Epi LPs vs. Gibson LPs

[Zaphod B]

I know that Epiphone is Gibson's import brand.

Other than that, what is the difference between an Epi LP and a Gibson LP of the same description - say, an LP "Custom," "Ultra," or "Studio?"

That confuses me as much as the mix of LP models overall.

[hixmix]

Originally Posted by Zaphod B

I know that Epiphone is Gibson's import brand.

Other than that, what is the difference between an Epi LP and a Gibson LP of the same description - say, an LP "Custom," "Ultra," or "Studio?"

That confuses me as much as the mix of LP models overall.

Quality of woods, hardware, electronics, headstock shape. When you get into the Japan made Elitist Epis though, you're basically getting a Gibson at a lower price.

I've got my eye on the Elitist Broadway.

[Zaphod B]

Originally Posted by hixmix

Quality of woods, hardware, electronics, headstock shape. When you get into the Japan made Elitist Epis though, you're basically getting a Gibson at a lower price.

I've got my eye on the Elitist Broadway.

Thanks, Hix. I was thinking that Epi offered a selection that is roughly equivalent to the Gibsons - I didn't know about the Elitist line.

[jimistone]

Originally Posted by hixmix

Quality of woods, hardware, electronics, headstock shape. When you get into the Japan made Elitist Epis though, you're basically getting a Gibson at a lower price.

I've got my eye on the Elitist Broadway.

Hey hix, I bought a Korina wood epi V...I put seymore duncan '59 humbuckers in it, a new gibson bridge, gibson pots and gibson keys on it. I also adjusted the truss rod, set intonation, and lowered the action.

Man, I love that guitar now!
That bastard screams through my hot rod deville and plays like a dream.

I can find any flaw whatsoever in the neck/body...the original hardware was chezzy though.


I couldn't afford the $100,000 for a real gibson 1958 V....but $500 out the door for the epi V, and all the Gibson componants... I can handle.

[Zaphod B]

Jimi - was the Epi bridge really that crappy?

[jimistone]

Originally Posted by Zaphod B

Jimi - was the Epi bridge really that crappy?

Yes, the threaded studs that go into the body bend easily.

One of the studs was bent on the guitar I bought...and the gold was rubben off part of the bridge.....I made them throw in a new gibson bridge setup to save the deal

The pickups lacked definition,
the keys looked and felt chezzy,
the pots were the cheap stuff....plastic shafts and such,
the toggle switch was noisey (replaced that too)
wiring was the thin cheezy stuff...I rewired with heavy duty wire.
That being said....the body and neck are perfect and the guitar has excellent tone.

The gibson pickups, hardware, and electronics made alot of difference

[Zaphod B]

Thanks, Jimi, that's great information.

[beezelbubba]

Originally Posted by hixmix

Quality of woods

Quality of wood doesn't matter.It's all in the electronics!
A plywood guitar will sound good in the hands of a genius like me!

[raven46]

i had a epi les paul years ago and loved it, it was so good some bastard robbed it, then i bought a flying V and later an SG standard but ended up havein' to sell 'em when i got real stuck for cash, now i have a les paul custom and its the shit mind you i wouldnt mind chainging the pick ups for seymour duncan el nico's II (bridge and neck) but I cant afford them at the moment so i bought a behringer compressor cu100 pedal for 21euro and thats made a real difference for sweet soloing and lasting sustain...

[hixmix]

Originally Posted by beezelbubba

Quality of wood doesn't matter.It's all in the electronics!
A plywood guitar will sound good in the hands of a genius like me!

I believe it!

[hiwatt357]

I bought a Epi LP Standard from some kid who tried to sell it to a music store in which I happened to be standing. The shop offered him X amount of money, and he said, "no". I followed him out into the parking lot and offered him $100.00 (which included a hardshell Epi case). He took it.

However, after playing it (and A/B'ing it to the Gibson LP Studio I had at the time (I still have it, but it was the only LP I had at that point in time...I now have 3 Gibson Les Pauls)), it just felt cheap to me. I felt like the neck might break off at any time, and all the plastic was really flimsy. Tone-wise, it didn't really deliver, either. It was just thin enough sounding to not feel right.

So I ended up trading it in for another guitar at another store.

However...

There is a local guitar player named Jim Johnson who pretty much plays Epi Les Pauls exclusively live, and his tone is SMOKIN'.

So...your mileage may vary.

[turnitdown]

...for seymour duncan el nico's II...

They must be the Mexican version of Alnico II's...

[hiwatt357]

Originally Posted by turnitdown

They must be the Mexican version of Alnico II's...

Nice one!

Maybe they're Señor Duncans?

[turnitdown]

Nice one!

Maybe they're Señor Duncans?

Classic....Señor Duncan El Nico Dos's....

They excel at old Led Zeppelin... Like "Immigrant Song"..... <reaching>

[hiwatt357]

Originally Posted by turnitdown

Classic....Señor Duncan El Nico Dos's....

They excel at old Led Zeppelin... Like "Immigrant Song"..... <reaching>

Or Livin' La Vida Loca.

[raven46]

They must be the Mexican version of Alnico II's...

Señor Duncan El Nico Dos's.........

brilliant

[Chris Shaeffer]

I have an LP Custom and a guitar player I work with has an Epi LP Custom.

They sound about the same. I think the mid 80's Gibson sounds better (fuller, more controlable?), but that's the aged pickups, and the....

Feel. The Epi feels like a toy in comparison. I don't think he's set it up, though, so it could probably be tuned up to feel great. Its definitely lighter, though its still a heavy guitar.

Having played a decent (pre-hype) Gibson for the past 17 years... I'm not that fond of the Epi's. If the old LP were stolen I probably woudn't hesitate much to replace it with a good Epi, though. Then replace stuff like jimi suggests. Good idea.

-Chris

[jimistone]

Originally Posted by hiwatt357

Or Livin' La Vida Loca.

Or Ole' Lotta love

[beezelbubba]

Originally Posted by hixmix

I believe it!

That didn't get nearly the attention I was hoping for!
I may be a great musician,but I'm a terrible troll!

[Zaphod B]

Resurrecting:

From what I can gather from Epi's web site, the Elitist line is manufactured in Japan (rather than China, as is the remainder of the Epi line). And the Elitist guitars receive a hands-on setup from Gibson technicians in the U.S. before they are shipped to retail locations.

Is this correct, does anyone know?

[hixmix]

Originally Posted by Zaphod B

From what I can gather from Epi's web site, the Elitist line is manufactured in Japan (rather than China, as is the remainder of the Epi line). ?

The Elitist line is manufactured in Japan. The other Epi's in China and Korea.

[Zaphod B]

Originally Posted by hixmix

The Elitist line is manufactured in Japan. The other Epi's in China and Korea.

Thanks!