Gibson LPJ pros and cons and why I sold my LPJ

[@Andreus9733]

I love this guitar and the fact that it wears off so that instrument looks like it was played in ages. I've been playing my LPJ14 for 8 years now and it shows. I got it on my 18 birthday and I have been playing it ever since. Neck is completely worn even the body started to go light where my hand rests. This instrument is just a part of me by now. I'l never sell it. It honestly feels like there's chunk of my soul in this guitar. Even though I hate bat necks this instrument is my main one

[@craigharrison5406]

I have a white 2013 LPJ. I didn't like the guitar at first due to the Gibson G string tuning issue. I changed the tuners to Grover locking ones and installed a Graphtech Tusq nut and it fixed all the tuning issues. The guitar is fantastic now. I think anyone with a Les Paul or any guitar with a fixed bridge should install a Graphtech nut. Best $20 guitar upgrade ever.

[@guitarworm1714]

Excellent suggestion. Yes out of all my guitars, my Gibson is the worst for staying in tune.

[@claytondouglasmusic]

Your honesty and insight was supremely helpful. Thanks for taking the time to make this video!

[@guitarworm1714]

I am really glad it was helpful. Thanks for the kind words.

[@williamgreer4087]

My LPJ with the same specs as this is an absolute animal, a total stripped down rock machine It still needed a full set up and fret dress from new (because Gibson) which is a shame but now it's just epic 🔥

[@strawsparky33]

if you want an affordable Gibson, grab one up. i got a pro model with coil taps, and of course since im not paying $1000 plus for it, id expect it to not be perfect. but thats what i love about this guitar. i spent my time and love on fixing the fret issues and putting a new nut in and changing up the cosmetics. theyre great les pauls, i put pro pinstripe tape on it to create a faux binding, couldnt tell the difference unless you pick it up. this is a Gibson thats meant to be modded, a players guitar.

[@guitarworm1714]

strawsparky33 that’s a great way to look at it. Definitely great sounding guitars. Thanks for watching.

[@brickbreaker8148]

Got mine new for $499 w/no tax and free shipping on Musician's Friend clearance on these 2014 models.

[@guitarworm1714]

Can't go wrong for that price. Thanks for watching.

[@rafaelkindermann4643]

Hey! I can't seem to find them anywhere. But i would like to try/buy one. I've looked on the most popular online stores but nothing. Are they all sold out? Are they limited edition or something like that?

[@admiralbob77]

The LPJ is a brighter sounding instrument (slightly) than other humbucking Les Pauls - suited me as I normally favour Fenders. I can't say I noticed any quality problems, and certainly was far better put together than any Epiphone I've ever seen.

[@guitarworm1714]

Admiral Bob glad your enjoying it. I know guitarist who favour Gibson as their go to and many prefer the LPJ to their more expensive standards and classics. Thanks for watching.

[@PiranhaEntertainment]

I got my LPJ mint, and might I mention my first guitar, from my local music store for $648. I love the finish of the Satin, and the black might be a bit much, but I love how it sounds. It is essentially a studio but with a rosewood fret board, gigbag instead of a hardshell case, and different headstock veneer. The neck is probably one of the best feelings, probably one of the most comfortable i've ever held. The best thing is, is that it is one of the Gibson's that will have more value after upgrades. There is nothing you can't do to make it a dream axe. It is worthy of the Les Paul name.

[@guitarworm1714]

Thanks a lot for watching and sharing your experience with the LPJ.

[@survivor030406]

It comes with 2 tone knobs. That should fix the brightness people comment on.

[@guitarworm1714]

I think a lot of metal players playing a straight humbucker guitar, are not use to messing with the tone. On a les Paul it makes a dramatic difference. Thanks for watching.

[@jedimindfrak82]

I wind pickups for a living. This is always my response to "it's too bright" 😂

[@MacedonianGrace]

Yep

[@TheMrLoucrazy]

Noah Berryman i agree with you.

[@megatrends]

This is nice for you to use the tone knobs, essential for a Paul. I own a few Les Pauls of all $$$ ranges and these LPJ and the Studio are great. Those 61 Zebra pickups are coveted, great pickups, sorry to see you don't like them. I have them in an SGJ and absolutely love them immensely! Raw and angry sounding, maybe that's what you don't like them. As for the finish, the guitar resonates well with this matt finish. Look, I own an R8 Custom Shop Paul and an R9 both of which sold for $4,999 and $5,999 and are exceptional but I also have two Paul studios and love them too without the binding etc similar to what you have here. Trust me, they are great and a different animal. You have a nice guitar here. Sounds to me if you don't like this one you should invest in a Standard or even a Classic. I also own a Classic Paul 1960 model from 2005 and it is awesome. I bought a Traditional T in 2016 I love lots as well. I also ave a Fort Knox Les Paul (video in my profile of a demo and unboxing) which for al intent is a 59 tribute as it has the 59 tribute pickups. Why mention all of these? Because not one single Les Paul I have sounds like the other. That's important to acknowledge guitars, you can literally have a dozen of the same model and they will all sound differently. I tend to leave the guitars with the stock pickups, people change them out and it never made sense to me. If you feel you need to change the pickups then the guitar itself isn't for you. Maybe you're just not a Paul player.

[@guitarworm1714]

John B, thanks for sharing your expertise with me. I must say I do like the 61 pick ups, they have grown on me over time. The cleans always sounded great and they really can play any kind of music. I was not trying to say I dislike this guitar in anyway, as I really do love it. It's currently my number one. However, I do still find myself more impressed with other companies in the same dollar range as far as finish and parts go. Yes, I would love an LP standard or classic. I am a sucker for binding and beautiful guitars.

[@megatrends]

I love Gibsons and Fenders, I've been thinking about PRS lately. I hear so many great things about them. I am happy you like the guitar in the video and the pickups. Those 61 Zebra pickups go for good money used on eBay. They are really popular pickups with people who own them. My main opinion on guitars to decide if I like it is does it make me happy when I play it? I have a Squier (By Fender made in Indonesia) Jaguar that I got new for $399 and it is an amazingly awesome guitar. I also have a strat styled I made from spare parts and a Squier 1996 anniversary body I bought on eBay for $40. Got a Mighty Mite neck from Stewart MacDonald for $110. I got the cheap Dragonfire preloaded pickguard for $40 and a Fender chrome plated pickguard. That cheap home made strat is one of my favorites over even a couple of Fender American strats. I have about a dozen strats both American and Mexican. Guitars are awesome!

[@teodelnorte]

It's an excellent guitar. I have the exact same model and colour. The brightness is from it being a maple neck more than anything else. I have a custom strat, s-500 Fullerton and I had a studio LP. Weirdly, this LPJ, cheapest of the lot has been the most comfortable out of all of them. I love the look of a standard but there's something really nice about how basic and stripped back this is. If it goes out of tune, you bend the strings a few times and retune then it should stay better. 61s are nice pups

[@guitarworm1714]

That's great. I have heard others say similar things. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@SkyBrightAgency]

I love the sound of a Les Paul but they're sooo heavy. So I ended up with a PRS Swamp Ash Special. I went to the store and tried one of these LPJ's and was SHOCKED at how fat the tone was. It has some sort of honeycomb cutout inside which makes it markedly lighter than the higher end ones. I bought it on the spot as my backup and it's served me well. For purists who want a high-end one, this is not for you. For folks who want a workhorse without all the bells and whistles but sounds amazing for rock, this is for you.

[@guitarworm1714]

Derek De Vette totally agree with you. My main axes right now are a PRs se custom 24 and a PRs SE tremonti I keep down tuned. Head to head a les Paul has a better sound but it comes with weight and a less player friendly guitar shape.

[@r.k.2000]

Glad to see someone giving an honest review instead of just saying the guitar is great, just to justify having bought it. Regarding the tuning problems, I would try some other fixes first before replacing the tuners. I've heard that a lot of Gibson Les Pauls have a problem staying in tune, across the spectrum of lower end and higher end Les Pauls. A guitar repair person told me it was to do with the angle of the headstock on Gibson Les Pauls. Ironically, Epiphone Les Pauls have a less extreme headtock angle, avoiding some of those problems! When the headstock is at a larger angle, it can contribute to the strings binding in the nut slots. So first I would recommend just putting some nut lubricant in each string slot. Some people even put some on the metal string saddles too (and string trees if it's an older style Strat). Also, sometimes the nut slots haven't been cut properly at the factory and that can also cause the strings to bind. If the slots are too deep or too narrow, you could get a gtr tech to either widen the slot, or build up the slot a bit (see Dan Erlewine's repair videos on KZbin). Or get the nut replaced with one properly cut by an experienced repair person, and/or put in a Graphtech or Tusq nut which have self-lubing properties, and are not only less expensive than traditional nuts, but also last many times longer!

[@guitarworm1714]

R. K. Thanks for the advice. I agree with everything you said, I have heard many experts complain about the angle of the Gibson headstock. And I can personally, say that my epiphone stays in tune better than the les Paul. In fact out of all the brands I ve owned, (Dean, esp Ltd, G & L, PRS se) Gibson stays in tune the least, hands down.

[@rachetCD]

I have a 2014 studio pro in tobacco burst candy. It was $1525 new from the factory. I literally got it at the memphis factory. Very proud of it... especually since i got it at 15

[@davidallen346]

I think those are the Gibson 61 pickups which are very bright and punchy in a good way tho i have them in my Les Paul standard and SGJ You can try the 57 classic which are alnico II pickups that might tame the tone but some people claim that it's dark sounding pickup.

[@guitarworm1714]

David Allen thanks for the comment. I be talked to a few Gibson owners who claim the 61s are there favourite pick up. The did grow on me over time, I just had to dial the tone back a little more than I have with other pickups.

[@Bushradical]

Really good solid review!!

[@guitarworm1714]

Bushradical thanks, I really appreciate that.

[@cajunqueen5125]

very interesting/helpful, thx for posting this

[@shtdaprdtr]

If you find it too bright drop in a 250K tone pot to darken it up...thats what fender does

[@guitarworm1714]

Sounds like a good idea. I would like to customize it some day.

[@Purplino]

better with a 300k pot...250k might be more suitable for single coils

[@therover4141]

shtdaprdtr 250k tone pots not really going to darken it up it'll quieten it down my lpj 2014 with the 61 humbuckers they're in the burstbucker family they have out Niko 5 pickups just like the burstbucker pro but the difference in the burstbucker Pro in the 61 the burstbucker pro the coils are mismatched wound one has more windings than the other and I could be backwards on this but on the burstbucker pro the screw coil is the hotter wound coil whereas on the 61 humbuckers the slug coil is the hotter wound I could be backwards on which one is weld hotter on screw versus Slug can't really remember right off the top of my head but that's the only difference in a burstbucker pro and the 61 humbucker main reason why I bought my lpj because I thought those pickup sounded freaking amazing especially compared to the four 90s but my 1980 custom has a burstbucker pro in the bridge and a Seymour Duncan jazz in the neck basically the same tone pots I got totally different caps in the custom as a matter of fact I went to the electronic store and I bought a whole bunch of different kinds to experiment with but I don't think that that has much of a effect on the difference in sound between the two guitars when all knobs are on 10 burstbucker Pro to me has a more paf rounded tone sparkly vibe the 61 humbucker it's just a freaking Beast but the cool thing I like about the 61 if you set your Bridge pickup eighth of an inch away from the strings and that's fretting the string at the 22nd fret and then measuring from there the 61 will sizzle and probably do is heavier metal as you want it to but if you back the 61 humbuckers away from the strings you can hear more of the paf in in stone you might be looking for whereas the burstbucker pro it never reaches that Sizzle point that the 61 will I also believe the 60 ones are probably wound even hotter than the Pro and I think what they were trying to go for in the reason why they call it the 61 and other than the opposite coils having hotter wounds between the two pickups in the 50s Gibson hand-wound their pickups and I think they used anywhere between alnico two and three magnets short long bar I don't know but by the time 61 roll around they may have gotten the patent by then I can't really remember I don't think the patent came until maybe 63-64 maybe even as far as 65 but I think they had a machine that would count the wind at that point plus I think they were also using like up to an alnico 4 magnet so maybe when they had a machine that would actually set the the wire wines around the coil they tended to be wild hotter than the Hound Wellman's or maybe they were more consistent because from what I understand in the fifties when they hand welding they just wild them until they got tired of fucking winding them or until they felt the bobbin was full so paf pickups where a crap shoot plus you think about it they weren't making Les Paul's they were making the SG guitar which to me having that spinner body seems to have a little more sting and bite then the regular Les Paul I guess the 61 humbucker is what whoever designed them here's when he thinks about sixties made Gibson pickups versus fifties made Gibson pickups either way that's pretty much what I've read and Been Told about the differences in the burstbuckers and the 61s oh yeah you can always slap a set of covers over the 61 humbuckers and I will also tame them down a little bit I ended up putting on covers polished out that faded finish to a pretty decent shine because my arm was already shining up the upper bout of the guitar anyway the Nitro is so thin that the paint around the edges were was already starting to wear off the sides around the edges so I said fuck it taped off what I wanted false binding with to look like took some sandpaper not super heavy Grit and just went around where I had taped it off all the way around the edges and it looks like it has actual binding I also just because I had it laying around I was going to put some type of stain or something just to kind of protect the wood little bit but I had this whitewash Furniture whitewash clear Furniture finish did a little paint brush and and brushed it on you can't really even tell but instead of staining the false binding a darker color it's clear and you can look and see that it's actually the wood grain but it pertains a lighter wood grain look it's the fire burst LP J in my avatar and to be honest with you I love playing that freaking guitar now actually play it probably more than the custom just has a different feel and I put up custom Triple A binding black pick guard on it as well I didn't like the fire burst finished at first thought it was kind of hokey looking but it look better than the other colors to me and I bought it because I really like the pickups and the neck but changing the knobs to Pickard the false binding polishing the finish out putting some covers on the pickups it looks feels like a completely different guitar and now I really like the fire burst finish once it's polished out some things just don't look that great faded or in a satin finish not trying to boast and brag about my guitar but not a lot of people have the hundred 20th anniversary LP J they were turned off by the hundred 20th anniversary fret marker which I never even noticed anymore and to even remember that it's there I literally have to make a conscience effort to look at it and since it wasn't a super expensive Les Paul I wasn't too afraid to do those modifications to it like I said the Finish was so thin it was already starting to wear around the edges and most all the studios and things now Gibson puts false binding on I think it just looks really nice especially with the black back unless you're actually holding the guitar you would never know that it wasn't actual binding oh and if you don't want to buy a blank truss rod cover you can take some quadruple o steel wool it's really fine steel wool and rub that LP J right the fuck off and then just take a terry cloth and polish those fine scratches out of that plastic and it looks a lot better than having those big dumbass bold print letters on that truss rod cover oh and I like the Tulip better than the Les Paul model on the headstock

[@devs3720]

Or just like, idk, use the tone knob lmao?

[@therover4141]

@@devs3720 or do that or most people forget the amp had eq controls as well. You want a good thick sound on your amp put your mid at about 8 treble at 4 and 1/2 or 5 put the bass at about 6 that works really great especially for using like a 112 or 212 combo. It makes your sound a lot bigger sounding to me.

[@survivor030406]

I really like the speed knobs.

[@guitarworm1714]

Agreed, possibly my fav knobs from any guitar. I was playing an epi les Paul last night, and the knobs just felt way too slippery.

[@therover4141]

survivor030406 the fuck those speed knob had to go immediately I don't really like speed knobs anyway never have or those motherfuking metal knobs like some telecasters have and every city super Strat from the 80s and crappy bass guitars plus those new speed knobs with the Nobbies are sharp as shit always go for either the old 50s Bell type color depending or the 60s reflector knobs and I want to get another set for one of my SGS of 70s witch hat Style I love the old school knobs and the little pointer washers that go up under them those are hard as shit to find without having to order them and in case anyone cares that's what those little washers with the pointers on them are called if you ever wanted to try and order some they're called pointer washers may seem like some pointless useless knowledge but try describing him to a customer service rep or the latest dipshit at Guitar Center they never have any idea what you want or what you're talking about but if you order them from stewmac or all parts are called pointer washers

[@m1lkb0y]

You definitely earned a sub! In my opinion, mexican strats and duo sonics are the best bang for the buck. Absolutely fantastic guitars. And a fantastic review from you, too. :)

[@guitarworm1714]

Thank you so much Des's Stuff. I am all about the best bang for the buck. I am glad you are too. Thanks for subscribing, I should have some new videos coming out shortly.

[@m1lkb0y]

And i'll be waiting for 'em! I've got my notifications for you on. :))

[@zebperk1]

I picked one up used locally for $350. I love the stripped down look. It is a great playing guitar, but I didn't like the sound of the black plastic EMG looking pickups. I swapped those out for a Seymour Duncan Hotrodded set. I dont like those either. So, back to the drawing board on that issue. Quality wise it is not as good as my Studio. I also noticed that I could feel where the fretboard meets the neck and it drives me crazy. It was well worth $350 but I would never pay over $500 for an LPJ.

[@guitarworm1714]

Thanks for the comments. 350 is a great deal. Perhaps you should try a p90 type pick up. I believe the Gibson p94 fits in a humbucker slot. I currently own a 60s tribute les paul with p 90s and I love the sound, of course the quality is still lacking when it comes to the feel.

[@clarkscott8532]

The 2014 models came with 57 classic. Nobody seems to like the black plastic cover 490s. They don't sound like 490 pickups. Sucks they made them with the covers glued on. Makes you wonder if they're something completely different.

[@sirbaronvoncount4147]

Alnico 2 are great bridge pickups. A bit sweeter and less bright than alnico 5

[@guitarworm1714]

That's what I hear, I am considering putting those in my pre se custom. Thanks for watching!

[@vicenteb531]

Hi! I will be in the US soon and I dont know where can I find used Gibson Les Pauls in good conditions. I would like to see and play a guitar before paying for it, because I will be moving from one city to another, so any warranty issue or take it back for a refund or anything like that would not be possible for me. Any recommendations? Thanks! (I will be in Atlanta,GA and Orlando, FL)

[@guitarworm1714]

Vicente Barrena well if you want used you could check the nearby guitar Center online as they post there used guitars, but the chances they have one when you want it, will be slim. You can look at online classifieds like Kijiji or craigslist. These would be sold by individual people and you can pick it up and play it at their house before purchasing. Goodluck in your search. Thanks for watching.

[@vicenteb531]

@@guitarworm1714 Thanks for the advice man! I always buy at Guitar Center but since Gibson are expensive guitars, I want to try used guitars but in very good conditions. I didn´t know about Kijiji or Craigslist so I will check them. Cheers.

[@roqueeeeeeeee]

what I love more in mine is the satin finish, color (same as this) and not having a flamed top. The pups are not awesome as sometimes they don't seem to sustain the notes but other times they feel just perfect, specially if you wanna go on a hot rod crunchy soundalike. and of course, the main thing is the 120 years anniversary logo in the freatboard xD

[@guitarworm1714]

roqueeeeeeeee the satin finish is cool and I also love the inlay on the 12th fret. Thanks for your comment.

[@nikkieb8908]

Awesome sounding guitar. To me it sounds better than an s2 prs for example and plays similar to my hands. Little bit less finger space though. Is still a lot better than many of the newer guitars out there in this price range.Esp ltd ec1000 has maybe better quality over this but doesnt sound or play quite as good. This lpj does lose tuning fairly quickly.

[@guitarworm1714]

Couldn't agree more. Now that I own a few PRS, I would still have to give the better sound to Gibson. However, playability goes to PRS hands down. Thanks for watching

[@stevehogan8829]

Hey, this was a great review. This is exactly how I feel about Gibson and their quality and feel.. Iike you I don't understand a guitar that ages dramatically from just hanging on the wall or sitting in a case but some how or other Gibsons seem to age just while you're holding them. Finish cracks, falls off, I was watching a review last not of a Les Paul when a big chip of finish flew off while the guy was turning it around to view the back... It cracked me up. I don't think he even noticed. Oh well, I keep trying to like them. I've got Fenders with hardware from the mid 80's that is shinier than hardware on Gibson Les Pauls from 2002. Can't figure it out.

[@guitarworm1714]

Shoman Blues Thanks for watching and I am glad you agree. And you'll be the first to know that LPJ is no longer in my fold. Traded it for a PRS. Video to come.

[@johnpike8415]

maybe your pick ups need to be lowered? humbuckers are double magnets they pull sound like crazy. I'd play with the height before swapping out

[@guitarworm1714]

I did play with the heights on my first LPJ, but I don't think I have with this lpj, maybe I should. Thanks for watching.

[@strat_1880]

@Guitar Worm Which guitar or guitars can get the AIC tones in the G&l guitars? Of course besides the G&l Superhawk

[@treishtrei]

Probably the best review ever. I was nearly buying a 2017 sg faded hp online. But coming from ibanez prestige background or korean guitars...i am afraid of poor gibson quality.

[@adammceachran3610]

Treishtrel thanks for watching and the great compliment! It's definitely people like u (Ibanez players) who may be disappointed with these guitars. I would definitely play before u buy. I just acquired an epi phone les Paul and I would say finish and feel are superior. In fact almost any epi LP standard will have a better fret job than a low end Gibson. For high quality under a grand I recommend Ibanez or ltd.

[@tricko2286]

Great review - thanks.

[@guitarworm1714]

Tricko Thanks for watching, I really appreciate it.

[@ernestaraujo98]

Guys I have a 2013 LPJ with the 490R/498T and the things that I don’t like is that the bridge pickup are so damn sharp and the volume on the neck one is low. I have tried to adjust the string height compared to the pickups and it did seem to help a bit the volume on the neck pickup, but it’s still not there. Any ideas on how to overcome that problem?

[@guitarworm1714]

ernestaraujo98 thanks for watching. I am assuming by adjusting the string height, you mean raise the pick up height. If not, the screw on either side of the pick will do that. That should affect the volume. Closer to the string should be louder. Hope that helps.

[@AlexA-fn2bg]

Buy tonerider pickups. Their alnico 2 and 4 humbuckers are amazing. Look up demos on KZbin. Ditch the stock pickups, they suck.

[@leahcaudill6559]

You have a 2014, mine is a 13 it came with 490and498 pick ups you have to work on them a little bit,but it is the cheapest LPs, get one if you can. That's the only time Gibson,put out a cheap one.

[@zps4173]

I have one and I love it. No where does gibson ever call it a les Paul. It's an lpj!

[@davidnovakovich6990]

if it helps any, these can occasionally be found with the les paul sig, instead of the crown.

[@Roland9469]

Yeah the small tiny chips on the edge of the finish could be quite annoying(I don't really like it, although on the other hand you don't need to wait 30 years to get the same kinda wear like on the other guitars.. just 3 or 4 years :D ), and I have no idea how they got there honestly. The other con is that you can't touch the finish otherwise your fingerprints stay there FOREVER ( no i am just kidding)..But I don't really know how to remove it completely.(I am gonna try Gibson pump polish maybe it helps) Satin finish= nice but really sensitive for everything! You didn't mention the rosewood fingerboard... It gets quite dry and messy during the winter season, ok if you live south with 50-60 % humidity that shouldn't be an issue.If I could chose again I would chose a guitar with maple fingerboard and gloss finish instead. Other than these minor problems I think it is a really nice guitar with sooo cooool Les Paul tone, easy to play and stays in tune for me :) yes I agree on the price with you...They really make you pay for the brand... Rock On!

[@adammceachran3610]

Roland Marti, I agree with your comments. It does have the Les Paul tone and that's the bottom line for most people. I think I ll go a gloss fins oh next time too.

[@joshuakozee5719]

the flaking could be that they use a poor quality nitro, it is well known their nitro ages very fast

[@mornbrrrr]

Planning to buy this guitar too with the price range what other option do I have? what specific guitars? my budget range is 600 to 800. Thanks

[@guitarworm1714]

6-800 is a great price range. That's where I feel you get the most bang for your buck. It's hard to recommend the perfect guitar for you not knowing your musical preferences. LPJ is great for everything - rock, blues, metal, and even country. PRS SE single cuts are also a great modern take on a les Paul. Esp LtD Ec 1000 is another LP shaped guitar with faster necks and very popular among hard rock metal players. All of these guitars can be bought in your price range. Of course if you've always wanted a les Paul, then just go with an LPJ it's not uncommon to find one used under $600.

[@mornbrrrr]

Thank you for your suggestion. I play Punk hardcore type of music. Thanks again!

[@theo4183]

If you're a lefty. I have a gold top LPJ 2012 for you. $700. It was hard to find.

[@michaeladamcaira9174]

Dude,pick up a set of Wilkinson locking tuners 37.99,they are outstanding,and a Duncan Full Shred in the bridge for 65.00 and your in business

[@guitarworm1714]

michaeladam caira I appreciate that recommendation. I ve heard great things about Wilkinson and I love locking tuners.

[@michaeladamcaira9174]

Your welcome,they make great stuff,and affordable

[@cletusmax77]

You can sell the stock pickups, hardware on eBay and get some of that money back. I’ve done it.

[@guitarworm1714]

cletusmax77 great suggestions, thanks for watching.

[@joen3992]

I owned the first year Gibson SG J white, which was basically no finish. I absolutely disliked the pickups and the fret job was terrible. Played Squires that had better fret finish. Bought new at Best Buy for 499.00, Sold it months later and got my money back....never again. Sub par for Gibson.

[@guitarworm1714]

I honestly believe you get a lot more bang for your buck with an epiphone (or any other brand).

[@stephenmeredith2096]

There is a 2013 LPJ for sale near me for $500. Do both the 2013 and 2014 model have the Rounded 50's neck profile? I'm coming from a Epiphone Traditional Pro and am not really interested in the slimTaper neck

[@guitarworm1714]

Yes the 2013s also have the 50s neck profile. They do have different pick ups, the 2013 comes with the 490/498 which is more typical in other gibsons. The 2014 has the 61 zebra humbuckers, my understanding is you get a little more punch out of the 490/498s. Although with the right pedal the 2014 does it all too. 500 is a fair price, wouldn't want to pay too much more assuming you are an American. 500 Canadian on the other hand, is a very good deal. Thanks for watching.

[@stephenmeredith2096]

GuitarWorm After listening to a few other videos I think the 490 set sounds better in my opinion. And yes, 500 American, but comes with a Gibson hard case rather than the padded bag.

[@guitarworm1714]

Honestly, I thought the same thing. From the reviews i watched, the 2013s all seemed to sound a little better.

[@daveyboy8907]

2013 lpj has the 498 490 and the SGJ has 490 r 490 t....I own 2 lpj both 13s and a 13 sgj....Great guitars and you can not beat them....

[@lenduckworth99]

GuitarWorm I've owned both, I found the 2013 did sound better.

[@markchaplin196]

What is an LPJ? Looks just the same as a studio to me. I would spend a bit more on an early to mid 90's studio. Mine is superb.

[@guitarworm1714]

There is some debate on what LPJ refers to. Most assumed that it is the les paul jr, but there is obviously a different model that is called the jr. LPJs are defintely a step down from studios, so i agree with your advice.

[@robertreynolds9961]

Its les paul junior.. They weee planning to keep this as les paul junior...but ppl wanted the origibal back. It's basically a cheaper version of a les paul studio.

[@toemasmeems]

Coming from Schecter and LTD, Solar Guitars, I almost pulled the trigger on this LPJ but uh I play very demanding fast music so I'm gonna pass. Thank you!

[@guitarworm1714]

Thomas Mims glad I could help. I seriously think you would notice a big drop off in quality and feel. If it was all about the vintage sound, then you may like it, but feel and speed go to Ltd and schecter every time. If you want something a little more classic looking, check out PRS single cuts. Thanks for watching.

[@toemasmeems]

@@guitarworm1714 thanks man. I think I'm going to purchase my first legit Ibanez because they were the only company that had met my requirements in my price range (500-700) i basically just want a metal guitar that doesn't have a floyd rose and is not made of mahogany do you know how hard it is to find good guitars not made of mahogany? its hard.

[@marvinstephanie2085]

If you can't play the same stuff on this as a schector then you need to learn how to play better...itz not the guitar.

[@toemasmeems]

@@marvinstephanie2085 lmao check my channel MARVIN. I can fucking play.. its a matter of preference because I earned my fucking money dick head wtf?

[@toemasmeems]

@@marvinstephanie2085 fucking boomer

[@TheJeffcurran]

The latest incarnation of this is the LP Faded T. My $800 2017 is just fine. No complaints.

[@guitarworm1714]

Thanks for watching Jeff and I too like the faded T series. Great looking guitars.

[@TheJeffcurran]

I have been playing for 45 years. Never owned a Les Paul. I decided to take Gibson to the carpet and see if they could build a great and affordable guitar in Nashville. The short answer is yes. It's my 23rd guitar in 45 years and I absolutely love it. Maybe I got lucky, I don't know.

[@guitarworm1714]

Well I don't know about lucky, if your expectations were met or exceeded, that's all that matters. A lot of people assume because of the name it will be the greatest guitar ever, and that really comes down to what each individual is looking for. Metal heads for example will probably find it easier to play on a double cut guitar with a belly carve and a super slim neck. So they might be disappointed with a les paul at any cost. I know the longer i play my les paul the more i like it. Somethings can't be explained by specs alone. Besides, the majority of my guitar heroes play a les paul so they got to be doing something right.

[@TheJeffcurran]

Expectations met for an $800 price point.

[@harry9392]

If you could feel the frets when moving up and down the neck sounds like a fake . if your finish is a problem you could wax the finish or find out if you could put a coat of try oil on it

[@BrettSmithDaniels]

Bought mine used for $399 Canadian... That's £234 where I'm from... Cheapest Gibson ever!

[@guitarworm1714]

What a great deal,any time you can get a Gibson cheaper than epiphone you know you scored. Thanks for watching.

[@BrettSmithDaniels]

@@guitarworm1714 two years on I have changed the tuners, nut and bridge (thanks to one of my endorsements it didn’t cost much) and really made it my own. It was good enough to gig with Randy Bachman 🤷. Best $400 I ever spent haha

[@guitarworm1714]

@@BrettSmithDaniels thanks so much for watching and sharing your professional opinion. I am currently playing a 2012 les Paul tribute with p90s and loving it. Shares some of the flaws as the lpj, but hard to argue with the sound.

[@dotdots2660]

The finish on these is so thin. Ive got a 2013 lpj that’s not seen much use but looks like it’s been gigged for about 20 years 😂. Part of me likes that look but I also might want to sell it one day.

[@guitarworm1714]

Thanks for your comment. The finish is a little too cheap for me.

[@mritorto1]

get an agile for 300 or ec- 256 for under 500

[@guitarworm1714]

Never played agile but esp ltds are great for the money! Thanks for watching.

[@jamesbangma]

i think i know why you say its not a LPJ gibson because that friend brought it from took it that off so than its not a lpj what happen that friend just leave that sticker on and leave it aline that will make a lot of difference

[@chanceterrill5346]

I have 2014 pro lpj with 490r n t pickups. I've played mine so much there isn't any finish on the neck anymore. N the edges of frets are now naturally rolled..... I also walked in the store to buy a tradional n spend 2700 played the lpj pro to make fun of it a little. N ended up buying it instead..... Did a blind test n three people (my drummer). The sales man m myself Picked it out of a blind test..... It just sounded immense...... Of course the regular lpj beside it.... Not so much...... Don't know if I got lucky or what... Maybe has to do with the solid mahagony body with no maple cap idk but I've since compared it to a bunch of other Pauls 4 times the price n acoustically mine is just louder n more rich as well as plugged in

[@guitarworm1714]

Chance Terrill thanks for sharing. Gibson does have the reputation of poor quality control, making their instruments hit and mis. I am glad you found a good one and went with your ear and not the price tag. Thanks for watching.

[@mikeloves69n]

glad i paid 450$ CAD for mine

[@guitarworm1714]

450 CDN is a great deal, cheaper than an Epiphone les paul.

[@deanchenry]

79.99 I paid. Priced wrong

[@jaydensuttles5198]

Nice social d shirt

[@johnbennett3714]

500 with a hard case grab it fast!

[@Grand_Alchemist]

lol i thought he'd play it

[@guitarworm1714]

GrandAlchemist thanks for watching. I should have some videos of me actually playing an lpj. However, there are also lots of videos of guys playing les Paul’s that are better than me.

[@wafdaddyrocks7028]

What a picky dude they are cheap now....... But just wait, he will wish he kept it!!!

[@ozflyer1]

Stick to your cheap guitars mate and leave the gibsons to the Pro's :)

[@alexs.9762]

Go and buy a real LP. I know the LPJ is a Les Paul. But go and put in 1 grand. You'll get a nice Instrument. No trouble with adjusting Tone knobs and shit. I bought a classic '15. Best Guitar i've ever played. 1100€. Best money ever invested in a guitar.

[@guitarworm1714]

Alex S. glad your happy with your LP. Thanks for watching!

[@toshisa]

弾けや！

[@marvinstephanie2085]

Doosh

[@joeylarimore2448]

Hate to burst your bubble..the Epiphone Les Paul Standard plus Top Pro are very real Les Pauls and it seem Epiphone has taken over as the King of Les Pauls and SG..Gibson is Dead and no one cares

[@guitarworm1714]

Joey larimore I think I lot of people would agree with you. Thanks for watching.

[@alexs.9762]

I think a lot of people would not agree.