New Epi Les Paul Black Custom vs the older 90s/early 2000 MIK, ?

[RR67]

Curious if you guys that own these can tell me what you think. Wanted to look into getting the black beauty custom (2 pickups) and wanted thoughts on the new vs the older 90/2000 ‘s. MIK.

Pickups, build, headstock etc. Better build old vs new ?

 

[Tobaccoburst83]

I would buy a new one. They are very very good guitars and IMO they also have better pickups.

 

[rbraad68]

i have the 2020 custom and a 2007 custom and hands down the 2020 custom. ebony board,pro bucker pups, cts pots these new epi's are nice!!

 

[Rocco Crocco]

I agree...

 

[RR67]

i have the 2020 custom and a 2007 custom and hands down the 2020 custom. ebony board,pro bucker pups, cts pots these new epi's are nice!!

Thanks. I will look to a new one. Appreciate the time and information.

 

[RR67]

I would buy a new one. They are very very good guitars and IMO they also have better pickups.

Thanks. Definitely will look into it.

 

[JayPDizzle]

I can echo the same. I have a 2005 Epiphone LP Custom and a new 2020 Epiphone Bonamassa Custom. Night and day improvement with the 2020. The 2020 is pretty much on par with my 2019 Gibson LP Standard after getting a decent setup.

 

[Tobaccoburst83]

I once bought an Epiphone LP Std back in 1998. It was overall a great guitar but the new ones are absolutely killer! Better hardware and pickups. And the craftmanship is fine as well.

A Firebird or Explorer will be my next Epiphone.

 

[jvin248]

.

New ones seem quite good.

The MIKs often have better tone than the ones before them and up until 2015s new pickups ... after owning/flipping a lot of 90s/00s/10s Epiphones I found a big part of their secret is due to their use of different tone caps. My most played SG is an 05 MIC with stock pickups and a tone cap swap to 0.033uF as used in the many MIKs -- gets more play time than the vintage Gibson SG in the fleet.

If the price is low on the used MIK you are looking at then go there though. Easy to mod pots 'n caps.

.

 

[RR67]

I can echo the same. I have a 2005 Epiphone LP Custom and a new 2020 Epiphone Bonamassa Custom. Night and day improvement with the 2020. The 2020 is pretty much on par with my 2019 Gibson LP Standard after getting a decent setup.

Epiphone has really stepped up it sounds.

 

[RR67]

I once bought an Epiphone LP Std back in 1998. It was overall a great guitar but the new ones are absolutely killer! Better hardware and pickups. And the craftmanship is fine as well.

A Firebird or Explorer will be my next Epiphone.

I have 2002 MIK and my sons 2003 MIK and I liked the build quality, feel, sound. Upgraded mine recently and love the sound. I’m really impressed then with what Epiphone is doing with the new models in build quality and tone. Nice to hear this from you guys.

 

[Tobaccoburst83]

In this Std. I put a Set of Seth Lovers. The guitar has such a sweet tone... I regret that I sold the guitar back then! But I don't know where it was made... China, Korea..., who knows.

 

[RR67]

.

New ones seem quite good.

The MIKs often have better tone than the ones before them and up until 2015s new pickups ... after owning/flipping a lot of 90s/00s/10s Epiphones I found a big part of their secret is due to their use of different tone caps. My most played SG is an 05 MIC with stock pickups and a tone cap swap to 0.033uF as used in the many MIKs -- gets more play time than the vintage Gibson SG in the fleet.

If the price is low on the used MIK you are looking at then go there though. Easy to mod pots 'n caps.



I went with SD JB and 59 in my 2007 MIC standard burst and tone man 59 wiring kit.. really liking the sound! The guitar has an excellent build quality and weight.. great sustain ..
.

 

[CB91710]

Comparing the Bonamassa LP Custom to the early 90s Korean Standard, I'm impressed.
The Korean LP was an excellent guitar, but I think the fit and finish is just a bit nicer on the modern Custom.
Feels a bit heavier than I remember the old one, but that's a tough call because I sold that guitar 10 years ago.

 

[RR67]

I can echo the same. I have a 2005 Epiphone LP Custom and a new 2020 Epiphone Bonamassa Custom. Night and day improvement with the 2020. The 2020 is pretty much on par with my 2019 Gibson LP Standard after getting a decent setup.

Do you know if the 2020 Epi Bonamassa are sold out completely or just out of stock ? Wasn’t sure if I would like the middle pickup .. definitely want a 2020 custom.

 

[CB91710]

Do you know if the 2020 Epi Bonamassa are sold out completely or just out of stock ? Wasn’t sure if I would like the middle pickup .. definitely want a 2020 custom.

One of the guys on Strat Talk wanted one but hesitated.
He checked with the JB store and they indicated that they did not anticipate another production run.
I see a lot of places like Guitar Center telling people they are expecting "another" shipment in a month or so... I don't believe them.

 

[RR67]

One of the guys on Strat Talk wanted one but hesitated.
He checked with the JB store and they indicated that they did not anticipate another production run.
I see a lot of places like Guitar Center telling people they are expecting "another" shipment in a month or so... I don't believe them.

Ok. Thanks.

 

[gcbike]

If they never stated a number being made, they will probably make more

 

[CB91710]

If they never stated a number being made, they will probably make more

They never made more of any of the previous special editions.
Also keep in mind that the LPC was the 2nd special edition for 2020... "Normburst" was released earlier in the year.
The signature fretboard was limited to 300, and those just sold out 2 weeks ago.
The JB store now shows the Normburst sold out.

 

[RR67]

They never made more of any of the previous special editions.
Also keep in mind that the LPC was the 2nd special edition for 2020... "Normburst" was released earlier in the year.
The signature fretboard was limited to 300, and those just sold out 2 weeks ago.
The JB store now shows the Normburst sold out.

thanks....wouldn't want the signature fretboard...but no worries, if the Bonamassa are gone ...a regular 2 pup LPC in Black works for me. I emailed my rep at SW to let me know....