5 Reasons NOT to buy a Les Paul
Vložit
- čas přidán 19. 06. 2024
- As a lifelong Les Paul owner and fan, I have come up with a list on why you should not buy this guitar.
Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:22 They're F*cking Expensive
1:56 The G String Does Not Stay in Tune
4:04 Very Susceptible to Headstock Breaks
5:46 Not Very Customizable
7:44 Weight & Body Shape
9:00 Final Thoughts
9:47 Outro Jam
#gibsonguitars #lespaul #lespaulstandard
New Here?
My name is AJ and I talk about guitars, guitar gear, and other nerdy guitar things.
IG:
/ guitar_wall_jams
Business:
albertjohndevera@gmail.com
You’re too late, junior. I already own four of them.
Bro u got money
@@z4kq1 not any more. Have you seen what those things cost?
@@lumberlikwidator8863 u really spend 12k for some wood with strings (I understand 1 but 4 xD? Do u even need them? Like do u have band?)
@@z4kq1 I’d never pay full price, and never any Custom Shop stuff. The most I ever paid was $2200 for a used one with a really pretty top. It was unique because it was a Standard with a three piece top and gold hardware. The cheapest one was a 1974 Deluxe that I bought about 1984 in a pawnshop for $175. Way back then an old guitar was just an old guitar and people didn’t make a big deal about it. I’m not in a band anymore and maybe it’s time to start selling some stuff.
I think you should make a video and showcase those bad boys!
I own several Les Paul’s and none of them have the g string issue. On all of my guitars except ones with a locking nut I put graphite powder in the slot or some lubricant. Works amazingly well
Oh nice man. Will def have to try that. Cheers
Same here. Mine stays in tune. Graphite on the nut with every string change makes a difference
I concur... graphite does wonders😉
@@fordhammie it’s settled, this is my next move! Thank you my man.
@@guitarwalljamsyw 😉Def try it bro😉 I rub mechanical pencil graphite on the nut slots and saddles regularly...😊
Les Paul it's not for everybody
not for folks who like quality
I repeat not for everybody
@@CesarSAvilaYes, not for everybody who doesn't like tuning issues and low quality
I have two Lps strat and sg never have issues posible you are the issue
Not everybody is for a Les Paul…
I currently own an '03 Supreme, '93 '56 RI custom, '95 custom, '91 premium plus and a '17 limited edition koa. Never had a problem with the g-string staying in tune. None of the other 12 Les Paul's i've owned in the ever had tuning problems.
Love the Jam at the end. Great video as well.
Appreciate you dude! Cheers
Great Outro Jam ! any insights about its tutorial, tabs ? thanks
I own 2x LP HP models (a Studio and a Standard) and have had zero G String issues - possibly due to the Titanium Zero Fret Nut.
I was rather anti-Gibson until I bought one and played it for a while. Now, I really love them. Not sure if it's just the HP models but I can get super low action on my guitars (same, if not better than some of my Ibanez Jems...).
Tonally, very little sounds like a Les Paul. My Studio (490R/498T) has the more 'traditional' 70's rock tone that I associate with Gibson - it's killer. The Standard (Burstbucker Pros) is 'brighter'/more versatile.
Either way, lots of options on both using the Tone controls and mixing the pup levels. I'm a convert!
Here is a tip for the pesky G string. Increase the angle from the nut to the tuner by adding extra windings when stringing your guitar. Here is how to do that. Take the G string, pull it tight through the tuning machine hole with your right hand. Then, take your left thumb and index finger and pull the string back 2 1/2 frets. This gives you some slack. Bend the string forward around the tuning peg so it doesn't slip. That is the amount of string you want to wind around your tuning machine in single wind fashion. This means that you want the windings to not overlap each other, but continuously go down the tuning peg. That will increase the lean angle of the string and help with the pesky G string going out of tune. It is true that the best headstock designs have the strings running straight from the nut to the tuning peg. However, this will help.
More winds do not increase much angle. More windings do help holding guitar in tune though.
Adding extra windings downward does help increase angle, and yes extra windings keep the string from slipping. This is a Tom Bukovak trick.
@@jeffreykercheval9177 I had a slight issue with my 2022 Les Paul 50's Standard G string going out of tune and the suggested fixes were 1) use a wound G string and 2) wrap your strings around the tailpiece as most pro's do. I don't know about the wound G string trick but, fix no.2 worked for me and I have had no more tuning issues.
If the G string issue and the headstock breaks are a function if the headstock design then do those problems also apply to other Gibson products that use the same headstock such as the SG, the ES series or Gibson's acoustic guitars? As for the weight a buddy who I occasionally jam with has a Les Paul Jr. It is noticeably lighter than my Baja Telecaster.
I bought a String Butler, on Amazon and it pulls strings straight like a PRS
WORKS GREAT $45 ?
Definitely agree with you mate. Gibson Les Pauls are "bank busters".🤭 When "GAS" hits, I had no choice but to acquire one. hahaha😅 Also the G-String problem is an engineering mistake since 1958 but the more it goes out of tune the more expensive it becomes because that's "Vintage" feature.😁, owners should appreciate and live with it. But I want to share a trick I did to mine to eliminate this issue by a whooping 97%. First is to install a "Graphite Nut". It's hard and rare to find, (a Pro Luthier created one for me) but the alternative is the Tusq XL nut by Graphtech then slot it sideways like this -> / to the direction of the G-string tuner instead of straight. Mine doesn't go out of tune always, it still goes out of tune if you do full step bends, but at least tuning issues are not that prominent.👍 Weight and body weight can also be reduced through custom "chambering" but it will further bust your pockets.😆 Finally, headstock breakage is deadly to the resale value. Avoid having it bumped with your life or else the $5,500+ value plummets.
Cheers my friend.👌 SUBSCRIBED!💯
Man thanks so much for the insight. Much appreciated. Cheers
Great video!!!
Thanks
Appreciate you!
I bought a Gibson Les Paul classic brand new in the year 2000 and I still have it to this day. Is the one guitar I will never sale and it’s had two broken head repairs. Best thing is to get those Heavy duty Hercules guitar stands. Also got a brand new Gibson Les Paul standard GoldTop last month! It’s awesome. Gibson is back to making great guitars!
2 headstock breaks ?? Glad it still rocking today. Would love to see the new Goldtop. Cheers
I have seven Gibson Les Paul’s. I installed the String Butler on all of them, even though 2 didn’t need one. I have no issues with the tuning.
God those things are ugly! 😀
@@drippinglass well ask yourself this, what’s more important esthetics or tuning stability?
@@billyc6678 I recently bought the new Epiphone Les Paul Custom in white. The one with the Gibson headstock and MOP inlays. The G string stays in perfect tune. If the guitar isn’t staying in tune it’s the nut.
@@drippinglass like I said, I haven’t had any issues since installing the butler.
You got lucky, as did many other including myself. I also said that 2 of my Les Paul’s didn’t need them.
I have a Les Paul Standard and 335- never had any issues with either
Use a sharp #2 pencil and apply the lead into the nut slots, on a plastic nut also use a bit of vaseline or any thick hand lotion into the slots along with the pencil lead to help keep the lead from falling out of the slots.
There is no lead in pencils lol
go to an auto parts store and get a small tube of powdered graphite. Cheap and will last forever
I bought a 2022 60's standard it weighs 10 lbs 4 oz and I love it. I wanted one for 40 years.
Try a "string butler" for reassigning orientation of the strings without changing any hardware...
I had a 69 Deluxe and the 72 Standard the headstock break, and they were definitely better once they were fixed. Mine didn't completely break off.
My apologies for my poor English, I'm Dutch so I don't speak English very often.
I had the same tuning problem with my Les Paul 60's standard. It drove me crazy. Eventually I managed to solve it. First I tightened the screws of the tuners, they were not completely tight. I then widened the nut for the B and G strings with a very small knife. And then I applied a lubricant to the nut. I used Big Bends Nut Sauce for this, but there are also other brands available. Since then (about two months ago) the Les Paul has remained in tune. I think Gibson should provide a solution for such a premium guitar. My Strat doesn't have this problem (and it was a bit cheaper too) But hey, it's still a Les Paul.....
Nice man! Thanks for your input. Will have to try that. Cheers
They could fix the problem today but then all the vintage Gibson geeks would freak out, and that’s most of Gibson’s market. People who don’t like the problems with with LP design buy other brands and complain about Gibson online without ceasing
My LP Special is only 7.5 pounds! But seriously it hurt buying it but I have no regrets. It’s an amazing machine.
Oh and the factory Graph Tech nut…zero tuning issues.
This really helped. Thanks!
Thank you!
Really nice video man!
Appreciate you dude! Cheers
Dude, how about some tempered advice. For a Les Paul get a wide, padded strap. This is how we have been doing it for years.
AJ, what are the alternatives, you're suggesting over Gibson LP? I like LP, also. I can't imagine I'm playing no-humbuckers guitar, only.
So, please, give your thoughts over alternatives... Thanks man!
PRS CE-24 and ESP E-II
My dream guitar since I was a kid is a Gibson LP and when the Greeny came out I wanted it. Then Yesterday it was a thousand dollar off lol.. That's when I knew I had to get it.. I've never seen Gibson guitars drop a thousand CAD
I've had Les Paul's before. Love the sound, but I prefer SG's. Mind you, the reasons not to buy them are about the same, minus the weight. The lack of ergonomic contours in the shape is not really an issue with the SG as the body is much thinner.
I paid $1700 for my 2016 Gibson Les Paul Traditional in 2016. 2300 new back then. I also own a 1961 Les Paul Jr and a 2020 Les Paul Custom silver sparkle and they all stay in tune. Yes I gig regularly. The Les Paul is really the best guitar around.
For the G (and D!) string, check out a device called The String Butler. I have an SG and an ES-339, and I use one on each of them.
@AJ may, I ask.. What's your view on Gibson Television Yellow Special 2 P90's Guitar 🎸??
That guitar sounds awesome!
@@guitarwalljams Thank You..
Try mounting a Fender string tree on the top screw of the cover plate to guide the D and G string in a more straight way through the nut. Or use a String butler, that helped a lot on my Epi Les Paul Prophecy. Oh, and I forgot the nut sauce...
Nice explanation 😊👏👍 I just sold my Gibson Les Paul Standard due to some reasons that you explained 🥲 I really ❤ Les Paul shape & luckily for me, I still have them but other brand than Gibson which are more to my preference 🥰
The #1 fix for the G string issue is nut sauce or lubrication in the nut slot. It fixes the problem and makes guys who say it is a problem sort of like a guy who complains that his car does not go because he didn't put oil or gas in it. You can put single coil P90 HB sized pickups in a LP.
My main reason for prefering Fenders is that bolt-on necks can be swapped out and/ or adjusted for tilt and action. I've made custom strats out of mahogany, equipped with humbers and single coils, and conversion scale necks that can produce tones almost identical to my Les Paul. Less weight, more comfortable, easier to mod, less expensive. No brainer. I've owned well-over 50 electric guitars over the past 60+ years and my tele is still my favorite. Sorry Gibson fanboys!
What do you think about the Gibson Les Paul modern lite ? Picked one up for $799 but have mixed feelings
I’ve never played one but looks cool. Seems to be a stripped down LP Studio. What are your thoughts? $799 seems to be a good price.
I have an Xaviere pro 555 with a Floyd rose and I love it the G string does go out of tune here and there but I feel for stuff like Guns N Roses and also look at Neal Schons Gibson he made them his own by adding a sustainer and Floyd rose and custom neck joint he requested when they made his signature models
About everything is true on this vid. I bought a Les Paul Tribute in order to customize it at my taste to finally only change the TOM for a Floyd Rose FRX, and I'll work on the Volumes and Tones very soon, other than that this guitar is truly reliable and has a strong personality/feel right on the 1st chord/note. Good vid, 👍
Regarding the G string getting out of tune, have you tried the Guitar NutBuster? I don't have a Les Paul, but I do have a Duesenberg Starplayer TV which is arguably even worse because it has a Bigsby style tremolo... But a bridge with roller saddles and the NutBuster pretty much eliminated that problem. I even threw in a String Butler for good measure. Or you could simply buy an LTD EC-1000 with an Evertune for 1500$.
Never tried the Nutbuster. Just doing some research now, will have to give it a try. Cheers
@guitarwalljams big bends nut sauce works great too I use it on my les paul trad
Cool video with my les paul I had the neck trimmed down just like the way Jimmy Page did.
Dude…I did the same thing and I love it…it’s like a shred machine now👍
Got a Gretsch G5421 Electromatic and Sire S3 hss for about a third of the entry level Gibson LP. With the change I bought an amp (Marshall) and some fx (Boss, Carl Martin, Warm Audio,Ibanez) still having a little change 😅
I’ve experienced the G string issue with other guitars as well. Never knew it was a universal issue. Thought it was just me
The "Gibson Tone" that Many guitar players want. (like British Invasion greats had) = a number of things added together. Pickups and wood matter. But Near as important The 50s-60s Burst tone was also from the combination of certain metals used in Bridge the posts the thumbwheels Tailpiece and studs. I have tried it on a few older guitars and one new Standard. It Makes a Big difference to My ear. Gibson Stopped using their great parts in the early 60s, On a Standard the good ones are Solid Brass Posts and thumbwheels for an aluminum composite bridge with Brass saddles An Aluminum Tailpiece with steel studs and bushings. It works so good on Gibsons I bet a less costly Guitar like newer Epiphone would also sound much better with that parts upgrade. The upgrade can be done as cheap as 50-100 dollar range for all the parts.
5 reasons ? I’ll give you one for owning a les Paul (I have many makes of guitar) the les Paul makes me want to play guitar ,it’s what got me started playing. G string out of tune - never had an issue when educated. Les Paul’s are awesome
I just picked up my first Les Paul it's a 60s Ebony by Epiphone. I honestly love it.
Tom Scholz solved it with a damper at the head stalk.
Thought you might wanna know.
I play Ibanez RGT42 , Jackson JS32 and JS34 , exclusively.
Yes my Jacksons are outsourced to China yet a simple input jack replacement on the JS34 resolved that.
make sure the string winds up the post, not down and get back to me on the GString issue! 😉
Your pronunciation is easy to listen to for ESL listener like me. Thx. Keep it up 👍
Thanks so much! I appreciate that. Maybe it’s from teaching English in Japan for 1 year!?
Lol when I got my Les Paul standard in 2018 the first thing I did was change the pick ups ( not a fan of the burstbuckers.) Now on my Gold Top I have the p - 90s ( love them babies. ) both of my Les Pauls weigh almost 10 lbs.
You can also add quality some I've picked up I did not enjoy at all, but the ones I have really liked I can let them go.
I've just bought an SG and it sounds awesome but I still have that G string tuning problem 😢
Try a thing called a guitar Butler it realigns the strings my friend do that and his guitar stays into no matter what just a helpful suggestion but I would try it
All valid points. Out of the 5 reasons the price point probably prevents most people from buying one. However, resale on them is quite good because so many people like them, history, heritage, etc, something to remember. Love or hate it -- not many other guitars can cop that thick weight of tone the LP brings. I've owned several and settled on one that I really like when I want that sound.
💯. Which LP do you own?
@@guitarwalljams CSH '57 Reissue in black with a 60s neck profile.
Since 1980 I think I've owned about 15 Les Paul guitars. I always sell or trade them. The last one was 3 years ago. I think I'm about ready for another one.
G-String tuning issues:
Of course I know it … but let me tell you my personal experience:
It’s always “setup” or overall quality of the instrument. I own for the first time ever a custom shop Gibson and this one has absolutely no intonation issues at all. I can bend the hell out of this thing… nothing happens to the tuning stability.
The same thing is with my second Gibson, who is a real vintage 50’s Gibson Jazz Guitar. No issue at all! Absolutely 0% problems around tuning and intonation.
If your Gibson just don’t stay in tune or the G-String is making trouble … it’s poor overall quality of the parts, or a bad setup… that’s at least my experience after more than 20 years doing this.
Get a professional setup and let a high skilled tech working on it.
I love Gibson 🤝
And it’s always possible to get em working good 👍😎
That outro jam song sounds familiar. Name?
I got my first one about 6 mouths ago. After playing multiple copies for years I even had a Chibson 😱. But not until I got my standard did I understand how good a real Gibson was. It plays so much better than the copy’s I’ve owned.
For #4, I've didcovered the Dimarzio Humbucker From Hell, it sounds like a nice single coil, but without the hum.
I was given a Les Paul studio wine red color and I love it, I do miss the prs silver sky se I used to have ,, those are sup light to play with
Man what a great present to get. Enjoy that bad boy!
@@guitarwalljams thank you 😊
I was a strat fan for years , then was lucky enough to get my hands on a les Paul standard, now that is my main guitar, I would part with my wife before i part with this guitar.
I love my les paul standard it's the best guitar I've ever played when I got it from Gibson garage and played a chord and instantly got it I've played one before but years ago and with Ceasar running Gibson they are much better btw my G string stays in tune and once I'm plugged it the price doesn't mean a thing to me so ROCK ON 🎸
I bought a Michael Kelly Patriot Instinct Bold Custom for $700 with a case. Quilted maple top, mahogany body and neck, two humbuckers with coil split on both, TOM bridge and a string-thru body. And there’s no tuning issues.
I bought my son one several years ago and decided to buy myself (Standards) one because the prices always go up. I've owned a few LPs over the years and only one, a 72 stayed in tune.
none of my 3 Gibson les pauls have any tuning issue on the G string. Try one wrap under, the rest of the windings... over.
My Epiphone Les Pauls stay in tune no problem. I just upgraded basically everything on them and they were still cheaper than a Gibson and more punk IMHO. Seriously, a lot of Gibson players end up changing the pickups anyways...
There are not any more expensive than any other good guitar. I paid $2,500 for a 2022 50’s standard (2 years ago). I paid $2,900 for a 12 string Rickenbacker (3 months ago). Both great playing guitars. My Rickenbacker 4003 Bass was only $2,300.
The key to keeping the G string in tune is to make sure the nut slots are not too tight and well lubed. Also, Epiphone les Paul's have a lower headstock angle and a scarf joint which is much stronger.
Yo how do you only have 468 subscribers this production is top notch i wouldve thought you had 300k or more easy keep it up dude your gonna be huge
Dude I appreciate that so much! This made my day. Cheers! 🤘🏽❤️🎸
Most dont even know how to tune a gibson. You tune the string, then do a big string bend to pull the slack through the nut. After that the tuning stability is amazing
Just became a LP “Fan Man” just recently. Played a Fender Strat’ my whole and Effin G’ Aye Right, Burst Buckers are Bad Ass 😮
From what year is that Les Paul? is that a Standard? very beautiful
Thank you my man. It’s a 2016 LP Standard in Faded Honeyburst.
@@guitarwalljams It looks great. It looks a bit like Slash's Jessica but even better!
My lp standard came out to a little over 4 grand new in canada. Like you said at the beginning about your budget, im like that with prs. I want one but the 7000$ price makes me wanna puke ☹️
I've seen plenty of shows where the guitarist(s) played Les Pauls the entire show without tuning issues whatsoever - So there!
I Love the Les Paul I got 4 (CS Ebony, GT P90, Stand. HB Fadet, + 1 Epi Custom) they are beasts of Rock Music 👍😎💪
String Butler with new bone nut slotted straight! I have had no issues after this
I opted for the JHS/Vintage brand V100 Les Paul. It kicks ass.
That head stock break story is not exclusive to Gibson. That same thing happened to my Fender 89 HM Strat.
Is it that today's players whine more when it comes to the Les Paul head stock or other thing like Floyd Rose trems? Because I never recalled professional or touring guitarists ever make complaints about either in interviews in the past.
I just replaced the collapsed bridge on my LP and now I’m sitting at work watching the clock count down to when I can play my guitar all weekend. Ahhhh! 6 hours to go!
Just found out my nashville type bridge also has collapsed... Thought I was getting sloppy with my chord playing. Didn´t know about this issue, wonder why it happens. I´ve played heavy strings my early years and slammed the tailpiece right down, maybe that was it. I bought my standard heritage cherry sunburst brand new in 1997 and its pretty worn today. Had to put in stainless frets some years ago. No issues with tuning though. Great guitar!
@@jukkamurto2411 it probably just happens slowly until you finally realize something is wrong. It’s almost like a new guitar with the new bridge
I'm more interested in an ESP model of a similar shape. More affordable and more modern features
I haven’t looked to buy a guitar since 2021…wow. The prices on everything went up hundreds of dollars. I remember a standard Les Paul being $2,600
#1. Buy used for killer deal
#2 G string bad on most guitars / use graphite mix with petroleum jelly
#3 Volutes and don't drop lol!
#4 Look great as is/no need to customize
#5 Agree lol! Got one 15 lbs (all maple LPCusom 1976)
#6 Very hard to reach uppermost frets for guitar solos at fret 22
But great tone... example "November Rain" one of thousands of songs final verdict!!!
Haha love this dude! I think you should remake this video! Cheers my man happy playing.
I have my les Paul custom from 1981 still amazing guitar
I have a 2015 Les Paul Studio with the zero fret instead of a nut. Stays in tune like any other guitar
I have an Epiphone Special 2 from the 70's, I think. I love it, and never had a problem. I'd never be able to afford, or justify, buying a new Gibson though. I'm too "logical and practical".
I had a LP studio and didn't like it. Sold it and bought a Vintage brand LP gold top. It plays so much better and sounds better at a fraction of the cost.
Of all the les Paul’s I’ve played. I ended up getting an SG and it was like a lightbulb moment. The SG seems to be the light, less problematic Les Paul. The only issue is the neck dive
Sew a couple strips of silicone strips into your strap so it doesn’t slip off your shoulder.
@@no_regerts5176 then it has a weird tug on your shoulder
Why doesn’t Gibson use a tusc fanned slot nut on ALL their models?
I found winding the G string atop the wounds, instead of below worked for me.All 3 . G..B.. E. Thin strings made tuning very stable
Sick! Will have to try that. Cheers
My standard 50s g string is stay tune all night
if the reason why g string doesn’t stay in tune is the design flaw, why does the D string stay in tune ? since both sit in mirroring positions
I was gonna ask that same question.
The D string is not bent as much as G.
that's where it changes from wound to single filament... makes sense if you don't think about it
I love my LP as well.
“…they repaired it flawlessly…”
I see it right there. 👈🏼👀
You can buy P90’s with conversion plates and fit them to less Paul. I had a 76 custom that was just under 11 pounds
just bought my second les paul custom. im totally fine with that
Gibson fretboards are taller than Fender fretboards, Fenders feel cramped. The bolt on necks Fender uses have kind of a ford assembly line vibe Im not too into. Not individually custom made
Yeah, the weight is a problem. And it’s so awkward playing sitting, it’s like it’s always fighting you. I feel like it always likes to neck dive. But main reason is, a person i don’t like has it, so i don’t like it as well. Plus it’s so ugly. ES 335 imo is better. PRS custom 24 is a better version of the LP imo.
I bought a Les Paul Deluxe in 1975 they were $450 with case.
I have a 2007 Audi A6 that was my father’s last automobile. I got rear-ended by a MN-DOT dump trunk. Was certain the adjuster would total the car. I told him how much I love the auto and its sentimental value to me. He came up just $100 under the amount that would have totaled it (I’m sure as a favor)
$17, 900 of damage. Took a month to get the car back. I would stop by the garage, bring coffee and donuts to the mechanics and body shop guys.
Long story not really short: like your workhorse LP, my Audi drives and feels better AFTER the crash and repair, I believe.
We have 208, 000 miles under our belt and hood.
Dude, I f*cking love this story. Thanks for sharing. As devastating as it was to have a headstock break, the guitar plays better than ever. Glad you are still driving your A6. Cheers
@guitarwalljams
Thank you and you’re welcome.
I got a Lester the day after my late-mother joined her bestie, my pop, for their eternal reward. (Both made 85 and created a great life, so more reason to celebrate than grieve.) I wanted an instrument that was visually stunning (have always found LP’s to be really, well, pretty) but capable of churning out Jimmy Page devil chords on command, something heavy in my hands and weighty around my neck, so when I’m playing, I’m very present. Thought I’d leave GC with a cherry burst Standard-brought a wicked shredder buddy to help-but found a Honeyburst Classic that made my fingers feel more capable. My ma and I got Honeybear, the Havi pictured at left, and he was with us 3 years, so the burst and the Bear seemed cool, as well. Now, we’ve been bachelors for 3 years.
Got my 1st Strat in March. Am. Pro. II with roast pine body. I love it, too. So, light and smooth it almost feels like a toy.
However, when I need to tackle some awkward deep emotions, that Gibson is the medicine.
🙏🏽✌🏽💙 from Minnesota
My LP stays in tune on all strings, get the nut cut right and use some grease in the slots
The 3rd string always stays in tune with a properly cut nut and Steinberger tuners.
me: oh no too expensive
lyxpro: *hands ony shoulder* we got you for a les paul style for $200
build kits: were here also