Lotus L555

Made in either Japan or Korea in 1970...it feels like Japan to me, though. 22 frets, off-white/cream mahogany body with a maple top, black pickguard, black toggle, black pickup rings and cream binding...impeccable craftsmanship. Standard Les Paul controls with a tap/phase switch. I replaced the pickups with Seymour Duncan chrome covered JB's (best there is). The finish is totally pro and after 35 years, still shines. Tune-O-Mactic bridge with a standard LP stop piece (both chrome and still haven't rusted). I replaced the stock tuners with the more top-of-the-line non-locking Gotoh's and this thing stays in tune incredibly well. In fact, I'd say it stays in tune about the same as my American Strat (which I have since sold). It has a fully bound mahogany neck with a rosewood fretboard and real Mother Of Pearl trapezoid inlays. The neck is thin and the frets are as well. The headstock is also fully-bound and is wide like a Gibson LP Custom, not narrow like an Epiphone. I can't say enough good things about this neck. It has a shimmery feel to it...the whole guitar is just so dang beautiful and rock solid in every way...it weighs 11 lbs.

I'm in a band called THE STIVS heavily influenced by AC/DC, NY Dolls, Stooges, Hanoi Rocks and even Kix and so this guitar is just perfect for us. I use a first year 5150 100-watt head with Ruby tubes and a rock solid Mesa slant cab. This guitar sounds absolutely fantastic in every way. I have no dislikes about it whatsoever at all.

I bought this guitar used from eBay and then had it sent directly to my local luthier shop (Portland Fret Works). It actually felt okay when I got it (with the .09 strings), but when I got it back after a full set up job (with .11 strings), fret dressing, and plenty of personal mods this guitar just instantly became truly mine. I love it, love it, love it. This guitar is flawless...really.

I play this guitar on tour every night and I've not had a single problem with it. Lotus made guitars for years and I know that in their later years they were pumping out some real crap, but like I said before, this guitar is just incredible. The finish is still pretty much perfect after 35 years...just the normal paint crack here and there...there's not even any buckle rash and the finish still shines! I put on strap lock buttons that had bigger screws than the buttons that came with the guitar and had to use an electric drill to actually screw them in. Yes, I can depend on it and I don't need a backup at all (although, I use a backup anyway just in case I break a string...which generally only happens once or twice a year).

Company's out of business so CS is N/A

I've been playing for 19 and a half years and for much of that time with an American Strat. I've since become enamored with the way Les Paul's look, but was never willing to pay thousands of dollars for a guitar. Perhaps I got lucky when I bought this guitar, because it couldn't possibly be more perfect for me.

If it were stolen or lost I'd pretty dang upset and while Lotus LP's can occasionally be found on eBay, I've never seen one this old, in this condition and in this color.

If you see a Lotus Les Paul (L-555 model) made in the early 70's, I suggest you buy it.

Don't know where or when it was made, it actually sounds like the same guitar in the previous review. 22 frets, basically a Les Paul copy, got the Silverburst kind of look described below, VERY nice looking guitar (the day I got it, after practice the drummer took it out again to check it out some more!). 2 Dimarzio Humbuckers, 3-way selector switch, and tone and volume for each; the volume control for the Bridge pickup is a push/pull, but I don't think its wired for anything. Also has a phase switch. Tuners are non-locking, though I'm going to change that soon (I NEVER play without those things now). Its probably the heaviest guitar I've ever held. the neck isn't super fat, but its a solid piece of wood. Again, basic Les Paul copy.

Very thick, crunchy guitar. I got this from a guy on the HC FX forum, he had it set up with .012 gauge strings, where I usually play .010's. The .012's make this thing very tight and focused, enough so that I'm considering moving the rest of my guitars up. Rhythm parts are nice and articulate, and crunchy (you're going to notice a theme here...). So between the .012 gauge strings and the heaviness of the guitar, this is a beast for rhythm. Lead lines are also pretty distinct, though I haven't been able to run it with my normal solo pedal yet. Acoustically, this thing is loud! Playing it with the amp turned off, its still probably 1/2 as loud as a decent acoustic guitar. A good deal of sustain on it, as well.

There is one noticeable fret-buzz on the 15th fret on the high e-string. Previous owner had the action sort of high, I lowered it considerably, and now its very easy to play (remember, I'm not used to the fatter strings), excepting the one buzz spot. I did notice a few "dead" spots, but I haven't had it long enough to really comment on that, and by "dead" I only mean that there are some spots that have LOTS of sustain, and others that are only so-so. I haven't found any part of the guitar that "plinks" and then dies out. This is a solid instrument.

Hardware seems solid, though I will be changing the tuners. However old it is, the finish seems fine, I haven't noticed any crack or chips, etc. Came with straplocks. I've learned NEVER to gig without a backup, but that's a formality I usually never have to worry about; this thing could perform just fine without the backup, its just not a good idea to tempt fate...

Bought it used, not even sure it Lotus is still around... anyway, if its as old as it seems, warranty and such must have expired sometime in the last 2 decades, alas...

I'm coming on ten years of playing, been playing live reuglarly the last two. The biggest surprise for me was how much I liked the heavier gauge strings. Other than that, this is just a solid instrument, its damn pretty, and it sounds really friggin' good. I personally don't mind the weight. For the $350 I paid, I feel I got a great bargain, though people warned me against buying a Lotus, so apparently they have duds, too.

IT IS A 1970 MODEL OR SO, IT WAS MADE IN KOREA. IT HAS 22 FRETS, THE 5TH AND 6TH STRING BUZZ ON THE FRETS WHEN HIT. IT HAS A SOLID TOP THAT LOOKS LIKE A LES PAUL. IT HAS 2 VOLUMES AND 2 TONES WITH A 3 WAY SELECTOR SWITCH. I DON'T KNOW WHO MADE THE PICK-UPS BUT THE SOUND GREAT WHEN ITS ON TREMBLE. I THINK IT IS MADE OF PLYWOOD AND IT IS HEAVIER THAN A ROCK. THE FINISH IS GRAY THAT FADES INTO BLACK WITH A YELLOW STRIP ON THE EDGE. THE BODY LOOKS LIKE AN EPIPHONE. IT HAS A STRING-THRU STOP TAILPIECE AND THE TUNERS ARE NON-LOCKING. THE NECK IS VERY FAT. THE WEIRD THING IS WHEN I BOUGHT IT IT CAME IN A CARDBOARD TYPE CASE WITH YELLOW PADDING.

I LIKE TO PLAY LEAD WITH A LITTLE CRUNCH AND IT NEVER LET ME DOWN. I PLAY THRU A CRATE HALF-STACK WITH GFX 707 PEDAL (LITTLE PEDAL,BIG SOUND). IT IS NOISY BUT CLEAN AND IT PLAYS BETTER ON TREMBLE. IT LEAVES MY NEIGHBORS IN TERROR. IT IS BETTER ON LEAD THAN IT IS ON RYTHME.

THE GUITAR'S SETUP W

THIS GUITAR WILL EAT PEOPLE IF IT COULD. I COULDN'T BREAK IT IF I SMASH IT ON THE GROUND. THE HARDWARE LOOKS GREAT BUT THE SCREWS GOT RUSTED QUICK. I HAVE NEVER HAD TO DRESS THE FRETS AND THE STRAP BUTTONS ARE SOLID. I WOULD BRING THIS GUITAR TO WAR AS MY MAN IN ACTION. I WOULD USE A LITTLE BACK-UP.

I DON'T KNOW WHO OR WHERE IT CAME FROM BECAUSE I BOUGHT IT FROM A FRIEND FOR REAL CHEAP ($100)

I'M ONLY 16 AND I HAVE BEEN PLAYING FOR 5 YEARS (SELF-TEACHED). I OWN A IBANEZ ROADSTER2 AND I LEARNED ON THIS SITE THAT IT RATED SUPERB. IF IT WERE STOLEN I WOULD WIG OUT AND KILL EVERY BODY. I WOULD BUY SOMETHING THAT HAD THE SAME LOOKS AND SOUNDS. I LOVE THE WAY IT PLAYS ON LEAD BUT I HATE HOW HEAVY THE DAMN THING WEIGHS.