Epiphone LP or ESP EC256? Please advice

[aryasridhar]

Guys,

I am planning to get a new guitar, LP style guitar.

I mostly play blues and Rock/Hard Rock.

Would like to know which among the two do you guys think is a good guitar for the price?

Epiphone LP standard or the ESP EC 256, heard really good things about the ESP.

Have tried the Epiphone however didn't get a chance to try the ESP.

Your advice is highly appreciated.

 

[SJM]

My advice is to take advantage of the 15% coupon most dealers have now and buy an Epi Tribute Plus. It comes with a HSC and is the best guitar and value you'll find. Ask the many here who own one.

 

[IanMak3103]

Aye~!
Best piece of advise!

 

[ibanezcollector]

I had both bought them at the same time, I traded the EC256 it was nice, played great, but just didnt have the feel of a les paul if that makes sense.

I kept the epiphone gave it my version of the historic treatment, added a couple new parts (pickups and tuners) and now its my favorite guitar literally sold or traded all my other guitars away.

Here she is (Sorry for the crappy pic)

 

[drpietrzak]

They each have a very different feel. Neck, fretwire and weight. Play them and see which fits you better. The one you play the best, or allows you to feel as if you are playing at your best, is the one you want.

 

[aryasridhar]

I had both bought them at the same time, I traded the EC256 it was nice, played great, but just didnt have the feel of a les paul if that makes sense.

I kept the epiphone gave it my version of the historic treatment, added a couple new parts (pickups and tuners) and now its my favorite guitar literally sold or traded all my other guitars away.

Here she is (Sorry for the crappy pic)

niceee.....looks great.....

I live in Bangalore, and here there are just a handful of stores that stock Epiphones, Infact just one or two stores, and the Epi's i could get my hands on were not impressive to me......However, I have heard and read a lot about the ESP's for what they are priced at, they look incredible.....

I saw some video reviews including that of RobChappers and was really impressed with what they said about the guitar. Most of their reviews are super really and I can safely say that I trust their reviews just as many others do....

The problem however is i cant get to try one either, the ESP is priced about $200 less than the EPI, which is again becoming a deal breaker for me.....

The ESP is priced at - 500
The EPI Std is priced at - 800

Which is feel is wayyyyy overpriced for the EPI....

I still am freaking confused which way to go though.....

I have used ESP's in the past and have loved their quality and workmanship, hardware etc, i mean for their worth, they are made really well and sound great too....

I have thought of making some possible changes to the H/W of the ESP if i get it though, like Grover tuners, Seymour Duncan Hot rodded humbucker set etc.....which i know would cost me about the same as the EPI (Stock)......

 

[warwick.hoy]

A minor thing to consider is the control layout as well. The ESP is V/V/T with the tone being push pull for coil tap. Which seems like a cool layout.

For my purposes however,...on a HH pickup arrangement; I prefer the independent tone controls like that of the Epi.

 

[ryancowden]

niceee.....looks great.....

I live in Bangalore, and here there are just a handful of stores that stock Epiphones, Infact just one or two stores, and the Epi's i could get my hands on were not impressive to me......However, I have heard and read a lot about the ESP's for what they are priced at, they look incredible.....

I saw some video reviews including that of RobChappers and was really impressed with what they said about the guitar. Most of their reviews are super really and I can safely say that I trust their reviews just as many others do....

The problem however is i cant get to try one either, the ESP is priced about $200 less than the EPI, which is again becoming a deal breaker for me.....

The ESP is priced at - 500
The EPI Std is priced at - 800

Which is feel is wayyyyy overpriced for the EPI....

I still am freaking confused which way to go though.....

I have used ESP's in the past and have loved their quality and workmanship, hardware etc, i mean for their worth, they are made really well and sound great too....

I have thought of making some possible changes to the H/W of the ESP if i get it though, like Grover tuners, Seymour Duncan Hot rodded humbucker set etc.....which i know would cost me about the same as the EPI (Stock)......

Have you tried looking at some online retailers? some of them ship worldwide and they also have return policies? IMHO I would absolutely go Epiphone. I've owned ESPs and Epis, and needless to say the ESP is no longer with me

 

[paruwi]

Have you tried looking at some online retailers? some of them ship worldwide and they also have return policies? IMHO I would absolutely go Epiphone. I've owned ESPs and Epis, and needless to say the ESP is no longer with me

thomann.de ships worldwide

this (or other colors) Tribute plus will be 470 Euro - shipped to India !

Epiphone Les Paul Tribute Plus MS
​

470 Euro = 620 USD = 34.320 INR

 

[BugsyB]

Most people on this forum will tell you to go with the Epiphone.....I however am going to tell you that only you can decide which one is right for you.You really have to get out there and try them...side by side if at all possible.Epiphone and ESP both make fine guitars.I say if you don't like it,put it back on the rack.If you like it,plop down your cash and don't look back.You've made the right decision.What guitar is right for you is a real personal thing.You may have to try 10 of the same model to find the right one...or pick up that one magic one right away...but you gotta try them or you may end up missing out on the right one for you.

 

[themightyjaymoe]

I've owned both. Both are good but very different. Personally I'd recommend the EPI.I personally think its a more versatile guitar. However, you must decide for yourself.

 

[Kamen_Kaiju]

I own a full bodied LTD/ESP 401vf LP style, a couple Epis, and a Gibson.

Personally I'd go with the Epi but it's your choice.

The 256 is much thinner in the body then an Epi.

I don't know body thickness measurements (honestly I just don't care), but I've played the 256's in stores and always put them up again pretty quickly.

They're nice but they feel 'toy-like', very light and thin with a flat skinny neck.

The only reason I picked up the LTD 401 I own is because it came with Seymor Duncan pickups and I knew even if the entire guitar sucked horribly, those pickups were worth more then the price being asked for the (used) guitar.

I liked the 401 and didn't realize at the time it was one of the few 'full bodied' guitars they made. Because like I said when I go to try other ones now, they feel like they're half as thick.

Like say an Epi/Gibson body is 2 inches thick? The LTD/ESP's feel 1 inch thick. It just feels.........wrong. (those numbers were totally made up of course, just an example.)


End of the day you've just got to play them and see for yourself. What feels great to my big hands feels terrible to other people, and vice versa.

 

[warpedsoul]

I had an EC-400, and no matter what mods I did to it, I just couldn't bond with it. I agree with Malikon, they just feel wrong. You may love it though.

 

[MBSmith81194]

Well the Epiphone Les Paul are very suitable for Blues and Rock, the ESPs tend to lean more towards metal and hard rock. Consider tonality alone, I assume you want to achieve your own tones and not sound like 90% of Black Keys clones guitarist out there, you could take a chance and pick up the ESP EC256 and tried it out, they both work quite well with ovedrive, and their pick ups really have different sounds. For me personally, I love the Les Paul because it's born to play blues and rock but if you could take a chance and play the EC, you might be surprised that you could be into it more than the Les Paul. It's all up to your ears, I would recommend the Les Paul and mod it to achieve your tone.

 

[ledzepp2122]

Well the Epiphone Les Paul are very suitable for Blues and Rock, the ESPs tend to lean more towards metal and hard rock. Consider tonality alone, I assume you want to achieve your own tones and not sound like 90% of Black Keys clones guitarist out there, you could take a chance and pick up the ESP EC256 and tried it out, they both work quite well with ovedrive, and their pick ups really have different sounds. For me personally, I love the Les Paul because it's born to play blues and rock but if you could take a chance and play the EC, you might be surprised that you could be into it more than the Les Paul. It's all up to your ears, I would recommend the Les Paul and mod it to achieve your tone.

By that logic, I'm not supposed to use my Tele for metal but I do.

 

[MBSmith81194]

By that logic, I'm not supposed to use my Tele for metal but I do.

Aha, great, Jim Root has a Tele too, and he plays metal. Like I mentioned it's up to your ears, man. It wouldn't hurt to try other guitars before making a decision,

 

[SJM]

Like say an Epi/Gibson body is 2 inches thick? The LTD/ESP's feel 1 inch thick. It just feels.........wrong. (those numbers were totally made up of course, just an example.)

That's pretty good for a guess M. Every LP I have is 1 7/8" thick at the edge. The new Traditional is an even 2" thick. Being curved tops, they will be even thicker in the middle.

 

[Kamen_Kaiju]

That's pretty good for a guess M. Every LP I have is 1 7/8" thick at the edge. The new Traditional is an even 2" thick. Being curved tops, they will be even thicker in the middle.

hahaha, construction skills.

 

[aryasridhar]

So finally i had a chance to try out the Epiphone Les Paul Standard today.....
I really liked it, had lots of sustain and i am pretty much going to get it in a week....However i was reading through some of the reviews on musiciansfriend and found this review, which is really disturbing.....So I am again back in 2 minds unless someone can clarify this please....

Also the tuners on the guitar were Grovers, but they did not have any shine on them at all, so not sure if those are old or is it how they are supposed to be, please advice.

Here is the comment that I read below......

These aren't bad guitars for the price but you'ld better do your research and read between the lines. True, these do have a "solid maple cap". But it's only 1/16th inch thick.Same thing with the "solid mahogany" back, 1/16th mahogany veneer. What they put in between these veneers is determined by whatever is available at the time of production. It could be alder, mahogany or maple. Please don't misunderstand me. I own this guitar and I do enjoy it. And I don't dislike alder guitars...I have many. But... I bought them BECAUSE they were alder(Strats & Teles). Les Pauls are supposed to be maple cap and mahogany back, not some odd mix of whatever. If you want to hear it straight from Gibson/Epi Customer Service you will have to ask them several times and very specifically before they will give you a direct answer. And when they do answer honestly they do so only under the agreement that you won't show the e-mail to anyone else. There may actually be some maple/mahogany Epi LPs out there but the only way to know for sure is to cut it open. I did. The back is solid mahogany with a mahogany veneer over it. The cap looks to be alder with a maple veneer over it. I like my Epi LP Plaintop but...it's just an average LP Copy made of cheap woods covered with thin veneers hyped as the "real deal". It's not bad, but there are better copies out there. Look around, do some research, and know what you are buying.

Epiphone Les Paul Standard Plain Top Electric Guitar | Musician's Friend

 

[Kamen_Kaiju]

there is some truth to that. It's why Epis never sound exactly like a Gibson.

Some of the Standards will have alder caps.

I just figure Fender has been making bodies out of alder for a very long time, it's obviously a good type of wood to use for a guitar, so I don't think having an alder cap instead of maple is a huge deal, it's just a different sound. I think it sounds warmer and less trebley then Gibsons personally, and I like that sound,..it's smooth. Not sure how to explain it but to my ears it sounds like Epiphones are bassier then Gibsons. Very close to the Gibson sound, but like someone turned the bass knob up a little bit on the stereo. (if that makes any sense.)

If the mahog/maple cap combo is important to you you can get a Gibson Studio for around $600-$700 that is going to have all the nice woods and components of a Gibson. If you find a nice one they're very nice playable guitars.

If the aesthetics are important to you you can find very nice looking Epi LP's for slightly less then that (or around that) price that are really nice looking, but the materials may not be exactly as good.

The thing is everyone always compares Epis to Gibson. This is inevitable but after awhile you start to see how silly the whole thing is.

Because usually people are comparing a $500. budget model MIC guitar, to a $2,500. high budget MIA guitar. That's silly. "Haha the Gibson is better."

Well yeah,..I would freakin' hope so,..Einstein.

The bad thing is, is that what this viewpoint overlooks is that Epis are fine guitars in themselves.

It's like saying that good looking woman up the street is no good because she doesn't look like a super model. That's silly. That good looking woman up the street will f**k ya just as fine as any other woman. Hell,..sometimes you find out that super model really isn't all that good in bed anyway.

If you just take and accept an Epiphone for what it is: A MIC guitar that looks 99% like a Gibson Les Paul. That sets up well and plays good, and is easily modifiable to be just how you want it.

..then you just see it's a good guitar at a decent price.

It's a working mans guitar.

Gibson makes nice guitars.
Epiphone makes nice guitars.

Take things for what they are and you wont be disappointed.



..(good luck)