Help with an Epiphone elite LP

[Komara]

Hi all,

I love this guitar with all my heart but it had a bad neck repair and it's just unpleasant aesthetically but it plays great. Could you please advise me on to how to fix this, or point me to some luthier who can help?

I don't know what the solution is, maybe a complete refinish is due? I'm quite handy myself but i wouldn't want to further ruin it, and i think it's worth fixing it. Also if it was yours would you use that chance to change the headstock from the gravestone to gibson scroll?

All help and advices are appreciated, thank you!

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[BadPenguin]

Ok, to my eyes, that's not exactly the greatest repair I have seen. I don't know what a pro would charge to tidy up the repair, but that's what I think you need. A PRO to do it.

If you wanted to do the cleanup work yourself, some body filler, sanding, LOTS of sanding, and a spray. DO NOT change the headstock. That's just stupid, and way too work for a repaired guitar.

 

[Komara]

Ok, to my eyes, that's not exactly the greatest repair I have seen. I don't know what a pro would charge to tidy up the repair, but that's what I think you need. A PRO to do it.

If you wanted to do the cleanup work yourself, some body filler, sanding, LOTS of sanding, and a spray. DO NOT change the headstock. That's just stupid, and way too work for a repaired guitar.

Agreed, it had two neck repairs and i bought it cheaply but it's actually an amazing instrument. I'll look into local NYC luthiers who can help but if you know one please let me know. Thanks for responding!

 

[rjwilson37]

It will probably cost you more to fix that than purchasing a brand-new guitar. The 2020-2021 Epiphone Inspired by Gibson models are actually as nice or nicer than and older Elite.

 

[DrBGood]

That is a messed up repair, You can see that the joint slipped. There's a gap on the top binding. To do a good job, it has to be unglued and put back together properly. Ask for a quote.

 

[LuthierVandross]

It will probably cost you more to fix that than purchasing a brand-new guitar. The 2020-2021 Epiphone Inspired by Gibson models are actually as nice or nicer than and older Elite.

Pardon my stinging response, but this comment oozes no experience in this subject.

Here’s a link to educate yourself

http://www.epiphonewiki.org/index/Elitist_Les_Paul.php

It will probably cost you more to fix that than purchasing a brand-new guitar. The 2020-2021 Epiphone Inspired by Gibson models are actually as nice or nicer than and older Elite.

 

[LuthierVandross]

Hi all,

I love this guitar with all my heart but it had a bad neck repair and it's just unpleasant aesthetically but it plays great. Could you please advise me on to how to fix this, or point me to some luthier who can help?

I don't know what the solution is, maybe a complete refinish is due? I'm quite handy myself but i wouldn't want to further ruin it, and i think it's worth fixing it. Also if it was yours would you use that chance to change the headstock from the gravestone to gibson scroll?

All help and advices are appreciated, thank you!

Pictures are too large to upload here so here's a link

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Hello. I have one of the Elitest Custom models. Congratulations on a fine instrument. In my opinion and experience, these guitars are better constructed than anything that’s come from Epi, and more than half of what Gibson puts out there. So much so, Gibson stopped Epiphone from producing.
These are also fairly rare and in good shape, go for a chunk of change.
You’re luthier should remove, add brace plugs and restore the paint/finish and binding. The headstock veneer I’m not sure of. I’m looking for one myself.
Yes this can be repaired and it’s going to cost a little bit, but it’ll be worth it.

 

[Komara]

Hello. I have one of the Elitest Custom models. Congratulations on a fine instrument. In my opinion and experience, these guitars are better constructed than anything that’s come from Epi, and more than half of what Gibson puts out there. So much so, Gibson stopped Epiphone from producing.
These are also fairly rare and in good shape, go for a chunk of change.
You’re luthier should remove, add brace plugs and restore the paint/finish and binding. The headstock veneer I’m not sure of. I’m looking for one myself.
Yes this can be repaired and it’s going to cost a little bit, but it’ll be worth it.

Thanks for your response, and i agree with two breaks this guitar still feels to me like the best LP guitar i could ask for. I definitely don't agree with the comment above that it's on par with new Epiphone's but i guess everyone has a right to their opinion.

I'll take it to a luthier and get a quote, thanks for your help!

 

[LuthierVandross]

Thanks for your response, and i agree with two breaks this guitar still feels to me like the best LP guitar i could ask for. I definitely don't agree with the comment above that it's on par with new Epiphone's but i guess everyone has a right to their opinion.

I'll take it to a luthier and get a quote, thanks for your help!

a lot of people dont know about these guitars. I didn’t for years and now that I know …. it’s like I was touched by angel and became born again lol!

if you wouldn’t mind…. Maybe post a few full guitar body pics??

I was lucky enough to get mine in one piece… a stripped piece lol! I’m trying to fix the veneer but I think I may have to get a veneer made or Dremel route out for the headstock inlay.

this is the second one I’ve owned, the first, I regrettingly traded it for a Gibson (how many people have you heard say that lol!)

 

[Komara]

a lot of people dont know about these guitars. I didn’t for years and now that I know …. it’s like I was touched by angel and became born again lol!

if you wouldn’t mind…. Maybe post a few full guitar body pics??

I was lucky enough to get mine in one piece… a stripped piece lol! I’m trying to fix the veneer but I think I may have to get a veneer made or Dremel route out for the headstock inlay.

this is the second one I’ve owned, the first, I regrettingly traded it for a Gibson (how many people have you heard say that lol!) View attachment 574737View attachment 574738View attachment 574739

As soon as i get home I'll post it for you, i hope you're able to rebuild her as she deserves for that is a beautiful chunk of wood! This might be a crazy question but couldn't a 3D printer easily recreate headstock veneer?

 

[rjwilson37]

I have owned a couple of the MIK and an Elitest, while they were nice guitars, they just did not stack up to my Gibson Les Paul's. I think the new Epiphone Inspired by Gibson models do stack up to Gibson Les Paul's now. I have been playing guitar for over 40 years, and I think I can speak about the quality of an instrument.

Edit: sorry I miss read this above. I thought you were going to have them re-break it so to speak and put it back together nicely. Obviously, the fix to the break is fine, it just looks horrible. Sometimes a re-finish can be a blessing, you can have it finished in any way you choose and it will look like a brand new guitar. Although that is nice, it seems people are paying 10.6k for a Gibson to be Ultra Heavy aged. haha

 

[LuthierVandross]

I have been playing guitar for over 40 years, and I think I can speak about the quality of an instrument.

my bad, I should have known

 

[darkvoice]

Anything can be fixed, the main question is the cost. I'd ask for a quote and if the cost of work is $1000 or more it'd give it a pass.

 

[Komara]

View attachment 574798

my bad, I should have known

Sorry it took a while, here it is

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[LuthierVandross]

Sorry it took a while, here it is

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Nice man!!