Epiphone Les Pauls

[ibanezrocks]

Re: Epiphone Les Pauls

I think the people who are saying there is little difference between the two are trying to make themselves feel better for buying an Epiphone. Those posts always come off as trying to convince themselves as much as anyone else.

There definitely is a difference, if you really can't tell then you probably don't take guitars too seriously to begin with. Whether or not the difference is worth it to you is another question. Everyone has different financial responsibilities and for one person it might be completely out of the question to spend that much on a guitar while for another it might not be a big deal. If you can save up and get the Gibson in a reasonable amount of a time I'd do that rather than settling for something now. If however you see yourself being a nervous wreck worrying about something happening to the guitar after you get it then it's probably not right for you. Being able to afford something doesn't just mean being able to pay for it, but also being able to enjoy it afterwards without any feelings of remorse or worry.

 

[The_Sentry]

Re: Epiphone Les Pauls

I think the people who are saying there is little difference between the two are trying to make themselves feel better for buying an Epiphone. Those posts always come off as trying to convince themselves as much as anyone else.

There definitely is a difference, if you really can't tell then you probably don't take guitars too seriously to begin with. Whether or not the difference is worth it to you is another question. Everyone has different financial responsibilities and for one person it might be completely out of the question to spend that much on a guitar while for another it might not be a big deal. If you can save up and get the Gibson in a reasonable amount of a time I'd do that rather than settling for something now. If however you see yourself being a nervous wreck worrying about something happening to the guitar after you get it then it's probably not right for you. Being able to afford something doesn't just mean being able to pay for it, but also being able to enjoy it afterwards without any feelings of remorse or worry.

Good Point.

All I can say is this:

I've got 2 Gibson Les Pauls. And 2 Epiphone Les Pauls that have been heavily modified.

YES, there is a difference. And all of the mods in the world can't get around certain aspects like tonewood, quality, fit, and finish.

And that's all I can really say about this. Now, from a sound perspective? I don't think there's much difference. But when playing one? Big, big difference.

Let me put it this way: When I go out to gig, and it's a "must do well" sort of gig...I don't take the Epiphones out....

 

[Sprinter]

Re: Epiphone Les Pauls

Buy American.....


Major misconception - American business leaders have long been purchasing good overseas, from parts, to food, to completed goods.

Then put a sticker on it MIA....

I'm aware that many American made items contain imported parts. I wish that wasn't the case, but it is. However, at least we're assembling stuff here in America which creates jobs for Americans and helps my country. America needs to go back to being the manufacturing superpower we use to be.

Sprinter

By the way, all of my guitars and amps are made in the USA. So is my automobile. Unlike most people I do give a **** about my country.

 

[Jessie Sammler]

Re: Epiphone Les Pauls

As someone who owns Epiphones and a Gibson Faded V, and has played some nice USA Les Pauls, I think I might buy another Epiphone, but the question is whether it's worth the extra work:

https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showpost.php?p=2333838&postcount=117

 

[FuseG4]

Re: Epiphone Les Pauls

I love my epi!
That said, i would've bought a Gibson had I the money. Gibsons generally have a thicker maple cap and most epiphones use a veneer. A Critical part in LP construction.

 

[Stratman]

Re: Epiphone Les Pauls

While older epiphones were coted with poly, the ones made in Qingdao are laquer coated.

Don't argue with me, because I when to Gibson Qingdao to try to buy a guitar from the factory, was given a tour, but sorry - could not buy direct...

PS: I have play gigs at Club New York in Qingdao, China.

 

[theboatcandream]

Re: Epiphone Les Pauls

While older epiphones were coted with poly, the ones made in Qingdao are laquer coated.

Don't argue with me, because I when to Gibson Qingdao to try to buy a guitar from the factory, was given a tour, but sorry - could not buy direct...

PS: I have play gigs at Club New York in Qingdao, China.

Nitrocellulose laquer?

 

[Jessie Sammler]

Re: Epiphone Les Pauls

Lacquer? Seriously? I haven't played any of the Chinese ones. Are they trying to put Gibson USA out of business?

 

[ibanezrocks]

Re: Epiphone Les Pauls

You can coat a turd in nitrocellulose and it doesn't change what it is.

 

[Jessie Sammler]

Re: Epiphone Les Pauls

It's just one more reason for people to think there's no difference except the brand name on the headstock. They should have cutaway views of examples of both Gibson and Epiphone guitars on both websites, so people can see what they're really getting.

FWIW, I stripped the poly off of my "turd", and now it's a lighter, more resonant turd. Sounds pretty good, too.

 

[Jeremiah]

Re: Epiphone Les Pauls

I have a Schecter Tempest Blackjack just like the one pictured above.
(Note, the new ones have the same pickups etc but look different as they have a kind of pearl binding rather than cream and card inlays that look a bit too 'bling' for my tastes.)

I think it's a fine guitar; I can't directly compare it to an LP as I don't have one lying around. However, when I bought it, I did try both Gibson and Epiphone LPs in the shop. It sounded and played way better than the Epis - but it does have a thick gloss poly finish which makes the neck feel less natural than a good Gibson.

Soundwise, it has superb sustain, but I didn't think much of the JB bridge pickup, and ended up swapping it for a Custom 5 which I like much better. Love the 59 though.

Price-wise, I thought it was astonishing value at the time I bought it. However, prices seem to have risen alarmingly in the last few years. (This is probably largely due to the weak UK pound.) When I bought mine in 2007 it was £400 UK pounds, but now I see they are selling for £650 or more; if I was considering spending this much on a guitar I might look elsewhere.

 

[L.W. Badger]

Re: Epiphone Les Pauls

Only if the Chinese models put out better necks, which they haven't......everything else seems to have gotten an upgrade except the neck and fretboard.......I still stand behind the Koreans like I did in '90 in Camp Casey, they seem to have made better guitars, even if the wood was cheap (throw enough poly on to hold it together!).

Now as far as Jessie's question........Yes, take an Epi and hot-rod it, it's worth the effort, cause you can save on the initial expense of the chassis. Buy a Gibson if you want a Ferrari in your driveway to show off to all your friends......build an Epi/Shelby in the garage, and blow them away at the track..........is it a Ferrari?......No, it's a bastard-child hot-rod mod.......but one bad-ass tool if put together right.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Epiphone Les Pauls

I buy used Epi's in nice condition, and upgrade the PU's. $300 for a good used Epi LP Std or Custom, and used PU's which usually go for half price; that's a pretty good sounding guitar for $400. Does it sound as good as a Gibson LP Std, no. But to get a 10% or 15% improvement in tone, are you willing to spend a couple grand more? It's what you can afford to spend, without getting into a financial jam. Everyone's got to decide for themselves. High-end guitars sure are nice, but not if you're behind on your rent, carry a big credit card balance, or risk marital problems because of it. That takes the fun out of it.

 

[L.W. Badger]

Re: Epiphone Les Pauls

I gotta ask ya Blue....why can't one make an Epi sound like or better that a Gibson? Electronics can subdue the inadenquencies in wood dynamics.

 

[Jessie Sammler]

Re: Epiphone Les Pauls

It's what you can afford to spend, without getting into a financial jam. Everyone's got to decide for themselves. High-end guitars sure are nice, but not if you're behind on your rent, carry a big credit card balance, or risk marital problems because of it. That takes the fun out of it.

Gotta agree with that. You have to be able to afford something in order for it to make sense, and having the money in you bank account the same day you're at the store doesn't necessarily mean you can afford it. Gotta eat, gotta pay the rent, gotta etc.

Still, sometimes that last 10-15% of tone is what you really pine for, and when you finally find it, that's the kind of thing that can be worth something extra -- whether it means two thousand dollars or two weeks of sanding.

 

[Jessie Sammler]

Re: Epiphone Les Pauls

I gotta ask ya Blue....why can't one make an Epi sound like or better that a Gibson? Electronics can subdue the inadenquencies in wood dynamics.

Not entirely. I'd say that inadequacies in wood dynamics can subdue electronics, more likely.

 

[theboatcandream]

Re: Epiphone Les Pauls

I gotta ask ya Blue....why can't one make an Epi sound like or better that a Gibson? Electronics can subdue the inadenquencies in wood dynamics.

Pickups make a difference, but... everything is still based off of the physical vibration of the strings.

 

[RLee]

Re: Epiphone Les Pauls

I'll admit that even though I'm not down with a lot of new Epi's, I'd probaby buy this one if I was in the market. It is what it is, and it's probably one of the few Epi's that probably doesn't need anything beyond a setup out of the box...

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/...21058&src=3WFRWXX&ZYXSEM=0&CAWELAID=403419301

Yeah, that one, or this one: http://www.guitarcenter.com/Epiphon...l-Standard-Electric-Guitar-870015-i1471992.gc

...with the differences being the limited has burstbuckers, no coil splitting, and 50's neck profile. Both look very nice.

Also, further options include this recent addition to the gibson lineup:
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Gibson-Les-Paul-Studio-Deluxe-Electric-Guitar-583405-i1476659.gc

... the new gibson studio deluxe includes a burstbucker bridge, and coil splitting, for $1399.

Lots of options.

 

[Ninja Monkey]

Re: Epiphone Les Pauls

Go to your local music store and play guitars.
Lot's of guitars.
All kinds of guitars.
In all price ranges.

 

[KeeperOS]

Re: Epiphone Les Pauls

I've found some good Epis and some not that good ones.

For the price though and unless you don't particularly care about the shape, aside from the Tempest that you already mentioned I'd also check one of these first instead:

Washburn Idol

Schecter Solo-6

Michael Kelly Patriot


My personal choice in the end was the Michael Kelly Patriot (Limited) but any of them would have been great.

All of them have the "correct" wood combination instead of Alder or Poplar or whatever (which personally I love being a Strat person but they simply ain't the "correct" LP woods), great workmanship, great quality-per-buck ratio and MUCH better consistency than Epis or even Gibsons for that matter (due to the much lower manufacture volume than either of them).

If you're ok with it not actually being a Les Paul and find having the LP tone (or in any case, a pretty good approximation) with even some improvements over the original and at a fraction of the cost then you at least owe it to yourself to try these out.