08-21-2014, 06:44 PM
I went to GC before work today to check out some Les Pauls. Since I won that Whole Lotta Humbucker set, I figured I need a guitar to put them in. I was thinking about trading my Y2D for credit on a nice Les Paul.
I played a few Traditionals (on sale for $2300) and something that had three push/push pots (I don't remember the model but it was like $1900). As much as I wanted to like them, I just couldn't dig in with them. I dug the way they sounded when playing power chords, but every time I moved my hand up and down the neck I just felt that it was so much more of a struggle compared to playing my PRSi, my strats, and especially my Music Man. I didn't mind the 50's necks on the traditionals as much as I thought I would, but there was just something about the way that they played that just turned me off.
And then I picked up my Music Man and the effortlessness I've become accustomed to was right there. I dunno, I guess I'm just not a Les Paul guy. Which is probably a good thing, because the Traditional I was looking at would have been $1350 taking into account trading in my Music Man. That's $150 MORE than the PRS McCarty on Craigslist I've got my eye on. (It will be mine if it is still available in 6 weeks. If not I'll probably get another one before the year's out anyway)
It's funny, I've heard a lot of people say that they have to fight a Stratocaster to get the great tones out of it, and the same guys often say that an LP is much easier to play. I couldn't be of more of an opposite opinion - strats are home to me, but playing an LP is just not right. Maybe I've just not found the right one yet.
I played a few Traditionals (on sale for $2300) and something that had three push/push pots (I don't remember the model but it was like $1900). As much as I wanted to like them, I just couldn't dig in with them. I dug the way they sounded when playing power chords, but every time I moved my hand up and down the neck I just felt that it was so much more of a struggle compared to playing my PRSi, my strats, and especially my Music Man. I didn't mind the 50's necks on the traditionals as much as I thought I would, but there was just something about the way that they played that just turned me off.
And then I picked up my Music Man and the effortlessness I've become accustomed to was right there. I dunno, I guess I'm just not a Les Paul guy. Which is probably a good thing, because the Traditional I was looking at would have been $1350 taking into account trading in my Music Man. That's $150 MORE than the PRS McCarty on Craigslist I've got my eye on. (It will be mine if it is still available in 6 weeks. If not I'll probably get another one before the year's out anyway)
It's funny, I've heard a lot of people say that they have to fight a Stratocaster to get the great tones out of it, and the same guys often say that an LP is much easier to play. I couldn't be of more of an opposite opinion - strats are home to me, but playing an LP is just not right. Maybe I've just not found the right one yet.