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

[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

 

[bbake1]

I don't get the "vs" either. I have tried a few LPs in my day. I love the look, and the tone in the right hands. I have just never been able to bond with the LP for how it feels in my hands (weight, bridge volume control location, upper fret access, & sticky neck). I'll always be an admirer of guitars and guitarists, I know what I like and what feels good to me. It's not an argument, it's a choice.

 

[Capt Goldtop]

Well, as you can tell from my sig, I love a good Les Paul. I have an '89 Custom and a 2001 57 Reissue.

I just added a Music Man AL MM90 trem to my collection, and it is a great guitar. The out-of-the box set-up was great, so I really didn't need to tweak much to get it just right. Les Pauls are a different story...much more TLC required to keep them in-tune and set-up right.

The look, tone, and feel of a Les Paul are why I choose to play one. I would compare the JP to Charvels, Ibanez Prestige, Anderson, etc. My experience with humbucking guitars is that a set-neck mahogany guitar sounds sweeter on low to mid gain settings. Think Dickey Betts...just a magical, simple guitar tone. I play through a 59 Bassman which brings out the specialness of the LP (the AL MM90 also sounds amazing thru this amp). Thru my Mesa Mark IV, the guitars all start sounding the same.

So the net - net, think about your rig, music style, etc. when picking the right guitar.

 

[tommydude]

Nothing wrong with owning an LP for that "Tone"......

But, take any guitar at GC with a grain of salt. As BP stated, certain non-respectful people, really do abuse those floor guitars.

The last LP Studio Premium Plus I owned I had to take to local Mom/Pop tech to "make right". It was shipped from MF directly. The frets were not finished. Needed additional filing, then 0000 steel wool treatment....$75 later, it was a better guitar.

** Side note, I no longer own that LP **

We are very lucky to have the quality control of MusicMan Guitars

 

[zif]

I don't get the "vs" either. I have tried a few LPs in my day. I love the look, and the tone in the right hands. I have just never been able to bond with the LP for how it feels in my hands (weight, bridge volume control location, upper fret access, & sticky neck). I'll always be an admirer of guitars and guitarists, I know what I like and what feels good to me. It's not an argument, it's a choice.

Hey, i took that "vs" statement back already!

And agree with you - well said!

 

[whitestrat]

A good Les Paul is truely a thing of beauty to behold... and play. In all my years of playing various guitars, I've never come across any other guitar that's as versatile in terms of tonal controls as the Les Paul. Not even the strat. If you REALLY know how to use the controls on a Les Paul, and you have good electronics in there, the guitar can be almost unbeatable unless you need a trem. Hahaha...

That said, the JP6 is THE most ergonomic guitar I have ever played. There is not guitar I have played that fits the body better. That forearm scoop is simply genius. The only issue I have with the JP now is the neck. My hands hurt after playing it in extended periods. My technique is changing towards thicker necks. But nevertheless it's still a good guitar...

 

[bbake1]

A good Les Paul is truely a thing of beauty to behold... and play. In all my years of playing various guitars, I've never come across any other guitar that's as versatile in terms of tonal controls as the Les Paul. Not even the strat. If you REALLY know how to use the controls on a Les Paul, and you have good electronics in there, the guitar can be almost unbeatable unless you need a trem.

Sorry to move away from the topic, but the 25th fits the bill for tonal versatility with a trem.

 

[Tung]

. If you REALLY know how to use the controls on a Les Paul, and you have good electronics in there, the guitar can be almost unbeatable unless you need a trem. Hahaha...

That said, the JP6 is THE most ergonomic guitar I have ever played. There is not guitar I have played that fits the body better. That forearm scoop is simply genius. The only issue I have with the JP now is the neck. My hands hurt after playing it in extended periods. My technique is changing towards thicker necks. But nevertheless it's still a good guitar...

You know, you hit a few points that's my sentiments exactly. I used to do everything on my Les Paul, jazz gigs and rock gigs etc.. It's way more versatile than any Strat I ever owned.
But the JP guitars are great for all those points you mentioned. I also have a need for a thicker neck, Axis and ASS comes to mind. They seem to fit my left hand technique better.

 

[whitestrat]

Sorry to move away from the topic, but the 25th fits the bill for tonal versatility with a trem.

Ah... I see your point, but it's still not the same... You have to know how to use a Les Paul's controls effectively to understand what I'm getting at.

 

[bbake1]

Nice slam, thanks. I've been playing for over 35 years and I have had my share of nice LPs. And yes I do know how to use the controls effectively on an LP. I find the 25th far more versatile than any LP I have played. It has it's own character, but it can snag LP and S tones if you want especially with my Axe-FX. My daughter's boyfriend and his LP / Mesa are really limited.

 

[isaactmeyer]

THis is a hard question.. i have a les paul, prs mccarty (which was also designed by les paul) , and the petrucci 6...

THey are all unique but have similar qualities.. I honestly could not say one is better than they other.. if i had to pick i would say the petrucci is great for leads and clean rythems..

les paul is great for chunky stuff..

and prs is right in between.