Buying in LA: Pt 2 - now with 100% more annoying questions

[Vorbis]

Eww, the current Ibanez LP-ish things look horrible!

Ah, but your tastes extend to planks far more pointy....

[slash-ed]

Yeah I know, but for years I was basically an LP guy... and for me the only guitar that looks good in that format... is an LP. Most derivatives look weird to me compared to the classic shape. Barring the Singlecut, which I think is one of the very few good LP-based designs. I also like the Fernandes Ravelle shape, great twist on the LP body.

[zdali]

PRS SE. Preferably SE One... I like simple things

No i don't own a Mac

[sambrowne]

But if you try enough cheap/medium price guitars, you definitely will find good ones. In this case there's no substitute to trying a huge bunch of guitars and seeing what moves you.

Yes. I remember once playing a natural finish Epiphone SG at the rock shop in Dunedin that just had some magic in it - after commenting on it (I have no idea why I played it in the first place - probably trying an amp out and just grabbed the nearest thing) they all said the same, something particularly good about that one.

From your list and considering your requirements, I'd try lots of secondhand LP studios. Your question was what is the difference - the studio and the standard are essentially the same guitar but the standard has more cosmetic loveliness (neck and body binding, nicer looking top, inlaid neck) and weighs a bit more. The custom is a whole different kettle of fish with quite a bit more cosmetic improvement and the best woods etc plus different pickups. Although I prefer the feeling of playing my standard, soundwise the studio and standard are usually much the same, using the same woods throughout and the same pickups (though there have been numerous different pickup configurations used over the past two decades, especially in recent times - the best ones seem to be late eighties or early 2000s). The whole point of the studio is a guitar to use in the studio, where no one sees it but everyone hears it - the standard is the great looking guitar for the stage, and the custom is the same as the standard, but the deluxe version.

[angry_young_poet]

the custom is the same as the standard, but the deluxe version.

that was confusing. you rattled off 3 Les Paul models as the same

[raz]

Gibson LP Studios regularly go on ebay for USD $700 or even less.

[slash-ed]

But if you try enough cheap/medium price guitars, you definitely will find good ones. In this case there's no substitute to trying a huge bunch of guitars and seeing what moves you.

Yes. I remember once playing a natural finish Epiphone SG at the rock shop in Dunedin that just had some magic in it - after commenting on it (I have no idea why I played it in the first place - probably trying an amp out and just grabbed the nearest thing) they all said the same, something particularly good about that one.

From your list and considering your requirements, I'd try lots of secondhand LP studios. Your question was what is the difference - the studio and the standard are essentially the same guitar but the standard has more cosmetic loveliness (neck and body binding, nicer looking top, inlaid neck) and weighs a bit more. The custom is a whole different kettle of fish with quite a bit more cosmetic improvement and the best woods etc plus different pickups. Although I prefer the feeling of playing my standard, soundwise the studio and standard are usually much the same, using the same woods throughout and the same pickups (though there have been numerous different pickup configurations used over the past two decades, especially in recent times - the best ones seem to be late eighties or early 2000s). The whole point of the studio is a guitar to use in the studio, where no one sees it but everyone hears it - the standard is the great looking guitar for the stage, and the custom is the same as the standard, but the deluxe version.

I disagree on some points... Studios are noticeably thinner than Standards, and sound different because of this - bitier but a bit less meaty. And Studios also have fretboard inlays, it's the binding on the whole that they lack. Studios and Customs share the same pickups last time I bothered to check, and Standards have Burstbuckers stock these days.

Imo, if you're into metal, a normal LP is a bit meh. Shove some EMGs in and you've got Zakk-in-a-Box.

Personally I'd still go for something made of brighter woods... alder, maple, etc... I like my metal a bit more ear-piercing than ball busting...

[hamo]

Thanks again guys, this is all helping to crystalise some of the thoughts whirring around my cranium? My original ploy was just going to be to drop a set of Zakk EMGs into an LP studio, something that could be achieved for around US$500. I was, however, unsure about whether being a Studio it would be too light and not be worth the effort. I'm a fairly small guy and I liked the feel of the Studio.

I have to admit, being a bit of a gromet I'm fairly focussed on the pickups, not really knowing what else to look out for. The only way I knew that the Schecter I played was badly set up because the strings were basically hugging the fretboard - it was like something from the toy section in the Warehouse.