Are the newer Epi Les Pauls decent guitars?

[tubedude]

I fully expect to have to change the pickups (any suggestions for a good clear Chevelle dirty tone?) and maybe the tuning keys pretty soon too, but I'm wanting a Paul without a Paul price tag.

I'm also looking at the LTD EC-1000 with Duncans in it.

Any words of advice?

 

[Unsprung]

I'd have to say they're still decent guitars, and have recent personal experience that it's possible for an Epiphone to sound better than one of the Gibsons. My still completely stock Epiphone Les Paul Jr. 90 can put a helluva smack down on the Gibson Les Paul Melody Maker that I played, on Monday. That day, I also tried out an Epiphone Les Paul Studio, and I wasn't disappointed.

Check out the Epiphone, Gibson, Gibson Custom Shop offerings, at Musician's Friend

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/home/navigation/solid-body-six-string-electric-guitar?N=100001+306241&Ns=P_Price|0&Ntk=All&Ntt=les+paul&Nty=1&page=1

If you see something you like, and fits your budget, you could always go to the nearest store that carries Epiphone and Gibson, to test drive before you ultimately decide.

Matt

 

[jonnyc]

I fully expect to have to change the pickups (any suggestions for a good clear Chevelle dirty tone?) and maybe the tuning keys pretty soon too, but I'm wanting a Paul without a Paul price tag.

I'm also looking at the LTD EC-1000 with Duncans in it.

Any words of advice?

I record that LTD on a regular basis, it's a wonderful guitar and after a quick shootout they prefered the sound of it to the sound of a Gibson LP Studio. I highly recommend the EC-1000.

 

[ez_willis]

My still completely stock Epiphone Les Paul Jr. 90 can put a helluva smack down on the Gibson Les Paul Melody Maker that I played, on Monday.

My Jr. sounds like ass.

 

[Micter]

With most Epiphone guitars I recommend some upgrades. Pups, nut, pots, switches, wiring harness, tuners, etc. There is really no comparison between an Epi and a Gibson as the woods are not of the same caliber. Epi uses a poly finish and Gibson uses lacquer. It's apples to oranges.

With all of that said I do like the Epiphone Dot I have a lot. It sounds great but I did all of the upgrades I possibly could.

 

[jonnyc]

My Jr. sounds like ass.

Weren't you the one saying the epi wasn't even wood, that you drilled out the pup holes for another pup and the dust was some type of white composite? Oh and pull that thing out of your ass and it'll sound more like a geetar.

 

[ez_willis]

Weren't you the one saying the epi wasn't even wood, that you drilled out the pup holes for another pup and the dust was some type of white composite?

Yes. I put a vintage Soapbar in it. Still sounds like ass.

 

[Colour]

Not sure if this will be helpful at all, but Epi also has the Elitist line and they have a few Les Paul models for around $1000-1200. They may be worth looking into if you're able to throw done that much.

 

[andycerrone]

Buying an Epi Les Paul if you're actually looking for good tone is throwing your money away. Had one, looked long and hard for a good sounding one, the one I had was alright, but incredible compared to the Epi LP's I had played before. Likewise with Gibson, I've played a lot of their guitars and I've never really liked many. I got lucky and found an SG brushmetal (discontinued) that I got a steal on with an incredible sound. I think you're better off looking for old guitars, the quality for the price is pretty amazing if you trust your ears, not the name.

 

[Unsprung]

Buying an Epiphone to save some bucks, over buying a Gibson is still better than buying a Squier to save some bucks, over buying a Fender. My Fender So Cal Speed Shop Strat sounds SO MUCH BETTER than my Squier Bullet Special, it ain't even funny. I'd bought the Squier 'cause I couldn't afford a Fender Tom DeLonge Strat before they went out of production, and before Fender started their limited run of So Cal Speed Shop Strats.

It is possible that an Epiphone can out do an equivelant Gibson, while a Squier would need more upgrades than the guitar's worth to begin matching its Fender equivelant. Perhaps I got lucky with my Epiphone Les Paul Jr. 90, that it can whup on a Gibson Les Paul Melody Maker...I'd honestly have to try a Gibson Les Paul Jr., to know how close I can get my Epi to the equivelant Gibson, once I have the Gibson upgrades in place. It's possible that the Melody Maker I tried was a product of a bad production day.

In the near future (two or three months), I'll be adding a P90 equipped Gibson Les Paul Faded Double Cutaway to my collection, for playing rockabilly and surfabilly, as well as being my live guitar for surf instrumentals that I record with my Epi. I was originally planning to buy an Epiphone Les Paul Studio, and replacing the humbuckers with Gibson P94s (humbucker sized P90s), until I tried the above mentioned Gibson.

Still, be sure to test drive Epiphone and Gibson Les Pauls, especially back-to-back comparisons, before ultimately deciding. You might find an Epi that both fits your budget, and sounds every bit as good as the Gibson equivelant, or you might decide to hold out, save a bit more, and go for the Gibson. Also try more than one of each...guitars are like people...no two are excactly alike. Three Gibson Les Paul Customs sitting side-by-side are gonna produce three different results.

Matt

 

[travelin travis]

Yes. I put a vintage Soapbar in it. Still sounds like ass.

maybe you're barking up the wrong tree. strats are where it's at.

 

[ez_willis]

maybe you're barking up the wrong tree. strats are where it's at.

I actually bought a Squire strat, shielded it, and threw a SD 'SH-1 ’59 humbucker at the bridge and it sounds good.

 

[danny.guitar]

I started on an Epiphone Jr., and it's good for a beginner's guitar. I still have it and use it every now & then but it's not in good shape anymore.

I agree that it's not made out of wood. I don't really know what it is...

I would suggest getting a decent Epiphone that plays well, and feels comfortable, then changing out things like the pickups, knobs, and all that.

 

[dave.....]

epi ?

i have a epi les paul and the stock pups are 14k on the bridge and 10k on the neck....... i also have a epi les paul deluxe w/ mini humbuckers that has sweeeeet tone.... when i gig i always take the gibson les paul custom and the epi deluxe they both sound great..... different but each has there own voice......you might like the stock epi pups.......

 

[dave.....]

epi

sorry i didnt answer your question...... yes eipihone les pauls are great.... mine stay in tune all night

 

[gcapel]

the only epi I have played that rocked was the custom LP! For 1000 beans it should be a kick butt guitar.

 

[toad]

I've had mixed luck with Epiphones (which is probably par for the course for entry/budget instruments).

I've got an Epiphone Les Paul Standard from the early 1990s and its pretty solid. Its definitly a quality instrument, although I can say its still not as good (sound or feel) as my Gibson Paul. Its still a good guitar though.

My buddy has an Epiphone LP-100 from that same era and its not very good at all. The PUPs are bad (terrible muddy sound) and, most importantly, it won't stay in tune more than 5 minutes. It also looks "cheaper" than my Epi Standard.

Overall I'd certainly give Epiphones consideration but I'd certainly want to play it before buying (no Musicians Friend or anything).

 

[astoebe]

Hey,

Just wanted to say, remember not everyone on here is an expert, so be selective when listening to opinions...

As far as guitars go, if it is a reputable brand and you play it before hand and like it, you're gonna be fine. Epiphone has been around for awhile making some decent guitars, so yes, Epiphone guitars are fine...there are always gonna be some that don't play very well because it's a lower end guitar, so it's important that you play it first if you can. If you can't play the guitar first, and you get it and don't like it, then send it back and get another....

 

[32-20-Blues]

but I'm wanting a Paul without a Paul price tag.


Any words of advice?

Have you considered Tokai guitars? Some nice models, you will not have to change the pick-ups or the tuners.

Check them out: www.tokai-guitars.co.uk/main.htm

 

[TelePaul]

I fully expect to have to change the pickups (any suggestions for a good clear Chevelle dirty tone?) and maybe the tuning keys pretty soon too, but I'm wanting a Paul without a Paul price tag.

I'm also looking at the LTD EC-1000 with Duncans in it.

Any words of advice?

If you're changing the pickups, try Bare Knuckle Pickups. They've lots of cool stuff.