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Izzy11 « Very good mid-range guitar »
Published on 03/13/11 at 13:47
Best value:
Excellent
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.
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.