LP newbie, looking for suggestions

[scarface]

Greetings,

I've been playing for 30 years (Rock, Jazz, Blues) and have never owned a Les Paul. Up until recently I wasn't drawn to them or never played one that 'did it' for me. I have a PRS SC245 and Custom 24, a Oroville by Gibson LP Junior and a 1980 ES-335TD that I absolutely love love love. Other that strat/tele guitars, these have always covered my humbucker ground (minus the Junior).

I was always confused with so many different LP models and I recently played a 2008 Traditional that I really liked. I was starting to 'get it.' I've always loved Gold Tops and thought I might go that way. This got me looking at R7 Gold Tops. I also recently discovered some of the R8's - really sweet.

I like the nickle/faded hardware a lot and if I got a Traditional, I'd want to upgrade it all.

Is it worth it to go with a R7 or R8 which includes this hardware? Are the electronics better? Are they more consistent/play better. Just trying to decide here so I can begin my search.

Thanks!

 

[RUFFCUT]

Greetings,

I've been playing for 30 years (Rock, Jazz, Blues) and have never owned a Les Paul. Up until recently I wasn't drawn to them or never played one that 'did it' for me. I have a PRS SC245 and Custom 24, a Oroville by Gibson LP Junior and a 1980 ES-335TD that I absolutely love love love. Other that strat/tele guitars, these have always covered my humbucker ground (minus the Junior).

I was always confused with so many different LP models and I recently played a 2008 Traditional that I really liked. I was starting to 'get it.' I've always loved Gold Tops and thought I might go that way. This got me looking at R7 Gold Tops. I also recently discovered some of the R8's - really sweet.

I like the nickle/faded hardware a lot and if I got a Traditional, I'd want to upgrade it all.

Is it worth it to go with a R7 or R8 which includes this hardware? Are the electronics better? Are they more consistent/play better. Just trying to decide here so I can begin my search.

Thanks!

Only you and your wallet can decide this grasshopper...

Welcome...

 

[Sct13]

Too many variables to YOUR taste in sound and playability. vs cost.

What I did....looked at a historic....saw the price tag....played a standard, bought a traditional....two in fact....Modded the hell out of them, ripped out electronics, plastic's, pickups, bridges tailpieces.....I tried to make it as close as I could to what I "thought" at the time to be what it wasn't....

Then I went back to the store (months later) Same Historic, played it, and put it down...it haunted me....tormented me, called to me and yes it sang to me from the wall at guitar center....(chorus of Angels)

I began searching....Found this forum and others....learned as much as I could, and eventually pulled the trigger on a used Historic....I have since sold the trads (great guitars BTW) and the rest is "Historic"

I have been through several (ten or so) and still searching for the best one...

Now you can do what I did, or just take the advice of ...just do it.

But the one thing you'll be missing is that experience.

Good Luck in your search

It's Fun.

 

[Droog]

Buying a Les Paul usually falls into two categories. Playing it before purchase or buying online.

If you play it first, just buy your favourite, that falls in your budget. If not, buy the historic, as it's probably the better guitar. They get first dibs on wood, builders, etc, etc.

So, the historic SHOULD be the better guitar, but guitars can't always be judged just by the sum of their parts.

I personally have played over a hundred U.S.A. Les pauls and only one I liked more than my historic, and it wasn't for sale......at any sane price.

 

[IRussell]

I like the nickle/faded hardware a lot and if I got a Traditional, I'd want to upgrade it all.

Is it worth it to go with a R7 or R8 which includes this hardware?

I've heard of a person or two upgrading all the hardware on their R7s too

Good luck, lots of great ones out there (even bone stock too). Best to go play as much as you can get your hands on.

 

[Deus Vult]

i remember the first Historics I played after reading all the rave reviews. I was not impressed at all. But when I found one that had "it", my USA LPs just didn't do it for me anymore.

My experience has been that some USAs are better than some Historics. But the best Historics are better than the best USAs. Ymmv of course.

I do think the Traditionals are the best of the USA line.

 

[Deus Vult]

in fact here it is

I know this is blasphemy... - Gibson Guitar Board

and then the epiphany

http://forum.gibson.com/index.php?/topic/3209-my-r8-1-week-later/

 

[scarface]

Thanks for all the input guys. I suspected this would be a journey. For me, $$$ is def a big factor. I just cannot bring myself to spend $3k or more on a guitar. I suspect that keeps R7's, R8's and USA models (Traditional) within my grasp. I've seen some R7's and R8's for $2400-$2600 and I know I could get an used Traditional for $1400-1600.

In the meantime I keep lurking here, learning and checking out classifieds.

Cheers!

 

[musicmaniac]

Why wait when you can jump right in!

http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/member-classifieds/272813-fs-2010-r7-gold-top.html

http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/member-classifieds/271476-fs-2011-r8-stinger.html#post5541799

http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/mem...2013-les-paul-r7-goldtop-vos.html#post5540760

 

[Sharky]

Why wait when you can jump right in!

http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/member-classifieds/272813-fs-2010-r7-gold-top.html

http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/member-classifieds/271476-fs-2011-r8-stinger.html#post5541799

http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/mem...2013-les-paul-r7-goldtop-vos.html#post5540760

the 2013 GT seems like a real good offer. So 2013 specs, nice price + a known and reputated seller here. I'd buy that in a heartbeat, but would prefer the brazzy R7 in the classifieds which is of course out of the OP's budget.

The other offers look great too and 2010 was a good year in my book

 

[scarface]

Why wait when you can jump right in!

http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/member-classifieds/272813-fs-2010-r7-gold-top.html

http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/member-classifieds/271476-fs-2011-r8-stinger.html#post5541799

http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/mem...2013-les-paul-r7-goldtop-vos.html#post5540760

Wow, drooling. Wish I had the cash to pull the trigger today! Love those GT's!