please don't take this the wrong way...

[dmoss74]

but, how much worse than their more expensive cousins are the epi les paul standards? i'm basically being given one tomorrow, but i want to hear what the actual differences are.

and please...i don't want to hear about the tone woods. that's the least of my worries.

as far as structurally, are they comparable? meaning is the neck joint the same? i'll assume a new nut would be a given, but what about the bridge and tailpiece on them? are they markedly inferior to the gibsons?

i will also factor in new pots, caps and jack/switch. do they typically use the short shaft variety pots?

this is an '08 mic version, and i know it will be a poly finish. that's fine, i'm not worried about that. i also have pickups waiting to swap out in it, so i am not concerned with those.

i'm really just wanting to know that structurally it will hold up.

thanks

 

[sk8rat]

structurally they are fine in comparison.

the difference in price is the difference in electronics, labor rates, woods, finishes, inlays and hardware.

sometimes the neck pockets can look a bit of a mess
http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/epiphone-les-pauls/341059-neck-pocket-normal.html

Imo with a good setup an epiphone can be just as good as a gibson.

 

[dmoss74]

sometimes the neck pockets can look a bit of a mess
http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/epiphone-les-pauls/341059-neck-pocket-normal.html

Imo with a good setup an epiphone can be just as good as a gibson.

holy crap. i'm bringing a screwgy to check that pocket. if it looks like that, i'll just let him keep it.

 

[rockstar232007]

I own both, and though I wouldn't say my Epi is anywhere in the same ballpark as, as my Gibson, as far as overall quality (construction, feel, sound, etc), it's definitely not a bad guitar for the money.

 

[Stringy]

how much worse than their more expensive cousins are the epi les paul standards

EPi's are fine for George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, Marc Bolan etc, etc.

Some say you'll be hard pressed to hear any difference, but there are differences in weight and neck feel.

My Chinese 2014 Epi has short shaft pots. Sounded as good as the Gibsons in the shop.

If you're changing the stop bar, bridge, pickups, switch, pots and caps there won't be much Epi left to worry over.

 

[Stringy]

oop, double post.

 

[Breezin]

holy crap. i'm bringing a screwgy to check that pocket. if it looks like that, i'll just let him keep it.

Why are you worried about it? I have never heard of any neck coming loose from that pocket.....ever.

Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.
Just put down the cork, take it and be happy.

 

[dmoss74]

how much worse than their more expensive cousins are the epi les paul standards

EPi's are fine for George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, Marc Bolan etc, etc.

Some say you'll be hard pressed to hear any difference, but there are differences in weight and neck feel.

My Chinese 2014 Epi has short shaft pots. Sounded as good as the Gibsons in the shop.

If you're changing the stop bar, bridge, pickups, switch, pots and caps there won't be much Epi left to worry over.

well, let's be honest. the current day epis aren't the casinos and texans of the early '60s. not that i would be expecting that from a model today. but i get your general point.

i seem to be reading that the weight of the later model epi lp's is substantial..as in they chime in (at least) 9 lbs. is that true?

 

[rockstar232007]

well, let's be honest. the current day epis aren't the casinos and texans of the early '60s. not that i would be expecting that from a model today. but i get your general point.

i seem to be reading that the weight of the later model epi lp's is substantial..as in they chime in (at least) 9 lbs. is that true?

Mine is around 9, with a '59-profile neck. Actually, probably the thickest (but, comfortable) neck of any guitar I've ever owned.

Weight feels good too. Not overly "bulky" as most of the modern Gibsons, or even later model Epis I've played.

 

[dmoss74]

thanks for all the input.

 

[sk8rat]

i seem to be reading that the weight of the later model epi lp's is substantial..as in they chime in (at least) 9 lbs. is that true?

my 2011 is like 8lbs

 

[Stringy]

well, let's be honest. the current day epis aren't the casinos and texans of the early '60s. not that i would be expecting that from a model today. but i get your general point.

i seem to be reading that the weight of the later model epi lp's is substantial..as in they chime in (at least) 9 lbs. is that true?

Yeah, I was trying to make a point about brand-snobbery without being too, um, churlish. It's odd that the OP is being given a guitar and feels the need to change it before he's even heard it. What's that all about?

Slash, Noel Gallagher and many others play current Epis, too.

I didn't have a budget limit buying the Epi. So a two grand Gibbo would be fine, but I don't have that brand-envy thing going on, and there's not two grand's worth of playing or tone differences to me for recording. So far the Epi is fine, other than a pot shaft coming out. That really p*ssed me off. That pot was Korean, not Chinese. Happens on Gibsons, too, though. The Epi has the best 'feel' of my guitars though, so it's forgiven.

My PlusTop Pro Epi is very heavy. Spec weight is 8.7 lbs, or 4 Kg. +- 5%. I don't take it out of the house, much.

So I play on my knee mostly. Also if you have breasts the lower bout of the LP is pretty uncomfortable when sitting. But this won't affect most of you.

 

[Laggspike]

holy crap. i'm bringing a screwgy to check that pocket. if it looks like that, i'll just let him keep it.

he linked my guitar there

thing is, i play that guitar HARD as hell, never really had any problems at all, and it sounds/plays like a dream, so NOTHING to worry about.

i can easely use the whole neck to bend with if needed (where i use my fretting hand on the headstock to bend the whole thing) without any problems, well, there will be problems if you overbend it like a psycopath, but i dont think you gonna do that

i've played on many Gibson les paul standards/customs/whatever-they-are and they has been HORRIBLE, the frets is a mess, knobs loose, craching sound from switch, buzz all over it, etc etc, so Epis can easely be better than Gibsons

If it sounds/plays good, its good, if its bad, depends ofcourse, it can be fixed

So again, dont worry and take the guitar and keep it have fun with it

//Laggspike

 

[Marty]

holy crap. i'm bringing a screwgy to check that pocket. if it looks like that, i'll just let him keep it.

You did say this was a gift didn't you?

 

[Roshy Boy]

i'm really just wanting to know that structurally it will hold up. thanks

As long as it's been taken care of, it will be fine.

 

[Mexicanbreed]

In my opinion, if you go in biased against the guitar and ready to find differences between it and a Gibson, it is likely you will be disappointed. They are good playing and sounding guitars, finished in poly, with a few corners cut. Most of the things are upgradeable, though. If you go in with the attitude of your first question, you could miss out on a good guitar. Just focus on the important things: if it is structurally well made, if you like the neck, if the thing is not broken. Other than that, pretty much else will be fine or can be improved.

 

[rem22]

but, how much worse than their more expensive cousins are the epi les paul standards? i'm basically being given one tomorrow, but i want to hear what the actual differences are.

Usually, from what I've seen with mine, and read here and there, there are very poorly set up. But if they receive a pro set-up, they can play great, probably nearly as great as the Gibson, provided you don't have a fret job needed. If they received a really nice set-up before being sold, I'm sure they would have a far better name. And I do mean a complete, deep set-up, including pick-up height etc....

I've got mine a pro set up, and a lot of friends played it, they found it great. One of them is a great great player, 35 years of playing, he recorded 3 CDs and his main guitar is a 3500€ musicman. He found it really great.

And I'm pretty sure 95% of people, including guitarists, would not make the difference in a double blinded test.

 

[93LPStudio]

Okay I have said this over and over and will again, of course this IS my opinion, but it is what it is. I have had a few Gibson Lester's, and still have two of them now, a 93 Studio and a 14 Traditional. I also have a 99 Epiphone BB3. Now maybe I got lucky but the BB3 plays better and feels better, sustain and tone is better than any of my Gibson's I have EVER had! I have had others that have even played it and were amazed and stated it was a good as any Gibson they had ever had. Another thing, current Gibson USA's hardware is absolutely NO better than Epiphone! Pull the cheap zinc inserts out of a USA Gibson and see whats there! API bridge and tailpiece, which equals a mass produced cheap chinese version that is plated in chrome at API in Nashville down the street from the Gibson factory. Why does one automatically assume if it has Gibson on the headstock its got to be good? Gibson and this PLEK joke is exactly that a joke! Gibson seems to have the worst cut nuts on the planet...funny never seen an Epi with a bad nut yet personally, and all the ones I have played are cut and spaced perfect! And neither Gibson nor Epi use good material for a nut to begin with. It's not about what IS on the headstock, a good guitar is a good guitar...period! Sure it is a known fact Epi's electronic's are not stellar, but change pups, and electronics and see what you get on a good Epi! Other than my 93 Studio which remains stock, I have changed inserts, bridge and tailpiece, on EVERY Gibson I have owned. It pays to be selective not a brand snob!

 

[R8 Pilot]

So I have a Epi Bonamassa which is a great guitar and holds itself close to my Gibson's but what alerted me to a real difference between both brands structurally or in construction is when I visited my Luthier last year and he showed me the broken remains of a Gibson Neck and a Epiphone neck.

The Epiphone neck was a mahogany wood but was very pale and looked like Balsa wood in comparison to the Gibson neck which was a much denser wood and darker.

Don't know what this means in the whole scheme of things structurally or for that matter sound..but there was quite a marked difference.

In saying all that..Epi's have stepped up their game a lot and produce a great value sounding Les Paul...but IMO just miss on that little more sizzle that a Gibson seems to bring more consistently.

 

[93LPStudio]

So I have a Epi Bonamassa which is a great guitar and holds itself close to my Gibson's but what alerted me to a real difference between both brands structurally or in construction is when I visited my Luthier last year and he showed me the broken remains of a Gibson Neck and a Epiphone neck.

The Epiphone neck was a mahogany wood but was very pale and looked like Balsa wood in comparison to the Gibson neck which was a much denser wood and darker.

Don't know what this means in the whole scheme of things structurally or for that matter sound..but there was quite a marked difference.

In saying all that..Epi's have stepped up their game a lot and produce a great value sounding Les Paul...but IMO just miss on that little more sizzle that a Gibson seems to bring more consistently.

I agree on that! Woods are the biggest factor between the two! Oh and of course electronics. Consistently is the KEY word. I think Gibson felt threatened when Epiphone produced those fine early Japanese open headstock ebony board Customs. After all the Epiphone was to be supposedly a "lower" grade than the Gibson...supposedly being the other KEY word!