Not an expert, but the one you call âsexy as hellâ has the same pickups (except in gold) and other hardware as the âhigher endâ one and is a little cheaper. The least expensive has different pickups.
So if you donât need to buy the cheaper one due to the finances. You clearly HAVE to get the sexy one.
I mean, could you live with yourself knowing you spent more for the same guitar and didnât get the one you find âsexy as hellâ?
I have both an Epiphone Les Paul and Gibson and find the Gibson infinitely better particularly in terms of playability. I think the Tokai clones have been around for years but have no idea how they compare having never seen one. I did try out my LP and found that there were differences between guitars even the same model in the same finish. But since then the retail outlets have closed so I doubt that option to try them still exists; certainly not in the North of the UK.
I would have a good look around and try and play a few at a music store if you can. Donât discount any make model or style until you have had a go. Sometimes guitars just find you and you know they are the right one. Weight, balance all these things play a part. It helps if they are set up properly but that can be remedied later.
And play it through something you are likely to use at home. For any guitar with pickups the HX Stomp is fantastic. Itâs a small pedal with lots of simulated amp sounds on it and lots of online support and tutorials.
I have a hard time buying guitars online. Most other stuff, I have no issues ordering online, it is going to be the same coffee mug, earbuds, or paper towel roll every time. There is something about a guitar that I want to go play 20 and pick the one that made me feel something. It is one of those things where you might walk in planning to come out with a new instrument, but you didnât find the right one that day. Or you walked in thinking you were buying a pack of strings and walk out on NGD.
I am also a big fan of used gear. There is not not many products that you can buy for $1,000 and use for 10 years and then sell for $1,000 but if you are strategic and take care of your stuff you can just about do that with guitars.
You need to do what makes sense for you, but that is my thought process. The one thing I would advise though on the 3 choices you posted⌠the less expensive option (#1) has only one very low quality image, that would concern me personally.
I like the first two although I have a white telecaster that colour does not suite the shape just my view, good idea to try the guitars, I find LP types very heavy mine is solid mahogany and not very well balanced.
One thing to bear in mind is that theyâre pretty heavy, all stating around 5kg, my Telecaster is 3.5 kg and I donât consider it to be light!
Get out and try them before you hand over any money - you will definitely find ESP LTD LP alikes are quite a bit lighter and theyâre a great option. Also thereâs the PRS SE singlecut again a great option and quite a bit lighter.
Tokai are a very good brand and their made in china guitars (which all of those are) are made under Japanese quality supervision, that said the Made in Japan ones are directly comparable to Gibson. Have a good look around, on your budget you can get a great guitar!
Modern spec Gibson Les Paulâs are weight relieved which means they have been hollowed out and weigh less. A traditional spec Gibson Les Paul ie late 50âs are solid. I have both.
I managed to get mine on finance and the premium in my opinion was worth it. I would not like to stand up at a gig with it strapped around my neck for 2 hours though.
Yeah I never would buy online something like this. The pictures were merely research to find the guitar I loved the sound of that Justin played during the Guitar vid, then come here and find out if it is the same, then that essentially opened up a whole new rabbit hole.
I would say my timeline is no less then 3-5 months at least. So plenty of time to go into a shop and play lots of them.
Yeah the names and brands of the âalikesâ are all very new to me⌠I just donât want to buy a LS knock off just cause it looks like it, and itâs cheaper⌠So the research and posting here will help find more info that I didnât know
