Les Paul's... thoughts vs Petrucci jp6's

[balance]

I have a Les Paul that I love. I played many, many, many, Les Pauls in the past, but never one that just said, "This is it." I found mine hanging on the wall at Guitar Center...A/B'd it against some Custom Shop models (mine is a Standard with 60's Neck). This guitar is the lighest and most toneful Les Paul I've ever played. Les Paul's sound like Les Paul's. They really are quite unique.

JP's are a different animal completely in a good way. They do what they do and a Les Paul is not going to get to that territory.

I think a major difference is going to be consistency. EBMM's are going to be consistent from one guitar to the next, which is more akin to what the boutique builders offer than a company of EBMM's size. I think it speaks volumes that EBMM can maintain quality with their size and volume, not to mention the value of what you pay versus the quality you get.

[bkrumme]

I'm much like Steve. Until I bought my first EBMM, I played Les Pauls and also had a couple Jacksons.

Les Pauls are GREAT guitars. I will also mirror what BP said about the guitars at GC. They all start off great and get thrashed by customers over and over again. Case in point, I purchased my Les Paul Custom from GC as a special order and when I opened the case it was PERFECT. They had 2 more hanging on the wall which were not so great. I guarantee it's because they were played over and over again and just thrown back up on the wall without even a wipe-down.

My reason for choosing EBMM is the feel and playability. The first time I played a JP, I couldn't put it down. The neck was the perfect shape for my hand. The 25.5" scale length really helped, too, since I was tuning 6-ers down at the time.

The JP6 really is a completely different guitar from a Les Paul so a comparison isn't fair from the get-go. Just about every aspect of the guitars is different. In fact the only thing they share with each other is that they are both guitars.

[browndog]

I’ve owned several LP’s in my lifetime. After about a year of having my first Axis, I bought another LP. Back then I wasn’t the EBMM nut that I am today. I never thought back then about buying another Ball, its just that this LP was special. I just had to have it.

I was so used to my Axis by then that the LP didn’t feel right. I returned the LP and bought a big screen TV.

[Spudmurphy]

I was always a Les Paul player. Still have my '73 from new.

I guess the only real comparison is that they are both Humbucking guitars.

I don't play the Les Paul now but am happy to use the JP for the numbers the Les Paul used to handle.

[NewLukeGuy]

Let's face it folks...the LP has it's place in history and as BP points out it's not about one versus the other. It should be an "and" conversation not an "or" conversation.

I had an LP for years before I bought my first MM in 2009, a Luke. Now I've got a Morse too, sold my LP and not looking back/going back. It's what I want out of a guitar these days and the MM products provide so much more of what I prefer out of the instrument.

[straycat113]

So many artist I grew up on used Les Pauls and so much great music was made with them, but also it was really a two company guitar market back then and I played for the other team. I have never owned a Gibson though I have borrowed them from friends for months on end.

Both Fender and Gibson hit the nail on the head very early on and those guitars and tones are still out there but neither company has had any luck with newer models in 50 to 40 years. Gibson could thank Slash for raising the Les Paul from the dead as before G&R broke no young bands were playing them and though they have tried to at least attempt something different, the last 7 new models look like they were made by some old Grateful Dead fan.

There is no denying the greatness of a Les Paul and the reason Gibson can charge those insane prices is the majority of guys who play them are 40 and up and are more than likely financially set and since that is what they played in there younger days and also there idols, that is what they are going to go for.

But as far as being creative and pushing on out into the future EBMM would be at the top of my list, the craftsmanship, playability,tone and color schemes are just off the chart.And believe me I am a hard guy to impress and dont blow smoke up anyone's a## I say what I feel to be the truth. My good friend,tech and owner of the Guitar store I hang in just bought a Luke ,Silo and now a Sub within the last 2 months and he owns about 60 guitars but got bit by the music man bug from working on my guitars and I dont even own one of those models.lol But every time I stroll in he has the Luke right by him.

I really cant understand why Gibson is having so many problems with quality control as you can pick up any magazine or go to any forum and all you here is problems with them right out of the box that you would think by now heads would roll and someone would be on top of the problem, and after so long it is hard to shake that image as it stays with you.

[dwells]

This is a musicman forum You can't speak of another companies guitar!! How dare u!!!

[Big Poppa]

Dean thats BS just because you post a vid of a wolfgang and I ask nicely for you to delete it and you tell me that Im wrong Mate.

You have to understand that people are here for a reason...If you went to a muslim forum you would get supporters of that religion. I think this has been nicely discussed...Its been pointed out by more than me that it is not "vs" and that it is a better world with more good guitars.

Bottom line is that this is a forum for our stuff.....I never could get on with the balance or weight of the les paul...but I always liked sg's and 295's 330's and many more

[Tung]

My main guitar is actually a JP50, my 2nd choice is my old 1981 Les Paul Pro.
-Playabilty? Easily the JP50 plays more easier. But Les Pauls make you play a certain way, that big chunk of wood all of a sudden turned your manhood up a notch when you're swinging a LP around
- Comfort? JP50 takes it here too. But there are certain feel thing that you just can't get from anything else from a LP. However, the same can be said about Music Man guitars as well.
So, the solution for me is that I use both! but if i have to leave one at home, it'll be the LP.

[Assumer]

Hey B2D Not to split hairs but I always like to point out that every guitar starts out great at Guitar Center and the customers beat the living daylights out of them. THey are trying to keep the guitars better but it is amazing to spend a day there and just watch the disregard the customers have for all of the guitars there. It is a full time job trying to keep switch tips and stings and knobs on. Thats why the mom and popa stores qualifies and stands by the person while they play it. It is crazy to me that anyone would treat a guitar badly but it happens.

It always amazes me to see these boneheads abuse the guitars.
When I try a guitar, I am careful not to bump it against anything, not scratch it with zippers or belts, etc. If they made the folks who abuse them buy them, they would have fewer folks being disrespectful.

[zif]

I didn't want or intend to provoke a "VS" challenge, just as there is no "better" guitar player..there is no "better" guitar for everyone. I just don't get why Les Paul's command such a premium price for that type of playability, craftsmanship, and tone - from my admittedly very non professional perspective from playing about 50 Les Paul Standards and above as they show up in a store.

I found a few great looking ones, but not any that shouted out to me with a chorus of angels that they were worth even $1000. Sadly, i found the even the Epiphone Les Paul's better looking and playing in many cases. But like many have stated, I was bitten by the Gibson Les Paul legacy - and wanted what should be a great playing guitar.

I just want to have the playability, craftsmanship, and tone I have with my EBMM's in a Les Paul style classic shape. Yeah, I know I'm dreaming - but this was the only place I could come to with people who really know what heck I'm talking about.

[Big Poppa]

The Les Paul can sell for that price because the market will pay it. It certainly has the heritage and monumental place in history....we are just trying to make good guitars and see where that takes us

[GoKart_MoZart]

Sorry I'm late to this party. I agree with lots already posted. For me, they're not the same guitar at all -- tone, playability, feel, etc. Totally different.

The kicker for me when I got my first EBMM (JP6 PRB in my avatar) was the neck (so very nice) and then the trem (best on the planet). But that's me.

Biggest complaint that I have with the Les Paul is the weight (if you're going to gig with it). Tone is nice, though.

Bottom line: I wouldn't trade my JP6 for anything. It's just so much fun to play, and sounds great.

But each to his own.

[Glen]

I have a good Les Paul.
But, I would recommend trying the Double Hum Rosewood Albert to anybody looking for great Rock & Roll tone. The Albert will certainly take you to many new and familiar places.....

[e.mate]

I don't get the vs part....and guess I never will. We're talking two completely different cups of tea here, which reminds of the late 80s Eddie-vs-Vai discussion....which was also useless, as any other musician-vs-musician discussion is

I tried many LPs throughout the years, because of the history and musical impact that instrument definitely had...it just never felt right to me. Too heavy, the huge neck (which just doesn't work with my small hands) and most of all...the insane pricing

Maybe I'll just always be the strat-type-guitar-playing-guy, and better keep my mouth shut. Yet still I don't get the vs part