NGD When is a Les Paul not a Gibson?

[nightlight]

I've always wanted a Les Paul, but they are frightningly expensive, and the quality concerns aside, there are a lot of people who are of the view that only certain Les Paul models are worth the name tag.

I still want one though, they are truly historic instruments played by musicians like Slash, Ted Nugent, Jimmy Page and Jerry Cantrell, to name a few.

Long story short, I scored a Tokai LS-120 after reading up a lot about how they make really nice Les Pauls. In fact, this is a lawsuit instrument, I think, based on research I did.

It's badged as a Les Paul Reborn, and I was told it's from 1980, but I also read that production of the Reborn model ceased in 1979.

It sure looks nice to me, I look forward to experimenting with it in the days ahead.

Here are some pictures:

 

[Alex Kenivel]

Nice! HNGD

Was that a local score?

 

[nightlight]

Nice! HNGD

Was that a local score?

Thanks. Got it from a friend. He's got one of the most incredible collections of gear I've seen.

 

[HotRats]

Great score.

I love cream pickups on les pauls, I actually prefer them to the covered ones.

Had them installed in previous LP since I was experimenting with different pickups.

In the current ones I still have the original custom buckers because they sound great.

Anyway, you scored a LP that is as beautiful as a LP can be.

 

[nightlight]

Great score.

I love cream pickups on les pauls, I actually prefer them to the covered ones.

Had them installed in previous LP since I was experimenting with different pickups.

In the current ones I still have the original custom buckers because they sound great.

Anyway, you scored a LP that is as beautiful as a LP can be.

Weird thing is that I've never played a Les Paul for more than 10 minutes in my life. You hear so much about them, but there are also horror stories about poor QC and build quality.

Since I'm not made of money, I have abstained for the 20 years I've been playing.

That said, I kept seeing them in bands like Tool and Mastadon and even icons like Jeff Hanneman and Kirk Hammett cut their teeth on those things.

Someday, for sure, I want to get a Les Paul Les Paul and see what the fuss is about.

To be sure, I've hardly even played Fender Stratocasters too. So strange. I live a sheltered life haha

 

[HotRats]

Weird thing is that I've never played a Les Paul for more than 10 minutes in my life. You hear so much about them, but there are also horror stories about poor QC and build quality.

Since I'm not made of money, I have abstained for the 20 years I've been playing.

That said, I kept seeing them in bands like Tool and Mastadon and even icons like Jeff Hanneman and Kirk Hammett cut their teeth on those things.

Someday, for sure, I want to get a Les Paul Les Paul and see what the fuss is about.

To be sure, I've hardly even played Fender Stratocasters too. So strange. I live a sheltered life haha

Yeah, there are horror stories, some real, some exaggerated, there are certainly issues now and then but there are also tons of happy owners out there.

I've been playing Gibsons since 1992, owned several and I'm fully satisfied but I would be satisfied with any well made les Paul copy.

 

[richey88]

Best LP I’ve ever played was a Tokai. Well done!

 

[PBGas]

Those Tokai's are fantastic guitars!

 

[SillyOctpuss]

Ooh I'd love an old ls120. Good score

 

[spawnofthesith]

Looks killer, congrats!!

 

[DrewJD82]

If you get your hands on enough of them, you’ll question if some Gibson LP’s should be considered LP’s or not.

That’s a KILLER score!! Congrats!

Everyone’s probably got a different cut off point, but I consider my Edwards and Orville LP’s to be Les Pauls. They’re the same shape and same wood types and the Orville technically IS a Gibson. But I don’t consider something like the ESP/LTD Eclipse model to be a Les Paul; they’re much thinner and the cutaway is different.

The PRS Silver Sky is kind of an in-between thing, I suppose. It’s mostly a Strat but there’s enough of an aesthetic difference to call it something else.

 

[Chocol8]

I like dual HB and dual P90 guitars but after many years of thinking everyone (me) should have at least one LP and one Strat, I have completely moved on from the Les Paul shape and design. I never could bond with one, Gibson or clone, and I can get the same tones from guitars with better ergonomics. It helps that I really don't care about the name on the headstock and am not a fan of Gibson as a company.

IMHO, if you have the scale length, TOM style bridge and tailpiece, and similar enough woods, plus a good set of pickups, you have the parts that made the LP a LP from a tone perspective, and all of the rest doesn't need to be all that "authentic".

 

[Blix]

Awesome, and with a nice set of Dimarzio Super Dist and PAF :)

 

[Steinmetzify]

My man, great score. If those pups are original prepare to have a religious awakening. Sick pickup, HNGD!

Edit: those are probably 70s DiMarzios due to 38 seconds of research.

Bruh. Those pups are gonna SLAY.

 

[keef]

Awesome man, enjoy riffing on that !