The Truth About Who a Les Paul (is Really) For!

[@RobertBakerGuitar]

So what is your favorite thing about a Les Paul?

[@Sean_Plays_Guitar]

The guitar of it is my favorite part 😂🤘🏻

[@truckercowboyed2638]

That creamy warm neck tone is my favorite

[@daro9582]

The full sound, especially the bass frequencies, in a mix they can be too big but for isolated playing that huge sound is very satisfying

[@chuckfarley567]

The buttery smoothness..of my 75 customs fretboard....

[@BasedHyperborean]

The vibe 😎

[@Kreln1221]

*As the Les Paul is a signature model designed for jazz guitarist Lester William Polsfus, a.k.a. Les Paul, back in the 50's, and he basically wanted an archtop jazz guitar, but made solid to avoid feedback, and a bit smaller to be more ergonomic, I would say that it was designed for jazz. The fact that it also works well for other styles simply attests to its versatility...*

[@justinsimard5886]

Actually les Paul’s are (really) for this guy!

[@rmaxtpmx]

Well as long as we're being pedantic, let's be clear that there's a difference between a signature model and a new model. Les was essentially a freelance designer, reportedly turned down by Fender with his new model idea.

[@willdenham]

Rock had not been invented yet. Neither had the PAF.

[@pulaski1]

Yes, it is richly ironic that Les Paul was searching for the cleanest of clean tones and yet the guitar named after him pretty much defines the genre of loud, over-driven hard rock that rose to prominence in the late 60's and still does to this day, most notably in the hands of Slash.

[@willdenham]

@@pulaski1 Who played a copy.

[@jonathananthony1901]

Recently sold off my guitar collection, except for a Gibson Les Paul and a Fender American Pro II Strat. Those 2 really cover all my needs. Can't imagine needing anything else now.

[@couchpoet1]

Dito

[@Strathias28]

Might want to try a Gretsch White Falcon

[@221b-l3t]

Ditch the Strat for a Tele and we're talking. For me Flying V + Tele but I'm not reducing to two. I still love LPs and SGs.

[@gazzie12000]

I'm exactly the same but with Gretsch Jets and Telecasters. I do own lots of others, especially Strats but don't "need" them in the same way. 😀I haven't played my Les Paul Standard for over 15 years, but do play a P90 LP Special sometimes.

[@smelltheglove2038]

To be fair, the modern has coil split. You can always wire up coil spilt as well. The Les Paul only having humbuckers can be seen as both a plus and a negative I guess. I see them as THE humbucker guitar, so it’s a plus in my book.

[@RobertBakerGuitar]

I agree for me if I'm playing one it;s because I want the Humbucker/P90 sound.

[@smelltheglove2038]

@@RobertBakerGuitar I like P-90s in an SG just a little bit more. Though I haven’t owned a p-90 Les Paul so I don’t have that intimacy, I’m sure if I had I would love them just the same. They’re definitely a great pickup. We are in a great time of guitar. All pickups and guitars are getting the respect they deserve. When I was coming up in the 90s I wouldn’t have been caught dead with a tele, or something considered more “country”. Or it could be that I’ve matured and the respect was always there. Who knows hahaha

[@Ottophil]

@@smelltheglove2038 same

[@JesseJuup]

I would love to see a huge poll of how much coil split is actually used. I have coil split on a few of my guitars, and I've had them for over 20 years, but I very very rarely use that function. If I want a single coil sound, I use a tele or a strat, but (almost) never use coilsplit on a LP or SG. Maybe a gigging cover band guitarist find the coil split useful more?

[@ASM881]

I hate the push-pull on the modern Classics. I want a straight up, non-weight relieved LP. Is that too much to ask for?

[@heavyrelic8506]

I‘ve played Strats for over 20 years, constantly changing parts and modifying stuff, changed amps and pedals again and again. Last year, I sold almost all my stuff. Bought two Les Pauls and a Silver Jubilee. On the board there’s only an EP boost, Delay, Reverb and a Tuner. That’s it. Mission completed 😌

[@Ferbocarbo]

Why did you do the change and why do you not regret it?

[@heavyrelic8506]

@@Ferbocarbo because I tried all possible options but never came to satisfying solution. There was still something missing, tonally and playing wise. I am very happy now and don’t feel the need to change anything. I just works 😃

[@BigTyronie]

Im the same way. I just dont like single coils for me.

[@matijabo]

Modified 2 strats by putting humbuckers, both are my dream guitars 👍

[@jackhaugh]

Even Hendrix switched to Gibson in the end…

[@BrianSGuitars]

Favorite about my Les Paul's is the tone. Also love the look. I also love the ease of play. The con is they can be rather heavy.

[@davethomas1641]

The only tone I can't mimic is that Fender twang, just about everything else can be achieved.

[@SteverRob]

I have a 1982 Standard, 12.2 lbs.

[@Old_Sailor85]

That sums it up...

[@mma1st105]

@@SteverRob lmfbo

[@Shiznitt_]

The weight comes with the territory 😎 8 lbs is probably the lowest you can go but it’s a little rare unless they are chambered. The chambered ones aren’t that bad tho

[@judewessel5713]

I think it’s a very rare breed of guitar player that find one tone, one style of guitar. And that’s it. All they need. Most of us enjoy the variety that you get when you play electric guitar

[@asdqwe123610]

I can't think of a single guitarist that uses that exact same guitar/pedal+stomp box setup/overall tone for everything they play. But - there are quite a few guitarists that have a very specific signature tone that they do use Almost all of the time. Eddie Van Halen, Jimmy Page, Joe Satriani, Yngwie Malmsteen, Steve Vai.... all of these players have a tone that they have put their stamp on and is very identifiable as theirs.

[@harrisontownsend910]

As much as I love the variety I love to just turn on my trusty drive and chorus, plug it into my Epiphone SG and cheap amp and mess around.

[@vladimirpoutine7522]

Searching for tone over several decades I currently have 58 guitars of varying types. I pretty much only play my LP and SG at this point for everything. The SG is a Classic with P90's so I can cover the single coil sound.

[@dunxy]

At the end of the day, once od/dist comes into play they can all sound pretty much the same in the mix, with eq tweaks has been proven time and time again in blind tests. Yes singles are a bit noisy, but thats really about it!

[@LowKickMT]

solution: juniors with a single p90. you can get almost every imaginable sound from them

[@Nightwinflyer]

I just love guitars of all types, each one has its own feel. They each have a different story to tell!

[@festushaggen2563]

I have a '92 Gibson Les Paul that I bought new 30 years ago and recently restored. My favorite electric of all time. I love the feel, the weight and the deep sound. Yeah, the G string has always had tuning problems but after the restoration, I added a String Butler and it’s been a game changer. It rarely goes out of tune now. A good thing got better. 👍🏻

[@jackhargreaves1911]

Mine was born with a buzzing g string eleven years ago, and is hanging into it come what may (truss rod adjustments, new bridge, new saddle, new nut, fret dressing, different strings - but not a wound g-string as that would be cheating). Now I just regard it as a feature…

[@tomasvanecek8626]

You wouldnt believe how many people swear by their 92 LPs. I have one too, and the only one that can match it is 07 R9, from some 6 LPs I have, from early 90s to later Reissues. There really is something about the rich sound, the solid feel, the heft. It was a magic year, just before Custom Shop started - the last year the USA line got the best wood they had then. And they knew how to build them, excellent QC and cutting no corners. Great, great guitars 😍

[@MikeWilliams-ly6yv]

The thing I love about a Les Paul is it's versatility. You can play rock from Zeppelin to Stray Cats, but it also has a great sound for blues, and traditional jazz.

[@cholling1]

You can play any style on any guitar.

[@skyisreallyhigh3333]

That's all guitars

[@G_Demolished]

Telecaster is the most versatile guitar if that’s what you’re looking for.

[@cholling1]

@@G_Demolished There are no versatile guitars, only versatile guitarists.

[@briandriver301]

Jimmy Page recorded Stairway to Heaven on a Telecaster. Just sayin....

[@sbeard73]

For me its all my ICONs played them, they are just cool. Tom Keifer, Slash, Joe Perry, Jimmy Page, Gary Rossington...

[@shobudski6776]

Paul Kossoff , Peter Green, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Dickey Betts, Duane Allman, ect, ect

[@sbeard73]

@@shobudski6776awesome and YES iconic!!

[@jimmyjoe1871]

My Les Paul is one of two guitars that I slaved away to acquire. It never fails to bring a smile to my face when I play it. So good

[@ethanhitchcock5431]

My favorite thing about the Les Paul is the TONE , I love the way they look of course , the carved top , the neck angle , the whole vibe really , yet as they say " One woman , many guitars ! ", so a Les Paul is just one of my loves... Thanks Robert !

[@Dav2112]

I don't own a Gibson but I have a nice Japanese Tokai replica, love the looks of them and the sound through an overdriven Marshall is bad ass.

[@bigjohnson7415]

Indeed. I have a 1975 Electra LP copy, Black Beauty, but has a bolt on neck. MUCH lighter than a real LP, put some Custom wound 59 PAF style pick-ups on it, sounds fantastic! Paid $500 for it also.

[@MickH60]

I have two Japanese Tokai LP's, one prototype, one of six made, and a custom shop Tokai LP gold top, At under 9 pounds the gold top is perfect. I also have an older 1982 Greco Randy Rhodes model Cream custom that sounds incredible.... You'd cry if you knew what I paid for mine, I bought them 20 years ago before the Japanese guitar frenzy took off. I've even talked to the luthier that made both of my Tokai's..

[@bigjohnson7415]

@@MickH60 Nice! I have a 1985 Made in Japan Strat, Cream with Maple neck. Some of the finest Strats made, right before they moved production from Japan. $500 with Hardshell case back then.

[@chuckl4961]

I also have a Japanese Aria LP copy, it's referred to as one of the law suit guitars it's a 76 cherry sunburst.

[@jamess7903]

SG guy here, and you can totally do that move much more easily with the Solid Guitar.

[@ButternoteBackingTracks]

Totally with you man, me too. Criminally underrated! 😎

[@Jeffy2n]

Years ago, I had a Luthier friend tell me the problem with tuning on a Gibson was mostly with the way the nut was cut. With all my Gibson style guitars I will have a Gibson trained Luthier set the nut on it as soon as I get it. You only need to pay to have it set once, and I have had little to no issues with tuning.

[@moustachio334]

I have a good nut on my SG and 0 tuning issues. Had a good setup done on it.

[@festushaggen2563]

I put a String Butler on mine and now it stays in tune. It's rare that I have to adjust it and it used to go out of tune just sitting in its case. 👍🏻

[@festushaggen2563]

@Rock Show Yeah, I saw it on a video last year and looked into it. I decided to try it and it works great. I've had my LP for 30 years and that was the last thing I needed to do after I restored it. I thought I'd try it before messing with the nut. Those tuners sound interesting but I ended up going with the Kluson locking tuners. I wanted an upgrade there but with the keystones to keep some of that original look. Like them alot too. 👍🏻

[@HatRock]

That's all about it. Is all about the nut and the correct way of string the guitar. Through all these years some blabbermouth have been blaming the actual guitar. Learn how to check the nut before you buy and if you know is not good but you really want that particular Les Paul just get it and get the nut changed by someone who knows how to do it right.

[@Kyush4]

the problem is in the design, theres several fixes, but not being straight string pull was the issue from the start

[@iggycygnus7430]

2020 Standard 50s Goldtop owner. Problem with Les Pauls are that they are heavy to carry, delicate to a fault, expensive to buy, and difficult to play-Fender strats make for a very suitable guitar for beginners. Les Pauls can be desirable guitars, but it’s too much of a fight to own one as it is to play them. Sometimes I pick up my Les Paul and I win the fight and it’s a good day for a sound check. Other times I put the instrument away frustrated, wondering why I didn’t sound as good as the day before. With my strats I had a much more consistent playing experience.

[@SuperAmin1950]

The fight or flight issue; I hate that shmit¡☆! 😮

[@buddylobos5277]

Don't see many LP neck breaks with repairs these days. It used to be quite common. I bought a couple of LP Customs with neck repairs done by pro's. Never a playing problem, but the visual and knowing it was repaired was bad. I had 3 LP's the '50's.. One was a '59 TV yellow Special. Neck was broken 3 times. One headstock, and 2 times on either side of the body-neck joint. Good repairs all of 'em. I don't know if it was the '59 neck, the guitar weight or the PU's (like on your Gold top. ) But that was one of the greatest guitars I have ever owned. Good post. Thanks.

[@rheeslane9529]

I've never had a Les Paul, but I absolutely LOVE the look. I have also realized, as I've started playing over the last year, that the guitar sounds that I love usually are on a Les Paul.

[@BricksAndSparrows]

Great, honest video. I like how he can talk about the pros and cons without any of the hysterical devotion some people have to this model or that. I love LPs. The weight, tone and control layout are the biggest selling points for me. And yes, the looks too. But I agree about getting up past the 12th fret. It’s pretty chunky up around the cut away and I’ve struggled with that. But there is a dude here on KZbin with no arms. Plays with his feet. If he can make THAT work, I can find a way to adjust to the LPs neck.

[@Mtdfffgghv]

In my opinion. Their awesome. You can literally play any style and with how good amp modeling has become you, you can achieve so many sounds for recording, from metal to country

[@NegdoshaManido]

I've always loved the more angular guitars like the V and Explorer, and thought the Les Paul was just kinda "vanilla" looking. After years of playing, I finally decided to give the Les Paul a try. Dang, have I been missing out! I have two Les Pauls now, and absolutely love the sound. There really is just something about the Les Paul. I'm still not crazy about how it looks, but I play it for the amazing sound.

[@kodykindhart5644]

Play for sound 🤘

[@Ottophil]

But vanilla is the best

[@NegdoshaManido]

@@Ottophil Yeah, unless your a chocolate fan..... or Rocky Road..... or Mint Chocolate.... or.... :D

[@J.Shambles]

I agree 100%

[@zwerko]

I have the exact same feeling towards telecasters. I've avoided them for the longest time because... god, they're hideous! Even the dressier versions of them just can't pull off a nice look to save their strings... But, boy, aren't they fun to play and they have such a unique sound. I have one borrowed, because I just can't make myself buy one, and it has been easily the most played guitar in my current arsenal for months now.

[@benkonczal4584]

To me the LP sounds amazing and I’m a sucker for the craftsmanship and artistry that goes into each one. They make me want to play. I build my own tele’s and they are easy to create. No reason to pay Fenders crazy prices for them. But a LP… there’s a lot involved there and I just love them.

[@rmv9194]

Are you really talkin shit about Fender prices where current Gibsons give you a worse quality/price deal?

[@benkonczal4584]

@@rmv9194 well if you want to compare what goes into making a tele vs a LP, then yes. A Tele is pretty simple to make. I’ve built several. Including a neck from scratch. And I don’t see the justification in Fenders prices. I’m not saying Gibsons are inexpensive at all. But they are much more complicated to create. And I don’t think there’s currently any problems with their quality. I do think people just go looking for problems with them. And none of them are truly “outrageous”.

[@DB007-28]

I own a gibson 60s standard and the thing i love most about it is also ironically it's biggest weak point: the weight. Because it weighs a ton you really feel like the thing you're holding is a solid peice of wood that you can abuse the shit out of, it makes me play in this extremely agressive manner that no other guitar can allow me to, at the same time, boy do i wish i had my es with me after 2 hours of that thing sitting on my lap :)

[@JayDuuubb]

My favorite part about les Pauls are how heavy they are so I can speed run back pain. how restrictive they are with the higher frets so I don't have to worry about having too many options at my disposal and can just focus on the top 16 frets at most. I like that in time the les Paul will self modify into a headless guitar for the extra ergonomics like a strandberg. And the price is also a favorite for me cause it prevents me from spending my money on other useless things like groceries, gasoline, and mortgage payments. Mix this with the pride of purchase, knowing that owning the only good guitar ever made earns me bragging rights to everyone and it gives me the right to trash talk all other brands of guitars. All these things just really do it for me.

[@iankinzel]

What I love about a Les Paul is the bond I have with mine, and how it helps me express myself with rich clean tones.

[@Craig52-zq1bt]

Such old technology. Thick neck, freakin heavy. I own one, but it spends all its time in the rack. Strats, teles and a couple of Schecters. Mmmmmm ..perfection.

[@davidknipe3536]

Custom and Deluxe Telecasters have the same control layout as a Les Paul. I love my Les Paul ,but my custom Tele has the single coil in the bridge and the Fender wide range in the neck. This configuration, combined with the Les Paul style control layout, gives you a lot of tonal options.

[@davidknipe3536]

@@RByrne I realise it doesn’t have the same sound as a Les Paul, but the seperate volume/tone for each pickup and selector switch position gives similar options, and the killswitch trick, to a Les Paul. My point was more about the similarities in control layout, for people who might prefer a Fender guitar over a Les Paul. We all know there’s no perfect guitar, otherwise we’d all only own one, and our wives would be happy 😆

[@moustachio334]

Take the cover off that “wide range” and throw that humbucker in the trash.

[@TheHumbuckerboy]

I have always liked those wide range pickups.

I played Les Pauls for 50 years...too heavy now. Switched to the Telecaster and never looked back

[@jackthompson5863]

I had a 73 deluxe with the 2 Seth lover wide range pickups and it sounded very much like a Les Paul.

[@mikado5792]

Recently bought my first Les Paul style guitar after playing a Strat for a while and I love it. There is a growl/meanness to its tione that I am hooked on.

[@rudolphpyatt4833]

Actually, a Les Paul also has a wonderful clean tone; it's a great jazz guitar (especially with P90s). I string mine with .012 flatwounds.

[@johnmcevoy3598]

I leave the covers on the pickups and drop them almost flush with the tops of the mounting rings. The T-tops are clear and bright.

[@biggoofybastard]

It was designed for a jazz player, so it should be.

[@gregdunn6040]

I've been playing Les Pauls pretty much exclusively for the last 45 years, the thing with the Les Paul is you have to go play a ton of them to find the "right" one, my current crop are all under 9 lbs and just scream. I find them very comfortable to play and it is an integral part of the sound that I am used to working with. As for deciding if it is for you or not, listen to the tones and see if it gets into what you hear in your head. I started playing in the 70s so we had Jimmy Page, Ace Frehley, Paul Kossoff, etc that were playing them so that is the tone I hear.

[@BenGenderson]

I hear Steve Jones on the "Never Mind" album

[@rmv9194]

Jimmy Page used a lot the telecaster for recording too

[@johnmcdonald8943]

Late to the conversation, but my first experience to a LP was I brought one for a friend while overseas, came back and plugged it in at home, played his Fender first and then the LP - the tone and chuckiness sold me and no pedals, now own 3. Since have grown my passion for Fender and others for their uniqueness and appreciate all their positives and understand their limitations. But I naturally lean to the meatiness of an LP

[@michaeljohnson5648]

My first "real" guitar was a Les Paul, because I was and continue to be a Led Zeppelin kid...at 60 yrs old. So I love them.

[@Meylan191083]

I have a 2013 Gibson Les Paul Studio. I was never a fan particularly having played a Les Paul Standard and a few copy versions but the moment I picked it up out of its case I knew it was a different beast. Much lighter, far better balanced, and has (to my ears anyway) all the tone and sound of a Standard. Beautiful guitar and my favourite of all the ones I own.

[@Journey-of-1000-Miles]

Some things I like about the Les Paul are; the scale length, the neck radius, Gibsons pick up design, the bridge, and the set neck. also, every guitar is a lacquer finish.

[@Bbbbad724]

I wish I could play a 12 inch radius. I just got into chordal/ melodic guitar where you just sort of play flow of consciousness and try to train my hands to be in sync with what I hear, bending and teasing a tonic but making it a surprise by landing on a mix- tonic is all I can call it by sliding up or down to make it a hammer on or pull of harmonic phrase like human voice vibrato with a incoming breath effect. It’s impossible to describe. But you feel it like catching your breath after singing.

[@HoJSimpson]

I have a Epiphone Les Paul, that I upgraded with a roller Bridge and locking tuners. Before, It was really bad at staying in tune. But now even after a stretchy session, it remains in tune perfectly.

[@antoineconan3506]

Good catch on scale length, people tend to underestimate how big of a change this is compared to a Fender-type guitar. I personally find the Gibson scale much more comfortable and easier to play, and never dug my telly for that reason: i feel these are huge, difference being especially notable on the high frets. Not saying one is better, but you gotta try it to know what fits you best.

[@jditty4050]

I've always played heavier strings on my LPs but 10s on the Tele keeps me going back for more. They're both really balanced like that.

[@MrFacile85]

Isn't vintage style tele also shorter scale?

[@2010njdevil]

@@MrFacile85 I was wondering the same thing.... I have 2 custom made Teles...one short scale and the other 25.5" and both with really chunky C-shaped necks and 43mm wide at the nut vs. the narrower Fender standard 42mm. Maybe it is the material I play but my I find my LPs and both Teles far more comfortable than any of my 5 Strats( and they have various widths and radius).

[@danielcoleman1518]

Agreed totally. I use .009s on my LPs. I like Jimmy Page and his one string bends which can be a step and a half or even a double step bend. I find the LP to be best for me and the kind of music I play.

[@Bbbbad724]

I’d play my Les Paul Special more if the neck was thicker. I shattered my left shoulder, fretting hand and the nerves bundle up and make my hand go numb. I even put.008s on it. I think it’s worse than the.009s on my ball bat U neck Tele.

[@boogiemorgan]

I have Fenders, Epiphone, Martin, and Gibson! My favorite and constant player is my Les Paul, I dearly love it! The clean, clear sound, the controls out of the way, the shorter scale, etc., You just can't beat it, love it!!!!!!!

[@ernieslespaul2710]

I’ve been stringing my Les Pauls the way you showed us for a year now and it’s been an incredible upgrade

[@heinzamatic]

I've owned and played many Les Pauls from gibson and varies other brands, to this day my favorite is the 1961 les paul variety. But of coarse that's actually an sg.

[@moj0ryzin]

I love that Les Pauls have a set neck and carved top. It really feels like quality. I started out playing a Strat and it was all I had for years and I still love them but I was always chasing that fat hairy LP tone until I got one. I’ve been fortunate to be able to have many different types of guitars over time but I always reach for my Les Paul when I want to jam it just has magic for me.

[@huskym6]

I'm still torn between my strat and LP, they're both a "horses for courses " guitar... I prefer the strat for expression more than the LP, but the strat doesn't come near the gorgeously fat tone of the LP... I suppose it's a matter of taste, but I agree with you when it comes to just jamming :)

[@andyt5559]

I totally agree on the volumes bud, I don't get, master vol master tone, I can handle the master tone but a twin humbucker you need the 2 volumes! and to me a strat would be so much better with 2 volumes and a master tone the neck and middle vol, the second the bridge vol?

[@jessehutchings]

Fat and hairy? Lmao 😂

[@s.e.n3264]

When it comes to tuning issues. The best thing you can do imo. Is install hipshot bridge, hipshot griplock tuners and a string butler. I did that years ago to my Les Paul Custom. The tuning is so solid.

[@benhaen1192]

is that all? lol

[@DanielHeikalo]

I love the tone in the hands of some of my "idols". I grew-up and learned guitar in the era of master Les Paul players like Page, Trower (what a tone!), Martin Barre, Beck (who used a Les Paul then), Leslie West, Mike Bloomfield, Frampton, etc. It is the tone of my youth... I now switch between a Strat and a Les Paul style guitar. Best of both worlds. Love them both.

[@TheHumbuckerboy]

Has Trower not always used a Strat ?

[@gitarboi6760]

It’s iconic for a reason Love the sound, ultra versatile! Les Paul into a cranked amp is the sound of rock and roll.

[@harrisontownsend910]

Gitar Boi you are right on the money.

[@teemusid]

So you don't like Jimi Hendrix? Ritchie Blackmore? Carlos Santana? Angus Young? Blanket statements are foolish.

[@harrisontownsend910]

@@teemusid He never said he didn't like them but try saying rock n roll and not thinking of a Les Paul through a dimed amp.

[@erictustison]

Who is the Les Paul for? People sitting down.

[@chrismijares488]

I primarily play Strats, and just recently bought a Les Paul Standard. The one thing they have in common to me? I don’t play either of them sitting down.

[@sgt.grinch3299]

Nothing sound better that a properly set up Les Paul. I love a full sound that kicks down the door and the smoothness of silk. Throw on some P-90s and you have a machine that can do anything.

[@Adipsia1]

I think that Gibson had it right in the 50's in introducing the Junior. There's not much that a Junior can't do and most importantly it gets you aware of tonal possibilities by using just one volume and tone control. The LP Standard is a superb guitar but the volume and tone layouts are more challenging. I love my Junior and prefer my PRS DGT to my LP Standard. The DGT feels great and is much more versatile without the weight.

[@canadiandream12]

I absolutely agree with your point about becoming aware of your volume and tone knob. I played a Les Paul and strat for years while hardly ever touching the knobs. Picked up a tele just over a year ago and it made me a better player. I became aware of those knobs because it doesn’t leave you much of a choice. I now use the knobs on all of my guitars and even wired my strat bridge pickup through the tone knob because I realized the potential of it. I don’t think it’s too far fetched to say that an LP junior is a sort of Gibson tele in that respect.

[@Adipsia1]

@@canadiandream12 100%.

[@fender.munoz7]

i played one for 15 years i had a 1979 standard i just play it i never thought about how heavy it was or any other concerns with it i was just happy to own one in mid 80s

[@stealthbum34]

I love the LP sound, unfortunately they never feel right on me, it’s like holding a piece of furniture. Despite the scale, I always struggle a bit on the high end too because they’re pretty chunky around the heel and I have smallish hands. I find an SG style guitar more accessible. I also own a fender GT HH which has the same kind of tone and that rips.

[@joermnyc]

More recent Les Pauls have a carved heel, some models call it the “axcess” heel (there’s also an Axcess model, but those are thinner and sometimes have Floyd Rose systems (Alex Lifeson from Rush plays one)

[@stephsheehy3576]

Check the LP juniors, great tone but they feel simpler to handle. I love my '58 doublecut reissue.

[@davidhooper259]

IMO-tone is manufactured from strings, pickups and other components and the material and shape of the neck to a lesser degree. BUT it sure does strange when the tone or even type of music comes out of certain guitars manufacturers and shapes. No one would expect or want to hear jazz or Stray Cat Strut from a Flying V when it should come from. Gretsch or Fender jazzmaster

[@paradox7743]

Yup the SG is versatile that you can bassically do anything w/ her. Best shape reminds me of a StingRay vette'

[@chrisggoodwin777]

a former bandmate shares these exact sentiments. he's an SG guy also. he takes it a step further, though, and will only buy 2013 SGs. he's had three since I've known him

[@sidewaysrain7609]

It is a toolbox. A Les paul, a stratocaster and a telecaster. Plus perhaps one or two open tunings and such. Of course a quality acoustic or three!!!

[@dnah2k]

The volume, tone, pickup selector make a Les Paul one of the most dynamic instruments out there. Light, jazzy, vintage all the way to deadly!

[@orlandoramirez1345]

Do you know if you can do that with an SG?

[@dnah2k]

@@orlandoramirez1345 Good question! The SG is wired very much the same as the Les Paul so you can use the volume and tone knobs to get a huge range of tones and dynamics.

[@jaydo3553]

Just got my first Les Paul, I’ve always been an explorer guy but always loves the fuller sound of a Les Paul. Never thought I would like it this much

[@stevegardiner8473]

I love the feel, playability and tone of Les Pauls. My main go to guitar but, the one thing I hate is the upper fret access. I've had to get an SG to play certain things right up at the dusty end!

[@donaldsimmons6184]

The dusty end, haha!

[@burtonkephart6239]

I’d get a explorer .

[@GarryBurgess]

Least favouite thing is the vulnerable break point just by the headstock.

[@revivalmusic8063]

Pros: looks, tone Cons: weight, ergonomics, tuning issues if the nut isn't cut properly. The 61 Les Paul (SG) remedied the weight and ergonomics, that is why I prefer SGs. They are much lighter and comfy with only a little sacrifice in tone.

[@kestutisbagusauskas8323]

Who is a Les Paul for? 1) Noise makers 2) Canoe boat owners the desigh makes it possible for them to be used either right or left handed as paddles, plus with their extreme weight they make excellent anchors!

[@Andrey.Balandin]

LP is NOT for someone who needs sparkly chimey cleans, LP just can't do it. I think you should have mentioned that. I thought I loved LP off of LZ and the looks, so I got it. Never jived with LPs cleans no matter what I tried. LP cleans are too muffled, lacking clarity and attack. They call it 'warm' I call it dull. Switched to Fender Strat and have been happy ever since. The cracking attack of the singles is also great for light overdrive

[@JohnShalamskas]

Try using wireless instead of cables - that will perk up the high frequencies on any guitar, since it eliminates the high frequency roll off caused by the combination of high impedance pickups and low impedance cables that have distributed capacitance. The longer the cable, the stronger the roll off.

[@ButternoteBackingTracks]

No, they'll never do chimney cleans, just not what they're built to do. The modern LPs have those horrible burstbuckers - too hot and muddy as hell if you're not careful. But, with decent vintage style PAF pick-ups, or P90s, it's a big improvement.

[@craigwillms61]

Absolutely fabulous sounding Les Pauls on the open jam. LP is my go-to guitar, but I would never be without my Strat - you need both.

[@jcburger733]

Love my Les Paul, but I also love my other guitars too. It all depends on what kind of sound you are looking for at the moment. I always feared that the head stock would snap, but so far, it never has;-)

[@bluetopguitar1104]

I play a Les Paul and a Strat. Got the bases covered.

[@ScottfromBaltimore]

It's the look for me. I've loved them ever since I saw Song Remains the Same. I ALSO like the wide, flat fretboard. I can't speak to tone, because I haven't owned one, but I do like my Dot-335's sound for some things, very much.

[@evanwalters63]

Best thing about them is the tone. Worst things are the weight of the instrument and it's hard to play.

[@mightyV444]

I've definitely noticed that some of the ideas I'd developed on the LP copy I'd owned many years ago are quite a bit more difficult to play on Fender-scale guitars! And that theory of shorter scale => heavier strings has also been valid for myself 🙂

[@TheHumbuckerboy]

I also learned to play on a Les Paul copy and although I love Fender Stratocasters I find that the position of the volume control on a Strat hinders my picking hand.

[@mightyV444]

@@TheHumbuckerboy - Yeah, I had the exact same issue with the only US-made Fender Strat I've ever owned - but surprisingly not with any of the Strat _copies_ I've had throughout my life! But I'm actually more into Telecasters than Strats and the 'Deluxe' with its two wide-range humbuckers in particular; Strats usuallyhave a whammy bar, and unfortunately Teles don't, though! 😄

[@TheHumbuckerboy]

@@mightyV444 I have always liked the tone of those wide-range humbuckers

[@mightyV444]

Considering your username,@@TheHumbuckerboy, I'm not surprised in the slightest! 😄😉

[@TheHumbuckerboy]

@@mightyV444 lol

[@Afurthyclays]

One thing I really like is that with the shorter scale length, combined with .009 or .010 gauge strings tuned 1/2 step down, you can REALLY shake the heck out of the notes with left hand vibrato! 🤘

[@Stef140]

I thought I could deal with the poor fret access of a Les Paul until I got my hands on my new PRS. It's crazy that I can reach the 24th fret even easier than I could reach the 20th fret on a Les Paul

[@geetarbube]

There’s no money up there, mate

[@michaelfoley906]

I bought a PRS shape guitar (24 frets as well) for exactly that reason!! I've got smallish hands and wear guitars fairly low so upper neck access is an issue on the Les Paul. Worth it though.

[@kiyanharchegani2588]

@@geetarbube the les paul is a guitar designed in the 1950s and gibsons player base doesnt want it to "evolve". they want it just as it was in 59. there are 100s of boutique builders building ergonomic guitars that use better materials, more involved in the build with much better QA for the same price if not cheaper than an LP studio.

[@CurieBohr]

@@kiyanharchegani2588 more involved in the build? Have you watched the Gibson TV build series here on KZbin? The Les Paul doesn’t need to evolve. You don’t remaster Van Halen or Metallica and make them pop because that’s what the kids of today want to dance to. They’re just perfect the way they are. The Les Paul has been around 70 years and is still pulling 250k and up for their early year guitars.

[@CurieBohr]

@Far Stox bolt on necks and neck diving guitars that force your strumming hand forward into a weird position. No thanks

[@anthonyward8587]

When playing LP through a Marshall valve with Humbuckers; and it gets to that Harmonic overdrive point, all hell breaks loose.

[@steveg219]

Totally underrated for clean /jazzy tones!!!

[@gibsonguitarplayer]

Went from strats to super strats to LP’s and now to LTD EC 1000’s….lighter, upper fret access, great tone.

[@smelltheglove2038]

I don’t have tuning issues at all. I pulled out my LP after at least two weeks of not playing it, and it was still in tune. I had an ‘81 custom that didn’t have any issues either.

[@DanIvyOffical]

I agree. I have a LP Custom and have never had tuning issues. Maybe just lucky idk

[@richardhall785]

Totally agree, I’ve got a 2013 LP Traditional, had it from new, never get tuning issues. I can leave it in its case for weeks and it’s still in tune.

[@smelltheglove2038]

@@DanIvyOffical I have a suspicion that the people who complain about Gibson and Les Paul’s in particular have never owned one. They also complain about prices, which if you can work out a budget and save some money you can have one in no time. Once you start collecting gear, it easy to trade and sell to get your next “must have” item. I’m a lowly blue collar carpenter and have lots of high end toys.

[@thierryvidal63]

I broke the headstock twice. Heartbreaking, but it never affected the sound, the playability or anything except the price. I bought it in 97 and It's still my main guitar. It's difficult to play something ugly on a Les Paul. Everything sounds great, musical, beautiful.

[@fredfloyd68]

Jimmy page...Duane Allmann...green....slash...alex lifeson..Billy Gibbons...Eric Clapton...etc etc....They are quite heavy.....the good ones with sustain...

[@Krullmatic]

Your playing has gotten so much better over the years! You've really expanded your playing , and it's pretty phenomenal I must say! Edit: I've got an Epi Les Paul Classic, and it says in tune phenomenally! I make sure I use graphite for the nut slots, and I wonder my strings from the bottom up as well. I can abuse it and play really hard, and it still holds tune. The frets on the other hand......

[@tomholmquist4847]

Thanks, right on, but bottom line, when I need to “go big or go home”, I’m gabbin my Les Paul BB.

[@j.jester7821]

11 guage? Why you workin so hard?

[@TheHunter77632]

Cause we are men

[@luciopcamp5367]

Used to play with 13's or 14's

[@troyjones2358]

Played Strats for over 40 years got a 2013 Traditional LP and fell in love with it. Never looked back. It was my main axe for eight plus years, yeah it’s heavy but that’s part of the sound. I’m 6’2” 215 lbs I figure I can deal with a 9 or 10 pound guitar. I got a PRS SE Custom 24 a few months ago way more comfortable to play but, I still pull the LP out because there is nothing that sounds like a good Lester.

[@Aditya_Paliwal_9]

Absolutely 🎵🤘

[@DM-kv9kj]

"Different [gauge] strings have different tones to 'em." NO they do not. Complete myth that has been proven totally untrue many times. Heavier gauge strings just sound louder unplugged, that's it. As soon as you're going through an amplifier, the string gauge does nothing whatsoever to the tone, it only affects the ease of bending, that's all. It's purely a personal feel choice, they will not change your tone. Tone comes from amps, pickups and effects. Everything else is a choice of aesthetic and player's feel.

[@solocam1962]

Rick Beato .. thought same thing until he did his own "test" a few months ago. There were differences for the "tone chaser" player. Would it be enough tonal change for the average person to hear without a trained ear? I agree with you, once you start Amping and boxing sound, well... once amped many factors are involved sound. With an electric guitar, its the electronics to most degrees. PRS just said - "I don't get these players buying an electric guitar without playing through an amp!" The myth of tonal qualities in the wood only without plugging in is non-sense.

[@danielfigueroa4725]

Lots of metal and hardcore bands use Les Paul normally in dropped tuning

[@fluffkiller]

The answers easy…dentists…

[@PhillipGolden-o7o]

Or punks

[@Azajndo]

Dentist here, can confirm. I only own 2 LPs (and 1 SG)

[@isaiahmarquez9717]

Army veteran. I have 5 Les Pauls. All Gibson. 3 of those are Custom shop. No where near a medical degree.

[@fbi5082]

I don’t know what I love about the les Paul as I’ve never had one but i would have to say just from seeing one is that burst finish on the top there’s just something about it

[@bldlightpainting]

I own many different guitars, including strats, tallies, and Les Paul specials, but my favorite is my Gibson Les Paul Standard that I have refinished to look like a Custom Shop VOS '59. So it's looks and feel, coupled with killer tone makes it my favorite guitar for playing a wide genre of music, and it only weighs 9 lb, which is my heaviest guitar, but not bad for an LP.

[@r4vr4c]

I absolutely love my Les Paul 50s, its so easy to play and it sounds amazing. When I go from playing my ESP AX or Ibanez RG then play on my les paul its so much easier to play on. Its just a great guitar

[@billymountain1124]

The sound comes from your fingers… and surely it will sound different when you stand up; that’s where music is happening whatever gear you play. I would like to watch youtubers talk about the physical force à guitar will put on your playing

[@CJZM7777]

I have 2 LP style guitars, a PRS S2 singlecut and a PRS SE McCarty 594 and love them both. I like the range of tone from sweet to raging. Everyone thinks of the heavy distorted sound of a LP style guitar but they sound great clean to slight breakup too. I also like the shorter scale for stretches and bends. The body shape fits well for playing while sitting. I love the look of a singlecut guitar but I like them better without the pick guard and without the poker chip.

[@erwinroman4217]

Love mine. I have Strat, Tele, 335 clone and a jazz box. My '54 reissue goldtop (p90s and wraptail) is versatile and comfortable to me. The shorter scale and wrap tail makes bends with 11s super easy. Tone is clean bell like to dirty and nasty with a turn of the volume pots.

[@johnshepherd7340]

I played no less than 6 $6700 58/59 Custom shop replicas in a major guitar. They were a flaming dung heap compared to a single Heritage I played. Quality control in the crapper came out of someone else who watched me auditioning. In the end, a PRS Singlecut 10 Top beat out even the Heritage. By a good 20%. That's what got my money.

[@billorourke7152]

I worked at a guitar shop for a couple of years and saw quite a few Les Paul's come in for repair with broken head stocks. I own a few ,when I am not playing them they go right back in the case.

[@Hun_Uinaq]

It was originally written for jazz. Less was a jazz player. It actually sounds pretty fantastic when you use it for that genre.

[@bertbotha6370]

I love my Les Paul for all the reasons you mentioned. Thanks for this well covered topic.

[@mjeh1]

As an old guy that loves 70s classic rock, they just sound the best to me.

[@northmanlogging2769]

fav thing? Weight and overall thickness, I likes em stout. the scale length is perfect even though I have massive hands, I also have lots of broken fangers and wrist, And you put one next to any other guitar after 20 years, and you see right away the LP is built to last (even with the headstock issues) the Selector switch is easy to get to, so I can whack it on an up or down stroke, plus the volume/tone controls give you huge amounts of control, roll the tone back a bit and you get creamy tones to die for... Anyway... dislikes? when folks take the pickguard off, and the stop bar doesn't always stay on when changing strings. Headstocks... I've broken several, however they broke from abuse, severe abuse.... toss it at the crowd, followed by the half stacks and drum set abuse... Keep it in a hard case when traveling, and use stable stands, dont worry about it.

[@kevincottam9684]

My les paul has a finicky neck. The truss rod goes out of wack regularly. But when the weather is just right and it is adjusted just right it stays in tune for a month at a time. Otherwise it wont stay in Tune for three minutes.

[@leestanford2452]

I’ve never found one at any pricepoint off the shelf that plays in tune and stays in tune. A guitar that expensive should be 100% consistent in quality. Why can’t Gibson do what PRS does when it comes to consistency. Have I just had rotten luck? I love the sound, look, and feel of the GLP. Maybe one day I’ll find the one.

[@IndyRockStar]

I don't have issues with LP guitars holding tune either. It's all in how well the guitar is set up and how the strings are wound at the keys.

[@playpaul2]

Can't even estimate how many hit recordings were made with the Les Paul. What would music be without them? I will always use one...along with my Strat....and that's all you need!

[@filteredjc4653]

I've got a Les Paul and a Strat, I love the Les Paul for the reasons you mention and never found it hard to shred on (I got one because Randy Rhoads, Mick Ronson, Slash, Jimmy Page, and Zakk Wylde played them). I got the Strat because you obvs can't get the neck single coil sounds out of the LP. But they are both great guitars.

[@BotsWeekendCovers]

24 years old and finally bought a sunburst and was so proud of it. Got it home and played it and played it and I just never connected and sold it. Fast forward 33 years and bout a bourbon burst and dayum I love this guitar. Maybe age, maybe maturity in my playing maybe a different sound in my head? Who knows but I love it.

[@ditto1958]

Your amp brings me back. When I was in high school, mid-70’s, bands all either had Marshalls, or they tried to make their amps sound like Marshalls. They make a very recognizable sound that I have always liked a lot. Oh, and which guitar? These days, every guitarist should have a Les Paul, a Stratocaster and a Telecaster, and use which ever one they feel like using that day.

[@FarmerSlideJoeBob]

Years ago I played an Ibanez Les Paul Copy and it was pretty perfect to me😃 A bit different to the Gibson One, but for me the perfect Humbucker Guitar I played. Even if the weight wasn't my cup of tea😆

[@drud1728]

I love the sound. It also helps that it looks totally badass. It drips with vintage rock n’ roll cool.

[@NancyLaurino-l1m]

I have several guitar models; Fenders, Gibsons, Gretsch, Epiphone, etc. My Les Paul Standard is a great, versatile instrument to be sure, but my go-to, top choice in most cases would be a Fender Tele or Strat. A negative -- for me at least as an older player -- is the truly excessive weight of the LP -- it's a beast; and I don't find it particularly ergonomic to hold and play. If I am playing for longer periods of time, the weight can be an issue. Just my opinion though.