Epiphone LP's and woods...

Nightburst

Nightburst

New member
I was wondering what parts of the Epi LP are supposed to be Alder? The cap/top is def. Mahogany on mine.
I've checked inside all the cavities, scraped away some laquer/paint here and there but I can only find mahogany.
Could it be that I just got lucky with an all mahogany LP?
It's a 2002 Korean model...
 
Re: Epiphone LP's and woods...

I have two epiphones. One is a "korina" explorer with a maple neck, and the body is mahogany or agathis. One person identified it as agathis, another person didn't identify it as mahogany, I think it could be mahogany.

The other is a 7 string les paul with a maple neck, mahogany back, and alder cap.

I've seen a few in stores with alder backs.
 
Re: Epiphone LP's and woods...

theboatcandream said:
I have two epiphones. One is a "korina" explorer with a maple neck, and the body is mahogany or agathis. One person identified it as agathis, another person didn't identify it as mahogany, I think it could be mahogany.

The other is a 7 string les paul with a maple neck, mahogany back, and alder cap.

I've seen a few in stores with alder backs.
Click to expand...

The Alder/Mahogany in the Epi specs means the
body or top could be either. Possibley even both.
Same with the necks. Either mahogany or maple.
Basically what evers in stock.



Kent
 
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Re: Epiphone LP's and woods...

My 2002 Classic LP is a 2 piece mahogany neck, one piece mahogany body and a maple cap. I am positive on the types of wood because one of my drinking buddies is an arborist and he confirmed my identification of the wood species. :smoker:
 
Re: Epiphone LP's and woods...

How can they be allowed to use agathis when it´s supposed to be korina?
And are not the necks on the lp:s supposed to be mahoghany, but they use maple instead on a lot of guitars?
 
Re: Epiphone LP's and woods...

rocksoldier said:
How can they be allowed to use agathis when it´s supposed to be korina?
And are not the necks on the lp:s supposed to be mahoghany, but they use maple instead on a lot of guitars?
Click to expand...



Hey, I said "korina" explorer. And they advertise it as a korina finish, not as a limba body.

I think that if it was agathis, it wouldn't sound as good as it does.

explorer.jpg


icona.jpg


Agathis? Bleached mahogany? I've been told both ways.


Edit: I really need to get my hands on a decent camera.
 
Re: Epiphone LP's and woods...

I just refinished a Epi LP. The body was Alder the neck was Maple. EVEN
WORSE !! I just got a Epi Flying V for a project !! I chose the Butt ugly
Goth model cuz' Epiphone claims it's all Mahogany w/t a Ebony fret board.
Well.... Mine has a rosewood board, Maple Neck and the body is a Mystery?
NO WAY it's Mahogany!! Looks like korina? But may be agathis. Maybe??
If enuff Epi owner's find they have been mislead?? Hmmmm. I smell a
lawsuit. But i Imagine they have lawyer's who can prove agathis is
mahogany. :rolleyes: :laugh2:
my flying v wood ?
 
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Re: Epiphone LP's and woods...

kmcguitars said:
I just refinished a Epi LP. The body was Alder the neck was Maple. EVEN
WORSE !! I just got a Epi Flying V for a project !! I chose the Butt ugly
Goth model cuz' Epiphone claims it's all Mahogany w/t a Ebony fret board.
Well.... Mine has a rosewood board, Maple Neck and the body is a Mystery?
NO WAY it's Mahogany!! Looks like korina? But may be agathis. Maybe??
If enuff Epi owner's find they have been mislead?? Hmmmm. I smell a
lawsuit. But i Imagine they have lawyer's who can prove agathis is
mahogany. :rolleyes: :laugh2:
my flying v wood ?
Click to expand...



Looks like it could be cheep bleached mahogany.
 
Re: Epiphone LP's and woods...

kmcguitars said:
NO WAY it's Mahogany!!
Click to expand...

I'd say that is Mahogany, based on the woodgrain and color.

Streaks can be caused by a number of things, like spaulting (dark streaks in the grain caused, I think, by a fungus. Often seen in trees that are cut after they have died). The dark areas in between the pickups is something I have seen on Mahogany before. According to a close friend (who's been building high-end furniture for a living for over 50 years), that is mildew damage caused probably before the lumber was milled. Sapwood, wood close to the bark of the tree, is usually very white. And, some Mahogany just naturally has color variations.

It may not be the best Mahogany, but these things shouldn't hurt tone.

If you still doubt my identification, I'll show the pictures to my Dad. He's a woodgrain savant. He's not bad with bark either.

Steve
 
Re: Epiphone LP's and woods...

I'm taking my guitar to a guitar builder for a setup and I'll ask him if he can identify the woods for me.
The mahogany on my LP is quite light in colour too, maybe asian mahogany is just like that?
It might be cheap wood but it shure does sound and resonate good!
 
Re: Epiphone LP's and woods...

This has convinced me NOT to get an Epi Les Paul, especially off of something like Ebay.
 
Re: Epiphone LP's and woods...

I have an epi LP standard, the body is mahogany, so is the neck, and i'd like to think that the cap is maple. But in essence, so long as it sounds good, and to a lesser extent looks good, then who's to complain? obviously there are various legal implications, but that shouldnt detract from your playing. With the best guitarists, tone comes fom the fingers.
 
Re: Epiphone LP's and woods...

girlafraid said:
I have an epi LP standard, the body is mahogany, so is the neck, and i'd like to think that the cap is maple. But in essence, so long as it sounds good, and to a lesser extent looks good, then who's to complain? obviously there are various legal implications, but that shouldnt detract from your playing. With the best guitarists, tone comes fom the fingers.
Click to expand...
That's Exactly how Epiphone etc. wants you to think ! If they want to
make there Guitars from dubious tone woods ( good,bad or indifferent)
that's fine. But...Don't advertise it as something it's Not! There's no law
that you have to disclose what type of wood you use to build your guitars.
So why say anything?
 
Re: Epiphone LP's and woods...

theboatcandream said:
I have two epiphones. One is a "korina" explorer with a maple neck, and the body is mahogany or agathis. One person identified it as agathis, another person didn't identify it as mahogany, I think it could be mahogany.

The other is a 7 string les paul with a maple neck, mahogany back, and alder cap.

I've seen a few in stores with alder backs.
Click to expand...

Every Epi Korina Explorer I've ever seen has an actual Korina body made up of multiple chunks of low grade Korina glued together to form a wide plank, and then skinned front and back with better grade Korina veneers. I had an Epiphone Korina '58 V that sounded very sweet, and it was constructed the same way.

The finish is thick amber tinted Urethane, and both the Explorer and V have scarf-jointed maple necks.

I had a VERY early-run Epi sunburst Les Paul flame top that had a 3-piece mahogany body with a carved maple top, skinned with a flamed maple veneer. The neck on THAT guitar was 2-piece scarf jointed mahogany.

Mike
 
Re: Epiphone LP's and woods...

girlafraid said:
I have an epi LP standard, the body is mahogany, so is the neck, and i'd like to think that the cap is maple. But in essence, so long as it sounds good, and to a lesser extent looks good, then who's to complain? obviously there are various legal implications, but that shouldnt detract from your playing. With the best guitarists, tone comes fom the fingers.
Click to expand...

The cap is probably Alder.
I don't know about you but most people I know don't like to be lied to when spending a fairly large amount of money on something.

Of course it shouldn't spoil the fun of playing, but what if you found out your epi was made out of agathis instead of mahogany? Wouldn't that piss you off?
 
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Re: Epiphone LP's and woods...

jmcorey said:
This has convinced me NOT to get an Epi Les Paul, especially off of something like Ebay.
Click to expand...


They loose their value dramatically in the used market. Just take a look in the neck pickup cavity before you buy it.
 
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