NGD - Epiphone Les Paul Special 2020

[cliffenstein]

Re: NGD - Epiphone Les Paul Special 2020

Looks great, man. I've been super impressed with most of the Laurel boards I've seen; I vastly prefer their look to the pau ferro stuff you tend to see in the step-up price range.

I remember seeing laurel boards on Squier guitars in the last few years and thinking they had kind of a grayish appearance, so it took me many months of looking at photos and watching videos before I pulled the trigger on this. But gosh am I ever glad I did. There's NOTHING about this fretboard that looks or feels the slightest bit off. It so easily passes for rosewood. I don't like the look of pau ferro at all...super happy laurel was chosen.

[ErikH]

Re: NGD - Epiphone Les Paul Special 2020

That's really sharp. Love me some P90's. I like the smaller buttons on the tuners myself. Looks much more proper for the guitar style. However, when I built my SG Jr, I put Gotoh metal keystone tuners on it and it looks fine. For my LP Jr DC build I just started, the plan is to go with the Kluson Supreme 3-on-a-plate with oval plastic or metal buttons. I might go metal. Depends on the weight difference. I'm also looking at the Golden Age Vintage-style 3-On-Plate Tuners. 15:1 gear ratio, lightweight, got the look for the guitar.

Nice upgrades.

[The Dali]

Re: NGD - Epiphone Les Paul Special 2020

I just picked up a Epi Les Paul Special II Limited - an older bolt-on model - and I was extremely surprised at how nice it is. Plays really well and the Epi pickups have a nice classic rock crunch. Didn't expect it at all!

Your new guitar looks even nicer. Enjoy!

[Synapsys]

Re: NGD - Epiphone Les Paul Special 2020

The stock ones on mine after getting them the proper height sound so good to me. What's different about the SD ones? I see they're both Alnico 5 with braided wire. I'm all about making this guitar all it can be, so if the difference is really that stark, I may spring for the change myself.

I thought the stock tuners were great, it's just that locking tuners are a must have for me, which is why I went the Kluson Revolution route...glad I did. What do you think you're gonna end up doing about yours?

To my ears the set of SD Vintage P90s are a definite improvement over the stock Epiphone P90 PROs: better definition and bloom, and lots of clarity, not that the stock ones were THAT bad. Touch sensitivity is also much noticeable on the SDs.

Minor gripe to me is the fretboard, an indian laurel one, which is definitely not as smooth as a rosewood one. I have a Squier VMJM with a pau ferro board, and while not as good looking as the Epi one, feels way smoother.

After Dystrust's tip, I may try to find some Gotoh locking ones, if the brand makes them.

Tone-wise, it's a monster. Using volume and tone pots on these SD P90s definitely gets a lot of different tones.

I just find the back of the neck too sticky, and it's the first guitar I've ever owned that feels that way.

Judging from the YT reviews I had seen before I bought it, it's really a lot of guitar for € 368! Since a Gibson would cost around € 1.200, I really couldn't justify the cost of the real one, so I guess this gets me 90% close.

[Synapsys]

Re: NGD - Epiphone Les Paul Special 2020

I'm not super familiar with European retailers, but these are excellent tuners that should look correct.

I have a locking set with keystone buttons on my SG w/ Bigsby and they've been rock solid.

Thanks for the tip, Dystrust. I'm a Schaller man myself, but a set of SD MG-Ts will probably be the way to go for me.

[dystrust]

Re: NGD - Epiphone Les Paul Special 2020



Thanks for the tip, Dystrust. I'm a Schaller man myself, but a set of SD MG-Ts will probably be the way to go for me.

I love Schallers, but they're 30-50% more than Gotoh in the US for something of comparable quality.

[Snake Aces]

I like the style the new tuners add! It's a nice touch.

[cliffenstein]

I like the style the new tuners add! It's a nice touch.

The keystones or the nickel oval buttons?

[Snake Aces]

The keystones or the nickel oval buttons?

The even newer nickel ones, I liked the keystones too, but the nickel looks badass.