Pros and cons- Alex Lifeson Epi

Looks like a great LP type. With tummy cut and sculpted heel, Grovers and Floyd, individual splits and a phase PP. Seems on the line for me; first reaction was it's pricy, but it's nice and has lots of improvements an LP could use. I haven't played one, however, so can't say anything more than IMO it might be a contender.
 
If it's like other recent Epiphones that I've played, including that Matt Heafy LP I bought last year - same price point - it's going to be nice specs and features with corners cut on the materials and attention to detail. Lipstick on a pig. Soft wood, cheap plastics, screws overtorqued so they have no purchase on the wood, pickups in the wrong spot, loose wire causing an intermittent short in the battery box, slight but persistent buzz I can't track down, frets don't feel great, neck still hasn't settled in. When it manages to hold a setup, it plays ok and sounds pretty neat, but it's always kind of a fight. Haven't picked it up in a while.

Obviously, not the same guitar, so who knows. YMMV, grain of salt, etc etc. But this is what I would expect from a new Epiphone right now. I wouldn't pay $1300 again for an instrument of this quality. Maybe used for a few hundred less. If I wanted a shreddy LP with a Floyd at this price point I would probably look at an LTD Eclipse - those are cheaper used too.
 
Yeah, I think there are things I don't like about any traditional LP, and this model (if it isn't like Seashore described) solves most of them. But to me, 'Modern' LPs are still too traditional.
 
I'm not a traditionallist. I swapped locking tuners, a roller bridge, and active pickups into my Les Paul. It has a Maple neck, even. I'd much prefer it if it had a thin neck and jumbo frets too.

But I never liked how Les Pauls look with trems. I don't think I ever will. Like that Tremonti with the Fender-ish-looking trem. Like... no. :(

I'm normally not a trem guy, but for example, an RG550 without a trem would just look off. I really want an RG550, even. But on a Les Paul... it's kinda sacrilege, LOL.

Otherwise, it's probably solid, like most modern Epiphones, but probably will need a fretjob right out of the box.
 
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My Studio is a player. I use it to test different pickups. The original wiring was a circuit board, so I could take everything out, do my own wiring, and when I'm done, I can put it back to stock without even soldering.

Still think the Epi has better features. Price makes it a tough decision. But I can't speak to 'quality' differences.
 
zionstrat said:
Love the color, 12-in radius and Floyd. Not sure about anything else...

What are do guys think? Good value? Anybody played one?

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https://www.sweetwater.com/store/de...n-les-paul-custom-axcess-electric-guitar-ruby
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I almost got one but ultimately decided that I wouldn't like the Floyd Rose. While I enjoy Floyd Roses when set up right, I don't use whammy bars/trems aggressively enough to justify having it. It's unique for sure and I love unique.

I do wish that they had done some signature pickups, instead of the usual bursts....

Other than those two things, I'm sure it is a great guitar. I love my Epi LP and would put it against any typical Gibson LP. Of course I nodded the heck out of it though.
 
zionstrat said:
Talk to me about frets.. scratchy on the end or not leveled or what?
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On that Matt Heafy LP it was both. Not horrible or unplayable or anything, just not great. I had a guy level and smooth them and it's nicer now. Frets on my Schecters both came in much nicer shape.

Pickup changes are also a pain in the butt because of how long and narrow the hole is between the pickup routs and the control cavity. Might not be a problem with the Lifeson.
 
I've had two newer Epis, so my sample size isn't enormous. But I do keep reading and hearing the same issue with the frets on Epis with online reviews and whatnot.

The most common issue is people find they're scratchy. No biggie, polish them and that's it.

The second most common issue is they're uneven and they need a fret leveling and recrowning and whatnot. Not THAT big of an issue, but I do find it pretty annoying to have to spend whatever the shop wants to charge you for a fret leveling on a brand new guitar. Both of mine were like this, sadly.

The worst issue I had with one of mine was that the frets were not properly seated, and there were some gaps on the edge of the fretboard and the frets where the strings would sometimes get caught.

Also, the fret material is not amazing either. I play my Gibson a lot more than I do my Epi, and it looks like the strings are impressing more on the Epi. But that's pretty common most mid to lower-end guitars, I think. And I do play very hard, so that's to be expected.
 
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My other big gripe with Epis is their Lock Tone bridge is trash. The saddles rattle and buzz like crazy andi their plating is super flimsy, especially the gold. Luckily, the Lifeson doesn't suffer from that issue.
 
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