cliffenstein
New member
I bought this guitar in August of 2019 and have had a few things done to it, but am just now getting around to this NGD post.
SPECS:
* 2 piece Solid Mahogany Body and Set Mahogany Neck
* Bound Dark Indian Rosewood Fretboard (12" radius)
* 22 Jumbo (2.7mm) Frets
* Kluson locking tuners (it came with Grovers, but I prefer locking tuners so I swapped 'em out)
* Compensated Wraparound Tailpiece (it came with the fancy big Wilkinson Wraparound Tailpiece, but I like to keep to a more classic appearance, so I opted to switch to the standard piece)
* 1 11/16" nut width (1.6875mm)
* Wilkinson Alnico 5 Dogear P-90 pickup (unbranded, thank goodness)
* TV Yellow finish (more of a Butterscotch Blonde than true TV Yellow, but I like it)
NECK MEASUREMENTS:
.82" at 1st fret
.91" at 12th fret
(So synonymous with Gibson Slim Taper shape)
COMMENTARY:
GREAT guitar after some work. As shown in the specs, I swapped out the tuners and the tailpiece...stock pieces are great, it was purely for personal preference. I had to get the frets worked on to get the kind of low action I like and I took the added step of having the headstock carved to an open book shape (it's stock shape is proper Gibson width overall, but has more of a pronounced oval at the top - my end result is much more subtle than the dead-on Gibson shape I was going for, but I'm happy with it and will not be giving it another go).
The Wilkinson pickup sounds fantastic and all electronics are rock solid...I have zero need for an upgrade in that department. The guitar holds tune great, feels solid and of good quality and is way fun to play. I love the overall look of the guitar...the beautiful dark rosewood board, the body shape is Gibson accurate (though the fretboard binding is not as that was for the Special, not the Jr). And the name makes you think this was modeled after a '58 LP Jr, but this neck is simply the modern Gibson Slim Taper shape which I get around just fine on.
Finally, the stock pickguard was cheaply made and after about a month, the shine started flaking off. So I had a local guy trace it on some quality pickguard material and cut me a new one...this new one is indistinguishable from the stock one except for that it's a quality piece.
If you're willing to have a bit of work done then these guitars are fairly easy to find on Reverb.com. I got mine new (unsold 2018 model) for $499.99 including shipping/tax and I am VERY happy I made the purchase.
Had those new thick neck TV Yellow Epiphone LP Specials been available when I bought this, I may have gone that route instead, but again...I'm a happy camper and this guitar is awesome, plus I got a rosewood fretboard instead of the laurel one I would have gotten with the Epi.
PICS:
SPECS:
* 2 piece Solid Mahogany Body and Set Mahogany Neck
* Bound Dark Indian Rosewood Fretboard (12" radius)
* 22 Jumbo (2.7mm) Frets
* Kluson locking tuners (it came with Grovers, but I prefer locking tuners so I swapped 'em out)
* Compensated Wraparound Tailpiece (it came with the fancy big Wilkinson Wraparound Tailpiece, but I like to keep to a more classic appearance, so I opted to switch to the standard piece)
* 1 11/16" nut width (1.6875mm)
* Wilkinson Alnico 5 Dogear P-90 pickup (unbranded, thank goodness)
* TV Yellow finish (more of a Butterscotch Blonde than true TV Yellow, but I like it)
NECK MEASUREMENTS:
.82" at 1st fret
.91" at 12th fret
(So synonymous with Gibson Slim Taper shape)
COMMENTARY:
GREAT guitar after some work. As shown in the specs, I swapped out the tuners and the tailpiece...stock pieces are great, it was purely for personal preference. I had to get the frets worked on to get the kind of low action I like and I took the added step of having the headstock carved to an open book shape (it's stock shape is proper Gibson width overall, but has more of a pronounced oval at the top - my end result is much more subtle than the dead-on Gibson shape I was going for, but I'm happy with it and will not be giving it another go).
The Wilkinson pickup sounds fantastic and all electronics are rock solid...I have zero need for an upgrade in that department. The guitar holds tune great, feels solid and of good quality and is way fun to play. I love the overall look of the guitar...the beautiful dark rosewood board, the body shape is Gibson accurate (though the fretboard binding is not as that was for the Special, not the Jr). And the name makes you think this was modeled after a '58 LP Jr, but this neck is simply the modern Gibson Slim Taper shape which I get around just fine on.
Finally, the stock pickguard was cheaply made and after about a month, the shine started flaking off. So I had a local guy trace it on some quality pickguard material and cut me a new one...this new one is indistinguishable from the stock one except for that it's a quality piece.
If you're willing to have a bit of work done then these guitars are fairly easy to find on Reverb.com. I got mine new (unsold 2018 model) for $499.99 including shipping/tax and I am VERY happy I made the purchase.
Had those new thick neck TV Yellow Epiphone LP Specials been available when I bought this, I may have gone that route instead, but again...I'm a happy camper and this guitar is awesome, plus I got a rosewood fretboard instead of the laurel one I would have gotten with the Epi.
PICS:
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