Any guitar players here?

[tsar4]

Choosing between Les Paul or a BMG Red Special - any preference?

[André Toulon]

Doomer will be around sometime....there was someone else, but I forget.

I think Gemini might play...

Oh shit, I was thinking of Bucket....no chance of him showing up. 

I think your best bet is Doomer

[Doom Metal Alchemist]

I'm a big Les Paul guy, but they are very expensive. Never heard of BMG so can't comment.

Do you already play?

[scoobdog]

6 minutes ago, Doom Metal Alchemist said:

I'm a big Les Paul guy, but they are very expensive. Never heard of BMG so can't comment.

Do you already play?

I think those are Brian May Guitars, so it's the custom he built for himself originally.

[Doom Metal Alchemist]

5 minutes ago, scoobdog said:

I think those are Brian May Guitars, so it's the custom he built for himself originally.

Sheeeeeit those are probably even more expensive then, lol.

[scoobdog]

For the record and since absolutely no one asked.... it looks like new Les Pauls are roughly the same price as a professional level wind instrument (in the $2-3k range) while the Red Special is in line with most intermediate level wind instruments (around $1k).  That's neither here nor there, of course, but you would naturally compare each instrument to others in the same price range as a starting point.

[scoobdog]

1 minute ago, Doom Metal Alchemist said:

Sheeeeeit those are probably even more expensive then, lol.

Well, not his actual custom instrument.  It's the design he came up with his dad originally because he couldn't afford the commercially available instruments at the time.

[Doom Metal Alchemist]

Just now, scoobdog said:

For the record and since absolutely no one asked.... it looks like new Les Pauls are roughly the same price as a professional level wind instrument while the Red Special is in line with most intermediate level wind instruments.  That's neither here nor there, of course, but you would naturally compare each instrument to others in the same price range as a starting point.

It also matters which model Les Paul. I'd never go with the top of the line Professional or Standard just because of the expense. I like the Studio, great tone and feel but with a relatively lower price because its not fancy looking. Then there's even lower stuff like the Special II, Jr., and 100.

[Doom Metal Alchemist]

2 minutes ago, scoobdog said:

Well, not his actual custom instrument.  It's the design he came up with his dad originally because he couldn't afford the commercially available instruments at the time.

I just figured his name would attract a high price.

[scoobdog]

Just now, Doom Metal Alchemist said:

It also matters which model Les Paul. I'd never go with the top of the line Professional or Standard just because of the expense. I like the Studio, great tone and feel but with a relatively lower price because its not fancy looking. Then there's even lower stuff like the Special II, Jr., and 100.

What would be the primary difference between a Professional and a Studio model?  My experience is with brass and the differences are easy to identify because the difference in price between a professional and an intermediate model comes down almost entirely to workmanship.

[Doom Metal Alchemist]

21 minutes ago, scoobdog said:

What would be the primary difference between a Professional and a Studio model?  My experience is with brass and the differences are easy to identify because the difference in price between a professional and an intermediate model comes down almost entirely to workmanship.

Professionals and Standards are made to look very fancy and ornate. Studios are meant to look very barebones as to be able to take down the price a bit without having to sacrifice tone, playability, or construction quality. The name Studio comes from it was made to play in the recording studio because it doesn't look fancy but sounds great.

Here's a wiki article that goes into a lot of specifics:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibson_Les_Paul_Studio

[scoobdog]

3 minutes ago, Doom Metal Alchemist said:

Professionals and Standards are made to look very fancy and ornate. Studios are meant to look very barebones as to be able to take down the price a bit without having to sacrifice tone, playability, or construction quality. The name Studio comes from it was made to play in the recording studio because it doesn't look fancy but sounds great.

Here's a wiki article that goes into a lot of specifics:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibson_Les_Paul_Studio

So there's no sound penalty?

[Doom Metal Alchemist]

3 minutes ago, scoobdog said:

So there's no sound penalty?

Supposedly not. That's the goal of the instrument, anyway.

[scoobdog]

7 minutes ago, Doom Metal Alchemist said:

Supposedly not. That's the goal of the instrument, anyway.

Playing a guitar isn't like playing a trumpet, so it's hard to gauge.  The workmanship on a trumpet matters greatly, but not if you're a shitty trumpet player to begin with.  I would imagine that the guitar matters less to sound at the upper level of guitar musicianship, aside from the various electrical components.

[Doom Metal Alchemist]

15 minutes ago, scoobdog said:

Playing a guitar isn't like playing a trumpet, so it's hard to gauge.  The workmanship on a trumpet matters greatly, but not if you're a shitty trumpet player to begin with.  I would imagine that the guitar matters less to sound at the upper level of guitar musicianship, aside from the various electrical components.

Well the thing is, if the guitar was made shoddily, it won't be in tune.

[scoobdog]

36 minutes ago, Doom Metal Alchemist said:

Well the thing is, if the guitar was made shoddily, it won't be in tune.

You're not going to get a shitty guitar like that from BMG or Gibson.

When you're guitar shopping, what features do you look for and why?

[Doom Metal Alchemist]

12 minutes ago, scoobdog said:

You're not going to get a shitty guitar like that from BMG or Gibson.

When you're guitar shopping, what features do you look for and why?

Really all I look for are humbucking pickups because they have a warmer tone, and has at least 22 frets, as some guitars only have 21 (while others have 24).

Other than that, it's really just about how it sounds.

Edited May 3, 2024 by Doom Metal Alchemist

[tsar4]

3 hours ago, Doom Metal Alchemist said:

I'm a big Les Paul guy, but they are very expensive. Never heard of BMG so can't comment.

Do you already play?

No/Kinda.  I was a complete hack, then I dislocated my ring finger on my left hand & couldn't bend the tip for what seemed like forever.  Then life got in the way.  I have a very cheap Fender copy (Memphis - bought off a friend whose Christmas song I've posted here) that I used to mess with, but it won't stay in tune & isn't worth fixing.  I think the pickups are shot too.  

I was looking at the Les Paul Studio "Manhattan Midnight" and remembered seeing that the latest iteration of the Red Special was rated by players fairly highly, unlike the earlier version (only negative seems to be the tremolo bar, which I could care less about).  

I was looking at the "Shut Up & Play" series on Youtube & they seem to replicate most the songs exactly w/o fudging stuff.

[Doom Metal Alchemist]

2 minutes ago, tsar4 said:

No/Kinda.  I was a complete hack, then I dislocated my ring finger on my left hand & couldn't bend the tip for what seemed like forever.  Then life got in the way.  I have a very cheap Fender copy (Memphis - bought off a friend whose Christmas song I've posted here) that I used to mess with, but it won't stay in tune & isn't worth fixing.  I think the pickups are shot too.  

I was looking at the Les Paul Studio "Manhattan Midnight" and remembered seeing that the latest iteration of the Red Special was rated by players fairly highly, unlike the earlier version (only negative seems to be the tremolo bar, which I could care less about).  

I was looking at the "Shut Up & Play" series on Youtube & they seem to replicate most the songs exactly w/o fudging stuff.

Well I'm a big fan of the Les Paul Studio so if you think the price is worth it I definitely recommend it. There's cheaper Les Paul's for beginners like the Special II, Jr., 100, one of those was supposed to be real good for a starter guitar, it was either the Jr. or 100, can't remember which. But if price isn't much of a concern, I love the Studio.

[tsar4]

Thanks for the info.  I'd really would like to get the LP I mentioned, but $1,700 - oof!  And that's before getting a case for another $150.

[Doom Metal Alchemist]

Just now, tsar4 said:

Thanks for the info.  I'd really would like to get the LP I mentioned, but $1,700 - oof!  And that's before getting a case for another $150.

Gibsons are supposed to come with a case included. Not hardshell, but real good quality softshell, way better than the average softshell.

[tsar4]

Just now, Doom Metal Alchemist said:

Gibsons are supposed to come with a case included. Not hardshell, but real good quality softshell, way better than the average softshell.

It said "gig bag" - it doesn't instill confidence.

[Doom Metal Alchemist]

Just now, tsar4 said:

It said "gig bag" - it doesn't instill confidence.

Where are you buying it from?

[tsar4]

1 minute ago, Doom Metal Alchemist said:

Where are you buying it from?

I was looking at Guitar Center.

 

[Doom Metal Alchemist]

4 minutes ago, tsar4 said:

I was looking at Guitar Center.

 

This is the gig bag in question. These are my own pics I just snapped. And yes that is an SG and not a Les Paul, lol

[tsar4]

Ok, that's a lot better than I though.  I was thinking it was going to be just a less protective, plain vinyl bag with maybe some cotton/felt like lining.

[scoobdog]

$1,700 doesn’t seem bad to me, at least not for new instrument, but that wouldn’t include the amp.  What’s one of those going to run?

[tsar4]

30 minutes ago, scoobdog said:

$1,700 doesn’t seem bad to me, at least not for new instrument, but that wouldn’t include the amp.  What’s one of those going to run?

Nothing.  I have a small one that I bought for the Fender copy I have.  The only other thing I'd need is a new amp cord.

[Sieg67]

Les Paul has a pretty big following so there's probably something to that.  Never heard of the BMG but it does have a whammy if that's something you need.

I would no means consider myself a good guitar player but I do like the action on my off brand Les Paul.

[tsar4]

I've got to stop looking.  Now the LP Studio Wine Red looks really appealing.  Same price as the other LP.

[molarbear]

On 5/3/2024 at 1:55 PM, scoobdog said:

I think those are Brian May Guitars, so it's the custom he built for himself originally.

I pictured it, so now everyone must see it