Opinions on hard shell guitar cases

[Threadfin]

Both of my Les Pauls are fairly light, with the Studio being really lightweight for a LP. People often talk about how heavy Les Pauls are, and they're heavier usually than Strats sure. But there is a big variance here. And too, balance is a big part of it. Anyone who has gigged with a SG knows what I mean I am sure.

I like the grave case. That's pretty cool. If it supports the guitar properly I'd go with that one. Oh I see you got the black one.

Here are my two Les Pauls. The one on the left is a desertburst Studio Plus. Surprisingly lightweight. My number one. The LP on the right is a Classic in honeyburst. Hot ceramics and noticably heavier than the Studio. Both are top-wrapped. Cases are obviously the stock Gibson USA hardshells.

[Commander Wallace]

Originally Posted by Threadfin

Both of my Les Pauls are fairly light, with the Studio being really lightweight for a LP. People often talk about how heavy Les Pauls are, and they're heavier usually than Strats sure. But there is a big variance here. And too, balance is a big part of it. Anyone who has gigged with a SG knows what I mean I am sure.

I like the grave case. That's pretty cool. If it supports the guitar properly I'd go with that one. Oh I see you got the black one.

Here are my two Les Pauls. The one on the left is a desertburst Studio Plus. Surprisingly lightweight. My number one. The LP on the right is a Classic in honeyburst. Hot ceramics and noticably heavier than the Studio. Both are top-wrapped. Cases are obviously the stock Gibson USA hardshells.

Wow and wow. Those are great Les Paul Guitars. I don't see a mark on them.

Al Pitrelli, Joel Hoekstra and Chris Caffery of Trans-Siberean Orchestra all play Les Paul's and Gibson Guitars in their shows. Alex Skolnick has also played with Trans-Siberean Orchestra and has played his ESP LTD Signature AS-1 which are essentially Les Paul copies. Others like Slash, and Peter Frampton have shown there is still a lot of life left in the Les Paul's.
Then again, these guys are so good, they could string up a cereal box with rubber bands and make them sound good. A Guitar teacher of mine used Les Paul's, exclusively as well. His Les Paul was called a Silver-back but was greenish in color.

The Les Paul tune o Matic Bridge / Tremolo doesn't look particularly sophisticated as compared to the Fender and Floyd Rose Tremolo and yet plays buttery smooth. As you said, there seems to a large variance in weights with regards to the Les Paul. I have a light Ash bodied Stratocaster that weighs like 5 lbs.

The Tombstone case as you said is cool but it wasn't something I wanted. The Interior is identical to the plain black case I ended up purchasing. Congratulations on owning such exemplary examples of the fabled Les Paul Guitars. By the way, do your guitars have the factory PAF Humbuckers or the slightly hotter versions of them or something else ?

I want them.

[Threadfin]

Thanks man, yeah, I try to take good care of them. And with kids and a dumb dog that isn't always easy!


That Studio is really something else. I've picked up a lot of Gibsons down the years and it is still the best one I've tried. Sometimes you just get lucky. The cases are nice too. Not sure they still issue this one. I haven't been in the market for a long time, but I have this voice inside that tells me to buy a R9. Very expensive, but you never know. Or a Rossington, and Gary just passed as folks may have heard. Sad. A third Les Paul would round out the collection a little better I think. But the woman constantly tells me I don't need so many. She'll never understand, although if she applied her shoes approach to the issue I think she would get it. Women.


The Les Paul is my favorite guitar, just something about them. I grew up playing Strats because I could afford them. Bought my first one at age 11 in 1979. Still have it but it shows the scars. It wasn't until I was over 30 that I could afford a Gibson. And then it was all over for me. Then I knew what I had been missing all those years.

[ET2SN]

Originally Posted by Threadfin

Both of my Les Pauls are fairly light, with the Studio being really lightweight for a LP. People often talk about how heavy Les Pauls are, and they're heavier usually than Strats sure. But there is a big variance here. And too, balance is a big part of it. Anyone who has gigged with a SG knows what I mean I am sure.

I like the grave case. That's pretty cool. If it supports the guitar properly I'd go with that one. Oh I see you got the black one.

Here are my two Les Pauls. The one on the left is a desertburst Studio Plus. Surprisingly lightweight. My number one. The LP on the right is a Classic in honeyburst. Hot ceramics and noticably heavier than the Studio. Both are top-wrapped. Cases are obviously the stock Gibson USA hardshells.

Is it an optical illusion or is the bridge on the honeyburst that displaced ("crooked")?

I've seen older LPs with some odd set ups to account for things like head or neck warpage but never to that extent.

[Threadfin]

An illusion? It's on straight


Maybe the shadow it is casting makes it look crooked? Or how the saddles are done for intonation? But it's squarely where it should be.

[ET2SN]

Maybe you should send it to me for a more detailed inspection?




I promise, this will take a while.

[Threadfin]

I love these guitars too much to part with them, however temporarily. However, if you want a PRS....


Nice to see some guitar talk around here. Fishing, guitars and Formula 1. Can't go wrong with any of them

[Commander Wallace]

Originally Posted by Threadfin

I love these guitars too much to part with them, however temporarily. However, if you want a PRS....


Nice to see some guitar talk around here. Fishing, guitars and Formula 1. Can't go wrong with any of them

A good friend has had and used everything from Stratocasters to Les Paul's. His favorite is his PRS which he uses exclusively in his shows. Stratocasters were and are not cheap Guitars. It used to be that Fender and Gibson were at the " top of the food chain " with regards to guitar quality. Today, that's not the case. There are a plethora of good Guitar manufactures. Ibanez, PRS, ESP, Jackson and Yamaha aside from Fender and Gibson are just a few of them. Guitars are like shoes, use what feels comfortable. If you have any talent, it will come through regardless of what you play. I'm sure you and others have that talent.

The only real difference and an Important one at that , aside from the hardware and pickups and the scale length, is the comfort level in playing the Guitar. My Strats are 21 and 22 fret guitars where my ESP is a 24 fret. There are so many considerations like playing style and the comfort associated with that.

As you said, it's great to discuss Guitars here. It's always great to see what hobbies and interests our members have. Others are into Astronomy, Cars, motorcycles and sailing just to name a few hobbies and interests.

[Threadfin]

Originally Posted by Commander Wallace

Today, that's not the case. There are a plethora of good Guitar manufactures.

Yes, quite true. And I have a few of those too. Guitars are an identifiable weakness for me frankly. Some say intervention is needed, but they spend lots of money on stuff that is nowhere near as cool and awesome as guitars are.

I was only half-joking about the PRS. It's a really nice guitar, but it is missing something if I am honest. What that is I can't quite say. Can guitars have soul? Can they lack it? Still, a beautiful instrument of the highest quality.

But I rarely pick it up. But the same can be said of my Tele. A few of the ones I have just fit. Some, less so. I have my favorites no doubt.

I reckon 3/4 of my play time is either with that Studio or one of the Strats, my favorite is a American Vintage '62 RI in three-tone with a rosewood board. Really nice.

And I know what you mean about scale length. I play Fenders, but it's the Gibson scale that feels most right for me. And for me, neck profile is the most crucial thing. Some I just can't get on with, and maybe the root of my Tele issues.