Epiphone guitars and replacing parts...Help?

[strat_master]

Hi guys

I'm wondering is it worth buying an epiphone guitar stock? and having minimal replacement parts added? The reason being i always had my heart set on a gibson but i realized i will never be able to affrod one. After i buy my amp, this year, i plan on goign for a les paul, and so far the epiphone les paul custom is looking good to me, but i realize alot of people here say you should replace the pots, pick ups etc. Whats the deal with this? Are they that bad and faulty? I know afew people who play epiphones stock and they seem ok to me. To me an epiphone would seem fine right now and a gibson can wait when i am a full gorwn adult working a full time joba nd not some broke ass university student. Well any insights would be greatly appreciated thanks guys. P.S at the the most i would replace the pick ups and thats eventually when i have cash, or i may leave them stock permanantally when i get the axe. And does the epiphone les paul custom do a good job in nialing the classic LP tone or even come close? PLease guys help me clear up the doubts and questions i have surrounding these foreign guitars!

Thanks guys in advance

 

[strat_master]

Re: Epiphone guitars and replacing parts...Help?

one more thing guys i forgot to add, do the new epiphones come with grover tuners as stock now? ive seen some new epiphone les pauls ( not the elitist series as i know they come with grovers already) that have grovers. I also noticed some epiphone LP's dont have grovers.

 

[theboatcandream]

Re: Epiphone guitars and replacing parts...Help?

Stock epiphone nuts are plastic, but a lot of guitars have plastic nuts. Can't hurt to upgrade to micarta/tusq/whatever, but it's functional until it breaks.

Stock epiphone pots have in the past been 300k or worse. I don't know what they measure now, but it can't hurt to spend a little money and get 500k volume and tone pots. But the ones in it will be functional, until they break.

The new pickups are based on the 57 Classics. They are alnico II humbuckers, but they're not for me.... some I've played have been chimey, bell like. I played one the other day and it was fine though. It can't hurt to upgrade to seymour duncans but they seem functional.

Try to figure out what woods you're getting if possible, ESPECIALLY with the Custom les pauls. Some of those have mahogany necks, some have maple. Most epiphones have maple. Some have mahogany backs, some have alder backs with mahogany veneers. Some have alder caps, some have maple. I've heard of mahogany caps as well. My epiphone "korina" explorer was not maple or mahogany or alder though, it was agathis! You never know. Epiphone is very inconsistent.

 

[butnut]

Re: Epiphone guitars and replacing parts...Help?

I was fortunate enough to score my Epi LP Custom from Wattage. The BIG difference is it was made in Japan...which may be tougher to find. I was blown away at the build quality, easily as good as my '70 black LP Custom I sold in 1990. He already did the pot upgrades (1 push/pull phase) and SD pups. So it smokes. The stock Japan tuners work great.
My Epi LP studio I sold a few years back was Korean made, no comparason. I don't know if new Epi's are still made in Japan, may have to seek one out used...it's good enough to replace my old Custom, and in some ways, better. Good luck.

 

[theodie]

Re: Epiphone guitars and replacing parts...Help?

Epiphone LPs are actually made by Samick.

 

[bryvincent]

Re: Epiphone guitars and replacing parts...Help?

Epiphone LPs are actually made by Samick.

only some of them but not all. epiphone has like 5 different manufacturers in asia

 

[SheDoesntDoIt4Me]

Re: Epiphone guitars and replacing parts...Help?

Arent the Epi Elites like 950 now? I understand your plight, though. But If you spend 950 and another 200 on upgrades, surely you can find a used Gibson for 1150. Which youll alwasy get your money out of, I cant see even an Elite holding its value. I still dont have a Trus LP, I have a studio. But want a custom or Standard, but Ive tried a few epis and they are NOT the same, not even close, I always end up selling them. They just dont "feel" the same.

 

[Thames]

Re: Epiphone guitars and replacing parts...Help?

Epi LesPaul Customs (non all-black versions) are probably the best ones Epi made (but they are made in 4-5 diff plant... so you never know what you got). But the one I've played the store was quite fine, with a real, thick maple top.

If you want the real LP feel, a nice construction, and affordable, go Japanese! Burny, Greco, Tokai are all very fine guitars, and found ~400-500$ on eBay.

If you want the REAL thing, go for an Edwards.

 

[theboatcandream]

Re: Epiphone guitars and replacing parts...Help?

Arent the Epi Elites like 950 now? I understand your plight, though. But If you spend 950 and another 200 on upgrades, surely you can find a used Gibson for 1150. Which youll alwasy get your money out of, I cant see even an Elite holding its value. I still dont have a Trus LP, I have a studio. But want a custom or Standard, but Ive tried a few epis and they are NOT the same, not even close, I always end up selling them. They just dont "feel" the same.

Epi Elites aren't normal epiphones... they have mahogany necks and maple caps. The necks are different too. Elites are different from epiphones are different from Gibsons...

Gibson pots and pickups aren't for everybody either, so the added cost of electronics is kind of a null point when drawing a comparison.

 

[texasguitarslinger]

Re: Epiphone guitars and replacing parts...Help?

My Epi LP is was extremely nice to begin with. It has a mahogany neck, one piece mahogany body and a maple cap. It weighs in at 8.5 lbs. It came with grover tuners. I changed the PUPs, pots, switch and replaced the plastic nut with a bone nut. I also dressed the frets. I'll put my LP against any LP for ease of play and tone. It's true that Epi guitars can be inconsistant quality-wise but they turn out their share of gems too.

BTW, my guitar was a factory 2nd because of a 1 mm blemish in the finish between the pickups and I got it for a song.

 

[strat_master]

Re: Epiphone guitars and replacing parts...Help?

hmm my only big worry would be the incosistancy of woods and materials used. How can i be sure it actually has a maple cap and a mahogony back and neck? Its hard to tell with the paintover it. Also, is the hardware that bad it really breaks down on you? ONe last thing i read on the epiphone web site that all their guitars are not made in thier own factory i believe is that true?

 

[strat_master]

Re: Epiphone guitars and replacing parts...Help?

Also are you guys sure they use alnico 2 magnets in both bridge and neck pick ups?

 

[theboatcandream]

Re: Epiphone guitars and replacing parts...Help?

hmm my only big worry would be the incosistancy of woods and materials used. How can i be sure it actually has a maple cap and a mahogony back and neck? Its hard to tell with the paintover it. Also, is the hardware that bad it really breaks down on you? ONe last thing i read on the epiphone web site that all their guitars are not made in thier own factory i believe is that true?

Epiphone does not have a factory. They hire japanese, korean, or chinese factories to produce the guitars.

 

[theboatcandream]

Re: Epiphone guitars and replacing parts...Help?

Also are you guys sure they use alnico 2 magnets in both bridge and neck pick ups?

No.

 

[strat_master]

Re: Epiphone guitars and replacing parts...Help?

hmm strange i read that epiphone has a factory in china just for epiphone guitars, i read it in that interview with jim rosenberg on te epiphone site.

 

[Thames]

Re: Epiphone guitars and replacing parts...Help?

Right, Epiphone have a new factory in China. Epiphone Factory. Not a third-party (what Ive been told).