PSA $399 Epi Trad Pro gold top

[beaubrummels]

FYI

https://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/epiphone-les-paul-traditional-pro-iv-limited-edition-electric-guitar/l79036000001000?irclickid=XUz2SAWykxyPR04RX-VTH2cdUkHzGRwFUxpEVk0&irpid=10451&irmpname=Slickdeals_LLC&source=3ACJWXX2&irgwc=1

[GuitarDoc]

Nice.

[GuitarDoc]

I could see myself going for that if I didn't have over 50 guitars including a Gibson Gold Top DC90 already.

[eclecticsynergy]

When are Epi going to switch to the better headstock shape?
I thought that was supposed to be coming soon...

[beaubrummels]

When are Epi going to switch to the better headstock shape?
I thought that was supposed to be coming soon...

You don't like this one?

[GuitarDoc]

I think there is absolutely nothing wrong with that Epi headstock.
If you want a Gibson headstock, buy a Gibson guitar.
If you want to complain about headstocks, talk about Dean. Functionally, it's the worst design ever. Esthetically speaking, "god-awful horridly atrocious" would be a compliment.

[Seashore]

With Epiphone, I'm more concerned about soft wood, stripped screw holes that let screws fall out, meh fretwork, weird cheap/rushed finish flaws, setup compromises, and poorly wired electronics than I am the headstock... TBH I never gave the carving at the top a second thought until I saw people talking about it here.

But for $400, this might be worth it! If you need one.

[GuitarDoc]

Definitely "worth it".

[ErikH]

Majority of that stuff listed hasn't really been an issues since the change to the new headstock shape (somewhere around 2020 or so?). They have greatly improved over the years and these models are no exception.

[GuitarStv]

With Epiphone, I'm more concerned about soft wood, stripped screw holes that let screws fall out

Is this really a concern at all?

I've never run into a stripped screw hole in a guitar that couldn't be easily remedied by sticking a couple toothpicks and some wood glue into the hole.

[DankStar]

I wouldn't kick it out of bed for having soft wood

[Seashore]

Is this really a concern at all?

I've never run into a stripped screw hole in a guitar that couldn't be easily remedied by sticking a couple toothpicks and some wood glue into the hole.

Well, I spent $1300 on a "nice" new Epiphone in 2022 and I had to fix that and some other glaring QC problems right out of the box, and after playing it a lot and really trying to get it dialed in, I realized it's just a mediocre instrument and it'll never be what I want. Always a fight to play, lots of little details that add up to a substandard instrument. It's a backup at best. So yeah, for me, it was a concern. I was hoping for more after playing a bunch of reasonably OK Epiphones in the past. I don't buy the improved QC. This thing was all specs and no juice.

[eclecticsynergy]

You don't like this one?

No, I don't mind the new headstock.
For some reason I thought they were still using the old one with the clipped corners.
That one always looked wrong to me, not because it wasn't Gibson but because it seemed too long.
I know it wasn't really longer, just an aesthetic issue.

I've had an Epi Explorer and a Wildkat for more than a decade. Haven't had any issues with the wood.
I will say the Wildkat's a little neck heavy, but that's the design; it has a fat neck compared to the Explorer.
Soft wood or not, they are both heavier than I'd expected- The korina Epi Explorer weighs over a pound more than my Gibson korina Explorer.

[80's_Thrash_Metal]

Quality axe, swap the bridge pup and rock out !

[80's_Thrash_Metal]

I think there is absolutely nothing wrong with that Epi headstock.
If you want a Gibson headstock, buy a Gibson guitar.
If you want to complain about headstocks, talk about Dean. Functionally, it's the worst design ever. Esthetically speaking, "god-awful horridly atrocious" would be a compliment.

Respectfully disagree.
I love the Dean Headstocks.