Epiphone Les Paul Custom

[Heather Anne Peel]

I played an Epi "Black Beauty" three pickup LPC at GC the other day and I was impressed. I have 3 Epis in my collection (all great): a Dot, a Dot Studio and an SG. I really liked the Epi LPC, it's great. I just got my 2006 Ampeg Dan Armstrong Plexi RI, so I won't be getting the LPC anytime soon, but again, I was impressed! Nice!

[TG]

I find that Epiphones can be either cheap mass-produced poop or really good instruments. And the good ones are as good as any.
I have an epi EL-00 acoustic, which is a 'reissue' of a mid-30s Gibson L-00. I grew up with a 'real' one (my Mom got it when she was a kid in the '30s) and I can attest that this epi is almost exactly like an original in looks, sound and feel. Incredible for the price.

So based on that I've just orderred an Epi '57 LP Junior 'reissue', which I'm hoping will be another 'good' epi. I couldn't resist the vintage sunburst look of it. Even if I don't like it as a player I'll have it to look at...

[fierce_carrot]

I've been a "guitar snob" all my life and looked down on epi's until a good friend of mine let me play his 58 Korina Flying V RI he had purchased. He'd swapped out the Pickups for a set of Gibson PAF's and this guitar flat rocked, an incredible guitar to play. He wanted something I had, and he had the V, not it's mine. It's hard not to just start ripping it up when I plug it in.

I read in another forum once when "offshore guitars" were being discussed and one post made me sit back in my chair and re evaluate everything I had ever thought of about these guitars. He said

"That CNC machine doesn't know its in Mexico, Japan or Korea, it just knows how to make the guitars its programmed to make."


I've got a mexi strat, mexi tele and a V thats probably korean and once you change out the hardware, these guitars are smokers. All three of these guitars combined couldn't buy one new Gibson Les Paul like I own. My days of buying high dollar axes are over!

Something else, on my V, the epi logo on the headstock, was a decal...

WAS being the keyword....guitar snobbery is a hard thing to rid yourself of!

[Blazer]

My two epiphones, the one on the left is a late eighites Custom with I re-finished RED and it has a replaced neck and pickups, this one was one of those crappy ones but my intensive modifying made it a great one.

The other one is a 1997 Champagne sparkle Standard. This one has the greatest feeling neck I ever found, I replaced the pickups (in this picture it still has the original ones) with Seymour Duncan 59 pickups but kept it stock for the most part

[RollingThunder75]

Over the summer, I picked up a new Epi LP Plain Top in Honeyburst. It's a wonderful guitar in terms of looks, feel, and playability. The only thing I didn't like were the pickups, which weren't bad, honestly, but I knew they could be better. I replaced them with the SD Jazz/JB combination, and now it sounds great. I put it on par with my 50s Classic Strat, quality wise.

[maggieo]

I am very pleased with my Epi Elitist Goldtop Les Paul. Gorgeous, solid and great-sounding, it's easily on a par with my fancy USA Hamer Sunburst.



Tres Hombres:


You can hear me using it to do a Joey Santiago imitation on the song linked here. (HARBL is a "fake band" that I created for a joke. Well, I think it's a joke. Maybe not. It kinda rocks.)

Anyways, it's a great guitar, in that Gibby kind of way.

[RichardWitt]

I have an Epiphone Emperor from the early 90's. It's a very well made and beautiful sounding instrument. I was against the idea of owning an Epiphone until I found that one hanging on wall.

[Brian blaut]

I've played one of those new p90 '56 goldtops. I loved it. If I ever decide to pull the trigger on a les paul, it will be that ephiphone.

[bender-freak]

i have an Epi gold-top with GFS filtertron meets PAF set in it and tremelo; a Sheraton with cool leather work on the sides and Bigsby, and a Epi LP standard refinished with a patriotic scene of eagles and american flag and tribute to 9/11 tragedy, and a white Epi LPC with rail hummers and a Bigsby with imperial machines.....all four are excellent guitars and yep i have owned more than a few of the "real deals"..i have turned down stupidly high offers on the gold-top and the patriotic Epi....no interest in selling them...i like them....i have long felt Epis do not get the respect they deserve...are they as good as my Teles..???...impossible to say....different creatures entirely....i like all my guitars...lookin for more...always...

[andy__woods]

My friend has a white Epi LP Custom. I'm not a huge Les Paul fan, but it is a nice guitar. I keep telling him he needs to get it set-up properly, but even as is its pretty good, aside from some sharp notes up the fret-board. Oh, one thing I did notice is his input jack, can get crackly, and also annoying

[J. Hayes]

which is a really great guitar and one of the best bargains I've had. I got it in a hardshell case at a place called Cash Converters for only $129 which is a helluva deal! I also have an Epi LP Jr. with a P-90 in black but it's the double cutaway version. My favorite guitar for 335 style in an Epiphone Sheraton in a dark sunburst which I've had rewired for some nice combinations. It has only a master volume and tone controls but looks stock. Where the bottom (rear) volume and tone controls were, I have pull pots. The front one is a phase switch and the rear knob tapps both pickups. I love the neck on this one....JH in Va.

[Sarge]

I played an Epi Zak Wild Bulls Eye this weekend, looked good, felt good , sounded really good. At the price they want for the Gibson model it's a pretty good deal.

[Tele295]

I like mine. Sounds as good as any Les Paul I've ever played.

[PraiseCaster]

I'll tell you what, I've fallin in love with a Cherry Sunburst Epi LP Custom. I would love to take that baby home!

[Veitchy]

i was looking at a cherry Epiphone Dot at my local. i wouldnt mind one actualy, far cheaper than a 335 and from what ive heard, juust as good with some mods.

[collinsman]

Originally Posted by Veitchy

i was looking at a cherry Epiphone Dot at my local. i wouldnt mind one actualy, far cheaper than a 335 and from what ive heard, juust as good with some mods.

That's what I have and it's a great axe, does the job with blues as well as jazz.

[captain gorgeous]

very nearly broke my epi-gibson duck last weekend on a £99 p90 equipped epi LP jnr in tobacco burst.

£99!

it's pay-day on wednesday too. might just have to make myself an early 30th birthday present!

[maestrovert]

Originally Posted by TG

I find that Epiphones can be either cheap mass-produced poop or really good instruments. And the good ones are as good as any.

+1
a good guitar is a good guitar is a good guitar !
the good instruments are made side by side with the not so good instruments....every once in a while great instruments are turned out too....by every company/factory on earth....and the comment about the CNC machinery not knowing where it's located is too true !
Don't knock 'em until you've played 'em.....
Play 'em before you buy 'em too, it's the only way to ferret out the great ones (other than depending on blind luck)

[Veitchy]

Cheers Collinsman, now all i needs the dough.

[Paul in Colorado]

My beef with them is that I own a '66 Epiphone Riviera. Epiphone's to me were always their own line and and quality wise were right up there with anything Gibson made. But then around 1970, Gibson took the Epiphone name and used it for cheap off shore guitars. Now days no one really cares or remembers, but I don't think Gibson should call these guitars "Epiphone's." Call 'em Orville's or Henry's or Hoot's or anything, but not Epiphone UNLESS, they're accurate reproductions of Riviera's, Sheriton's, Whilshire's, or any other true Epiphone. There were never real Epiphone Les Paul (or Firebird, or SG or Dot) guitars. Of course that'll never happen. The past thirty years of marketing trumps the previous 50 years of Epiphone history.

[zombywoof]

Originally Posted by Paul in Colorado

My beef with them is that I own a '66 Epiphone Riviera. Epiphone's to me were always their own line and and quality wise were right up there with anything Gibson made.

I have no experience with the "offshore" Epi's so do not have clue about tone and playability.

But I understand where you are coming from. If you were an Epiphone fan, it is hard to think of these guitars as less expensive clones of Gibsons cuz at one time they were great guitars in their own right and not only the equals of acoustic and hollow body electric Gibsons but in some cases surpassed them.

For me, ever since I picked up my first "bikini" logo Epi, I have had a soft spot in my heart for the New York made acoustics.

I have been playing a 1956 FT-79 for the last week or so. It is one of the very last NY Epi's made. Sadly, ya can see shortcuts in its manufacture as the company prepared to change hands - dot inlay on the board instead of block inlays and cheaper tuners. Still a fine sounding instrument.

If there is a bright spot, the demise of Epiphone led to the creation of Guild Guitars.

[jonzer]

I have a Dot and it doesn't need any mods. Everyone who plays it wants to buy it off me.
I fell in love with a white LP Custom a few days ago. It sounded great and that was through an Epi amp in the store. Imagine what it'd sound like through my DRRI.

[johnnelles]

In my opinion, Epi's are about as underrated as Gibsons are overrated.

I came this close to getting the Neil Young "tribute" Epi a few years back, then it was discontinued.


Maybe they'll bring it back someday.

[Fret Wilkes]

This Epi LP Custom was my sons. It is a great guitar. The pickups are a tad woofy for my tastes, so down the pike I may change them to S.D. 59s or some such.

The only real problem with this guitar is me! I've played Fenders for so long that I have a real hard time adjusting the "Geebson" setup. It sure is fun to mess around with. I always feel like I'm cheating on my Teles though...LOL.

Fred

[Heather Anne Peel]

Originally Posted by Veitchy

i was looking at a cherry Epiphone Dot at my local. i wouldnt mind one actualy, far cheaper than a 335 and from what ive heard, juust as good with some mods.

Mine is excellent, highly recommended.

[Blazer]

You know what I find odd?


The modern day Epiphone Sheraton is put in high regard and used by profillic artists like U2's The edge, Oasis, LA Guns, Lenny Kravitz and Prince's guitarists Miko Weaver and Levi Seacer. And all of them use ordinary off the shelf guitars.

But why do people look so suspicious against Epiphone Lesters? Afterall if the Sheraton, coming from the same stable is such a highly regarded guitar, then why would Epiphone Les Pauls be anything less than that? (No pun intended)

[Heather Anne Peel]

Every new Epi I have played and the ones I own are all excellent. People need to realize that Epis are great guitars!

[Cyrithicus]

Originally Posted by johnnelles

Maybe they'll bring it back someday.

Dang thats a purdy thang!!

[Paul in Colorado]

Originally Posted by Blazer

You know what I find odd?


The modern day Epiphone Sheraton is put in high regard and used by profillic artists like U2's The edge, Oasis, LA Guns, Lenny Kravitz and Prince's guitarists Miko Weaver and Levi Seacer. And all of them use ordinary off the shelf guitars.

But why do people look so suspicious against Epiphone Lesters? Afterall if the Sheraton, coming from the same stable is such a highly regarded guitar, then why would Epiphone Les Pauls be anything less than that? (No pun intended)

Because back when Epi's were made in Kalamazoo, MI, There was never a Gibson Sheraton, and never an Epiphone Les Paul.

BTW, No disrespect to those who play and love modern Epi's. They're fine guitars in their own right. I just think Gibson shoulda done it differently.

[Blazer]

Originally Posted by Paul in Colorado

Because back when Epi's were made in Kalamazoo, MI, There was never a Gibson Sheraton, and never an Epiphone Les Paul.

BTW, No disrespect to those who play and love modern Epi's. They're fine guitars in their own right. I just think Gibson shoulda done it differently.

I wasn't referring to the vintage Sheratons.


I was referring to the Korean made current ones.

[stantheman]

I'v got three of 'em and they're DOLLS. Two '58 Flying V's and My factory 2nd cosmetic blem Joe Pass Blondie which the coroner will have to pry out of My cold dead hands. I love that Guitar so much that it's scary...

[tdu]

Does Epiphone make any models with chambered bodies? I have a bad shoulder so I like to try to find lighter guitars. I have been interested in getting an LP style guitar. I used a cheap 70's Japanese knock off for years with my last band. It was actually my main guitar. When not playing that kind of music though I prefer single coil guitars so that is all I own right now.

[Cyrithicus]

http://epiphone.com/default.asp?Prod...CollectionID=6

Almost completely hollow, but its $$!
They did have some with F-holes that were pretty light from what I've been told.

[johnnelles]

Originally Posted by Cyrithicus

Dang thats a purdy thang!!

Chrome soapbar P-90s - you don't see those everyday.

--------------------------

here's another cool Epi I posted about recently:

Wilshire limited re-issue

MORE INFO

[jonzer]

They have a new LP with body cavities. I think Ann Wilson of Heart plays it.

[PraiseCaster]

Originally Posted by tdu

Does Epiphone make any models with chambered bodies? I have a bad shoulder so I like to try to find lighter guitars. I have been interested in getting an LP style guitar. I used a cheap 70's Japanese knock off for years with my last band. It was actually my main guitar. When not playing that kind of music though I prefer single coil guitars so that is all I own right now.

If you mean a solid body/chambered guitar, the answer is YES! the Epiphone Les Paul Ultra has a chambered body, a backside body route (gut relief for those suffering from "dun-lap disease". dunlap disease: when your belly dun-lapped over your belt).

The ones I have played are Telecaster light, and about a hundred bucks less than an Epi Custom.