Epiphone '59 Les Paul Coming

[Geezer101]

Thomann now say 7-10 weeks lol.......

 

[WorstBandNameEver]

Epiphone 60th Anniversary 59 Les Paul Reissue | Reverb

In collaboration with Gibson Custom Shop, Epiphone is proud to present our most historically accurate 59 Les Paul Standard tribute ever. This model features Gibson BurstBuster 2 & 3 pickups, CTS potentionmeters, a Switchcraft switch & toggle, a vintage style case and much...

reverb.com

This one just showed up on Reverb for sale. Claims to be new and from a dealer but folks mark new used stuff "brand new" a lot.

 

[DrBGood]

Epiphone 60th Anniversary 59 Les Paul Reissue | Reverb

In collaboration with Gibson Custom Shop, Epiphone is proud to present our most historically accurate 59 Les Paul Standard tribute ever. This model features Gibson BurstBuster 2 & 3 pickups, CTS potentionmeters, a Switchcraft switch & toggle, a vintage style case and much...

reverb.com

This one just showed up on Reverb for sale. Claims to be new and from a dealer but folks mark new used stuff "brand new" a lot.

I like its vintage looking warped bridge pup ring.

 

[fry]

Claims to be new and from a dealer but folks mark new used stuff "brand new" a lot.

Looks like it’s probably a legitimate business. I have heard that Reverb will not allow you to mark something brand new if you are not a business that can offer a warranty on it. Somebody told a story about having an unopened amp, still sealed. Reverb would not allow him to list it as new because he was a private seller.

 

[Ebb Ramone]

See I feel a guitar worth $1000 no matter where it was built, should not need, fret work, plek etc... yes it may need the action changing to your liking but it should be set up.. This is not a 2 bit, just starting out company here.

Would anyone be happy if you bought a new TV for $1k got it home and no sound...Oh well it's made in China so I'll just take it in to get it fixed....

These are not $300 Chibson knock offs we are talking...

Crazy thing is they CAN do it.I have the Bonamassa Firebird. Superb in every way

And my 59 is superb in every way. Binding, perfect. Fretwork, amazing, electronics, super, fit and finish, as good as any I've seen with the one exception of the ill fitting pickup rings, ( just like the one in DrBGoods post.), and that is the only thing I can find wrong with it, period!
K~

 

[Street Lethal]

I like its vintage looking warped bridge pup ring.

View attachment 484805​

The warped ring looks cheesy but it wouldn't be a big deal for me.

 

[CHIP702]

The warped ring looks cheesy but it wouldn't be a big deal for me.

I believe someone in the thread previously stated that loosening up the mounting ring screws helps get rid of the warping a little bit. Some sanding and shaping might help too. It's going to be the first thing I correct on mine when it arrives.

 

[Ebb Ramone]

I may be 100% wrong about this, but from DrBGood's photo, and looking at my 59, I don't think the rings would look half as bad, and maybe completely normal on any old Epi LP, and think the major reason for them fitting so poorly is due to the 59 having a pretty good belly carve. The Epi rings are made for flatter guitars, and are:
A. Too tall.
B. Too flat, need to be more concave.
I think I'll attempt to form fit, and cut them down (especially the neck ring), a bit. If I don't like the outcome, they're pretty inexpensive, but I think I can make them look a lot better than they do as is, the neck pickup is as high as I'd want it, and it doesn't even make it all the way through the ring.
K~

Addendum: I tried loosening the screws on the bridge ring, and it made the bulge in the middle a little better, but the corners had a gap. There was no happy medium, the screws need to be in tight enough for the ring to make contact, and the belly of the guitar pushes the middle out. I think the only answer is trimming, and sanding unless a Gibson ring would fit the belly, and cover the screw holes.

 

[DrBGood]

Addendum: I tried loosening the screws on the bridge ring, and it made the bulge in the middle a little better, but the corners had a gap. There was no happy medium, the screws need to be in tight enough for the ring to make contact, and the belly of the guitar pushes the middle out. I think the only answer is trimming, and sanding unless a Gibson ring would fit the belly, and cover the screw holes.

I would, once corner screws are loose enough for the middle to just touch the belly, then trace the curve needed to be cut/sanded out, by laying a pencil flat on the belly.

 

[Ebb Ramone]

I would, once corner screws are loose enough for the middle to just touch the belly, then trace the curve needed to be cut/sanded out, by laying a pencil flat on the belly.

That sounds like a good way to go about it. I hadn't started to really think about how I'd mark it out for the belly. Unless something pops into my mind, I think I'll give that a try I was thinking I'd make the initial cut with a carbide rope coping saw?

 

[DrBGood]

That sounds like a good way to go about it. I hadn't started to really think about how I'd mark it out for the belly. Unless something pops into my mind, I think I'll give that a try I was thinking I'd make the initial cut with a carbide rope coping saw?

You can't use something fast, it might melt the plastic. I'd wrap rough sandspaper to a beer bottle or something of that diameter and slowly get it there.

 

[Ebb Ramone]

You can't use something fast, it might melt the plastic. I'd wrap rough sandspaper to a beer bottle or something of that diameter and slowly get it there.

I'm thinking of using it not for speed, but to accurately cut it outside the line, then sand it the rest of the way. I'll be able to tell immediately if it's gonna be too much friction, but I'm talking the smallest diameter, with the finest grit I can find. But I did consider the possibility of it not working, but I think it will be accurate, and save a lot of sanding!

 

[fleahead]

Wierd that Epi makes the belly curved like a USA and not flatter like the Historics. Historics use flat mtg rings.

 

[Ebb Ramone]

Wierd that Epi makes the belly curved like a USA and not flatter like the Historics. Historics use flat mtg rings.

The Eastman has a nice dish carve on the edges, with a nice fat belly, and a real ABR with no bushings! I'm going to try to get the NG posts up tomorrow, or Thursday if I don't have another Drs appointment pop up with no notice! I'll be glad to get them up, finally took decent photos of both!!
Peace, K~

 

[fleahead]

Eastmans have always looked good to me. I pay virtually nothing to resale, etc., I buy it because it trips a trigger or three.

 

[leifpaul]

By the way, I'm not basing my comments solely on the 2020 models. I'm basing it off of owning about a dozen if not more Epiphones (including a 2020 and returning two of them this year) from all different years over the past twenty years. Their QC is not a consistent as with other brands in the same price range and cheaper. Just my opinion.

it`s true ! yeah, other brands do guitars with almost perfect frets and didnt need any extensive setups either . i know from experience .

 

[Ebb Ramone]

Eastmans have always looked good to me. I pay virtually nothing to resale, etc., I buy it because it trips a trigger or three.

And I got such a good deal on a guitar you'd have to pry out of my dead hands, I too don't care about resale. Although, I think used prices may go up a bit, right now there not a lot of new ones to chose from, and with the trade situation, they could dry up tomorrow!
Peace, K~

 

[jbash]

Maybe, but then they stick that ugly-ass headstock on them.

I'm guessing you just had your vision restored and have not seen an chinese or korean epiphone prior to 2020?

 

[Tilion]

I should just keep a running tab at this point. Got an email late this afternoon that my 59 has shipped and included tracking. Currently FedEx says that the guitar should arrive Friday, however the funny thing is at the bottom is the product information/cost. Under the product information it has a product release date of 10/6.

I'm so confused.

 

[CHIP702]

I should just keep a running tab at this point. Got an email late this afternoon that my 59 has shipped and included tracking. Currently FedEx says that the guitar should arrive Friday, however the funny thing is at the bottom is the product information/cost. Under the product information it has a product release date of 10/6.

I'm so confused.

What retailer is it from?