The Electric Guitar Guide: 2009

Left Handed Gibson EDS-1275 and Left Handed Epiphone G-1275

A Brief Word About Left Handed Gibson Double Neck Electric Guitars and Left Handed Epiphone Double Neck Electric Guitars

I see a lot of people stopping by my site looking for information on either a left handed Gibson EDS 1275 electric guitar or a left handed Epiphone G 1275 electric guitar. In the last paragraph on my article on the two guitars (click on the link in the sub-heading to read it), I lament that there are no left handed versions, at least to my knowledge. As far as I know, if you are a lefty, you'll need to buy a right handed version of either guitar and convert into in a left handed guitar. Click here to read my article on how to play a right handed electric guitar left handed.

UPDATE (4/9/11): Evidently Gibson did have a small production run of a left-handed EDS-1275 several years ago, but practically kept it a secret. They are out there if you can find them.

Gibson SG Electric Guitars: Part 2

Gibson SG Electric Guitars continued:

For part 1, click here: Gibson SG Electric Guitars

Gibson SG Select

Gibson SG Select
The Gibson SG Select starts with all the power and punch that has made the SG one of the most popular guitars of all time, then adds the beauty of flame maple. With a body carefully carved from solid, bookmatched AAA flame maple, and a three-piece maple neck, the SG Select highlights the wood's natural elegance, as well as its incredibly resonant, singing tone.

Not only is the SG Select Gibson's most exquisite SG, it also has incredible projection and detailed clarity. Powerful 490R and 498T humbuckers and gold hardware continue the theme of beauty and brawn, allowing the SG Select to set a new standard for singing sustain and handcrafted allure.

Gibson SG Special Faded

Gibson SG Special Faded
This amazingly affordable, American made Gibson SG is built with the same features as some of the most sought-after Gibson's ever built. The new Worn Cherry and Worn Brown finishes gives this classic model the look of well-worn, well-loved instruments. The Faded's "Modern Classic" 490R/498T Alnico II-magnet humbuckers feature tonal characteristics similar to the '57 Classic, but deliver a slight increase in the upper mids, for a more contemporary humbucking sound. The Faded SG Special includes a Gibson padded gig bag.

Gibson Angus Young Signature

Gibson Angus Young Signature SG
For over 25 years, the scorching riffs of Angus Young have driven the anthems of AC/DC up the charts and around the world.

Gibson's new Angus Young Signature SG is a faithful reproduction of the artist's trademark axe. Designed and manufactured to Angus' exacting specifications, this SG has exactly what it takes to rock "all night long."

This new SG features an engraved lyre vibrola, an Angus Signature treble pickup along with a '57 Classic rhythm pickup, a "Devil" peghead decal and comes with a special Angus Young Signature SG hardshell case.

Epiphone SG Electric Guitars: Part 2

Epiphone SG Electric Guitars continued:

If a Gibson SG is out of your price range, give an Epiphone SG-style electric guitar a look. Visually they all but identical to the Gibson SG models but for a much lower price. Epiphone electric guitars are made in Korea.

A Word about the Epiphone Prophecy SG series: The new Prophecy Collection features four distinct shapes that all share common features. In addition to the guitar style the model either is an EX (EMG active or the new EpiActive pickups), GX (Gibson USA pickups), or FX (original Floyd Rose Tremolo). Common features include highly figured quilt Maple tops, 24-fret SpeedTaper satin necks, jumbo frets, unique "blade" inlays, Epiphone new patent-applied-for Straplocks, hand-stained colors and eye-catching Pearl knobs. Because they're all "Customs", they all have bound bodies and necks.

To go to Part 1 of the Epiphone SG collection, click here: Epiphone SG electric guitars

Epiphone Prophecy SG

Epiphone Prophecy SG Custom EX
The first thing you notice is how good the SG Custom GX looks. As the only manufacturer licensed to build official versions of the SG, Epiphone have stayed faithful to the iconic cutaway mahogany body that you’ll see in the rock ‘n’ roll history books, while keeping things fresh with a Black Cherry finish, gold control knobs, unique blade fret inlays, and reliable Grover tuners.

Epiphone Gothic SG

Epiphone Gothic Series SG
Epiphone announces the introduction of the new Epiphone "Goth" Collection. Based upon Gibson's very successful "Gothic" line, the Epiphone Goth Collection features a Les Paul Studio, G-400, Flying-V, and Explorer all with Satin-Black finish and Black hardware for an absolutely wicked look. Add to that a Roman numeral "XII" inlay on the 12th fret, a Celtic Cross on the headstock, and '57 Classic alnico-v exposed-coil humbuckers, and you've got guitars guaranteed to "wake the dead!" Each model features Epiphone's Limited Lifetime warranty.

Epiphone Prophecy SG

Epiphone Prophecy SG Custom EX
The Epiphone Prophecy SG Custom EX Electric Guitar isn’t for everyone. If you want to blend into the background, you won’t like the way its devilish vibe gets you noticed everywhere you go. If you want to churn out amateur riffs, you’ll probably hate the sparkling distortion of its twin humbuckers and the glorious sustain of its contoured body. If, on the other hand, you want to walk in the footsteps of legends like Eric Clapton and Angus Young, take your performance to the next level and rock your audience in half, this is your guitar. Go on – be a devil.

Epiphone Left Handed G 310 SG

Epiphone Left Handed G 310 SG
Classic SG style for less! Alder body with adjustable bridge and stop bar tailpiece. Bolt-on mahogany neck. Rosewood fretboard with dot inlays. Chrome hardware. Dual open-coil humbuckers for maximum rock transmission!

Gibson SG Electric Guitars

Gibson Electric Guitars: Gibson SG, Part 1

Gibson offers several SG electric guitars, including standard, custom and reissue models. For those looking for a left handed SG there is only model-- the SG Standard.

Gibson EDS 1275 Double Neck

Gibson EDS 1275 Double Neck
Originally introduced as a hollowbody doubleneck model in 1958, the EDS-1275 assumed its more familiar SG-style body shape in 1962. Always one of Gibson's more esoteric models, the 1275 got its moment in the sun when Jimmy Page began using it for live performances of the Led Zeppelin classic "Stairway to Heaven." Thirty years later, Page is still the artist most closely associated with this model.

Gibson Custom Historic SG Standard

Gibson Custom Historic SG Standard Vintage Original Spec
The SG Custom replaced the single cutaway Les Paul Custom in 1961. With three "Patent Applied For" humbuckers, gold hardware, multiple binding, and an ebony fretboard to go along with the new thinline body, the SG Custom maintained the standard of elegance set by the original Les Paul Custom. Now part of Gibson's proprietary new Vintage Original Spec series -- the next step in their journey toward perfection.

Gibson '61 Reissue SG

Gibson '61 Reissue SG
In 1961, the traditional Les Paul Standard electric guitar received a makeover that included a thinner body with sharply pointed horns and eventually a new name -- the SG. Today's reissue features the small pickguard and nickel-plated hardware of the original '61.

Gibson Left Handed SG Standard

Gibson Left Handed SG Standard
It's the SG Standard turned around.

Gibson Standard SG

Gibson Standard SG
Gibson's new, solidbody electric guitar of the 60's, the SG, broke through traditional concepts of solidbody electrics and became an instant classic. The SG body style has remained in production since its first appearance in 1961.

Epiphone SG Electric Guitars

Epiphone SG Electric Guitars: Part 1

If a Gibson SG is out of your price range, give an Epiphone SG-style electric guitar a look. Visually they all but identical to the Gibson SG models but for a much lower price. Epiphone electric guitars are made in Korea.

Epiphone G 1275 Double Neck

Epiphone G 1275 Double Neck
A rock and roll classic, the double neck guitar! Featuring 4 Humbuckers and 18 strings you can be the envy of all your friends without exactly breaking the bank.

Epiphone Faded G 400

Epiphone Faded G 400
Here's the vintage electric guitar you're not afraid to play every day! Epiphone's SG-shaped Faded G400 has the well-worn look and feel of a favorite guitar. It's Worn finish showcases the wood grain (similar to Gibson's popular Faded series). The Faded Series' well-traveled look has another advantage when it comes to maintenance: The satin finish and 'aged' inlays on the fingerboard require less cosmetic care than guitars with a glossy finish and new-looking inlays. The G400 has a one-piece neck with super satin finish, humbucker pickups, chrome hardware and tune-o-matic bridge.

Epiphone G 310

Epiphone G 310
Classic SG style for less! Alder body with adjustable bridge and stop bar tailpiece. Bolt-on mahogany neck. Rosewood fretboard with dot inlays. Chrome hardware. Dual open-coil humbuckers for maximum rock transmission!

Epiphone G 400

SG

Epiphone G 400 SG
The look and feel of a classic SG! Mahogany body and set neck with rosewood fretboard and trapezoid inlays. Dual humbuckers with individual volume and tone controls. Chrome hardware.

Epiphone G 400

Left Handed SG

Epiphone G 400 Left Handed SG
It's the G 400 in reverse. This is the only left handed Epiphone SG electric guitar available.

How to Play a Right Handed Guitar Left Handed

Converting a Right Handed Guitar into a Left Handed Guitar

So you want to make like Jimi Hendrix and play a right handed electric guitar left handed. It’s the route I went, converting a right handed acoustic guitar into a left handed acoustic guitar. It’s a practical solution given how hard it is to find a left handed electric guitar and given the limited number of guitar models available to a lefty.

So what’s involved with converting a right handed guitar into a left handed guitar?

First, understand that it isn’t as easy turning the guitar upside down and restringing a right handed guitar into a left handed guitar. You will have to make some alterations. The nut will have to be replaced to accommodate the new arrangement. If you look at the nut, you will see its grooves are sized to fit a specific string, hence the groove for the low E-string is wider than the groove for the high-E string. If you were to just restring your guitar without changing the nut, the low E-string will sit on top of the groove rather than resting in it. The high-E string will fit into the low E-string’s groove but it won’t touch the sides and will fit too loosely. This will cause the strings to rattle and buzz or possibly slip out of the groove altogether.. This also might throw the intonation off as well as the guitar’s action as the string’s will be too close or too far from the frets.

If you are trying to convert an acoustic, classical, flamenco guitar from right to left, you will almost certainly have a fixed bridge. The bridge’s saddle, like the nut, is grooved to fit strings of different sizes. Again, the low-E string and the high-E string will not fit properly in the other’s groove and will effect the guitar’s action and intonation. The bridge will have to be replaced, as well— or the bridge’ string holes for the thinner strings will have to be bored wider to fit the thicker strings. This also goes for any electric guitar or acoustic-electric guitar that has a fixed bridge.

In the case of electric guitars that don’t required the bridge to be replaced, the intonation most likely will have to be adjusted since the strings have been reversed.

Finally, changing the order of the strings could effect the neck’s tension. If that happens and the neck’s dip isn’t adjusted, it could warp, bow or twist. Correcting the tension requires you to turn the truss rod in very small clockwise or counterclockwise increments, all depending on if the dip is too shallow or too exaggerated. If you don’t know how to properly adjust the neck beware that you could irreparably damage it. It’s best to let a guitar tech mess with the neck. The pros do.

It cost me $90 to have my acoustic guitar converted from a right handed guitar to a left handed one by a guitar tech. That was in the mid-1990s. I’ve had other work done on my guitars and the costs don’t appear to have changed all that much. At any rate, be prepared to pay at least $90. If it costs less to have your electric guitar (or acoustic) converted, so much the better.

Beyond that, you just have to get used to the knobs being in different spots. If your guitar has a pick guard, it will be in the wrong position, meaning when you strum the pick will be scratching your guitar’s finish unless you put on a new pick guard. If you remove the old pick guard, you will have empty screw holes and probably an outline where the old pick guard used to be. Cosmetically it won’t be pretty. If the guitar is a single cutaway such as a Gibson Paul, then you can forget comfortably accessing the higher frets, if at all.

For electric guitars with a whammy bar, you will have to push it down rather than pull it up unless you won’t to replace the bridge and whammy bar altogether. A new tremolo bridge (a bridge with a whammy bar) costs in the neighborhood of $50 plus the cost of replacing it if you don’t to it yourself.

Really, the main advantage of playing a right handed guitar left handed is you have all the guitars in the world to choose from. Personally, I could never mentally get past the fact that my converted acoustic guitar never felt right. Or perhaps it felt too right.

Left Handed Gibson Les Paul Electric Guitars

To buy or learn more about each of these left handed Gibson Les Paul electric guitars . . . visit Zzounds.

Les Pauls for Lefties

Les Paul Standard

Gibson Les Paul Standard
This electric guitar sports a smaller, vintage style headstock and keystone tuner buttons and is available with a fat, rounded '50s style neck or a fast, slim taper '60s style neck. The Les Paul Standard is outfitted with the new BurstBucker Pro pickups with Alnico V magnets producing the most authentic, vintage Les Paul tone of any previous Standard pickups. The sunburst finishes are modern variations of the original cherry sunburst, and the AA-grade figured maple top is more highly flamed than many of the originals. They produce a crisp bite and a seductive airy tone with both pickups on.

Led Paul Traditional Plus

Gibson Les Paul Traditional Plus

The Traditional Plus has all the time honored features with all the fat, sweet snarling sound that you expect from a Les Paul Guitar. The Gibson Traditional Plus is the first model to use the revolutionary Plek system from Gibson. A computer controlled set-up that measures and dresses each fret measuring the height between the fingerboard and each string. This will eliminate string buzz and provide ultimate playability. With Mahogany body and set neck and a pair of Gibson's awesome '57 Classic humbucker pickups this guitar has a classic look and feel that guitar players grew up playing. Of course no plus would be complete without a beautiful figured maple top.

Other traditional features are vintage style Gibson speed knobs, chrome Nashville Tune-O-Matic bridge and stopbar and classic Kluson-style tuners by Tone Pros, which give this guitar the classic look of the 80’s that purists will love.

Les Paul Traditional

Gibson Les Paul Standard Traditional

With all the fat, sweet snarling sound that you expect from a Les Paul tone, this is an electric guitar that has all the traditional features you expect from a Les Paul. Mahogany body and set neck and a pair of Gibson's awesome '57 Classic humbucker pickups. Gibson is pleased to announce that the Traditional is the first model to use the revolutionary Plek system. A computer controlled set-up that measures and dresses each fret measuring the height between the fingerboard and each string. This will eliminate string buzz and provide ultimate playability. Other traditional features are vintage style Gibson speed knobs, chrome Nashville Tune-O-Matic bridge and stopbar and classic Kluson-style tuners by Tone Pros, which give this guitar the classic look of the 80’s that purists will love.

Les Paul Studio

Traditional Les Paul performance with a modern, no-frills attitude. Introduced nearly 25 years ago as a guitar for the studio musician, the Les Paul Studio has become one of the most desired Les Pauls for its tremendous harmonic and sonic capacities, coveted by musicians from all genres of music.

Where to find used electric guitars

Looking for a used electric guitar?

Here are some places you can look. You can find used guitars online or in your local area.

LOCAL:

Local newspaper classifieds
Local music store bulletin board
Local music scene magazines
Local music store
Pawn shop
Yard sale
Flea market

INTERNET:

Ebay
Craigslist
Guitar forums or message boards (such as guitarists.net or guitarworld.com)
Any music-related forum or message board
usedguitarsales.com

Don’t forget to check out my tips for buying a used electric guitar!

Gibson EDS 1275 Double Neck and Epiphone G 1275 Double Neck Guitars

Buy or learn more about the Gibson EDS 1275 or Epiphone G 1275 at Zzounds.com today!

So far I’ve been posting broad articles on the electric guitar, so today I want to focus on two – or four as the case may be-- the Gibson EDS 1275 Double Neck played by one of the most famous guitar music legends of all time, and the Epiphone G 1275 Double Neck.

Gibson EDS 1275

The EDS 1275 is an iconic image for any rock guitarist with visions of Jimmy Page performing “Stairway to Heaven,” “The Rain Song,” and “The Song Remains the Same.” As an aside, it’s a bit amusing (to me at least) that so slight a man would play two of the heaviest electric guitars out there, the other being the Gibson Les Paul.

Anyway . . .

While Page made the EDS 1275 famous, it was actually introduced in 1958. In 1962 the guitar received a new body design based on the Gibson SG electric guitar electric guitar, the design that remains until this day.
The EDS 1275 is like getting two guitars for one: a 6-string and a 12-string, and it has the body weight and price tag to prove it. The guitar sells for around $3300.

The EDS 1275 Double Neck Guitar specs:

The EDS-1275 has two volume knobs, two tone knobs and two three-way pickup selector switches. It also has a three-way neck selector switch that activates one or both necks at the same time. Both necks are equipped with 490R/498T Alnico II humbuckers. The necks are maple and the body is mahogany, like the Gibson SG.

In 2007, Gibson Gibson released a custom Jimmy Page Signature Double Neck that replicates his own 1971 model. The two EDS 1275 models are configured differently. The Signature Double Neck has a tapered neck, four Page pickups and a 5-ply pickguard. The guitar’s wood has also been aged and comes in two colors, Alpine White and Heritage Cherry. Only 25 of the Gibson Limited Edition Jimmy Page Signature Double Neck guitars were made compared to 250 of the Custom EDS 1275 double neck electric guitars. Page personally inspected and signed both guitar headstocks on each of the 25. The guitar comes with a certificate of authenticity, custom guitar case, custom care kit, the 2-DVD Led Zeppelin box set, and private interview with Jimmy Page in which he talks about the Double Neck. One would hope so given Gibson’s MSRP was $33,500. Building a stairway to heaven might be cheaper! Both models are hand-made in Nashville.

Epiphone G-1275

For those who can’t afford the price tags of the Gibson EDS 1275 Double Neck guitar models, Epiphone has put out a much less expensive version, the Epiphone G 1275 Custom SG electric guitar. The guitar is modeled after Page’s double neck and visually is almost if not identical its construction features an alder body and mahogany necks, and does not have a three-way neck selector switch. It has four pickups-- a pair of Alnico Classic humbuckers and a pair of Alinco Classic Plus humbuckers. The difference are reflected its retail price of about $1100.

And as I must always lament, if you’re a left handed guitar player, there is no stairway to heaven. Not even a rope ladder. The Gibson EDS 1275 Double Neck guitar does not have a left handed model, nor do the Page Signature and the Epiphone G-1275 Double Neck guitar models.

Left Handed Electric Guitars

Buy a left handed electric guitar at Zzounds and save!

If you’re a left-handed guitar player like me who cannot play right-handed guitar like many lefties can, finding a left handed guitar is an exercise in frustration. Most brick and mortar music stores carry maybe one or two left-handed electric guitars and perhaps one or two left handed acoustic guitars. If trying a guitar before buying it isn’t a priority, then there’s more success to be had browsing an online music store like Musician’s Friend, Guitar Center, or Zzounds.

Then there’s selection. Right-handed guitar players have a wide variety of guitar models to choose from, while we lefties have but a select few. Adding insult to injury, some guitar manufacturers raise the price on whatever left handed guitars they do offer.

One option lefties have is to restring a right handed guitar and play it left handed. You can learn more by going here: How To Play a Right Handed Guitar Left Handed

So what choices do left handed guitars players have when it comes to electric guitars?

Fender left-handed electric guitars: A non-USA left-handed Fender Stratocaster is the most likely left handed guitar you’ll come across in a brick and mortar music store, or a Squier. As I mentioned, my first guitar was a used left handed Fender Telecaster, which are fairly common as left handed guitars go. As far as the American-made. models, you have a standard American Telecaster and a standard American Strat plus a handful of vintage models. Models like the VG Stratocaster and the HSS Stratocaster are right-handed models only. The nice thing about Fender is there is no price difference between right and left handed guitars.

Epiphone electric guitars: Epiphone is pretty good about putting out left handed models. You can buy a couple of Epiphone Les Paul models, the G-400, the Epiphone Sheraton II and the Epiphone Dot.

Gibson electric guitars: Gibson offers left handed versions of the Les Paul Standard, Les Paul traditional and Les Paul Studio as well as some custom models. You can also get a left-handed Gibson SG Standard and a couple of reissues. Sadly, you will pay extra for left handed models. And some of the cooler guitars like the EDS-1275 Doubleneck are not sold left-handed. If you want to be the left handed Jimmy Page, sorry.

Beyond those three, Ibanez, Hamer, Jackson, Gretsch, Guild, Taylo, Paul Reed Smith, and Schecter offer several left handed electric guitar models, but they aren’t many places that sell them. And again, the model selection is a fraction of what’s available to right-handed guitar players.

What I finally did was go the custom guitar route. I own a left handed Carvin SC-90 electric guitar and a left-handed Carvin AC375 . Carvin’s custom guitars are affordable, high quality and enjoy a fantastic reputation. The downer is it takes up to eight weeks to get your guitar and the first time you play it is when you receive it, so there’s a chance you won’t know until then if you like the guitar or not. However, custom guitars can get quite expensive, and you’d have to be a rock start to get Gibson or Fender to make a custom guitar to spec for you. Not to mention you’d have a rock star’s wealth to buy it. But you can also can a high-quality custom guitar for a good price. Plus, it’s kind of cool knowing that your guitar is literally one of a kind.

So you have options when buying a left-handed electric guitar, but not as many. Online music stores are your best bet in terms of finding thre greatest selection of left handed guitars. The reality is unless moms and dads start producing more lefties, there just aren’t enough of us out there to justify a company producing more left-handed guitars. It just isn’t right.

A Quick Guide to Epiphone Electric Guitars

Buy an Epiphone Electric Guitar at Zzounds.

Anybody who has ever looked in to buying a Gibson Les Paul or SG quickly finds out they aren’t cheap electric guitars. For whose wallets are cash-challenged, the Epiphone versions of these guitar models might be the answer.

When Gibson acquired Epiphone in 1958, Epiphone was marketed as a budget-friendly version of some of Gibson’s existing guitars. The two companies had been rivals for much of the first half of the 20th century until Epiphone fell on financial hard times and had to be rescued. They weren’t only competitors in guitars, but also violins and upright basses, too. Epiphone started out making lutes, violins, and lioutos, but became famous for its banjoes and was at one point known as the Epiphone Banjo Company. Epiphone ventured into making guitars in 1928 and its guitars quickly gained a reputation for being among the world’s best.

Epiphone would not just manufacture Gibson guitars, but reintroduced some its own classic guitars like the Emperor. Epiphone hit the jackpot in the 1960s with its Epiphone Casino, an arch top electric guitar that became favorites of the Beatles, especially John Lennon who can be seen playing an Epiphone Casino during a live performance of “Revolution.”

During the 1970s, Epiphone moved its guitar production to Japan, and in 1983 moved it again, this time to Korea where Epiphone guitars are made today.

Today much of the Epiphone electric guitar line remains based on Gibson guitar models, including several reissue and custom versions.

Epiphone Electric Guitars:

Click any of the links below to buy or learn more about each guitar.

Epiphone Les Paul:

Epiphone SG:

Epiphone offers an arch top series of electric guitars comprised of several models.

Epiphone Casino

Epiphone Casino Archtop

Epiphone Dot: The Epiphone Dot is based on the Gibson ES-series.

Epiphone Arch Tops:

Miscellaenous Epiphone electric guitar models:

Once upon a time I owned a black left-handed Epiphone SG (can’t remember if it was the G-310 or the G-400), but I didn’t find it particularly comfortable to play, particularly the action. I bought it on a whim because it’s not often I come across a left-handed electric guitar in a music store, especially one that isn’t a Fender. As I mentioned earlier, Epiphones are made in Korea, and I have this preconceived notion about the quality of non-American guitars that no doubt influenced my opinion, unfairly at that. The fact is Epiphone makes excellent instruments and any Epiphone electric guitar is superior to the electric guitars you can buy at Sears or Wal-mart.

Shopping for Electric Guitars Online

When buying an electric guitar, it's always a good idea to compare prices to find the best deal out there. Shopping online is an excellent way to do your research. What I like to do when I'm looking to buy an electric guitar or some other piece of musical equipment is to check out various online music sites, find the best price, and go to my local music store to see if they will match the price. Quite often they will.

I've put together a list of music stores online that in most cases either I or a friend have bought from and included a list of the guitar companies whose electric guitars they carry. I'm not endorsing one site over another, and it's up to you do the research and do business with the music store with whom you feel the most comfortable.

The list of online music stores:

Zzounds
Electric guitar manufacturers carried: Gibson, Fender, Epiphone, ESP, Ibanez, Gretsch, Rickenbacker, Dean, Jackson, Washburn, Yamaha, Taylor, Peavey, Schecter

Musician's Friend (www.musiciansfriend.com)
Electric guitar manufacturers carried: Gibson, Fender, Epiphone, ESP, Ibanez, Gretsch, Rickenbacker, Dean, Paul Reed Smith, Fernandes, BC Rich, Godin, Jackson, Kramer, Music Man, Washburn, Yamaha, Taylor, Peavey, Schecter, Hamer

Guitar Center (www.guitarcenter.com)
Electric guitar manufacturers carried: Gibson, Fender, Epiphone, ESP, Ibanez, Gretsch, Dean, Paul Reed Smith, BC Rich, Godin, Jackson, Music Man, Washburn, Yamaha, Taylor, Peavey, Schecter

Music123 (www.music123.com)
Electric guitar manufacturers carried: Gibson, Fender, Epiphone, ESP, Ibanez, Gretsch, Rickenbacker, Dean, Paul Reed Smith, G&L, Fernandes, BC Rich, Godin, Jackson, Kramer, Music Man, Washburn, Yamaha, Taylor, Peavey, Schecter, Hamer

American Musical Supply (www.americanmusical.com)
Electric guitar manufacturers carried: Gibson, Fender, Epiphone, ESP, Ibanez, Gretsch, Rickenbacker, Dean, Paul Reed Smith, Jackson, Washburn, Yamaha, Peavey, Schecter

Sweetwater (www.sweetwater.com)
Electric guitar manufacturers carried: Gibson, Fender, Epiphone, Ibanez, Gretsch, Charvel, Paul Reed Smith, Jackson, Peavey, Taylor

World Music Supply (www.worldmusicsupply.com)
Electric guitar manufacturers carried: Fender, ESP, Dean, BC Rich, Jackson, Washburn, Yamaha, Taylor, Schecter, Hamer

Same Day Music (www.samedaymusic.com)
Electric guitar manufacturers carried: Gibson, Fender, Epiphone, ESP, Ibanez, Gretsch, Rickenbacker, Dean, Jackson, Washburn, Yamaha, Peavey, Schecter

A List of Gibson Les Paul Electric Guitars

A Not Quite Comprehensive List of Gibson Les Paul Guitars

This is just a follow-up to my previous post on Gibson electric guitars listing all the various Gibson Les Paul electric guitar models. They're the muscle guitar of the rock world with sustain that goes on for days. Ask Jimmy Page, Joe Perry, Slash, and the list goes on.

Click on the links to buy or learn more about each Les Paul at Zzounds.com.

Gibso n Les Paul Standard
Gi bso n Left Handed Les Paul Standard
Gibson Les Paul Studio
Gibson Les Paul Traditional Plus
Gibson Les Paul Custom
Gibson Les Paul Standard Plus
Gibson Les Paul Black Beauty
Gibson Les Paul Axcess Standard
Gibson Zakk Wylde Les Paul
Gibson Billie Joe Armstrong Les Paul Jr.
Gibson Les Paul Jr.
Gibson Les Paul Slash Signature
Gibson Mick Jones Signature Les Paul Custom
Gibson Steve Jones Signature Les Paul Custom
Gibson Left Handed Les Paul Traditional Plus
Gibson Joe Perry Boneyard Les Paul
Gibson Historic 1957 Les Paul Custom
Gibson Custom Historic 1960 Special Double Cutaway
Gibson Custom Historic 1959 Les Paul Standard

A Guide to Gibson Electric Guitars

A Little Bit About Gibson Guitars.

Gibson electric guitars are to rock what apples are to apple pie. Fender is the only other electric guitar manufacturer in the world of rock that equals Gibson in name recognition and identity. Gibson started out in the 19th century as an acoustic guitar manufacturer and initially wasn’t interested in Les Paul’s ideas for producing a solid-body electric guitar when he approached them. But Fender’s introduction of its first electric guitar in 1948 may have changed Gibson mind. In 1950 Gibson brought Les Paul on board to develop his ideas for the electric guitar, and in 1952 debuted the Les Paul. Ever worried about its reputation as an acoustic guitar manufacturer, Gibson refused to put its name on the guitar at first. Not long after, the company changed its mind and the rest, as they say, is rock history.

Gibson did not stop at the Les Paul and went on to develop several electric guitar models it still manufacturers today, either as part of its regular line of electric guitars or as reissues or limited editions.

Gibson Electric Guitars:

Gibson Les Paul: The Gibson Les Paul is the electric guitar synonymous with classic rock thanks to Jimmy Page. The first Gibson Les Pauls featured single-coil pickups, but the switch to dual humbuckers in 1960 gave the Les Paul its trademark sound.

Today Gibson offers several versions of its Les Paul electric guitar line: the Les Paul Standard and Les Paul Studio are the most common with the latter being a cheaper model. Gibson also offers several more expensive signature series Les Paul electric guitars such as the Slash Les Paul and the Joe Perry Les Paul. There are also various reissues of older models, limited edition and custom models of this guitar as well.

Gibson SG: The Gibson SG electric guitar came out in 1958 and is most associated with Angus Young . Naturally Gibson offers a signature Angus Young SG. Reissues of older SG models are also available as well as the SG Standard. The Gibson SG has a double-cutaway shape and a thinner body than a Les Paul.

Gibson EDS-1275: Yet another Gibson electric guitar made famous by Jimmy Page. The EDS is the dual-necked 6 and 12-string electric guitar Page used to play "Stairway to Heaven" during concerts. This guitar isn't cheap.

Gibson Flying V: This electric guitar with a V-shaped body came out in 1958 and has become popular among heavy metal guitarists.

Gibson Explorer: Gibson first released this electric guitar in 1959. It featured a futuristic design (for the time) that led to poor sales. Today’s Explorers are reissues of the original and are not very common. Another guitar most often seen in heavy metal.

Gibson Firebird: This electric guitar was released in 1963. After a Fender lawsuit over body design, Gibson changed the guitar’s shape, so any Gibson Firebird guitars manufactured between 1963-1965 are known as “reverse bodies.”

Gibson ES-335: The ES-335 is one of several semi-solid electric guitars in Gibson’s “300” series, which also includes the ES-325, ES-345 and ES-355. The ES-335, however, was the first electric guitar in the series when it came out in 1958. B.B. King’s “Lucille” is an ES-335 and the 335 was also Chuck Berry’s guitar of choice.

Gibson Melody Maker: This Gibson electric guitar has been resurrected these days in a Les Paul body and closely resembles the 1959 model. It’s often viewed as a student guitar given its affordable price. For a time the Melody Maker took on the SG shape with rounded doubled cutaways. The Joan Jett signature Melody Maker electric guitar features this shape.

11 Tips for Buying a Used Electric Guitar

Questions to Ask Yourself and the Seller When Buying a Used Electric Guitar

Buying a used electric guitar is in many ways no different than buying a new one in that there are many fine used guitars for sale, and you want to find the guitar that is right for you in terms of look, sound, price, ease of play, and comfort. The biggest difference, of course, is that with a used electric guitar you are buying a guitar with a past, and if you aren’t careful you could end up buying a lemon.

For experienced guitar players this isn’t so much of a problem, but first time guitar buyers risk making an unwise purchase if they aren’t prepared.

Generally buying an electric guitar from a local music store is far less risky than buying from a stranger, especially if the store has been in business for a while and has a good reputation. If a business has spent years of hard work building up a business and developing a positive reputation, it isn’t too likely they’ve achieved that by selling customers second-hand electric guitars that are in poor condition

With strangers, the trust factor is virtually nil, at least to start. While there are many honest people out there selling used electric guitars in good condition, there are many who aren’t honest. That’s why knowledge is power and protection. If you are buying a used electric guitar for the first time – from a stranger, a music store or wherever, -- prepare yourself ahead of time with the following tips and you’ll decrease the chances of you making a bad purchase.

As you read the tips below, keep in mind that some problems like intonation or slight bowing occur in virtually every guitar at some point. Luckily having an electric guitar serviced isn’t that expensive: where I live in Maine it costs about $20-$30 and includes minor adjustments to the neck, frets, action, and intonation if needed. In fact, any time you buy a used electric guitar, it’s a good idea to have it serviced.

Having said that— the tips.

1. Check the guitar for cracks, especially along the neck and the area between the neck and the head, which is the weakest spot on an electric guitar. Cracks in the finish are cosmetic and aside from their unsightliness, not a big concern. Structural cracks could result in the neck completely breaking. Finish cracks can run in any direction, but structural cracks tend to follow the grain of the wood and may fissure.

Realize that scratches, dents and wear to the finish are normal: the guitar is used after all. If you watched the Super Bowl halftime show, you might have noticed the finish on the back of Bruce Springsteen’s Fender Telecaster is worn to the wood. Unless such flaws bother you aesthetically, they don’t pose a problem.

2. Sight check the guitar’s neck to make sure it isn’t warped or bowed. The quickest and easiest way to do this is to hold the guitar at eye-level, once with the guitar’s body closest to you and again with the neck head closest to you, and look down either side of the neck. It should be straight. If the guitar neck is slightly bowed or warped, adjusting the truss rod should fix the problem and absent any other problems, isn’t a major concern. In fact, it’s a common problem. If the warping or bowing is pronounced and has been that way for some time, the neck may need to be replaced.

3. Check the intonation. This is tricky for beginner guitar players who haven’t yet learned how to play harmonics. Play a harmonic at the 12 fret and then on the same string, play the note at the 12 fret and compare. If one sounds higher or lower than the other, the intonation is off. Do this for every string. For accuracy, it’s best to use a guitar tuner to compare.

4. Check the action. For electric guitar, standard action is 6/64 in. on the sixth string and 4/64 in. on the first string (measured from the bottom of the string to the top of the fret.) You won’t be able to judge this with your eye, so just be aware the strings should not touch the frets, nor should they be so high it hurts your hand to fret the notes.

5. The strings should not rattle, buzz, or mute when played, no matter if the guitar is plugged or unplugged. The frets should not be loose.

6. Plug in to make sure the pick-ups and the pick-up selector switch work as well as the tone and volume knobs. There shouldn’t be any pops or humming, nor should the sound cut in and out.

7. Ask the seller how long he’s owned the guitar and if he bought it new or used.

8. Ask if the guitar is still under warranty, and if so, is that warranty transferable.

9. Ask the seller if any work has been done on the guitar, and if so, why.

10. Before checking out the guitar, do some research on the make and model. Is it still available or has it been discontinued? Read customer reviews. Check e-bay, Craigslist, and any other classified venues to see if anyone else is selling the same make and model and for how much. This will help you determine if the seller’s asking price is too much (don’t be afraid to negotiate), too little (good deal!) or at market value.

11. Last, remember what I said in tip #1. Used electric guitars are going to show varying degrees of wear and tear and may need minor adjustments. If you find an electric guitar that has no major problems and feels and plays like it belongs in your hands, buy it!

A Beginner's Guide to Buying an Electric Guitar

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Tips for Buying an Electric Guitar

For the beginner guitar player, buying an electric guitar or thinking about buying one is both an exciting and overwhelming experience. There are so many electric guitars out there with different body shapes, different electronics, different woods, and of course different prices. How do you choose the right guitar? Playing an electric should be a pleasurable experience, but the wrong choice could make playing flat-out unenjoyable.

The first question—the big question— confronting any beginning guitarist is how much are you willing to spend for an electric guitar? There’s no sense looking at $1000 guitars when you want to spend only $200.

Generally speaking, you get what you pay for when comparing low-end electric guitars with mid or high-end electric guitars. The benefit of low-end electric guitars is they are inexpensive, so if you decide playing guitar is not for you, you won’t be out a bunch of money.

Now there are some less expensive electric guitars out there you can buy brand new that won’t shred your fingers or offend your ears, but often one or two of the factory settings aren't set properly and can make playing these guitars frustrating. They don’t stay in tune. The intonation is off. The string action is too high. Poor quality electronics, and so on. Fortunately issues like intonation or string action can be adjusted by a guitar tech.

I would say $400-$600 is a good starting price range for beginners looking to buy their first electric guitar. It’s an affordable range that allows you to consider guitars that are new but not overly expensive as well as higher-end used guitars.

Once you have your price range, do you buy new or used? That really depends on how important it is to you to own a new electric versus getting perhaps a better quality guitar that is used but still in good condition. They key here is good condition. If you’re buying a used guitar from a reputable music store, it’s almost certain the guitar has been inspected and any necessary repairs have been made.

If you’re thinking about buying a used guitar from a stranger, ask questions about its age, how long the seller has owned the guitar and if it was new or used when he/she bought it, and if it has had any work done to it and for what reason. Check to make sure the body and neck aren’t warped or cracked, and make sure the electronics work: the sound shouldn’t cut in and out. When you play you shouldn’t hear any fret buzz or other rattling noises. Replace the strings if they are old.

My first electric guitar was a used Fender Telecaster. For me, I preferred to have a quality used guitar rather than a cheaper new one. But that’s me.

Whatever you decide, the guitar should feel comfortable to hold and play.

Something else to consider is the kind of music you want to play. If you like folk or classical, the electric guitar is not a good choice. An electric guitar that looks like a battle axe and delivers bone-crunching distortion is the wrong choice for someone who wants to play country. Make sure the guitar you buy is suitable for your musical preferences; otherwise, you won't be happy. There is a wide variety of electric guitars for you to choose from, so take the time to find the one that is right for you.

I hope that you find playing guitar as rewarding as I have, and I hope this article on buying an electric guitar has provided you with some helpful advice.

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Welcome to Electric Guitar Guide

Thank you for visiting the Electric Guitar Guide. The goal of this site is to provide quality information about electric guitars (as if the name didn't clue you in), and I hope it will prove helpful to those of you looking to buy an electric guitar or learn more about them.

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The Electric Guitar Guide