Anyone have any advice on an Epi Les Paul Custom?

N

Naps

New member
After selling the Paul I bought from JeffB, I'm thinking I want a Les Paul type guitar but Much Cheaper. I've been thinking about selling my MIA Strat and getting a good dual humbucker, set neck guitar with the proceeds. I'm really looking at a Epi Les Paul Custom, but I'd like to get some input before I decide to make the leap.

I really like my tone now (MIA strat, CC bridge, Texas Specials N&M), but I think I'm more of a humbucker, set neck tone guy.

Any input is appreciated. Thanks.



Also, for gear I use a Mesa single recto w/KT-77s, two eminance Governors (Sold the Marshall in the pic a while back, but the picture just looks too cool to take down:banana: )
 
Re: Anyone have any advice on an Epi Les Paul Custom?

Nothing to think about. Find one, and play it. If it feels good, listen to the acoustic tone. Decide which Duncans you want to drop into it and rock on. I'm a big believer that 90% of the guitar is the pups anyway. Wood etc add subtract some, but mostly it's the pups. My epi with PG/CC is the best sounding Paul I have. Easily worth what I paid for it, and more. Unlike most REAL Pauls...
 
Re: Anyone have any advice on an Epi Les Paul Custom?

i like a very heavy les paul with the jazz / jeff beck combo or underwound antiquirts and a marshall stack if i cant have that give me a fender strat /3 single coils a ts 9 and a fender twin
 
Re: Anyone have any advice on an Epi Les Paul Custom?

Naps said:
After selling the Paul I bought from JeffB, I'm thinking I want a Les Paul type guitar but Much Cheaper. I've been thinking about selling my MIA Strat and getting a good dual humbucker, set neck guitar with the proceeds. I'm really looking at a Epi Les Paul Custom, but I'd like to get some input before I decide to make the leap.
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sigh..I miss that guitar :crying: What a player :bigthumb:



Tokai or Edwards. All ya need to know.


www.katanaguitars.com Check his ebay auctions.

Check fleabay for Jap Tokais..LS75/80/85, etc. Or order through ishibashi.



.
 
Re: Anyone have any advice on an Epi Les Paul Custom?

Alot of people bash Epi's, but I think they're great guitars. Find one that plays well and you won't regret it. If you need new pups in it, try the C5/59 combo...
 
Re: Anyone have any advice on an Epi Les Paul Custom?

Some of the Epi's are really good no doubt. I've had a few that are excellent guitars with great tone, on par with some of my best Gibsons.

But for $200 more you get a much better guitar in an Edwards or Tokai. You are guaranteed mahogany with a maple cap then a veneer. In an Epi it could be anything, and Customs in particular seem to be Alder oftentimes. You get a MUCH nicer/smoother/tighter rosewood board. Thats one area where the Chinese/Korean guitars really cut corners. Higher quality fret material (and fretjob) on the Tokai/Edwards. Better quality binding. Better quality electronics and hardware. Long neck tenons on the Edwards (on some Tokais). Nuts are perfect and of high quality material (epis are often garbage). Arguably better pickups (I like the Epi pups, but...).


BTW Naps, I just looked on fleabay...lotsa good LS Japanese Tokai's out there right now. There's a twin to mine, and a gorgeous Honeyburst quilt top w/ long tenon for good prices.
 
Re: Anyone have any advice on an Epi Les Paul Custom?

All I can say is that I put a set of Duncans in an Epi Les Paul Custom last year and did a minor fret level, recrown and polish and set up...and that guitar sounded as good and played as good as my $2000+ Gibson 59 Historic Les Paul. I thought the Epi Les Paul Custom I worked on was a spectacular guitar!
 
Re: Anyone have any advice on an Epi Les Paul Custom?

I was actually looking for a Custom last year but ended up with a Standard Plus. Every one of the Customs I played didn't play very well to me. The Standard Plus ran circles around them. The Customs are nice, but I'd look at the Standard Plus models instead. They are made in the China facility which is turning out some really well made guitars right now. I'm still iffy on many of the Korean models. Only one or two really stand out for me, the Ace Frehley model being one. ;)
 
Re: Anyone have any advice on an Epi Les Paul Custom?

Yup in general, I find the Chinese Standard Plus models to be the most consistent...at least in tone and playability. MY ampbertop was put together kinda poorly, but boy did it play and sound good. The CSB Std + had some weird issues with the nut and truss rod, but easily hung with any Gibson I've owned barring my R8 (tone-wise). Erik heard the clips. Thing sustained for days and was FAT FAT FAT.

The 2 Korean SpaceAce Models I've messed with were/are excellent. However they are also the most expensive of the Korean models and cost as much or more than a Tokai/Edwards (3 Dimarzios I'm sure inflate the price) They were both "mahogany" with maple cap and veneer. Good resonance. Good sustain. Put together well. I suspect a little more care goes into them.

The regular customs and the "classics" (most are made in Korea) IME are hit or miss...you'll find one like Lew mentioned that with a little work is absolutely fantastic and the next one will be an absolute dog.

On a side note: if you truly want a LP custom, an Edwards will have an ebony board. Epis will not. Not even the Elitist series.
 
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Re: Anyone have any advice on an Epi Les Paul Custom?

That's what I've noticed with the Customs too, Jeff. They're still too inconsistent for me. And the ones I played just didn't "feel" right either. Even some of the Customs I've played recently didn't have the feel but every Standard Plus felt right. Heck, if the Lynyrd Skynyrd sig model didn't have that gawdy inlay, I would've snagged it. The tone on those is incredible, and they are "mahogany" as well. The shop still has it.

Don't forget the face on the headstock on the Space Ace. You know you love it....LOL LOL LOL!!!! :D
 
Re: Anyone have any advice on an Epi Les Paul Custom?

ErikH said:
Don't forget the face on the headstock on the Space Ace. You know you love it....LOL LOL LOL!!!! :D
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Indeed...it sooooooo adds to the tone mojo :bigthumb:

I also find my legs get quite wobbly when I play it :22:
 
Re: Anyone have any advice on an Epi Les Paul Custom?

JeffB said:
Indeed...it sooooooo adds to the tone mojo :bigthumb:

I also find my legs get quite wobbly when I play it :22:
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LMFAO!!!! It hasn't started smoking yet has it? :laugh2:
 
Re: Anyone have any advice on an Epi Les Paul Custom?

ErikH said:
LMFAO!!!! It hasn't started smoking yet has it? :laugh2:
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I can't see to tell....I keep getting the makeup in my eyes:grumble:
 
Re: Anyone have any advice on an Epi Les Paul Custom?

JeffB said:
I can't see to tell....I keep getting the makeup in my eyes:grumble:
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Bwaahahahahahaha!

If you start cackling when you laugh, then I'll start worrying. :laugh2:

I'm back, back in the New York Groove
I'm back, back in the New York Groove
I'm back, back in the New York Groove
In the New York Groove
In the New York Groove

:D
 
Re: Anyone have any advice on an Epi Les Paul Custom?

i am a 100% belever that wood makes the guitar...unless its a dan armstrong lucite/ampeg clear guitar than i dont have anything to say pickups just make bad sounding guitars louder through an amp of course.
 
Re: Anyone have any advice on an Epi Les Paul Custom?

heres the equation...(bad speller) ...good wood,+good pickups+,good electronics,+good frets,+good hardware+, good workmanship and maybe a hint of juju= with any luck a great guitar...than you add a great amp and a great microphone ot 2 and you are on your way ...with any luck
 
Re: Anyone have any advice on an Epi Les Paul Custom?

My recommendation with Epi's is to play a dozen of them and pick the one that sounds and feels best. Don't buy the first one you see. Some of them are fantastic, but most are dogs.

As others have said, check out the Tokais and Agiles as well.
 
Re: Anyone have any advice on an Epi Les Paul Custom?

I just purchased an Epi LP Custom. 2005 model. I'm extremely happy with it. As stated above, get your hands on it and check everything out.
The only thing I would say that needs attention on mine is the nut. I'm not even sure what it is that they are using for the material now, it looks kinda like rubber, but it's harder. Anyways, it WORKS just fine, but i'll replace it soon.
But seriously, aside from that...she looks gorgeous, and plays so wonderfully easy. I need to get a picture or something.
 
Re: Anyone have any advice on an Epi Les Paul Custom?

I have a 2005 Epi LP Custom as well. I like it, and I agree with everyone when they say play them first.

One thing I will say, is beware of the 'gold' hardware. It gets all spotty and aged real quick. I had the black/gold version, and now it doesn't quite have it's old shine. Aesthetics are not as important as tone and mojo, but still, it's a valid point.
 
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