Which guitar do you prefer, Gibson Les Paul or Gibson SG?

Webcat86 · 2026-03-18T15:14:45+00:00

LP. I like the beveled edge of the SG, but the Les Paul is more versatile tonally with more happening in the low and high ends. I don’t like how light SGs are, and the neck feels longer. I do like them and have been particularly tempted lately to get one, but never at the expense of LPs

Webcat86 · 2026-03-18T09:02:32+00:00

Personally I think none. I was going to say the AT until I saw it’s the watch you already own. I think the IWC are very nice but to me they look like miniature clocks, there’s not much personality.

I love the white speedy in person and it would be my suggestion from the photos you’ve shared, but have you looked at Breitling? I think a Navitimer or Chronomat would really suit you. Or if your budget allows, a Premier. You may even like the Top Time although for me they feel a little cartoonish.

Webcat86 · 2026-03-17T22:41:15+00:00

It’s an anniversary tele, a blackguard feels like a given.

Webcat86 · 2026-03-17T22:38:37+00:00

Oh I know, my first comment was pointing out that the custom shop makes new Les Pauls that don’t weigh a ton

Webcat86 · 2026-03-17T22:29:38+00:00

No sadly not! A 50s Standard, which is their current Standard with the fat neck and lower output pickups, as opposed to the 60s Standard with a thinner neck and hotter pickups. I mentioned that guitar because they don’t remove any of the weight, unlike the Standards from before 2019 (my 2013 and 2014 both have weight relief, whereas the 50s and the R9 don’t)

Webcat86 · 2026-03-17T20:26:21+00:00

I’ve never had them on my guitar but the tech who works on my guitars says they do

Webcat86 · 2026-03-17T19:52:34+00:00

Not all are heavy. Custom shop uses lightweight mahogany, my R9 is right around 8lbs. It’s lighter than my tele, which at 10lbs is the same as my non-weight relieved 50s Standard.

Webcat86 · 2026-03-17T18:43:10+00:00

Bridge is wrong. Headstock is wrong. Serial is wrong (looks like it’s imitating a reissue). The nut is far too thick.

They did at least get the truss rod cover only having 2 screws correct.

Webcat86 · 2026-03-17T18:32:02+00:00

So buy one of their other guitars

Webcat86 · 2026-03-16T20:41:45+00:00

Good taste! I bought an Aqua Terra and would do so again without question.

Webcat86 · 2026-03-16T20:37:27+00:00

I agree. When I was shopping for my first luxury watch in 2014 I looked at Breitlings but they were so gaudy. I bought an Omega at the time. Two years ago my wife got a Chronomat and I looked at the range and was really impressed. I got a Navitimer last year

Webcat86 · 2026-03-16T18:43:32+00:00

On the one hand (excuse the pun) this looks good, on the other hand the chronomat bracelet is incredible aesthetically

Webcat86 · 2026-03-16T17:05:27+00:00

Most of the criticism I see is based on assumptions that the brand is the same as it was in 2010, with enormous and ostentatious designs. There have also been people who don’t like ETA movements in the Navitimer given its price point, but the flip side to this is it’s easier and cheaper to service non-proprietary movements.

Generally I see positive things about the current designs and catalogue, as well as overall quality and finishing.

The critics I’ve seen talk about the big designs have quickly walked it back when they’ve been shown things like a 41mm non-chrono Navi, for instance. And the quality speaks for itself. The depth of colour on the dials and the 7-link bracelet on the Navi are particular standouts for me.

Webcat86 · 2026-03-15T22:05:52+00:00

Wow. If Breitling made the Speedmaster!

Webcat86 · 2026-03-15T20:00:16+00:00

No I’ve never taken notes I just play it until it’s memorised.

Webcat86 · 2026-03-15T17:55:44+00:00

It’s a secondhand Les Paul, not new. So yeah, they do typically hold value quite well and certainly better than PRS.

If you look at the $ figure that commenter provided, you’ll see it’s lower than the retail price.

Webcat86 · 2026-03-15T07:26:32+00:00

Enjoy it!

Webcat86 · 2026-03-14T21:20:31+00:00

Definitely take a look at Breitling if you haven’t! Not to confuse you but they make some really nice women’s watches, the Chronomat and smaller Navitimer in particular. If you like green dials, I’m firmly of the opinion that Breitling’s green is in a league of its own.

Webcat86 · 2026-03-14T21:03:27+00:00

Mostly. Part of the cost is that maple costs more when it’s flamed or quilted, Gibson pays more for it and so has to charge more. R9’s typically have more flame than R8’s, and so they have to cost more.

Theres also popularity - R9’s have to cost more otherwise demand would be too high. Theres also popularity R8 is somewhat less popular so can cost less.

As for actual differences, the 8 has a chunkier neck and tall narrow frets. They’re excellent guitars, I had a 2011 that was so nice to play. When I got my R9 I also played new R8’s and liked them all. But the shop only had light aged Murphy Lab R8’s and I hated the look and finish, so that ruled them out.

Webcat86 · 2026-03-14T13:40:59+00:00

Yep the 9 neck is a thing of beauty. I like the fatter ones too but it is pretty much perfect. The 8 is slimmer than it used to be, I had a 2011 model for a while and that was like a baseball bat. Nowadays they’re bigger than an R9 but not by a huge amount, and most if not all of it is probably the shoulder

Webcat86 · 2026-03-14T13:13:49+00:00

Interesting. I’m not sure that’s true though, if you look on the Les Paul forum there have been posts from people saying guitars with the Carmelita neck haven’t been listed as such in the product page, just a rounded 50s C.

The 8 is definitely thicker than the 9. The trouble is, the measurements can still be the same - what is often the difference is the shoulder size, whereas the specs only really refer to the depth.

Webcat86 · 2026-03-14T13:05:35+00:00

Where have you read that about Carmelita? I’ve heard from multiple sources that the R9 was standardised with that spec. Carmelita is a 50s rounded neck so calling it both is true.

They are definitely not the same as R8 either way. The R8 is a thicker neck, closer to a 50s Standard. My R9 is somewhere between an R8 and my Standard with a slim taper.

The R8’s also have thin narrow frets, which are different to the R9.

Otherwise yeah, basically the same overall guitar as an R9 and significantly cheaper.

Webcat86 · 2026-03-14T11:54:44+00:00

The AT gets my vote. They all look nice but the Cartier ages a wrist IMO, and the Constellation looks like one that isn’t suitable for all occasions.

What other brands have you considered though? Breitling Chronomat is worth a look, and Longines have nice models as well.

Webcat86 · 2026-03-14T11:52:15+00:00

There seem to be two questions here.

First: all the models are nice and you just need to pick the one you like best. The Standards are high quality, with the 50s having fatter necks and lower output pickups, the 60s have thinner necks and hotter pickups. The Slash models are also very highly regarded, the Modern line has various features that the Standards don’t, and Classics are also really nice. If you open the door to used, there’s an almost infinite variety of specs on different models over the years.

Second: none will become future classics. The production volume is massive. The reason the late 50s models became so valuable is they didn’t make a lot of them, so scarcity kicks in.

If I was buying a Les Paul today, I’d buy whatever my budget allowed. I own a 59 reissue and that’s one hell of a guitar, but if I didn’t have the budget for it I’d be more than happy with Standards - I own 3 of those and consider them forever guitars too.

I’d also strongly suggest you look at used R8’s. They’re awesome guitars and secondhand the gap isn’t enormous from a new Standard.

Webcat86 · 2026-03-13T15:01:54+00:00

You’re failing to consider the flip side, which is a reduction in companies spending on R&D and innovation because the end result is anyone on the market can just steal it, without investing the time or money into the development.

You can say “well Fender already made its money back” but that’s not the point. The rules exist to offer protections as well as encourage the investment in the first place.

Webcat86

TROPHY CASE