Epiphone Les Pauls

[KeeperOS]

Re: Epiphone Les Pauls

Looks nice. I think I will decide once I go to the store.

HOpe can find a nice guitar.

I know you can, all it takes is a bit of patience to try out enough and see what you like better

Looks very cool. I like having a volume control for each pickup, though... even if they share a tone control, I like being able to blend neck/bridge differently, rather than just having it always preset at 50/50, or however it's done on a guitar like this with only one volume for two pickups.

I on the other hand prefer the simpler master volume/tone scheme and the string-thru TOM which is why I chose the Limited model.

The Patriot Supreme in my first post is a more faithful recreation with two volumes/tones and a TOM with a stoptail. It also features a heel-less design, sth that would have seriously tempted me if it existed when I bought mine.

Still, like I said, I REALLY like my Patriot and wouldn't change her for anything

 

[astrozombie]

Re: Epiphone Les Pauls

I don't understand why this debate has gone on for so long.

It's simple: you get what you pay for (at least for Gibson).

the gibson les paul will be better than the epiphone.

the schecter is a good guitar.

see if you can play them all and decide for yourself.

I'd go gibson Paul or schecter though.

 

[Stratman]

Re: Epiphone Les Pauls

The neck/headstock area is weak because of how much the headstock tilts back, because the area is not reinforced and also partly because of the one piece neck. It's true it would be stronger if the headstock was a separate piece using a scarf joint, but the design is still flawed from a durability standpoint. An Epiphone as far as I know is still flawed in that regard as well.

Whether or not an Epiphone is more durable at all doesn't make it a better guitar. Your point about the acoustic tone only reinforces the point so many of us are making - when is the last time you found an Epiphone that had a rich acoustic tone?

Electronics-wise your point is irrelevant, we are all fans of Seymour Duncan but they don't make guitars and changing the pickups in a guitar doesn't make the guitar bad in any way. Besides, all the high end Epiphones use Gibson pickups.

Let me clue you in on something, you haven't uncovered some great mystery, it's not a scam or some marketing hype that makes Gibsons more expensive than Epiphones. It's because they're better guitars.

To repeat theboatcandream, you're rambling.

You are posting on Gibson versus Epiphone, yet, you have a tele in your signature. Do you own either a Gibson or an Epiphone? If not, then you are not qualified to comment!

Actually, Gibson did not start using one piece neck until they had so, so many necks snap at the scarped joint.

Number 1 repair for gibson guitars...

Check Steward-Mac for details how to repair these joints.

HYPE - Les Pauls used to sell for around 250 US back in the 60's before they got discontinued and the only reason they got back into production is because of Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, and Keith Richards were using them in the UK and American rock and rollers wanted the same sound.

Young posters - you just don't know the real history on these guitars!

 

[Jessie Sammler]

Re: Epiphone Les Pauls

I don't understand why this debate has gone on for so long.

It will never stop.

If you get an Epiphone, some people will say you got ripped off. Others will say you got a USA Gibson that happened to be made in China but is otherwise identical.

If you buy a Gibson, some people will say you got an awesome guitar. Others will say you got ripped off and should have bought a Hamer, a Kramer, a Flamer, etc.

You'll never please everybody. The best you can do is to try to please yourself.

For now.

Because you probably won't see that guitar the same way in five years, regardless of what it is or what you paid for it.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Epiphone Les Pauls

HYPE - Les Pauls used to sell for around 250 US back in the 60's before they got discontinued and the only reason they got back into production is because of Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, and Keith Richards were using them in the UK and American rock and rollers wanted the same sound.

And now add in inflation to that $250 US, in 1962 for example, and it's roughly $1800. Not all that far off from the actual street price of a Les Paul Standard.

I've owned an Epiphone Les Paul and a Gibson Les Paul. I'd take the Gibson any day. It just felt more solid than the Epiphone. Granted, the Epiphone was a good LP for the price and it played and sounded really good. It just had a toy like feel to it compared to the Gibson.

 

[80's_Metal]

Re: Epiphone Les Pauls

A few small points:

If Gibson Sucks . . as some have eluded to . . . then why the heck does everyone play one! Why are we all sitting at our keyboards typing away and learning about them? I'll give you the answer .. . cuz they RULE!

Every factory in the world will put out some dandys and some thugs. . . every company. (Yesssss even that company that YOU like)

Those two evil Gibsons that got out to the world got blasted into the forums everywhere worldwide "SEE SEE SEE CRAP I TELL YOU!"""""

Get whatever guitar you want, and YOU think is cool. That way you will play it more and thus become better. If it says first act, epi, gibson, schecter, whatever on the headstock, so be it.

I happen to have owned several Epiphones and love them, I think my paul is on PAR with the Gibby's I have played, albeit I haven't played any Gibby Customs or upper end ones, mostly studios and standards. It plays like it was made on a wednesday. Stop by and play it if you'd like.


Please stop bashing guitar companies. It's just plain not cool.

 

[ken361]

Re: Epiphone Les Pauls

just get a 1959! epiphone!

 

[ibanezrocks]

Re: Epiphone Les Pauls

You are posting on Gibson versus Epiphone, yet, you have a tele in your signature. Do you own either a Gibson or an Epiphone? If not, then you are not qualified to comment!

Actually, Gibson did not start using one piece neck until they had so, so many necks snap at the scarped joint.

Number 1 repair for gibson guitars...

Check Steward-Mac for details how to repair these joints.

HYPE - Les Pauls used to sell for around 250 US back in the 60's before they got discontinued and the only reason they got back into production is because of Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, and Keith Richards were using them in the UK and American rock and rollers wanted the same sound.

Young posters - you just don't know the real history on these guitars!

I have a Gibson, my gear is in my signature. I've played plenty of both to have an opinion on the matter. My opinion is based on playing current models from both companies not on some history of one company that in no way affects the argument of Gibson vs. Epiphone. Your incoherent responses show little regard for the actual discussion at hand. None of your comments on the history of Gibson matter because it doesn't change how the guitars are now, they are what they are.

 

[guitarded]

Re: Epiphone Les Pauls

Why should someone pay an extra $2000.00 for a difference that is so negligible there are about 4 pages of posts on this thread alone, so far from both sides of the argument? Not counting all past similar threads... Give me a break... Most people have families to support.... Most great players in history played whatever they could their hands on... Sorry... but all you "visual" tone snobs out there really need to get past the label and better in touch with reality.

 

[80's_Metal]

Re: Epiphone Les Pauls

Why should someone pay an extra $2000.00 for a difference that is so negligible there are about 4 pages of posts on this thread alone, so far from both sides of the argument? Not counting all past similar threads... Give me a break... Most people have families to support.... Most great players in history played whatever they could their hands on... Sorry... but all you "visual" tone snobs out there really need to get past the label and better in touch with reality.

HA! now you went and said it!
Kudos bro. I love it.

 

[guitarded]

Re: Epiphone Les Pauls

HA! now you went and said it!
Kudos bro. I love it.

Could not sit here suffering through this in silence... Sorry... This is totally uncharacteristic of me.

 

[80's_Metal]

Re: Epiphone Les Pauls

ah heck let it rip . . . .

 

[The_Sentry]

Re: Epiphone Les Pauls

In honor of this thead....I ripped out my BB 2 in my Std Plus...slapped a 57 Classic Plus in the bridge and replaced the BB 1 in the neck!

(OK....it wasn't in honor of this thread!!! But...I'll admit that's one of the reasons I bought one....something I could just keep modding and not worry about destroying the value of the guitar...)

 

[ErikH]

Re: Epiphone Les Pauls

Why should someone pay an extra $2000.00 for a difference that is so negligible there are about 4 pages of posts on this thread alone, so far from both sides of the argument? Not counting all past similar threads... Give me a break... Most people have families to support.... Most great players in history played whatever they could their hands on... Sorry... but all you "visual" tone snobs out there really need to get past the label and better in touch with reality.

I know you didn't call out anyone specifically, but I just need to explain my view. It's not a visual thing. I like the Epiphone Les Pauls. The best one I laid my hands on was the Lynyrd Skynyrd model but couldn't get past the inlays saying "Lynyrd Skynyrd" down the entire fretboard. That's the only visual that I didn't like on it. Otherwise, I would have snagged that thing in a heartbeat.

For me, it's a feel thing. Can I sling the guitar on my shoulders and play it without worrying about it falling apart? That's what I look for. Is it solid enough. I've picked up a lot more Gibson LP's that felt that solid versus the Epiphones LP's. When you find a solid Epi, it's solid, but the ratio just isn't the same as with Gibsons.

All that said, there are two Epi models that I would like to check out, the Les Paul Tribute and the 1959. They have nice looking specs on paper, especially the nut width. I like the 1 11/16" width versus the 1 5/8" they normally come with. The Custom Classic is cool too but I've run in to more dud Customs than Standards.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Epiphone Les Pauls

My official statement - a Good feeling/sounding guitar is a good guitar, price/brand/color/whatever be danged!

That said - I think the proportion of good/great gibsons to good great Epis will be inverse...maybe 70-30 in Gibson's favor. But there are crap Gibsons and stellar Epi's. Play a bunch and you'll see. Try an Epiphone Les Paul Ultra - I dig those. No Gibsons quite like that.

And as for wood - we assume that the Epi is wood. I wouldn't be surprised to find formica counter top in some. But hey - if it sounds good....

As for the Studio, an underated guitar IMO. The majority of a Standard is purely cosmetic. A great Studio is a LES PAUL - it's all the guitar you need. Some look pretty classy too.

 

[The_Sentry]

Re: Epiphone Les Pauls

Epi does suck....

If for any other reason, it's because they stopped making these...

 

[Stratman]

Re: Epiphone Les Pauls

I have a Gibson, my gear is in my signature. I've played plenty of both to have an opinion on the matter. My opinion is based on playing current models from both companies not on some history of one company that in no way affects the argument of Gibson vs. Epiphone. Your incoherent responses show little regard for the actual discussion at hand. None of your comments on the history of Gibson matter because it doesn't change how the guitars are now, they are what they are.

RIGHT! You know a lot about nothing...

An SG is not a Les Paul.

Never argue with a 21 year old know it all

 

[RLee]

Re: Epiphone Les Pauls

Just a side note -- it seems like GC and MF have sold out of the Epiphone Limited 1959 already, I'm assuming the run of 1,959 guitars they made is gone... but I'm betting ebay will have a few.
Also, on the similar model, the Epi Tribute, looks like they've swapped out the pickups from gibson '57 classics to "Tribute humbuckers", whatever those are...

At least, that's what I saw last night online... just now, I went to the site, and both guitars appear to be back in their original form. Weird. Was I dreaming?

 

[The_Sentry]

Re: Epiphone Les Pauls

Just a side note -- it seems like GC and MF have sold out of the Epiphone Limited 1959 already, I'm assuming the run of 1,959 guitars they made is gone... but I'm betting ebay will have a few.

Eh, personally I thought the Les Paul Tribute was a better guitar, and a better deal by half.

Anyway...IMHO this is why someone gets into Epiphone (and no, not for the Gibson clone solid body guitars...) This is what got them to the dance, this is what brought them back from the dead, and no matter what they branch out into, this is their bread and butter...

 

[theboatcandream]

Re: Epiphone Les Pauls

If Gibson Sucks . . as some have eluded to . . . then why the heck does everyone play one! Why are we all sitting at our keyboards typing away and learning about them? I'll give you the answer .. . cuz they RULE!

A lot of people just want to be taken seriously though, and they feel that having a name-brand guitar like Gibson or Martin will accomplish that.