Depends on your budget exactly.

Gibson LP Custom: > R20k
Epi LP Custom: R5k - R6k (I guess)
Tokai LP Custom: about R10k (High quality guitar)

What exactly would you like to spend?

I've seen those for R2k. Replace tuning heads and nut, new pups after a year.

Why does it have to be a Custom?

For a limited budget I would agree with EZ, Id rather get a Tokai.....looooonnng before I touch an Epi.....
..... (That's just me)

Aubs1 wrote: Why does it have to be a Custom?

For a limited budget I would agree with EZ, Id rather get a Tokai.....looooonnng before I touch an Epi.....
..... (That's just me)

+1

Aubs1 wrote: Why does it have to be a Custom?

For a limited budget I would agree with EZ, Id rather get a Tokai.....looooonnng before I touch an Epi.....
..... (That's just me)

Me, I would get a Tokai even on a full budget ?

I'm after a les paul shape guitar at the moment, budget and playing ability does not justify a Gibson, so I started shopping at the cheaper end. I was also after the epiphone custom in white, but after actually playing one and looking at the finish I was quite underwhelmed. In the epi's I prefer the Standard to the Custom. Hope this might help you a bit if you are interested in something other than the Epiphone?

Choices are:
Epiphone Les paul Standard Plus
Tokai Love Rock (chinese)
Vintage V100 Lemon Drop
Tanglewood TSB


I'm trying to play any of these guitars wherever I can find them, to help me make up my mind. In my opinion I place them in the following order of playabilty. Remember that no guitars are the same, and if i had played these guitars at different stores the list might be otherwise

Vintage V100 (real nice not-so-chunky neck, great sounding and feeling)
Epiphone Les paul Standard Plus (allround good but lacks the proper hardware of the vintage, nice neck, Good feeling and very playable)
Tokai Love Rock (chinese) (Vry good quality and great sounding, the neck just felt a bit chunky for me, but lovely lovely guitar)
Tanglewood TSB (OK Guitar on a real tight budget)

In order of build quality:

Tokai Love Rock (chinese) and Vinatge V100 Tied
Epiphone
Tanglewood

Wich one would I probably end up buying?
The Vinatge or the Epiphone, and If I wasnt such a sleeping dumb ass I would be playing a Vinatge Lemon drop right now!!

Between those two, the difference from guitar to guitar will be more than the difference between the average Vintge or the average Epi. Get the one you like and try to disregard setup. When in doubt, ask the store guys to set it up properly first. When shopping second hand, availability is probably more important than preference (unless you are willing to wait). You can get a Chinese Tokai second hand for less than a new Epi....

If you're after a really nice custom try the Zakk Wyldes. I think there may still be one for sale in the classifieds. Maple neck, mahogany body and awesome feel. Could do with a change of pups and maybe a paint job if you don't like the bulls eye look.

Made in Korea and you can find them around R4-5k.

There are other brands that might fit your criteria and budget, the PRS SE, Ibanez get some good credit here as well with the ART series. the LTD also look well made.

i have a epi les paul standard made in korea and i gotta say the quality is pretty good .... suprisingly good for a lower/mid priced guitar.

look aorund i am sure you going to find something u like in the price u like, second hand is always the way to go from a price perspective or save up a bit an get a MIJ Tokai which boast superlative quality imho...

I also have Epi LP Standard... Paid about 4K for it couple of years ago. Its not bad.. Equiped with SD pups now.

If I were to get a Tokai, would that be considered an upgrade?

Maybe I should enquire what Mr. Tokai has in store for lefties!

Thanks for all the replies guys. I can get a new LP Standard in Trans Amber for R4100 with case. In that colour it is much pretier than the Custom. Good price? I might upgrade the pups for now, but it sounds pretty decent.

I wanted the custom for the split coils, but I suppose that isn't too important.

johannds wrote: I wanted the custom for the split coils, but I suppose that isn't too important.

Do they come with split coils? Anyway it is certainly something you can add on after the fact. Plus not every pickup sounds nice when tapped. Would be a cool mod.

johannds wrote: Thanks for all the replies guys. I can get a new LP Standard in Trans Amber for R4100 with case. In that colour it is much pretier than the Custom. Good price? I might upgrade the pups for now, but it sounds pretty decent.

I wanted the custom for the split coils, but I suppose that isn't too important.

Epiphone Les Paul? Thats not bad if it includes a case.

Mannoroth wrote:
Maybe I should enquire what Mr. Tokai has in store for lefties!

U know where i live, welcome to give my tokai a twirl .....

mr Tokai can set me straight if my facts are wrong, mine is a 1959 LP copy with PAF pups ... very smooth , very sweet to play, top quality imho... but dont take my word for it come give it a basdh sometime.

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Mannoroth wrote: I also have Epi LP Standard... Paid about 4K for it couple of years ago. Its not bad.. Equiped with SD pups now.

If I were to get a Tokai, would that be considered an upgrade?

Maybe I should enquire what Mr. Tokai has in store for lefties!

A Japanese Tokai would be a massive upgrade over a stock Epi, yes. But like all guitars, go and play every one you can find. Some pieces of wood just sound better than others. Even expensive, high-end guitars can turn out to be rather average when you put strings on and strum away.

R4100 for a NEW Epi LP standard with a case is decent. I think they go for more than that in the shops.

Go for the epi lp custom.

I bought mine about a year ago for R3500 with a hardcase. sounds and plays great.

If you are willing to save a few extra pennies you can get a Gibson les paul studio faded for about 8k. I owned one for about 6 months (up until last week when it was stolen out of my house). Really great sounding / playing guitar and at the end of the day, its a Gibson.

but you shouldnt be paying more than R4k for a mint epi lp custom or R3500 for a standard with a case (2nd hand).

I have an epi lp custom zakk wylde bulls eye and the neck is extremely chunky and I agree it can do with a pup change. if your budget only allows for an epi (duno if thats 2nd hand or new), but I'd have a look see at the Vintage guitars and the Tokai's

The original post reads:-

johannds wrote: Hi guys and girls,

I'm looking for a used Les Paul Custom, budget only allows buying Epiphone. What would a good price be for one of these? What's the best place to find one? Any pitfalls I should be aware of?

Cheers,
J

Now please tell me why everyone is trying to push Tokai and Vintage and who knows what else down the man's throat? It's like we're all more interested in our own opinions rather than answering the original question.

OK, finished kakking on you... ?

R4000 is a fair benchmark for the guitar. Try to at least get a gig bag in the deal.

Pitfalls? Few that I know of. I have the Epi Les Paul classic Gold top and am totally happy with the guitar for my purposes (I am mainly a Strat player)
My Epi had only one hassle, very easy to fix:-
The tailpiece has 2 big mounting bushings sunk into the body. The one closest to the volume knobs has the earthing wire feeding to the control cavity. This wire is stripped bare at the end and simply presses up against the bushing as it is pressed into the body. My guitar ran into earthing trouble and I found that this wire wasn't making good contact with the bushing. I pulled out the bushing, stripped and twisted the wire to make it thicker, pressed the bushing back in and never had trouble again.

The Epi sounds like a Les Paul for the most part, but the nice woody, throaty sound lacks the full 3D depth of a 59 LP, so let's not fool ourselves.
Upgrading the pickups will take you some way to Les Pauldom, and installing better pots and wiring will take you a bit closer, maybe enough to put a great working guitar in your hands at a reasonable budget.

Have you checked out Gumtree and Junk Mail?

Happy hunting, and happy new year!!