Epiphone Les Paul FAQ

[EooN_PL]

Very informative topic. The funny thing is, although I don't have my Les Paul yet, thanks to that thread I can already tell guitar's full origin by serial number lol.

[EtriX]

one think I was thinking about.
All the LP-100s I've played seemed to have a lacquered fretboard.
I don't know if this is the case or if it's some kind of wax on the board.
Anyone know anything about this? Or have I only seen weird versions.

[lpplayer]

Originally Posted by EtriX

All the LP-100s I've played seemed to have a lacquered fretboard.
I don't know if this is the case or if it's some kind of wax on the board.
Anyone know anything about this? Or have I only seen weird versions.

Roman Rist has an excellent discussion on this in the sticky thread Epiphone Les Paul setup, and demonstrates how to get rid of it.

I scraped and buffed the board on my PRS SE Custom- it was easy and I cant believe the difference.

[lespaul22]

thanks dude i find out my epi was made in china in 2007 it says EE070805646

[PuroRock]

Is there any information regarding which Epiphone has which neck; their differences (radii, etc)?

[chivitajm]

i have these kluson tuners i want to put on my les paul standard. i know i need conversion bushings but i dont know which size. is it the 3/8 ones? i live in U.S. so i keep getting confused because I see 3/8 bushings on one site and then I see 10mm bushings on another site. Are they the same ones? im to lazy to convert inches into metric measurements.

[ToothDecay]

Go to Google and convert it yourself, it's not that hard

[Neanderpaul]

OK...Hate for this to be my "first" post.

However...I can't find the info I'm looking for anywhere else.

I have had a '97 Epi STD "limited edition" since 1997. It has a circular stamp on the back of the headstock signifying its status as "limited" But...I'm assuming it's because of the Red color...which is very pretty 12 years later.

The question is...I looked at all the factory codes and there isn't one for my guitar. The serial begins with "L"

L97xxx...etc.

Where is "L"? I assume it's still MIK...but would like to get an idea where, and what makes this so "limited"

Can anyone help?

Thanks In Advance...

[EooN_PL]

I think some pictures would help mate! You know, the usual stuff - knobs, headstock, serial number itself... That will help fake - checkers.

BTW, welcome!

[Neanderpaul]

I know it's not fake. That much is positive. I replaced the tophats with speed knobs. I'll get some pics.

[BeBop]

Originally Posted by chivitajm

i have these kluson tuners i want to put on my les paul standard. i know i need conversion bushings but i dont know which size. is it the 3/8 ones? i live in U.S. so i keep getting confused because I see 3/8 bushings on one site and then I see 10mm bushings on another site. Are they the same ones? im to lazy to convert inches into metric measurements.

Maybe this will help someone searching in the future -

3/8 = .375 inch = 9.525 millimeters

Your seeing 1/2 a millimeter shy of the 10mm modern diameter but since we're talking a circle - 1/2 of that 1/2 millimeter is like .010 of an inch .

Close enough

[BeBop]

Originally Posted by PuroRock

Is there any information regarding which Epiphone has which neck; their differences (radii, etc)?

I've never seen anything compiled about the necks or even fret wire size differences. The Slash model is an Epiphone that has it's own neck profile with long tenon, maple top. I don't know anymore about it though.

[1959burst]

what does this serial number mean? IT'S AN EPI LES PAUL SPECIAL WITH OPEN BOOK GIBSON HEADSTOCK....

[Creature]

how can i tell where my guitar was made its an older epiphone les paul limited edition but it has been painted metal flake blue

[-=[Shifty]=-]

Originally Posted by 1959burst

what does this serial number mean? IT'S AN EPI LES PAUL SPECIAL WITH OPEN BOOK GIBSON HEADSTOCK....
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y24...60/misc017.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y24...0/DSCF6383.jpg

Made by the FujiGen factory in June, 2000. Production number 129.

[-=[Shifty]=-]

Originally Posted by Creature

how can i tell where my guitar was made its an older epiphone les paul limited edition but it has been painted metal flake blue

Did you read the first post in this thread? It's all in there.



Look at the serial number on the back of the headstock. Should be 1 or 2 letters followed by numbers. The letter/s indicate where the guitar was made. Look your letter up in the first post.

[1959burst]

Originally Posted by -=[Shifty]=-

Made by the FujiGen factory in June, 2000. Production number 129.

ok stupid question number 2 is that good?

[Guido]

That makes it MIJ. Yeah, every little bit as good as a Gibby, unless it has a poly finish

[-=[Shifty]=-]

Looks like it has a poly finish but if that doesn't bother you (it doesn't bother me on my MIJs) you'll get a great guitar. The MIJ Epis are basically Orvilles with a different name. Epiphone took over their production after the Orvilles were discontinued in 1998.
Great construction, solid mahogany bodies (no swiss cheese), 1 piece necks, long tenons, correct headstock angle and bone nuts.
I have yet to see someone who doesn't like his MIJ Epiphone.

[Creature]

so my first two digits are 70*** the entire number is* F7030448**

[1959burst]

Originally Posted by -=[Shifty]=-

Looks like it has a poly finish but if that doesn't bother you (it doesn't bother me on my MIJs) you'll get a great guitar. The MIJ Epis are basically Orvilles with a different name. Epiphone took over their production after the Orvilles were discontinued in 1998.
Great construction, solid mahogany bodies (no swiss cheese), 1 piece necks, long tenons, correct headstock angle and bone nuts.
I have yet to see someone who doesn't like his MIJ Epiphone.

thanks guys, it's been upgraded and plays and sounds good......great info as i know nothing about asian made epi's.

[-=[Shifty]=-]

Originally Posted by Creature

so my first two digits are 70*** the entire number is* F7030448**

Your guitar was made at Fine Guitars, Korea. March, 1997.

Welcome to MLP, BTW.

[-=[Shifty]=-]

Originally Posted by 1959burst

thanks guys, it's been upgraded and plays and sounds good......great info as i know nothing about asian made epi's.

You're welcome!

[Sinmastah]

MIJ's rock!

[chivitajm]

can some of you experts tell me where this guitar was made based on the headstock. im not sure if it is korea or japan?

[Loserface300]

et list MIJ....

[-=[Shifty]=-]

Originally Posted by chivitajm

can some of you experts tell me where this guitar was made based on the headstock. im not sure if it is korea or japan?

Originally Posted by Loserface300

et list MIJ....

No, it's not an Elitist. Sorry, but please don't post if you don't have a clue what you're talking about.

It's made in Korea.

[Neanderpaul]

Originally Posted by EooN_PL

I think some pictures would help mate! You know, the usual stuff - knobs, headstock, serial number itself... That will help fake - checkers.

BTW, welcome!

Here ya go. So far I'm getting mostly estimated Peerless.


Again. Doesn't look "special" other than the TR finish. I replaced the original tophats with speed knobs and removed the creme pickguard.

But the consensus appears to believe Peerless. And it;s this guitar that caused the "L" designation to be added to the factory codes. Apparently there aren't a lot of "L"s around.

[Sinmastah]

Originally Posted by -=[Shifty]=-

No, it's not an Elitist. Sorry, but please don't post if you don't have a clue what you're talking about.

It's made in Korea.

+1 The three screw TRC and the fact the headstock gets narrower at the top indicates Korean.

[Sinmastah]

L is peerless if I remember correctly.

Too be honest is I have never seen a big increase/decrease in quality, playability, between two factories/countries with the exception of Japanese made. Factory isn't as big of a deal, as much as the year it came from.