Rev70700

I'm not a fan of EMG, so I'd be seriously looking at the 05. But Utimatley, it would depend on which guitar feels better in my hands.

Since no one knows for sure exactly what woods Epiphone uses at any given time, saying MIK woods are better than MIC woods is pure speculation. There were some "mystery woods" used on some of the lower budget models in the early MIK days...and the laminated woods these days are better than the lams of the past. But as for comparing grades of Asian Mahogany between a 1990's Epiphone and a Chinese Epiphone, I dont think that any one can say there is a difference with any degree of certainty unless they were a wood expert.

As for the size of the necks, it tends to vary between factories, models and years even though they may be spec'd the same. This is just one of those inconsistencies that happens with lower budget guitars that are made at different factories in different coutries at different times, etc. Playing a guitar before you buy it is always a good idea, because if the neck doesnt feel right, you will never bond with the guitar.

I dont know if its "better". The quality is probably basically the same. Its just that some pieces have knots or filler in them and arent exactly nice enough looking to be stained. Epiphone typically saves the nicer looking pieces for transparent finishes. Of course, these days, they are likley to put a veneer over flawed wood.

so my 2005 mic's wood is better that the goldtop ?

SJM is right about your guitar. There is no special name for it. Epiphone wasnt doing a bunch of special run Les Pauls in the early 1990's. The back is probably black because the wood has flaws in it (i.e. knots, wood filler, etc.) and black paint is cheaper than gold metal flake.