Lets face it, a good LP is F#%$ing expensive.I always wanted a gold top. Hell, I'd even settle for a decent '68 re-fin. Everything I found that sounded right and played at least decent was the price of a good used car. (Haven't been happy with any of the re-issues either - too heavy,dull tone)I finally found a "Heritage" gold top in ex,++ cond.with OHSC for $450.00...in LA. I put Duncan "Seth Lover" pk.ups in and replaced the bridge and tail piece with Gibson parts. For my money,(which was about $800.00 total),it nails the classic LP tone - clean or dirty.

I feel that Gibson Les Pauls are overpriced, but Gibson has always had that market share.
The fabled 1958-60 Les Pauls(really the main reason why we are still talking about a single cutaway Les Paul) were priced at about the same upper market price point that Les Pauls are in today. They have always been expensive: that's what it costs to make and make a profit.
Now the real issue is not what you pay but what you get. I think that the Standards, Studios, and Classics(some of these don't exist anymore) of the 90's were so INCONSISTENT. Some suffer terrible fret work, badly balanced bodies and necks and heavy, tone stuffing paint. I own two Classics and a Historic. One Classic is a dog! All the problems listed were evident.
The other Classic I have is simply awesome. Light, resonant and musical. Now, I blew the money on a used Historic. I'm happy to say you get what you pay for(you had better for the $). This guitar is better than both Classics combined. I just question the quality(or lack of) that goes into a guitar that lists for more than $2000.
Why do you have to spend upwards of $4000 to get a good one. They should all be good in my eyes. I'm sure some of you will disagree, but I find a regular LP is overpriced.
You are much better off going with a used one.

Yes, Les Pauls are pricey. I've never owned a one, and frankly I like the way a Strats feels better. I have two Strats; a Big Apple and a California model. They both of Seymour Duncan Custom Custom bridge humbuckers in them that I absolutely love. The I took the SD Pearly Gates that was originally in the bridge of the Big Apple and put it in the neck position. They have a great huge sound that go nicely with my Mesa Boogie Tremoverb amp. I think the price to workmanship ratio, overall is better in Fender products. You get more for your money. I've played some Studio and Standard model LP's and thought the build quality and attention to detail were not all that great. But I have played a LP Classic Plus that felt great and sounded even better. But for almost $2,000!?!? I can't justify that now, maybe some time down the road. I also have a Fender Telesonic that cost about $1,100, and I thought that was expensive!

I have to agree with the price issue. The problem is further aggravated by the inconsistency of manufacture. If you find that one gem, and they are out there, then it's worth $2-3K. I've been a L.P. man for many many years but finally broke down and got the single cut PRS which, in my book, nails the tone of a great L.P. and gives you a faster neck to boot - I just couldn't find a Paul with that combination of features that didn't weigh a ton. But it all boils down to the sound you want and the style you are playing. Strats do have their advantages and I can't argue with someone who likes them better.

I have a Classic, and a Strat Ultra that I modified. The Les Paul was used, and I still found it pricey ($2000 canadian). I can't understand how a hunk of mahogany can cost so much! My Strat on the other hand, was a bargain. It has an ebony fingerboard, locking tuners and the underrated Fender/Floyd trem, which each add to the sustain, and I threw in Van Zandt Blues pups with a BWB pickguard. This is THE finest Strat I have ever seen. The grain on the maple neck is super tight and the finish is sweet (flame maple veneer w. antique sunburst). It cost me about $2040 canadian NEW. Let's hear it for mass production! My Les Paul is just good (not great); I changed the pickups, the pickguard is a different color than the binding, it has 1960 in gold engraved on it(very cheesy), so I took it off, and the lacquer is sticky (as on all Gibsons). The tuners were not screwed on tight (doesn't change anything), and the gold paint does look too thick. Again, this guitar was a 96 I bought in 99 (barely played). It doesn't do a great clean sound, but is useful mainly for the classic Les Paul lead tone. Can any such medium-quality guitar be worth over $2600 cdn new? I vote no.

hey frank s if you don't like the sound of your les paul why the hell did you buy it in the first place!! you're all a bunch of friggin' cry babies I paid under 1000.00 for my Heritage series 80 elite Les Paul(no it's not made by Heritage it's made by Gibson)and it is the most singing, crying, or screaming guitar I've ever played or will play. Maybe you guys just don't know how to pick or fret or play for that matter.

i own a couple lp's. reissue 58 and 59... one is super light and has a very full, ringing, sort of acoustic (for lp) tone, the 58 is mid weight and doesn't sound good unless crunchy, but sustains well. but $$$$$. bought my american stat for $600. but i still feel that all stock strats suck for me (except for quacking sound but stock pickups generally weak and crappy). i put on a fat warmoth compound radius neck (i think i have grown to dislike thin necks) and some lindey fralin blues pickups and it's a pretty sweet guitar.

I, too, have a 96, but it is a nice guitar - after I had the frets dressed, the nut replaced, the tailpiece replaced, and installed Fralin PAFs.

I bought mine used for $500. I am betting there are more out there for that price but you will have to look around. The person I bought it from thought it was a log - and it kinda was - except acoustically it had a great 'pop' and tone. I love the thing - and I am a total Strat player!!

You probably have the answer. Why is the question so hard?

Guys,

All you need to do to buy an affordable quality LP is search on eBay for an early 80's Tokai Love Rock. Same with the Springysound and Goldstar Strats and the Breezysound Teles. These are the guys who scared the pants off Gibson and Fender who threatened to sue Tokai as a result. Back in the day there wasn't a single guitar that came out of that factory that was not of the highest possible quality. Check out the reviews on Harmony Central if you don't believe me. People are only now starting to pick up on the whole Tokai thing so snatch one up now while they're still affordable!

Mike

"There's no tone like your own"

are the guitars you mentioned really great? i just tend to not trust harmony central all of the time. somtimes it seems like the people submitting reviews are the same people selling the guitars on ebay. they give it flawless reviews so they can make money. i guess what i'm getting at is: would you happen to be selling any tokais on ebay? not to question your character or anything, but that did sound kind of like a sales pitch. just curious.

avengerjimmie,

I don't work for Tokai and I'm not endorsed by them in any way. These guitars are really THAT good. I see your point about HC because most reviewers are bedroom guitarists but I still consider it a good reference since players who actually gig submit reviews too. As for the eBay remark, it's not like everything on eBay is cheap junk that wouldn't sell anywhere else. I get most of my pedals thru eBay and have not regretted one single purchase! Besides Tokai look out also for Squier JV (Japan Vintage) guitars and basses. Above average quality for below average prices (sorry for the plug!).

Mike

"There's no tone like your own"