All user reviews of 4/5 for the Epiphone Les Paul Custom [1989-2012]

Features — 8
2007 model, made in China. Bought used from a musician. Body is Mahogany with 5-way binding. Neck is Mahogany too with an Ebony fretboard, SlimTaper profile so thinner than a Gibson. There are pearl block fretboard inlays which look very nice. Standard scale length of 22 Frets with two ProBucker pickups. In terms of controls, you get 2 x Volume and 2 x tone with a 3-way switch. The machine heads on mine weren't Grovers but more recent models have them. Overall fantastic features and build quality. Again this is an older model so no coil-tapping.

Sound — 7
Suited my blues and classic rock style fine, the sound was fat and full, but could be played clean too. Played it through a Marshall combo. I didn't use any effects with it and just cranked up the gain a little when playing AC/DC, Hendrix, etc. It's not a noisy guitar. You can get a wide variety of sounds, although I wouldn't play Metal or anything too heavy, go for a Jackson or ESP in that case. The pickups sounded good but on this older model I found them to be a little muddy. I recently purchased the newer Probucker pickups and found them to be much better, so it could just be an age issue here.

Action, Fit & Finish — 8
The guitar was well set up by the previous owner. I did need to adjust the truss rod several times over the years, but nothing dramatic. Wiring and finish were all fine, good quality there and no complaints. Same with the frets, nothing to flag. All in all a solid instrument that looks and feels more expensive that it is. There were no flaws upon purchase. The tuners are the main issue, on this older model they didn't hold tune very well so I changed them for Grovers. I was impressed by the finish of the instrument, it feels very expensive.

Reliability & Durability — 7
I would use this as a second live guitar, or rehearsals and home practice. Reason being the tuners could be better but overall the reliability is pretty good at this price point. Durability is fine. It's dependable and looks quite cool. I had fun using it. The electronics did fail eventually and I had to get them replaced, but this was due to the previous owner's wiring and not the instrument itself. It's a great feeling and sounding guitar, I would easily recommend it to anyone looking for an alternative to Gibson.

Overall Impression — 7
More expensive, the Epiphone Les Paul Custom is a definite step up from the Epiphone Les Paul Standard. The pickups (Epiphone Probuckers) are cleaner and of course it’s a gorgeous instrument. This is where Epiphones start to rival Gibsons in terms of quality and finish. As with the Standard, it’s versatile and can handle most types of music. If you manage to find one used for a good price, it’s a keeper. For gigging purposes, the only major change you could make is replacing the strap buttons with locking versions such as those made by Schaller.

Ah, a boy's first electric guitar, lol. Yep, it wasn't an easy choice. I spent about a year salivating over various brands and types of guitars, during which I bought my first home, thus dreams of a £2K+ Gibson behemoth soon faded. However I soon found that I had enough money for a medium priced leccie, so there you go.... it's often just down to what you can afford. Basically for me it was down to either an Epiphone Les Paul or a Fender Standard Strat for heavy humbucking and versatile single-coil purposes respectively. The reason I went for the Les Paul was because I'd had a couple of pints and was watching Led Zeppelin on their live dvd and was simply enchanted watching Jimmy Page, erm, go nuts, lol. I ordered the Ebony Epi LP Custom online from Guitar, Amp and Keyboard (online store) in The Rather Twee Land Of English People TM for a modest £349 (I've seen it in high street shops for over £400, eek)

Well, as they say, if you're going to do something wrong, do it right :o) Thus if you're going to buy a Les Paul copy then go for Epiphone and buy their most expensive LP. My road tested guitarist aquantance who's been in bands tells me the difference between Epiphone and Gibson Les Pauls is negligable, and to be honest that's why I bought one. The rhythm pickup is good for lighter and more fluid musical moments, whilst the trebble is there for what you bought a Les Paul for.... down and dirty rock and roll. It's stylish and pristine and it's a guitar you can honestly look at with pride.

Having now given in and bought a single-coil Fender Strat to join the team I can honestly say that I prefer my Strat simply because a) it has more choice musically and b) it's lighter in weight and more appealing to pick up when practicing. Hoever don't be put off by that because as far as I'm concerned if ever I get good enough to be on stage I will always turn to my Les Paul for sturdy rock moments, as that's what they're built for. I'm also looking into buying a mixed-coil Telecaster for that balance between both sound textures, so my advice is explore as many guitars as you can afford.... it's just wrong to just have the one, lol

Well you certainly feel the money you pay for a Les Paul as mine's built like a brick sh*t house, so when I first picked it up out of it's box I simply felt it's power before I'd ever touched a string. Having researched endless guitars for a year as I've mentioned, I read a lot of reviews complaining about a loose this and a cheap looking that, but with my Epiphone Les Paul there is honestly nothing i can complain about.... it all works, end of story. If something looks cheap on it then, well, all I can say is that the electric guitar and rock & roll in general is an average man's vice and your everyman won't be forking about for the aforementioned Gibson £2K+ Godzilla, lol All you need is an Epiphone when it comes to your first Les Paul.... when you become Jimmy Page then cough up for something a little flashier by all means :o)

Trust in Epiphone... if you're gonna buy a Les Paul then buy the Epi LP Custom. It's the best you can get at a sensible price. But don't let my talk of budgets and economic guitars put you off, this guitar sounds and feels like it's worth £5,000.... I don't regret buying it in the slightest and will keep it in me collection until (fingers crossed) I burn out in a blaze of glory, hahaha, oh dear :oP

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

Bought from the Academy of Sound in Manchester England and paid £450 for it (Bargain)

Everything Fantastic and worth every penny. There isnt that much difference between the custom and the standard apart from a slightley different tone through the high gain pickups and the gold hardwear. Plays like a dream the action is very low and is great.

Its not got Gibson written on the top

Fantastic built to last.

This guitar is by far the best guitar that I have played. I would recomend them to nyone from the intermediate user to professional. Very easy to play and is very versatile. If you want a rockin guitar that doesnt cost the earth this is the one for you. Quite simply buy it.

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

See the previous post for the characteristics ... I confirm that the finish is exemplary .... it looks like the gibson custom home in bcp cheaper ...

UTILIZATION

Handle more than pleasant, access to acute easy as badly as any gibson ... this family
I repeat, the finish is awesome, no complaints over
ergonomics very good and reliable, balanced guitar and heavy, like its big brothers, the sound can be adjusted with the knobs a wish of good qualities in all tones
mechanics may be a change, although this also depends on the guitar, maybe you hit the wrong ... In any case I have no problems at this level, it is tuning, and I tortured the small

SOUNDS

This guitar is a base made to play the blues or jazz, it's not a SG, but with a good amp and a good use of it, it is largely possible to obtain a good saturation much trash

the clean sound is impeccable, you know PRS? is the same, it makes sense, I was on a cul first listen

saturated sound a bit disappointing, changing the pickups (even if it is not absolutely required), this guitar is frankly the height of gibson ...

I really do bcp a list of default on this guitar in sound, I put a 7 only because of saturation, but it work ...

OVERALL OPINION

This guitar is a killer, I wonder how some people can be pretty dumb to fuck more than 15 000 francs a gibson les paul custom that is definitely worth its price

the custom epiphone is better at any point of view that some gibson (particularly the les paul studio is infinite shit ...), it is extremely versatile, and can only bluesman to accrod with me, to the metalheads, it's a fair bit

it has a mouth that make you crack, it can be found in alpine white in Germany but it gets a short account of recent changes at the head of distribution Gibson-Epiphone

it is heavy, yes, but it's worth, you do not lose money ... a guitar of this quality is a very rare 4000 francs, and to say the least ...

time or epiphone never went that shit, especially at the micro, is over for this model ....

that he who finds a value better than one contact me, I pay him the restaurant

Made in Korea, configuration and type design GIBSON Les Paul.
Mahogany (?) Al a body composed of falls dacajou (?) Coiffedune table I do not know koi. Over time the varnish leaves apparatre the number of parties in the back of the guitar. Cest a luthier friend who pointed out to me. (Mine was 5!). MODEL Jajoute it silent in the first made by Epiphone-Core and still had the head like Gibson. Manufacturing has been Bonnifait can be.

UTILIZATION

Channel enjoyable and right, finishing correct weight (consquent) and rglages inhrent this type of guitar. Tones Blues / Rock / Hard / Reggae.
Guitar trs not versatile by design (3 distinct sounds) but enjoyable play.
By playing against standing for over an hour of physical performance is! and sat there shall adopt the back of the guitar in the Torax.

SOUNDS

I had to buy OCCAZ 2500FF the era in a music magazine for its looks "Black and Gold" (despite the low maintenance accused) and anxious to have a "big sound ". I used a Marshall 8040 and a Boss ME10 the era.
For the "big sound" ... was a little! Dj acoustic c'tait not great, and once industry ... "blah" ... I have changed my Strato but no more.
The pickups lacked agressivit and suggested a "plop" of the attack mdiator solo. They were replaced quickly by Seymour Duncan (a "59" and "PG-1") and aa lot help matters: C'tait much more convincing! In saturated and especially in his clear, especially intermdiaire position. With a little compressor and chorus c'tait divine! (I can still see the singer group exclaiming "Damn that sound!"). In the "serious" silent sound enough "Jazz" and set to "treble" dfoulait me of AC / DC.
Until the day I bought it from a lamp 60W amp, which made it clear the default apparatre of violin making. I put the microphones origins and sold it (at the end of two years) with nanmoins heart sank.
It's true "she threw" a gus and squinted on the guitar during my trips.

OVERALL OPINION

If this guitar is not above reproach (Previous DSOL for notices), it remains a good guitar for beginners. But I find it a bit expensive for the "Made in Cora": 700 € all of the same! Ephiphone advantage too of the reputable of its big sister GIBSON while for a similar price was a PRS-SE of the same type but much better bill in violin and microphone. (But with a little less hardware course ...). Plutt try to find one used!
Nanmoins I do not regret having bought this guitar because I was with her a passion for The models such as "Les Paul" which I think is better my game (Rock / HardRock "70 "" 90 ").

Korean manufacturing according to the specifications Gibson and everyone know

UTILIZATION

Handle very nice with good access to acute obviously not always easy but by forcing it over a little faster to understand how!
ergonomics is quite remarkable for a guitar of this age I find that the same position that we adopt to play much influence on the game, I mean by that by providing a more modern guitars we force some at the beginning and then once we found the ideal position, we play better CARREMENT!
when the sounds of the big, good, an excellent course with a tube amp (a real amp, whatever!)

SOUNDS

The sound is excellent, you get more play almost everything, staying on well in the style for which the guitar is intended!
we understand immediately that we had to do a good instrument because the effects that are added do not serve to improve the sound but magnifies even more the sounds obtained!!
on the other hand I used to play aves pulling the strings fender light but I think the tie is a bit too light for setting up a les paul

OVERALL OPINION

I have my les paul for 3 months, it's a great guitar, despite some concerns sleeve
I play on fender rather "exotic" (Jazzmaster, Mustang) so the sound between the two brands is really different! epiphone les paul but I do not disappoint both in the construction, use and sound!
if it was a repeat I will not hesitate one second!! But those who are about to buy one, not long, I feel that prices will soon go in hauuse because of its quality and also the policy of stupid people at gibson ( good for them, too bad for us)

RAS -> it's classic

there is a humbucker tone and control handle with colums
and a humbucker bridge with tone control and Colum

a selector to choose one of the mic or both.

UTILIZATION

A thin handle at first. But it is a real treat later, the hand slides alone and it is a pleasure to walk on the sleeve!
To mount the high notes, no surprises, it is a "les paul", so the pan is off and access to acute is easy.
Shocking detail: the weight! but for me it is also a guarantee of quality (to be said before I was playing on a scratching at 200EUR!)
Sound: Great sound guaranteed!

SOUNDS

Game: Rock / Ska / Reggae => good fit

100W Amplifiers Marshall VS => allows for a big sound!

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for 5 years now and if I had to do a choice, what would be the same! Although the quality of the microphones is not worth certain meets guitars are in the same price range, I select your still there because the CUSTOM LES PAUL guitar gules it to the same!

The only downside: After hours of playing live and so many liters of sweat, paint golden microphones begins to fade to make way for the original color Micro (silver).
I think this should be improved.

In any case, it is a good inverstissement!

Description given above by others.
I want to say that the bridges are real trenchers string, requires replacement!

In any case, what she's beautiful!

UTILIZATION

Its level is normal on the right!
In terms of weight, it is very heavy (compared to other guitars) but what a pleasure to break back on stage! I feel safe with!
The handle is nice, but it is not done for the Schreder.

SOUNDS

Rock Metal, it's all good, Jazz-Blues ok, ok reggae, all will be played with some settings on the amp.
I use a Marshall 30W which I do not know the origin with, and it's top. I was very good clean (pure) but if I force a little on the strings, I get a nice little cool grain.
Distortion level, it will draw easily, using the dual coil is on.
The differences between the micro is quite noticeable! You really see the value of a selector, you can really play it.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for three years, she moved to a lot (though I take great care ...) But it was already a bit twisted to buy (when you start it is easy prey for local traders in doubt ...).
However, it is tamed.
Are easily obtained we want is so comfortable for the price it was worth our money!
I would do it on the same choice ... but not in the same store ...

It is in the product

UTILIZATION

Trs comfortable playing a little heavy. It is heavier than other Les Pauls by what it is that Paisse Studio for example. It's a bit hard to the back but the sound is not the same!
CHAC is less easy to acute as a guitar donated the two sides will blow but it's still very playable trs.

SOUNDS

The sound is good trs, it's still worse than a Gibson ...
For my rhythm I use two microphones. on the other hand for solos I prfre n'tre on a micro: bridge or neck dpend ca.
I do not touch the knob, everything is back. Prfre I adjust the volume with my amp because the volume knob changes the input of the amp and it plays the sound of distos!

For a more bluesy I play with the board knob stamp, it allows her to have the "Santana".

For those who can not afford to buy a Gibson but want a meileur her you can change the pickups by Seymour Duncan ramplacant by example. Luter because the guitar is well made trs.

OVERALL OPINION

I have 6 years. This is my guitar Premire lctrique and better too!

As is the Epiphone branded Gibson, The models are not given, it plays the image (it can for that matter!). It is a stable price level, by the way if I claim I will not lose too much agrent (the era it valai 3700fr).

Of course I'd like to have a Gibson but it's expensive! I agree this guitar perfect for the use I have is saying to me, in BPS or with my group of pop / rock (Eclipz). I also recorded a CD.

Trs lctrique good guitar.

-Made in Korea but I'm not sure!
-22 Frets, two humbuckers with an Epiphone selector 3 positions
Bridge-tun-o-matic
-There are two volumes and two tones
-The handle is similar to a gibson, but a little less round I think.

UTILIZATION

The neck is super-nice! This is what I prefer, no need to go too far if you want to handle better, certainly there, but this one is really nice and playable!
-Access to treble is good, it is a les paul is not super easy but you get used to very quickly
-The weight is still a result, it is a full guitar, it, it is not stolen, it's like a gibson.
-The sound is average, replacing the pickups would result in something good but not worth a real ca ca gibson for sure!

SOUNDS

-It suits my style, that is all that is heavy, old hard rock, or rock at all, by going to metallica guns n roses SOAD or red hot!
-I play a vox amp ad60vt (modeling)
"I get it sounds good clean sound, but it's not terrible terrible saturates I must say

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for a few months, I just sell it to buy a PRS SE Singlecut, I tried it and it's something else + for not much money!
"I love the shape and the handle, but the sounds are not really top
Before I had a fender-Showmaster, I prefer epiphone
-The price / quality ratio is not normal +
With experience, I will buy a real les paul lol!
Basically this guitar has good sustain, a handle super nice, good use like a les paul) but the point is black and the sound is still quite important on a guitar lol

Always the same characteristics as before ...

UTILIZATION

This is a guitar more or less boilerplate in terms of sound, but side look a little less. I use it since 1993 and I did not want to move on. I use it to play the old school hxc and it goes pretty well. Ditto for the blues from time to time. The only problem with Les Paul, is the weight, which is pretty heavy after a while. That is why I opted for a SG as an alternative. The handle is great gameplay, after a small adjustment of the bridge you come to a game very fluid. It's not quite the Gibson but it has the taste and color.

SOUNDS

The original sound is not bad but not amazing either. I changed the original pickups for EMG HZ H4, and here we arrive at something interesting! The resonance of the guitar's help, we arrive at the warm wishes, clean and flawless for perfectionists. But we can also do a very very fat and heavy without any worries. I use it on Marshall and it's all good.

OVERALL OPINION

After 14 years of use, I can not get enough. So if I had to do this choice, it would be no problem. It's a guitar aillant advisor to some changes in the long run (microphones, mechanical knobs for ex.).

China Has all the rest said prcdement

UTILIZATION

Channel trs agable
Access in acute correct (I also play on a studio profil'50)
lgre for a les paul
sounds correct and beautiful in the clear
guitar unplayable out of the box rglage complt action to intonation, author microphones

if not correct sounds from light to crunch with the original pickups (I replaced mine with Burstbucker)

SOUNDS

I was achetr knowingly so it suits me!

I play fender marshall and plain mainly with this guitar and a little solo time nother

OVERALL OPINION

Correct price quality ratio ... better finished than my gibson (afait afraid because the finish is not impcable!)

Guitar made in Korea:
- Body and mahogany neck
- 2 humbucker pickups with individual volume and 1 tone 1
- A 3-position selector
- Fixed bridge
- Black lacquer and gold acastillage.

UTILIZATION

The finish is fine, no apparent defects.
The typical form Paul, a little lighter than a standard (due to the lack of maple table can be?), But it still feels good on the shoulder after several hours ...
The handle is nice for my liking, access to acute right (like a Les Paul). The playability is optimal to switch the riffs, chords and solos.
Selector microphones "crackles" a bit and tends to oxidize (as on many Les Paul that I could see): it is sometimes necessary to activate multiple times in a row for the "polish up" .
Holding agreement is very good.
Note: the twelfth fret is beginning to mark the traces of wear (after 8 years) and acastillage golden microphones, mechanical and bridge disappears under the effect of time (and sweat).

SOUNDS

The sounds of the two original humbuckers are very satisfactory and give a good range of sounds despite only three mic positions.
This guitar is rock-oriented course, but for me it must not be confined to this ...
The sustain is also very good.

OVERALL OPINION

This guitar has a great look (if you like black and gold ...) associated with a legendary form.
It m'acompagne for 8 years and is comfortable in all situations.
The finish is particularly good for a guitar of this price range (I played on US Gibson without finding that such a price difference is justified) and I find it rather old though.
Be careful, this is a model made in Korea (whose finish is particularly well compared to those from other Asian countries from what I later learned), which is not the case with all Epiphone Les Paul Custom that you can find on the market ... Before making this choice, I would hold, therefore, first to try the guitar.

Made in Korea
Maple set neck
Rosewood
Alder body / mahogany
Alnico Classic HB 1, a micro Alnico Hot HB
Tune-o-matic
Gold hardware
Binding on body, neck and head

UTILIZATION

The handle is a pure joy slip his alone, access to acute is like all the Les Paul dificil a little early, but the creature is easily tamed, weight is important but we are not wimps, some muscle and go. To the sounds of happiness also, finally, for those who like gibson or epiphone.

SOUNDS

It is well suited to my style of music

I play on a Marshall Valvestate amp vs65R who has ten years

Sounds warm, clear round, the distorted sounds pretty good spit.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for 2 years, I can not get enough, more like the shape of the Les Paul.
The only negative is its weight but hey I played 5 hours without back pain.
Very good quality / price ratio the materials used are of good quality and finishing more than correct for a Korean.

The Epiphone Les Paul Custom is, without a doubt, the most popular guitars that Epiphone has in their lineup. The guitar features a mahogany body with a mahogany neck, gold hardware, 24.75'' scale length, carved maple top, optional pickguard, rosewood fretboard, 22 frets, trapezoid inlays, tune-o-matic bridge, binding, two humbuckers, two volumes, two tones and a three way switch.

UTILIZATION

I might as well start complaining now. The biggest thing I hate about this guitar is the fact that it has no ebony. The Les Paul Custom should come with ebony, yet this one comes with rosewood. It's really no different from any other Les Paul if it has a rosewood board. The nut wasn't too bad on this, thankfully. However, the frets were a bit iffy. They weren't perfectly level, and you could tell that once you start lowering the action. They could have been crowned a bit better. Upper fret access sucks, just like every other Les Paul out there, but you learn to deal with it.

SOUNDS

This one had some EMGs swapped in it, so I'll be going by those in this review. The guitar had an EMG 81 in the bridge, and it ripped. However, the guitar itself was fairly bright, and I think the 81 wasn't a great match in the bridge. Considering that it's an all mahogany body, that's a bit surprising, but it happens sometimes. There are just certain woods that sound brighter than others, and this was one of them. The EMG 85 in the neck was just about perfect, however. It was warm and fat, but it also had some slight cut going on thanks to the naturally bright sounding mahogany going on.

OVERALL OPINION

In my opinion, Epiphone kinda dropped the ball with this. While it looks like a Custom, it doesn't have the ebony board. That's a huge minus for me. On top of that, this guitar was a bit bright sounding, so it didn't sound like a normal Custom does. Be sure to test out a few and get one that sounds thick without sounding muddy.