Les Pauls

[DetroitBlues]

Proof in the pudding for Korean guitar is PRS.  Their SE models are made there.  Supposed to be one of the best overseas guitars on the market.

[weelie]

some mandolins and acoustic archtops are made in china, costing in 4 figures. I think that's more of a proof. If they make no corners cut high$ acoustic instruments, then i think we can agree they got it!

Great violins are made in china. That's the real pudding! Electric guitars are not that tough to make, imo.

I have korean and chinese guitars. No problem. I'd rather have a locally made, but cannot justify the cost. Also i rather have something that was built to last, so no corners were cut. I don't like waste.

[zagatron1]

I know these aren't Les Pauls, but this dude I know has a rack of Fender MIM Strats (eight to be exact) and has absolutely no problems with them. Dude is proud as "H" to the "E" to the double "L" of his guitars! Sure he upgraded 'em, but they were done to his tastes. That's what counts, but you guys already know that.

[diaper head]

see, that's something i want to maybe do.  i want a strat.    but i may want to see about  a kit.  i'd like to have rear routing, and no pickguard, s-s-s, and either a fixed bridge or a wilkinson trem.
i want to see the wood, no paint. maple neck. oh, and no jack hole on the front of the guitar.

[DetroitBlues]

Guitarfetish.com has kits for strats and telecasters for about $100

[reb]

dh, if you wanted to spend a little more, Carvin has a kit for what they call 'The Bolt'. i built one...it has been the test bed for pickups. all the holes drilled, unfinished, can order options out the wazoo. i think the last i looked they were $400. they come with Carvin pups, i think they are Schaller lockers, a corian (or synthetic nut) and what i think is about the most excellent shredder neck on any guitar i've got. their website is an easy find:

http://www.carvinguitars.com/kits/

awww...looks like they have new kits! *i will not look-i will not look-i will NOT look*

[DetroitBlues]

And most are on SALE!!! But don't look...

[diaper head]

man! that's really close to what i'm looking for. and considering the price, it's definitely a consideration.
i met a bass player not that long ago that had a carvin bass he made from a kit.  it was really nice.  he also had a 600watt carvin head and a 15" cab. 

[hillbilly-joe]

I owned a 92 Les Paul, it was the year they came out with a stripped down just clear maple top with gold hardware. I think it must have been a "B" stock.  It didn't have it, whatever that means, so I sold it for ￥８００００　which was cheap. I'd like to buy another les paul, but a semi-hollow one, they are just too heavy these days

[DetroitBlues]

Every Gibson Les Paul is weight relieved.  The only one that isn't is the traditional model....

[VikingBlues]

Proof in the pudding for Korean guitar is PRS.  Their SE models are made there.  Supposed to be one of the best overseas guitars on the market.

The Korean made PRS SE Soapbar I have is right up there for build quality with the Gibson SG Standard I had. No evedence of any of the constuction being done in a rush or to a budget and seems to be great attention to detail - even all the stuff tucked away in the body cavities was very neat, tidy and well finished.

[DetroitBlues]

I'm temped to get a PRS Soapbar as a backup to my Heritage.  A Heritage 137 (Gibson Les Paul Special) is too expensive for me.  The PRS might be the ticket.

[pman57]

Hey guys and gals! Have any of you played an Agile guitar? I have several Agile Les Paul "copies," they're made in South Korea, and for my money ($400 - $450) they are the best value hands down! Of all my guitars, they are my favorites.

Don't get me wrong, I love my Epi Les Pauls, too (I have several of them also), but the Agiles, I feel, are just a better value: ebony fingerboards, great pups, Grover tuners, excellent finishes and workmanship, and a lower price say it all for me. I have never had a problem with them. Check 'em out!

And as far as the Gibson Les Pauls, well, they, I feel, aren't the value that they once were. No way I"m paying their extortionist prices for Les Pauls that aren't that much better than my Agiles or my Epi's; certainly not $1,000+ better. And like many of you, I do not buy guitars for investment, I buy 'em to play 'em!

[DetroitBlues]

Hey guys and gals! Have any of you played an Agile guitar? I have several Agile Les Paul "copies," they're made in South Korea, and for my money ($400 - $450) they are the best value hands down! Of all my guitars, they are my favorites.

Don't get me wrong, I love my Epi Les Pauls, too (I have several of them also), but the Agiles, I feel, are just a better value: ebony fingerboards, great pups, Grover tuners, excellent finishes and workmanship, and a lower price say it all for me. I have never had a problem with them. Check 'em out!

And as far as the Gibson Les Pauls, well, they, I feel, aren't the value that they once were. No way I"m paying their extortionist prices for Les Pauls that aren't that much better than my Agiles or my Epi's; certainly not $1,000+ better. And like many of you, I do not buy guitars for investment, I buy 'em to play 'em!

As I have not played an Agile, I have heard their quality is as good or better than Epiphone.  You can find them cheap too.

[Memory Lane Jr]

The Luthier that sorted out my Hagstrom for me has been into repairs & building of guitars for a long time, he is an authorized Fender & Gibson repair shop & he seemed to think that it was an awesome guitar especially for the price & it was Chinese built, apart from the little dude at the factory wiring the pickup switch backwards!!!!!!!!!!