Crayon Sky Music

Wich guitar should I get?

Hello! I play a LesPaul Epiphone Standard and I plan on getting a new guitar. Particularly I wanted a Gibson.
But… I’m not so sure of wich model to pick: LesPaul, SG or LP DoubleCut… I still haven’t played them to feel wich serves me better.
The kind of music I play is from Thrice to Fall Out Boy, Rufio, etc. If you guys don’t know those bands, I like a punk-rokish-pop style and some heavy metal stuff.
I expect some answers to help on my choice, thx a lot.

First, I would say that l Epiphone Les Paul Standard is a pretty good guitar—the guys in My Chemical Romance swear by their Epiphone guitars (they use an Epiphone SG G-400 and an Epiphone Les Paul Elite) so if you’re dissatisfied with your sound, make sure it’s not your amp.

That said, if you want something different, here’s few thoughts. First, any of the above guitars you are considering are great for the music you want to play. There is no “right” answer. You should place a little trust in yourself. If you’re are at a place where you have outgrown your current guitar, then you probably at a level where you can make a few judgments based on how things sound and feel.

But here a few generalizations. Gibson Les Pauls are currently really popular among emo-punk bands. Traditionally, they produce a big chunky, mid-rangey sound, but some people find them a little too heavy, particularly if they are really active on stage.

SG’s are also capable of producing a huge sound (AC/DC anyone?), and they tend to be a little lighter, which can be nice. On the down side, if you’re a little guy, neck position chords on an SG will feel a little further away. (Play a Les Paul and an SG side-by-side and you’ll see what I mean.) Also, if you’re considering an SG, make sure it stays in tune after a few strums. SGs have weaker neck-joints than a Les Paul, and some suffer from tuning problems.

I mean, it’s a good idea to play the hell out of any guitar before you buy it anyway, just to make sure no obvious problems surface before you take it home.

Les Paul Double Cutaways are little more rare in the emo world, but they are gaining in popularity. Thomas Erak, the frontman and guitarist in one of my favorite up-and-coming progressive punk rock bands, The Fall of Troy plays both an SG and a Double Cutaway, and loves ‘em equally.

This stuff is super subjective because there are amazing Les Pauls, SGs and Double Cutaways and others that sound terrible. At least it appears you have some playing experience, so while it’s cool to follow in the footsteps of bands that you like, you should also trust your own instincts and ears, because every guitar is unique.

If you feel you don’t have enough experience and can’t trust your own instincts, bring a guitar playing buddy along when trying out a new axe. See what he has to say. It’s always good to get a second opinion, particularly if they have been playing longer than you have.

Gibson Les Paul: Electric Guitar Setup : How to Set the Intonation on a Les Paul Guitar