What do you know about Maybach guitars?

[State of Epicicity]

I’m sure if you can cope with the cutaway and the terrible balance the heel is not going to stop you. Go look at a John Sykes video

I know the regular Axecess LPs with the tunomatic are not that common, but it seems like something you would've come across at some point. Do you remember any tonal differences there?

I did try for many years with that traditional heel, but I almost had to stop playing. Of course there are many virtuosos who've played Les Pauls with those heels, but I just can't do that again.

 

[Eagle]

I know the regular Axecess LPs with the tunomatic are not that common, but it seems like something you would've come across at some point. Do you remember any tonal differences there?

I did try for many years with that traditional heel, but I almost had to stop playing. Of course there are many virtuosos who've played Les Pauls with those heels, but I just can't do that again.

I’ve played quite a few Axecess models and non of them were great sounding acoustically and I didn’t think that unless you are a thumb over player you didn’t really have much better reach. Play up there with a more classic hand position and it doesn’t matter because even with the Axecess heel it’s not good.

 

[State of Epicicity]

Thanks Andy.

 

[SKU]

I have a Gibson SG HP2. The neck heel doesn't get in the way at all. Pretty cool guitar.

 

[laxu]

I think the heel comes with the territory and if you take it away you loose something. This is why PRS actually extended it on the CU 22 and 24, it also helps enormously with keeping the end of the fingerboard in check. I think the solution is just alter your technique to accommodate it. Les Pauls always played like hell from much above the 12th.

I have two LP type guitars atm. They both sound very much like I would expect a Les Paul style guitar to sound despite having very different neck construction. So to me there's more leeway in how the neck is constructed.

One is a South Korean made Fenix LP copy with a traditional long tenon neck joint going into the neck pickup cavity. Gotoh hardware, upgraded electronics (stock pickups/electronics are terrible) and Mastertone active pickups. Mine even has a proper flamed maple cap instead of veneer or veneer over plain maple. But being a 1990s S. Korean made guitar, it has its own share of cosmetic issues. I do like the mix of LP Standard and Custom styling with the multi-layer binding.

These are mostly found in Europe, sometimes popping up on the used market. Avoid the bolt-on models and you might get a pretty decent "fixer upper" guitar if you find one cheap.

The other guitar is a Heatley Tradition at the opposite end of the price range. Its neck tenon goes all the way to the bridge. Tonepros/Sperzel hardware, Wolfetone pickups. Upper fret access is of course excellent.

Even Scott Heatley himself told me that the deep neck tenon acted a bit more like a neckthru but it was difficult to tell it apart without a near-identical guitar with a different tenon right next to it. He stopped doing the more laborous deep neck joint because his customers didn't care one way or another, so he went with a "offset mortise and tenon neck joint" instead.

I’ve played quite a few Axecess models and non of them were great sounding acoustically and I didn’t think that unless you are a thumb over player you didn’t really have much better reach. Play up there with a more classic hand position and it doesn’t matter because even with the Axecess heel it’s not good.

The Gibson Axxcess or what they do on the LP Modern lineup is stupid because it's built to work with their current neck building methods rather than actually make a better neck joint. They simply carve some of the body and fit the same ol' neck on it.

I don't mind the traditional neck joint too much either, you learn to work around it the same as a Strat/Tele block heel. I do think a contoured one on modern LP style guitars should be a standard feature.

I wouldn’t say any Les Paul from Epiphone is anything more than a look alike. If you want a 59 clone buy the Murphy version or pay much more for a hand built replica. There are a few guys out there making fantastic ones but I would only judge the one in front of me when you get to things like this. Best budget Les Paul is easily Edwards but they are not clone versions. Older solid Les Paul studios and standards are ok . The new 50s and 60s standard are the best standards for a long time . If you want a clone every construction detail must be the same and hardly anything is outside of Gibson Historic and custom built. Only recent Gibson R9s are close enough to be considered clones. The cheapest way to get a 59 clone that actually is that is find a shop with a wall full of Murphy Lab and play all of them.

I think you are putting too strict qualifiers on a "'59 clone" in this thread. Most people (including OP based on the brands he's looking at) do not care whether it's exactly to some vintage guitar spec, but mainly want the chunkier '59 neck profile, finish style etc. You don't need Murphy aging for that and nobody should want retainer wire TOM bridges anymore. What constitutes a "Les Paul sound" varies a lot based on who you ask and their preference.

I can't say anything about the Maybachs, never seen them. In their price range I'd probably look at Gibson too.

 

[Achilles]

The other guitar is a Heatley Tradition.

NICE!!! Is Scott still building?

 

[laxu]

NICE!!! Is Scott still building?

Yes, but he no longer makes the Tradition.

I bought mine used so have no idea how the order process is or what they actually cost. Contacted the builder when I wanted to know more about the guitar.

 

[Achilles]

Yes, but he no longer makes the Tradition.

I bought mine used so have no idea how the order process is or what they actually cost. Contacted the builder when I wanted to know more about the guitar.

I looked hard at him and Driskell before ordering a custom Thorn 20 years ago. Glad to see he's still at it.

 

[Eagle]

I have two LP type guitars atm. They both sound very much like I would expect a Les Paul style guitar to sound despite having very different neck construction. So to me there's more leeway in how the neck is constructed.

One is a South Korean made Fenix LP copy with a traditional long tenon neck joint going into the neck pickup cavity. Gotoh hardware, upgraded electronics (stock pickups/electronics are terrible) and Mastertone active pickups. Mine even has a proper flamed maple cap instead of veneer or veneer over plain maple. But being a 1990s S. Korean made guitar, it has its own share of cosmetic issues. I do like the mix of LP Standard and Custom styling with the multi-layer binding.

These are mostly found in Europe, sometimes popping up on the used market. Avoid the bolt-on models and you might get a pretty decent "fixer upper" guitar if you find one cheap.

View attachment 17311


The other guitar is a Heatley Tradition at the opposite end of the price range. Its neck tenon goes all the way to the bridge. Tonepros/Sperzel hardware, Wolfetone pickups. Upper fret access is of course excellent.

Even Scott Heatley himself told me that the deep neck tenon acted a bit more like a neckthru but it was difficult to tell it apart without a near-identical guitar with a different tenon right next to it. He stopped doing the more laborous deep neck joint because his customers didn't care one way or another, so he went with a "offset mortise and tenon neck joint" instead.

View attachment 17312

View attachment 17310




The Gibson Axxcess or what they do on the LP Modern lineup is stupid because it's built to work with their current neck building methods rather than actually make a better neck joint. They simply carve some of the body and fit the same ol' neck on it.

I don't mind the traditional neck joint too much either, you learn to work around it the same as a Strat/Tele block heel. I do think a contoured one on modern LP style guitars should be a standard feature.



I think you are putting too strict qualifiers on a "'59 clone" in this thread. Most people (including OP based on the brands he's looking at) do not care whether it's exactly to some vintage guitar spec, but mainly want the chunkier '59 neck profile, finish style etc. You don't need Murphy aging for that and nobody should want retainer wire TOM bridges anymore. What constitutes a "Les Paul sound" varies a lot based on who you ask and their preference.

I can't say anything about the Maybachs, never seen them. In their price range I'd probably look at Gibson too.

I'm not saying you can't get a great single cut but I am saying it won't sound exactly like a good Les Paul unless it is built the same.