Anybody own an Epiphone Les Paul?

[XNASA]

Either a Goldtop, Standard or Ultra?

My son wants one. They get great reviews, but he's a novice, and I'm a Fender guy, so I don't know what to tell him.

[ProfessorGAC]

A Friend Has One

The neck is a little flat for me, and the pickups are a little hot so they "honk" a bit. If that is the sound he's looking for, great. It's scale is the same as a Les Paul, so the frets are a little tighter than a Fender, but it's seems like a solidly built guitar for the money.

The real low price models, i think are pretty crappy. But, when you get up into their higher prices (but still a sixth of a Gibson), they seem like pretty good guitars. If i had a need for a lower string tension two-humbucker guitar, i'd consider one before i'd spend big bucks on a Gibson or PRS.

The Professor

[TheFriendlyAnarchist]

10. Hey, do you know anything about the Agiles?

http://www.rondomusic.net/al3000mcsb.html It seems to be getting good reveiws, and when your on a budget, it's nice to be cheaper AND not have to replace the pickups (people seemed to like the Type V Alinco's more than the Standard's pups)

[ProfessorGAC]

Nope. Haven't Tried It. Know Nothing About It

Haven't been "music-storin'" for a while now, so haven't tried much new release stuff. Since you shamed me into it, i apparently will now have to use a couple of Saturday's in the winter and drive north.
The Professor

[ProfessorGAC]

11. Another Dupe

It happens in this Group more than any other place on DU. Go figure.

[ProfessorGAC]

1. Sorry Another Dupe

.

[johnnie]

2. I don't have the LP

But I have an Epiphone Sheraton II and two of their Jumbo acoustic EJ-200s. Honestly, they are well worth the money in my opinion. They play nice, sound good and built pretty solid. They are basically overlooked by Gibson and use the same designs. I think you are paying a pretty high percentage just to have a Gibson name on it.

[XNASA]

3. I have an SG400CH, and it's a beautiful piece of work.

So I have no problems at all with Epi's.

I was just wondering about the pickups and stuff.

The Professor notes that the neck is pretty flat, and that much is true. And I've read a couple of reviewers who say to get the Epi LS Standard, and replace the pickups at some point and voila!, you got yerself one badass axe.

[johnnie]

4. Oh, you're talking about all that "tone" "feel" and "playability" crap

I know nothing about that shit, I thought you were talking about what makes ya look cool. :P

[XNASA]

5. This is the one he wants.

I guess it looks cool enough.

[Chemical Bill]

6. That does look cool!

I am happy I got a cheap Les Paul knock-off. It made me realize that I am more comfortable with a Strat.

We gave a nephew a cheap Strat knock-off, and he loved playing the guitar so much he got a PRS and now kicks ass. I support starting small, er, cheap, and working up to the best when you are ready.

Bill

[ComerPerro]

8. if you start out on knock offs, you will appreciate the good stuff

[EnviroBat]

12. Those are great guitars.

The biggest fundamental difference in the those and the Gibson is the electronics are cheaper in the Epi's. I just bought an Epi Sheraton II. It's hollow-body that sounds amazing. If he's new to the world of guitar and he likes the Les Paul style, you can not go wrong with that one... Especially that particular one, the blue flame-top is really nice.

[ComerPerro]

7. In my experience, much of the difference between Epi and Gibson is the neck

just doesn't seem as solid, strong, and stable as the Gibson. In fact, most of the returns of Epi's that I saw when I worked in a warehouse were due to bad necks, broken necks, etc.

Usually when an Epi had a problem, that seemed to be it, unlike the Fenders/Squirers, which seemed to mostly have electronic problems.

However, they are still very good guitars, especially for a novice.

If he really gets serious and likes the feel of the Les Paul, he can get an Epi if and when he is ready and wants one.

But for now, the Epi Les Paul will be more than adequate, lol.

[TheFriendlyAnarchist]

9. I'm looking at those for myself.

(I'm prolly around your son's age. 15 ish?) However, I'm leaning more toward these http://www.rondomusic.net/al3000mcsb.html. They're actually a little cheaper than the standard. They're absolutely beautiful guitars though. Unfortuantely, I still won't be able to afford it for a few months, when work starts up again :(.