Les Paul - Should I Or Shouldn't I?

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Les Paul - Should I Or Shouldn't I?, and effects/pedals advice needed!

Chief Brody View Member Profile	Jun 29 2008, 10:41 AM
Jun 29 2008, 10:41 AM	GMC:er Posts: 78 Joined: 10-January 08 From: Gifu, Japan	Hey ladies and gents, sorry this is a bit long! Hope you don't mind! I currently have a Clapton Strat and a PRS Custom 24 (both purchased bit the helpful advice from the people here at GMC!). I'm very happy with both, but lately i've been listening to a load of "Les Paul" rock bands and so i've been contemplating getting one, however given that i already have one reasonably expensive guitar (Strat) and one pretty darn expensive one (PRS) i was wondering if i really "need" an LP at all. Basically i have the money but it's only worth it for me if getting an LP would really add something to my tone and playing when doing the "hard rock" thing, or do you think that the guitars i have cover those bases enough to make getting an LP an unecessary extravagance. Oh and if anyone has any LP suggestions (think general hard rock and Tool-style progressive rock as for the genres i'm thinking of using it for) then the price i could go to is around $2000. My local store is discontinuing Gibson in favour of their own competing brand (grr) so there is only a 1960 LP Classic in the store and that's it, haven't played it yet but from what i've read i'm not sure if that's the right LP for what i wanna play....any advice is welcome. Secondly, a quick Gear question. In terms of gear i have a Roland Cube 20x (which i rarely use), a Fender Blues Jr and a Pod X3. Not much i know (i can't really get any huge amps, because everything i buy i'm gonna have to ship back to the UK at some point....). I've heard a lot on the boards about Dunlop Crybaby Wah, Boss DS-1/DS-2 pedals etc..... Well my local store has those (and a load more), would these compliment my blues.jr well? Or would i be better off buying a small Marshall or something to go with those kinds of things? Thanks a lot for reading all this! You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

Ivan Milenkovic View Member Profile	Jun 29 2008, 11:27 AM
Jun 29 2008, 11:27 AM	Instructor Posts: 25.396 Joined: 20-November 07 From: Belgrade, Serbia	Well if you want LP and you can afford it I say why not. What amps do you have? Maybe you should consider that too, tone is not just about guitar. You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- - Ivan's Video Chat Lesson Notes HERE - Check out my GMC Profile and Lessons - (Please subscribe to my) YouTube Official Channel - Let's be connected through ! Facebook! :)

Chief Brody View Member Profile	Jun 29 2008, 12:16 PM
Jun 29 2008, 12:16 PM	GMC:er Posts: 78 Joined: 10-January 08 From: Gifu, Japan	QUOTE (Ivan Milenkovic @ Jun 29 2008, 07:27 PM) Well if you want LP and you can afford it I say why not. What amps do you have? Maybe you should consider that too, tone is not just about guitar. Amps are Roland Cube 20x and a Fender Blues Jr, with a PODX3 too. (mentioned in previous post ). It's not a lot but i'm pretty limted for choice in these parts. Can maybe get my hands on some smaller Marshalls (Roland Cube 20X sized) and couple of other Fenders (Hot Rod Deluxe). Other than that the store i have only sells smaller stuff or gigantic stacks that have no business in an apartment lol. I was also thinking about using effects pedals and amps to get the sound as well. I just hear so many people talking about needing a LP to get that certain sound sometimes. I'm still learning about all this everyday, as my playing improves i am finding i have to learn more and more about tone, even though i experiment a lot i find it to be just as challenging as playing You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! This post has been edited by Chief Brody: Jun 29 2008, 12:51 PM

Bogdan Radovic View Member Profile	Jun 29 2008, 04:15 PM
Jun 29 2008, 04:15 PM	Bass & Beginner Instructor Posts: 15.614 Joined: 30-November 07 From: Belgrade, Serbia	Well you have a lot of effects in your POD, but if you want a good wah you can go for dunlop crybaby 535q..Should sound good on any amp...Don't know about ds-1 whether you need it or not.. Regarding les paul , well go to the store and try it out for start to see how it appeals to you..It certenly is a very good instrument and will sound different to ones you have , but having them on mind buying LP would be a luxury..But if you can afford it , why not ! You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- For GMC support please email support (at) guitarmasterclass.net Check out my lessons and my instructor board. Check out my beginner guitar lessons course! ; Take a bass course now!

kjutte View Member Profile	Jun 29 2008, 04:18 PM
Jun 29 2008, 04:18 PM	GMC:er Posts: 1.710 Joined: 17-July 07 From: Norway	Fender deluxe strat + Marshall TSL You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

jacmoe View Member Profile	Jun 29 2008, 04:29 PM
Jun 29 2008, 04:29 PM	GMC:er Posts: 562 Joined: 2-December 07 From: Denmark	QUOTE (Chief Brody @ Jun 29 2008, 11:41 AM) I currently have a Clapton Strat and a PRS Custom 24 Lucky SOB! You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- QUOTE ("Steve Vai") Start by playing something - a bend, a riff, a scale, a song - very slowly; if you make a mistake, start over; do this over and over, until you can play it flawlessly - and I do mean flawlessly - many times in a row. Next, gradually increase the tempo. Eventually you'll be flailing like a madman.

Ivan Milenkovic View Member Profile	Jun 29 2008, 05:15 PM
Jun 29 2008, 05:15 PM	Instructor Posts: 25.396 Joined: 20-November 07 From: Belgrade, Serbia	I think you could benefit more with a good Marshall combo than with LP, that's just my opinion on the matter. You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- - Ivan's Video Chat Lesson Notes HERE - Check out my GMC Profile and Lessons - (Please subscribe to my) YouTube Official Channel - Let's be connected through ! Facebook! :)

inertia View Member Profile	Jun 29 2008, 05:15 PM
Jun 29 2008, 05:15 PM	GMC:er Posts: 313 Joined: 29-October 07 From: Niagara Falls, Canada	I would definitely get it, in fact you have the 3 guitars that I plan on owning. I already own an american strat deluxe and am buying a les paul either standard or custom in december, and next year I plan to buy a PRS. I think the strat and les paul are on opposites sides of the spectrum in terms of tone and PRS is sort of in the middle, so having all 3 you cover pretty much that whole spectrum, it's just my opinion of course. You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! This post has been edited by inertia: Jun 29 2008, 05:17 PM

MickeM View Member Profile	Jun 29 2008, 05:21 PM
Jun 29 2008, 05:21 PM	Born of NWOBHM, Moderation Team Leader Posts: 8.562 Joined: 9-January 07 From: Stockholm, Sweden	I've never played that PRS of yours so I can't have an own opinion but suppodesly the PRS should be in between an LP and a Strat in sound while a Les Paul would be a little more ballsy. You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- My bands homepage All time favourites: B. Streisand - Woman in Love, M. Hopkin - Those were the days, L. Richie - Hello

kjutte View Member Profile	Jun 29 2008, 05:22 PM
Jun 29 2008, 05:22 PM	GMC:er Posts: 1.710 Joined: 17-July 07 From: Norway	QUOTE (inertia @ Jun 29 2008, 06:15 PM) I would definitely get it, in fact you have the 3 guitars that I plan on owning. I already own an american strat deluxe and am buying a les paul either standard or custom in december, and next year I plan to buy a PRS. I think the strat and les paul are on opposites sides of the spectrum in terms of tone and PRS is sort of in the middle, so having all 3 you cover pretty much that whole spectrum, it's just my opinion of course. It's all about pickups, amp, effects and tuning. stick with your strat You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

Gus View Member Profile	Jun 30 2008, 12:36 AM
Jun 30 2008, 12:36 AM	GMC:er Posts: 999 Joined: 21-January 08 From: Brazil/Denmark	I have the same trouble, I am not considering buying a good expensive amp, because someday I will have to ship it back to Brazil... And good amps are also, well, bulky and heavy But anyway. I never tried the PRS. But from my experience the Les Paul is a totally different stuff in terms of tones you can extract compared to strat. Almost orthogonal. Other guitars I tried lie somewhere in between both (Ibanez is a good compromise , for instance. Maybe PRS is around there...) I have an Ibanez (a top one, as it's the last guitar I bought) and mid-range les Paul and strat. I would upgrade Les Paul and strat for high-end ones if I had the money, but I decided I will just change pickups... Still, all 3 guitars are really great and different in character. If you ask me, I think top strats and Ibanez are right priced. A top Les Paul (read LP custom), however, is indeed a luxury. For me it's kind of the same as buying a rolex as a watch or a Ferrari as a car. You know it's the best sound you will get (IMO), but you are paying an real extra amount of money there. But if you can afford, just be sure you get the right model. You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- my "Thank you GMC!" video If you like it please vote in the competition ;-) Gus Stairway to Guitar Heaven - my practice agenda Check out my lesson here Phrygian Dominant Solo lesson Gear : Ibanez RGT320q (I just love the neck-thru sustain), Washburn EA-20SDL (acoustic 6 string), Standard strat (Mexico), POD X3 Live Some of my Guitar heroes: Jimmy Page, Slash, Kirk Hammett, Augusto Licks, Joe Satriani, Gus G, David Gilmour, Mark Knopfler...

Chief Brody View Member Profile	Jun 30 2008, 05:19 AM
Jun 30 2008, 05:19 AM	GMC:er Posts: 78 Joined: 10-January 08 From: Gifu, Japan	Thanks a lot for all your reponses guys. I'm probably going to try out the LP Classic in the store out of curiosity, you can't know until you try it for yourself after all! I think i might save buying an LP until i'm either back in the UK or until later in the year, especially when i visit Tokyo - they have some AWESOME guitar stores there. I love my Strat and my PRS, i don't wanna rush into getting an LP unless i know i love it. In the meantime if i come across any decent Marshall amps whilst i'm out here i'm definitely gonna give them a go! You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

Ivan Milenkovic View Member Profile	Jun 30 2008, 10:22 AM
Jun 30 2008, 10:22 AM	Instructor Posts: 25.396 Joined: 20-November 07 From: Belgrade, Serbia	Smart choice man, tell us how it went and maybe get some pictures too You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- - Ivan's Video Chat Lesson Notes HERE - Check out my GMC Profile and Lessons - (Please subscribe to my) YouTube Official Channel - Let's be connected through ! Facebook! :)

Disturbed21 View Member Profile	Jun 30 2008, 03:37 PM
Jun 30 2008, 03:37 PM	GMC:er Posts: 274 Joined: 29-May 08 From: Gloucester MA.	Honestly if you have a PRS and are looking for a les paul shaped guitar go with another PRS or go get an ESP. They should go good with a roland or (if you're willing to spend the money) a mesa boogie amp. You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- Enter The Doom And Gloom If You Dare Below This Message http://www.last.fm/user/Disturbed21 and add if you want...

Chief Brody View Member Profile	Jul 1 2008, 06:28 AM
Jul 1 2008, 06:28 AM	GMC:er Posts: 78 Joined: 10-January 08 From: Gifu, Japan	Hmm anothe PRS you say? Now you mention it they do have at least one PRS SC245 in the store, and possibly and SC250 It's pretty much the PRS version of an LP. I think i'm gonna try that out as well, from what i've heard and read it's more than capable of producing that LP sound....... Anyone have any experience with one of these beasts? Well i won't be hasty, try try try is the name of the game. UPDATE Ok so i went into the store and checked the PRS out, turns out it was an SC245 or an SC250 but in fact it was a Singlecut Standard Satin, with the bird inlays and ten top to boot. I just had to try it. They, plugged it into a little Marshall amp they had there and pretty much instantly BAM, there was the tone i had been missing out on, the one i had in my head that my Strat and Custom 24 couldn't quite match! I was very happy and very impressed. I decided to try out the Les Paul in order to compare and well.....i was completely unmoved by it. The sound was muddier, there was more noise from the Pickups, the sound was perhaps a little heavier (as was the guitar itself) but really, nothing it produced sounded better than the PRS. I looked at the amps too and there was a nice Hot Rod Deluxe there, but it was too expensive for me i'm afraid. But i did spot a nice looking, relatively cheap ($300) Fender Japan amp with a healthy amount of options and a couple of celestion speakers. I decided to try that out as well and the sound i was getting was better (to my ears) than the Marshall (granted, the Marshall was smaller and cheaper but i do live in a smallish apartment so i can't go bigger and better right now lol). I was so happy with the tone of the amp that i decided to take that as well! I was nearly crying as i pretty much wiped out my entire remaining bank balance. But the good news is i'm now got that singlecut, heavy tone guitar that i really needed to "complete" my guitar trinity. I had them replace the 9 guage strongs on there with some 11 gauge Ernie Ball Power Slinkies to take it up a notch further too. Well i've gotta get going, but i will provide pictures and perhaps some more impressions later! Thanks again for all your help people. It was invaluable! You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! This post has been edited by Chief Brody: Jul 1 2008, 12:57 PM

jacmoe View Member Profile	Jul 1 2008, 11:00 PM
Jul 1 2008, 11:00 PM	GMC:er Posts: 562 Joined: 2-December 07 From: Denmark	Wow, that's great! Didn't know that the PRS single cut where even phatter than a LP. Congratulations on finding the tone you've been looking for for so long! A review would be nice.. (some time) You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- QUOTE ("Steve Vai") Start by playing something - a bend, a riff, a scale, a song - very slowly; if you make a mistake, start over; do this over and over, until you can play it flawlessly - and I do mean flawlessly - many times in a row. Next, gradually increase the tempo. Eventually you'll be flailing like a madman.

Fran View Member Profile	Jul 1 2008, 11:05 PM
Jul 1 2008, 11:05 PM	Learning Rock Star - Wiki Coordinator Posts: 8.451 Joined: 20-November 07 From: Spain	Congrats on another awesome guitar, you have a nice collection there!, write a review when you can! You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- Guitars: Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster, Ibanez RG2570MZ, Epiphone SG G-400 Amp: Vox AC4TVH head + V112TV cab Effects: Vox Satchurator, Vox Time Machine, Dunlop CryBaby, Boss MT-2, Boss CE-5, Boss TU-2, Boss ME-70 Recording: Line-6 POD X3 + FBV-Express, Pandora PX5D GMC wants YOU to take part in our Guitar-Wikipedia! Have a good time reading great articles and writing your own with us in our GUITAR WIKI! Share your playing and get Pro-advice from our Instructors: Join REC

Chief Brody View Member Profile	Jul 2 2008, 01:58 AM
Jul 2 2008, 01:58 AM	GMC:er Posts: 78 Joined: 10-January 08 From: Gifu, Japan	Thanks, i'd convinced myself that the guitar i saw in the store a couple of days ago was a SC245/250 but when i found out it was an '06 Singlecut Standard i was kinda nervous because i didn't didn't even know what they were lol. But it's gotten to the point now where i trust my hands and my ears with guitars. With the money i'm spending i know i'm not getting anything shoddy, so it becomes more about myself than the guitar (if that makes any sense). It has a set of PRS 7 Treble and bass pickups and they give a really sweet and powerful vintage tone. It's in Matteo blue, which is the same as my Custom 24, sure perhaps a different colour would have been nice but hey, i love it - plus the satin finish (as opposed to gloss on the CU24) really gives it a different feel, i think i even prefer it because it's just so damn smooth. It has a "wide fat" neck profile which totally adds a new dimension to things when compared to my other guitars, plus it's nice to have cool-looking stoptail bridge. Only thing i didn't get was why the stock strings were 9 gauge, that's just not enough for a guitar like this (imo). They had to be changed right away and i was worried that there might have to be some truss rod adjustment (bothersome business with these crazy PRS truss rods) but that wasn't the case at all, no adjustment was required! I was talking with my dad through skype whilst jamming, when i showed him the new guitar he just said "i can't tell the difference between that and your other one!" (meaning the CU24), i almost slapped him from across the internet , but once i gave him a side by side he retracted that little statement. My dad knows absolutely nothing about guitars so it really pleased me when he said "you can really notice the difference in tone with this guitar compared to your others". I've pretty much satisfied my guitar lust now. I don't think i could ever justify buying another guitar in the near future, i dare say my obsession will move onto amps or whatever but i told the guys at the store (from whom i've already bought 5 guitars) that this is the last time i'll be paying your staffs weekly wages in one go Right now i'm at work and i'm going nuts wanting to get home and get playing. I've finally reached one of those "breakthrough" points where i can add new licks/riffs to my repotoire easily and i feel like my playing is going to just keep getting better and better. I've got the gear, now it's about refining the skills! You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! This post has been edited by Chief Brody: Jul 2 2008, 02:00 AM

skennington View Member Profile	Jul 2 2008, 02:24 AM
Jul 2 2008, 02:24 AM	Learning Roadie - Never Give Up - Moderator Posts: 7.461 Joined: 25-November 07 From: Charlotte,NC USA	Very nice guitar man, congrats! As much a I hate to say it, been considering a LP of some sort. You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- *Show Off The Lessons You Have Learned Here On The REC Board And Receive Valuable Feedback from Our Instructors!* *Check Out The Virtual Bands* *Want To Join One, Or Maybe Form Your Own?*

-Zion- View Member Profile	Jul 2 2008, 08:25 AM
Jul 2 2008, 08:25 AM	Learning Roadie Posts: 713 Joined: 20-May 08 From: copenhagen	amazing what a new guitar can do to you. Gratz on the new guitar.. Just cant wait to get a new one myself. Here's to hoping it will turn my world upside down as well.. haha.. You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

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