Hey all:
For decades now I've wanted a Les Paul, and pretty much hated every maple-topped one I tried. (Too heavy, too awkward, too something ...) The only LP that ever really got me was a friend's '50s Special. A heavy, battering ram of an instrument. Solid, basic, with p/us that frightened small children.
So this one came along. An Orville, made in Japan, mid '90s:
First impressions: It's a solid, balanced instrument, handsome too. Excellent wood, well put together, neck carve and fretboard feel is just right. Medium size, well rounded frets. About 8 pounds. The P-90s are Japanese made, and turn out to be not the throwaways I half expected. This thing has the right vibe. Tuning was dead stable, until I started changing tunings. At that point it became clear an upgrade is in order there. I'll probably put in better caps, and lower the action a touch. Big, meaty tones. It was not expensive, feels better made than Gibson stuff costing twice this or more.
MD
MD
For decades now I've wanted a Les Paul, and pretty much hated every maple-topped one I tried. (Too heavy, too awkward, too something ...) The only LP that ever really got me was a friend's '50s Special. A heavy, battering ram of an instrument. Solid, basic, with p/us that frightened small children.
So this one came along. An Orville, made in Japan, mid '90s:
First impressions: It's a solid, balanced instrument, handsome too. Excellent wood, well put together, neck carve and fretboard feel is just right. Medium size, well rounded frets. About 8 pounds. The P-90s are Japanese made, and turn out to be not the throwaways I half expected. This thing has the right vibe. Tuning was dead stable, until I started changing tunings. At that point it became clear an upgrade is in order there. I'll probably put in better caps, and lower the action a touch. Big, meaty tones. It was not expensive, feels better made than Gibson stuff costing twice this or more.
MD
MD