NGD: Epiphone Les Paul PlusTop PRO/FX

[darthphineas]

they had 12 of these a week ago. I looked back today and they are sold out. MF was clearing these out for $399 w/free shipping...much easier to consider than the Gibson Les Paul Axcess I saw at GC this week for $3,999. there were 2 vintage burst and 10 honey burst. I bought a vintage burst and it had a few issues from the factory, so they replaced it with this honey burst.

regular LP heel joint. it came with a FR Special, but I had a spare German FR sitting around, so I put that on there, along with a brass block and titanium saddle inserts. action was a little high and it needed a good setup. the Asian Gibson factory really likes the necks with absolutely no relief, but that's better than way too much. both volume pots are p/p to split each pup.

somewhere online says they are the Alnico Classic and Alnico Classic Plus pickups. I called Gibson and they said they are the ProBuckers, suggesting they are similar to the Burstbucker Pro models. bridge pup is alright. neck pup is meh. will be doing some swapping next week.

 

[HKZSquared]

Re: NGD: Epiphone Les Paul PlusTop PRO/FX

Sweet new LP, always loved that model's look. And I agree with your statement on the pickups. I traded for an '02 Epi LP standard and it had the classics, I swapped them out after like two weeks of giving them chances. Is the neck thickness on that one the regular thickness?

 

[darthphineas]

Re: NGD: Epiphone Les Paul PlusTop PRO/FX

have to say that I don't know what regular thickness for a LP is. feels fine, but I have quite a few necks in my herd. something that threw me off when I first picked this one up a few years back was the matte finish on the back of the neck. it just seemed odd, to the point of wondering if the went with some composite to save $. I looked it up later to see it's a regular neck with just a matte finish, so I went back to the store but it was gone. when I saw this on sale, I couldn't pass it up, knowing that I'd tweak things like the bridge and the pups.

 

[HKZSquared]

Re: NGD: Epiphone Les Paul PlusTop PRO/FX

Other than the pickups, would you reccomend this guitar stock? Or did you swap the floyd before you could really tell if it was good stock?

 

[darthphineas]

Re: NGD: Epiphone Les Paul PlusTop PRO/FX

Other than the pickups, would you reccomend this guitar stock? Or did you swap the floyd before you could really tell if it was good stock?

I have a few FR Special bridges in a few other guitars. for my tastes, I like them with a new/good/better set of springs. and there is something about the little black saddle inserts that feels a little softer in the FRS models, so I replace them too - the regular ones look totally squared off, where I've seen several of the FRS insert blocks that look a the tiniest bit rounded at the corners. I'm an 80s-style whammy player, so I'm doing more than simple EVH dives and subtle tremolo, so those tweaks work better for my style. I think it'd be fine for the average joe. there are just subtle things that you can tell in how it 'feels' a little different from the German....same goes for the Korean, for that matter.

the FRS is something I swapped out, as I was going to put a brass block on there. I looked on the bench and had this German one in chrome and ready to go, so it was a matter of convenience.

but yeah, with a good setup, it's fine. I'm the sort that will also go through and test all the pots and check on the switch and output jack. I try to keep a few spares of most things and will swap out if I think it will benefit. if you go in with your eyes open and understand it's not a $4k Gibson, you'll be alright.

 

[PushedCrayon]

Re: NGD: Epiphone Les Paul PlusTop PRO/FX

That guitar is beautiful! Congrats man!

 

[darthphineas]

Re: NGD: Epiphone Les Paul PlusTop PRO/FX

That guitar is beautiful! Congrats man!

thanks dude.

definitely changing the pups. think black will work, or should I try to track down some zebra?

 

[PushedCrayon]

Re: NGD: Epiphone Les Paul PlusTop PRO/FX

I think if you stick with black, I'd keep the covers on them. But I recommend the zebra, I had a set of zebras on my gold top epi les Paul, and it looked great!

 

[darthphineas]

Re: NGD: Epiphone Les Paul PlusTop PRO/FX

I think if you stick with black, I'd keep the covers on them. But I recommend the zebra, I had a set of zebras on my gold top epi les Paul, and it looked great!

have to go through what I already have here to work with. I know I have some zebra here, it's just if they are in the models I want to shoot for. lol! definitely have some in black. none of them have covers and after messing with covers a few years back, I don't expect to go that route again unless I buy them that way. haha!

 

[PushedCrayon]

Re: NGD: Epiphone Les Paul PlusTop PRO/FX

I understand! I've never had any covers to work with. All my guitars I usually rip the stock pups out and slip in Duncan's. The forum has corrupted me so
Whenever you get the finished product, or at least to a point where you are happy with it, make sure to post pictures! Honey burst is my favorite lp finish and I'll be anxiously awaiting to see it!

 

[darthphineas]

Re: NGD: Epiphone Les Paul PlusTop PRO/FX

I understand! I've never had any covers to work with. All my guitars I usually rip the stock pups out and slip in Duncan's. The forum has corrupted me so
Whenever you get the finished product, or at least to a point where you are happy with it, make sure to post pictures! Honey burst is my favorite lp finish and I'll be anxiously awaiting to see it!

yep, I was strongly pushed toward the honey burst on the home front. when I first placed the order, the sales guy placed it for the vintage burst so I took it as karma and rolled with it. the vintage burst had issues I couldn't explain or figure out. so they swapped it out with the honey burst and taught me a lesson about who I listen to. lol! but I do also like the honey burst, having seen them both in front of me. while at GC this week and seeing another LP Axcess with the iced tea finish, I need to get back to winning the lottery....sweet stapp, that's a good looking finish on that guitar. did you catch the desert burst finish that Epi first offered on this LP PRO/FX? http://www.epiphone.com/Products/Les-Paul/PRO-FX.aspx that's also a good looking finish and I think zebra would really pop on that.

 

[PushedCrayon]

Re: NGD: Epiphone Les Paul PlusTop PRO/FX

yep, I was strongly pushed toward the honey burst on the home front. when I first placed the order, the sales guy placed it for the vintage burst so I took it as karma and rolled with it. the vintage burst had issues I couldn't explain or figure out. so they swapped it out with the honey burst and taught me a lesson about who I listen to. lol! but I do also like the honey burst, having seen them both in front of me. while at GC this week and seeing another LP Axcess with the iced tea finish, I need to get back to winning the lottery....sweet stapp, that's a good looking finish on that guitar. did you catch the desert burst finish that Epi first offered on this LP PRO/FX? http://www.epiphone.com/Products/Les-Paul/PRO-FX.aspx that's also a good looking finish and I think zebra would really pop on that.

I love that finish too! I think the zebra would pop more on the desert burst like you said. With it being a little darker, it'll really make the zebra look good. Have any idea what pickups you want to drop in it?

 

[darthphineas]

Re: NGD: Epiphone Les Paul PlusTop PRO/FX

I love that finish too! I think the zebra would pop more on the desert burst like you said. With it being a little darker, it'll really make the zebra look good. Have any idea what pickups you want to drop in it?

will probably start with something standard that my ears know. like a JB/Jazz, but I think I'm all out of Jazz right now. I know I have a '59n and a '59/Jazz hybrid neck. I have plenty of JBs to work with, but I'm also looking at putting a BKP Rebel Yell in there as many guys rave about that in a LP. from there I can figure if they will work or if I need to tweak.

 

[PushedCrayon]

Re: NGD: Epiphone Les Paul PlusTop PRO/FX

will probably start with something standard that my ears know. like a JB/Jazz, but I think I'm all out of Jazz right now. I know I have a '59n and a '59/Jazz hybrid neck. I have plenty of JBs to work with, but I'm also looking at putting a BKP Rebel Yell in there as many guys rave about that in a LP. from there I can figure if they will work or if I need to tweak.

You can't really go wrong with that combo, but I've had a good experience putting the custom 5 in the bridge of mine. You could always try that. What kind of sound do you want from it?

 

[darthphineas]

Re: NGD: Epiphone Les Paul PlusTop PRO/FX

80s hard rock.

Pretty much what I get from my super strats. But this has a set neck and other configa that are a bit different. So I'm trying to enjoy the process and learn from a different rig.

 

[voggin]

Re: NGD: Epiphone Les Paul PlusTop PRO/FX

That price is a steal. I'd love a Les Paul with a Floyd, but the cost is crazy for an Axcess. That Epi might be perfect for me: I'd only have a couple of applications for it, but with a set of Seymours and the floyd, it would be perfect.

HNGD!

 

[darthphineas]

Re: NGD: Epiphone Les Paul PlusTop PRO/FX

after going through the drawers of pups at the work bench, going to start with a BKP Rebel Yell and a '59nA4. both black.

 

[tubecrunch]

Re: NGD: Epiphone Les Paul PlusTop PRO/FX

Almost fell over when I saw those at GC a few years ago. Tried a bunch out and they were all rough. Glad u got a good one.

 

[darthphineas]

Re: NGD: Epiphone Les Paul PlusTop PRO/FX

Almost fell over when I saw those at GC a few years ago. Tried a bunch out and they were all rough. Glad u got a good one.

I hear ya. The first one they sent me had some issues.

The dude I deal with at MF was very awesome and shipped a replacement out immediately via 2nd day air without even waiting for the first one to be back in-hand.

This one has been working out. Still fine tuning the action and typical things like that.

 

[Jermo3178]

Re: NGD: Epiphone Les Paul PlusTop PRO/FX

Dude, that's awesome.. congrats!