LP Special Doublecuts??? Let's talk about 'em.

BlockInlay

BlockInlay

Octavate.band
@smurfco gave me bad GAS after posting his recent Heritage version of this guitar. I grabbed one of the 2015 LP Special Doublecuts when they were blown out. The pickups and playability were absolutely amazing but even after changing the nut and tuners and monkeying with the bridge/tailpiece, I could never get the guitar to intonate and got so frustrated I just sold it. I wish I had kept it and put more work into getting it set up properly.

That said, I'm on the hunt again for a Gibson specifically or one with Gibson P90's or P100's specifically. Those are THE P90 sound for me. And while I generally prefer a longer scale, the short scale on an LP Special works well for me... So I guess what I'm looking for is a doublecut, Gibson pickups, short scale.

The used market on reverb sucks right now (those 2015's are priced too high now and there aren't many available) and it seems the only other option from Gibson right now are custom shop level guitars and I'm not interested in dropping a few thousand I don't have on such a bare bones guitar. Even used Edwards models seem ridiculously high.

I'm curious to learn more about the upcoming Rick Beato sig guitar coming later this year. I fear it will be priced stupidly high though.

I dabbled with the idea of the 2018 Les Paul Classic Player Plus or those newer goldtop Les Paul Standard P90 models. But both cost 1800-2500 and I kinda dig the stripped down aesthetic of the LP Special DC.
 
I had a goldtop 2018 LP Classic P90 for a bit. Got it on a GC store clearance for $1300. I sold it because for whatever reason, I just didn’t bond with it - maybe the slim-taper neck was a bit too slim for me.
Anyway, yeah - the Gibson P90s are fantastic, and when the used market inevitably settles back down, I may look for another 2 P90 LP, possible an older ‘50s Tribute.
 
I had one of the 2015s too (got it for $500 when they were blowing them out), and had some of the same issues - intonation and those horrible robot tuners, along with the fidgety metal nut. I eventually decided it was too much hassle and was able to sell it for what I paid. I would still like a DC P90, but will be more careful in the future.
 
bsman said:
I had one of the 2015s too (got it for $500 when they were blowing them out), and had some of the same issues - intonation and those horrible robot tuners, along with the fidgety metal nut. I eventually decided it was too much hassle and was able to sell it for what I paid. I would still like a DC P90, but will be more careful in the future.
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Exactly the same case for me.
 
Chad said:
What about an SG Sepcial?
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Definitely a possibility and I had a Gary Clark Jr. SG for a while. Sold it because the neck dive was horrible and the middle pickup was a pain in the balls. My issues with SG's in general are they feel like I could just snap the neck off, the strap button on the heel is really uncomfortable for me, and the neck dive that some of them have... two many issues with a pricey guitar like the Gary Clark. I was lucky to flip it for a couple hundred bucks profit. But... they're one of the coolest looking guitars out there IMHO.

So, LP Special DC is still a big contender but if the right SG Special popped up I could be tempted.
 
BlockInlay said:
Yup, the prices are on par with Gibson for the most part on reverb or higher and shipping is a bitch (most of what’s on reverb isn’t in the US). Also, they use SD p90s.

I think @dmn23 has one?
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oh yeah, I think you're right. and I hear you on shipping. all the ones I want seem to still be in Japan. I scored a goldtop LP 125 a while back that was already in the US, so that helped.
 
BlockInlay said:
Definitely a possibility and I had a Gary Clark Jr. SG for a while. Sold it because the neck dive was horrible and the middle pickup was a pain in the balls. My issues with SG's in general are they feel like I could just snap the neck off, the strap button on the heel is really uncomfortable for me, and the neck dive that some of them have... two many issues with a pricey guitar like the Gary Clark. I was lucky to flip it for a couple hundred bucks profit. But... they're one of the coolest looking guitars out there IMHO.

So, LP Special DC is still a big contender but if the right SG Special popped up I could be tempted.
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I'm with you on that. SGs just don't feel quite right to me.
 
Over the past ~15 years I have owned several LP Specials but none were double cut.
Owned two Edwards from the circa 2005 era, a white blonde & a TV Yellow, a TV Yellow Tokai from about that same era of production, a 1989 Greco in TV Yellow, a 2014 Bacchus 'Mango Wood Series' LP Special. Basically sold all of those as the necks were too anemic for my 'fat' neck taste.
I owned a 2011 Bacchus BLP-SP w/Bigsby with a very nice chunky neck but the weight was a factor for me. Specials need to be light weight, IMO.
I did own a Bacchus Les Paul Jr. Double Cut with a 1 piece body but it also had an anemic neck = SOLD.

My current LP Special is a Sonix 'store order' LPS-56, made for Sonix by Deviser (Bacchus, Momose, Headway, Seventy Seven, etc.).
This is my 'keeper' LP Special because it has the right combination of weight @ 7 lb. - 4 oz., and the nearly perfect neck thickness of .880 @ fret 1 & .945 @ fret 11.
As a bonus it also has the Custom Craft Guitar logo on the head stock face, just like the Momose MLS examples. It also has the same 4 digit serial number scheme as the old school Momose guitars. So, the Sonix LP Special is basically a Momose with the 'Sonix' store brand marquee at the top of the head stock face. The factory warranty card dates to November 1, 2010. I would rate this example on par with a Gibson Historic Les Paul Special except with the 'hand made' pedigree of the Asuka factory, and a price point much less than a Gibson Historic.

I recently purchased what is reported to be another 'shop order' produced by Deviser; a Les Paul Special in white blonde, with a Bigsby.
It has no brand, or shop name, and no serial number; a true custom order.
It is still in Japan & is awaiting shipment, at my request.
Hopefully it has the neck thickness of my Sonix Special.
 

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I've had mine for about a year and I ordered it used from Ishibashi. It's a fantastic guitar and the whole process was painless. Chunky neck, no fit or finish issues, and the Duncans are fine but I'll probably upgrade eventually. Paying twice the price for something with Gibson on the headstock is bananas. What else would you like to know?

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MIJ fan said:
Over the past ~15 years I have owned several LP Specials but none were double cut.
Owned two Edwards from the circa 2005 era, a white blonde & a TV Yellow, a TV Yellow Tokai from about that same era of production, a 1989 Greco in TV Yellow, a 2014 Bacchus 'Mango Wood Series' LP Special. Basically sold all of those as the necks were too anemic for my 'fat' neck taste.
I owned a 2011 Bacchus BLP-SP w/Bigsby with a very nice chunky neck but the weight was a factor for me. Specials need to be light weight, IMO.
I did own a Bacchus Les Paul Jr. Double Cut with a 1 piece body but it also had an anemic neck = SOLD.

My current LP Special is a Sonix 'store order' LPS-56, made for Sonix by Deviser (Bacchus, Momose, Headway, Seventy Seven, etc.).
This is my 'keeper' LP Special because it has the right combination of weight @ 7 lb. - 4 oz., and the nearly perfect neck thickness of .880 @ fret 1 & .945 @ fret 11.
As a bonus it also has the Custom Craft Guitar logo on the head stock face, just like the Momose MLS examples. It also has the same 4 digit serial number scheme as the old school Momose guitars. So, the Sonix LP Special is basically a Momose with the 'Sonix' store brand marquee at the top of the head stock face. The factory warranty card dates to November 1, 2010. I would rate this example on par with a Gibson Historic Les Paul Special except with the 'hand made' pedigree of the Asuka factory, and a price point much less than a Gibson Historic.

I recently purchased what is reported to be another 'shop order' produced by Deviser; a Les Paul Special in white blonde, with a Bigsby.
It has no brand, or shop name, and no serial number; a true custom order.
It is still in Japan & is awaiting shipment, at my request.
Hopefully it has the neck thickness of my Sonix Special.
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Where does one find these guitars? I'm not seeing much on google other than forum posts about them, any tips on sites to check out?
 
dmn23 said:
I've had mine for about a year and I ordered it used from Ishibashi. It's a fantastic guitar and the whole process was painless. Chunky neck, no fit or finish issues, and the Duncans are fine but I'll probably upgrade eventually. Paying twice the price for something with Gibson on the headstock is bananas. What else would you like to know?

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I've owned Edwards guitars in the past and I think they're great. Not seeing any of these models come up for sale at the moment or I'd grab one, if reasonably priced.
 
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