Does this mean Gibson only? Are you interested in Epi or maybe other brands not associated with Gibson. I always wanted an LP but I never found one that feels comfortable when I play it so I went outside the Gibson brand and bought a LP inspired guitar,
Those look great. Are they heavy?
Before someone could give an answer: what tone are you looking for? Vintage LP or a modern LP tone? New or used?
An Epiphone 1960 Tribute Les Paul might be what you're looking for. Thinner neck, good pickups and a really nice playing guitar. Don't own one but played one a friend of mine has and was quite surprised at how nice it was.
If you want a Gibson with high output pups then the Studio models with the 498T would be in your price range. The Studio would have a 60s neck and the Tribute models would have a more 50s style neck. If you are willing to swap pups later, then I would go for a used Gibson Classic. It has the 60s style neck and more importantly, the pups are in the correct position for that authentic LP tone. A lot of guys don't consider or even know that the pickup position on Gibson Standard/Studio/Epiphone are all different. The Classic and more expensive models are all identical. On the Studio/Tribute both pups are the same distance apart but are slightly more toward the neck. The Epiphones have the bridge pup even more toward the neck. If the pup position does not concern you then, the Epiphone Jerry Cantrel LP Custom has a 60s style neck with a very hot bridge pup in it. I just got delivery of that model yesterday and it is very nice.
This is interesting to know and the info I'm looking for! Are there any differences in fret wire between the models that you know of? I had a neighbor bring over a Paul years ago and it looked like it had low wide wire on it. I had never seen that before and was wondering if they had just been worn down or if that was normal.
No, normal weight.
Find an older les paul studio. Same type of construction as standards and customs at the time, right down to the pickups. Right in your budget as well.
As far as I know, all modern LPs have a medium jumbo size fret. Probably what you saw was an older/vintage one referred to as the "fretless wonders".
I went looking for a Les Paul years a go and couldn't find anything I liked. Had a GC sales guy put a single cut in my hands and it was all over. So I understand the whole PRS deal! They play themselves but that said they are a different animal.the '59 necks feel like modern necks to me. So either a 60s or a 59 will get you away from the baseball bat feel. You mentioned about being able to dial back the volume for cleans. That's the one thing mine does not do well and I've experimented with 50s wiring schematic and modern. I even had a treble bleed put on the neck volume pot. But I think I've finally figured out WHY I'm not getting a clean tone from rolling back the volume. My neck p/u is too hot. It's a Classic and the bridge p/u is a Classic plus. It's very similar to my Warmoth build in that I've got a Thornbucker (neck) and Thornbucker plus in the bridge. I need a low output neck p/u to clean up the way I feel it should. A Duncan 59 should do it but I haven't tried it yet. But my Les Paul does sound good in all of my presets. It's chambered and light. For me, it's a one trick pony but maybe that will change once I get around to swapping out the neck p/u. I've considered buying a PRS but I figure the Les Paul is the same thing, different brand. (Take it easy on me for that last statement, you PRS loving zealots!)
