NGD: Made in Korea Cherry Sunburst Les Paul w/ Birdseye Maple Top!

[J_Euphoria]

I was cruising offer and I stumbled upon this beauty! $200 US dollars got me this beauty along with an Epiphone hard case, 2 packs of Ernie Ball strings, and a cable. I got super lucky!

The top is gorgeous and the mahogany back is simply stunning. I've own a few vintage Gibson Les Pauls i nay day, and let me tell you, this '96 Epiphone plays pretty damn well.

1996 MIK Epiphone Les Paul w/ Birdseye Maple Top by J Euphoria, on Flickr

1996 MIK Epiphone Les Paul w/ Birdseye Maple Top by J Euphoria, on Flickr

1996 MIK Epiphone Les Paul w/ Birdseye Maple Top by J Euphoria, on Flickr

I am pondering on the idea of changing the electronics and pickups. Possibly swap the stock pickups for a set of Vintage DiMarzio's (Super Distortion // PAF Pro - just like Ace!) or a set of Vintage Gibson T-Tops. I'm not sure, I am just looking for a set of hotter, vintage humbuckers.

Thanks for checking it out! Cheers!

 

[LSAR]

That's a damn nice and minty fresh looking LP Classic you've got yourself there. If you're going for Dimarzio's, some double cream pickups in there would be wicked...but I think zebra's might be even better on this one...

I've never noticed a non-beveled pickguard like that as stock equipment on an Epi either, though I haven't played many of that era. That's a really nice touch.

Hell of a bargain though, congrats!

 

[J_Euphoria]

That's a damn nice and minty fresh looking LP Classic you've got yourself there. If you're going for Dimarzio's, some double cream pickups in there would be wicked...but I think zebra's might be even better on this one...

I've never noticed a non-beveled pickguard like that as stock equipment on an Epi either, though I haven't played many of that era. That's a really nice touch.

Hell of a bargain though, congrats!

Thanks for checking it out! I'm leaning more on the DiMarzio Super Distortion at the bridge and a PAF Pro at the neck. Double cream is pretty much the look I am going for. Going to probably replace the tuners as well. They are old and are starting to not hold tune as well.

 

[wildhawk1]

Very nice. The color and grain on back is an eye catcher as well.

Another example of it being impossible for me to justify Nashville price tags when options like that are available.

I have a MIK 97' Custom on the right of this pic.

 

[J_Euphoria]

Very nice. The color and grain on back is an eye catcher as well.

Another example of it being impossible for me to justify Nashville price tags when options like that are available.

I have a MIK 97' Custom on the right of this pic.

View attachment 325052

That custom is beautiful! I love LP customs. I was in the market for a 3 pickup black beauty until I found this one. Cheers!

 

[Mr.JT]

Wow that is an nice looking guitar J_Euforia! Never seen a birdseye top on a epi lp!

As you mentioned about the pickups. Good choice but dont leave out the potmeter. Change them. You get a better wariety of sound as the epi korea china potmeter are a bitt like on and off

That is going to be a really good value for money guitar when upgraded!!!

I also have some korea epiphones. And must say that they are a head in front of the chineese ones but qing dao factory in china also have made tons of really good epiphones

Hope you play much and get the love jp for epiphones as you can have many different ones that plays great and still not touching a usa lp standard when it comes to price of 1

 

[moreles]

Is that a birdseye top or a birdseye veneer top? I'm in the minority who would much prefer a solid plaintop to a veneered figure.

 

[LSAR]

Is that a birdseye top or a birdseye veneer top? I'm in the minority who would much prefer a solid plaintop to a veneered figure.

Most definitely a veneer, and whether or not there's really maple under there nobody can really say without stripping it or at least scraping in the cavities a bit.

I would personally love a nice, honest plain top. The reality is though that most Epi's are a veneer whether plain or figured, and the true base material depends on the time and factory involved. There's more recent examples of Indonesian LP's and SG's without veneers at least on the backs/all around in the case of the SGs. I think those might be a year or two behind us now though unfortunately. There's more historical examples of Asian mahogany backs and alder tops with veneers all around, which is likely in this case.

I'd bet the difference you'd notice with a good and detailed setup (including pickup height and polepiece adjustments) is minimal.

 

[Gundecker]

Very nice grab! Post a control cavity shot if you get a chance please.

 

[Left Paw]

Nice one !!

 

[J_Euphoria]

Wow that is an nice looking guitar J_Euforia! Never seen a birdseye top on a epi lp!

As you mentioned about the pickups. Good choice but dont leave out the potmeter. Change them. You get a better wariety of sound as the epi korea china potmeter are a bitt like on and off

That is going to be a really good value for money guitar when upgraded!!!

I also have some korea epiphones. And must say that they are a head in front of the chineese ones but qing dao factory in china also have made tons of really good epiphones

Hope you play much and get the love jp for epiphones as you can have many different ones that plays great and still not touching a usa lp standard when it comes to price of 1

Thanks for checking it out! I agree, China makes some good stuff, too! Cheers!

 

[J_Euphoria]

Sorry for the inactivity! I have been busy upgrading this beauty! Check it out!

Les Paul Upgraded! by J Euphoria, on Flickr

check out the thread I posted!
http://www.mylespaul.com/threads/upgraded-my-mik-epiphone-les-paul-70s-vibe.415645/