Edwards Les Paul - opinions?

Crazyblue1779 · August 2023

As per my previous thread, I’ve really fallen out of love with my Les Paul Traditionals neck.

I’ve seen a 1990s Japanese Edwards Les Paul Custom (pre-serial) with upgraded pickups (Amber 59’s) / wiring (Monty’s) and frets (SS) that I could do a straight swap for.

I know it’s a bit of a hit on my part but it takes away the hassle of selling.

Does anyone have any opinions on the Edwards?

I will be able to try it as it’s local to me, but I’d be interested to know peoples thoughts.

Or am I better biting the bullet and selling outright to fund something else?

stonevibe · August 2023

"better biting the bullet and selling outright to fund something else" That's your answer

Philly_Q · August 2023

I don't think value-wise an Edwards for an LP Traditional should be a straight swap. I'm sure there are people currently trying to sell Edwards guitars for two or three grand, but they used to be pretty cheap guitars, although they are good quality.

timmypix · August 2023

Great as Edwards are, it's rare you see them go for more than a grand, more often the £750 mark. Given that a good LP Traditional will be what, £1400-1800, I'd strongly advise against a straight trade. I get taking a small hit to save hassle, but potentially half the value of your guitar is a bit much.

webrthomson · August 2023

Edwards are okay, had a gold top which was nice but a bit heavy. As above swap without cash to you is taking the piss...

GoFish · August 2023

The Edwards will probably be a poly finish FWIW - Value wise probably on par with a Tribute or Studio, and then the nice upgrades on top. I can see how selling it to a shop and then buying the Edwards from a shop could work out roughly equal, but that's the shop taking profit at both ends. I would be reluctant to do this unless you fell in love with the Edwards, and even then know that it's a big value hit.

rlw · August 2023

Tell me about the LP Traditional......

floeighty2 · August 2023

I asked the question ‘What do you think of Edward’s guitars’ to the guy who does all my set ups etc and he said about on par with a good Epiphone. Perhaps his experience wasn’t the best with a couple of them, not sure, but you’ll be taking a hit on the Gibson. As @rlw said, tell us about the LP…

John_P · August 2023

Is this the LP you're talking about?

NGD - 2014 Les Paul Traditional - Guitar Discussions on theFretBoard

Looks lovely!

Dodge · August 2023

I'm sure I read somewhere that Edwards guitars are only set up in Japan. Assembly and finish are done in China.

Crazyblue1779 · August 2023

It’s a 2014 Traditional in Ice Tea. There’s a few dings and a couple of costmetic blemishes on the front which I realise would bring the price down.

They seem to go for about £1400 mint and this one certainly isn’t so I don’t know how much I’d get for it.

It is a beautiful instrument but I always just feel like I’m fighting it when I play.

GoFish · August 2023

I would sell it and use the cash to have your pick of LP types. Try a load and get one that you love.

theatreanchor · August 2023

Not an Edwards fan I’m afraid.

Philly_Q · August 2023

theatreanchor said:

Not an Edwards fan I’m afraid.

I've owned eight(?) of them over the years. Some were really good, others less so... the most recent ones I bought were the least good, and then the prices started going up so they weren't such good value. There were a couple I wish I'd kept - a Flying V and a "Jeff Beck" LP.

paganskins · August 2023

I’ve a 335 alike, lacquer taste so a nitro top coat and unusually a solid maple carved top and back rather than pressed laminate. It’s really good, perfect late 50’s rounded neck profile.

soma1975 · August 2023

I had the Jimmy Page model Edwards and it was an absolutely joyous thing to play.

timmypix · August 2023

Crazyblue1779 said:

It’s a 2014 Traditional in Ice Tea. There’s a few dings and a couple of costmetic blemishes on the front which I realise would bring the price down.

They seem to go for about £1400 mint and this one certainly isn’t so I don’t know how much I’d get for it.

It is a beautiful instrument but I always just feel like I’m fighting it when I play.

Of all the cosmetic blemishes to have, those are probably the most acceptable in that they're the scratchplate screw hole and the mark left by the rear scratchplate screw on the top. Buy a new scratchplate and they'll be perfectly masked!

theatreanchor · August 2023

Philly_Q said:

theatreanchor said:

Not an Edwards fan I’m afraid.

I've owned eight(?) of them over the years. Some were really good, others less so... the most recent ones I bought were the least good, and then the prices started going up so they weren't such good value. There were a couple I wish I'd kept - a Flying V and a "Jeff Beck" LP.

I’ve tried as many MIJ copies / lawsuit guitars as I could but just never found anything to match the real thing. Not to say it’s impossible, Just never happened for me. Could be psychological. Though one of my all time favourite guitars was a Japanese Gretsch.

richardhomer · August 2023

2013 & 2014 Traditionals had no weight relief and are the only production Les Pauls to combine that with a genuinely 50s-style chunky neck. In other word a Reissue on the cheap.

Yours has a lovely top - there’s no way I’d consider the trade you have been offered.

To the right buyer, your guitar would be a very desirable instrument.

PAL · August 2023

Rather than buy a copy of a Gibson Les Paul I would stick with a Gibson Les Paul if I had one.
I have had some of the clones and they are good for the money but they are just not the real thing !
A Gibson will always be more desirable and so will be the residuals price wise.
The thing is any copy of a classic guitar will be more expensive because it looks like the real thing yet if you buy
something that is not a copy they are less expensive and will play and sound just as good.
I do have a couple of Gibson Custom shop Les Paul guitars but the guitars which for me are more usable are
a PRS DGT Mahogany & Hamer USA Studio and they were more than half the price of a Custom shop Les Paul.
I have a Fender Tele & Esquire & Blade Strat but now use a Suhr Standard.
Once you get your head around the fact that the headstock shape is different and the body shape is a bit
different you realize modern guitars have come a long way.
I'm amazed when I see a listing where it says "killer top" or Plays like butter it's all snake oil really.
My Gibson R8 is a plain top and my R9 is a flame top they sound the same not only that My USA Hamer which
does have a flame top sound the same as the Gibson guitars ! Regarding plays like butter any modern guitar out
there can be made to play really well.
If I never had my Gibson guitars I would buy a PRS I know a lot of people put them down but they are worth
checking out it doesn't matter if it's a USA model or an SE they all play really well.
I even bought Gibson original series Les Paul & SG Junior although for me I kept the Les Paul as I preferred it but
They are much better than the originals I use to own !
It's not worth asking other people what they think of particular guitars because opinions will be different if you
feel something is right for you go with it it might work it might not but it's the only way you will know for yourself !
Playing something different worked for EVH & Brian May and I'm sure there are many others so just use what
works for you. It's not what you play it's what you play with what you have ! Good luck.

Here is my non mainstream guitar.....

tony99 · August 2023

I gave up on my traditional after about a year (mainly the neck, but I also wasn't enamoured with the classic 57s). Ended up with a standard with slim taper neck and I bloody love it.

As for Edwards, I'd rather they put their weird Blakes 7 type logo text on the LPs instead of the old fashioned archaic medieval type text. Other than that: yeah they're great!

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Edwards Les Paul - opinions?

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