Good Bad and Ugly

[garybaldy]

I'm afraid my 2013 model SGJ knocks spots of my 2004 LPS.

 

[captdan61]

Sometimes you just don't know what you got till it's (almost) gone. So, I have owned a used 2014 Gibson LPJ for a couple years now, my only Gibson, I always felt it was a good playing guitar and got allot of compliments on it from better players then myself. It's bare bones as can be, dull plated hardware, chocolate brown barely satin finish, not what I would call pretty at all. Sound is OK, but would like more "oomph" then I get out of the stock 61 zebra pickups. I really dig Paul Kossoff sound. In the back of my mind I always wanted a "real Les Paul". Anyway, I picked up a new Trad pro V beautiful red wine color, cream binding, asymmetrical neck, all kinds of bling and electronics, push pull stuff up the yin yang. After a few weeks of drooling over it, the honeymoon is over, and I find myself more in love with my old LPJ then ever. I was going to sell it to help pay for the Trad Pro, but now I don't think I can or should View attachment 472595 part with it. The neck is less comfortable, but it's straight as an arrow with no buzz at all anywhere, (I also find my fingers slipping off the bound fretboard if the Trad but not the LPJ) and I never once miss any of that push pull crap. I am thinking of returning the Trad Pro, and doing some upgrades to the LPJ, like Grover high ratio locking tuners, 57 Classic pups, and a bone nut. Any thoughts?

You're ready to try looks like my first love Paul I picked it out of a room full of guitars I just had rhe salesman bring them to me with my eyes closed and I would play and strum them. I didn't know what the guitars looked like. The one I felt played and best and sounded better than every other guitar in the room was a 1975 wine red standard. I sold it 1979 missed it ever since.

 

[moreles]

From a broad perspective, those are very similar guitars so I doubt there will be some major "decider" feature. Personally, I would not hold on to two similar guitars, though there are plenty of forum members who feel the exact opposite and own multiples of very similar instruments. I would only keep one LP-type and add, say, a Strat.

 

[jbylake]

Wasn't planning on keeping both, it's either make payments on the Trad pro, or return it and do upgrades on the LPJ, I can't really swing both right now. I'm leaning towards the LPJ, I have a feeling I will be kicking myself in the ass down the road if I let it go.

I'm thinking you will want to kick your own ass too. One person mentioned it feeling off, from your acclimation to the Jr. I play Strat's, Tele's PRS and Les Pauls, and an EPI Casino. Ones a TRAD PRO V. First, let me tell you, when you're playing a number of different guitars in a day, or a set, or whatever, it often takes a while (a minute or so) to re-acclimate going to another. I've had the Trad Pro V for a couple of months now and still can't get all of the tonal possibilities not counting playing through different pedals. Is it possible that you might regret spening $2800 for a guitar, and now that the payments due, It doesn't feel like $2800 worth? You keep mentioning payments vs. upgrades to your Jr. No need to answer that, it's personal, I know. Maybe "down grade" to a Standard Plain Top without the bells and whistles? Just some food for thought.

 

[joeblow]

Really love my LPJ, but agree she's not the prettiest on the block...
If you have the 2014 with the '61 pickups, adjust the height before getting them out. Also, screw down (like way down) the E and A strings filister screws (possibly the D a bit also). In my case they've come from meh to really good. I think the '61 are the pickups in the '60 Standard LP, so they must (a bit) good no?

 

[metalmike222]

Really love my LPJ, but agree she's not the prettiest on the block...
If you have the 2014 with the '61 pickups, adjust the height before getting them out. Also, screw down (like way down) the E and A strings filister screws (possibly the D a bit also). In my case they've come from meh to really good. I think the '61 are the pickups in the '60 Standard LP, so they must (a bit) good no?

Mine is a 2014, and the pickups will definitely be getting replaced. Not a fan of the sound at all. Plays great, sounds.... not great.

 

[JoeRockHead]

Mine's a 2014, I actually like the original 60's Zebra pickups so I probably won't be switching them out. It had some tuning issues, probably more related to my less than perfect post wrapping then anything else. I just upgraded to (black) Hipshot 3x3 locking tuners, I can't believe how great it stays in tune now. I also ended up trading in a bunch of pedals and my fender Bassbreaker 007 and got a Marshall DSL40CR, best move I ever made.

 

[MichaelAndrew3435]

I have an old satin LP Studio. Think it was made in 2010? Anyway, it's practically identical to the LPJ. I also had an LPJ a few years back.

I picked up the LP Studio for $450 used on Reverb I think? It's one of the better LP's I've owned, and I've owned probably about 15 or so since 2013. I've had 4 CS LP's and in terms of playability, the Studio is just as good if not better than some of them. I'd rank the Studio in the top 5 LP's I've ever had and it's by far the cheapest. The electronics aren't as good as what comes with the CS models but it's not a huge drop off. I also like the weight and neck of the Studio. Action is pretty nice too.