Schulte Les Paul Clone

Except for being slightly lighter in weight, it's very much like a Gibson Les Paul. It's solid maple. It was made 16 years ago.
It has Dimarzio pickups.

The finish is glossy and red sunburst.

I would not trade it for any Gibson.

It sounds fantastic. I use it with a Bandit Backstage.
It has a complete range of sound with no dead spots. The fingerboard is fast and easy to negotiate.

The action is perfect and the finish is first rate, but it shows a little wear.

It's a solid and sturdy as any electric guitar I've played.

Eric is retired, but when he was still working his custom work and repair work was second to none.

I wish I would have had the money to buy a nice acoustic or jazz guitar from Eric when he was still building guitars. If you're lucky enough to find one from a secondary source, you will not be disappointed. He built guitars people like George Thorogood and Kiss.
He is a quiet, modest man who said he didn't believe the US had any luthiers, but he is among the best of the best.

This guitar is handmade copy of a 1959 Gibson Les Paul. It was made in 1980 when Gibson couldn't replicate their classic 58-60 Les Pauls.
If you know Les Pauls, you know the layout, equiptment etc. However it is the obvious attention to detail in making a n accurate re-issue
combined with the handmade mojo that set this guitar apart from the hordes of re-issues out there.
I encourage you to seek one out and try it. When I purchased this guitar, the shop owner, had a brand new flame top Gibson LP 59. I was gonna buy it. It was $750 more than the Schulte. He then whipped out the Schulte. Being young and stupid(although fully aware of vintage guitars), I still wanted the shiny Les paul RI. Well, the shop owner then did something LEGENDARY! He produces not one but two REAL 1959 LES PAULS. (If you live in eastern PA, you probably know this guy). He actually allowed me to hold and strum the real ones to AB with the Schulte and the RI. With the lord as my witness, the Schulte and the real '59 were like twins. The top carve, pick-up rings, true nitro finish, realistic flame, tenon, neck thickness, holly venner, silk screened toggle switch, realistic toggle color. The LP RI was a canoe paddle. I have since seen a marked improvement especially in the Historics I own, but none come as close to the real thing as a Schulte. Legend has it that there are some Schultes out there with a correct Gibson Logo.

Soundwise it nails the vintage LP tone perfectly. When AB'ed with the real thing, it lacked a bit of the upper midrange sweetness that the 59 possessed. But, it has a tighter low-mid response and more treble. It loves loud tube amps but not japanese fuzz boxes. It's lively and resonant like the ral thing.

I got this guitar used. I was a little beat, but not abused. The nitro lacquer has checked beautifully, just like it's cousin. The top is flamed but not like PRS steroid flame. It is a realistic looking matched top. My guitar need a bit of binding restoration on the horn but looks great.

it is now 26 years old and survived hundreds of gigs with me over the 13 years I've owned it. It is a magical axe. It may not say gibson on it, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. Well maybe a real 1959 Les paul...

I have a good tech who keeps my workhorse going. Like any fine instrument a little TLC goes a long way. There are less than 300 schultes in existence and probably 100 or so were LP styled. Compared to the anchors of the Heritage 80 or Norlins, these guitars are roll royces.

I've been playing for 20 years. I own 35 guitars, eight of which are Les Pauls or LP styled. I have an r9, Cloud 9 58, two classics, faded standard, studio lite, an Edwards LP and the Schulte.
I'm looking for another one. I don't want to think about losing it.\

If you can find one (Southeast PA is where Eric Schulte is located) try it. Mr. Schulte is getting up there but still churns out a few guitars each year. I don't think you'll be diappointed.