NGD - Epiphone Les Paul Special 2020

[cliffenstein]

Been looking at these since they were announced, but felt I had no need since I had a lovely butterscotch Dillion Les Paul Junior, but still...knowing these Epi's had a big 50's neck and the new headstock shape and, with the reviews being so killer, I just kept thinking about making room for one. I gave in and bought one from Zzounds a couple Wednesdays back (6/24)...it arrived at my house the next day.

I am sooooo glad I decided to buy this guitar. It's lighter than the Dillion, while feeling no less substantial. And my gosh...unplugged, the Epi is extremely resonant. The neck is just perfect for me...measuring at .94" at first fret and .99" at the 12th.

I cleaned and treated the fretboard with F-One oil, adjusted the neck to get it to little to no relief, put on a new set of D'Addario 11-49 strings and set the intonation.

Finally, I replaced the stock strap buttons with a set of Dunlop straplok buttons and replaced the stock tuners with a set of Kluson Revolution 19:1 ratio locking tuners. While I realize these Klusons don't have the proper Les Paul Special white oval buttons, they do have the classic Kluson keystone buttons we're used to seeing on Gibsons and I think they look fantastic on this Epiphone.

I'm amazed at how much this Indian Laurel fretboard looks like proper rosewood and I'm happy that I got one that is uniformly dark.

The pickups are awesome...I will not be changing them out.

I love love LOVE This guitar!

PICS:

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: NGD - Epiphone Les Paul Special 2020

That is a sweet looking Epi. I dig it. A lot. Very cool. You have some killer amp heads too. Your name and something about your avatar remind me of a guy I used to watch light up the stage quite a bit back in the day... Cliffy Huntington a.k.a. Cliff Powell. Dude was awesome on stage. They swore they didn't know who the Ramones were which was just part of the novelty. I must have seen the Hintingtons play at least 10 times in the late 90s to early 2000s.

Anyway, sweet guitar and congrats on a NGD!

 

[cliffenstein]

Re: NGD - Epiphone Les Paul Special 2020

That is a sweet looking Epi. I dig it. A lot. Very cool. You have some killer amp heads too. Your name and something about your avatar remind me of a guy I used to watch light up the stage quite a bit back in the day... Cliffy Huntington a.k.a. Cliff Powell. Dude was awesome on stage. They swore they didn't know who the Ramones were which was just part of the novelty. I must have seen the Huntingtons play at least 10 times in the late 90s to early 2000s.

Anyway, sweet guitar and congrats on a NGD!

That's me and I don't remember ever acting like I didn't know who the Ramones were...no way, no how! Haha.

 

[cliffenstein]

Re: NGD - Epiphone Les Paul Special 2020

That’s a sharp looking guitar. I’m looking at mine right now.

I like how the little person who lives in the outlet is like =O

Haha...that's a killer observation!!!!

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: NGD - Epiphone Les Paul Special 2020

That's me and I don't remember ever acting like I didn't know who the Ramones were...no way, no how! Haha.

Haha! Dude, that is awesome! You are a a great player and you have legendary stage presence. I think I have a t-shirt, the good, the bad and the ugly cover... is that your Strat on the cover? I still rock that shirt from time to time. Those were some good days back then.

It's pretty sweet to stumble into you on the SD forums. You still playing in bands? If so, are you recording anything? I'd be happy to check out your music if it's available. Other than that, happy playing man. I definitely dig that new Epi. I love the 50's Gibson neck profile, I use it on every Warmoth neck I order. I do think the tuner swap gives that headstock sort of a modern-vintage Gibson vibe. I bet those P-90s sounds killer through some of your amps.

 

[cliffenstein]

Re: NGD - Epiphone Les Paul Special 2020

Haha! Dude, that is awesome! You are a a great player and you have legendary stage presence.

Thank you...nice of you to say.

I think I have a t-shirt, the good, the bad and the ugly cover... is that your Strat on the cover? I still rock that shirt from time to time. Those were some good days back then.

That is my Strat on the cover and yes, they were!

It's pretty sweet to stumble into you on the SD forums. You still playing in bands? If so, are you recording anything? I'd be happy to check out your music if it's available.

Been posting here for quite a few years. After the Huntingtons I did a band called The Stivs. Now the Huntingtons are back together actually...we did a new album that's been getting very positive reviews...it came out in January of this year. It's called Muerto, Carcel O Rocanrol. We play out a lot (which is of course on hold with the pandemic crisis this year).

Other than that, happy playing man. I definitely dig that new Epi. I love the 50's Gibson neck profile, I use it on every Warmoth neck I order. I do think the tuner swap gives that headstock sort of a modern-vintage Gibson vibe. I bet those P-90s sounds killer through some of your amps.

Thank you, sir...same to you!

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: NGD - Epiphone Les Paul Special 2020

Thank you...nice of you to say.

That is my Strat on the cover and yes, they were!

Been posting here for quite a few years. After the Huntingtons I did a band called The Stivs. Now the Huntingtons are back together actually...we did a new album that's been getting very positive reviews...it came out in January of this year. It's called Muerto, Carcel O Rocanrol. We play out a lot (which is of course on hold with the pandemic crisis this year).

Thank you, sir...same to you!

You're welcome, thank you for all the great shows and music over the years.

Sadly, I've been mostly absent around here the past few years. Had a lot of personal stuff going on that kept my time and energy occupied. Anyway, your Strat is awesome, I always did love that cover! It's a good album too, so good I bought it twice. My first one cracked somehow, so I bought it again. I was pretty big into punk back in the 90s and you guys were always in my rotation. A lot of the Clash, MxPx, Dingees, Rancid, Ramones, Billy Idol, Huntingtons, Green Day and reggae at the time.

I think I caught almost every Huntingtons show in or around Minneapolis from 1998 into the 2000s. You guys were on the road a lot and you were constantly releasing albums. I remember when Plastic Surgery and Get Lost came out, it felt like a back to back release. I think High School Rock was the first album I bought from you guys. I still dig that album on the occasion. There is so much music to listen to these days! However, in my opinion, the Huntingtons really shine as a live experience. Raw, fast rock and roll. The energy is unreal, I feel the spirit of 70s and 80s punk at your shows. I hope a new generation of fans emerge from your reunion.

I am definitely going to check out anything I can find from the Stivs and I will check out the new Huntingtons album tonight! Cliffy, Mikey and the boys back at it again? Sweet. I will definitely have to make it to one of your shows once society returns to normal again. I dig the new album name too. The cover is badass! I can't wait to hear it... I like to listen to music at night, after my guitar playing. I am just wrapping work up for the week now. Looking forward to the next 2 and a half hours of playing guitar now...

Thanks again for the response!

 

[cliffenstein]

Re: NGD - Epiphone Les Paul Special 2020

You're welcome, thank you for all the great shows and music over the years.

Sadly, I've been mostly absent around here the past few years. Had a lot of personal stuff going on that kept my time and energy occupied. Anyway, your Strat is awesome, I always did love that cover! It's a good album too, so good I bought it twice. My first one cracked somehow, so I bought it again. I was pretty big into punk back in the 90s and you guys were always in my rotation. A lot of the Clash, MxPx, Dingees, Rancid, Ramones, Billy Idol, Huntingtons, Green Day and reggae at the time.

I think I caught almost every Huntingtons show in or around Minneapolis from 1998 into the 2000s. You guys were on the road a lot and you were constantly releasing albums. I remember when Plastic Surgery and Get Lost came out, it felt like a back to back release. I think High School Rock was the first album I bought from you guys. I still dig that album on the occasion. There is so much music to listen to these days! However, in my opinion, the Huntingtons really shine as a live experience. Raw, fast rock and roll. The energy is unreal, I feel the spirit of 70s and 80s punk at your shows. I hope a new generation of fans emerge from your reunion.

I am definitely going to check out anything I can find from the Stivs and I will check out the new Huntingtons album tonight! Cliffy, Mikey and the boys back at it again? Sweet. I will definitely have to make it to one of your shows once society returns to normal again. I dig the new album name too. The cover is badass! I can't wait to hear it... I like to listen to music at night, after my guitar playing. I am just wrapping work up for the week now. Looking forward to the next 2 and a half hours of playing guitar now...

Thanks again for the response!

So awesome... feel free to add me on facebook, too, if you're so inclined.

http://www.facebook.com/cliffenstein

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: NGD - Epiphone Les Paul Special 2020

So awesome... feel free to add me on facebook, too, if you're so inclined.

http://www.facebook.com/cliffenstein

Done. Lol, Jonni Walker, is that a stage name you have also used? I dig it.

 

[Erlend_G]

Re: NGD - Epiphone Les Paul Special 2020

P90's are the way to go

I got an Epiphone Wildkat "koa" (lmt.ed) ...

But my fretboard doesn't look as nice as yours. The colors are "all over the place", and also there is a... crack? or streak going trough it, around the 9/12th fret,
bought the guitar unseen from Thomann, and the "issue" doesn't affect playability. It just looks a bit "sad" if you study it.

What is "F-One" oil? I've been looking for some good oil for my fretboard; just haven't decided on what to get. (I learned that "lemon oil" is just mineral oil with scent; and not really the top choice)

rock on! I hope you enjoy your new guitar alot!

-Erl

 

[cliffenstein]

Re: NGD - Epiphone Les Paul Special 2020

Done. Lol, Jonni Walker, is that a stage name you have also used? I dig it.

The Huntingtons song JW is a song in jest that our singer wrote about me.

 

[cliffenstein]

Re: NGD - Epiphone Les Paul Special 2020

P90's are the way to go

I got an Epiphone Wildkat "koa" (lmt.ed) ...

But my fretboard doesn't look as nice as yours. The colors are "all over the place", and also there is a... crack? or streak going trough it, around the 9/12th fret,
bought the guitar unseen from Thomann, and the "issue" doesn't affect playability. It just looks a bit "sad" if you study it.

What is "F-One" oil? I've been looking for some good oil for my fretboard; just haven't decided on what to get. (I learned that "lemon oil" is just mineral oil with scent; and not really the top choice)

rock on! I hope you enjoy your new guitar alot!

-Erl

F-One oil is awesome...it cleans, conditions and darkens unfinished fretboards (ebony, rosewood, indian laurel, etc). It's made by Music Nomad...it's inexpensive and works amazingly well. They sell it at all the musician gear websites (Zzounds, Musicians Friend, Guitar Center, Sweetwater, etc).

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/de...oil-fretboard-cleaner-and-conditioner-2-fl-oz

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: NGD - Epiphone Les Paul Special 2020

The Huntingtons song JW is a song in jest that our singer wrote about me.

Wow, that is awesome! I never knew that. JW is one of my favorite tracks off the good, the bad and the ugly! Great song, great nickname...

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: NGD - Epiphone Les Paul Special 2020

Listening to Muerto, Carcel, O Rocanrol right now. Good stuff, you still sound like the Huntingtons, but evolved. That is the way it should be imo. Not to mention, you still have your crazy good guitar chops. They are even better than there were before plus you have added a lot more versatility to your lead playing. Your licks, riffs and solos are great on this album! Nice work!

Now enjoy your new guitar, haha!

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: NGD - Epiphone Les Paul Special 2020

Haha is that another Back to the Future reference from you guys on Say Hi To Your Mom For Me?
Light beer? Is that the background chant? Then is that Biff's voice sampled in there? I love it!

 

[cliffenstein]

Re: NGD - Epiphone Les Paul Special 2020

Not Biff’s voice...that’s me. Glad you are digging it. Until this record, Get Lost was my favorite. Check out the remaster of Plastic Surgery too...it finally stands up Sonically to Get Lost now.

Thanks for all the kind comments. We’re probably ruining this thread now though. Hit me up via PM or FB messenger. These folks don’t need this kind of interruption! Haha.

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: NGD - Epiphone Les Paul Special 2020

Yeah, you're right. Sorry about that! I am still lovin the new Epiphone Les Paul too though, so might as well get this thread back on topic. I have to admit, at least from the photos, the fretboard looks very similar to rosewood, so that is pretty cool.

The color scheme of the guitar grows on me every time I see it again too. It kind of lingers until it becomes a classic. It almost screams 70s rocker to me, but it could just as easily feel right at home in a 50s setting. Should look great with leather or pleather.

 

[cliffenstein]

Re: NGD - Epiphone Les Paul Special 2020

My fretboard looks a fair amount like rosewood, too, but it’s lacking the reddish tones. Still, it’s a good-looking board that seems to be fulfilling all the various boardly duties.

When it comes to fretboards that don’t have finish on them (ebony, rosewood, etc), the darker the better as far as I’m concerned. Get yourself some F-One oil. Hit me up via PM if you do and are unsure how to use it. It made a clear difference on mine.

 

[cincyguitar]

Re: NGD - Epiphone Les Paul Special 2020

Congrats on the new Epi!....I am waiting for a certain one that is back ordered...guess Covid has slowed down production...

 

[Artie]

Re: NGD - Epiphone Les Paul Special 2020

Love that color. Sweet axe. Now, I'll have to go out and see if I can round up some of your music. Enjoy.