Hello, I'm in need of a new guitar. And I've decided that when the time comes that I actually get off my ass, stop playing football and get a job, I want to get something similar to a LP Custom. But it also needs to not cost the $3,000 for a Gibson. So I need your opinion on what the best option would be. So any ideas?

Here's a list of some I have been investigating/considering:

Edwards
Burny w/ Sustainer
Epiphone/maybe Elitist
Greco
Tokai
Orville (A bit too pricy in most cases)
Raven West

Really I just want something that will be the best deal for my money. I'll probably be adding a Bigsby and changing the pickups no matter what I get.

Has anyone tried a Raven West? I'm kinda doubting it, but they look awesome and only cost $330. Red quilted maple. Sunburst flamed top, they also have one with a tiny paint flaw for $60 cheaper. The price and features seem right, and I could get it upgraded with a Stew-Mac vibrato and some nice pickups for the price of a standard Epi one, so that's kind of appealing as well. I'm just not sure of the quality of the actual guitar.

Any thoughts or opinions or anything?

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You Think I Ain't Worth a Dollar, But I Feel Like a Millionaire

I have a Stellar copy of a Les Paul Custom that I really like. It has a set neck with a pretty nice shape, and a nice weight to it. The hardware isn't bad, either. It does need some better pickups, but said we were going to change them, anyways.

Stellar guitar link

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my rig thread

Looks kinda nice, price?

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You Think I Ain't Worth a Dollar, But I Feel Like a Millionaire

If your going copy - go japan!

The Burny that fatgraymatt has looks as just good of quality and may even surpass my orville! If you dont want a floyd: http://www.fernandes.co.jp/burny/rlc...blk_index.html

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Call me Will

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Yeah, those sound real nice, or at least coming from his raves. They sell them for $1050 here. I'm really leaning to either that, the Raven West or an Edwards.

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You Think I Ain't Worth a Dollar, But I Feel Like a Millionaire

If your going to replace the pickups and add a Bigsby, go Epiphone. They are priced right, and are really great guitars besides the stock pickups (which are going to be replaced). Plus, they are available almost everywhere.

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Rip Glitter lives on

i'll keep saying it grecos, tokais and burny's from the 80's are just as good if not better than gibson les pauls

I think I may have changed my mind today. I got a chance to run by GC this afternoon and I played an Ibanez IC400. I've played an Iceman before, but it was one of the less-cool body shape cheaper models. I think this just may be the guitar for me. So I'm thinking now I might just have to go Warmoth and get a custom Iceman when the time comes.

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You Think I Ain't Worth a Dollar, But I Feel Like a Millionaire

the ESP EC-1000 is nice les paul style guitar. about $700-800 new with a case. you can get it with either a duncan JB/59 or dual EMG-81's. great looking and playing guitars.

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"THE VACUUM TUBE HAS BEEN OBSOLETE FOR DECADES—AND IT’S HERE TO STAY!"

95 Gibson Les Paul Studio
Fender Blackout tele w/emg's

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