Epiphone Les Paul! Good Or Bad

[evh_slash]

Hi, im looking for a backup guitar that will give me a good classic / hard rock tone slash/ etc. Would anyone recommend the Epiphone LP as i cant afford a gibson les paul . (although i have a gibson sg!) Is the Epi just as good providing i put good pickups in. Is it well made, does it stay in tune?? Or should i just avoid it? Im thinking that if i do get it, i should maybe put in ALnico pro neck and bridge , so if i do this will they make the epiphone sound brilliant.

So, overall, are epi. LP.s good and if so , should i get one!?

 

[mrturtle_91]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul! Good Or Bad

I have a cheap epi LP special...it stays in tune very well, and is quite well made...with a good setup and some new pickups, they are awesome guitars.

 

[tubeman87]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul! Good Or Bad

Don't let the price tags fool you. Just cause they don't cost an arm and a leg doesn't mean they aren't good, just like any guitar play a few and take the one that "speaks" to you. Change the pups and the caps/pot and you'll have a great guitar.

{ One thing that I like to do is strip the back of the neck down to the bare wood....not pertinent info but it feels nicer, especially since the poly on the back of the neck feels sticky to me. }

My $00.02....get one. (Plain top)

 

[Rand-O-Monium]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul! Good Or Bad

They're fine.
I've got one of the LE Guitars of the Month(Black & Chrome Custom),it's a great axe!!!They usually go for cheap on eBay,too!
Here's a couple like mine,although I bought mine new from MF:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...MEWA:IT&viewitem=&item=290141524488&rd=1&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...MEWA:IT&viewitem=&item=270147165608&rd=1&rd=1

No alder in these MoFos,either!!!
If I didn't have mine,I'd be looking pretty hard at the Plaintops,also!

 

[lex666]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul! Good Or Bad

Yep, alot of people bash 'em, but I think they are great guitars. Mine have never had a problem staying in tune. The feel and playability is great. They occasionally do have small electronic problems like bad switches, but those can be fixed easily.

I wouldn't hesitate buying or recommending one...

 

[C1CLASSIC]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul! Good Or Bad

i have the les paul standard in trans blue great guitar love it havnt changed anything on it but am still thinking about changing pick ups. bought an epi les paul custom arctic white last weekend due to low price got it home and i just dont think it compares to the standard it doesnt sound as good and dont think it feels as good to play even though its a higher end model so my advice just try a few out 1st

 

[Pastor of Muppets]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul! Good Or Bad

I had an Epi '56 Gold Top with Gibson PAFS that played like a guitar that costs twice as much...wish I'd never sold it...but I've played some Epis that felt like cheap crap too.

 

[Sludgenutz]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul! Good Or Bad

I picked up my Epi Lp Std. from over six, between two different stores...including 10 or twelve other brands/models with dual humbuckers...and I found the one I liked, over a three weekend search. I love mine, and I have no intention to sell! The stock pickups are rather awful, but that is part of the budget. Some people say, get a Gibson, but they often buy a different set of pickups too!

If possible, you need to try THE guitar you want...it just makes more sense. Get the EXACT guitar that fits you like a glove!

I was a young man (a long time ago!), and I cannot tell you how many times I rushed into a buy...just to see a better deal the next week! That's life, but often the worst thing you can do, is make yourself like something that your guts just don't feel right about.

Good Luck!

 

[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul! Good Or Bad

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't there a wide range of Epi LP's, from real cheap, to kind of expensive? So which Epi LP?

Are some of the Epi's basically equal to the Gibson, but it says Epi instead of Gibson? That would probably be a great guitar, and a great value. So would an Epi that is fairly close to that standard.

On the other hand, Iv'e heard of some that are not actually using mahogony and so forth, so investigate those aspects well, and know which one your getting, and what your getting.

 

[krankguitarist]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul! Good Or Bad

The epiphone elitists are supposed to be real solid guitars. Can't say that I've ever played one, though.

I've never gotten along too well with their lower-end models. I'd say there's better axes out there for the money...but, if you find one you like, more power to ya . Not an axe to buy sight-unseen, that's for sure.

 

[Mr. B]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul! Good Or Bad

I have an Epi Elitist LP. The build quality is definately well above your standard Epiphone. Mine has no flaws, perfectly cut bone nut, beautiful finish, nice fretwork. Wood quality LOOKS excellent.

The TOM bridge with the vintage retaining wire rattled. I replaced the entire bridge with a Tonepros with Graphtec saddles. While it is built well, I have played several plain top epis (half the price) that sound better. The tone on my Elitist leaves a lot to be desired even after pickup/bridge/tailpiece/electronics upgrades.

The tone to me seems bright and harsh no matter what I have tried. Most likely a bad combination of wood along with a thick finish.
As far as feel and playability, the only thing keeping this from being a real Gibson are those fatter Gibson Frets, which I wish it had.

 

[mediumpimpin]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul! Good Or Bad

I've got an epi lp custom that's killer. It has a nice flame top and with the addition of all new electronics with the jb/jazz set the guitar is top notch. I would recommend playing a few a finding the best one, some are better than others, mine would definitely shock alot of gibbo owners, I've played lots of gibbos that sucked in comparison.

 

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul! Good Or Bad

I say just go play some Epiphones that are within your price range, buy the one you like, then buy an A2P humbucker set and be done with it