Is the Stripped 58 PRS' version of the Les Paul?

[Raymond]

I just "discovered" the Stripped 58.

It has a 24.5" scale length, a 3 way switch, 57/08 humbuckers, 4 volume and tone knobs, single cut, maple cap and mahogany body.

The reason I am asking is that I am looking for a LP or LP esq guitar next but yet to find a Gibson that I like, not sure why. It seems like fruitless exercise. They look great on the wall until I pick it up and then it's like....may be not and put it back.

Anyway, what is a stripped 58 and how is that different to a SC 245?

Thanks

 

[AP515]

There are a number of PRS takes on the LP, and yet each one is intentionally different because there are things PRS does better than Gibson. The McCarty was possibly the first take on it with help from the previous CEO of Gibson (McCarty). This effort added some width to the Cu22 and PAF type pups, among other things like the tuners and headstock width.

The SC was a big step closer to the LP with a similar (but not exact layout) and single cut body shape. That original SC was morphed into the SC245, SC250, SC58, and the stripped 58. The SC58 and stripped might be a little closer because of the 2 piece bridge. But be prepared. If you want the exact LP feel and tone, continue the journey and find a good LP (they do exist). If you want a SingleCut that can do LP but won't be exact, and can do it's own thing too, jump on any one of the SingleCut models and see if it rocks your world (pun intended).

 

[Raymond]

I want quite a specific LP, without going to a custom shop, a 98-2002 era Standard, I remember reading a post from a former Gibson employee and that era was one of the better recent period after the rubbish that came out in the 70's and 80's.

That said, the reason I asked in the first place was that I have a PRS ZM limited from Brian's Guitar on order, but I am having second thought since I plan to change the tuner and nut....which doesn't really add any value to the guitar so I am thinking it would be better just put the money towards something like a stripped 58 instead. The difference would be $1k or there abouts but it would be:

1 - a better guitar
2 - still different to my CU24
3 - it'll be "like" a LP.

A real LP will still be mine, some time down the line.

 

[slev]

I had a fantastic 2008 LP Standard that was "it" for me with respect to a singlecut and that classic LP tone (to my ear). I sold it to fuel some GAS I had at the time and always regretted it. I went through an 03 Singlecut with a 5310 in the neck and a 5708 in the bridge (too heavy and not quite enough bite from the bridge), then a 2007 SC245 with a set of DGT pickups which was close tone wise and just a great overall guitar, and finally I just picked up a Stripped 58. I'm not sure exactly what it is, probably the 5708s and the two piece bridge, but it gets that LP snarl that I was craving plus a whole slew of other awesome tones you'd expect from a PRS.

I can't offer any comparison to the SC245 with the two piece bridge but I think that the 5708s and the new two piece bridge will get you into the LP zone. AP515 is right, if you really want an LP keep looking but if you want to cover those classic LP tones and have the awesome fit an finish of a PRS pick up an SC58/Stripped 58 or possibly an new SC245.

 

[Raymond]

I do want a PRS with 57/08. I like the 59/09 but like a guitar with 57/08. I don't need a guitar with a 10 Top or birds etc since my CU24 has all that anyway.

 

[NomadMike]

The reason I am asking is that I am looking for a LP or LP esq guitar next but yet to find a Gibson that I like, not sure why. It seems like fruitless exercise.

Been there myself. Looked for years for "the one" to replace my old MIJ LP and never could find it, or at least find it new for the right price point. I know that G could make a great guitar, I just never could find one for me. I did stumble across an early 80's Les Paul with the switch in the right spot, a belly cut and even a bit of arm carver, that I'll pick up one day. These days though I judge guitars based on my PRS and that's a tough act to follow.

 

[tiboy]

I had, loved and fairly recently sold a Stripped 58 Ten Top. It was sold after I got a 2013 R9 VOS. The stripper with 57/08's got me to 90% -95% of the LP sound I was looking for. For me, the last 5-10% made all the difference. To paraphrase my very smart wife who asked, you keep buying PRS guitars looking for the LP sound, why don't you just buy a Les Paul? I continue to be a PRS and Stripped fan, but if you have a sound in your head, wait until you find the guitar that gives you that sound. I don't what sound the buyer of my Stripped was looking for, but he was ecstatic with the guitar and sound he got from the Stripped 58.

 

[Raymond]

The R9 VOS is the real deal and you are of course correct that the little 5-10% is important. But one of those are like $6000 ?

A stripped 58 is 1/3rd of that, my playing is not good enough to justify that kind of dough yet on a R9. May be one day !

 

[FennRx]

buy used R7/R8/G0 if you want a Gibson. They can be had for $2000-2400 if you are patient.

I bought a used SC245. Rewired it 50s style and replaced the incredibly boring 245 bridge pup with a WCR Godwood.

And if you're paying $6200 for an R9, you're doing it wrong. :top:

 

[Raymond]

With anything USA made, be it Guitar or amps, they have a 30% price hike this side of the pond. Even a LP Standard is £2,000/$3,000. Nothing fancy, just a Standard with a Triple AA Maple. A R9 is £4500 almost in every store so it is $6,000-7,000, which means the secondhand market will reflect this. There really is next to no chance getting a R8 for $2,000-$2400/£1,500 here when a new one goes for £4,000. It's a shame really because I would like one, but I hate to pay that kind of money when for a secondhand Gibson reissue (not even a vintage) when a new PRS is less than half the costs. Plus I do prefer the V12 finish over Nitro. I don't care for Gibson's binding either, I am not a fan how they bind over the fret ends before 2014.

But I can't deny Gibson LP do have an aura about them, it must be the subconscious doing something weird in my mind, linking it to all these old rock posters/videos/performances where artists down the years. But like I said, the road to finding a good LP is a long one and I am willing to wait.

I've been doing some reading. A Stripped 58/SC58 or a SC245 is not a LP, I realise that. It is however a bloody good guitar in its own right, some even say a better LP than a real LP according a thread in TGP where some guy did 5 takes with 5 guitars and asked the people to vote which clip they prefer the best. The winner was the PRS SC245 by a landslide, 2x to 3x number of votes than the Gibsons (the other 4 were Les Pauls). But generally speaking, most people agree that PRS sounds better tonally and Gibson are more raw and brutal. It's different, not better.

I am okay with that. In fact, I am happy with that knowing I need to spend double to get something in the same ballpark when a better made guitar costs less. My accountant would be happier too.

 

[ADP]

Why not import whatever it is you want to buy? I've bought a few guitars from the USA - too many to be honest - and the benefits are huge. You pay an extra 25% or so on top of shipping, but you'll never find an R9 or Stripped 58 at American prices plus 25% this side of the Atlantic. $2,400 would translate to around £1850 all in. And the dollar's kind of low compared to where it was a few months ago so you owe it to yourself to buy now.

If I were into singlecuts, I'd get an SC 58; it's the same guitar with an Artist-grade top and paisley case, and there are quite a few really nice ones around for not much money nowadays. I just prefer the double-cutaways. Mind you, if the right one came along, I might have a very hard time walking away from an SC 58.