hey guys

i'm finally gathering enough money to start thinking about a LP
now i gotta decide which one
there are the studio, studio plus, standard, standard faded, classic and many more

I have enjoyed trying out a lot of then at the shop, but still i had trouble finding the difference between them
i'd like some advice from people who own one (or more, you lucky bastard)

now budget i set to about 2500 euro's
the standard faded and studio are a lot cheaper, i heard they havent been coted like the others, anyone got experience with those

thank you

i have experience with the studio.it has a great tone and vibe to it, and it also looks sweet.

I have a standard in black and I found it the nicest sounding out of the other LP's I tried (studio and classic) Try playing a 50's style neck and a 60's slim taper if both available. I originally had planned on a 50's neck but once I tried it I found it too hard to play. (as said in another post it felt like playing the wide end of a baseball bat to me)

thanks for the reply guys

i think i got a bit closer to a decision..
i'm going for a standard, still doubting the neck

i'm not looking for something amazingly fast
myself i play up to slash speed stuff and licks, but i'll just have to try them on a 50's, and if its totally horrible i'll take a 60s, i prefer sound over speed any day

my ibanez is now kinda annoying me, its a very fast guitar, but not the right one for me i think
i still think it was a good deal, it was 350 euro and a good first guitar

the only thing that bothers me now is the price, 2300 euro's and thats not ever AAA wood

Late here, but for future reference, I personally don't think the size of neck matters at all for speed. I have slim taper, standard 50's and also a 58 reissue with the "baseball bat". All are fine, just feel a bit different. Actually I think the bigger necks sustain better.

You are right that it feels different. But those that get the reissues always say they get used to it, and it is fine. Some even say it is easier to play. Personally I think they are all fine, slim or fat. Just different, and I like a bit of variety in my guitars, so that is all fine. I guess if you cradle the neck with your thumb, you probably would want a slim neck, but you should not do that anyway. That being said, Jimmy Page cradled the neck most of the time, and it did not hurt him. He had his neck cut very slim, more so than the 60's slim taper. Hendrix also cradled the neck, but he played a strat which is slim, and he had huge hands.

For myself, as I don't do that, it does not matter. I also don't believe it is faster to have the slim taper (so long as you don't cradle the neck with your thumb). It is not like the necks are *that* much thicker. You actually get a bit more flexibility with more separation between your thumb and fingers to tell you the truth. But as I said, I like the slim necks to. Have an SG Standard, and a Firebird, slim necks. Really like the Firebird, cool guitar.

I currently play a LesPaul copy, its branded eleca but its made in the same factory as the epiphones. Im currently torn between an Ibanez JEM and a GIbson Les Paul standard !!!

go for the jem

Way back in the day (1978) I had a Gibson Les Paul custom in Cherry Sunburst, but in a moment of unstableness I traded it to a buddy for his Import Fender Strat (What was I thinking???)

Anyway, about 4 months ago I bought a pre-owned 2004 Gibson Les Paul Special Faded Black....

The 60s slim taper neck is GREAT.

Best of all, shipped in a SKB hard shell case it was under $600.

You can still buy a Gibson Les Paul Special NEW for around $600 if you search hard enough.

As for sound, the 490r and 498t humbuckers are pretty hot.

Last, but not least, I had it set-up and restrung with Everly B-52s in the 9-42 gauge, it plays effortlessly now.

I cannot justify spending $1500-$3500 for the looks of a Les Paul custom, but for under $700 the Les Paul special is a BARGAIN!

Hope this helps,

Howard