ZarK
In my quest for some decent budget guitars to be used for alternate tunings only, I have considered many. One brand that stuck in my mind over the years is Epiphone. Many top artists have used them and in the early 90's I can recall that their finish was even better than their Gibson Les Paul and SG counterparts when I compared them back-to-back...
What are your opinions, experiences and thoughts around these guitars?
inflames
I owned a Epiphone Les Paul Custom.
Amazing instrument, I started preferring it to my Jackson's!
I will buy one in a hart beat again!
Lost the poor oke in a flood :-\
ZarK
inflames wrote:
I owned a Epiphone Les Paul Custom.
Amazing instrument, I started preferring it to my Jackson's!
I will buy one in a hart beat again!
Lost the poor oke in a flood :-\
...............donner........
Was that one of the older Korean jobbies or one of the newer Chinese creations? Do you know if new epi's are as good as the older ones or have any other info to share?
(My sincere condolences...)
Warren
My Epi LP is my workhorse! ?
Only difference is I bought mine second-hand and it has Seymour Duncans fitted both Neck and Bridge. I think it's Korean-made, not 100% sure though. Speaking to various people, and trying out the odd stock Epi from time to time, I believe that feedback mostly boils down to:
1) Solid, well built guitars.
2) Somewhat sucky PUPs.
So if you do go for these, maybe consider pricing in a swap to some aftermarket pickups. I'm sure a nice set of Toneriders will fit the bill.
ezietsman
Many of us here own Epiphone guitars and I'd say most Epi owners are quite happy with them, especially after a pickup upgrade. With a proper setup and good pickups they are decent guitars, nowhere near as good as the Gibson/Tokai equivalents but vastly better than those really cheap strat copy entry-level jobs (i.e. Squire Bullet Strats etc). I see mostly 2nd hand LPs floating around gumtree and they're usually about R3k-R5k with a case.
ZarK
I would most certainly swap out pups for some seymore duncans or Dimarzios in most entry level guitars I aim to use... I wonder what an Epi LP will sound like with a Dimarzio Tone Zone and Air Norton? Any thoughts on the level of quality of the older models (probably Korean) vs. the newer versions? (probably Chinese)
MikeM
I have an older model and personally I think it rivals the low end MIJ Tokais - 2 piece body, thick maple cap etc (flame veneer though). I was dead lucky and got a gem of a guitar.
I'd consider importing a MIJ one. You can get an Epi custom - Nitro, long tenon, open book headstock, great hardware for around $1000.
Mike
giggsy
Had both a Gibson and an Epiphone SG, and apart from the Epiphone being a bit more neck heavy, the build quality and 'feel' were so similar.
vic
I used an Epi LP Goldtop with P90's a few years ago. This was a very good quality axe...finish and all. The PUPs unfortunately sounded a tiny bit tinny, but good enough for most genre. I remember it had an excellent neck action too..... Not bad at all.
Warren
ZarK wrote:
Any thoughts on the level of quality of the older models (probably Korean) vs. the newer versions? (probably Chinese)
Quite recently Marshall Music in Woodmead got a whole stack of new Epi LPs in, as well as a bunch of Tokais. Lots of them in black ?
I tried out one or two, and it didn't feel too different to my own guitar, quality or feel wise. No idea about the electrics. The LP Custom has some extra bits (as mentioned by MikeM) for only a few bucks more.
ZarK
If I decide to go for an Epi LP or SG, which pups would you recommend for them? (I know Slash as an example uses Seymore Duncans.)
At this stage the only pups I could potentially free up would be a Dimarzio Tone Zone and Air Norton which I'm very tempted to replace with Dimarzio Liquifire and Crunch lab in one of my guitars...
Skywalker
I am stoked with my Zakk Wylde Epi's. They've been setup real good and I've popped a pair of Tony Iommi signature pups in both of them so they sound and play great. I would' nt give them up for the world. I've also jammed on a few "older" LPs,Sg's etc and have always been impressed with most of their build quality etc. although I'm not too sure what country they were made in. I recently popped some Dimarzios in one of my RG's and it sounds fantastic. I might just take em out and see what they sound like in on the LPs ?
All in all I dig the Epi guitars. I would'nt buy another one new though cos they're too damn expensive.
MikeM
Warren wrote:
The LP Custom has some extra bits (as mentioned by MikeM) for only a few bucks more.
The ones I was talking about are not for export models ? Similar to Zark's J Custom ?
Wrt pickups it depends what sound you're after.. Don't know the DiMarzios sadly. But yea the 14k type bridge and 8kish neck is usually a really good hot combo, then 8k bridge and 7.6k neck for something a bit chimier.
ZarK
MikeM wrote:
Warren wrote:
The LP Custom has some extra bits (as mentioned by MikeM) for only a few bucks more.
The ones I was talking about are not for export models ? Similar to Zark's J Custom ?
Wrt pickups it depends what sound you're after.. Don't know the DiMarzios sadly. But yea the 14k type bridge and 8kish neck is usually a really good hot combo, then 8k bridge and 7.6k neck for something a bit chimier.
I'd probably like the Epi LP to sound as close as possible to the textbook traditional, full, rounded Les Paul tone if I go this route. (Not p90 or EMG or the likes) The vintage Les Paul tone. I suppose the same pups that come standard with the Gibson counterpart should do the trick? Otherwise I am strangely drawn to Seymore Duncans, which I've never owned...
MikeM
SD, I'd go for a Pearly Gate bridge with an A2Pro neck (Hotter than the pearly gate neck, more "Slash" but still pretty damn far from muddy).
I think that'd be a really nice combo for vintage sounds. Both A2 so slight compression with a smooth high end, but not wound very hot so they'll keep definition. They might be a touch middy, but that's what you want.
killafo
My first electric guitar was an EPI, still have it, ?.
Really well built.
To add to what has already been said, i would change the PUPs. In fact i was looking at the Tonerider range.
Other than that i would buy another if this one were "miss placed" , ?
singemonkey
Vic's suggestion sounds good. Tone-riders also have a good rep for classic tone on a budget.
Compare the Epiphone LPs to the Made in China Tokais before you buy. See for yourself which you prefer. And the MIC Tokais might even be cheaper - and their can hardly be an issue of headstock logos this time ?. I haven't played MIC Tokais myself, but owners seem extremely pleased with them - although again, many opt to swap out the pickups.
Not worth spending too much on pickups for a low end guitar though. No sense in buying a pair of Bare-Knuckle hand-wounds and sticking them in an Epiphone or MIC Tokai. ?
ZarK
singemonkey wrote:
Vic's suggestion sounds good. Tone-riders also have a good rep for classic tone on a budget.
Compare the Epiphone LPs to the Made in China Tokais before you buy. See for yourself which you prefer. And the MIC Tokais might even be cheaper - and their can hardly be an issue of headstock logos this time ?. I haven't played MIC Tokais myself, but owners seem extremely pleased with them - although again, many opt to swap out the pickups.
Not worth spending too much on pickups for a low end guitar though. No sense in buying a pair of Bare-Knuckle hand-wounds and sticking them in an Epiphone or MIC Tokai. ?
Agreed!
I'd probably go for the cheapest pups that can get me closest to "true" Les Paul tone
MikeM
If you want to do it on the cheap, try the Toneriders, particularly the Alnico 4 series.
