Yeah, why spend $5500 when you can just spend $3800?
The cheapest LPC on Reverb right now is $3K, for a player-grade Norlin-era LPC with frets “good enough to play on”.
How about meeting somewhere in the middle? I just got an Edwards LP Custom that I’d put up against any Gibson LP Custom without hesitation. You can get them for about $1K on Reverb/Ebay. They’re spec’d just like an LPC, no odd shapes, even the headstock is exact. I’m trying to sell a Deluxe Reverb right now so I can buy one in white. I’m really loving the MIJ Les Pauls as of late, that’s an Orville sitting next to it (Gibson managed Orville in the 90’s). Aside from a few rare Burny’s and some Tokai’s, Edwards is the only company that did ebony boards on the LP Customs. Edwards IS ESP, so really, you get both of what ya wanted!
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And without devolving into a Gibson QC thread, there’s no way I’d ever fork over the cash to buy a Gibson without playing it first, but I have no problem buying more of these Edwards LPC’s without ever seeing them in person if it’s new or in mint condition!