Just played a few LesPauls last evening...

[Thames]

Hey dudes...

Yesterday, just before the practice gig, I went to the local music store to play some LPs. Here's some interesting observations....

(to be clear, "G" stands for Gibson, "E" for Epi...)

There were a G LP Classic, 2 G LP Studio, 1 E Custom (red/gold), 1 E Standard Plus... well in fact, a few more but that's the ones I played. The red G LP Studio felt right, I really liked it, simple and efficient, nice depth to the sound. The G LP Classic was fine, but I dont like those thinner necks. The black G LP Studio was flatter sounding, not impressed, as were the Epis, except the E Custom... which was a pleasant surprise! In fact, I did notice that Custom has a full thick maple cap It was easy to notice : inside the horn, like the old LP's, it had the distinctice demarcation, the binding being thinner than the maple cap, the E Standard Plus didnt have that, nor the G Classic (which has a thicker binding in this area).

Moreover the body of the E Standard was clearly alder, whereas the E Custom was mahogany, no doubt about it. The workmanship felt great on the E Custom, the fretmarkers really looked like real MOP and not cheap blurry inlays... everything was fine really. I was really tempted.

THen my friend (employee) brought back from the basement an Epi Elite case housing one of the sweetest honeyburst flametop LP I ever saw... it was an Epi Elite Standard Plus. Actually, it's one of the nicest, sweetest LP I ever tried. Everything, I mean everything felt soooo great. I really "felt like home" with this babe on me. I couldnt resist playing all the classic LP riffs I could remember of.

This one was already sold to a customer, but damn, I'll go for an Epi Elite this summer. No worry about that. For 1/2 the price of a Gibson, where the QC is often to be desired, it's a damn great deal.

No offense to Gibson owners...

[some_dude]

Moreover the body of the E Standard was clearly alder, whereas the E Custom was mahogany

Epi Standards are mahogany with an alder cap.

But yeah, I generally like Epi's better than most Gibsons I've tried, but that's just my personal taste.

I think I'll hunt down one of these Epi Elites and test drive one.

[Hoss]

like the conclusion i came to...with a little help from my friends...lol...

it really doesn't matter what's on the headstock...if it's right and tight...IT ROCKS!!!

[Bad Luck]

I bought a epi custom a few months ago b/c it sounded great in a store. It played pretty good, but of course the top-line gibsons played much better (better workmanship, more comfortable neck, etc.). However, I think the fretboard must have been dried out or something b/c after a couple months of conditioning/less dry conditions? the fretboard feels great. So I've been pretty happy with the my epi (of course I wouldn't mind having one of those goldtop reissues either ).

ps. I thought I was going to have to switch out the tuners b/c everyone told me that the tuners are for crap on epis, but it stays in tune pretty well after a better setup.

[theboatcandream]

The tuners are fine on my epiphone. It was the switch, pots, pickups, and nuts that I had to replace.

[Thames]

ps. I thought I was going to have to switch out the tuners b/c everyone told me that the tuners are for crap on epis, but it stays in tune pretty well after a better setup.

The Customs have better tuners. The kluson-style tuners are those which are problematics.

Definitely, either the Epi Customs are a big step over the Standard, or this one in particular is a one of the finest made.

[Bad Luck]

TBCD, you are totally right about the pots, but those are a cheap an easy mod. The switch on mine, surprisingly, has worked fine. I guess I'll just wait till it breaks. I also thought the pickups were decent (I switched them out anyway ).

Thames, I think you might be right about the custom being a slight upgrade from the standard. When I compared them at the store I noticed that I got that rumbling vibration that LPs are supposed to have against your tummy with the custom, but a lot less with the standards I played (maybe different woods?). Good to know the tuners aren't as good on the standards, too.

[jeremy]

i got an epi lp classic a few months ago, came with grover tuners so no need to replace them. pups and etronics had to go, cts and switchcraft with antiquitys.
now the guitar sounds great!! maybe not as beefy as a great old paul but plenty thick for this strat player

[Stevo]

I played a bunch of new Les Pauls and did not like them. They might be "prettier" than my 77 standard but I buy guitars so I can play them.

[Thames]

I played a bunch of new Les Pauls and did not like them. They might be "prettier" than my 77 standard but I buy guitars so I can play them.

Yes.. you're right buddy. And in my case, I buy guitars to play them, not to plan resale in a few months/years.

[Scott_F]

It's a shame you didn't get to play a Historic and Custom Shop Reissue Les Paul (58 or 59 preferably).

They really are a cut above. The elitist is made in Japan, right?

[Thames]

It's a shame you didn't get to play a Historic and Custom Shop Reissue Les Paul (58 or 59 preferably).

They really are a cut above. The elitist is made in Japan, right?

You really think there's Historics and CS RI's here in Quebec ?? LOL ahaha. There was a few CS's during the Gibson days. but not more than that!

Yeah, Japan. They are the closest thing to a '59 for the price Scott, seriously.

[Surgeon]

You really think there's Historics and CS RI's here in Quebec ?? LOL ahaha. There was a few CS's during the Gibson days. but not more than that!

Yeah, Japan. They are the closest thing to a '59 for the price Scott, seriously.

Our shops will never carry anything like that in a zillion years... They would never sell here... with importation fees that merchants have to pay, taxes and all... these would cost as much as a car... A good ol' standard is already pricey enough...

[Gearjoneser]

I have quite a bit of experience with all the LP models from Epi Std's all the way to $4000 Historics. IMO the best LP you can buy for the lowest money
is a used Gibson Les Paul Std. from the 90's. Anything less, and you'll be right back to shopping. Anything more, and you'll pay dearly and be too paranoid about damage. Before laying out any money at a guitar store, search every used avenue to aquire a Gibson LP Standard for between $850 - $1400 US. Then, make sure the not is slotted properly, intonated 100% and your favorite Duncan set installed. C-5/59 smokes!

[Mattt]

There's no doubt the historics and reissues are miles ahead, but they're bloody expensive!

[strat_master]

ya ive tried both gibsona nd epiphne LPs back to back, the elitist are actualylr elly good and heavy like a real les paul. It definately is made of real woods and not alder mixed with mahagony. To be honest i still prefer the gibsons mroe than its cheaper counter parts. But the epiphone customa nd elitists are great guitars none the less

[Grandor]

I have an epiphone custom w/ the flametop and gold hardware (but the SD's are ''open'').

Tuners are ok, but after a heavy song or two jumping around it goes a bit out (like a 1/4 of a tone on a few of the strings).

This epiphone is only beaten by a wolfgang I tried a few months ago.
I'm not being a **** or anything, But I have tried PRS's, Gibson Standards, Gibson Customs, Fender Strats and even a few '70's Deluxes and Standards.
This thing smokes imo.


Though, I haven't tried a RI or Historic yet...
yet...

[sweet_lou]

Hey dudes...

THen my friend (employee) brought back from the basement an Epi Elite case housing one of the sweetest honeyburst flametop LP I ever saw... it was an Epi Elite Standard Plus. Actually, it's one of the nicest, sweetest LP I ever tried. Everything, I mean everything felt soooo great. I really "felt like home" with this babe on me. I couldnt resist playing all the classic LP riffs I could remember of.

This one was already sold to a customer, but damn, I'll go for an Epi Elite this summer. No worry about that. For 1/2 the price of a Gibson, where the QC is often to be desired, it's a damn great deal.

No offense to Gibson owners...

You mean like this one
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...ESSE%3AIT&rd=1

[Thames]

You mean like this one
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...ESSE%3AIT&rd=1

No! It's a honeyburst. No offense, but look nicer than this one.

Her's

http://www.epiphone.com/elitist/standardpluspopup3.htm

[That90'sGuy]

I think Epiphone puts out a great product. However, the feel and playability of the Les Paul Standard is simply superior. Epi's seem to feel a lot lighter than the Gibson counterparts (well, the Classic/Standard and above anyways). I feel that for the "Les Paul sound" a heavier guitar is a must. It just seems to handle distortion a lot better. There's a substance there that seems to lack with the Epi's I have played. You can still get great tones with an Epi, I have an early 80s one that is pretty good.