Most guitar manufacturers have had a go at designing guitars aimed at female players. To be honest, most of them are nothing more than regular guitars sprayed pink or covered in glitter. There is an element of that with this Squier, but by aligning itself with a hugely successful character like the cute little Kitty, Fender has produced probably the least patronising guitar for young girls - and boys in touch with their feminine side, of course. The body features bevels that make it comfortable for playing, and the string-through-body design offers a lot of sustain and tuning stability. It’s also nice to see a GraphTech TUSQ nut on this model; should help add to its durability. If you’re inspired to start learning guitar, need a Les Paul style model, and are unsure of what you want to play or how much you should spend, this is the perfect bet. But I think experienced players may want to splash a bit more and get one of the better guitars on this list.

By this time, many guitar manufacturers from the Far East had 10+ years experience under their belts, and the improvement in quality began to shine through. Univox, Kawai, Silvertone and Domino were starting to deliver guitars that – from a price / quality point of view – were beginning to eat into the markets that Fender and Gibson dominated. Not only was the manufacturing quality improving, but the quality of the REPLICATION was reaching new highs. The lawyers at Gibson started to get restless, and young guitar players like myself were also getting restless… I could not wait to go out and buy a UNIVOX Les Paul for 1/5th the price of the real thing! Damn, it was so inexpensive that I could almost afford to smash it on stage! Cool! But as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. Like Jimmy, Eric and Elvis, we’re sold on the Dano vibe. Some of the most expensive guitars in the world pass through the office. Not many of them can match the fun we had with the ’63. You can’t get a better recommendation than that. With its affordable price tag, the Gretsch G5220 is fantastic value for money. It’s well-suited for intermediate players, vintage tone lovers, and those looking for a unique blend of modern features with old-school aesthetics. The playability of this unit is as impressive as it looks. The 24.75″ scale length felt familiar, and the 12″ fingerboard radius was just right for playing chords and riffs. The factory setup came with low action and perfect intonation, so I could get straight to jamming with it. Bottom Line: The Sire Larry Carlton L7 electric guitar is a sophisticated and versatile instrument that offers classy quality at a reasonable price. With its elegant design, robust sound, and adaptability, it’ll likely exceed your expectations. Estimated Price

The Seventies was the era of Classic Rock, so it’s not surprising that so many new guitar brands were flourishing then. But it was a less innocent time than the Sixties, and it soon became known as the “Lawsuit Era”. Here’s all you need to know about all the best,  the most badass, and the most copyright-infringing guitars of the time.

I’ve spent a great deal of time with the Atlantic: playing, recording sessions, and simply enjoying the feel and sound of this guitar. The tones I’ve been able to achieve, the comfort of playing, and the visual appeal all make it a must-try. I classify this as a premium guitar that’s meant to inspire. It’s not a Les Paul copy; it’s a single-cut work of art. For most of us, the affordable Epiphone range of guitars is the only way to get hold of iconic designs from Gibson such as the Les Paul Standard, Firebird, Explorer and Flying V. You already knew that? Hey, we’re just making sure… Tokai is a Japanese guitar manufacturer that has a long tradition of making high-quality replicas of Gibson and Fender instruments. In fact, in the 1970s, there was a period of time when Gibson was having a hard time keeping its customers, and companies such as Ibanez and Tokai emerged with pretty accurate copies of the Les Paul. Ibanez actually got sued, and Tokai was threatened with a lawsuit, which is why their instruments of this era are also known as “lawsuit guitars”. Ibanez replicas are no longer made, but they are highly coveted among players because of their quality, which is rumored to be superior to that of original Gibsons of the era. After spending a few weeks with the Schecter Solo-II, I can confidently say that it’s worth every penny. It’s one of the few guitars on this list I felt was a proper fit for my collection. It’s a perfect blend of classic aesthetics and modern playability, making it a great choice for any guitar enthusiast. Bottom Line: The Schecter Solo-II is a fantastic Les Paul-style guitar that delivers in all aspects – sound, build quality, versatility, and value for money. For me, it’s a guitar that has inspiring looks and tone, making it a worthy addition to any collection. Estimated Price

The best Les Paul style guitar is always going to be the Gibson Les Paul, so let’s just get that out of the way. However, in the world of guitar, the word “copy” or “replica” does not necessarily have to spell poor playability and subpar build quality. In fact, you could make a case that some of the guitars we have reviewed on our list are actually better than the original. Let’s take Slash as an example and his iconic sound. Slash has always been known as a Gibson Les Paul player, but what you may not know is that he recorded the legendary Guns N’ Rose LP “Appetite for Destruction” on a guitar that wasn’t a Gibson Les Paul. Collings is a company that is geared toward making boutique acoustic guitars, but their City Limits guitar is quite similar to a Gibson Les Paul. There is the maple top, the single cut, as well as the overall shape. And because it’s a Collings, you can rest assured that each guitar will be made to fit the highest possible standards. However, when you take a closer look at their Les Paul style guitar, you will notice that there is another Les Paul-inspired guitar that the Collings resembles more: it’s the PRS. And it’s a dead heat in terms of quality, attention to detail, and price as well, especially if in comparison to the PRS SC 245. The Epiphone Les Paul Standard offers a high-quality build, excellent playability, and vintage style at an affordable price point. I feel it captures much of the essence of a Gibson, without the costly overhead.Everything feels thoughtfully designed; modern, but still inspired by Les Paul. And the body is quite light, so it’s easy to play while standing up too. I do take slight issue with the PPS plastic nut, which is certainly a cost-saver, but it feels a bit cheap and might get worn out more with string changes. It does work well enough, but you can replace it for a better one, like TUSQ, if you find it to be a problem. Sound But if you want to, you could push it to distortion and play some heavy stuff too. It definitely is versatile and adaptable.

However, I did find the plastic nut to be a bit of a letdown, especially considering the overall quality of the other components. You may consider getting it replaced if it becomes an issue for you down the line. Sound The inclusion of the two-point vibrato ensures that you can wham away without fear of drifting into coarse tuning problems. Verdict Bottom Line: The Epiphone Les Paul Standard is a worthy tribute to the iconic Gibson Les Pauls of the 1960s. With its quality build that mirrors the original, authentic tone, and affordable price, it’s a guitar that’s sure to serve you well. And if you’re a Slash fan, this is probably the closest you can get on a budget. Estimated Price The Reverend Roundhouse is a premium guitar, which shows in its price tag. So if you’re a complete beginner, I would not recommend it at this stage; other LP copies half the price can do a great job nowadays. To my ears, the tone felt very warm and mellow. The kind of sound that could make you melt away and float. It’s perfect for some soulful phrasing and dynamic leads, because it really brings out the nuances of your playing. VersatilityAfter putting this thing through its paces, I can confidently say it’s a top performer. One of the best Les Paul-style guitars for metal that I’ve reviewed, and still flexible enough to adapt to other genres. And the eye-catching finishes only add to the overall aggressiveness of this guitar. Towards the end of the 1970’s, Fender and Gibson were loosing market share. That is why we hear so much about the “Lawsuit ERA” guitars. Late in the seventies, Gibson Guitars won a legal battle for patent infringements, which over time, shut down all but a few “copy” guitar manufacturers worldwide. This allowed some elbowroom for Gibson and Fender to rethink and retool their operations to fortify their position in the market. To avoid the same problem happening again, Gibson bought Epiphone and started building some very nice Imported Copy Guitars! Fender opened facilities outside North America under different brand names like Squier. GIBSON LES PAUL COPIES

Before moving their operation to Nashville, Tennessee, Gibson used to build its guitars in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Well, there was a number of workers and guitar builders that didn’t want to leave, so they formed their own company named the Heritage, which still continues to make high-end Les Pauls of their own. The instruments are handmade, for the most part, and their quality is excellent, and if you are looking for a vintage Gibson Les Paul that doesn’t sport the Gibson name, but has everything else, this is about as close it gets. The Mitchell MS450 can be a bit rough around the edges at times, but it’s incredible value for money. It’s got a good design and sound out of the box, and with some tinkering, it can get even better. Bottom Line: The ESP LTD EC-256FM electric guitar is a fantastic Les Paul copy and one that won’t burn a hole in your budget. If you are also a fan of the modern, yet subtle updates to the original, this one is a no-brainer. Estimated Price

True to the Les Paul, it features a classic single-cutaway design, which is supposed to allow easy access to the upper frets, and a Tune-O-Matic bridge for solid intonation and tuning stability. The LTD tuners in chrome finish looked good and were pretty stable too. British brand Encore already rules the entry-level, but it raised its game with the Blaster Series, commissioning designer Trev Wilkinson to upgrade the spec, but not charging you for his time. The Schecter Solo-II is a bit on the expensive side, but with its superb craftsmanship, high-quality materials, and innovative design, I think it’s well worth it. It’ll serve intermediate and professional players nicely, especially if you like exploring different genres. The Schecter Solo-II boasts solid build quality, and its design offers a modern twist to the traditional Les Paul style. The craftsmanship is impressive, with the mahogany body and solid maple top giving the guitar a sturdy feel and a gorgeous aesthetic. Similar to the ESP, the single-cut body on this looks razor-sharp.