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what is the best MIJ les paul brand

Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2024 7:18 am
by panoramic
I've had a Burny and played an orville but I am no expert on these at all. I am looking to pick another one up soon and wondered if anyone here has owned maybe 3 or 4 different variants and had some input?
I am 100% looking for 60's slime taper necks over everything else and i prefer the Custom style but some of the orville standards I have seen look really nice.

Re: what is the best MIJ les paul brand

Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2024 7:24 am
by sal paradise
I’ve owned a few Ibanez & an Orville by Gibson. All of those had super slim necks.

Ibanez were all bolt-on necks & felt like they were made of plastics, yet played really well & the pickups were great.

The OBG was an all-round excellent guitar, although the poly finish does feel odd. But if you want a Gibson for half the price of a Gibson, I’d definitely recommend the higher end models.

Re: what is the best MIJ les paul brand

Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2024 7:31 am
by panoramic
sal paradise wrote:
Tue Feb 20, 2024 7:24 am
I’ve owned a few Ibanez & an Orville by Gibson. All of those had super slim necks.

Ibanez were all bolt-on necks & felt like they were made of plastics, yet played really well & the pickups were great.

The OBG was an all-round excellent guitar, although the poly finish does feel odd. But if you want a Gibson for half the price of a Gibson, I’d definitely recommend the higher end models.
I am definitely looking to get the custom feel without the pricetag. I've always been a gibson nerd, when I joined here that was like all I really knew about aside of mustangs.

Re: what is the best MIJ les paul brand

Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2024 7:40 am
by Stereordinary
I can only speak to Ibanez versus Greco, and for me it goes to Greco.

Re: what is the best MIJ les paul brand

Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2024 7:46 am
by panoramic
Stereordinary wrote:
Tue Feb 20, 2024 7:40 am
I can only speak to Ibanez versus Greco, and for me it goes to Greco.
the Greco's definitely have better appointments than the Ibanez versions that I have seen. I have seen sone Ibanez gibson copies that are amazing though, one firebird copy played like butter. I wish i had bought it

Re: what is the best MIJ les paul brand

Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2024 8:02 am
by JSett
I've had Greco, Burny and a couple of other sub-brands not mentioned. The Greco was the best.

Re: what is the best MIJ les paul brand

Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2024 8:08 am
by panoramic
JSett wrote:
Tue Feb 20, 2024 8:02 am
I've had Greco, Burny and a couple of other sub-brands not mentioned. The Greco was the best.
what other sub brands?

Re: what is the best MIJ les paul brand

Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2024 8:15 am
by MechaBulletBill
don't rule out the yamaha studio lords/lord players

Re: what is the best MIJ les paul brand

Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2024 8:18 am
by panoramic
MechaBulletBill wrote:
Tue Feb 20, 2024 8:15 am
don't rule out the yamaha studio lords/lord players
noted!

Re: what is the best MIJ les paul brand

Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2024 8:55 am
by muffonrat
Would like to add Tokai and Aria/Aria pro II to the list of Mij brands that made LP copies.

Also each from these brands would have the basic models and then the more expensive line with better components, finish etc.

Personally I have played an early 80s Maya Custom LP with a bolt-on neck that was a surprisingly very good guitar for its price.

Re: what is the best MIJ les paul brand

Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2024 8:59 am
by Jonesie
MechaBulletBill wrote:
Tue Feb 20, 2024 8:15 am
don't rule out the yamaha studio lords/lord players
Came here to say this. Myself and
SteveJamsEcono wrote:
are huge fans of these. I have an SL450S which is the best Les Paul I've ever played. Sounds incredible, looks great, feels great. The neck is slim (that's what the S is for) but others are slightly chunkier. They're going up in price, but not as much as other brands.

Re: what is the best MIJ les paul brand

Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2024 9:02 am
by JSett
panoramic wrote:
Tue Feb 20, 2024 8:08 am
JSett wrote:
Tue Feb 20, 2024 8:02 am
I've had Greco, Burny and a couple of other sub-brands not mentioned. The Greco was the best.
what other sub brands?
One was an Aria and another was one that was missing the badge on the headstock but was definitely MIJ

Re: what is the best MIJ les paul brand

Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2024 9:37 am
by panoramic
Jonesie wrote:
Tue Feb 20, 2024 8:59 am
MechaBulletBill wrote:
Tue Feb 20, 2024 8:15 am
don't rule out the yamaha studio lords/lord players
Came here to say this. Myself and
SteveJamsEcono wrote:
are huge fans of these. I have an SL450S which is the best Les Paul I've ever played. Sounds incredible, looks great, feels great. The neck is slim (that's what the S is for) but others are slightly chunkier. They're going up in price, but not as much as other brands.
I'll check these out!
I edited the options on the Poll and it erased the earlier votes. Sorry, I had no idea that would happen

Re: what is the best MIJ les paul brand

Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2024 11:51 am
by Snake Hips
Love that we are talking about this. I own a 75 Greco SA550 (marketed as a 335 built like a 330). Love that guitar and am always on the hunt to try other Greco, Burny, Tokai, Orville, Edwards, Ibanez, Univox, Electras, Yamahas, Arias, Memphis, Aims, Mayas, El Degas, etc etc etc

There are so many great players out there Aria for the late 70s (450/550 range set neck are great players), Yamaha Studio Lord 550 or 1200, Greco's up till the early 90s are really nice.
I think the sweet spot for most of these instruments is set neck models mid 70s- 84/85. Greco's up till early 90s are great but there are small changes.

Re: what is the best MIJ les paul brand

Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2024 7:15 pm
by stevejamsecono
Jonesie wrote:
Tue Feb 20, 2024 8:59 am
MechaBulletBill wrote:
Tue Feb 20, 2024 8:15 am
don't rule out the yamaha studio lords/lord players
Came here to say this. Myself and
SteveJamsEcono wrote:
are huge fans of these. I have an SL450S which is the best Les Paul I've ever played. Sounds incredible, looks great, feels great. The neck is slim (that's what the S is for) but others are slightly chunkier. They're going up in price, but not as much as other brands.
Can confirm. Event hough I ultimately graduated to the Yamaha SBGs, my Studio Lord is still an excellent instrument and both it and Jonesie's are some of the best Les Pauls I've ever played. Also vastly more reasonably priced than the Tokai/Greco/Burnys of the world, in my experience.