Just how bad do Epiphone Les pauls suck?
- Thread starter jerryjg
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Letthesinbegin
New member
Re: Just how bad do Epiphone Les pauls suck?
Get yourself an older one from the Samick factory, with the long neck tenon. Throw in some SD's and you've got a guitar that beats a Gib LP Std.
Get yourself an older one from the Samick factory, with the long neck tenon. Throw in some SD's and you've got a guitar that beats a Gib LP Std.
Re: Just how bad do Epiphone Les pauls suck?
If you've got such a "positive" outlook on Epiphones as is, then why exactly would you buy one ?
Would it not be wiser to buy a guitar you think doesn't suck ?
Additionally for what its worth, the "suckiness" is going to vary from guitar to guitar. Some can be quite excellent, my goldtop for example, I've had two luthiers work on and one of the assistants offered to buy it for twice what I paid as he loved the tone. Thats certainly not going to be the case for but 1 out of XXX guitars but there are good ones out there
If you've got such a "positive" outlook on Epiphones as is, then why exactly would you buy one ?
Would it not be wiser to buy a guitar you think doesn't suck ?
Additionally for what its worth, the "suckiness" is going to vary from guitar to guitar. Some can be quite excellent, my goldtop for example, I've had two luthiers work on and one of the assistants offered to buy it for twice what I paid as he loved the tone. Thats certainly not going to be the case for but 1 out of XXX guitars but there are good ones out there
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Lewguitar
Guest
Re: Just how bad do Epiphone Les pauls suck?
The Epi Les Pauls I've worked on, especially the Epi Les Paul Custom, were both excellant sounding and playing guitars after giving them a proper set up and installing Duncan pickups. Lew
The Epi Les Pauls I've worked on, especially the Epi Les Paul Custom, were both excellant sounding and playing guitars after giving them a proper set up and installing Duncan pickups. Lew
Pastor of Muppets
New member
Re: Just how bad do Epiphone Les pauls suck?
Amen - mine is a beauty, though I've played some that were dogs...same goes for Gibsons though.
Amen - mine is a beauty, though I've played some that were dogs...same goes for Gibsons though.
Diego
New member
Re: Just how bad do Epiphone Les pauls suck?
Some Epi LPs suck, some others definitely don't. Just don't buy one without trying it first and you're set. Oh, and if you're not that savvy, try going to the stores with somebody who knows more than you. He'll be more capable of identifying a 'gem', if available.
Some Epi LPs suck, some others definitely don't. Just don't buy one without trying it first and you're set. Oh, and if you're not that savvy, try going to the stores with somebody who knows more than you. He'll be more capable of identifying a 'gem', if available.
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: Just how bad do Epiphone Les pauls suck?
That's the rule for buying ANY guitar: play a jillion and buy the best one. Lew
That's the rule for buying ANY guitar: play a jillion and buy the best one. Lew
Pete Galati
New member
Re: Just how bad do Epiphone Les pauls suck?
Most of them don't make good vacuum cleaners.
There're too many models, and a pretty wide price range. You gotta test drive them, or take your luck on what they ship you.
Most of them don't make good vacuum cleaners.
There're too many models, and a pretty wide price range. You gotta test drive them, or take your luck on what they ship you.
80's_Metal
Underglazed Hair Metalologist
Re: Just how bad do Epiphone Les pauls suck?
I have owned and played both. Once you pop in a duncan pup, you cannot tell the difference in your ear, period. I don't care who is telling you different.
They play the same, and well the Epi is a hwole heck of a lot cheaper.
So if you want to look the part, well you may want the gibby, but if sound is your thing, you'll be happy with either.
my 2 cents worth.
Hey head over to the trading post and buy mine!
I have owned and played both. Once you pop in a duncan pup, you cannot tell the difference in your ear, period. I don't care who is telling you different.
They play the same, and well the Epi is a hwole heck of a lot cheaper.
So if you want to look the part, well you may want the gibby, but if sound is your thing, you'll be happy with either.
my 2 cents worth.
Hey head over to the trading post and buy mine!
theboatcandream
dreamonologist
Re: Just how bad do Epiphone Les pauls suck?
Maple necks, alder caps, poly finishes, cheep pickups and hardware. They aren't bad guitars, they're just not as good as Gibsons.
Re: Just how bad do Epiphone Les pauls suck?
Unless I'm mistaken aren't the necks mahogany ? Only Epi LP with a mpale neck I know of is the Zakk Wylde model.
Alder actually is a pretty decent tonewood as well. I'm sure most would prefer flamed maple if cost was no object but alder can be nice. I've had some alder bodied superstrats that were great.
Pickups your correct about though, they are generally pretty poor. hardware is hit or miss, some of the LP's come with decent grovers these days that aren't exceptional but get the job done just fine.
You almost always have to replace the switch and jack as well, they are very poor but thats a piece of cake when you swap the pups
Unless I'm mistaken aren't the necks mahogany ? Only Epi LP with a mpale neck I know of is the Zakk Wylde model.
Alder actually is a pretty decent tonewood as well. I'm sure most would prefer flamed maple if cost was no object but alder can be nice. I've had some alder bodied superstrats that were great.
Pickups your correct about though, they are generally pretty poor. hardware is hit or miss, some of the LP's come with decent grovers these days that aren't exceptional but get the job done just fine.
You almost always have to replace the switch and jack as well, they are very poor but thats a piece of cake when you swap the pups
theboatcandream
dreamonologist
Re: Just how bad do Epiphone Les pauls suck?
I've had three Epiphones and all three had maple necks. A Korean made les paul, a Korean made explorer, and a Chinese les paul "special" model.
Oh yeah, but they're using alder instead of maple because it saves them money. Plus everyone knows that the ideal les paul body is mahogany plus a maple cap. Having an alder cap on a "mahogany" body, or having an alder body with a mahogany veneer on the back and a maple veneer on the top, it isn't the same.
Oh yeah, but why not have a flame maple veneer on a hard maple (unfigured) cap?
Right, but everyone naturally compares them to Gibsons because of the body shape.
Yup. It's just another thing that hurts their reputation though.
fusion101
New member
Re: Just how bad do Epiphone Les pauls suck?
The P90 Goldtop Les Paul is better than every Gibson Les Paul that I've played under 2,500
The P90 Goldtop Les Paul is better than every Gibson Les Paul that I've played under 2,500
midnite_man
New member
Re: Just how bad do Epiphone Les pauls suck?
boy has this topic been hammered on more than a few times in this forum.....but it's all good....
that's weird how the description of Epi LP Standards at the Epiphone website ( http://www.epiphone.com/default.asp?ProductID=44&CollectionID=6 ) state that the necks and bodies are mahogany
I know for a fact that the body of my Epi LP is mahogany 'cause I did some cosmetic work to it when I bought it and saw the grain myself. Epiphone might use alder and maple for their cheapest models, but not on Standards and Customs, etc.
it's true about the pickups, 3-way switch, and input jack....they usually should be replaced and as long as the pups are being swapped out a guy would be best off to go ahead and replace the pots as well, as the stock units tend to get scratchy fairly quickly. Mine came with and still has a plastic nut on it which might make a difference if replaced, plus the bridge hardware isn't exactly top-notch; but slap a good set-up on one, like Lew said, and you've got a decent playing and sounding axe, IMO.
My Gibson Studio, bought used for just a few hundred more, has a better sound and feel and all I ever did to that guitar was swap pups.
boy has this topic been hammered on more than a few times in this forum.....but it's all good....
that's weird how the description of Epi LP Standards at the Epiphone website ( http://www.epiphone.com/default.asp?ProductID=44&CollectionID=6 ) state that the necks and bodies are mahogany
I know for a fact that the body of my Epi LP is mahogany 'cause I did some cosmetic work to it when I bought it and saw the grain myself. Epiphone might use alder and maple for their cheapest models, but not on Standards and Customs, etc.
it's true about the pickups, 3-way switch, and input jack....they usually should be replaced and as long as the pups are being swapped out a guy would be best off to go ahead and replace the pots as well, as the stock units tend to get scratchy fairly quickly. Mine came with and still has a plastic nut on it which might make a difference if replaced, plus the bridge hardware isn't exactly top-notch; but slap a good set-up on one, like Lew said, and you've got a decent playing and sounding axe, IMO.
My Gibson Studio, bought used for just a few hundred more, has a better sound and feel and all I ever did to that guitar was swap pups.
pstarove
New member
Re: Just how bad do Epiphone Les pauls suck?
the Epiphone website was updated a couple of months ago. Before that it said "alder/mahogany" on LP Standard and Custom models. Now it's mahogany with a maple top. I believe they've updated their website not just to please us, I'm sure that they really use only maple and mahogany now, albeit it's a cheaper Asian mahogany.
the Epiphone website was updated a couple of months ago. Before that it said "alder/mahogany" on LP Standard and Custom models. Now it's mahogany with a maple top. I believe they've updated their website not just to please us, I'm sure that they really use only maple and mahogany now, albeit it's a cheaper Asian mahogany.
ModestCargo
New member
Re: Just how bad do Epiphone Les pauls suck?
I love my Custom. I should say though that for whatever reason it's better than most of the customs of the same model I've played - so maybe just a good day at the factory. Unplugged tone is killer, and with new pickups it's great.
Re: Just how bad do Epiphone Les pauls suck?
Agree 110%, puts some Ducan Custom Shop pup's in there along with a new jack and switch, custom cut bone nut, and strap locks and its one of the best sounding/playing guitars you can buy for under $2000 and it actually only cost 1/4th that.
I put a Clay Smith Cam "Mr. Horsepower" decal on mine as well (which of course added tone)
Agree 110%, puts some Ducan Custom Shop pup's in there along with a new jack and switch, custom cut bone nut, and strap locks and its one of the best sounding/playing guitars you can buy for under $2000 and it actually only cost 1/4th that.
I put a Clay Smith Cam "Mr. Horsepower" decal on mine as well (which of course added tone)
theboatcandream
dreamonologist
Re: Just how bad do Epiphone Les pauls suck?
Yeah, they say that.that's weird how the description of Epi LP Standards at the Epiphone website ( http://www.epiphone.com/default.asp?ProductID=44&CollectionID=6 ) state that the necks and bodies are mahogany
That's nice. All three of my epiphones have had maple necks, and only one of them could be considered a cheap model. The mahogany they're made out of wouldn't be called mahogany by a lot of people, and I haven't refinished the body of the special so I don't know what the wood is.
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