Is the Epiphone Plus top pro body is good enough for better hardware ?

[Daniel L]

Hi,
I was on the way to buy a Standard or maybe a Classic Gibson, but because i have to sell stuff (that no one want) to buy it, i ask myself if it's a good thing to keep my Epiphone Les Paul PLusTop pro & change the pickups & the bridge ? (or more)
Is the Epiphone Plus top pro body is good enough for better hardware ?
Do you have any advice ?
Thanks to all

 

[Shadow Explorer]

Every guitar is different, so ultimately there is no right answer...
Are you happy with the Epiphone, if you are, keep it and upgrade it.
From the sounds of it, it seems it's lacking somewhere, otherwise you wouldn't want to upgrade it.
Search if what you dislike can be solved with upgrades or not.
You may try some Gibsons and see how they fare against it (and each other).

 

[Daniel L]

Every guitar is different, so ultimately there is no right answer...
Are you happy with the Epiphone, if you are, keep it and upgrade it.
From the sounds of it, it seems it's lacking somewhere, otherwise you wouldn't want to upgrade it.
Search if what you dislike can be solved with upgrades or not.
You may try some Gibsons and see how they fare against it (and each other).

Hi,
So every guitar review is relative !

 

[wildhawk1]

Guitarists considered basswood one step up from cardboard until Van Halen and Vai proved different.

A +Top Pro can play and sound as good as any Gibson.

 

[Jymbopalyse]

Hi,
I was on the way to buy a Standard or maybe a Classic Gibson, but because i have to sell stuff (that no one want) to buy it, i ask myself if it's a good thing to keep my Epiphone Les Paul PLusTop pro & change the pickups & the bridge ? (or more)
Is the Epiphone Plus top pro body is good enough for better hardware ?
Do you have any advice ?
Thanks to all

My advice. Well, It sounds like you are just stepping into this pond.

I would recommend that you check out the Tonefreaks and Pickups sub forum section of this here web site.

 

[Dolebludger]

I am not in favor of the "blanket upgrading" that goes on with Epis in some cases. But if you first identify specific hardware deficiencies in your guitar, it is often economically smart to change out those items rather than selling the guitar and buying a new one.

 

[Shadow Explorer]

Hi Damien L! yes very relative...
Most "reviews" are payed advertisements anyways.
Everything is heavenly made and sings rainbows as long as the mother company hands down the money (and-or products)

I was fortunate to briefly own 4 different models of a specific Epi guitar (MKH 7string)
Qc issues aside (none was 100% perfect), necks were different, overall feeling wasn't the same.
While 2 were close, the other 2 were feeling extremely different to the bunch and to each other.
I would rate them from 0 to 8,5 out of 10 depending on the specific sample....

With all that being said, if you want a Gibson, try to get one.
I would only keep the epi if it had sentimental value to me, or simpy there was no way to shoot for a gibby. (unless of course I was perfectly happy with the Epi, I wouldn't bother search for another guitar, gibby or whatever).

 

[kysrsoze]

Why not?

 

[rednefceleb]

Hi,
I was on the way to buy a Standard or maybe a Classic Gibson, but because i have to sell stuff (that no one want) to buy it, i ask myself if it's a good thing to keep my Epiphone Les Paul PLusTop pro & change the pickups & the bridge ? (or more)
Is the Epiphone Plus top pro body is good enough for better hardware ?
Do you have any advice ?
Thanks to all

Guitarists considered basswood one step up from cardboard until Van Halen and Vai proved different.

A +Top Pro can play and sound as good as any Gibson.

 

[MooCheng]

when you find a good one, then yes.

like all brands there are good ones and some not so good,
you will know straight away without even plugging in.

believe it or not, there are some Epis out there better than many Gibsons

 

[rednefceleb]

If you like the way a guitar feels and plays you've got 2 out of 3 doin' good. Replace pups

when you find a good one, then yes.

like all brands there are good ones and some not so good,
you will know straight away without even plugging in.

believe it or not, there are some Epis out there better than many Gibsons

I agree totally. If you've got a good player & looker, it would rate a little more money in order to improve the sound. Extra pups and tuning machines are always good to have in for other situations

 

[Mr Insane]

I put new pickups and wiring in my '94 Epi Custom

I've been told it plays and sounds like a $1,000+ guitar now.

 

[zamdrang]

I've never found upgrades to fundamentally change a guitar. Improve yes, but the basic character still remains, in my experience anyway. If you like it now you will probably like it better with better hardware, but if you don't gel with it now putting better hardware on it isn't going to change that, in my worthless opinion

 

[Rotorhead]

A decent Epi can be a great thing. They are ripe for upgrades by which the sound can be improved, as well as being good for the experience of learning how to do the projects on a guitar that's economically viable without as much worry involved.

 

[rednefceleb]

I've never found upgrades to fundamentally change a guitar. Improve yes, but the basic character still remains, in my experience anyway. If you like it now you will probably like it better with better hardware, but if you don't gel with it now putting better hardware on it isn't going to change that, in my worthless opinion

Worthless, no. humility is real good.

 

[rednefceleb]

It's fun and satisfying to improve or new/used guitars. Those new pickups are good looking. The black in them compliments the Ebony body. What pickups are they?

 

[sasquatch]

This guitar
even though it ended up alright
could be the entire reason I'm so glad Saien, Korea quit building Epiphones

Most "reviews" are payed advertisements anyways.
Everything is heavenly made and sings rainbows
as long as the mother company hands down the money (and-or products)

I was fortunate....

Bingo!


It took alot of 'ironing things out' to make it playable.
Some folks may think I'm blowing smoke,
but only I and perhaps...Ari Lehtella...(Gibson repair, Charlotte, N.C) could say the truth.
If you're interested I'll elaborate, but truth be told?
I've never had another set of issues with Any guitar like i had with this one.
I06012455
2006 was their last year as an OEM Epiphone builder.
(Warrany: " I don't like dealing with Gibson...here's what we can do..."
my Rep told me
so, prepared, I did come out ok, but there was never that call made)
and wow, he wired the thing up so Perfectly!
They blended like a Fine bartender did it all

 

[rednefceleb]

This guitar
even though it ended up alright
could be the entire reason I'm so glad Saien, Korea quit building Epiphones

Bingo!


It took alot of 'ironing things out' to make it playable.
Some folks may think I'm blowing smoke,
but only I and perhaps...Ari Lehtella...(Gibson repair, Charlotte, N.C) could say the truth.
If you're interested I'll elaborate, but truth be told?
I've never had another set of issues with Any guitar like i had with this one.
I06012455
2006 was their last year as an OEM Epiphone builder.
(Warrany: " I don't like dealing with Gibson...here's what we can do..."
my Rep told me
so, prepared, I did come out ok, but there was never that call made)
and wow, he wired the thing up so Perfectly!
They blended like a Fine bartender did it all

Nice & probably very nice since many of that model Epi turn out right. The Cream 'aged white' is impressive as can be. Does the middle pup ever get in the way of your picking action? Ya see, I've played with my thumb all of my life.

 

[sasquatch]

Nice & probably very nice since many of that model Epi turn out right. The Cream 'aged white' is impressive as can be. Does the middle pup ever get in the way of your picking action? Ya see, I've played with my thumb all of my life.

The middle pickup was never really an issue, but I kept it dialed low in
I could tell right away if I was too close,
but it's been gone since December, 2009
(out of my hands anyway)
After an attempt at having it back at OEM wiring spec, I lost the love.
Some things? just should be left alone.
Lesson learned,
but I never knew until I took the risk

 

[Mr Insane]

It's fun and satisfying to improve or new/used guitars. Those new pickups are good looking. The black in them compliments the Ebony body. What pickups are they?

P94s