Epiphone Les Paul's and SG's?

matt99camero

matt99camero

New member
My birthday is coming up in December, 10 days before Christmas and my parents are wanting to get some ideas of what I want. I'm really wanting a Les Paul or an SG. I really wish my parents could afford to get me the real thing but that's just out of their buget. How are the Epiphone LPs and SGs? I have heard the cheap ones arn't very good but when you hit around the $500 price range such as the standard they get better. I usually only play the Gibsons when I go to a guitar shop and just past by the Epiphones. I'm by far not a pro or anything. I've only played 2 gigs in the last couple months. I'm not looking for the holy grail of tone just a nice looking, nice(or at least decent)sounding guitar that's not going to give me any trouble. I have a humbucking guitar in the Ibanez GAX70 but if I get one of these I think I'm gonna experiment with electronics and stuff on the GAX since it's pretty cheap. I am definately going to go and play them all before I decide but just wanting to get some feedback and see if anybody has had trouble with them?
 
Re: Epiphone Les Paul's and SG's?

The main thing I've found with Epi's are they're a shot in the dark. You need to play a few to find one that fits you. You can play every one that a shop has & each of them will be different. I had an Epi LP Custom & it was very nice. Eventually I upgraded everything on it, but it didn't NEED it right away.

On the down side, they can be had at a very good price on E-bay(low resale value), but you won't be able to play it...which means you might find a dog.

For the SGs, I've played a few G-400s(I think that's what they call them) & they were O.K., but just not my thing.

Anyway, good luck......and might I suggest a PGn/C5b set-up !!! :13:


BTW....between you & Jeff H. those avatars really put a spring in an old mans step!!!! :32:
 
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Re: Epiphone Les Paul's and SG's?

I agree with Puckboy. You have to try out a few different ones before you fined the one that fits likea glove, but I think that applies to Gibsons as well (some are overpriced dogs too). Stay away from the real cheap Epi's with the bolt-on necks though. Personally, I play a G-400 SG type and I love mine, but had to try a couple different ones before I found THE ONE! The only thing I had to change were the tuning pegs (those Kluson pegs are GARBAGE!!), other than that eveyrthing was fine as is. However, the newer G-400's apparently are putting on good Grover pegs now.

The Epi Les Pauls sound and play pretty nice, just not my thing though (LP's in general are MURDER on my shoulder).
 
Re: Epiphone Les Paul's and SG's?

The ideal les paul has a mahogany neck, mahogany back, and maple cap.


Some people will debate this and say maple necks are better cause they give more snap and have less mud.... that's the same thing as saying they sound thinner and have less mids, it's a personal preference.



Epiphone les paul will have a maple neck. Some higher models like the Customs *might* have mahogany necks.

Epiphone les pauls have alder caps to save costs, generally. There have been appearances of maple caps.

Epiphone les pauls should have mahogany backs, but some are alder. Alder is a classic strat wood, it's not a good wood if you want a les paul sound.


Thing is, my "korina" explorer is made out of AGATHIS. People have seen these guitars made out of korina, mahogany, and alder. I've never seen one made from agathis before mine. So a lot is possible.



Some people will tell you that the stock electronics and pickups on Epiphones suck. Some people will tell you the same about Gibsons too.


So yeah... just know what to look for.
 
Re: Epiphone Les Paul's and SG's?

The Epi Les Paul Custom I installed Duncan's in was an excellant guitar! The Epi Les Paul Standard I installed Duncan's in wasn't as well made as the Custom. I'd say go for the LP Custom over the standard. No experience with Epi SG's.

You know what? On second thought I'd look for a used Hamer USA Studio on Ebay.

Superb guitars with Duncan 59's, Jazz, JB's, etc. already in them.

Used on Ebay they go for around $600. or so.

Lew
 
Re: Epiphone Les Paul's and SG's?

My Epi Les Paul Standard Plus has; Mahogany Body and neck, Grover Tunners, And an awesome Flame Maple top. The 3 way switch is the only thing that has given me any problems. I'm getting ready to switch the pots for audio tapers and I have already put a Duncan 59 in the neck position. And I only paid something like $640 with a hard shell case (minus mods). So you just have to look and try them ALL! :burnout:
 
Re: Epiphone Les Paul's and SG's?

I have an Epi Les Paul Classic. It has a mahogany neck and body with a quilted maple cap. Mine was made in 2002 in Korea. It is an awesome playing and sounding guitar. I will put it up against any Gibson for tone and playability.:smoker:

My_Rig_001_SM.jpg
 
Re: Epiphone Les Paul's and SG's?

check out Tokai's range. some great LP and SG knockoffs. ive got an epi lp classic, but is been really unreliable. good tone, when it works. ive loved all the tokai's i have played. the love rock is a better LP copy than the epiphone i reckon.
 
Re: Epiphone Les Paul's and SG's?

or go with the ltd ec-1000. Hard to beat in price and it has all the best components stock.
 
Re: Epiphone Les Paul's and SG's?

HAMER!!! lew is right on the money. I'm telling you he has a gift for tone tips...
Hamers dont sound identical to les pauls, but the company knows what musicians finally want-quality handmade instruments, loaded with duncan pickups!
 
Re: Epiphone Les Paul's and SG's?

Personally, I say, go with the Epi. I have a couple epiphones and both are phenominal guitars, personally, I prefer my strat over any Fender import and I prefer my Pual over ALOT of those "paul/SG" knockoffs. And don't be fooled, if you set it up right, get a good set of strings and clean up the electronics, they really sing. I love mine.
 
Re: Epiphone Les Paul's and SG's?

I have an epi sg myself, and i think its a ok playing, and sounding guitar.
However, i think it sounds and feel a little cheap compared to my import jackson.
Unfortunally i havn´t played a hamer but i think that a used hamer would give you way superior wood, pickups and craftmanship, and i you are getting the epi, buy it used.
The third option is a used gibson les paul studio, you get the full sound and feel of a les paul, for way less money than a standard.
 
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Re: Epiphone Les Paul's and SG's?

I love the Goth series, really great build guitars! I had a Goth LP 2 years ago, i regret that i sold it, man that was a good guitar, it had a JB in the bridge! :evil:
 
Re: Epiphone Les Paul's and SG's?

I've had three Epiphone LP's. The first two I got off of Ebay. They were both okay, but nothing special. Didn't have the sound or feel I liked. I sold them both and figured I'd punish myself again and bought one from Musician's Friend. It played great but sounded horrible.

I put an old Dimarzio super II in the neck and bought a SD 59 for the bridge and it just came to life. It really sounded like a Les Paul. Well after I put SD Antiquities in my real LP, I had two Dimarzio super distortion humbuckers from the seventies with no home, so in the Epi they went. WOW!!! While it feeds back like mad, the sound is full and powerful. Just great. Obviously (at least for my ear) you've gotta replace the pickups.

One more thing--I've played a few new at local music stores and only found one that played like mine. I wouldn't buy one of these on ebay or through mail order again. I just got lucky. The electronics have held up fine so far, but I'm not a gigging musician. Everyone else feels the toggle sucks, so I trust you guys. Planning to replace as we speak.

Good luck with your present. Be prepared to modify if you go with the Epi. :birthday:
 
Re: Epiphone Les Paul's and SG's?

btw i actually have super distortions in the bridge of both my guitars, and the epi stills sounds a little thin.
And not to hijack the thread, but does anybody know what the neck on the g-400 is made of?
 
Re: Epiphone Les Paul's and SG's?

I've got both an Epi LP Standard and a G400 "SG" Flametop, and they're both good guitars. The electronics do suck and pickup replacement is a must. Pots, wiring, switch, and a few capacitors won't break the bank but add a few good SD humbuckers in there and it will pop up the price approx. another $200 unless you score the pups cheap on ebay or from this forum.
So now you have $700 into it, and we didn't mention tuning keys in case the stock ones don't keep 'er in tune....why not just buy a used Gibson Les Paul Studio off ebay for $650 instead? Don't get me wrong, I like my Epi's....they're good players both and sound good. The mahogany necks w/rosewood fretboards on both guitars are fast and smooth, and the mahogany bodies are nicely finished. The LP is an older early 90's model and the G400 is about 5 years old.
I bought both of mine off ebay for much lower prices than the newer Epiphones, which made it more affordable to replace parts....but I still ended up spending between $500-$600 total on each after all was said and done....and I'm still swapping pups in 'em! I can't afford to sell them....I've got too much into 'em!
I bought a Gibby Studio this year and it's my main humbucker guitar now.
....Bob
 
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Re: Epiphone Les Paul's and SG's?

umm, i have the epi lp studio , ok with duncans, but this guitar is gr8!!!
 
Re: Epiphone Les Paul's and SG's?

rocksoldier said:
btw i actually have super distortions in the bridge of both my guitars, and the epi stills sounds a little thin.
And not to hijack the thread, but does anybody know what the neck on the g-400 is made of?
Click to expand...

The neck and body are both Mahogany
 
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