[Closed] Guitarists - help: Epiphone Les Paul content within.....

Have any of the STW axe-heros woken up yet? 😉

Been a while since I've looked at guitars but unless they've improved at lot, Epiphone was never great value. Traded off the name and you could get better guitars for less money.
Tokai LPs, from memory, were always very good. Not quite as exact a copy as the Epi, but better construction, better materials etc.

As I said though, that may have all changed.

Doubt £500 will get you a Gibson LP but you may be able to pick up a s/h SG?

Have a look on the 'Quarterly Eurospam thread' on the Harmony Central Guitar forum for some secondhand bargains.

New Epi LP Standard is £300, which (to me) doesn't seem bad money, but point taken.

Currently have an old Epiphone SG, so even at cheaper money, I don't think I could justify getting another, real one 😉 Looks liek I'll be sticking to EPi/copy LP's on my money.

Any thoughts on the original Q?

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My epi Les Paul... its Quite old now!

I really like it, good sound and not to heavy.
Have a look at Vintage LP copys as well. They seem to be highly regarded

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2006-GIBSON-LES-PAUL-USA-STUDIO-WINE-RED-CHROME-HARDWARE-HARD-CASE-SWAP-PX-/200681202026?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item2eb988216a
http://www.andertons.co.uk/solid-body-electric-guitars/pid20180/cid671/gibson-melody-maker-les-paul-in-satin-ebony.asp

Personally, I would be inclined to get a decent Japanese copy, and upgrade the electrics. Im not overly famliar with Gibson, but from what Ive been told, you really should try before you buy, as build quality and how they play differs wildly.

Epi LP are decent guitars, usually a touch expensive for the name, but they play well and sound & look good - you wouldn't regret one. A tokai would be wonderful too, but harder to come by.. it'd probably have aged really nicely too.

I had a Riviera (335 dot a like) till I sold it to an editor of some mtb magazine 😉 - very nice guitar, just didn't suit what I was doing at the time and ran out of cupboard space!

Personally I wouldn't get one with additional electronics, I like em pure though 🙂 - I think the Plus top buys you a nice wood cap under the paint job, which theoretically should have some influence on the sound, but I think that you'd be hard pressed to tell in a blindfold test through a stack o Marshalls...

So I'd buy whichever one you like the look of.

I picked up a mid 70s SG for around £500 on t'Ebay, but it was a long search, not seen any Les Pauls go for that money or I'd have bought one.

I really like it, good sound and not to heavy.

Heavy is gooooooood 😀 That's worn in nicely Martyn.

EDIT - I stand corrected - that Studio is well worth a look, better resale if nothing else.

Personally I wouldn't get one with additional electronics, I like em pure though - I think the Plus top buys you a nice wood cap under the paint job, which theoretically should have some influence on the sound, but I think that you'd be hard pressed to tell in a blindfold test through a stack o Marshalls...

This is my feeling as well, save for the fact I don't have a Marshall stack (just a 10W practise amp), less-than-modest skill and an untrained ear 😉 ....although the Honey Burst Plus Top does stir stange feelings in me..... hmmmmm......

Parker PM20 is a much better guitar if you can find one - discontinued last year but there may be a few about still

I prefer mine to my 'proper' les paul - lighter, sounds better, better action and much more versatile

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Parker-PM-20-Single-Cut-quilted-bubinga-finish-/200604760690?pt=Guitar&hash=item2eb4f9ba72 - i'd be getting this

All the less reason to care then 🙂 I'd put the 70 quid saved toward a wah wah or something if you went for the cheaper one and think no more on it.

Guitars should be good to look at, it makes you want to pick them up.

Guitars should be good to look at, it makes you want to pick them up.

Amen. Thanks all for the input.

Heavy is gooooooood That's worn in nicely Martyn.

as in weight... can make lots of Metaltype noise with it.. and thats not really worn in, this one is though.

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personally Id be looking for an epi LP custom or if youre really lucky a 2nd hand gibson SG standard. Id also take the epi custom over the Gibson studio... The plus tops for some reason epi never really nailed them, they never seem to have the 3d quality of some of the gibson quilt and flame tops.

But before you part with your money take a good look and play the classic vibe and Fender Classic Series 72 Telecaster Custom telecasters, how fender make these so well ill never know, and those customs sound amazing.

But before you part with your money take a good look and play the classic vibe and Fender Classic Series 72 Telecaster Custom telecasters

I am going to take an afternoon to go and play a few, be sure of that..... but the comment about the Fenders and the comment below is pertinant....

Guitars should be good to look at, it makes you want to pick them up.

This is going to sound mental, but neither a Strat, nor a Tele shape - in my head - look like 'real' guitars. The right-thinking side of my head knows this is completely daft, but I had my existing Epi SG and a Tele copy for a while and - even though the SG didn't play as well (many technical reasons for this, mostly relating to the middle-teen metalhead previous owner, now all-but fixed by my friendly local luthier.... and breath....), it would always be the one I picked up to have a twiddle on. Stupid , I know, but the LP and SG shapes just look right.

Agreed though - if I happened upon an LP Custom at the right time and right price.......

<wanders off considering what a simpleton I sound like.....>

Or, you could go for a Gibson Les Paul Junior.
Now that is a serious rock guitar.
SB

Tele is a very different beast to an LP, I used one as a main for years as I liked the way I had to beat it - it suited the style of the band.

Martyn, yeah I meant weight too, I like a heavy guitar even if it's murder on the back. Nice yellowing on that Strat, I think they age the best of all guitars (Rory Gallaghers .. though maybe aging isn't quite the right term..)

Tele is a very different beast to an LP, I used one as a main for years as I liked the way I had to beat it

Agreed - best played in a style approaching GBH!!!

I love my Epiphone Les Paul standard limited ed blue sparkle.
I'm very glad I got it, £20 from a mate!

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I use it with a Marshall and with these pedals…

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Epi Les Paul, all the guitar I need.

Had mine about 15 years now. About five years ago I was unusually flush and thought I might upgrade myself to a proper Gibson. Tried a few, and couldn't discern enough difference either in my fingers or my ears to justify the cost.

look at Tokia, Jay Turser or Vintage as well, Epis are well overpriced and really not that good for the money. Electrics and wiring are not great quality and the finish on the newer ones is bit cack for the money

The standard is pretty nice... Though unless they've done something about it, which they bloody well should have done by now, some of the electronics are shonky- I've put an awful lot of Gibson switches into Epis.

I've got an Epi 335 (in pieces, but that's another story) & a Vintage Casino (Wilko P90s). The Epi's nice but the Vintage plays nicer.

I bought a s\h Tokai LP when I was 15 - wish I could remember what I did with it. Also had a Fernandes Strat at Uni & swapped it for something ridiculous at the time.

Guitars are a bit like bikes aren't they? Never sell unless you need to.

So, as if by magic, this appears on Ebay and is local - whadda we think?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&&item=140652982599&ssPageName=ADME:B:BCA:DE:1465

EDIT: I'd also like to give one of the N-Gage integrated tuners a go - anyone fitted/used one? Is it easy enough to find space for the battery in an LP body?

Not all Tokais are the same - quality is always good, but some of the cheaper Les Paul - alikes have a bolt on neck, if that bothers you.

I really like the Vintage 'Lemon Drop' Peter Green replicas, which are utterly gorgeous:

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Have you thought about a PRS SE?
Lovely guitars if you can find one at a reasonable price.

You could pick up a genuine Gibbo Melody Maker for about £350, but they vary in quality a bit. I like them, though the finish is a bit rough. Would make a really good project.

Secondhand Gordon-Smith?
If you can find one they really are superb - handmade in the UK and very tough guitars indeed.
Not the most exciting to look at at the cheaper end of the range, but lovely necks, beautifully built and indestructible.

Saying all that, I ended up buying a Tele. 🙂

Not all Tokais are the same - quality is always good, but some of the cheaper Les Paul - alikes have a bolt on neck, if that bothers you

TBH, at my price point, I'd taken that as a given, so if it's single-piece, then that's a definite bonus!

ALmost wish I'd never started this now - currently torn between a 5 or 7-way guitar rack to 'future proof' further (possibly drunked) Ebay 'investments'!!! 😆

Ive had a few Epis over the years and they have all been great guitars. Never had a problem with the electrics at all. Maybe I was just lucky.

I currently have an Epi Casino in sunburst and this is my favourite guitar I've ever played. I had a white les paul custom and this was also a great guitar. Both very versatile guitars for all styles.

Id get a second hand guitar to get max guitar for your budget. A s/h custom will only cost you £200 tops. Flog the marshall and get an Orange Crush 15R amp. Quite simply, the best practice amp I've used with an extremely usable distortion. Great for micing up for home recording aswell.