Interesting used "Limited Edition" Epi LP

Pete Galati

Pete Galati

New member
I had to do a search on "Limited Edition", I guess it's just a one-off where they don't make many of them, and I guess they think that'll give them collector value, but I think they're wrong.

But I kind of like the lemon-drop type of top on this one. They're selling it "AS-IS" though. The switch "wired backwards"! I imagine he buggered it up in the control cavity though.

I'd be tempted to deal with a possible nightmare just because I kind of like the top, but it's bad timing. And the serial number decoder webpage doesn't recognize the serial number, so I don't know when or where it was made.

http://elderly.com/vintage/names/epiphone-les-paul-standard-(recent)--30U-14393.htm

EPIPHONE LES PAUL STANDARD (recent)
condition EC-, amber finish on a very nice figured maple top, natural finish on mahogany body and neck, bound rosewood fretboard, trapezoid inlays, 22 frets, stop tailpiece, tune-o-matic style bridge, 2 Duncan humbuckings installed, sold AS-IS (switch is wired backwards, so rewiring is in order if you want "normal" opperation, needs strings, set up, etc), Limited Edition decal on back of headstock, 1-11/16" nut, 24-3/4" scale, with OHSC (SN:100091251)
30U-14393 .. $375.00
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30U-14393_body-front.jpg


30U-14393_headstock-front.jpg


I can't even imagine what the wiring looks like! :haha:
 
Re: Interesting used "Limited Edition" Epi LP

for an Epi it looks nice.... i've seen some interesting finnishes and weird sunbursts lately on Epi's...
 
Re: Interesting used "Limited Edition" Epi LP

WhoFan said:
for an Epi it looks nice.... i've seen some interesting finnishes and weird sunbursts lately on Epi's...
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I imagine sunbursts aren't particularly easy to do. I wonder if they have a way to do something like that automatically yet. If they're all still sprayed manually, it's got to depend on the worker's abilities, and their sense of what a sunburst should actually look like.

I've seen some real nice examples of sunbursts, especially on old Gibsons, but I have doubts about if I could do a good sunburst.

I was noticing at Sweetwater, in their "Guitar Gallery" section, that some of the Epi sunbursts look a lot better than the others. Same model and everything. Some were done on Monday.
 
Re: Interesting used "Limited Edition" Epi LP

Epi's aren't going to be 5 figure collector items, but there are some very interesting limited editions these days. This lemon burst LP is especially nice. If the price is right, grab it. The wiring can't be screwed up that bad, and it comes with two SD's, which justifies a little wiring work on your part. Remember what those SD's cost new.
 
Re: Interesting used "Limited Edition" Epi LP

Not that it is a huge deal or anything, but I find it funny that they state the condition to be excellent even though there appears to be a big ding on the front of the guitar near where your forearm would rest. Way to go Elderly... :laugh2:
 
Re: Interesting used "Limited Edition" Epi LP

3'scompany said:
Not that it is a huge deal or anything, but I find it funny that they state the condition to be excellent even though there appears to be a big ding on the front of the guitar near where your forearm would rest. Way to go Elderly... :laugh2:
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I didn't even notice that ding!

Actually, they seem to be calling the conditions excellent (-).

I'm not sure where they draw the line. Weird wiring, and some dings..... I don't know why that wouldn't be classified as "Good".

or "Slightly Mojo'd"
 
Re: Interesting used "Limited Edition" Epi LP

I purchased an Epi Limited Edition "Slash" les Paul Classic with a Terripin hard case for $300 at a pawnshop in Lexington about 6 months ago. It's a very nice piece, great flame with a snake w/tophat smoking a cig decal, on the front. very nice playing guitar. I need to replace pickups, though. I don't expect it to grow in value any, really. It's just a fun guitar. It says Les Paul Classic on truss rod cover, the Slash edition where Les Paul normally goes.
 
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Re: Interesting used "Limited Edition" Epi LP

darnright said:
I purchased an Epi Limited Edition "Slash" les Paul Classic with a Terripin hard case for $300 at a pawnshop in Lexington about 6 months ago. It's a very nice piece, great flame with a snake w/tophat smoking a cig decal, on the front. very nice playing guitar. I need to replace pickups, though. I don't expect it to grow in value any, really. It's just a fun guitar. It says Les Paul Classic on truss rod cover, the Slash edition where Les Paul normally goes.
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That sounds like a cool guitar actually.

Can't say I'm a big Slash fan, but I always found him entertaining.

There used to be a cartoon called "Kid Notorious" that had Slash and Robert Evans in it. That was my favorite cartoon for a while, and then it just vanished. They must have only done one season. It was on Comedy Central I think.
 
Re: Interesting used "Limited Edition" Epi LP

Moonsorrow said:
NICE!!!!

I am all over an Epi LP Standard after the holidays!!!!!
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Thay have another AS-IS Epi Les Paul Standard for even cheaper, that only comes with a gig-bag,

http://elderly.com/vintage/names/epiphone-les-paul-standard-(2002)--30U-14435.htm

Serial number says this one's from China. So you might get lead poisoning :nervous: but I kind of like the tobacco type sunburst

30U-14435_body-front.jpg


Not as stunning. I'd be tempted to grab this one if it included a HSC, but I bet you could buy one brand new for a few more dollars.
 
Re: Interesting used "Limited Edition" Epi LP

Pete Galati said:
30U-14393_body-front.jpg
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Nice axe but there's not a thing "limited" or rare about this Epi besides the decal they mention. It's a Standard Plus top w/ Trans Amber finish. I had one. ErikH had one, and they are readily available.

It is older, with Klusons instead of Grovers so perhaps this was a "special" color at the time it was produced.
 
Re: Interesting used "Limited Edition" Epi LP

JeffB said:
Nice axe but there's not a thing "limited" or rare about this Epi besides the decal they mention. It's a Standard Plus top w/ Trans Amber finish. I had one. ErikH had one, and they are readily available.

It is older, with Klusons instead of Grovers so perhaps this was a "special" color at the time it was produced.
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Yeah, they probably build a wide enough variety of Epiphones that they cover most basis right now. It must have been a "Limited Edition" when they made it. I'm guessing 2001. They seem to be making Epiphones in several factories right now, so I imagine they make one of just about everything.

They need a humbucker Goldtop though! Seems like an oversight to me.
 
Re: Interesting used "Limited Edition" Epi LP

Pete Galati said:
Yeah, they probably build a wide enough variety of Epiphones that they cover most basis right now. It must have been a "Limited Edition" when they made it. I'm guessing 2001. They seem to be making Epiphones in several factories right now, so I imagine they make one of just about everything.

They need a humbucker Goldtop though! Seems like an oversight to me.
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They have had them in limited edition....the Goldtops w/ buckers. MF still had them up until about a year ago or so.

That trans amber is most likely Korean because:

A) Epi was not building in China in 2001 (to my knowledge anyway)
B) Almost all the limted edition stuff until recently has been Korean

The serial number is def weird. It should have a letter(or two) pre-fix to denote which plant...unless the "SN" is the prefix in this case...and just coincidence. Many of those older Epis were built in the Samick factory but I think Samick built are just "Sxxxxxxxxxxxxx".
 
Re: Interesting used "Limited Edition" Epi LP

JeffB said:
They have had them in limited edition....the Goldtops w/ buckers. MF still had them up until about a year ago or so.

That trans amber is most likely Korean because:

A) Epi was not building in China in 2001 (to my knowledge anyway)
B) Almost all the limted edition stuff until recently has been Korean

The serial number is def weird. It should have a letter(or two) pre-fix to denote which plant...unless the "SN" is the prefix in this case...and just coincidence. Many of those older Epis were built in the Samick factory but I think Samick built are just "Sxxxxxxxxxxxxx".
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That all sounds about right. I guess if I really wanted a humbucker Epi Goldtop, I could make one out of their '65 Goldtop. Don't really feel like doing the work though.

There is a "Epiphone Elitist Les Paul '57 Goldtop", and that looks pretty cool

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ELLPSMGNH/

Seems like guitars that cost over a grand should be more like Gibson territory though.
 
Re: Interesting used "Limited Edition" Epi LP

Hmmm.. I thought i posted here but I dont see me...

Epi limited editions have always seemed to be better than thier standard fare. I had one a few years ago, not unlike the one you are looking at and it was a VERY nice player. I wasnt big on the color and when I had to move some pieces, I sold it.. But it really delivered. I have purchased a couple of new limited editions and they are amazing guitars. I highly recommend.

Incidently, the quality of all the Epis seems to be up as they are now being produced in a new factory as of 2003
 
Re: Interesting used "Limited Edition" Epi LP

BloodRose said:
Hmmm.. I thought i posted here but I dont see me...

Epi limited editions have always seemed to be better than thier standard fare. I had one a few years ago, not unlike the one you are looking at and it was a VERY nice player. I wasnt big on the color and when I had to move some pieces, I sold it.. But it really delivered. I have purchased a couple of new limited editions and they are amazing guitars. I highly recommend.

Incidently, the quality of all the Epis seems to be up as they are now being produced in a new factory as of 2003
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One time I posted a reply to one thread, but since I had two forums open, I ended up posting it in a thread, I think it was in TGP.... and I'm sure it made no sense at all! I looked, and went.... where'd my post go?

I figured out what happened and was able to delete it.

What'd they open in 2003? Was that their factory in China? I imagine they still have them made in a few countries though, don't they?
 
Re: Interesting used "Limited Edition" Epi LP

Pete Galati said:
One time I posted a reply to one thread, but since I had two forums open, I ended up posting it in a thread, I think it was in TGP.... and I'm sure it made no sense at all! I looked, and went.... where'd my post go?

I figured out what happened and was able to delete it.

What'd they open in 2003? Was that their factory in China? I imagine they still have them made in a few countries though, don't they?
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yeah, they opened a factory just for production of Epiphones as opposed to having them made all over. Quality has risen and been more consistant since. Im no expert, but I think most all are made there now. At least all the higher ticket models. Maybe the less expensive bolt neck sgs and pauls are made elsewhere, but I dont know.
 
Re: Interesting used "Limited Edition" Epi LP

BloodRose said:
yeah, they opened a factory just for production of Epiphones as opposed to having them made all over. Quality has risen and been more consistant since. Im no expert, but I think most all are made there now. At least all the higher ticket models. Maybe the less expensive bolt neck sgs and pauls are made elsewhere, but I dont know.
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I'm not real sure what's going on. Just looking at the guitars in Sweetwater's guitar gallery, because those ones they give you the serial numbers.... the Elitest Epiphones are still from the Fuji-gen factory in Japan. The Zakk Wyldes are from the Saein factory in "Korea/China" (is it in Korea, or China?) And the Standard Plus is made in the Qingdao factory in China.

That's according to http://www.guitardaterproject.org/epiphone.aspx

who say this about that Chinese facory

Gibson Qingdao
The Gibson Qingdao Plant was opened in October 2002, Qingdao, China. It is the only plant run by Epiphone in Asia.Both acoustic and electric guitars are made here. The factory is dedicated to making Epiphone and only Epiphone guitars with the aim of producing higher quality guitars.
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BTW, the Standard Plus I checked with is this one, and it looks really sharp:

http://www.sweetwater.com/guitargallery/electric/all/sEE070303450/

EE070303450-body-l.jpg


I'd probably pick this one over the one Elderly has actually.
 
Re: Interesting used "Limited Edition" Epi LP

Aceman said:
Dang! That makes me want to break out the plastic, and maybe order a set of crome covered PG's. Have Mercy!

Check out that link and look at the back...wow!
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There's usually a little more variety in their Guitar Gallery section. They must be selling more of them with X-mas coming up. I'm usually only looking at the Epi section though because once guitars cost over a grand, I have a hard time justifying them!

But this Epi Elitist is kind of stunning too:

http://www.sweetwater.com/guitargallery/electric/all/sF700021/

f700021-closeup-l.jpg


It's like water.

I couldn't show up somewhere with a guitar like that, and it's sort of in the Gobsin price range.
 
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