All user reviews of 5/5 for the Epiphone Elitist Les Paul Custom

Bought from Ebay. $950 (approx.) Bought it because of the great reviews it got and the price it was going for made it seem like a real steal.

Fit and finish is flawless. Feels like a $3,000 guitar. Sounds amazing. Indescribable with a Marshall. Sustain as long as I want it...no more, no less. Notes ring clear when clean and simply scream on distortion. Sound gets better and better. Neck feels perfect. Can't put it down.

It's heavy. Hard to balance when sitting down. It's actually better to play this classical style (guitar on left leg). Action was too low for me, but it was easily fixed.

It's a work of art. I got the black one and it's a beauty. Gold hardware gives it life. Inlays and fretwork are superb. Premium mahogany and maple with bound rosewood fingerboard. Even better than some originals I've encountered.

I really don't see any reason why this guitar is priced like it is. I have a Gibson SG Special and the SG simply doesn't compare in terms of craftsmanship (they're priced the same). This guitar is in a league of its own. If you're thinking about resale value, get a Gibson. If you're thinking about a guitar you can keep and will make you a better player get an Epiphone Elite.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

Epiphone Les Paul Custom Elistist.
24 cases, 4 buttons (2 volumes 2 tones), fixed bridge like many lespaul. Dores finishes, black body coating, microphones origins satisfactory for Epiphone trs, trs sound close to gibson. Channel selector molded treble / medium / pace.

UTILIZATION

Channel trs varnish can be pleasant, but still play a big compared to the SG of the same price for its delicious solos, chords disto smooth and powerful, clean but fairly standard modular. Lighter than the Les Paul that could leave auparevant the guitar is more bearable to wear lontemps. Many settings with different tones and the selector is a treat.

SOUNDS

Fits all style, versatile guitar trs long as the amp follows. I could not test it on marshall and it's really good trs ... I think the love mesa, vox or fender will be delighted too.

OVERALL OPINION

I use this guitar for 1 year and the good points are cited earlier and the inconvnients (weight, thick neck).
Epiphone for the price is right especially if one is looking for a gibson sound and look, but that was not 1000 in your pocket! very good guitar.

It is therefore an Epiphone Les Paul made for Japan in 1999, recognized by the factory Fujigen (Fender Japan, Orville, etc. ...).
Head open book, not the Elitist series.
ABR-1 bridge fairly accurate.
1 piece mahogany neck, painted poly, rather fine and enjoyable to play, thinner than 50's. I never play 60's slim tapper, I can not say if this is it.
22 frets on a set neck with long tenon, rosewood fingerboard.
African mahogany body in 2 parts.
Solid maple table curved, 2 parts.
Double binding, bone nut.
Pickups 50SR and 60ST original made in USA, really well despite the criticism that they are subject to regular review. Is incomparable with the Epiphone pickups Chinese or even Korean, infinitely above. It is rather low output, Gibson 490R and 490T typed.
Personally, being a fan of Slash, I've changed for Seymour Duncan Alnico II Pro Slash signature.
on the other hand, if I changed all the gold hardware which, after 12 years, had grown old, I kept the original Mecas, which are held blameless on the agreement.

UTILIZATION

Ergonomics? Always the same, it's a Les Paul, so it's heavy (3.9 kg, which is even light enough for a LP) and access to acute is twisted.
on the other hand, it sounds crazy, is broadly sustain longer than the Korean models and / or Chinese, and the sound coming out, even with its original pickups, is infinitely better than the recent series of high-end Epiphone, the 1960's Tribute, yet equipped with Gibson Classic 57 and 57 +.
The electronics is average, better than the Koreans and Chinese, for sure in terms of the selector. I rewired everything but the top range with knobs CTS log, with clean welds and a selector switchcraft.

SOUNDS

To play what I play (Guns / Slash, Led Zep, Bonamassa, AC / DC, Aerosmith, Queen for a bit) is what my doctor prescribed me according to my portfolio
I plug it into being a head Blackheart Handsome Devil 15W, I also plugged in a Blackstar HT-5, and it's really stunning to be closer to those artists. After that, it is the fingers that make the difference. The change in pickups and electronics that I have made have helped, but the base is good.
Enthusiasts for its springy strident treble or death metal with microphones high output levels, look elsewhere! Here, everything is smooth and creamy serious micro-sharp rhythmic bridge pickup.

OVERALL OPINION

The honeymoon is over, I've had almost a year. I paid dear, yes, 800 € MIJ but are rare and are starting to sell at prices above their real musical values. That said, if you find their price "logic" is € 600-700 for a MIJ Epiphone Custom is a better value than a Gibson LP Studio (neck tenon long, quality workmanship in the collages , violin & used wood ...). That is also my opinion, a much better investment than a high end Epiphone & Co. in nine.
I tested the Epiphone Korean and Chinese, Bacchus Les Paul (MIJ as well, but there is still the class above), and for those who dream of a head with his Gibson open book, but without having the budget is an excellent investment. The class above is not the Gibson Studio, it is the Gibson Trad or Standard, or when Edwards E-LP-130, or Tokai LS150/160.
Not the best LP, but with that value for money and after the upgrades you can do to fix it to his own taste (microphones, electronics, hardware), the value is easily beatable in this range.