Ibanez Les Paul Copy

Original Ibanez Les Paul Custom copy, purchased new 1974 (in Adelaide, Australia, so perhaps manufactured earlier). Solid body, bolt-on neck (so what?) traditional Gibson-style sunburst finish, twin humbuckers, three way pickup switch, 2Xtone and vol, non-locking tuning heads, fixed bridge (all metal finished in fake gold). You know the guitar, the ORIGINAL and probably a law-suit model to boot. Great thin neck and no-attention frets, came with hard case and complimentary strap.

Sound was a bit disappointing in its original configuration. The body is MUCH lighter than the genuine Les Paul, the strings super low to the frets, high frequency poor and where's the sustain? On the other hand the bottom end was good, solid, chunky. Originally for a progressive blues band, I found the best sounds were from the neck pickup, overdriven. The "tone" controls did not move from full treble for 23 years. With a good chain of stomp boxes it can be any guitar you want. I matched it to the original Ibanex Renometer almost from the start and used treble boost on everything. The mid pickup position was great for clean rhythm, chicken pickin' or light over-drive. The bridge pickup kicked ass when pushed hard through the front end of a Mrashall 100W into 4X12 quad box, yet was clean and friendly through a Roloand Jazz Chorus 120. Switching the bridge pickup to a de Martzio (sorry about the spelling) twin pole wired out of phase got me the sound of another million top-name guitars.

From the factory the action, fit and finish were a 9.9. The tuning heads were replaced early with gold Schallers, pushing this up to a 10. In gigs lasting up to six hours, the only retunes were from destructive string bends (G-string most susceptible) or turning wrong tuning knob at gig start (top E slashed my eye when I tried to tune it up to a B!)All metal work now shows loving wear (except the tuning heads). Only electrical faults are pickup selector (from 3 pos to 5 these days with the two extras being mutes!) and the plug hole (which is a cheap replacement so who cares?) I've had the baby reset by Melbourne, Australia's, greatest resetter, Merv Carghill, so action lightning fast, tuning perfect, harmonics perfect, frets as smooth as a

Are you kidding? From new I've had this baby, 1974-2001. In its first six years it was used every day, every night, chucked into the back of vans, dropped on stage when guitar straps broke, almost used to quell a riot at a metal works end of year party (wisely I used a boom arm instead). This is the original indestructible guitar.

Never ever needed to talk to Ibanez. All my guitars are Ibanez and the same applies. The warranty was probably one year but who knows? Never needed to claim. Never ever went back to any shop for repairs, only for customizing.

I've had this guitar from new and only two other people have ever played it, my current music partner Tony Naylor, and a previous music partner who had it set up for me, Mark Chew. I'd never sell it. I own an Ibanez Concord Hummingbird 6 string accoustic with pickup, also from new, also 1974, and an Ibanez SG copy short action bass, also from new, also 1974 (cherry red). I bought the Les Paul copy because I wanted a Gibson Les Paul and couldn't afford it. Having now played one of roughly the same vintage (and colour) I prefer the Ibanez. Says something doesn't it? Or maybe I know bugger all about guitars.

This middle 70's model has the same features as the original but the neck is screwed to the body. Doesn't matter...

Sounds better than the original Gibson.

It's now almost 30 years old and it works.

It's great!

No experiense. Never needed help with it. It's always onstage (about 200 times, no problem)

14 Years playing it, VERY cool!

Having had this as my main axe for nearly 30 years, it is difficult to not be highly attached to it. I bought it new in 1974. Besides having a wonderful tone it is left-handed, which does make it somewhat rare. The Super 70's are still in place and other than a plug jack that failed after 20 years it's still all original. The bridge and most of the gold hardware are showing the typical wear. At $275 new, it seemed like a good way to get into a Les Pauil without having to shell out around $700 for a new one back then.

I have played every conceivable type of music on this beast. The heavy body makes it a natural for rock and you can get some nice blues and jazz tones from the neck pickup. I added aphase switch back in 1977 and now wished I hadn't. Not much use and I can get the same single coil tones from my amp and effects if I need it. I have played it through Fenders, old GIbson amps, Peavey, and now use a Crate and it still produces some of the sweetest tunes you can imagine. The tone pots were about useless from day one but I've never replaced them. The tuning gears began to wear out after about ten years, but a little heavy gear oil rammed through the slot made a big difference.

The neck felt chunky at first and the set up was really not for me. Too high and my hands got tired easily. A guitar tech in Wichita, Kansas (thanks Duncan) got me straightened out amd set the guitar up with a pretty low action and a nice set of Ernie Balls that I could have fun with. I have had to do a little fret dressing about every three years or so, but the frets are still originals. Big and wide. This guitar was made to be acopy of the LP and the folks in Japan didn't miss much. No wonder they were sued.

You tell me. Nearly thirty years of playing and not a dent, flaw, or major replacement part. I have a relatively new Strat that has been in and out of the shop and will probably sit on the sidelines for awhile. I've recorded, gigged, and even had this guitar used in a commercial photograph. It's a beauty and wouldn't trade it for a new anything.

Never had to deal with Ibanez. The guitar was, of course, the basis for a lawsuit and so people didn't drag them thorugh the shops much for fear of having their prize instrument recalled. Only minor tune-ups and the phase switch have been reasons to have it hit the shop.

I have 13 left-handed guitars in my arsenal right now. Gibson, Epiphone, Taylor, Yamaha, Washburn, Fender, and Ibanez. I only wished I would have had the cash to buy an LP Copy in White and their P-Bass copy which I understand is a jewel as well. At the timne they were sold as Southpaw Specials. Left-handed stuff was fairly tough to come by and the price was extremely attractive. Maybe the one thing I most like about the instrument is the fact it is so close to the real LP that a lot of people can't tell at a distance. Over the years I've put up with its scratchy selector switch that I can't seem to fix.
Ibanez has yet to produce a comparable instrument in quality.

I got my Les Paul copy in a junk shop for 90 Irish Punts around twelve years ago. It was and still is my first electric guitar. I love it. I've played lots of other peoples guitars and the thing i like best about it is it's very thin neck. It weighs a ton though. It's black with gold features although the gold veneer has worn off. Some idiot scratched their initials(WH.....if you're reading this WH: What the fuck did you do that for?) onto the head of it before me and i've put a few chips in the paintwork myself but still it looks ok. I have a problem with my strings being live and this leads to a lot of buzzing when my hand is'nt on them. The tuners had been replaced when i got it but they're nice Morris ones so that's ok.I had to replace the three way switch as the original one was dead.It's got two humbuckers one of which had been turned around the wrong way. I have'nt a clue what wood it's made from but i'm guessing Mahogany from the sheer weight of the thing. It's black with white lines around the edge. It originally had a scratch plate on it. All that remains of this are the screw holes though.

I started playing metal on it when i got it cos that's what i was into then. It suited this aim perfectly but i've always preferred the really warm sound from the neck pick-up. The bridge one is a bit too thinny for my ears. I like jazz nowadays but it's 70's fusion i ike most so i have it going through a Cry-Baby to my small piece of shit Samick amplifier. I find that it sounds shit when you play notes in the twelfth fret. The action is really nice though. It's great for fast playing.

As i said the action is great. The pick-ups are'nt the may west though. They're the originals and so very old but i still get away with it. There's no serial no. so i don't know when it was made but i'm guessing 70's because of the weird looking font that Ibanez is written in on the head. It has a bolt on neck too.The finish still looks good although there's a fair few little chips in it. The paintwork is really thick and she still shines up really well when i polish it.

I have'nt really played live with t and i would'nt in it's present state. I suppose i should really spend some money on it one of these days......

Have'nt dealt with Ibanez.

I've been playing thirteen years and this was my first electric. I also own a Martin and Patrick(or is it patrick and Simon? i can never remember) cut away acoustic and a battered old Spanish guitar.

it's a gloss black model gold plated hard ware. This guitar looks exactly like a gibson block inlays, two humbuckers,three way swiching,and 2volumeand 2 tone knobs. I was plesently suprised that
the tone knobs worked so well. This guitar was probably built in the seventies some time.

I was in the market for either an upper level epiphone LP or a lower
to middle range gibson when I ran across this guitar.I have owned two
other Ibanezes in the past and were pleased with them so I decided to
try this one out.I probably had already decided with in two minutes that I wanted this guitar after tweenty minutes of trying everything I
could think of on both clean and distorted channels I was hooked. I don't know if all the copy models are like this but I found the sound
better than the epiphones I'd played and nearly as good as the gibsons
I'd tried.(sacrilege)

the action is excellent, no major flaws just the normal blemmishes expected on a tweenty plus year old guitar.This guitar stays in tune excellantly as well.

are you kidding, It's already proven that. Have a fleeling someone will be playing it another tweenty years down the road. It's a heavy guitar,which makes me feel comfortable with the constuction.

I've played off and on for seven or eight years,the last2 seriously.
I play through a Peavey blazer currently, not the best amp but still
can get pleasing tones which I attribute as much to the axe as anything. If you ever run across one of these guitars and are in the market try it out definately, If you run across one and are not looking to buy, don't touch,you may accadentally wind up spending a few hundered dollars on an impulse buy.

It is a Deluxe 59'er model made in Japan (1976?) It is gloss black with chrome, and looks just like the new Studio LP and has a bolt-on neck, open humbuckers, badass tailpiece, and schaller tuners. I bought used in 1977. It has a great hardshell case with continuous metal edgebanding.

Suits my style fine with a 1981 Marshall Lead Series JCM 800 combo w/2x12 celestions and Marshall Power Brake. I dislike the bolt-on neck but I couldn't get anything better for the price. It will produce a very clean crisp sound and it with produce big humbucking sound.

Action not as good as my 60 Classic Gibson LP, but then it me cost 10 times less. The finish is actually better than some of the new Gibson LPs at the music store.

This guitar will take a beating. The finish is very thick. It has lasted for 24 years, I think it will last. Buy one of these before you get an Epiphone, they are better and cost less.

I don't speak Japanese, but I hear they are friendly. No repairs needed. Out of warranty.

I've played for over 30 years. I have an SG, a 1960 LP reissue, and a standard US Strat. If it were stolen or lost, I would be pissed because I doubt if you could find another one in this shape. It's sentimental by now, but for the money these old copies are better than some of the new guitars.

Built in 1976. Got it in 1997, traded it in Amsterdam with some guy for a CDROM with warez. Hard to believe but it's true....
Very good copy of a Les Paul, set neck (seems to be quite rare if I read the other reviews), beautiful flamed and bookmatched maple top (although not solid), cherry sunburst finish. Mahogany body and neck, rosewood fingerboard, block inlay, bindings all over except for the back of the body that was modified for more comfort. Gotoh tuners, all hardware chrome plated, near mint condition. Zebra pickups (Super70), standard LP controls. Plays very good although (of course) not as good as my '76 Gibson LP Custom (fretless wonder). Weight is also less than the original. Oh, and the small plate on the headstock says Custom.

Sounds good, most Ibanez Super pickups are good. I wonder how this one will sound with the Super58 pickups that my Artist has (that one thinks it's a Gibson). Rich full sound but there seems to be an extra ring to the sound and I'm still wondering if I like it or not. My Gibson and Artist sound more solid....

Action is very good, keep it low.... Guitar does not contain any flaws.

No need for a backup while playing live, very well built guitar. Very thick finish, very solid hardware.

Never needed to

Please see my entry at El-Degas, 70's Crystal Clear Stratocaster

this is a pre law suit, 74 Ibanez Lp custom made in japan.It was a white one but is now yellow due to age. it has a very fast action. not sure what type of wood it is but it's not ply

this suits my style fine, i play anything from blues to metal (not metallica) I use a marshall MG100 and it sounds exelent, I have also played it through a JCM800(Marshall and Ibanez were made for each other).

I wasnt even born when this came out of the factory. I brought it from my guitar teacher and it was already set up.

hell yes it went for a fly down a set of stairs once it just knocked it out of tune. id dont think the finish will were off it is at least 2mm thick
i would and i have, i give this thing a hiding and it is looks good
unlike epiphones that i know of that took a slight knock and took a big chip out of it

I'v been play about 5 1/2 years and i only got it in the last year and since i have my playing has improved heaps unlike all the rich kids that have been play 6 months and own Marshall stacks and Esp's i earnt this guitar and the head and pedal i own. Sorry but i was reading reveiws here before with kids that have been playing like half a year and have all expencive gear and they send itback because after an hour because they think they can't get a good sound out of it.

I just purchased a 1976 Les Paul Custom lawsuit model with the standard stock features and pickups. This guitar is a bit smaller and a lot lighter than the Gibson LP. As someone else noted below, the neck is not as wide or as fat as the Gibson. Since I do not have unusually large hands this is of no consequence to me. I certainly like the thin neck. I've been playing for over 40 years, mostly jazz. I wanted to round out my arsenal with a solid body that would give me more dynamics when playing fusion and/or blues. This guitar does the trick. I've owned 1960's and 1970's Gibson LPs and while the Ibanez is not of the same workmanship and quailty of parts, it sure plays, sounds and feels every bit as good as the Gibson original - even with its bolt of neck. Why would anybody pay in the thousands of dollars for a '60s or 70s Gibson when they can duplicate the playability and sound for a fraction of the price with this guitar is a mystery to me?

As stated, I'm primarily a jazz player. My other boxes are mid-70s Gibson Howard Roberts Custom, an early 90s Gibson ES165 (Herb Ellis model) and a 1960 big box Epihone acoustic (Texan model ?) that I bought new way back when. I wanted to add some diversity to my playing sound with something that could handle fusion, blues and maybe even some R&R. This guitar does just that. The original PUs are a bit anemic but with a boost of bass and mid-range and a tweak down on the treble on my Ampeg amp I get a kick-ass, ballsy sound. Add some gain and you think you are Santana. There is more than enough sustain on this baby. BTW I use 12s as I like a fuller sound. To me all of the slinky-dinky guage strings (10s or less)gives you just that - a dinky sound.

You get what you pay for. However, you'll be peasantly surpised at the overall fit and finish of this guitar. They aren't called "Lawsuit" models for nothing. On these factors it rates a 7 give or take.

NOW THE NECK AND ACTION - after tweaking the bow on the neck and adjusting the bridge height this thing turned into to a fretless wonder. Really, it was too fast - so a raised the action a bit. My taste, others may want lightening quick action. Actually, I believe I get a better sound this way as well. The neck and action rate a 9.

The thing survive 25+ years. What more can I say?

N/A

As you might have guessed, I'm a Gibson guy (as opposed to Fender)all the way. If lost or stolen I'd probably go after another of its kind, unless the price of a vintage Gibson came down to half of what they are now - I do like quailty and am prepared to pay for it when I want it. I've test drove some of the new Gibson LPs, including the highly marketed "Reissue" or "Historic" models - what a load of crap. This Ibanez guitar represents great value for the money. It also reminds me so much of those Gibsons I used to own when I was a kid, the nostalgia alone is worth the price. I would love to hear what this baby sounds like with P90s.

I don't know which year was made but for the kind of logo that's inlaid i believe is from the 70's. Is made in Japan. It has all the features of a Gibson Les Paul. The finish in mine is goldtop with paf kind of pickups so it looks like a 57 Les paul standard. It has a bolt on neck which can be good or bad for some people.
I don't know the type of wood which is made of but to me it doesn't seem really good it's more like a cheap material guitar.
The neck is too thin for my taste i later bought a Gibson Les Paul and i did the comparisons so the ibanez was a little smaller and the neck on the Gibson was more wide, more confortable. Hey if you got small hands this is your guitar!!!!

Still i think is a great guitar for a beginer.

My musical style is blues and rock. The guitar does it's job. It's like a workhorse in wich you deliver your chops.
The sound is a little bit thin compared with Gibson but i don't know if is the wood or the pickups. For a blues sound is quite allright but if you got a chance to buy a Gibson go for it.

This is a guitar for beginers!!!

I used it clean so i know my guitar how it sounds in every pickup configuration. I have played it some diferent amps: a marshall Valve state, Fenders . it sound good with that bluesy edge.

Whe i used with a little distorsion i prefer the bridge pickup, it has the personality to cut trough the band, it really screams.
i dont like the sound of the neck pickup with the distorsion , it sounds for me a little mufled i think.

As i said for a blues sound is ok (we all need is a little of sustain)

i bought my guitar ..................hand??????? so i had to set up to my taste which i done with the Gibson factory specs and sounds very nice.

The screws were all worn out so i had to change some of them and they were some kind loose.

he finish is a little beat up but it look like a vintage guitar.

This guitar is really great for the road.
I can always play free of woring with this guitar you know not thinking is a expensive guitar. For the price i paid, i think is fair in sound and reliability.

This guitar is my main stage guitar until i buy the pickups i want for my Gibson.

I have been playing this guitar for about 5 years constantly, i tell you is good. As i said this is the guitar for a beginner who wants a vintage Les Paul model guitar. This guitars are vintage in some way (they are from the 70's) so you get the old feeling while you play.
The sound is ok, very bluesy (you can actually play Freddy King stuff in these axe and sound like him)

The only thing i would prefer to had is a neck more like Gibson or epiphones.