spongebob Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 Is it just me, or do you find that the Les Paul is the most dominating guitar tone around? I've never had problems playing in a band with Strats and Teles, but I always find the old LP has a habit of taking over! Our guitarist used to play a Tele, now a LP through a Marshall stack.Once was in a band with two of them! Found that P-bass sits in well, anything else gets a bit lost in the mix. I always find the tone a bit like a sledgehammer, going over everything. Old band had a Strat player, always sound really well balanced. Maybe it's me, but I'm not a fan of the Les Paul! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skankdelvar Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 Depends what they're going through. One guy I knew put a lovely R59 through a Tiny Terror and a 2x12; despite much knob tweaking it only ever produced a fuzzy mush that was completely lost in the mix. On the other hand, a good Lester through a grumbling JMP Mk2 or a Bluesbreaker can exert disproportionate control over proceedings Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger2611 Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 Our guitarist uses a Les Paul, it is perfect for a rock / pop covers band, I used to play rhythm guitar in the band before shifting back to bass, so I used either a strat or a Gretsch with P90's so as to sit in a different sound area to the Les Paul, it worked perfectly. Recording wise, the Les Paul is my go to guitar...it just works for me. I think it is with good reason that it is one of the most iconic guitars ever built Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casapete Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 For how to use a Les Paul in a guitar / bass / drums line up look no further than Vintage Trouble. Great band, who use their instruments perfectly to make a wonderful noise - the Les Paul sits so well with the bass and drums without overpowering things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 One metal band ( mercyful fate), used to have 1 guitard using a stat ,and then other a les paul. Brilliant ! Nowadays , it's a different ball game surely . Does it matter with all the other brands out there like,ibanez etc. I love the sound of the evh/ satriani/ macalpine etc. I thought that the settings of the,pedals had a lot to do with it. Then again I'm not a guitarist Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LayDownThaFunk Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 Les Paul through an AC30 here. The P would cut through well 'cause of the mids. In fact, just bumping the mids on any bass will make cutting through easy. On a J bass, neck pickup full, roll the bridge pickup back to 8 and bang, done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leschirons Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 I think it probably depends on the guitarist. Our guitarist plays both on every gig and yes, the tone is certainly different but neither dominate the overall sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spongebob Posted August 12, 2015 Author Share Posted August 12, 2015 I think the trouble is our guitarman has a very 'brash' tone - permanent distortion, etc. Not a nice clean sound at all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 It's all a bit vague, but the last time I played with a Les Paul wielding guitarist was 1978. Gold top with humbuckers through a WEM 100watt PA Amp plus Sound City 4x12 if I recall correctly - with no pedals. I think I was using a sunburst Precision through Hiwatt 200 and 2x15. Drummer had a white 26" Rogers kit. It all sounded very good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrtcat Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 Used to play in a function band with a guitarist who used a les Paul and it was gash at the funky chic type stuff. Great for rock tho. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 Depends on music genre as well. At the weekend I saw many bands with Les Pauls into the provided Marshall full-stacks, but due to it being punk, that was the right sound. Helped of course by many Pecisions into Ampeg 810 stacks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CamdenRob Posted August 13, 2015 Share Posted August 13, 2015 I think it depends on how many guitarists you have... If it's just one then they can generally get away with a bassier fuller sound but if you have two then at least one of them needs the cut and clarity of single coils or it can all get a bit messy, especially if your playing heavier music with alot of distortion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_5 Posted August 13, 2015 Share Posted August 13, 2015 We've got 2 guitarists in my metal band - one has a Gibson Explorer into a JCM800 head (practically a second bass player) and the other has a G&L Telecaster into a 100 Watt Peavey head. Much more clarity from the 2nd guitarist. They work well together though, as we can always tell what each instrument is doing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted August 13, 2015 Share Posted August 13, 2015 I play in one band where MacDaddy (of this parish) plays lead guitar alongside a slide player, so two guitars. I think we sound way better, and I enjoy playing far more, when he uses his (thin and nasal) Flying V than when he borrows my cheap Les Paul at rehearsal. In a 2-guitar band, one guy on a Les Paul can easily end up trampling all over the bass player's sonic turf. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norris Posted August 13, 2015 Share Posted August 13, 2015 My guitarist is currently playing his LP deluxe (with the smaller humbuckers) through his Mesa. It sounds gorgeous. There again in our trio he can play what the heck he likes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cato Posted August 13, 2015 Share Posted August 13, 2015 I think from a bass players perspective (and purely my own opinion, of course) that when you play with a guitarist with a single coil guitar it leaves a clear demarcation between the sonic territories of the bass & the guitar which makes it relative simple to get a nice clear bass sound in the mix. The increased mids range of humbucking guitars (PAF fitted Les Pauls seem to be particularly strong in the mids area) blurs the sonic territories together making it a little bit harder to get a distinctive bass voice in the mix. Its not a huge problem but I think it does require a little more fiddling with various controls to get right. Going from a Tele to a Les Paul does seem a bit like going from one trebly extreeme to the mid-heavy other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skidder652003 Posted August 13, 2015 Share Posted August 13, 2015 yep our guitarist used to purely play his strat, now he's gone and got a goldtop Les P, sounds huge but it really does tread all over the lower notes, to the point where Im playing up the dusty end! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul h Posted August 13, 2015 Share Posted August 13, 2015 For me it's all about the player. Greg Koch gets a tone and plays in a style that leaves plenty of room for the bass... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qL5UuukdnQY Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spongebob Posted August 13, 2015 Author Share Posted August 13, 2015 [quote name='Cato' timestamp='1439461415' post='2842998'] I think from a bass players perspective (and purely my own opinion, of course) that when you play with a guitarist with a single coil guitar it leaves a clear demarcation between the sonic territories of the bass & the guitar which makes it relative simple to get a nice clear bass sound in the mix. The increased mids range of humbucking guitars (PAF fitted Les Pauls seem to be particularly strong in the mids area) blurs the sonic territories together making it a little bit harder to get a distinctive bass voice in the mix. Its not a huge problem but I think it does require a little more fiddling with various controls to get right. Going from a Tele to a Les Paul does seem a bit like going from one trebly extreeme to the mid-heavy other. [/quote] Exactly! Well said in far better terms than I did! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
el borracho Posted August 13, 2015 Share Posted August 13, 2015 [quote name='paul h' timestamp='1439461946' post='2843004'] For me it's all about the player. Greg Koch gets a tone and plays in a style that leaves plenty of room for the bass... [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qL5UuukdnQY[/media] [/quote] He does leave plenty of space in his playing. Ironic that he almost never plays a Les Paul! Having already watched this clip countless times I wish he did more often. I doubt Fender would agree!! When I play with 2 guitarists I always prefer one to not have a Les Paul. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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