Les Paul article
Common Les Paul Mistakes to Avoid
Buying or owning a Les Paul comes with a few well-worn pitfalls. Here are the mistakes that catch people out most often — and how to sidestep every one of them.
The Les Paul is a brilliant guitar, but it comes with a handful of specific pitfalls — some before you buy, some after. These are the mistakes that catch people out most often, from the new owner who plugs in and immediately sounds wrong, to the experienced player who still does not change the tuners. Here is the honest list.
Mistake 1: Ignoring the Setup
This one applies to every guitar, but the particular geometry of these instruments makes it especially important. A factory-fresh Les Paul — particularly at Epiphone price points — often ships with action that is too high, intonation that is slightly off, and a truss rod that has not been adjusted for the climate you live in.
High action (the distance between the strings and the fretboard) means every note requires more effort to fret cleanly, bending is harder, and chords in the higher positions are prone to going sharp. A luthier can sort all of this in under an hour. The cost is small; the improvement is substantial. Do it before you decide the guitar "does not feel right".
Mistake 2: Choosing the Wrong Neck Profile
Gibson's Standards come in two main variants: the 50s (rounded, chunkier neck) and the 60s (slimmer taper). Many players buy one or the other based on the year or the model name and then discover the neck does not work for their hand size or playing style.
If you have smaller hands or prefer faster access across the fretboard, the 60s profile is usually more comfortable. If you like a neck you can really grip — something with substance — the 50s may feel more natural. Play before you buy if you can. The core tone is nearly identical between variants; the neck is the actual variable.
Mistake 3: Spending Everything on the Guitar, Nothing on the Amp
This is not exclusive to Les Paul buyers, but it is worth saying directly. A Gibson Standard played through a poor practice amp will sound worse than an Epiphone Standard played through a decent valve combo or a quality solid-state amp. The amp shapes the character and volume of everything the guitar produces.
A sensible split for a combined guitar-and-amp budget is roughly 60/40 or 50/50. If you are spending £800 on a guitar, pair it with a £500–£800 amp and you have a proper rig. A £1,500 guitar through an £80 amp is a waste of that guitar's potential.
Mistake 4: Ignoring the Weight
Traditional Les Pauls are genuinely heavy. Four to four and a half kilograms (nine to ten pounds) is the standard range. For a short bedroom session that is no issue, but after an hour of standing with the guitar strapped across your shoulder, you will feel it.
Many players discover this only after buying. If weight is a potential concern — back issues, long gigs, extended practice sessions — look for variants with chambered or weight-relieved bodies. Gibson has offered these on various models, particularly from the mid-2000s onward. The tonal difference is minimal; the physical difference is significant.
Mistake 5: Overlooking Headstock Cracks on Used Guitars
The Les Paul headstock is angled back relative to the neck — part of what gives the guitar its sustain and string tension characteristics. It also means that if the guitar is dropped, the headstock-to-neck joint is the most vulnerable point. Cracks here are common on second-hand examples and can range from hairline cosmetic issues to serious structural failures.
When buying used, always check this area carefully. Hold the guitar up to a light and look along the back of the headstock and neck junction. A repaired headstock crack is not automatically a dealbreaker — a good repair holds fine — but it should be reflected in the price, and a poorly repaired crack is a genuine problem.
Mistake 6: Setting Too Much Gain
New owners, especially those coming from lighter single-coil guitars, often push the amp gain too high. Humbuckers — the standard pickup on most Les Pauls — already output a strong, thick signal. Too much amp gain on top of that creates a muddy, compressed tone with no definition or dynamics.
At moderate gain — enough to get power chords sounding meaty without being saturated — the guitar's best tones live. Roll the gain back to somewhere between 3 and 6, push the mids slightly on the amp, and let the natural midrange warmth do the work. The results are almost always better than the heavily gained alternative.
Mistake 7: Buying a Non-Epiphone, Non-Gibson Copy
The shape is widely copied, and not always well. There are numerous brands producing these guitars that have nothing to do with Gibson or Epiphone. Some are acceptable; many are not. Build tolerances, playability, and electronics quality vary wildly — and the resale value is essentially nothing.
If budget is a constraint, an Epiphone is almost always the correct answer. Built under Gibson's licence to a consistent specification, with quality that has improved noticeably in recent years. A random import copy carries risk that a known brand does not. Spend a little more for the Epiphone — it is worth it.
Mistake 8: Neglecting the Electronics Over Time
Volume and tone pots (potentiometers — the variable resistors behind the knobs) can develop crackling and signal drop-out over time, particularly if the guitar is not played regularly. This is normal. A quick squirt of contact cleaner into the pot while rotating the knob often fixes scratchy controls instantly.
Tuner machines — the mechanical pegs on the headstock — can also loosen over time. Check occasionally that all the tuner screws are snug. Loose tuners slip under string tension and cause tuning instability that is easy to mistake for a more serious problem.
Get It Right From the Start
Most of these mistakes are either pre-purchase decisions or simple maintenance habits. The Les Paul is a remarkably capable and rewarding guitar — these pitfalls are not reasons to avoid it, they are things to know so you do not get caught out. For a full picture of what makes it tick, read the full explainer. If you are still deciding what to buy, the buyer's guide and best options for the money will help you choose wisely. For new players, the beginner's guide sets out the first steps clearly.
Bottom Line
A Les Paul bought right, set up properly, and paired with a decent amp is one of the best electric guitars you can own. Know your neck profile preference, check the headstock on any used guitar, do not skimp on the amp, and get a setup done before you judge the instrument. The rest takes care of itself.
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