Epiphone Elite LP??

[theboatcandream]

Re: Epiphone Elite LP??

Hmm. I knew the Norlin issue, but I thought the price drop happened some time after 86 or whenever it was that the change in ownership happened. Shows what I (don't) know.

 

[kherman]

Re: Epiphone Elite LP??

I remember when I was 18 in '84. I bought a '84 Studio LP. I traded a Arbor guitar, $200, and a foot pedal for it. It was white with dot inlays.

I eventually ditched it for an Ibanez ProLine 2550 (Soloist style). In '86.

The studio has a molded case with orange colored lining in it.
I must of forgot to wipe the LP guitar down before putting it away.
Combination of sweat an the orange interior dye soaked right into the nitro.
I had this big orange spot on the upper front edge of the guitar.
A friend had an SG in the same color from the same era. It soaked up the dye from his new blue jeans.

 

[Dave]

Re: Epiphone Elite LP??

Kent-

Thanks for all the great insight-the general principles are obvious, but to many of us, myself included, it's difficult to boil down the materials and construction methods used by lots of guitar companies, unless you have a full tank of gas and a lot of time to try out many guitars. I've long been waiting in the wings for a LP style guitar-don't have a lot o'cash, but also would like quality. I'll be taking a lot of what you said to heart-thanks again.

Dave

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Epiphone Elite LP??

First I'll say this. When I first started checking out the Elites, they were $900 plus. I thought, for that, Ill spend $100-200 more and get a Gibson.
Now, I cant spend $1000 so I was looking at the Epis. Epi Lp Customs run about $699, so if I can get an Elite for that same amount. I think I should go with the Elite.

Yesterday I played back to back an EPi LP Custom and a Gibson studio at a shop. The Epi seemed to be made better, had better keys (I like Grovers better than the plastic knob klusens) and the fretboard wasnt as wavy. They played the same. Only difference was the Gibson pickups were louder (also muddier) . But I would swap the pups out anyhow for Duncans.
Then I went home and played my Patriot Q and it out played them both and sustained 2 times longer.
If I can get the Elite at that sale price, thats what Ill do..

 

[theboatcandream]

Re: Epiphone Elite LP??

First I'll say this. When I first started checking out the Elites, they were $900 plus. I thought, for that, Ill spend $100-200 more and get a Gibson.
Now, I cant spend $1000 so I was looking at the Epis. Epi Lp Customs run about $699, so if I can get an Elite for that same amount. I think I should go with the Elite.

Yesterday I played back to back an EPi LP Custom and a Gibson studio at a shop. The Epi seemed to be made better, had better keys (I like Grovers better than the plastic knob klusens) and the fretboard wasnt as wavy. They played the same. Only difference was the Gibson pickups were louder (also muddier) . But I would swap the pups out anyhow for Duncans.
Then I went home and played my Patriot Q and it out played them both and sustained 2 times longer.
If I can get the Elite at that sale price, thats what Ill do..

Keep in mind that at home, you're playing with a different amp in a room with different accoustics.

 

[guitarmart]

Re: Epiphone Elite LP??

I have an Epiphone Elite Les Paul and it is as nice as any Gibson Les Paul Standard that I have ever played. Nicer than the 76 Gibson that I used to own. Elites are awesome guitars don't listen to people that tell you different because they have probably never played one. The minute you mention "Epiphone" they think you are talking about the cheaper Korean Epi's you see in every music store in America.

I have never seen an Elite in a store. I took a chance and got mine online and when it arrived I was blown away. Mine already had Duncans installed when I got it. (Custom bridge and '59 neck) I have never heard the stock pickups but I do have them just in case I want to install them again. This guitar sounds amazing!

If you play an Elite you will buy it, especially if you play it right next to a Gibson and compare price tags. The craftsmanship is top notch. The maple top is nice and thick and the neck goes into the pickup cavity like the Gibson Historics. The frets and inlays are perfect. I like the Grover tuners better than the Gibson Kluson plastic ones too. I don't care about nitro finishes but the only thing that might surprize you is the colors. They did an amazing job on the finish. The color is kind of different. I got the faded cherryburst model and it looks much, much lighter than the pictures on the Epiphone websight. To me it looks very much like the Gibson Reissue 69 Historic that Guitar Center is advertising right now. It really looks like a 1958 Gibson plaintop, really light burst.

For some reason every picture I have seen online does not do the Elites justice. Maybe Poly finish doesn't photograph as well as nitro but in my opinion my Elite looks very sweet. I am not missing the Gibson name at all and I never thought I would say that after I got rid of my last Gibson Les Paul. This guitar filled that Les Paul void just fine. I would buy another one in a heartbeat. In fact I have been tempted to sell my American Tele to get the Elite Standard Plus with the flamed maple top.

Gibsons are great guitars! I love them! Elites are just as good! I love them and can afford them.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Epiphone Elite LP??

Guitarmart,
Thanks for chiming in and sharing the info!!

Theboatcandream,
Thanks for the tip.. I hear ya and understand that. So I look at all things included. I can tell unplugged how long the string is ringing . I think I give a fair evaluation of the instrument itself.. Not just wow it sounded better at the guitarstore thru the marshall than it does at home thru my bandit..

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Epiphone Elite LP??

By the way.. Im looking at the studio model. I prefer the looks of the custom, but the foo foo isnt worth the cost to me. I want the playability and the tone, not the looks. plus, I dont like how gold wears off..