Hello Lee!
On 28 Dec 97, Lee Waun wrote to Tom Scioscia:
 LW> Well the studio lite costs 1325 already and that is the most I want to
 LW> spend anymore.
For 1325 CDN you can get an Epiphone Les Paul Standard or Custom, buy a pair 
of Seymour Duncan pickups, and pay someone to install them for you (or bring 
them to Portland next year and I'll install them for free).  It won't quite 
be a true Les Paul Standard, but it'll be a lot closer than the Studio Lite.  
True, it won't say "Gibson" on the headstock inlay, but from 10 feet away it 
will look pretty close, and will have the same neck inlays and body and neck 
binding.  The only difference in construction is the Epiphone has only a thin 
maple veneer top, where the Gibson is a true carved maple cap (the Gibson LP 
Custom has no maple cap at all).  The body is still mahogany, though not 
quite as dense.  I actually like the shape of my Epiphone neck better than 
many Gibsons I've played.
You'll loose some prestige and bragging rights owning an Epiphone, but no 
more than owning a Studio Lite.  FWIW, the quality of workmanship that I've 
seen on the regular LP Studio has been FAR below what I expect of Gibson, and 
in many cases, far below Epiphone.  I haven't seen anything in the Gibson 
"All American" or Studio line that I feel is worthy of the name.
 LW> good humbucking guitar which to me is a les paul. Here in this country a
 LW> new les paul standard starts at 1700 and goes up from there. I just 
on't
 LW> want to spend that much anymore. So I will get a studio or studio lite.
 LW> But not till next month. I am doing my final price commparisions etc.
Don't lock yourself into buying new.  It won't be easy, but you should be 
able to find a used Les Paul Standard in good shape in the price range you're 
looking for.  You're getting ready to spend a lot of money... I'd hate to see 
you settle for something less when a few extra bucks or a little more time 
can get you a much better piece.  I've been there, and in all but a couple of 
cases, I've been sorry that I didn't spend the extra bucks or buy used.
C-ya! Rich
--- GoldED 2.40
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