I gigged a Gibson Les Paul - Here's my Verdict

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A couple weeks back now, the drummer who plays in the function band I gig with - Ash - suggested playing Les Pauls for the weekend, so I took the Gibson Les Paul Standard 2002 and the Epiphone Lazarus for a weekend of gigs...I've actually enjoyed it a ton, and found the clean tones to be especially full....
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/ johnnathancordy get my backing tracks here
www.buymeacoffee.com/johnnath... - if you like what I do and
only if you wanted, you could buy me a coffee!

[@jonyq]

Loved that short snippet of your gig. I think everyone would love to see more of those!

[@latheofheaven1017]

There's something about the way John's guitar sounds in the room in that snippet that really gets across what a viscerally powerful thing an electric guitar at gig levels really can be. Reminds me of a pub gig I went to when I was probably too young to be drinking there. The guitarist had a 50W Marshall combo that was probably turned all the way up, and was almost overwhelming in that setting. But it was that night that I realised that almost overwhelming is perfect!

[@Shiznitt_]

The LP has always been my go to. It sounds great, plays like butter, and it’s versatile. Can play anything on a Les Paul. Only downside is I’m worried it will be stolen every time I bring it to a gig 😅

[@jakestewartmusic]

I've never gotten along with Les Pauls - I actually prefer Explorers. IME they're usually slightly lighter, the headstock is better for tuning stability, nice tonal sweet spot between LP and SG, and I prefer the control layout for simplicity and ergonomics. The only issues are the massive case and maybe looking too cool all the time.

[@DoubleDguitar]

I just installed a V1 String Butler, the truss Rod cover style. Made a big difference on bends coming back in tune for the g and b stings. I love gigging with my Les Paul and a PRS.

[@docbobster]

One of your best intros, IMO. These are too ephemeral, they deserve to be on an album.

[@zhengyongkoh]

Tasty playing as always John

[@EugeneDuurvoort-zm1wg]

To answer your question, it depends. Your playing style, type of music your playing, etc. I've gigged with a Les Paul in the past, but I found it limiting. I play in a coverband and use a strat with a humbucker in the bridge. It gives me all the tonal flexibility I need. With the Les Paul I missed the inbetween tones the strat has. You could of course coil split your humbucker, but to me that doesn't sound the same as single coils. Just my 2 cents.

[@scottheins]

"You need that for livin on a prayer, don't you?" -- you mean Don't Stop Believin! Thanks for the great insights shared as always man.

[@MrSpeed-lt8gr]

I love Les Pauls more than any guitar. I have one tattooed on my arm for crying out loud. But at 53 years old and a shoulder with tendonitis, I don’t gig with mine anymore. I use my SG (6 pounds) and a PRS. Just more comfortable at this point in life.

[@rickflippin1]

I find at 61 playing mine through the pain gives me better blues guitar face lol

[@maraviyoso8473]

Play a Les Paul Studio with ultra weight relief.

[@rethinktone]

I just recently got the string butler V1. It's their newest design and it's beyond easy to install. If you are having tuning issues AND ONLY if you are having tuning issues I recommend it. I'd you aren't having tuning issues then you have an appropriately cut nut. You know if you have tuning issues if you are tuning the G and it jumps and makes a clicking sound. I took it to a really great tech and it went back to giving me issues after a week. I put the string butler on it and it's magic, no issues.

[@jshearer94]

Big Bends Nut Sauce is a huge help for tuning stability. Just a dot in the nut slot when you change strings and then bob’s your uncle. I also find strats can get plinky in a live setting. I find the two humbucker, VT-VT layout incredibly versatile! It’s hard for me to play anything else. Mixing and matching everything in the middle position gets addicting.

[@caiusmadison2996]

Do you use a noise gate? You should, if you perform.

[@bobboitt3126]

I bought my first Les Paul back in the 70's and went through four since then. Presently have the Custom Shop Lee Roy Parnell model. It has 57 classic humbuckers which I love. It can get super clean almost like a Telecaster, yet crank the volume and it sings. Its fairly light around 8lbs 5 oz. I think the more you play one type of guitar the more you get used to the layout and comfort factor. I never could bond with a Strat, not because of tone, it just "feels" wrong to me. 😂

[@jimamsden]

I played a Les Paul for years, mine is a ‘67 I bought in ‘69. But I switched to a Strat about 10 years ago because of the wider tonal variations and brighter, more articulate, interesting tone. I have Tom Holmes split coil humbuckers on that Les Paul and that helps with wider tone options. They have a great single coil sound. But I find I miss the Strat middle pickup (which I use a lot) and find the 2-pickup combination on a Les Paul to not be that useful. A Tele is better because of the hotter bridge pickup give the 2-pickup combination a nicer tone. But the Les Paul scale length and flatter radius do play better for me. In any case, its nice to have the options.

[@MrKbeaumont]

I recently started playing an Epi ES-339, semi hollow but smaller than a an es335. It plays and sounds similar to a Les Paul, I did put locking tuners on it. It has been great so far. I have played fender and fender clones since the 1980's. But I really am liking this one.

[@tcterry1300]

Hi John, I've just started gigging with Yamaha revstar (humbucker) and Larry carlton LP as a backup, love the sound of them, after gigging 4-5 years with a Tele. I put that down to my band going down to just one guitar, so the humbucker gives me a more rounded, fuller sound and yes more sustain, higher up the neck. LP Hard cases are reasonably priced on Artist UK guitars ( if in stock ), I have one really decent for the money 👍

[@Rogo472]

Bought a Gib Lespaul studio for gigging years ago, unfortunately I eventually sold it, tuning issues for wedding gigs, was chambered so weight was great, but didn't scratch it in the end. Started using a PRS swamp ash special instead, played tones almost like a strat with higher output, fixed bridge, no issues, perfect gigging guitar. Really wanted the les paul to work though.

[@stevegardiner8473]

I've gigged Les Pauls for several years, and owned a number of them. My current number one is the heaviest I've ever owned (I haven't weighed it to know the exact weight, I just know it feels heavier than any of the others I've owned) but, it sounds fantastic and plays like a dream. I'd been considering selling it due to its weight, but I used it in a jam session yesterday, and had so many compliments about how great it sounded, from people I don't know and never seen me play before, that I might just have to keep it. I was running straight into the front of a Marshall with a bit of reverb, using clean and overdriven tones, and it just sounded fantastic.

[@lolondd]

Would love to see you gigging, you should upload some for us dude.

[@DaveInkster]

Having played strats for years in function/wedding bands, I recently bought a Sire L7V and have played a couple of gigs with it now. Love it on the bridge for the rockier stuff (Living on a Prayer/All The Small Things etc etc), but haven't yet managed to dial in a clean tone that I like for funkier stuff - strat wins for funk and lp style guitar for rock. Taking a hybrid approach for the next while and taking one of each and switching throughout sets...

[@thomaschilds8781]

Try a PRS Zach Myers, chunky-ish neck, semi hollow so lighter, and more ergonomic reach to the 22nd fret. Only issue I'd see are the stock pickups are medium hot, definitely not vintage PAF types.

[@DavideGranato]

Being an LP lover I feel the pain in the sh...oulders about rigging with it. But hey what a beautiful tone you had there! One thing I do when I bring mine out and about is I never use the original HSC , preferring the ugliest ABS shell possible (aside the chainsaw one) not just because of that huge Gibson logo which captivate eyes , had too many friends who got their Strats or Les Pauls stolen.

[@Double_0_7_Strings]

I got that new Harley Benton 25th anniversary Les Paul and I tell ya, I haven’t struggled at all to get a good tone out of it. It just handles everything so well. I don’t think it’s possible to lose a gig if you show up with a Les Paul on your back.

[@stefjudd]

Hey John, thanks for your thoughts. I often take the LP when I’m doing 3-piece wedding gigs (most weekends) and the guitar needs to fill more space in the mix as there’s no keys. Kind of what you were saying about the thicker clean tones… I’ll often take a strat when I need to keep out of the way of some of the keys parts.

[@timelwell7002]

Given that even on stage I usually play guitar sitting down, I'd be perfectly happy with a Les Paul. And when I do stand up, I have one end of the strap tied with a bootlace under the strings between the nut and the machine heads, so as not to put too much strain on my shoulders. And no, I don't give a flying flamingo about 'image' - good music speaks for itself. It has to be said that I use exclusively clean tones, and play either contemporary harmonically dense jazz or jazz-influenced music. So for me, the Les Paul wins over a strat every day of the week. I'm hoping to try out a Revstar in the near future, I have to say they do seem to be very good guitars. I've never been a Strat fan, prefering either a Gretsch with a tailpiece, or occasionally telecasters, or small body acoustics with a humbucker in the soundhole. I've never understood why people rave so much about strats.

[@midifalcon4965]

John...I am amazed by your approach to guitar playing. You are one of the best in the industry today and I watch all your videos and I learn so much. I don't have the budget like most so my pedal board is the Valeton GP200 and I would be so lucky if you would do a review of the pedal but build your Stratocaster sounds in it so I could watch and build mine to sound like you. Your biggest fan...

[@BigEdWo]

he sounds really good, i agree.

[@ksharpe10]

He may not have that Unit.

[@eadsinstrumentsllc]

John, I'd recommend the "wraparound" technique. The break angle of the stop bar to the bridge seems too steep.

[@jshearer94]

Wraparound was a huge help for me! But I’m heavy handed so I popped the string out of the saddle. I compromised and raised the tailpiece slightly. Seems to be better! But +1 for the wraparound!

[@eadsinstrumentsllc]

@@jshearer94 , the old school luthiers take the old ball ends from old strings and put them around the new strings. Is that something you tried yet?

[@jshearer94]

@@eadsinstrumentsllc I didn't try that. But would that help seat the string in the saddle better?

[@eadsinstrumentsllc]

@@jshearer94 ; no. It doesn't do that. It does help in regards to pushing the string deeper in the stop bar as to which your palms won't be chewed by excess wires of the string ends.

[@sejtaridiss]

Amazing intro, background is very reminiscent of Steve Reich's "Electric Counterpoint" (apart from the solo)

[@mortonwilson795]

My 1968 LP Custom was the only guitar I owned and gigged with all thru the 70's. Perfect for our 'art-rock / Supertampy' stuff as a lot of the time I was using clean tones in amongst 2 keyboardists. So, yes - it's a great one for live work IMO. These days I would suggest people look at the Epiphone 1959 thing they did with Gibson pick-ups and stuff - unless you are travelling with a guitar tech / roadies etc. not sure it's such a good idea to take out a pricey Gibson? Your break shot at the gig sounded terrific!

[@steveliberty]

I was about to suggest the DGT SE that you seem to love, and then you mentioned it at the end :) By the way, I tried the String Buttler (the device you were referring to that straightens the break angle through the nut), and didn't find it that helpful, so I have removed it. And regarding gig bags, I have a nice Reunion Blues case that I do trust with my Gibsons. But, I also don't let anyone else handle it, so I am in control.

[@Rataja77]

I've just gone back to gigging my Les Paul after a 4 year break. I was playing strats , teles and Ibanez. I realised the how much I missed that chewy fat tone from my Greco EGF 1800. Good to see you pulled the Les Paul out

[@robphillips8351]

Nice style, sweet phrases melodic playing 👍👍

[@robphillips8351]

Most impressive playing friend 👍👍

[@brazilianjosh]

As a fellow wedding guitarist I have switched from a strat to a ES335. I found it has the nice cleans you describe, lovely música distortion and the pick-up switch is in the right place. It also doesn’t have the issues of weight. Might be worth a try?

[@SteveWoodyMusic]

One thing that has really worked for me is to remove the pole screws from the pickups. It functionally disables the second coil and makes it more focused like a mini-humbucker while still being hum cancelling. I replaced my screws with non-ferrous stainless ones from Amazon and it's pretty much perfect for me. Overall it's brighter and more open/airy

[@SteveWoodyMusic]

I also turned the neck pickup around so that the "functional coil" is closer to the neck and gives a little bit more "Strat-neck" type sound. I should also add that you can totally leave the screws out, but if you need to plug the holes, the stainless screws are your best option.

[@st1969]

Hey man. About the case/bag thing. I use the Mono (I think they call it Mono Classic guitar bag) if I’m driving or I’m carrying on. The head support has more than enough clearance for a LP headstock. I play out with the LP about 3 times a week and I’ve never felt it was dodgy or anything.

[@dirktucker77]

Nathan can you check out the LP traditional pro v? I'd like to see how you use all the tones available in this model

[@Robowx]

Hi John. First off I am a BIG fan of Franklin Straps! I've been using them since 1978! Yes! 1978! Sadly I don't have an endorsement deal with them! But I highly recommend them. Especially for Les Pauls and SGs. I never encountered the "neck dive" with a SG using Franklin straps. Now on to Les Pauls, always use a hardshell case when transporting Les Pauls. Also, as a side note I never broke a headstock on a Les Paul! I don't know what these guys do to their guitars, that they break headstocks like they're going out of style! Tuning issues with a Les Paul. I never had an issue with tuning, especially with the "dreaded" G string. I've played everything from Punk to CCM with my Les Paul and never had an issue. Through the mid 70's to the early 90's I've gigged, toured and recorded a variety of music. These days I mainly play at Church. I am though going to start recording some stuff at home. Cheers!

[@iamjakt]

I hated LP shaped guitars for years. Now I gig with that shape almost exclusively. The only downside is that I can't tap on them at all. My right hand is used to bracing near the pickup selector. This makes it impossible for me at this point. But i'm all in for everything else. Also RE: tuning stability- I only had issues with an old epiphone dot and m 335 memphis studio. My custom builds are tanks. That feels like more of a gibson problem than an LP headstock prob.

[@gregmock6808]

I had to have my back adjusted every 6 weeks in the 70s when I gigged with a Les Paul....to me it's a wonderful studio instrument but blooms too much live and sort of steps on the bass and kick drum in a live mix....pedals can adjust that but I like a strat for live gigs or a tele usually but also I'm not really a soloist and don't use high gain at all. I like the jangle of Fenders ..if I need a humbucker I use a 335 and otherwise I use P90s with my Casino

[@gbarillot]

I've been a Strat guy for 30 years, playing Funky Rock stuff, 95% of the time using clean tone. Two years ago I bought a cheap 56 Gold Top knock off at Thomann, with 2 P90s, and... OMG ! I found it so versatile (really!). Just using volume/tone settings open up so many possibilities. It cuts through the mix like a hot knife in butter, the sustain allows me to play phrases I didn't even though about before, and the slight compression made me ditch my compressor pedal most of the time. To my surprise, the clean side of a Les Paul (at least using P90s) really is underrated, you can actually play any style with it, it's not confined to Zeppelin & Slash covers, at all!

[@andreil1234]

Well there's always the SG if you need the switch in the other place, not to mention some advantages of its own :-))

[@scottchild4233]

Mono gig bags. Safer than a case. No sudden stop when it falls over.

[@alexwgoody]

John - sometimes when you gig you talk about taking both the stomp xl and tone workstation. How do you decide when to bring the tone workstation? Is it so you have more blocks for amps? modulation? Seems like a lot of work to change up your presets for just some of those gigs.

[@druidavey]

Funnily enough I'm the opposite. When I play a Strat I keep knocking the selector switch by accident. And, playing an SG recently I kept looking for the toggle switch in the wrong place. Of course I've played Gibson Les Paul, Ibanez Artists and Yamaha SG's for years so that's where my muscle memory is.

[@RicCrouch]

I have the opposite problem with the switch. As somebody who usually plays a Les Paul, I find the switch location on the strat to be a problem-I keep hitting it while strumming. :)

[@plantagenant]

My Les Paul is 9 1/2 Ibs...sounds good but it's fatiguing after about 25 minutes. It doesn't hurt my shoulder it gets me in the lower back. A wide strap didn't help.

[@89digits59]

For some strange reason, I like looking at a Les Paul more than playing it, anyone else out there with similar issues?

[@tenebroruncr4374]

To play bendings I prefer the short scale and narrow fret. It is easier and has more sustain than the long scale.

[@eddiejuarez]

In my experience.. depend the style and if there's more than 1 gtr.. Love sigle coils but in a rock context a humbucker guitar (les Paul.. even more) takes a lot more place in the mix.

[@andrewmallard2301]

With that neck, John, surely it always has to be a hard case.

[@badbrad]

Wait till you go down the SG rabbit hole. They are super light and have very fast necks. Similar to a Les Paul in tone but more snarl.

[@newpinglegend9304]

I only played a Les Paul on a stage for one night. It was borrowed, had never touched before and never did again, and I was younger than now and didn't have a problem with the weight. Later on I'd have never done anything like that again. Like you however, the control array for me is a persistent thing. In any situation, a Les Paul control array is just not well laid out. I guess the diehard two-pickup Gibson guys might think Stratocaster type control arrays are too close and interfere-y, and I get that to a degree. Comes down to what you're used to I guess. A Junior type one-pickup deal is the best kind of Les Paul, for me. It solves that problem and is plenty versatile really with some experience. This drummer sock situation may warrant some investigation.

[@jeffainsley6000]

I played Strats for 17 years as my primary guitar. They work great for recording, and work well in bands with few instruments, like trios. For me they simply get lost in the mix in a live context when there are a lot of other mid-range instruments...piano, acoustic guitar, another electric player, etc. For me, mahogany bodied guitars with humbuckers are the best for live playing. Strat's sound thin when other instruments are in the mix.

[@Dreamdancer11]

Well if you want the humbucker sounds just have one strat with single coil sized humbuckers or single coil sized P90s instead of getting the boat anchor for that reason alone....

[@jeffainsley6000]

@@Dreamdancer11 Yeah, I've done that...Dimarzio HS2's in a Strat, Tele's with humbuckers...Les Paul's just cut better live. The mahogany has more midrange I think...plus the humbuckers...just seems to work better in a live setting.

[@drothberg3]

I moved from an LP to Strats years ago. Now I'm hankering for humbuckers and shorter scale, but I want something lighter than strat (8.8 lbs), not heavier. So I'm thinking either PRS, Les Paul Less, or SG.

[@MiguelGebremedhin]

Have you looked at the Yamaha revstars?

[@Chrsflks]

In terms of the bridge pick-up having a fuller sound at the height frets have you though about a HSS strat? I know that doesn’t really help in the conversation about LPs but just thought it may be an option

[@caiusmadison2996]

Especially with a Shawbucker, which is the "tone" everybody loves from a Les Paul of old.

[@RobbenBanks153]

Good timing as i just acquired a LP… how much time should one expect to get comfortable with it?

[@DavideGranato]

A great relief would be a 10 cm's (4 inches) strap. Hope I could help!

[@blubirdmusic7191]

Sounds great! What amp module are you using?

[@HerrPapa]

In terms of tuning, there was that trick where you wind the G and B string up, instead of down!

[@caiusmadison2996]

They just need to turn the angle of the headstock from 17°, to 12°. That would right the extreme angle pressure those strings face at the nut.

[@HerrPapa]

@@caiusmadison2996 You are right! Epiphone has a 14° angle, I believe, even on the 1959 . But people don't like anything else but original specs for the 50s and 60s Gibson reissues. I feel they are more interested in value, than in playability.

[@lanceholland]

If you want to try something very special, see if you can find an R4. They’re light for a LP but the sound is like the meanest telecaster ever, yet it cleans up perfectly. The necks are baseball bats so if that’s not your thing, maybe not.

[@andyjm7122]

Socks do play an important factor in tone.

[@robmarmaduke]

If your interested i have a video on my channel showing how to get perfect tuning stability on a gibson without the need for any gadgets or potions and lotions

[@Johnherold121]

John, your Artistworks intro ad sounds like an AI version of you

[@johnnathancordy]

Now that we have the budget for this kind of activity, it's time to ramp it up. Next CGI ducks

[@Johnherold121]

Soon the likes of ChatGPT will be able to write a movie script about ducks, featuring Nick Cage, written in the style of Jim.

[@joshtorresfdu6621]

I wanna like les Paul’s so much but I can’t lol

[@FilippoMeloniguitar]

The Stratocaster is probably more comfortable if you gig for at least 2 hours. The Les Paul has that woody tone that you won't find on other guitars. It's worth the pain ;)

[@caiusmadison2996]

Guild Bluesbird. Try that, then tell me a Les Paul is worth anything. All the problems of a Les Paul, fixed. Not the new one, that's a cheap reissue of the late 90's version, except the 90's one has a proper lower bout shape. Larger hollowed out solid body than a Paul too, so weight is more, but acoustically it's LOUD, and performs like an acoustic/electric tone wise cept darker, like a Paul woth weight relief, except more of everything.

[@pfmusic1636]

No, cause they won’t stay in tune. My new $200 Squire Sonic Mustang does on the other hand

[@eadsinstrumentsllc]

Does this mean you graduated University if you have an LP?

[@ChrisVye]

so the live clip.. Chris Buck cover ?

[@caiusmadison2996]

Revstar isn't like a Strat at all, ots like a Jazzmaster more than a Strat.

[@wareloski2137]

Of course not 😄

[@rinseyvessel6523]

Nonsense. Your yesterday's video with the strat style guitar did not ever sound thin as you moved up the neck. Forgive me my diehard love of single coils (strat, tele, p90s). To me, "less"paul sound is the equivalent of a singer pinching their nostrils closed while singing.

[@frans688]

I love LP guitars (most appealing guitars ever to me) but...Weight, Tune stability, Fragil spots, Too much character in the mix. To me it is not an option for gigging. Cheers 😎

[@Uzurr69]

Hell no

[@slicksalmon6948]

Les Paul critics are such sissies. A decent resonator banjo weighs 11 1/2 pounds, and you don't hear bluegrass guys complaining about it.

[@caiusmadison2996]

No, cause one drunk unwatched knocks it over, you now have zero les paul. You have 2 pieces, a headstock, and the rest of guitar to remind you a Les Paul isn't the best guitar for any gig simply due to that.

[@eadsinstrumentsllc]

No! It is not the perfect gigging guitar.

[@johnnathancordy]

Which do you prefer Tim?

[@eadsinstrumentsllc]

​@@johnnathancordy , would honestly say a Nashville Telecaster. A lot of tonality in one guitar. The neck breaks, easy fix. Easy maintenance. Really comfortable live or in studio sessions. Aftermarket parts are everywhere. If the neck breaks, easy fix. If the headstock/ neck breaks on the LP, you may have to sell one of the hounds to repair it. Also, the 13° pitch on the Les Paul in tandem with a nut not calibrated to compensate the curvature from but to spring causes tuning issues.

[@eadsinstrumentsllc]

​@@johnnathancordy every Gibson I've ever played has had significantly more neck relief than any other brand. The action at the nut is set after the neck relief is set. The flatter the neck, the less resistance/ drag you'll feel going up and down the neck. So, once you straighten the neck out more to make it feel tighter, your strings will buzz as the nut slots are cut too low.

[@eadsinstrumentsllc]

@@johnnathancordy ; also, modern LP's have their electronics on PCB'S. So; let's say your volume pot starts to go out/ get fuzzy, replacing it is significantly more difficult to replace as you you have to desolder it from the board vs cutting 3 wires and hard wiring something in. Over engineered garbage.

[@bogarbill6331]

Yes it is..

[@V8LC100]

Hiscox case. UK made I believe. Rock solid.

[@rigelloar7474]

I gigged with Les Pauls for 20 years, and I have the bad posture to prove it!

[@revzone3544]

Absolutely Not! The gibson is a boat anchor.. Bring a strat or telecaster. Throw the gibson on the wood pile, or use it to prop open a window... or use it to herniate your neck back and shoulder..