Foreword:
There are hundreds maybe thousands of very talented luthiers who are
building Les Paul Style guitars. Some of them change the body
shape some of them copy the body to the imperfections.
Just Ask Slash, Joe Perry, Billy Gibbons, James Hetfield & many
other famous players.
It seems to me that most of these companies wouldn't bother unless
they felt they could do better.
I mean how could they they sell them if they didn't do it better !!!
This page is to demonstrate the levels of quality & Innovation we have seen some of these Luthiers go to try to improve on the Les Paul.
There are people who say you can't improve on something that's
perfect. Those people are the same people who have been heard to say
things like.
"Please don't confuse me with the
facts I've already made up my mind"
They are 100% wrong, There is always room for improvement !!!!
There are many misguided Gibson lovers out there who flame me & my company because I refuse to accept their definition of perfect. I use the word misguided simply because these people are only partially informed.
Someday someone will make a guitar better than an Ed Roman Guitar.
Probably someone already does, I can accept that !!! Whenever I
see a great new innovation I try to incorporate that into my
designs. Some of my best customers point out new
innovations when they see them on some boutique brands.
The Les Paul has been around for 60 years, I cannot accept the
technology of the early 50's as an end all and I believe that anyone
who can has his head in the sand or maybe somewhere else.
Ed Roman
How's
this for an improvement Homer !!!
Anyone who
denies this as an improvement is completely brain-dead.
See how the neck extends into the pickup cavity. The pickup bolts
down solid on the mahogany neck tenon itself. This greatly
improves resonant overtones and adds about 20% more sustain.
See the stepped cavity on the lead pickup. This allows your pickup
to be hard mounted to the guitar just the same as the rhythm pickup
Best of all this
feature is the only way to get neck tone to your pickup. On
almost all Gibson Guitars Les Pauls, SG's, Explorer's, Flying
Vee's etc the neck and body are separated by a thick layer of tone
dampening glue. Glue is not your friend if you a re a guitar
player.
Navigator Goldtop
Navigator Guitars are The Most Sought After Les Paul Copy On The Market
Some Of The Early Ones Actually Said Les Paul On The Headstock.
The Burst Model Is also Available, I just didn't have a picture when I posted
this.
We are looking for any
and all used Navigator guitars
Recreation of a 59 Burst done on a kit guitar for a very special customer !!
See how the neck extends into the pickup cavity.
Done
Right Here In Our Custom Shop
Triple EMG's & Tone Pros Bridge. Very Nice Grain In The Neck & Back
Planet Waves Auto Trim Tuners
Ebony, Mother Of Pearl & Abalone
Solid Macassar Ebony Neck |
Heritage 150
Gibson Sued & Heritage Won
During the 90's the Heritage guitars were awesome & they sold for less
than half of what a Gibson did
Today they are a shadow of their former selves & now the prices are much
higher.
No longer recommended by Ed Roman
Superior Bolt-in Neck Joint Allows For Greater Access |
Neal Schon 1986 With His "Dommenget" Les Paul
Steve Still Has One So Does James Hetfield
In My Opinion The Set Neck Design of The Les Paul Requires P90 or P100 Pickups
Naturally we will install any pickups you could wish for
Hondo (Jackson) Bradley Univox (Korg)
Great Quality
Madore Guitars
Selling Today Used For About $1.550.00
Real Ebony Fretboard, Real MOP inlays
Can't read the brand name but this looks like a well built guitar
Erlewine Sekova Baker Eko
Zemaitis Guitars Sell Today for $40,000.00
Ask Keith Richards, Ron Wood, Billy Gibbons, James Honeyman
Scott
Personally I think they are one step above a Costco Guitar
But what do I know !!!!!!
I would actually rather play a Gibson,
But these guitars have become legendary...
Benedetto Benny Selling for $5,000.00 in 2002
Wrong Bridge & Much Too Wide Neck
That's what happens when a Jazz guitar builder tries to build an electric
Look at Taylor & Collings Their electrics are putrid !!!!!
Hyundai
Lotus
Tokai
100 Heritage Guitars In My Store 2004
Just Before The Huge Price Increase
These USA made guitars were wholesaling for only $650.00 when Gibson was charging 5 times as much
!!!
And at the time the Heritage was made far better.
Photos Of An Original Japanese Made Navigator
These guitars are illegal in the USA unless they are used. Some of them say Les Paul on them..
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Much More Coming
There Are Endless LP Copies
If you know Of any that I have missed please send photos & pertinent
commentary