Epi Elite vs Edwards

[BloodRose]

Im sorry to rehash this but I have a new perspective on the issue. I now have an Edwards and love it. But I cant for the life of me get my hands on an ELite to try.

Anyone who has played both, how would they compare? I want another LP style guitar to put a diff pickup combo in. If the Elitist is better, Id go that route as I know they are phasing down the production. However, if they are equal or if the edwards is better, Ill go that way.

Thanks

 

[bloodswords]

Re: Epi Elite vs Edwards

i did play that Epi but it wasn't favorable for me- pickups not too enticing, the neck is too gibson-esque (narrow vs Edward's slightly wider spec). love my Edwards...

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Epi Elite vs Edwards

Would you say the quality is there? Gibson feel? Did it have good tone? Id def yank the stock pickups. It will get an AIIpro set

 

[JeffB]

Re: Epi Elite vs Edwards

I Like the Elite's better. But really its six of one half a dozen of the other.

Epi has Grovers, which for "true" Les Paul tone, not workie so good
Epi has goofy headstock (find a Epi Japan)
Epi Has thinner "shreddier" neck profile
Epi has much nicer poly finish, and woods IME
Epi feels more "stout" or substantial
Epi has better fingerboard inlays
Epi Elites with the flame top are a real flame cap..not a cap with a veneer
Pups are a wash..Epi Elite pups based on 498/490..which IMO are no worse than a JB/59...both are bad combinations for a Les Paul in some way or another.

 

[sosomething]

Re: Epi Elite vs Edwards

Despite Epiphone being a subsidiary of Gibson, it's the Edwards that look more like a "real" LP to me.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Epi Elite vs Edwards

Jeff,
So are you saying Grovers are a negative and the pickups are a negative?
Jb and 59 are not good paul combo??
Your list kinda went back and forth on plus vs negative.
but overall you like the Elitists over the Edwards?

Thanks

 

[JeffB]

Re: Epi Elite vs Edwards

Jeff,
So are you saying Grovers are a negative and the pickups are a negative?
Jb and 59 are not good paul combo??
Your list kinda went back and forth on plus vs negative.
but overall you like the Elitists over the Edwards?

Thanks

It went back and forth because it has some positives..it has some negatives. No point in just relaying good or bad only, no?

I think the JB sounds "meh" at best in a Les Paul..but the real problem is getting decent EQ between a JB and 59 in the same guitar. By the time you roll off enough lows to take care of the boom in the 59n, the JB is so thin its' worthless. The 498/490s sound GREAT in an all mahogany guitar but are not voiced well for a standard les paul, IMO. There is worse, but there is much better.

Grovers aren't *bad* per-se...they work great, but they also darken and dull/compress the tone. Klusons have the more open classic Les Paul tone.

Quality wise it's just down to personal prefs in finish/neck, etc...So thats why I say six of one half a dozen of the other.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Epi Elite vs Edwards

thanks for clarifying.. Do tuning keys really alter tone that much? I figure as long as they keep things in tune, its all good..