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Post by woody on Nov 8, 2007 18:19:20 GMT -7
Looking to purchase a used epiphone Les Paul guitar...researching I've found they are now made in china...and were made in different factories in Korea. Was wondering Where and when was the highest quality Les Paul Epiphones made? I'm talking fit/finish and electronics....I've seen them used online starting from $100...
Thanks for any information Joe
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Post by billyguitar on Nov 9, 2007 8:46:45 GMT -7
The elite or elitist series are the best of the recent Epi's. In the Epi glory days they never made a Les Paul type guitar.
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Post by woody on Nov 9, 2007 19:44:35 GMT -7
Thanks for the reply...those are some expensive guitars...I'm looking more in the $200-400 range....but still want the best quality for the buck...
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Post by Dustin on Nov 9, 2007 22:53:38 GMT -7
I have an Epi Paul Standard that I use as a back up and electronics test bed for my Gibson. Feels pretty close to my Gibson, really not bad for the price.
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Post by Danny on Nov 10, 2007 16:19:57 GMT -7
I had been missing the feel of a Les Paul or SG for quite a while and was dreaming of the day when I could afford a good Gibson, when I stumbled upon a used Epiphone LP Standard in a little used gear joint in Salt Lake City. The serial number had been scratched off, so I was suspicious that it may have been 'hot'. I played it and it felt like a million bucks. The neck was relatively slim, the planks used for the body were really nice looking pieces of wood, nicely matched and finished, the frets were great, and overall it was a very managable weight. The finish was really nice, too - that gorgeous burnt orange that they call 'honeyburst'. And it had a very nice acoustic sound, which is usually the prime selling point for me for any guitar. It was manufactured in Korea, and I placed it roughly in the mid-90s. The pickups were crap, of course, as was the plastic nut which the previous owner had amateurishly installed. The shop owner made me a deal for the Epi and a Korean-made clone of a Rickenbacker 330. It came out to between $150 & $175 for the Epi. I installed a pair of Jim Wagner's WCR Crossroads PUs, new wiring throughout, a bone nut, and a thorough set-up. Bottom line: I will gladly put my WCR-equipped Epi Les Paul up against ANY current production Gibson with confidence. It really is that sweet.
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Post by woody on Nov 25, 2007 20:03:12 GMT -7
Tried 3 brand new epiphone les pauls today at GC...all three a big disappointment...none of which would stay in tune...wasn't doing any whole step bends either just simple strumming at various parts of the neck. Real disappointment...I realize you gotta keep playing different ones...but after the third one I felt like I was wasting my time. By the way all three were made in China. SOOOO...i looked at other humbucker guitars and I really like the schecter diamond series ones...about in the same price range but felt, looked, and played like a million bucks...and stayed in tune....these were made in S. Korea....I didn't pull the trigger on one yet....but maybe. Any schecter owners out there....?
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Post by (8^D) on Nov 25, 2007 22:35:47 GMT -7
Look for an older Epi Les Paul Standard...possibly made in mid to late 90's.
I had an older Epi LP Standard I bought new in '96 (I think) in honey burst that is still better than most Gibson Les Pauls I've played. Put in a set of Duncan Nickle Jazz/JB pups w/push-pull tap, fine-tuner stop tailpiece and let 'er rip. Did a lot of studio work with that one - sold it to my dad a few years back. Play it everytime I'm back home and it still blows the doors off any Gibson I've played...well, and honestly, most of the guitars I currently own. Fit/finish is DEFINITELY better than the current Gibson Les Pauls I've played in the last few years. Still trying to talk him out of it but he won't let 'er go - it's a good-n.
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Post by ruger9 on Nov 26, 2007 4:57:22 GMT -7
I have an Epi Les Paul Special (2 HBs). Actually quite a good guitar. I'm planning on replacing the pickups, but other than that it was ready to play out of the box. Oh... and I of course had to pull the 9's to put 10's on there. I'd say Epi, and Ibanez (I have an Artcore) for that matter, are making the best bang-for-buck guitars available today.
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Post by dixiechicken on Nov 26, 2007 11:04:56 GMT -7
DC here!
The other guitarplayer in my band - bought a new Epi Les Paul recently for less 620 US $. It looks great plays well and he sounds good as always. Good value for the money I'd say.
Compared with brand new Lester for just under 5000 US $ - in the same store. The Gibson Lesters are definitely NOT 4380 US $ - better instruments - no way. ( I don't care where they are made )
Cheers: Dixiechicken!
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Post by billyguitar on Nov 26, 2007 11:29:50 GMT -7
I recently read an interview with Duke Robillard who often plays new Epiphones. He says he doesn't even change the pickups!
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Post by Danny on Nov 26, 2007 11:32:43 GMT -7
Tried 3 brand new epiphone les pauls today at GC...all three a big disappointment...none of which would stay in tune...wasn't doing any whole step bends either just simple strumming at various parts of the neck. Real disappointment...I realize you gotta keep playing different ones...but after the third one I felt like I was wasting my time. By the way all three were made in China. SOOOO...i looked at other humbucker guitars and I really like the schecter diamond series ones...about in the same price range but felt, looked, and played like a million bucks...and stayed in tune....these were made in S. Korea....I didn't pull the trigger on one yet....but maybe. Any schecter owners out there....? You make two important points here: 1. The recent Epi LPs are made in China and are crap compared to the ones made in Korea in the 90s. Try to find one of the latter and you'll probably not be disappointed. 2. A couple or three years ago I went shopping for guitars for some of my students. I tried some of the Schecters and ended up getting one of my 12 year old students a gorgeous C-1 Elite in their 'amber' color. It was a very sweet axe, no kidding, and I lusted after it for a long time. Great workmanship. Really nice quilted maple top, gold hardware, beautiful abalone trim all over the place, terrific fretboard and neck, push-pull tone knob splits coils. As usual, the pickups were crap, so it sounded dismal. But I imagine if those Pups were swapped out for a top drawer set the guitar would behave and sound like the better PRSs for less than $600 + cost of PUs. Check out: www.schecterguitars.com/
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Post by Danny on Nov 26, 2007 14:50:10 GMT -7
bump
[Just added some pics and discussion of Schecter]
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Post by woody on Nov 26, 2007 18:43:38 GMT -7
Thanks for the pics...these are very attractive guitars with a great price...they also play very well...and this was off the wall at GC...with a good setup this guitar might be a keeper...a great gigging road warrior guitar if you will...if you guys haven't tried one you ought to
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Post by billyguitar on Nov 27, 2007 13:32:04 GMT -7
If a guitar won't tune then it's a crap guitar. If it tunes and then goes out of tune that's a bad setup and bad strings. If this was the only thing that seemed like a problem I'm sure they would restring it for you. Put a little lube in the nut too.
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Post by woody on Nov 27, 2007 16:53:14 GMT -7
If a guitar won't tune then it's a crap guitar. If it tunes and then goes out of tune that's a bad setup and bad strings. If this was the only thing that seemed like a problem I'm sure they would restring it for you. Put a little lube in the nut too. Well the epiphones I tried would tune but wouldn't stay at all...all three..couldn't bond with them at all.....oh well..I'm sure there are better examples....however I'm looking at Schecters now..I am really impressed with their quality for price...
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