BEST MIJ for your buck? One piece back, nitro, etc..

[ikeyedyourcar8i]

Very subjective topic here but what is, in your opinion, the most bang for your buck MIJ Les Paul clone out there? With all the fantastic vintage guitars (old Tokais, grecos, burnys, ObG) rapidly gaining recognition, as well as cost, the newer brands (Edwards, Bacchus, newer navigators) are looking more attractive.

So in your opinion, which guitar do you get the most value per dollar spent? I'm actually looking for a LP with a one piece back, nitro finish, and solid top (plain is fine). So just need guidance as to what to look for.

 

[El Kabong]

My top 3 Pix would be:

Epi Elite/Elitist
Edwards Pure Material (hard to find)
Navigator

 

[wulfman]

I'll say later Bacchus Vintage series for 1-piece backs. Some have all-nitro, some have oil finish, and some just a topcoat of lacquer on poly. Hard to find a better spec for the $5 to $600 US they generally sell for used in Japan.

Crews like this one if you want all nitro, 1-piece back, exceptional pickups, and hard case. I paid more for mine and still consider it a deal.

If cost was not an issue I'd say Navigators are the king of the hill but they are not frequently seen under $1500 used, and when they are they disappear pretty quickly.

 

[Olds442]

one piece back is the thing.

is there a price range you're working within?

agree on the bacchus vintage series. the bls-120 i had was around $800-850 to my door in the US from japan.

 

[GammyBird]

I've seen more than one Bacchus Classic BLP-STD-FM sell for less than $1000 so they must be considered as well. They have a one piece back and a solid FM top.

 

[syndromet]

I asked the exact same question here:

http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/other-les-pauls/236392-recomend-me-guitar.html

I ended up with a Bacchus BLP-STD FM, and I love it!

 

[PuroMojo]

+1 sure on late Bacchus Classic Series.

 

[dangerdog]

Bacchus are all the rage now though so bang for buck, maybe go Edwards.

I have some new ones that aren't selling at the prices close to what used ones used to go for.

 

[eatapeach]

In the UK /EU look out for Signature LPs
Seems they are Epi Pros but couldn't be marketed like that so they chose another brand name - Fujigen factory build alongside other quality names. I paid £300 for mine -put new harness and pickups in it and it gets regular play time alongside historics etc.
quality is far higher than Epi and any burny I've tried. I had a Greco 335 and Greco EG1000 and there isn't a massive quality difference

 

[Lumi71]

if you can live with a veneer top, and medium (not fat neck)-
burny flg 90.
i bough mine used for 800 euro.
its indredible resonant, one piece back, nitro finish, very good pus (old vh1), and
has the vibe of an old handbuilt guitar.

 

[mono]

Tooooooooooookaaaaaaiiii

but they are pricey

 

[Whoopysnorp]

Regarding Edwardses: they are great guitars. BUT: having used an E-LP-98LTS as my primary axe for seven years and recently sold it to make way for a Tokai LP Reborn LS-60, I can tell you that playing my Tokai FEELS much more like playing a Gibson than playing my Edwards did. It's hard to attribute that to any particular thing, but I definitely sense it. I also still own an Edwards E-LP-92CD, so I can continue to validate this feeling. This is despite the fact that the Tokai has a two-piece back (unlike the Edwards' one-piece), an all-poly finish (as opposed to the Edwards' nitro-over-poly), and a 14 degree headstock angle (Edwards uses a steeper angle). To me, this just goes to show: you play the guitar, not its finish material or the number of pieces it has.

 

[ikeyedyourcar8i]

Very true but I wish I had the liberty to move to Japan and try these guitars. So it comes down to better specs = better chance of being a keeper.

Also, bacchus lines confuse me. The blp-std is part of vintage? Classic? And how do these two lines compare?

 

[villager]

tokai LS80 everything u need..

 

[Kemper59]

Bacchus are all the rage now

Really, where, on the internet?

 

[ikeyedyourcar8i]

Ls80 looks like all I need but it's hard finding one, let alone for a decent price.

 

[Mick51]

Ls80 looks like all I need but it's hard finding one, let alone for a decent price.

Cliff (MauiCLiff) had a great one for sale at a really good price for two months, and eventually pulled it off the market. You might drop him a PM and see if it is still available; though he may have changed p/ups and decided it was a keeper.

 

[3pupLPC]

Tokai LS-80. 1978-early 80 gets you the Les Paul name too.

I have had mine for sale for a while here.

 

[Nicki]

I've seen more than one Bacchus Classic BLP-STD-FM sell for less than $1000 so they must be considered as well. They have a one piece back and a solid FM top.

But werent those finished with a top nitro lacquer finish with a poly/acrylic base ubderneath?

 

[GammyBird]

Yeah something like that.

Edit: Thin poly and a few nitro coats I believe.