Inspired by seeing the comments on another thread it’s got me thinking.
I have a Vintage V100 ‘Lemon Drop’. Before being owned by me it had its wiring etc upgraded and Tonerider pickups put in.
I’ve since swapped them out for Iron Gear (Hot Slag / Rolling Mill), put some Gibson tuners on ,and had it properly set up. And it plays like a dream.
I paid £300 for it and I’ve put maybe £100 more in between pickups, tuners, and set up. It sounds and feels great, and in my limited experience feels a lot more ‘expensive’ that it is.
As per my other recent thread, I am possibly contemplating spending a good bit of money (£1500 ish) on a ‘better’ Les Paul, but part of me wonders (especially as an intermediate at best, bedroom guitarist) just how much better of a guitar something 4/5 times the price of my Vintage would be?
I mean I know it’ll be better but will it be ‘better better’?
Or will this mainly be a psychological boost to know that the name on the headstock is different or that it’s more expensive?
£1500 isn’t a lot for some people but for me it’s a huge amount of money which is part of the reason why the doubt creeps in. I’d hate to buy something that price and end up finding out it’s not drastically different , to me anyway, from what I’ve already got.
But of a rambling post but I think most people here know where I’m coming from.
Comments
Perhaps put the cash into pedals/ a new amp instead?
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Getting a "real" Les Paul is a process rather than a simple £1500 transaction - there are many variances, neck/weight/pickups etc, so you may need to buy/sell a few before THE one reveals itself to you (given that going to shops is harder right now) - if you know of people with them nearby pester them for a try to get it clearer in your head what you want.
For the proper GAS experience you need too drag this process out for as long as possible !
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There's not any rational sense to it but wanting has nothing to do with needing.
Sounds like you have a great LP there and there are many, very good guitarists, who would rate your instrument.
But like most of us on this forum, you will have read of the benefits of buying certain brands from certain countries.
All those exotic woods and high end hardware, that could maybe even inspire you to become a better guitarist.
If you have some cash and an itch for another guitar, I suggest getting preowned and a brand that'll keep it's value.
Then you shouldn't lose out, whatever happens and it's all a great fun, learning curve, with probably no definitive answers.
If you really like your lemon drop I would just pool your money and see if you can get to a second hand custom shop bracket of Les Paul's. Either that or look for a late 90's early 2000's LP Standard.
Rather than be seduced by the "only a Gibson is good enough" bollix look for a Les Paul you bond with as much or more than your Lemon Drop because there is nothing worse than spending £1,000+ on a guitar and finding you don't bond with it and it's not a keeper b/c you'll be lucky to recover your outlay unless you're pretty patient or got a really sweet deal.
If you're totally not arsed about the name on the headstock then look for maybe a high end Tokai or Greco or a Heritage. I have a Heritage LP special and it's wonderful. Definitely a case of if you do decide more is more then try out any potential guitar before you buy and have a good long think, write down what you liked/disliked if anything etc. I know it may take the "fun" out of it but in the long term I think it'll help you find a new guitar that you're gonna keep for years to come.
Good luck!
Id be more inclined to buy 2 guitars for your money that do things that Les Pauls don't
If you like the Vintage that much but are jonesin' for another guitar, why not try a different type of guitar?