Korean les Paul - Identification

Lucke Luke · Feb 24, 2015

Hello, got this guy with Gibson 498T and 490R. Once again, had it not been for the looks, you'd struggle to tell it apart...

If I understand correctly this is a 2008 Korean model. However could anyone help me out with the model number?

5 sec sound clip recorded with my phone: https://clyp.it/1q1wyk1k

jonah65 · Feb 24, 2015

looks and sounds great, love them pups 8) vastly under-rated , unusually it's got black switch covers on the back, they're normally cream coloured on koreans.

Lucke Luke · Feb 24, 2015

jonah65 said:
looks and sounds great, love them pups 8) vastly under-rated , unusually it's got black switch covers on the back, they're normally cream coloured on koreans.

The strings on it at the moment appear to be at least a few decades old :lol: I reckon with a new set it'd be a joy.

Looks are okey if you take into account that it's a cheap model.

Are Korean made Tokais worse than Chinese? Or does it all depend on the model etc?

Here it is again vs LS200

jonah65 · Feb 24, 2015

every thing is subjective, chinese "better" than korean, i don't know, never owned a chinese, but the korean sg i have i actually liked better than the japanese one :-?
if you were gigging, how many of the audience would know if you were playing a chinese, korean, japanese tokai, or an american gibson?
the gallaghers (oasis) used epiphones as opposed to gibsons, would their songs have sounded better using gibsons?
you can definitely feel the superior quality of a japanese tokai over a korean,
but they both sound great.
what has the best tone, sustain, i don't know, how much does the amp change everything.
so many variables, i know what i like, but that doesn't mean you'd agree.
the early koreans were thought of quite well, but i think the chinese ones are now maybe just as good.
bit of a ramble, but do you get what i mean?

Lucke Luke · Feb 24, 2015

jonah65 said:
every thing is subjective, chinese "better" than korean, i don't know, never owned a chinese, but the korean sg i have i actually liked better than the japanese one :-?
if you were gigging, how many of the audience would know if you were playing a chinese, korean, japanese tokai, or an american gibson?
the gallaghers (oasis) used epiphones as opposed to gibsons, would their songs have sounded better using gibsons?
you can definitely feel the superior quality of a japanese tokai over a korean,
but they both sound great.
what has the best tone, sustain, i don't know, how much does the amp change everything.
so many variables, i know what i like, but that doesn't mean you'd agree.
the early koreans were thought of quite well, but i think the chinese ones are now maybe just as good.
bit of a ramble, but do you get what i mean?

By better I meant built quality rather than 'perceived' better.

I can't agree more that an audience wouldn't have the slightest clue and I am personally under the impression that it's the pickups that make up 90% of the sound. I'm not doubting that having a mahogany body versus alder would affect the tone to some extent. However, I highly doubt that anyone would be able to tell apart a Les Paul that happens to have a fancy one piece body versus a cheaper 3 piece model... let alone the glue used and so on...

I do get what you mean, however the way I personally perceive it is more about craftsmanship, appearance & feel rather than some magical difference in sound. I suppose you want it to be something you love.

Korean les Paul - Identification

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Korean les Paul - Identification

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