I picked up a new Epiphone Les Paul Standard 1960 Limited Edition on Ebay, should be arriving by the end of the week. Just wondering if any members here have an Epiphone Les Paul and how do you like it? I can return it for a full refund if I decide I don't care for it. It comes with Gibson Classic '57 Pickups. I also have a Duncan JB Model and a Duncan Jazz Model sitting around if I feel the need for a pickup swap.
New Epiphone Les Paul Standard coming my way
- Thread starter 357mag
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Edgecrusher
Well-known member
Re: New Epiphone Les Paul Standard coming my way
Seems you missed out on the latest Epi vs Gibson thread around here. If you had caught it all your questions would have been answered and then some....
Seems you missed out on the latest Epi vs Gibson thread around here. If you had caught it all your questions would have been answered and then some....
Re: New Epiphone Les Paul Standard coming my way
Excuse me...I haven't been to this forum in a very long time. Sorry if I pissed you off.
Excuse me...I haven't been to this forum in a very long time. Sorry if I pissed you off.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: New Epiphone Les Paul Standard coming my way
They're nice guitars, I have a few Epi LP Std's. I'm not a fan of '57's personally, but some guys like them. Try it and see what you think.
They're nice guitars, I have a few Epi LP Std's. I'm not a fan of '57's personally, but some guys like them. Try it and see what you think.
Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
Re: New Epiphone Les Paul Standard coming my way
Short summary: No where near the quality of (almost all) Gibsons. However, very very playable guitars, and can sound excellent with pickup swap, perhaps new electronics, and maybe hardware - depending. I have had a fantastic Epiphone for years and played some outstanding ones. Decent guitars that can sound better than they are.
There is a KILLER Epiphone classic for say in the trading post right now.
Short summary: No where near the quality of (almost all) Gibsons. However, very very playable guitars, and can sound excellent with pickup swap, perhaps new electronics, and maybe hardware - depending. I have had a fantastic Epiphone for years and played some outstanding ones. Decent guitars that can sound better than they are.
There is a KILLER Epiphone classic for say in the trading post right now.
Edgecrusher
Well-known member
Big Flannel
New member
Re: New Epiphone Les Paul Standard coming my way
Yeah, you would've had to be there to fully understand the joke.
Epiphones have great potential. Enjoy your new guitar.
Yeah, you would've had to be there to fully understand the joke.
Epiphones have great potential. Enjoy your new guitar.
ExplorersRock
X-Files Duckbucker
Re: New Epiphone Les Paul Standard coming my way
I have a Gibson LP and an Epi LP and I wouldn't sell either of them. I put in some Duncan pickups and swapped the bridge for a tone pros which improved tuning stability. After a good setup, it plays great. I'm not a fan of the 57s but try them out first. If you like 'em, keep 'em.
I have a Gibson LP and an Epi LP and I wouldn't sell either of them. I put in some Duncan pickups and swapped the bridge for a tone pros which improved tuning stability. After a good setup, it plays great. I'm not a fan of the 57s but try them out first. If you like 'em, keep 'em.
Condemnedsoul
Active member
Re: New Epiphone Les Paul Standard coming my way
For the folks that missed the recent Supreme Epiphone vs Gibson Debate, here is an update done by some folks in England.
The Blindfold Epiphone vs Gibson Challenge
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfGEA3GCBHY
For the folks that missed the recent Supreme Epiphone vs Gibson Debate, here is an update done by some folks in England.
The Blindfold Epiphone vs Gibson Challenge
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfGEA3GCBHY
voggin
Well-known member
Re: New Epiphone Les Paul Standard coming my way
Congrats on the new guitar. Epi Les Pauls are very well built guitars, with great action and playability. Different people like different pickups, but Gibson 57s are pro-grade. But be patient with them. Try tweaking the pickup heights by small amounts, a little by little. You'll find their sweet spot eventually. I love the 57s I have in an ES 339. My only complaint with Gibson pickups is that I find them overpriced aftermarket. They should be 100 dollars apiece, not 150. I think if they were priced more in line with Duncans and Dimarzios, rather than boutique stuff, they'd be better liked.
Congrats on the new guitar. Epi Les Pauls are very well built guitars, with great action and playability. Different people like different pickups, but Gibson 57s are pro-grade. But be patient with them. Try tweaking the pickup heights by small amounts, a little by little. You'll find their sweet spot eventually. I love the 57s I have in an ES 339. My only complaint with Gibson pickups is that I find them overpriced aftermarket. They should be 100 dollars apiece, not 150. I think if they were priced more in line with Duncans and Dimarzios, rather than boutique stuff, they'd be better liked.
FuseG4
Our Neighbor Totoro
Re: New Epiphone Les Paul Standard coming my way
I've owned two Epi LPs, a standard and a 1960 Tribute.
Both of them lacked the depth and midrange of most Gibson LPs I've played. I swear it's the wood. They sounded like they were made of alder to me.
I put 59s in the standard with CTS pots and it was cool, was my main guitar for like 3.5 years I think.
I put a JB in the Tribute and it was still quite bright but it screamed.
Playability was great but they just didn't growl with authority like you think a les paul should.
I've owned two Epi LPs, a standard and a 1960 Tribute.
Both of them lacked the depth and midrange of most Gibson LPs I've played. I swear it's the wood. They sounded like they were made of alder to me.
I put 59s in the standard with CTS pots and it was cool, was my main guitar for like 3.5 years I think.
I put a JB in the Tribute and it was still quite bright but it screamed.
Playability was great but they just didn't growl with authority like you think a les paul should.
PushedCrayon
New member
Re: New Epiphone Les Paul Standard coming my way
I love my epi les paul. It's a great guitar for what I paid for it, and I love playing it every time I pick it up. Epi may not make the highest quality instruments, but they make good players
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk
I love my epi les paul. It's a great guitar for what I paid for it, and I love playing it every time I pick it up. Epi may not make the highest quality instruments, but they make good players
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk
Re: New Epiphone Les Paul Standard coming my way
I was surfing through the Gibson Forum and as I suspected most members feel the need to defend and justify their expensive Gibsons. I've owned two genuine Gibson Les Pauls and they both played and sounded good. But I've mostly played Fender Strats most of my life and I have discovered that Strats made in other countries can easily give the Americans a run for their money. My current Strat is a Mexican Classic Player 60s model and it's just superb. Just as good if not better than most American Strats I have had.
I just took a blind listening test on YouTube. A guy played both a Gibson Les Paul Standard and an Epiphone Les Paul Standard. I listened closely to both, not knowing which he was playing. Both guitars sounded extremely similar. After he got done playing the first one I thought to myself, "sounds good just like a Les Paul". Then I got to hear the second one. The second one sounded very much like the first one, but it had a more raspy tone. A little more bright and clangy. I thought "I'll say that's the Epiphone cuz we're taught to believe that Epiphones don't sound as full or as good as the genuine Gibson.
I was wrong.
Turns out the second guitar which sounded a little more clangy and raspy and perhaps not as full was the genuine Gibson!
The Epiphone had a better tone. Or at least to my ears it sounded more like a Les Paul should.
I was surfing through the Gibson Forum and as I suspected most members feel the need to defend and justify their expensive Gibsons. I've owned two genuine Gibson Les Pauls and they both played and sounded good. But I've mostly played Fender Strats most of my life and I have discovered that Strats made in other countries can easily give the Americans a run for their money. My current Strat is a Mexican Classic Player 60s model and it's just superb. Just as good if not better than most American Strats I have had.
I just took a blind listening test on YouTube. A guy played both a Gibson Les Paul Standard and an Epiphone Les Paul Standard. I listened closely to both, not knowing which he was playing. Both guitars sounded extremely similar. After he got done playing the first one I thought to myself, "sounds good just like a Les Paul". Then I got to hear the second one. The second one sounded very much like the first one, but it had a more raspy tone. A little more bright and clangy. I thought "I'll say that's the Epiphone cuz we're taught to believe that Epiphones don't sound as full or as good as the genuine Gibson.
I was wrong.
Turns out the second guitar which sounded a little more clangy and raspy and perhaps not as full was the genuine Gibson!
The Epiphone had a better tone. Or at least to my ears it sounded more like a Les Paul should.
FuseG4
Our Neighbor Totoro
Re: New Epiphone Les Paul Standard coming my way
You can find bright or warm les pauls from either epi or gibson for sure so I'm wondering if any of this matters at all in reality.
I can go find a normal epiphone and compare it to a bright les paul and make vids all day if I wanted
I guess I just find the average picked-off-the-wall epiphone brighter than the average les paul traditional.
Acoustic, not plugged in, mind you. As you plug it in I often prefer stock epiphones for the 500K pots... but throw 500Ks in a gibson and suddenly I want the gibson again!
You can find bright or warm les pauls from either epi or gibson for sure so I'm wondering if any of this matters at all in reality.
I can go find a normal epiphone and compare it to a bright les paul and make vids all day if I wanted
I guess I just find the average picked-off-the-wall epiphone brighter than the average les paul traditional.
Acoustic, not plugged in, mind you. As you plug it in I often prefer stock epiphones for the 500K pots... but throw 500Ks in a gibson and suddenly I want the gibson again!
Last edited:
synzzzer
New member
Re: New Epiphone Les Paul Standard coming my way
We've always heard as musicians that "the old days" were better. When it comes to Epiphones the more modern guitars keep getting better and better. I thought they had really topped out with the Epi's coming out of the Unsung (Korean) factory. Many people thought that Epiphone would go to crap when they moved to China. What a lot of people don't know is that the Chinese factory is an Epiphone only factory. One the higher ups there said about the Korean factory, "How can we be better than Dean, Ibanez, Schechter when Epiphones are made in the same building as them?"
I have had Korean and (the new) Chinese Epiphone Les Pauls. My Chinese one is a plain top that doesn't look that special. When I first saw it I wasn't impressed. But something happened when I played it. I can't believe I bought it then, and I couldn't even think of getting rid of it now-a-days. My point being, there has never been a better time to buy an Epiphone Les Paul both price-wise and for quality control. I actually found an old gear guide from 1998 and the (higher end) Epi Les Pauls were running $550 back then. The same ones are now $500, but better quality. I absolutely love those Pehlam Blue ones that are selling for $399. (Very tempting.)
Once you get her set up you will be happy. Some people are very specific about their sound, and that's why Seymour Duncan exists. So if you feel like dropping new pickups in, I'd say go for it. I don't think you will be disappointed. So I say enjoy your Les Paul. And most importantly, have fun. That's the main point. Fun, fun, fun.
We've always heard as musicians that "the old days" were better. When it comes to Epiphones the more modern guitars keep getting better and better. I thought they had really topped out with the Epi's coming out of the Unsung (Korean) factory. Many people thought that Epiphone would go to crap when they moved to China. What a lot of people don't know is that the Chinese factory is an Epiphone only factory. One the higher ups there said about the Korean factory, "How can we be better than Dean, Ibanez, Schechter when Epiphones are made in the same building as them?"
I have had Korean and (the new) Chinese Epiphone Les Pauls. My Chinese one is a plain top that doesn't look that special. When I first saw it I wasn't impressed. But something happened when I played it. I can't believe I bought it then, and I couldn't even think of getting rid of it now-a-days. My point being, there has never been a better time to buy an Epiphone Les Paul both price-wise and for quality control. I actually found an old gear guide from 1998 and the (higher end) Epi Les Pauls were running $550 back then. The same ones are now $500, but better quality. I absolutely love those Pehlam Blue ones that are selling for $399. (Very tempting.)
Once you get her set up you will be happy. Some people are very specific about their sound, and that's why Seymour Duncan exists. So if you feel like dropping new pickups in, I'd say go for it. I don't think you will be disappointed. So I say enjoy your Les Paul. And most importantly, have fun. That's the main point. Fun, fun, fun.
Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
Re: New Epiphone Les Paul Standard coming my way
LEs Pauls made the same day can vary highly. Epiphones even more so.
I'll say Epi's tend to be a little brighter on average than Gibsons, which, if they sound bad, tend to sound more muddy.
But again - when it comes to sound, you have to trust your ears, and electronics can be changed easily!
LEs Pauls made the same day can vary highly. Epiphones even more so.
I'll say Epi's tend to be a little brighter on average than Gibsons, which, if they sound bad, tend to sound more muddy.
But again - when it comes to sound, you have to trust your ears, and electronics can be changed easily!
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: New Epiphone Les Paul Standard coming my way
+1. I definitely prefer the Chinese production. Much more consistent, and the quality is better. The 1990's Koreans, besides being so variable in materials and workmanship, had cheap no-name tuners, mini-pots, and muddy PU's. The Chinese models today cost the same, or less, and have Grovers, full-size pots, and better PU's (Probuckers, Gibsons, EMG's, and Dimarzios depending on the model). A number have push-pulls for coil cut. The set-neck Epi's today are ready to gig with; many of the old Koreans needed some mods to get them to that level.
+1. I definitely prefer the Chinese production. Much more consistent, and the quality is better. The 1990's Koreans, besides being so variable in materials and workmanship, had cheap no-name tuners, mini-pots, and muddy PU's. The Chinese models today cost the same, or less, and have Grovers, full-size pots, and better PU's (Probuckers, Gibsons, EMG's, and Dimarzios depending on the model). A number have push-pulls for coil cut. The set-neck Epi's today are ready to gig with; many of the old Koreans needed some mods to get them to that level.
DreX
New member
Re: New Epiphone Les Paul Standard coming my way
Something I've determined is that YouTube demos are nearly worthless for comparing things like pickups, or the sound of two different, but nearly identical guitars/guitar parts/guitar setups in general. I was in the process of making some pickup demo videos, and while editing them it occurred to me that even though I had played all the combinations clean and overdriven, and that the audio was decent quality, it didn't tell a fraction of the story for any of the pickups I was demo'ing. I think the reason is because
1) you're hearing the guitar, but you're not the one interacting. You know the output, but have no idea what the input is. The Gibson might have sounded raspy because of how it was or wasn't being played. Raspy is often a good sound, IMO.
2) even if you're the one playing the guitar, it can take a while to get a complete-ish impression of a pickups, or the guitar in general. For example, you could be playing rock on two different guitars, and think they're functionally alike, and then switch to playing country riffs, and then suddenly it's as though they have nothing in common any more, because the different styles demand you do different things that bring out different weak or strong spots in the pickups, or the entire guitar.
A lot of people think the poly necks on the Epi's feel cheap, and I don't have any trouble seeing where they are coming from. I think the best thing to do is play a Gibson and Epi back to back and decide if the Epi is a wannabe Gibson in your opinion, or a fully ideal instrument on it's own. Even though Gibsons are expensive, as people have pointed out in the past, they're still cheap by the standards of other musical instruments, so I wouldn't think of the price as a deal breaker, just something you might have to save a little longer to buy.
Something I've determined is that YouTube demos are nearly worthless for comparing things like pickups, or the sound of two different, but nearly identical guitars/guitar parts/guitar setups in general. I was in the process of making some pickup demo videos, and while editing them it occurred to me that even though I had played all the combinations clean and overdriven, and that the audio was decent quality, it didn't tell a fraction of the story for any of the pickups I was demo'ing. I think the reason is because
1) you're hearing the guitar, but you're not the one interacting. You know the output, but have no idea what the input is. The Gibson might have sounded raspy because of how it was or wasn't being played. Raspy is often a good sound, IMO.
2) even if you're the one playing the guitar, it can take a while to get a complete-ish impression of a pickups, or the guitar in general. For example, you could be playing rock on two different guitars, and think they're functionally alike, and then switch to playing country riffs, and then suddenly it's as though they have nothing in common any more, because the different styles demand you do different things that bring out different weak or strong spots in the pickups, or the entire guitar.
A lot of people think the poly necks on the Epi's feel cheap, and I don't have any trouble seeing where they are coming from. I think the best thing to do is play a Gibson and Epi back to back and decide if the Epi is a wannabe Gibson in your opinion, or a fully ideal instrument on it's own. Even though Gibsons are expensive, as people have pointed out in the past, they're still cheap by the standards of other musical instruments, so I wouldn't think of the price as a deal breaker, just something you might have to save a little longer to buy.
Re: New Epiphone Les Paul Standard coming my way
I got it and it's absolutely fantastic. I didn't even have to level the frets (something you always have to do with Fender). The finish is gorgeous and the Gibson 57's sound superb. Nice and sweet. Playability is also fantastic. Beautiful piece of rosewood. I'm so glad I bought it. No more Fenders for me. The Les Paul is a better choice for the kind of music I play and the tone I want to hear.
I got it and it's absolutely fantastic. I didn't even have to level the frets (something you always have to do with Fender). The finish is gorgeous and the Gibson 57's sound superb. Nice and sweet. Playability is also fantastic. Beautiful piece of rosewood. I'm so glad I bought it. No more Fenders for me. The Les Paul is a better choice for the kind of music I play and the tone I want to hear.
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