Guitars

An Epi is not a Gibson, they just favor.

I have to agree here.

Though any guitar can be skinned out gutted and hot rodded . . . if were talking store stock . . . the Gibson just sound fuller to my ear.

I'm sure it is quite by intent from a factory / sales perspective.

They may share the same jig size, but Epi's and Gibson don't share parts. A few artist models will use Gibson pick UPS (Joe Bonamassa Epi for example) Even the Epi Dots that claim to come with 57 Classic are Epi's not Gibson pick ups. An Epiphone can be made to sound somewhat like a Gibson, but no matter what you do to it, it's still an Epiphone, and it still sports the Epiphone headstock. Not a dis toward Epi's, but a souped up Epiphone is just that, a souped up Epiphone.

I had a black Epiphone SG and it was so bad, I couldn't stand to have it around..

Sold it for a quick 150$ and that was the end of that junk.

"never again"..

If you're talking about a real Les Paul like 1970 back (basically a single slab of mahogany with maple top), its a totally different animal. Can't even begin to compare. Age has a lot to do with it too. Older guitars are more dry and they resonate. Pickups, capacitors etc. also matter. I'm a rock player so to me it's vintage or nothing 1970 back. If you're playing metal and you're gonna throw some active pickups (emg's) or something similar in and going into a high gain 5150, it's gonna be a lot different than plugging into a JCM 800 or JMP and using a PAF. You're not going to hear the guitar you're going to hear distortion on a hyped top and bottom end. No tonal characteristics at all because its got little to no mid. LTDs and Epis that I've seen are usually used that way. They are fine for metal and you can get them to play great with nice action. If you have ever played a real 59 or anything set up that is 1970 back it will blow you away. You really can't compare them. It's like a Farari vs a Camaro. The Camaro is nice but its no Farari.

Ok, so I just got the bug/g.a.s. etc and I am looking at some Les Paul shape guitars.

Anyone have experience with off brand LP's?

I hear there are some great ones out there but which brands/models?

There's everything from oddly setup Godin's to your standard Epiphones to MIJ brands I never even heard of before.

I figure whatever one I get will need a pickup replacement/tuner replacement. (f those plastic tuners, grovers or better or nvm)

Tell me what you know..

(I'd love to have a LP with a bigbsby)

MAN I PLAYNAN EPIPHONE LP AND I LOVE IT. THEY DID A SIDE BY SIDE TEST FOR LENGTH OF SUSTAIN ON YOU TUBE AND THE EOIPHONE;S SUSTAIN WAS ALMOST 3 TIMES AS LONG AS A GIBSON! DONT GET ME ME WRONG DUDE I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THE REAL DEAL BUT I FOUND MINE AT A CHURCH RUMMAGE SALE IN PIECES. NO PICKUPS, HAD TO REWIRE EVERYTHING AND LIKE YOU YOU, THOUGHT IT WOULD NEED NEW PICKUPS. SO I PI A SET OF SEYMOUR DUNCAN "MAYHEMS" IN IT, CHANGED ALL THE TRIM FROM CREAM COLORED TO BLACK AND NOW IT IS A f**k MONSTER! CHERRY BURST W/BLACK TRIM, SPEED KNOBS, PICK GUARD, EVEN HAD BLACK STRINGS ON IT, GO WITH EPIPHONE BRO, YOU WONT BE DISAPOINTED. THE POOR MANS LES PAUL I CALL IT. BUT WITH THE 2 GRAND I SAVED I GOT A RANDALL "DIME" HALF STACK, 300 WATT MAX, BEAST! WENT WIRELESS, GOT FLOOR MONITORS, YOU GET THE IDEA. HEY MAN, WHATEVER YOU DECIDE TO GET, PLAY THE f**k OUT OF IT! ROCK ON BROTHERR!1111

An Epi is not a Gibson, they just favor.

Actually, sometimes they are. I played an '63 Epiphone Riviera (Casino), made in Kalamazoo MI by Gibson.It was a 12 but I strung it for 6, nice red colour and boy, did that baby sing!

ESP LTD series guitars are very good. I have an EC1000 Deluxe that I bought a couple of years ago. I went with the passive pickup version, they are seymore duncan '59s as standard. I swapped out the bridge pickup for an Alternate 8 and the thing just kicks ass.
I also have a Gibson LP '57 VOS and a LP Jr '57 VOS. To be honest they are totally different than any of the copies I have played. The gold top is the most all round guitar I have ever played and the Jr has attitude and more harmonics than anything I have ever played. They cost a lot though and if you don't like thick necks then they are probably a long way from what you want.
The ESP is great, it has a slim neck with big jumbo frets. There are some nice cut aways and is a really easy to play guitar. Very modern tones and is more of a rock and metal machine. You could use it for anything though but that's really the niche it wsa aimed at. I think they are about £800 to £900 new.
My one took a few months to settle down when I got it, I was adjusting the truss and action about once a month but it's now stable as a rock. She stays in tune and handles volume no problem. I can't emphasise how fast and slim the neck is though. Great little guitar and it weighs a lot les than a real LP.
Give one a try some time. Most of the larger guitar stores have them. I went with the cherry finish, looks completely ott... bling
Good luck and I hope you find something you like.

lol I never met a Les Paul I could stand.

It's like playing a tree trunk in comparison to a 50's 7.25" radius neck.

I like the sound, but the neck is just way too FAT.

I hear the 60's version with the set neck is a different story, but that's a coupe of thousand dollars I don't have to spend.

Besides I need other things more important like a Yamaha P7000S.
You have to go with what you know and is affordable and yet does what you need.

I know one guy who took a shitty Epi and gutted the damn thing, stuck some
custom burstbuckers on it and the sucker really sings. (I love to hear it, I just wouldn't want to play it)

Les Pauls' today are so $hite

why don't they just stop gluing together those 4 piece bodies already eh?

what a rip off! sorry dudes, had to vent and I'm drinking tonight

ANYTHING BUT GIBSON!

cheers!

John

MAN I PLAYNAN EPIPHONE LP AND I LOVE IT. THEY DID A SIDE BY SIDE TEST FOR LENGTH OF SUSTAIN ON YOU TUBE AND THE EOIPHONE;S SUSTAIN WAS ALMOST 3 TIMES AS LONG AS A GIBSON! DONT GET ME ME WRONG DUDE I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THE REAL DEAL BUT I FOUND MINE AT A CHURCH RUMMAGE SALE IN PIECES. NO PICKUPS, HAD TO REWIRE EVERYTHING AND LIKE YOU YOU, THOUGHT IT WOULD NEED NEW PICKUPS. SO I PI A SET OF SEYMOUR DUNCAN "MAYHEMS" IN IT, CHANGED ALL THE TRIM FROM CREAM COLORED TO BLACK AND NOW IT IS A f**k MONSTER! CHERRY BURST W/BLACK TRIM, SPEED KNOBS, PICK GUARD, EVEN HAD BLACK STRINGS ON IT, GO WITH EPIPHONE BRO, YOU WONT BE DISAPOINTED. THE POOR MANS LES PAUL I CALL IT. BUT WITH THE 2 GRAND I SAVED I GOT A RANDALL "DIME" HALF STACK, 300 WATT MAX, BEAST! WENT WIRELESS, GOT FLOOR MONITORS, YOU GET THE IDEA. HEY MAN, WHATEVER YOU DECIDE TO GET, PLAY THE f**k OUT OF IT! ROCK ON BROTHERR!1111
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Dude regarding the sustain..........EVERY GUITAR HAS A SWEET SPOT!
I should know...I f'n make 'em.

Epis look good because you're comparing 'em to $hite Les Pauls these days.

But yes, those Koreans do a real good job with the Epis.... I will admit that. That's why they are on my payroll.

cheers!

John

buy a heritage and you will have the best lp style guitar there is

BM posting is messed up again for me, emotcons seem to get it done.
Scott I'm selling that 1972 Fender Telecaster Custom. It's got the neck you like and both types of pickup, you played it before with ancient strings. Let me know if you're interested. I'll knock some off the price if you resale you should be able to make a few hundred off it. Unlike most guitars it should increase in value versus depreciate.

1972 Fender Telecaster Custom info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fender_Telecaster_Custom

buy a heritage and you will have the best lp style guitar there is

My old buddy used to have a Granada Let's Play back in the 90s. haha

what a POS!

cheers

John

I just sold the LP-style ESP LTD EC-100 I had been using last year in the Beatles tribute band.
Got it from someone leaving the country for $90 including a guitar stand, fuzz stomp pedal (I sold for $15) and a Line Toneport that I sold for $45. Yeah, it ended up costing me $30. I adjusted the pickups, action and intonation, threw strings on it when needed, and that was it.
As I've got way more electrics than I'll even need now - going mostly acoustic - I put it on craigslist and took the first offer of $100 (I included a $20 gig bag).
Not a bad deal, in the end, for me! I never used it for recording, as I can get all the tones I want from either my 72 Tele or my Epi Dot. The Chinese Strat-clone and Epi LP Jr just gather dust at this point.

Ray, I sent you Les cell number.

I haven't seen you, else I'd ask you how it went?

I sent Les 2 emails, but his fingers are broken as well. lol (maybe he's in suspended animation?)

(More than that I cannot do for you, use the cell # I gave you..the 908-334 #) (If you lost it, let me know and I'll give it to you again.)