $3K list would obviously sound great!!!

So when will I get good enough to learn if my LP is a winner or a stinker? My LP neck feels great, much better than a Fender Strat neck. Those that have played it like it. If my LP does stink, what could stink about it?

Ignorance is bliss, so I currently love me guitar, but when will I discover the wonderful/awful truth?

Ive heard those were just horrible sounding guitars. Just pm me for my address and send it to me. I'll take that wanker off your hands free of charge.


Dude, if it feels good and sounds good to you, then dont worry about it. Spend the time you would read all this on these forums practicing and you will be far ahead of the game. I play 1960 Classic Reissues and if I followed the advice on these forums I would have immediately chunked the pick ups from my guitars. I think the folks that bitch about them have no idea how to turn their volume and tone controls on the guitar. Im able to get hundreds of great tones out of the guitar tone controls.

Dont believe everything you read. Believe what you hear with your ears.

[brockburst]

you are going to go through this feeling your whole life (or better part of it)....something out there that is "bigger and better" there is sooo much hype, there is sooo much marketing, and there are sooo many "experts" that are so inundated with ingrained beliefs that it is often difficult to decide with any resolve, that what you have or what it sounds like is great. Fact is those "experts" are experts at knowing what they like and why, and it would behoove you to become a specialist in what you like, that's the only way you will be able to trust your instincts. The sheer number of products out there right now is enough reason to always be guessing. Don't.

There are some very solid distinctions you will need to make on this journey of yours. You don't need to answer them here for us, just will help you along with way as you compare pieces / sounds to your current axe.
1.) Do you like a vintage or modern sound? (go play a vintage strat and a modern strat or LP, or something comparable)
2.) Do you like a fat neck or a thin neck? Why?
3.) Do you like clean or high gain type stuff? What about the sound do you like?
4.) Humbuckers or single coils? Why?
5.) Fat or Thin frets? Why?
6.) Answer these then learn about the specific specs of what you like, i bet you will start to see some similarities in frets, radius, hardware, tone etc etc.

I have owned about 100 different guitars, all in my signature below...they come and they go, my tastes wax and wane. Play your guitar in the dark every so often. Forget about what it is, who its made by and whatever else.

Stick to the sounds you like. Your tastes will change, let them. But don't decide to sell something because somehow you convinced yourself this new other guitar will sound that much better.

Welcome to the forum. Welcome to your first documented case of GAS.

[brockburst]

edited above instead of second post

[JustinMcCorkle]

if you like the neck and it sounds good to you, don't sweat it.

In the old days, we knew nothing about modding and tweaking guitars. If it didn't sound right, you sold it and moved on. I don't even want to think about the fantastic guitars I sold.

Spend some time reading this forum. You'll find out lots about tone and how to change your guitar into what you want (when you realize what that might be).

I think there are a lot of guitars that guys think 'suck', when some very simple things (eg a pro setup, pickups, etc.) could turn them into fantastic guitars.

Game Over.

[dynabite]

"Re: When will I realize that my LP sucks?"

Welcome to the Club ! ...but stay tuned

[BluesLover]

Originally Posted by goby

In 1994 I bought my dream guitar, a 1988 Les Paul Custom. With 2 kids and a law practice, there was no time to get out the guitar and learn to play.

Well my wife moved 3 hours away to be near doctors (we're still married and happy---we see each other at least 3 days per week) and I've got time to play. I've been playing consistently for about 2 months and can actually play an entire song for the first time in my life!!

Well LoKi said he owned late 80's early 90's LP that he really didn't care for. I've also read plenty of posts about LP's (from '59 Bursts to Epi's) that suck. Stupid me, I thought a guitar with a $3K list would obviously sound great!!!

So when will I get good enough to learn if my LP is a winner or a stinker? My LP neck feels great, much better than a Fender Strat neck. Those that have played it like it. If my LP does stink, what could stink about it?

Ignorance is bliss, so I currently love me guitar, but when will I discover the wonderful/awful truth?

Sounds to me like you have a great guitar that you really like. That's all that really matters. As long as you like it, stick with it! Loki (whoever that is, don't know him) is probably more experienced than you, and disliked his LP because it wasn't getting him the tone he has in his head. I doubt he disliked it because of the craftsmanship, etc.

Once you get "good enough" to know if your guitar is for you or not is when you have developed an ear for listening to different kinds of tone and being able to tell differences in tone. Personally, I don't think any guitar "sucks" if it is manufactured well. It is all in the ear of the listener. It really just depends on if you like how it sounds.

The best advice I can give you is to immerse yourself in as many different styles/genres of music as possible. This will be very beneficial for developing a good ear. Rock on dude!

[axepilot]

Sell your Les Paul before you reach the inevitable realization that it truly sucks. Take your money and invest in a Squier Strat - the epitome of what a guitar is truely supposed to be.

[Last]

I own & have owned some very nice guitars & also buy the VM's as well as the BFG's to refinish & sell them when done.

I bought a VM off this forum from kernalofwisdom & when I sat down to check it all out before I tore it apart for my refinish work I was astonished!

What seemed like only 5 or 10 minutes of playing it, was actually 2 hours! Yep! It was that good.

Sometimes you have to look for the best guitar that suits you & price certainly does not always equal quality (though the next person may find it perfect in every way).

What I'm trying to say is that when you get a guitar in your hands that is the epitome of a world class instrument regardless of price you will definitely know it immediately.

It's not something that you work yourself into over time (unless you never played before) it's more of an inner feeling & connecting with it that will without a doubt show itself to you & you will know it beyond any shadow of a doubt.