That Les Paul Sound

[Eilif]

Which EBMM guitar comes closest to a Les Paul in terms of sound? I'm thinking Kansas, Boston, Journey...

I don't know much about guitars and would appreciate any and all feedback, especially from anybody with experience playing EBMM as well as Dean, PRS, Gibson, etc.

 

[PurpleSport]

Rock on, brah!

Hmmm....well, you mention Kansas, who Steve Morse used to play for, so there's a pretty big vote for starters!

The standard Axis would be a contender if you're going for more of a modern LP sound, in that it has dual humbuckers and a 3 way switch. However, the pickups are a bit hotter than the average LP so it might sound fatter in one way as the basswood/maple combination isn't the same tone as mahogany/maple. On the other hand, the Floyd, maple neck, and longer scale length add a nice element of brightness that LP's don't have.

I personally have a hardtail Axis Sport with MM90s, which I love. It's usually closer to a Tele in overall sound, but it can also sound like a vintage Les Paul Junior with the right overdriven amp (model) - I can get it to sound like Tom Scholz with my Boss GT-6 a lot easier than you might expect. I much prefer it's sound to my PRS Custom 24 for those old school rock tones, but I think I've always been more of a soapbar guy than a humbucker dude.

BTW, I've also owned a Les Paul Standard and an Ibanez Les Paul clone, and think the EBMMs are far more playable and tonally flexible. They'll never sound exactly like an LP due to the factors mentioned above, but as the saying goes, they're "close enough for rock and roll" in my book...plus, you still get great sustain, a better neck, a FAR lighter guitar, and infinitely better quality and customer service than Gibson will give you if you're not a rock star.

There's also a double-humbucker SUB1 that's just come out that might fit the bill also, for a lot less bills than any of the above models. I've never tried one so I can't comment on the sound, but those few here that have report they're amazing.

Finally, Eilif, I gotta give ya props on the Kikaider avatar, and your choice of towns....because I used to go to Mililani High as a kid - go Trojans!

 

[Eddie Van Halen]

A standard Ernie Ball Axis would probably be the closest to that fat, warm les paul sound we all love. It has two humbuckers, 3 way pickup selector just like a Les Paul. Les pauls bodies are much different which may make it fatter than an Axis...an Axis sound is much more versatile than Les Paul in my opinion they are both great sounding guitars but id take an Axis over a Les Paul if faced with that decision

 

[Jimi D]

Actually, the PAF Pro pickups found in the Silhouette are probably going to get you as close as you'll ever get to LP tone with an EBMM, but they're really apples and oranges. I've owned three Gibson Les Pauls in my day, and they really do have a body of tone that is all their own - but it comes at considerable cost: substantial shoulder weight and a lack of versatility being my personal bugbears with the model. I actually traded two of my Les Pauls for two of the Axes that I own now - which pretty much defines where I stand on the whole LP vs. Axis issue...

 

[OrangeChannel]

LP = Lifting Pain.

 

[Eddie Van Halen]

ya Les Pauls are uncomfortable to play sitting down

 

[Eilif]

Are the bridge humbuckers used by the Silhouette, Silhouette Special, Axis, and Axis Super Sport different?

Also, which has more of a bearing on the sound of guitar: the type of pickup used or the body (shape, mass, type of wood)?

Thank you for enlightening me.

Actually, the PAF Pro pickups found in the Silhouette are probably going to get you as close as you'll ever get to LP tone with an EBMM, but they're really apples and oranges. I've owned three Gibson Les Pauls in my day, and they really do have a body of tone that is all their own - but it comes at considerable cost: substantial shoulder weight and a lack of versatility being my personal bugbears with the model. I actually traded two of my Les Pauls for two of the Axes that I own now - which pretty much defines where I stand on the whole LP vs. Axis issue...

 

[Jimi D]

Are the bridge humbuckers used by the Silhouette, Silhouette Special, Axis, and Axis Super Sport different?

Yep... well, the Axis models all have the same humbucking pickups, but ever line has it's own pickups, so Silhouettes are different from Silhouette Specials, and they're different from the Axis, etc...

Also, which has more of a bearing on the sound of guitar: the type of pickup used or the body (shape, mass, type of wood)?

Pickups have the most direct effect on the tone of a guitar, but you can't discount the other aspects of the build... You can slap a PAF Pro in a Les Paul and record it, then turn around and throw it in a Silhouette and record it through the same gear, and they're not going to sound the same - there are just too many differences in the way they're built and the materials they are built with. But since EBMM don't make a 22 fret, 24.5" scale, set-neck guitar with an arched maple top and mahogany back and neck, you're not going to find a "Les Paul" in the EBMM catalogue... What you do find are guitars that can fake it well enough for rock'n'roll, and give you a whole lot more besides!

 

[JDouglee]

You could always have Ed Roman build you a mahogany Les Paul type body for your EBMM guitar...

















Just Kiddin

 

[koogie2k]

hehehehhe....man, I'd be careful...the leprechaun might do that and then tell the world how much better his EBMM replica monster is compared to the originals.....hehehehe....

I have read a few of the posts here and all I can say is....a Les Paul is a Les Paul. You can come close, but you won't get it exactly. Just like a ***nder won't sound like a Pet or Axis. You can get close, but it will not be exact.

Now, I know he said close.....and I agree that the Axis would be the one for that particular tone you are looking for. Not only that, you can do MORE with the Axis in my opinion.....just my 2 pennies.

So I say buy the Axis and become an addict like all of us!!

 

[JDouglee]

Nah I was just goofin'

But humor aside, it makes you think...what would a EBMM sound like in Mahogany?

Like a Silo Special, extra BEEF edition? Or perhaps an AXIS w/maple top...

 

[Eilif]

Thanks for the comments so far. Interesting and educational. Keep them coming!

The tally so far: 3 votes for Axis and 1 for Silhouette.

 

[koogie2k]

Yeah I know...heheheh.....have you seen the Dr(ED) Roman OLP re-topped and sold for like 650? Idiot actually believes they are better than a EBMM....hehehehe......what a moron...

It would be cool to see/hear an Axis with Mahog or Black Korina maybe.....but, I think they are awesome just the way they are now! .

But......maybe a "Axis Super Duper Sport" could have the mahog body with a quilt top.... then again, maybe they tried that in early stages of development....Jon???

Would be kind of neat to hear.....I still think the Axis would get the Les Paul sound out of them all.

Still, I think the versatility of the Axis would kick Gibby to the curb in a minute...and I don't think there will be too many here who would disagree with me on that....

 

[JDouglee]

Les Pauls are such a specific thing, you kinda have to get one to really get that sound. But having said that, a bolt on guitar in mahogany is an interesting sound.

 

[dfrady]

The Les Paul tone isn't worth the back breaking weight that comes with owning a les paul, there are by far more outstanding guitars on the market better then les pauls (quality and playability) and can still achieve the les paul tone for half the money. I've traded all my guitars for ernie ball's both of my ESP's ( not that LTD crap ) and a Les Paul Custom, now i have 3 Axis. Ernie Ball are by far the best guitars on the planet !!!!!!!!!!! Here is what i traded my LP Custom for, hope you like it :

 

[Jimi D]

I've traded all my guitars for ernie ball's both of my ESP's ( not that LTD crap ) and a Les Paul Custom, now i have 3 Axis.

Um, I only see pics of one... You realize, of course, that you must supply pictures of the others as well. Forum rules, dontchaknow...

I traded my Les Paul Gem for the red Axis Super Sport hardtail, and my Les Paul Deluxe for the Axis Super Sport MM90...

 

[Eilif]

dfrady,

Nice photos. What made you go with an Axis instead of an Axis Sport or Super Sport?

 

[dfrady]

Here is a pic of my natural one that was built for the winter namm show a few years back. Hope you like it :

 

[dfrady]

I'll take some better pics afterwhile of all 3 of them together, i did have a 4th one but i traded it in on a mesa boogie rect-o-verb, but i'm in the process of trying to get it back, guess i should have just kept it, that's o.k. though we learn by our mistakes.

 

[NorM]

I sold my Gibson to finance my Steve Morse Model. Since then I haven't been able to find a Gibson I like. I don't want to lower the quality of my sound.

Get you a Silo and wire it up any way you want. Warmer than a Les Paul. Screams like a Strat. Twangs like a Tele. Plays for hours and hours.

Where are my 20th anniv Silos?