Guitar FAQ's

[KevvyMetal]

Originally Posted by DarrenFetus

Let's fire this bastard up again!

I'm looking for a bad ass metal head... the obvious Peaveys, Kranks, Engls and Mesa Boogies have sprung to mind but I'm needing a hand, the options seem to be unlimited these days.

Despite the fact I am really quite careful with my gear, I must have something tough as nails and reliable!

Thoughts???

[Hometown Zero]

I've come in to a bit of money and I'm looking to replace my 7 year old Epiphone Les Paul Custom.

I've been looking online and tried a few in shops and I'm looking Looking at either a Gibson Les Paul Junior 1958 (Gibson Les Paul Junior 1958 Satin (GAK)) or a Fender Deluxe Blackout Tele (Fender Deluxe Blackout Tele (GAK)).

I like the feel of the neck on both and although both obviously sound different I think I'd be happy to work with either in getting the sound I want.

I need some advice though on durability and reliability between the two. There's a price difference between the to but I'm not really fussed I just want to make sure that whatever I end up buying is likely to last and hopefully hold a bit of value too.

Any help or advice would be much appreciated.

Which ever one I get will live in a hard case but will be subject to some battering through travel so I need to consider tha too.

[Hometown Zero]

has no one any thoughts at all? I've been using another busier forum and asked the same question - a resounding plea to only buy a Tele and give Gibson a miss!

[RobinMurphy]

Originally Posted by Hometown Zero

has no one any thoughts at all? I've been using another busier forum and asked the same question - a resounding plea to only buy a Tele and give Gibson a miss!

I own a Junior like the one you gave the link to on the GAK website and a Fender Tele (usa). I really like the sound of the p90 on the Junior, probably the nicest pickup i've heard. It's really hot, full, middley sounding pickup. Many people complain the Junior isn't versatile enough, but i've never found that to be an issue; i get one great sound out of it and that's all i need. However, the satin finish really isn't that great. If you've been playing for a while and your hands get sweaty i find the finish on the back of the neck starts to rub off onto your hand (mine's quite new so maybe this goes away after a while, it also might differ between colours). Also the satin finish is more easily dented than the Tele's lacquered finish would be. The wood is pretty dense and it's a reasonably heavy guitar (as heavy as my Gibson LP Studio anyway). It appears to me that Gibson have cut costs with the finish, but kept the sound (i'd rather they did that than the other way around). The hardware etc. all seems to be good quality and the neck profile is fantastic.

I haven't played a Tele exactly like the one you linked, but if it's anything like my Tele it'll have a better finish. The neck seems wider and flatter which is nice but doesn't feel quite as good as the Junior. The Tele does feel a bit better put together (with more possibilities to up-grade components if you’re into that sort of thing). The hardware is of equal quality, the tuners feel a bit more substantial maybe than the Junior's. I really like the bridge pickup on the Tele, quite bright sounding but not brash. I don't really use the neck pickup but the three pickup model you linked might produce nice humbucker-sounding options.

To sum up, the Junior has a nicer sound (but not by much), however the finish quality is pretty crap. The tele has a good sound and I nicer finish. I think on balance however, i'd go for the Junior. A) because it's American built and B) the neck and pickup are just great. Either way though you’ll have a great guitar.

p.s. sorry for the essay, hope it helps.

[Hometown Zero]

That's great mate, really appreciated!

I got a lot of info from another forum but no one could give me a balanced argument other than "GiBsOn SuCkS MaAaaN!" so i appreciate the break down of pros and cons.

I had been thinking over both a lot and made a list of pros and cons myself. Mainly, I liked the Gibson because it's American made, has a set neck, has a P90 and is really simplistic (my thinking is that the less there is on a guitar the less there is that can go wrong!) I wasn't too sure of the finish either and especially as I'm after it in satin white I was worried after the first half hour, and the usual amount of sweat running down my current guitar, it might stain or get damaged.

I liked the finish more on a Tele and that it's set up for more variety in sounds. I didn't like that I'd have to settle for a Mexican made one (because i can't afford a USA) or that I might not get the same chunky, ballsy sound you can off a les paul.

[RobinMurphy]

I think you'd be hard pushed to get the same sound/tone from a Tele as you would from your Epi LP Custom or a p90. Having said that the guy from Slipnot and Tom Morello from Rage Against The Machine play Teles so you can get a more full chunky metal sound (but it's not really what the Tele's known for) from one. The p90 would be more ballsy sounding. I agree with you with the simplicity thing, that's one of the reasons I went with a Junior. Having said that, Tele’s are nice simple guitars too. My Junior's red so maybe the colour running just affects that colour (or even just mine’s production run). It's not too serous a problem really (i'd guess it'd just slowly reveal more of the wood as the paint rubbed off).

My advice would be if you're going to get the Junior, either buy one from GAK or go down to Kennies Music in Dundee and haggle a bit if you're cheeky. I managed to get him to sell me a Gibson LP Junior and Gibson hard case for £599.

Alternatively you'd be able to find a US Tele from Ebay for about the same price as an LP Junior from GAK (you might have to wait a few days though). I've always thought what's the point of buying a guitar new just to have the privilege of putting the first dents in it lol. You could also add a third middle pickup yourself fairly cheaply in the future if you wanted. Equally if you bought a Tele second hand you’d probably wouldn’t lose any money if you wanted to sell it again. I would advise getting a Junior from ebay too, except I hardy ever see them (they're usually sunburst too). I’d guess it’d take you months for a white 58 reissue Junior to come up for sale. Maybe that's testament to how good they are though.

[Hometown Zero]

I've already been down to Kennys and tried the Junior but thanks for the heads up about a hard case too! I think they're still doing student discount too so hopefully I could get a case and discount from the £599 too!

I've had a look on ebay and there are loads of teles going but not a lot of juniors, which as you say might be a good sign! I'm not too confident in ebay though, even if buying new means you're only going to be the first to bash it up at least you still have a a receipt and someplace to go back to if something goes wrong with it. I think that's just be being a bit paranoid about getting ripped off though! haha

[Hometown Zero]

Oh aye, who was it you spoke to in Kenny's by the way?

[RobinMurphy]

That’s fair enough, I’ve seen guitars sell on Ebay that I’m convinced aren’t completely genuine (usually vintage) but generally they’re ok. I spoke to the fairly young guy who had a bit of a mohawk (if I remember correctly). He included the hard case because he had one spare he said, but I reckon you’d probably be able to haggle one into the deal lol. I didn’t know they were doing student discount, how long’s that been going on?

[Hometown Zero]

No idea,I saw it before christmas advertised in the shop. It wasn't displayed when I was last in but it is still on their myspace page saying students get 10% off. Quite a good deal, especially when your spending that much in one go.

I'm still completely torn between the two. When I got my Epi I was alot younger and pretty much saw it, liked it and bought it without putting much thought in.

Now, I'm thinking about it too much and can't decide either way.

[Hometown Zero]

I bought a Tele today, really enjoying playing it but I'm not in rehearsing until next wednesday so I can't give it a proper thrash until then!

[RobinMurphy]

Originally Posted by Hometown Zero

I bought a Tele today, really enjoying playing it but I'm not in rehearsing until next wednesday so I can't give it a proper thrash until then!

Good choice. Either guitar would have been good, but yeah the Tele will probably be nicer to play cause it's better built.