Epiphone Les Paul Custom

[mauri]

Hey guys,

started playing guitar about a year ago and have dedicated myself soulfully to it since then.

I'd like your help/opinion about the Epiphone Les Paul Custom. I have one here at home that i've been testing out. It has got the stock Alnico pro humbucker on the neck and it has a JB Humbucker at the bridge. The guitar is in mint condition and it sounds amazing out of my Peavey Triple X amp.

This guitar is being "offered to me", second hand mint condition, for 550 dollars (with both the stock humbuckers and the Seymour Duncan JB) and a hard case.

My question to you is: Is this a good buy and is it really a step up from my Squier Fender Fat Strat? (cost me about 350 dollars at the time)

It certainly sounds like a step up but I'm afraid it might just be my mind playing tricks on me (the actual Gibson Les Paul Custom is my dream guitar).

What say ye oh guitar experts?

Thank you

 

[Jessie Sammler]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul Custom

If your dream guitar is a Gibson LP Custom, that Epi is more than a step up from a Squier Strat.:eyecrazy:

I remember paying $600 for a new factory second LP Custom flametop. I had to buy the case, and it was all stock -- no pickup upgrades. So $550 in mint condition doesn't seem too bad. Would he do it for $500?

 

[RavenMadd]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul Custom

try 500 ........if you played it and loved it ...

 

[Aceman]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul Custom

Epiphone makes some fine guitars. They also make some that are meh. The only way to know for sure is based on how your hands and ears feel about it. In this case, they seem to feel pretty good about it.

An A2P in the neck should be all kinds of Slash goodness. A JB in the bridge should be 80's metal shredder-iffic, although it can do a lot more!

And it should feel 1000x the quality of the Squier strat. Epi Les Paul Customs are pretty good guitars for what they cost. Not all of the fancy wood or hardware of a real Gibson - but 90% of the mojo for between 1/2 to 1/4 of the price.

Hit it and enjoy it. Just don't get too much attitude about what wood it is made of. It is an epiphone - you never know!

Again - your hands, your ears. I have Les Pauls that range in style/price from one made by Kaman (Ovation) $150 to a 1973 Gibson ~ $2k. I have an epiphone too. They ALL feel and sound great.

 

[mauri]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul Custom

Thank you very much for the help guys, you gave me the extra push I needed. I'll be making an offer that will lead me to the 500$ you all seem to suggest.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul Custom

Thank you very much for the help guys, you gave me the extra push I needed. I'll be making an offer that will lead me to the 500$ you all seem to suggest.

+1. Good idea. You can get an Epi LPC on eBay with upgraded PU's & a HSC for that, so you don't need to pay more.

I love Epi LP Customs & Standards. Put in a set of American-made PU's and you've got a great-sounding guitar. Be sure to wipe down the gold hardware after every time you play, so it doesn't tarnish.

 

[mauri]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul Custom

I am now the proud owner of a beautiful Epiphone Les Paul Custom guitar bought at your suggested price of 500$ after some negotiation.

Thank you to everyone that gave me feedback

 

[eschoendorff]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul Custom

Excellent. Now, please post some pics...

 

[The Golden Boy]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul Custom

I am now the proud owner of a beautiful Epiphone Les Paul Custom guitar bought at your suggested price of 500$ after some negotiation.

Thank you to everyone that gave me feedback

Awesome!!!

 

[Aceman]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul Custom

Pics or you don't own it.

 

[mauri]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul Custom

hehehe I'll have some photos up tomorrow from both the new guitar and the small home studio I'm currently setting up.

thanks for the support

 

[tmmblues]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul Custom

I took a great playing '98 Epi LP standard and after the mods only have $800 in it but it compares sound and playability to its big brother at only 25% of the cost. If money was never a determining factor we'd all have 59 LPs. Check out some of the past guitar auctions at Skinner Auctioneers and Appraisers in Boston. I remember one of Albert King's 59 LPs selling for well in excess of $100K. These guys usually have a guitar and stringed instrument auction a couple times a year. You may find a 54 strat, 59 LP and stradivarius in the same catalogue not to mention Martins and old Epiphones (think early 20th century vintage by Mr. Epiphone himself, Anastasios Stathopoulos).

 

[blueman335]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul Custom

I am now the proud owner of a beautiful Epiphone Les Paul Custom guitar bought at your suggested price of 500$ after some negotiation.

Excellent! With the upgraded PUs, you're ready to rock right now. And you didn't have to spend $4,000 on a Gibson LP Custom.

 

[80's_Metal]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul Custom

Oh hells yeah!
Welcome to the Epi LP Lovers association!
Pics pics pics

 

[blueman335]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul Custom

Welcome to the Epi LP Lovers association!

I'm a founding member! I've got all kinds of Duncan & DMz's in mine, and they do sound good. I'll take them to any gig or jam and go head-to-head with anyone. All you need is a good tool, everything else is in the hands, baby.

 

[AdamR]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul Custom

I just got an Epi standard with a SD59 in the bridge, a Gibson 490 in the neck, a set of grover tuners and a set of strap locks. I traded a couple of Ibanez bass's that I was having a hard time selling for it. It play great, weighs half of what my studio does (not sure if thats really a good thing though, LOL) I havent had a chance to crank it through my DSL yet though.

I have a feeling its well worth the money. I may add a TonePros birdge and bone nut to it yet. I would still love to try an Agile.

 

[Jessie Sammler]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul Custom

+1 on the bone nut. It really improves the sound of your open strings.

The TonePros bridges are quite nice. If you're on a budget or don't need the locking hardware, Gotoh bridges are the same as the metric TonePros, which even say "Gotoh" on the bottom.