No. 8 Wire

[quote name='MoonBassAlpha' timestamp='1493371488' post='3287799'] Are you sure that the truss rod doesn't just need straightening a bit? (Sorry if you've already done all that stuff!) [/quote] Yep. The wear is pretty even over frets 1 to 13. So basically frets 14-22 are just higher than 1-13. So it needs plenty of relief to overcome that. It's not bad at all really, and still plays rather nicely, just prefer a little lower, so that action is more even down the length of the board. No biggy.

[quote name='bazztard' timestamp='1493210284' post='3286516'] it's karma the manufacturer closes down his factory in the US/UK/Germany/Australia and gets them made in China where there are no labour laws, workers are getting peanuts. This Chinese factory has no regard for intellectual property and makes forgeries of the exact same product under a 'no name'. kinda serves the bastards right [/quote] I wonder how much IP there actually is in many of these products. The Mooer Tender Octaver for example isn't sold in the UK (you can buy it direct from China), apparently because it contains IP from the POG. So the mechanism does exist to block IP infringing sales at least in the UK/EU. Therefore I think we have to assume that if we see a clone openly for sale in the UK or EU (like darkglkass, tech 21, ehx clones etc) then we can assume that either the product contains no IP from the original or probably more likely, the original model had no new IP in it anyway. Edit: PS?: why does noone apply this concept to Fender / Gibson / Musicman clones?

[quote name='bazztard' timestamp='1492923801' post='3284094'] amazing how much you save when you don't have to research and develop it if everyone bought these copies, Tech21 would go bust, then what will they copy? Luckily they sell enough to keep going hehe not having a go at anyone buying a bargain, I certainly have with Joyo pedal boards and power supplies, just making a point. I managed to snag a fly rig at nearly half price, used from a distributor and it really is nice, hope this one is as good for you. [/quote] I'm sceptical about these R&D costs. Where is the actual innovation here? Most if not all of these pedals are themselves derivative, how much R&D is involved in tweaking a few internal values? In this case, the flyrig is just bolting together existing models into one box, where is the R&D cost in that? If there was true innovation there would be intellectual property involved and hence injunctions against selling in the EU and US. The real cost that needs recouping by the big brands is the cost of marketing a derivative product to us suckers*. * I include myself since I have high price products from the big names too!

[quote name='gary mac' timestamp='1492850579' post='3283609'] Good find, that looks lovely [/quote] Cheers! On closer inspection and a bit of tweaking, it needs a fret dress really. It plays fine with a fairly high action, but to get it a tad lower frets 14-22 need to be dressed down a bit. Not urgent though, it'll wait until I'm at a mates place later in the year who keeps a tame luthier in the place he manages.

[quote name='Kiwi' timestamp='1492818195' post='3283514'] Good luck with the move to NZ. Be mindful of the insurance cost for shipping expensive gear - mine was more than the cost of shipping...! [/quote] Thanks mate. What counts as expensive? All together mine adds up, but only my Stingray has a significant replacement cost. I was thinking of taking that on the plane, more for sentimental reasons than value.

This website seems to date it to 1989, first of the set necks but last of the 'open book' headstock. http://epiphonewiki.com/index.php/Les_Paul_Standard Seems my model is the 1989 Cherry Sunburst, however darkened by the optional 30 years of nicotine staining: http://epiphonewiki.com/index.php/File:Lp-standard1989.jpg Obviously the bigsby has been added sometime later. I'll need to find some extra long strings though because there isn't enough length on the fitted G and D to lock the string in the tuner, so the G especially is just slipping constantly.

[quote name='SH73' timestamp='1492811958' post='3283487'] Very nice. I've picked up a Korean Epiphone gold top. Plays and feels superb. [/quote] Thanks mate. It's got a really nice piece of rosewood on the fretboard too, very dark but still with some nice grain highlights. Set neck too rather than bolt on.

New Guitar Day~! So armed with my newfound knowledge of all thing faux les paul, an Epiphone came up today locally that I went to have a look at and bought. It's a Korean Epiphone of reportably 1989 vintage. Nothing on it to indicate either of those things, its all in the shape of teh headstock apparently. Although I'm not worried as it looks beautiful and plays superb, just how I imagined an LP to play and sound. Needs some trussrod tweaking and action adjusting, but plays just fine as it is. Its got about 30 years or tobacco stains on the plastic parts so the dating looks right to me, gives it bags of mojo and it smells a bit like Winston Churchills armchair. Oh and it has a bigsby, which when used just seems to put it out of tune but it looks good! Anyway, pictures tell a thousand words, from teh sellers FB listing, hope he don't mind. [attachment=243612:17992056_1493865213978875_7043310394742002468_n.jpg][attachment=243613:18033023_1493865293978867_5183037506901681390_n.jpg][attachment=243614:18033321_1493865377312192_7759013745367476570_n.jpg]

[quote name='bassbora' timestamp='1492517202' post='3280845'] What about Hohner? They make decent ones or at least did make. [/quote] Thanks for that tip. They lok like a really good bet, however I've had some luck locally.....

All great recommends guys. I've certainly learnt a lot about Les Paul copies. I can't say I've made up my mind, but I've got a better idea what to bother looking at if it comes up locally. I quite like the look of the PRS SE but on the other hand its [i]not really[/i] a Les Paul. From the reviews I've seen it's a much cleaner, crisper modern sounding guitar. MIght not be a bad thing and if one comes up below £200 I may look at it. Being a bit slimmer and lighter than a Les Paul it might be easier for my son to play too. So I'm really looking for Vintage or Epi's that come up locally - I don't think I'll buy one without playing it though, I don't know enough about what I want to buy blind (like I would with a bass). However the Harley Benton's look good too with the advantage of being to try and send it back if it doesn't suit. I have bought and sent back a HB Bass from Thomann before so I have confidence in that. Plus 450 or 550 looks like a lot of guitar for the money. albeit with not major resale value (but I could be wrong). First though I need to get my house in order and get rid of some guitars I don't really use or don't like that much to make room. Cheers for all your help! Dan

[quote name='MoonBassAlpha' timestamp='1492285367' post='3279258'] I don't agree Janek's vids are unwatchable, even in the mundane ones there's still often a lot of useful and inspirational content, even if it isn't just bass related, work ethic, nutrition and exercise comes across too. [/quote] Well yes, I was a bit absolute there. I guess it depends what you are looking for from the vids. So more correctly I just can't watch enough of them to get something useful out of it for me. YMMV etc.

Some interesting guitars cropping up today. Some PRS singlecut SE's crop up broadly on budget: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PRS-SE-Singlecut-6-String-Sunburst-Electric-Guitar-/262934212111?hash=item3d3819ae0f:g:dI0AAOSwpP9Y7ku~ These Harley Benton's must be too good to be true - surely? https://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_sc_550_paradise_amber_flame.htm?ref=search_rslt_paradise+flame_363193_3 https://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_sc_450plus_ld_vintage_series.htm?ref=search_rslt_harley+benton+sc_362631_17 https://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_sc_custom_lemon_flame.htm?ref=search_rslt_harley+benton+sc_365573_16

[quote name='arthurhenry' timestamp='1492251306' post='3278952'] There is some Partridge-esque product placement in this one at 0.46 and 3.27. Cringeworthy. What it means to be a solo artist in 2017 - Vlog #134 Apr 12th 2017 - YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9lz60db-cU&t=509s [/quote] I think it's unfair to Scott Devine to list his videos with Janek. Janek's videos are just unwatchable.

[quote name='JohnR' timestamp='1492247606' post='3278920'] I am in my Saturday morning hungover intolerant phase. I have been a subscriber to SBL for a few years and have got great value from my subscription. I think Scott is a great player and educator and would recommend him to anyone wanting to learn bass. He did a great set of lessons on how to read charts which I have watched repeatedly. I think I just need to unsubscribe from his YouTube channel and stay within the refined walls of SBL where his persona is very different. [/quote] Me too, see my post above.

[quote name='JohnR' timestamp='1492246366' post='3278903'] I am attempting to watch a Scott video about bass setup today but his use of dollars when speaking made me hit the off button. [/quote] Bit harsh!

hmmmm... I may have a problem here. The Wahine has just given me a dissapproving look. She's run her eye over my 4 basses, 1 double bass, 2 acoustics and 1 electric and somehow come to the conclusion that I have too many 'guitars' already. The fact that 1 bass and two of the actual 'guitars' are worth almost nothing (one was salvaged from a skip) cuts no ice. I'm also meant to be downsizing due to an impending move to NZ, to the uninitiated it does look like I am currently doing the opposite. I think I might only get away with this if I find an absolute bargain and give away my yamaha ERG121 (rubbish skip special) simultaneously, so the numbers remain the same..... Also I just picked up a Darkglass VMT locally for a good price (ok a good price for a darkglass but a load of money for a small box to the casual observer). So that will reduce my bargaining power still further. On the plus side, I quite like the look of these - Ibanez ART 120. Seem to have all the right specs, although not sure an active circuit that takes 2 AA batteries can be much use. They seem to get good reviews and there are black magic internet rumours that some were made in Korea rather than China as the sticker says (can't find any hard evidence for that). Still, can't go too far wrong with an Ibanez. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ibanez-ART120-Samick-2009-Trans-cherry-red-/182526595462?hash=item2a7f6ed186:g:VyUAAOSw4CFY7T4s Quite like the white one but they seem to be rarer: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ibanez-art120-Guitar-Cream-Very-Good-Condition-/132158887048?hash=item1ec5489488:g:ya0AAOSwsW9YzsoJ

There's possibly an old Columbus MIJ Les Paul close to me for 150 quid. Doesn't look in bad shape. Are these worth looking at? Edit: Actually these look pretty nasty - https://justinguitarcommunity.com/index.php?topic=17796.0

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1492194603' post='3278656'] I might well be a veneer, but the maple cap on a "proper" Les Paul isn't very thick. Looking at the Vintage website the woods seem to vary from model to model. Some of them have a maple cap with an additional layer of flame veneer, some of them just have the veneer. Korean Tokais are good guitars, the MIJ ones will be out of your price range. [/quote] Thanks Rhys, I didn't know there were Korean Tokai's as well, will keep a look out.

[quote name='gary mac' timestamp='1492195132' post='3278668'] Just check the fret ends and also look out for high frets. Meant to say earlier, the electrics are where they make some obvious cost cutting, the selector switch being particularly prone to failure. Not a difficult job to replace but none the less, something to be aware of. Is the guitar shop in Ventnor still in business? [/quote] Gary, thanks for the advice. The Guitar shop in Ventnor moved to Shanklin - I have bought the odd thing off them, strings, stands, that kind of thing. I do take a look in there every now and then, when they were in Ventnor they always had some interesting stuff, but now just a load of Chinese strats. Will stop in though just in case.

[quote name='gary mac' timestamp='1492187734' post='3278598'] I've worked on a few Epiphone's and haven't yet encountered a bad one. A bit of fret levelling seems to be required, other than that a decent set up and they are very playable. [/quote] Gary, thanks, that's very reassuring. I think an Epiphone is likely as they come up often close to me, just haven't sussed all the different spec levels yet.

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1492168999' post='3278425'] I'd have a look for a used Tokai or maybe a Vintage. In my experience the quality of Epiphones is way too variable. Just seen your link to that Vintage on Ebay - I'd take that over an Epiphone any day of thevweek. [/quote] Thanks Rhys, I like the look (and price) of the Vintage. Is the maple top just a veneer though? By Tokai, do you mean the newer Chinese ones? Not so fussed on those. Always wanted an Ibanez or MIJ Tokai but the prices are obscene on those right now.

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1492122254' post='3278194'] Look out for an Epiphone - there are so many different models so do your research, as some apparently have tuning pegs that are less than decent from what I`ve read. Then evilbay will be your friend. I picked up an Epi SG for my God-daughter, cost me about £50 I think and it`s a really decent guitar. Again I read up on them at the time so had an idea of which to look out for or avoid. [/quote] Thanks Lozz, i see the really cheap epis get good reviews but don't have carved tops. I have trouble thinking of them as Les Paul's without the shake in the top. Certainly keeping them in my sights though. Hoping one comes up locally. There is an Epiphone Zac Wylde local to me but the bulleye finish is a bit niche for me.

I'm not much of a guitar player, but I've got a slight hankering for a budget Les Paul, just for mucking about on at home and eventually for my son to learn on. I don't want to spend more than £200, preferably less. What's my chances of getting a decent Les Paul - any recommendations? So far I've got my eye on these two: An MIJ Harmony Les Paul, which I can't get a lot of info on: https://soundgas.com/products/harmony-les-paul-replica Or the more widely available Vintage Paradise: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-V100-Paradise-Electric-Guitar-Les-Paul-Copy-Slash-/272626198812?hash=item3f79c9a91c:g:8qEAAOSwnF9Y69Z6 Any left field candidates? I have a weird aversion to Rosewood boards, but I'm probably not going to get ebony on my budget. But any strange and interesting alternatives using ebanol or even maple?

I've reached peak Scott! No offense to him, he's got to do what he had got to do. He has to compete to get sign ups and judging by the growth of SBL he's very successful. I'm a member on SBL, i love it and would recommend it. It's just that Scott being ubiquitous on every site i visit is putting me off listening to the paid videos on SBL. I'm kind of getting sick of the sound of his voice. It's my own fault for being too keen (and signing up for competitions) and subscribing to email, you tube feeds, Facebook, podcasts, you name it. I need to spend some time cleaning up my online subscriptions so the only place i find Scott is on SBL!