Which MM for a Les Paul tone?

[alpjr]

I'm loving my new Luke and ready for my second MM guitar. I've always loved the tone of a Les Paul but not the playability. Which MM guitar can get me in the ballpark of a Les Paul tone, especially a warm humbucker neck pickup, but have the great feel and playability of a MusicMan?

Thanks a lot!

 

[plombier]

maybe a morse !!!!

 

[ScoobySteve]

This has been brought up many times before. The Les Paul is so unique with the combination of it's features. If you want ballpark I'd say SM Y2D with ToM bridge or hardtail reflex.

 

[Roubster]

If you want a nice fat tone and especially from the neck pup I would definitely recommend either a Steve Morse model, standard or Y2D and also the HH AL. My Y2D is really good in that department...however the HH AL has really fat tones in the full humbucker modes. Also Thanks to the mahogany body and all rosewood neck.
Plus you have the nice spanky in between positions.

 

[nobozos]

I'd get a Reflex Gamechanger. With 250,000 different pickup configurations, I can't imagine that thing doesn't have a tone that would match or surpass that of a LP.

 

[Tung]

y'know, with the right tube amp, I would even say a JP6 equipped with the LF/CL pickups combo. they can sound very Les Paul in the mids and the lows.

 

[beej]

There's nothing that's going to sound exactly like a LP. Different scale, materials, bridge, yada yada yada.

You can certainly get thick 'bucker sounds from some of the MMs mentioned. I'd think the HH AL ... it's got some great thick low mid tones going on.

 

[alpjr]

Thanks for the replies. I did say "ballpark" in my original post since I realize the LP has it's own unique tone. I am going to see if I can locate the HH AL and Morse locally so I can give them a try. I'm not real crazy about the body shape of the AL but if I'm playing it and like what I hear I'm sure I can overlook it.

Thanks again.

 

[beej]

It looks odd at first ... but damn is it comfortable. Light and perfectly balanced.

The Morse is also fantastic, it's easily my fave. But there's a whole lot more going on with that guitar, so try both and see if you bond with them.

 

[tommydude]

OK, please correct me if I am wrong, but don't the BFR guitars have a Mahogany tone block which would help in this case?

 

[kimonostereo]

The shape of the AL just grows on you. I remember when it was first released in the 90's and I thought it was awful. Then one day, I saw one in person and it just clicked. I had to have one. Now I have two!

 

[fogman]

I haven't tried an HH AL yet, so that could be the closest answer; but based on my experience I'd say 25th Anniversary or Reflex would do the trick nicely.

 

[threeminutesboy]

It looks odd at first ... but damn is it comfortable. Light and perfectly balanced.

The Al will grow on you as Beej mentioned. I really hated that shape in the beginning preferring the rounded Strat like bodies, but I can tell you the AL body is far more comfortable than any Strat

 

[Jack FFR1846]

The Al is better than anything. I've gotta figure out a way to trade my Axis for an Al HH.

 

[alpjr]

Lots of love for the AL I see! I'm in MA and the nearest one I can find is in the Boston Guitar Center, so I may have to drive out there soon. I'm only about 40 minutes away so not too bad, but I've heard such terrible things about that store. I bought my Luke without trying it first and couldn't be happier, but I really need to see and play the AL first.

 

[dfrady]

I would put my HH AL up against any les paul anytime.

 

[ScreaminFloyd]

I love the Al's Mid- Century Modern Atomic look. Reminds me of a 57 Chevy Tail fin. I don't know if it's the body Shape or the way the p/u's are wound. But the low end growl of an Al is a beautiful sound.

 

[Roubster]

I never liked the look of it either at first, but the HH AL changed my mind. ESPECIALLY after plugging it in to see what it was all about...it was really just a wow factor. It is has those low mids going and a nice thick warm tone, but at the same time it is very resonant and has a nice ring to it.

It is a comfortable guitar, and does look better in person than in pictures I find. I love LUKEs, which can also get a nice fat tone from the bridge. However when I plugged in the AL for fun at first, it completely changed my mind about the guitar which I was never interested in before. So basically, yes it grew on me hehe.

 

[Vodka]

koa top bfr jp maybe?

 

[jam3v]

Les Pauls are mahogany.. So, likely the HH AL, being mahogany, will get you close.

Tone block based BFR's sound amazing, but they help balance the sound, not define it. IMO