|
|
Post by jcoutu1 on Feb 19, 2015 15:00:21 GMT -6
|
|
|
|
Post by svart on Feb 19, 2015 15:16:25 GMT -6
I have a silver epi LP. It was indeed mud city until I swapped pickups with some duncans, now it's pretty nice. The finish isn't the nicest but it's a player's guitar.
I really wanted to go with an Agile 3000, but in the end I figured since it's a studio guitar, I should go with the "name" that people would recognize, even though the Agile 3K series is supposed to give the Gibson LP's a run for their money, but at Epiphone prices.
|
|
|
|
Post by Johnkenn on Feb 19, 2015 16:03:45 GMT -6
Check out the Joe Bonamassa Epi Les Pauls...really miss the one I had. Has Gibson Burstbuckers.
|
|
|
|
Post by mobeach on Feb 19, 2015 16:19:52 GMT -6
I would go for it, at worst you'll have to change out the pickups. My Epi is all original and it sounds great, it came with Bill Lawrence pickups
|
|
|
|
Post by mobeach on Feb 19, 2015 16:36:52 GMT -6
If you ever find one of these in your travels, grab it! It's my 96 Epi Nighthawk Special 3. Very warm, clean and quiet. Strat style 5 position switch and vintage trem.  |
|
|
|
Post by jcoutu1 on Feb 20, 2015 17:40:18 GMT -6
Did some more research and went and played a few today. The one linked here was total garbage. Jagged fret ends, satin finish on the neck and back felt like crap, and the tone blows. The Standard Pro Plustop looks similar, but feels WAY better. Neck is dressed much better. Gloss back and neck feels better (still not perfect, but better), pickups still sound like garbage. I compared a Gibson with a Burstbucker in the bridge to an Epi with their ProBucker in the bridge, not even close. The Gibson sounds alive and the Epi sounds choked, dull, and lifeless. Next I played some Slash model. Felt similar to the Pro Plustop. Well dressed, etc., but it's equipped with Seymour Duncan Slash model humbuckers. Sounded good. Alive. That Gibson kind of sound that I like. Lookswise, it's not for me, but it gives me hope that the Epi can be decent with some decent pickups. Now I have to decide between a cheap Epi that I upgrade, more expensive Epi pre-equipped with stock Gibson pickups, or just buying a Gibson. |
|
|
|
Post by mobeach on Feb 20, 2015 17:47:35 GMT -6
Did some more research and went and played a few today. The one linked here was total garbage. Jagged fret ends, satin finish on the neck and back felt like crap, and the tone blows. The Standard Pro Plustop looks similar, but feels WAY better. Neck is dressed much better. Gloss back and neck feels better (still not perfect, but better), pickups still sound like garbage. I compared a Gibson with a Burstbucker in the bridge to an Epi with their ProBucker in the bridge, not even close. The Gibson sounds alive and the Epi sounds choked, dull, and lifeless. Next I played some Slash model. Felt similar to the Pro Plustop. Well dressed, etc., but it's equipped with Seymour Duncan Slash model humbuckers. Sounded good. Alive. That Gibson kind of sound that I like. Lookswise, it's not for me, but it gives me hope that the Epi can be decent with some decent pickups. Now I have to decide between a cheap Epi that I upgrade, more expensive Epi pre-equipped with stock Gibson pickups, or just buying a Gibson. The guys that buy Mexican Strats or Squiers with upgrades in mind are in the same boat. They know what they're buying can't compare to a USA Strat! I used to own a USA P-Bass, I bought that because the cheaper clones didn't compare, especially the Squier, it rattled and buzzed all over the place. But man! Les Pauls are huge bucks these days, you can get a nice PRS for less money. |
|
|
|
Post by mrholmes on Feb 20, 2015 19:18:52 GMT -6
I think the pick ups won't be a problem. I would go for it because it has the old D profile neck.
Those guitars usually have a long and nice sustain.
Most modern necks are too thin.
EDIT:
I can remember an Epi Les Paul by a student with this D neck.
It was in the same price range, but the fretwork had to be redone by a luthier.
Anyway there was not a single reason left, expect the brand, to buy a Gibson.
The problem with Gibson today, for the average professional player, they are too expensive.
And most people forget that you also can find a bad Gibson.
Both brands are mass production, keep this in mind.
EDIT:
My fault the big neck is called C by Epi.
|
|
|
|
Post by jcoutu1 on Feb 20, 2015 19:24:21 GMT -6
Did some more research and went and played a few today. The one linked here was total garbage. Jagged fret ends, satin finish on the neck and back felt like crap, and the tone blows. The Standard Pro Plustop looks similar, but feels WAY better. Neck is dressed much better. Gloss back and neck feels better (still not perfect, but better), pickups still sound like garbage. I compared a Gibson with a Burstbucker in the bridge to an Epi with their ProBucker in the bridge, not even close. The Gibson sounds alive and the Epi sounds choked, dull, and lifeless. Next I played some Slash model. Felt similar to the Pro Plustop. Well dressed, etc., but it's equipped with Seymour Duncan Slash model humbuckers. Sounded good. Alive. That Gibson kind of sound that I like. Lookswise, it's not for me, but it gives me hope that the Epi can be decent with some decent pickups. Now I have to decide between a cheap Epi that I upgrade, more expensive Epi pre-equipped with stock Gibson pickups, or just buying a Gibson. The guys that buy Mexican Strats or Squiers with upgrades in mind are in the same boat. They know what they're buying can't compare to a USA Strat! I used to own a USA P-Bass, I bought that because the cheaper clones didn't compare, especially the Squier, it rattled and buzzed all over the place. But man! Les Pauls are huge bucks these days, you can get a nice PRS for less money. I would buy used. I have a friend that would sell me a nice one for a decent price, it's just more than I should spend on an instrument that I'm horrible at playing. Bad tone is just so uninspiring though. It might finally be the time to bite the bullet and get what I really want instead of screwing around trying to chase it. Gotta pull some moves to free up the cash though. |
|
|
|
Post by mobeach on Feb 20, 2015 20:33:20 GMT -6
The guys that buy Mexican Strats or Squiers with upgrades in mind are in the same boat. They know what they're buying can't compare to a USA Strat! I used to own a USA P-Bass, I bought that because the cheaper clones didn't compare, especially the Squier, it rattled and buzzed all over the place. But man! Les Pauls are huge bucks these days, you can get a nice PRS for less money. I would buy used. I have a friend that would sell me a nice one for a decent price, it's just more than I should spend on an instrument that I'm horrible at playing. Bad tone is just so uninspiring though. It might finally be the time to bite the bullet and get what I really want instead of screwing around trying to chase it. Gotta pull some moves to free up the cash though. Yeah a new instrument should inspire creativity, not make you puke when you hear it. This is my main guitar, Schecter are just plane badass!  |
|
|
|
Post by jcoutu1 on Feb 21, 2015 0:47:48 GMT -6
The guys that buy Mexican Strats or Squiers with upgrades in mind are in the same boat. They know what they're buying can't compare to a USA Strat! I used to own a USA P-Bass, I bought that because the cheaper clones didn't compare, especially the Squier, it rattled and buzzed all over the place. But man! Les Pauls are huge bucks these days, you can get a nice PRS for less money. I would buy used. I have a friend that would sell me a nice one for a decent price, it's just more than I should spend on an instrument that I'm horrible at playing. Bad tone is just so uninspiring though. It might finally be the time to bite the bullet and get what I really want instead of screwing around trying to chase it. Gotta pull some moves to free up the cash though. Just to add, I'd rather get a Gibson than a PRS. I've know a couple guys with PRS guitars and they always just sound good. They seem to always work well, but never sound great. Probably the best looking guitars on the market, but not the sound for me. I don't like how flat their necks feel to. Just not my cup of tea. |
|
|
|
Post by mobeach on Feb 21, 2015 7:15:04 GMT -6
I would buy used. I have a friend that would sell me a nice one for a decent price, it's just more than I should spend on an instrument that I'm horrible at playing. Bad tone is just so uninspiring though. It might finally be the time to bite the bullet and get what I really want instead of screwing around trying to chase it. Gotta pull some moves to free up the cash though. Just to add, I'd rather get a Gibson than a PRS. I've know a couple guys with PRS guitars and they always just sound good. They seem to always work well, but never sound great. Probably the best looking guitars on the market, but not the sound for me. I don't like how flat their necks feel to. Just not my cup of tea. From what I've seen PRS are very transparent, a great platform, but no signature tone like a LP. Ibanez are the same way to me anyway. My Schecter has active EMG's, the thing screams with sustain, but it works for anything. They've probably surpassed Jackson as the most popular guitar for Metal. |
|
|
|
Post by jcoutu1 on Feb 21, 2015 8:45:32 GMT -6
Just to add, I'd rather get a Gibson than a PRS. I've know a couple guys with PRS guitars and they always just sound good. They seem to always work well, but never sound great. Probably the best looking guitars on the market, but not the sound for me. I don't like how flat their necks feel to. Just not my cup of tea. From what I've seen PRS are very transparent, a great platform, but no signature tone like a LP. Ibanez are the same way to me anyway. My Schecter has active EMG's, the thing screams with sustain, but it works for anything. They've probably surpassed Jackson as the most popular guitar for Metal. I assumed Ibanez was the go to for metal. No? |
|
|
|
Post by mobeach on Feb 21, 2015 9:41:22 GMT -6
From what I've seen PRS are very transparent, a great platform, but no signature tone like a LP. Ibanez are the same way to me anyway. My Schecter has active EMG's, the thing screams with sustain, but it works for anything. They've probably surpassed Jackson as the most popular guitar for Metal. I assumed Ibanez was the go to for metal. No? It's the go to for some of the virtuoso's and some of the metal bands. I bought one and it was lifeless, very nice action but it'll give you your amp tone and whatever pedals you're using. This is good if you want to mold your own sound, but if you're looking for a signature tone Ibanez electrics don't have one. IMO they're just a platform for whatever else you want to use with it. They use very light wood, as opposed to the Schecters, which have Mahogany bodies and Maple tops just like a LP. |
|
|
|
Post by jcoutu1 on Feb 21, 2015 22:34:51 GMT -6
|
|
|
|
Post by jcoutu1 on Feb 22, 2015 20:37:50 GMT -6
matt, you're a Les Paul expert right? What are your thoughts about a decent Epi with good pickups vs. a low/mid LP? Studio, traditional pro, DC type level. Any experience with this stuff or are you all H series?
|
|
|
|
Post by mobeach on Feb 22, 2015 21:07:04 GMT -6
|
|
|
|
Post by jcoutu1 on Feb 22, 2015 21:16:43 GMT -6
Svart mentioned them above. Seem pretty cool, but I want to touch something be fore buying. It looks like they have a used one at the GC in Natick, but it's nearly impossible to find the time to swing up there. |
|
|
|
Post by matt on Feb 22, 2015 22:02:05 GMT -6
matt, you're a Les Paul expert right? What are your thoughts about a decent Epi with good pickups vs. a low/mid LP? Studio, traditional pro, DC type level. Any experience with this stuff or are you all H series? I currently own Historics, but I played a mid-70s "Clownface" Deluxe during the '80s. It was a fine guitar. The only Epi I own is a Korina V, which had mediocre original pickups. I replaced them with PAF-style dual whites (MCP) and that fixed things pretty nicely. However, I had a chance to compare it to a Custom Shop Korina V, and the Gibson was fatter sounding and more "alive". It was simply a better instrument. I have no doubt that that the Epi LP is a good guitar. Good, but not great, even with replacement pickups. Historics may be overpriced, but they come closer to the vintage sound and vibe, IMHO. This is particularly true of my CC#2 Goldie. In the Historic series, probably the lowest price for a used one will be a G0, sold through GC a few years back. Here's mine:  I've been thinking about selling it. With my three CCs hanging around, it just doesn't get played. |
|
|
|
Post by jcoutu1 on Feb 26, 2015 13:09:57 GMT -6
Went bonkers last night and picked this up. Not sure it'll stick around, but I'm giving it a go. SG Faded from 2005. i.imgur.com/08DDo4L.jpg |
|
|
|
Post by jcoutu1 on Feb 26, 2015 13:10:28 GMT -6
Went bonkers last night and picked this up. Not sure it'll stick around, but I'm giving it a go. SG Faded from 2005.  |
|
|
|
Post by mobeach on Feb 26, 2015 13:19:10 GMT -6
I was in a Black Sabbath tribute band in the 90's. My guitarist had a red one, probably an early 90's model. It really cut through the mix. For all intents and purposes it's a better lead guitar than a LP.
|
|
