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What is the best non-Gibson Les Paul?

Wilko

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This thread is a legitimate question. There many choices available for a guitars that use the the "Les Paul" format. Solid body, singlecut, carved top, two humbuckers, etc.

Heritage are very nice, PRS makes some similar instruments, on and on. Replicas? some are quite good. I have a handmade Nunis that sounds and feels better tham most of the many Gibson Les Pauls that I have owned in my 57 years.
 
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Jan 12, 2003
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I don't quite understand your question. Are you talking about copies or knockoffs of Les Pauls or talking about current brands that are obviously influenced by the Les Paul? If the latter, the Eastman SB series has been getting a lot of raves though I have not played one personally.
Deviser/ Bacchus and Momose Japan. Eastman use wood they call Mahogany.. and their prices are idiotic.
 
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sanhozay

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Feb 14, 2003
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there are many double humbucker guitars clearly inspired from the Les Paul guitar. the price categories and origins of manufacture are too broad to conflate into a single discussion.

there's a lot of rubber under the road and the options are daunting for a player adding their last guitar or buying their first guitar.
 

Big Al

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Apr 24, 2002
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Did you even read his question. It's fairly straightforward.
And so was his post. The question is too broad and needs to be better defined. Posts all over the place as a result. Wish the rest of us shared your superhuman comprehension.
 

Wound_Up

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Did you even read his question. It's fairly straightforward.
In that case there's only legitimately 1. The Epiphone Les Paul. Everything else is either counterfeit or not an actual Les Paul. Only Gibson & Epiphone make Les Pauls. Everything else is "a replica of" or counterfeit. Being "a replica of" means it can't be a Les Paul.

So the discussion should've been pretty short and straightforward and done with by now if you're gonna be like that.
 

bursty

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Dec 25, 2012
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What is the best non-Gibson Les Paul? I understand preference comes into it but would be good to know if anyone’s bought any bad ones.

_______________________________________
Complete Acoustic Guitar String Comparison Guide
There are sooooooo many great options; they are just too numerous to list & besides, this is all subjective, at best.
Over the decades I have owned many MIJ LP copies; Bacchus, Burny, Combat, Crews, Deviser, Edwards, Epiphone Japan, Fernandes, Greco, History, Momose, Orville, Orville by Gibson, Tokai, etc.
Then there are the 'replicas' that are made to order by folks like MAX, Bartlett, and every other maker.
The choices are endless.
My top few come down to my very early (circa 2004-2006) Momose MLS-STD/J, my Combat Custom Guitars LP Model, my 2000 Tokai LS-320, and a hand full of Bacchus BLS examples.
The great thing about not being hitched to one brand is you get to roam the Les Paul landscape, and learn what many different brands have to offer. It's like being in a candy store.
 
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JeffBlue

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renderit

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Collings City Limits Deluxe
I call this one 'Vlad, the Impaler'


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bursty

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Dec 25, 2012
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Seventy Seven guitars are pure awesome.
Just about anything MIJ made by Deviser (Headway, Bagtone, Sonix, Bacchus, Momose, Riverhead, Seventy Seven, etc.) is gonna be da bomb. :cool:

I have owned right about 60 Deviser examples over the years (even have another on the way), most but not all MIJ, and they are exceptional in quality & workmanship.

Let's look at just the Bacchus BEX models I have owned:
I have owned Mahogany (Khaya), Korina, and Mango lumber examples; the Mango is actually MIP, not MIJ.
I ended up selling all of my MIJ BEX examples & I kept the Mango BEX that is MIP.
That is saying a lot about how well I regard the attempt by Deviser to set-up the Philippines production facility, and to produce excellent quality guitars that actually rival the Bacchus MIJ guitars. That is a great accomplishment by Deviser, IMO.
 
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Cholo

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Apr 6, 2002
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About 6 weeks ago I purchased a Japanese production model Zemaitis A24SU single cut. I did swap out the proprietary pickups for some Wolfetones. The guitar was set up PERFECTLY out of the box. Just amazing and with the new pickups, it’s a monster. I’m never letting go.
 

dnabbet2

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May 31, 2017
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I agree that early Hamer Sunburst´s are often great guitars ... I do not agree on the neck size though. I generally prefer big necks, and I´ve always wished that the Sunburst´s I´ve tried had slightly bigger necks.
True about the neck being narrow ... on my Sunburst, at least. But, once again, on mine anyway, it's very round -- that's why I would say "clubby" -- and fits in my own hand beautifully. I would say, after hearing from you, that the necks are maybe not consistent and it's important to play any Sunburst you're interested in. Not just buy it through the Internet.
 

Don

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Dec 1, 2001
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5,732
I generally prefer big necks, and I´ve always wished that the Sunburst´s I´ve tried had slightly bigger necks.

My 1980 Hamer Sunburst had a very narrow neck! Narrow string spacing at the bridge as well. I never really got used to it.
 
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