JeffB
Let it B
The first for me in about 2 years! :eyecrazy:
Inevitably, as much as I dig my strat- been missing a Gibson-style instrument for the past few months and finally decided to do something about it- here she be
Pics courtesy of Sweetwater- which is a great place to order a guitar from- as you can go through their gallery and really look over an instrument-how well the nut is cut, whether everything is lined up right (bridge tailpiece tuners, wood used,etc) and of course how she looks.
This one is actually all african mahogany (or sapele-hard to to tell for sure): body (3 piece) and neck- which is rare for a MIK/MIC Epiphone- many of which are "mystery mahogany". Of course she has a pretty african veneer on the back, a fairly dark rosewood board, and it has an actual maple cap. The wide flame is probably the nicest top veneer I've ever seen on a Epiphone or most any other MIC/MIK import, and it actually has real depth to it unlike most veneers. Move the guitar certain ways and it looks like miniature mountain ravines- very 3D. So nice, I removed the cheap looking epiphone pickguard-and I'm generally a fan of pickguards on Les Pauls.
Fret & nutwork is very good and it plays very well. Acoustically she sounds better than my Edwards or Tokai did (both kinda dark, with edwards being really muted) and sveral of my MIA Gibsons . Not the best sustaining les Paul I've had, but as good as some of the better production standards I've owned. Very clear & full tone- tight piano like highs and bass with good mids-maybe a touch on the bright side- reminds me of the PRS SC250 I had.
Pots are smooth and usable (gasp) , switch is solid too. Saddles are cut well and smooth-no sharp edges. I've never seen a MIK or MIC Epiphone this well put together , sound this good, or play this good as a total package-It is nearing MIJ quality. The only construction "flubs" I've been able to find is a spot in the cutout binding where it's a little thin and you can see the wood through it and where it's a little uneven in another couple of spots on the perimeter of the body. Nitpicking though, considering how absolutely horrendous many Epiphones are.
The only REAL negative is the typical muddy Epiphone pickups- which will be getting tossed as soon as I figure out what to put in it.
Inevitably, as much as I dig my strat- been missing a Gibson-style instrument for the past few months and finally decided to do something about it- here she be
Pics courtesy of Sweetwater- which is a great place to order a guitar from- as you can go through their gallery and really look over an instrument-how well the nut is cut, whether everything is lined up right (bridge tailpiece tuners, wood used,etc) and of course how she looks.
This one is actually all african mahogany (or sapele-hard to to tell for sure): body (3 piece) and neck- which is rare for a MIK/MIC Epiphone- many of which are "mystery mahogany". Of course she has a pretty african veneer on the back, a fairly dark rosewood board, and it has an actual maple cap. The wide flame is probably the nicest top veneer I've ever seen on a Epiphone or most any other MIC/MIK import, and it actually has real depth to it unlike most veneers. Move the guitar certain ways and it looks like miniature mountain ravines- very 3D. So nice, I removed the cheap looking epiphone pickguard-and I'm generally a fan of pickguards on Les Pauls.
Fret & nutwork is very good and it plays very well. Acoustically she sounds better than my Edwards or Tokai did (both kinda dark, with edwards being really muted) and sveral of my MIA Gibsons . Not the best sustaining les Paul I've had, but as good as some of the better production standards I've owned. Very clear & full tone- tight piano like highs and bass with good mids-maybe a touch on the bright side- reminds me of the PRS SC250 I had.
Pots are smooth and usable (gasp) , switch is solid too. Saddles are cut well and smooth-no sharp edges. I've never seen a MIK or MIC Epiphone this well put together , sound this good, or play this good as a total package-It is nearing MIJ quality. The only construction "flubs" I've been able to find is a spot in the cutout binding where it's a little thin and you can see the wood through it and where it's a little uneven in another couple of spots on the perimeter of the body. Nitpicking though, considering how absolutely horrendous many Epiphones are.
The only REAL negative is the typical muddy Epiphone pickups- which will be getting tossed as soon as I figure out what to put in it.
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yeah I've been pretty much non-existent until the last week or so. Been busy with work, planning a wedding, etc, but doing well, thanks for aking! 
