So, if someone wanted a replica.....

[flameburst]

I'd point this hyperthetical person to saving up some more money, being patient , avoiding wasting time and cash on interim compromises...and getting the guitar they'll eventually end up buying anyway.

+1 Jake. This is a very zen-like experience in itself.

 

[BigJim]

I'd point this hyperthetical person to saving up some more money, being patient , avoiding wasting time and cash on interim compromises...and getting the guitar they'll eventually end up buying anyway.

Whats the fun in that????

This person had an amazing "other singlecut" for many years, it was his one and only axe. Played tons of gigs on it, bought it from a dear friend after years of nagging. Of course, this person's needs eventually wandered away from what the instrument was capable of, so he foolishly sold it off to buy a few other guitars that fit his needs at the time. So this person is now longing for the guitar he sold off, but knows that it's going to be tough to find. So he is looking into other ways to fill the void...

 

[mono]

I think a $5k plus replica is something many users here dream of and put on a pedestal as being the 'holy grail' of 1959 Les Paul replicas...

but my experience and that of many other here is that there are many guitars WAY under that price mark that do the job just as well in our eyes. Like Matty, I can't imagine what a high-end replica could offer over my Tokai LS-100. Except a non-genuine relic job

but.... that's the beauty of the guitar world - everyone can choose what they want!

 

[villager]

I can say, in all honesty, I have absolutely no desire for a modern built, Luthier commissioned replica, it has never even crossed my mind....

 

[Greg's Guitars]

Around 4K would be reasonable from one of my luthiers.

 

[RAG7890]

I can say, in all honesty, I have absolutely no desire for a modern built, Luthier commissioned replica, it has never even crossed my mind....

Just out of interest have you ever played an "Italian Job"?

Just curious if you have re how they compare to the Guitars you have / use; i.e. not suggesting they are way better just interested in an objective comparison.

All of the good MIJ's............older & newer, Replicas...........great & not so great are IMHO all about splitting hairs. It is hard to justify / comprehend / qualify / question the differences & the differences in price etc., if that makes sense. Same with Vintage for that matter.

 

[villager]

Only ever tried 2 Sid Poole lps, not really replicas, but they were great guitars, I would be very interested to try a few good builders work, as you say, just for comparisons sake, but it's the Japanese stuff that I am really more interested in, rather than the "perfect" copy,

 

[RAG7890]

Only ever tried 2 Sid Poole lps, not really replicas, but they were great guitars, I would be very interested to try a few good builders work, as you say, just for comparisons sake, but it's the Japanese stuff that I am really more interested in, rather than the "perfect" copy,

Thanks. I can dig where you are coming from.

 

[rykus]

If I only had three thousand and a bit of time I would go try to play every guitar in the 1500-3000 range I could lay my hands on, great guitars come out of most production factories..... Just a bit fewer and far'r between in some cases but if you can play them some really great guitars come out of every line.

That being said if I didn't have the time or access I would put the money down on a build from a respected luthier, or hunt a guitar I could flip with minimal loss, ie good weight, top , collect able ect.

I think if you had a replica before, I'd say the extra $ are worth it, put the 3 down and pay as it's built... The good guys have a bit of a wait these days

 

[JungleMF]

I used to lust after the high end replicas until I got my LS80 and did some upgrades.

You kidding, man

One just cannot enjoy the guitar if it's MSRP is less than $8000 or if it has no brazzy board. Don't even try to argue.

 

[Daniels Guitars]

I've had 2 grecos 1 an 89 59 1000d 59 copy, my son still has it and a 1980 super real with braz board, both bought from villager btw.
I thought I'd like an even more high end but IMO they are not worth the money.
Both great guitars the super real sounded a bit more vintage.
The trouble is I made my first lp sort of joe perryish and it kicked the ass out of them in playability, it sounded great recorded and weighed 8.5lb.
Now I'm making 3 proper replicas with Honduran one lighter than the other and old wood all Brazilian boards, just to tone test and compare weights etc.
There is a big difference in look, feel, sound and playability IMO.
You either want a replica with correct parts or not, I want a proper replica.
The other thing is I just got a real 56 body plan and there is a difference in look even compared to the bartlet plans, so new templates next to get even closer.
If you fancy a go mark ( villager )let me know, it would be interesting to compare.

 

[Daniels Guitars]

I forgot to say that trying to sell an mij was not that easy either, especially if it's not tokai.
It took ages to sell the super real and I lost £400 on it.
You're better off buying a luthier made guitar than paying for a high end mij.
My first lp cost me £450 to make with really good parts, the replicas a lot more.

 

[Shackenb]

Comparison between old Grecos and good replicas would be very interesting ( I own a 81 Super Real EGF, which looks likes Braz... and a 88 MC EGC with ebony board). Do you have pictures of yours in the luthier section? Thinking a longer time of buying a precision kit...

Cheers Stefan

 

[Daniels Guitars]

I had a 1980 egf 1000 Brazilian board.
I've got one replica strung up and playing but not finished and finishing 2 more 1 with p90's and old wood.
I've got a thread going but not updated, it takes along time to learn how to age stuff
I'll be doing proper 59 kits later this year when I've got everything sorted out.
The thing i found is what I thought were good bartlet replica plans and templates were not correct, I only found that out by someone kindly giving me a real 56 plan.
I'll try and get some pictures up.
You can pm me if you're interested.

Darren.

 

[RAG7890]

I had a 1980 egf 1000 Brazilian board.
I've got one replica strung up and playing but not finished and finishing 2 more 1 with p90's and old wood.
I've got a thread going but not updated, it takes along time to learn how to age stuff
I'll be doing proper 59 kits later this year when I've got everything sorted out.
The thing i found is what I thought were good bartlet replica plans and templates were not correct, I only found that out by someone kindly giving me a real 56 plan.
I'll try and get some pictures up.
You can pm me if you're interested.

Darren.

Darren, correct me if I am wrong but the Plans you mention above are intentionally not 100% correct..............for a reason. He can provide 100% dead on super accurate plans, he chooses not to..............again for a reason.

My Replicas (several, from two Luthiers) are 100% dead on super accurate..................for a reason; i.e. because they came from actual Burst & GT measurements.

The only way you will get dead on accurate plans are to have access to a number of Bursts & actually take measurements, which has been done. The measurements will all generally have a variance.

Good luck with your project.

 

[Daniels Guitars]

Darren, correct me if I am wrong but the Plans you mention above are intentionally not 100% correct..............for a reason. He can provide 100% dead on super accurate plans, he chooses not to..............again for a reason.

My Replicas (several, from two Luthiers) are 100% dead on super accurate..................for a reason; i.e. because they came from actual Burst & GT measurements.

The only way you will get dead on accurate plans are to have access to a number of Bursts & actually take measurements, which has been done. The measurements will all generally have a variance.

Good luck with your project.

I really don't want to get into a fight over this but I thought the body would be closer than it is.
Don't get me wrong, I think toms work is great and the help and info he provided, it's just been annoying buying the templates.
Now I have an accurate plan I'll remake my templates to make a more accurate replica.

 

[BigJim]

Great stuff here, lotsa good info...

I've built more than a few vintage strat replicas, tried to come up with one that best mimics a 64 Strat I owned back in the day. I wasn't clever enough to take measurements when I owned it, so I tried to play as many 64's as I could, trying to find one that felt as close to my old one as possible. I am just talking about the neck carve here.

After playing a pile of 64's, I came to the conclusion that their neck sizes (regardless of date stamp) were all over the map, and mine was not a typical size.

I have seen variation in specs of old Les Pauls that I have come across (again, neck sizes are the easiest to remember), so I am not sure there is a "one size fit's all" set of plans out there...

 

[Daniels Guitars]

Here is the one i'm playing, i'll get a sound sample done to compare.
It won't get finished until i've done the others, i sold my only guitar to fund them, otherwise nothing to play.

 

[Daniels Guitars]

This was my first one made for £450ish and not quite replica.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOXzRkOyehI[/ame]

 

[rykus]

Nice playing and great looking LP I'd keep the headstock covered up if your going to build a few,at least on the forums. and maybe try and start meeting some of the other builders near you seems liike theres a handful of the most knowlage-able LP guys on the planet right in your general area.