EPI LP standard or Gibson LP studio?

[madguitar26]

im in a dificult choice between these two fine instruments and will be changing the stock pickups to duncans(dont care for the 498t,490 gibsons).Ive heard that alot of folks prefer epiphone LP standards to the Gibson LP studios.
just wanted to make sure thats a sure thing to get,rather than the real deal gibsons.
wanna hear from you guys on this

[theodie]

Here is the way I see it from a luthiers stand point,

Go for the epiphone.

Here is why, An epiphone is much cheaper than a gibson. An epiphone can me made into a pro quality axe with these mods, CTS pots, Switchcraft switch and jack, Fret leveling, crowning, polishing, Duncan pickups, new nut, and a great setup! From alot of Gibson's I have seen, they need alot of the same work so, why spend a $1000 more for the same quality of an axe in the end?

Personally, the only thing that bothers me about buying an Epiphone is where they are made! I much rather buy a US made product than give more $$$$ to the Chinese!!!!!

[fretburner]

Koreans, not Chinese.

[madguitar26]

actualy the knew ones are now chinese.
but thanks any ways.i was just researching google and found out about the agiles.rerad the harmony central reviews.
what do you guys think? between the agile and the epi?

also what are CTS pots?Switchcraft switch and jack?crowning?
thanks again

[madguitar26]

im also selling my cortm700(korean) for it only gave me headaches.even after 3 luthier repairs.not so with a washburn wi64(korean also).
go figure
agile LP vs epi´s anyone? :afro:

[St_Genesius]

If I were determined to have an LP that was the right shape, I'd buy the Epi. If I were determined to get the best bang for the buck, I'd buy an Agile. I've owned both Epis and Agiles and I find them to be pretty evenly matched. I actually prefer the stock pickups in the two Agile LPs I've had to the ones in the Epi Sheraton II I had, but would absolutely encourage replacing them in either.

[fretburner]

Buy Epi. I have my Limited Edition.

Transluscent Black Quilt Top, Fast 60's neck (plays better my RG Wizard 2 neck and Am. Std. Strat). Here's an old pick. I will put Duncan Custom and A2P (both zebras) in it soon.

[theodie]

Personally, I have done an A/B comparison with an Agile and an Epiphone, I though the Agile was a bit better.

BTW, CTS is a brand of Pot (volume and tone knobs)
Switchcraft makes top quality switches and jacks,
Leveling and crowning are techniques a tech or a luthier can do to your frets to make it play extra sweet!

[madguitar26]

nice epi man !!
thanks on the info theodie.
would a mid concetrated pickup( custom custom or air zone) make a les paul sound mushy?is that way slash uses an alnico 2 pro?
i thought of a custom c-5 ceramic for the bridge and pearly gates neck.
give me yur input one last time

[lpmarshall]

My Gibby LP Studio has served me well over the years. Soon I will be putting a TonePros bridge and throwing some Duncans in it.

[madguitar26]

hey lpmarshall that is the exact Gibson someone offered me.the same colour.
does it stay well in tune?how about thows 498,490 pickups...

[lpmarshall]

hey lpmarshall that is the exact Gibson someone offered me.the same colour.
does it stay well in tune?how about thows 498,490 pickups...

It stays in tune rather well. Mine is beat up from years of playing out. I'm meeting with a co-worker next week, he is giving me a complete tutorial on guitar setups so it should play even better then.

It still has the stock pickups, which sound just fine. I'm still gonna throw some duncans in it when I get a chance.

[Mewmender]

I would pick a early MIK Epi rather than the new MIC ones ...

[theodie]

nice epi man !!
thanks on the info theodie.
would a mid concetrated pickup( custom custom or air zone) make a les paul sound mushy?is that way slash uses an alnico 2 pro?
i thought of a custom c-5 ceramic for the bridge and pearly gates neck.
give me yur input one last time

Slash does use the Alnico II pro's, they are great pickups!!!! Personally, the Custom bridge/Peraly Gates neck is my favorite duncan setup!!!!!! They are my favorite Duncan neck and bridge pickups and they sound great together!!!!!!

[The Golden Boy]

Kind of depends what you're looking for. If you're looking for something pretty, get the Epi.

If you're looking for a guitar that's going to be a lasting addition to your stable, get the Studio.

Basically a Studio is a carved maple topped LP Special without binding and with humbuckers. A one piece mahogany body, depending on the year a one piece or 3 piece mahogany neck with a rosewood fretboard, and a 3 piece maple top. Regardless of any upgrades you do on an Epiphone- you won't have that much.

If you believe the Epiphone is the same guitar as a Gibson with a different headstock and cheaper hardware and electronics- cool. Fact of the matter is you're getting mystery wood with a lot of laminations and inferior hardware and electronics. If you don't believe me, look in the control cavity and pickup cavities, you can see the striations of "wood," and you can see you're not seeing that pretty veneer top as the "floor" of your control cavity. If you do "upgrade" an Epi LP, no matter how you dress it up- it is what it is.

You can score a good, used Studio for well under a grand. You can be happy that you can have an American made, quality guitar that you can upgrade and not give money to GMI and pad Henry's retirement account. And if it matters to you, it still says "Gibson" on the headstock. (which it will matter if you ever decide to sell it)

I'm not saying that Epiphones are garbage, they're fine guitars for what they are. I'm just saying that I believe a used Studio is a better guitar, and a better guitar for the money.

[báratta]

I’d opt for the used Studio. In my experience ephiphones are stepping stone guitars- that you rarely keep and cherish for long periods of time. I owned an Epi LP Classic Plus when I began playing guitar- and unfortunately I must say that the looks seduced me.
A decent LP studio is a professional guitar that gives you a sound equal to the big dollar axes.

-Solid mahogany body- no more than three pieces. (My Epi had no less than six pieces of unsightly alder)
-A real maple cap for tone! Not just a pretty veneer over more alder.
-One piece mahogany neck.
-Nitro finish rather than poly.
-Quality USA alnico Pickups. (sell ‘em for good dollars)
-Excellent resale value.

If you can stretch to the studio, I would advise it.

Edit:
Seems that Golden Boy covered all my points whilst I was posting…

[báratta]

Kind of depends what you're looking for. If you're looking for something pretty, get the Epi.

I actually find the Wine Red LP studios to be highly attractive. PRS doesn’t seem to need plastic binding…

[madguitar26]

what about the weight of the body?isn´t the gibson studio lighter than the epi LP standard?
does this really matter if im gonnna switch pickups anyway?

[theboatcandream]

With the epiphone, you can expect a maple neck, alder cap, maple veneer, and a mahogany or alder body. Basically a heavy strat with a shorter scale and a different look.

Your choice....

[madguitar26]

a heavy strat,mine already is heavy,at least more than the supposedly cort m700´s mahogany bodied(korean).
i guess the studio then is heavier.beats me