All user reviews for the Epiphone Les Paul Standard

I do not know too much or it makes, nan who cares?
22 frets, 2 alnico humbuckers
Gna gna gna stopbar Bridge
2 volume knobs, 2 tone knobs
Mahogany

UTILIZATION

Handle slides well, good manufacturing
Access in acute typical Les Paul, not very easy but feasible
Good balance, good weight of LP too, it hurts! But you get used to the heavy
Yeah its good, good for cleans and crunches, it goes well the big pr distos but also not his forte.

SOUNDS

Well it suits my style of music, yeah, and nan. It is rock n roll, hard rock though, I c'que! But it is not made for forcment mtal, which does not prevent the big play of saturation after all is possible.
I love the clean of scratches c'te actually. Although round, though warm, is a DLIC to play it. And then the crunch simpa are also with the bridge pickup. I Reserved however the neck pickup for cleans (with distortion it sounds like a fart in the water). Personal is not it ^ ^

OVERALL OPINION

I use since 2 years, I told you bah veiled c'que I think.
I like his vintage Aesthetics which paradoxically does not take a ride! That's only I intend to buy the original at Gibson!
In the era I had nothing but scratching c'te test before I was thinking that the era I n'tais not fix on my tastes and this guitar made me cr er a musical identity and I mean both ways: it is wrong to say that the guitar is not the guitarist ^ ^
Well good for scratching not too expensive. But not last either veiled exceptionel what.
J'prendrais exprience with this opportunity, but even when j'la advises it really is a nice little scratch This is my Premire and she does Determines so I can not be impartial but I love this guitar. Even if I have the + or - the store in the closet since the arrival of the LTD EC 1000. : D

See below

UTILIZATION

- The neck is super enjoyable after you like it or not personal I got in store I fell in love and I feel will handle quad ... his slides =).
- Level access to acute I see all the griping mod n and I honestly wonder why? For there is no arllement acute problem of access to a party from the 18th fret o We need to start contorcioner fingers = P
- The Shape paul we like it or not the weight Les Paul 6 / 7 pounds but it is good quality wood and who want it and I can say is true that it produces a more than remarkable.
- You do not play the guitar, plays the guitar with you ... that happiness APRS FAUS an amp that follows. And my surprise only a 15W ... I test it on a W 1oo anyway and I say that the concert sent.

SOUNDS

Versatility has its limits of extravagance .. the only BMOL and the microphone position changes only very little sound .. and the last fret treble strings sound relatively few ...
For the rest we pass from Jimmy Hendrix MM through Sum 41 .. Jerry C. .. AC / DC and so I spend the same blues and titillates the Hard Rock ... tell you: p
The sound is warm .. enjoyable ... it will make you enter

OVERALL OPINION

9 / 10 is gnial, beautiful, a sound very close to Gibson ... you do not hit u dream but you approach it ... and approximately 5oo pence I do not like to call it an entry

I would do is choose your eyes closed and I judge the quality price ratio must.

Good scratch

FC Epiphone site

UTILIZATION

Channel super enjoyable

Access in acute ais not but when you buy a les paul that's it!

Same as before, the ergonomics are doing it and it's heavy weight (a real good APRS ca be slightly worse!)

It sounds good, especially hot on his Les paul is .... indfinisable!

SOUNDS

Yes mostly rock and blues saturation

Marshall VS100

Trs its full, warm, double microphone is really an incredible efficiency.

I like everything, it lacks pcision when even in the acute, the Fender is that we must go!

OVERALL OPINION

Since 98

As the mouth of the skyscraper is falling! The sound!

A Milnots ... see anything

Carrment good price quality ratio, after nearly 10 years ca crachouille not hold up the knobs

Yes no hsitations for this budget is the height of happiness, as we say below does not touch the dream but it comes close!

- Made In China
- Body black + alder mahogany plaque with plastic protective crme
- Table Bomb Saddle
- Mahogany neck / rosewood fingerboard with abalone taken trapze / white plastic netting - 22 medium jumbo frets
- Tune-o-matic + Stop-tail
- Grover Mcaniques
- Acastillage chrombr /> - 2 Alnico V humbuckers designed by Gibson
- 1 volume, 1 Tone + 1 for each micro slecteur 3 positions
- Cblage in quick-connectors IDAL not for the handyman ...
- Trs beautiful bag comes with

I give 8 because I wanted a 100% mahogany body and a more powerful micro acute ...

UTILIZATION

- The handle end is remarkably easy to play:
a slip alone, especially since the frets are wide and low, but with enough space in boxes Most recent internship to ask those fingers! (But my fingers are fine)
- Access in acute type is ... Les Paul! That - that it will take to twist and well put his thumb to play. Good for the game scne, not good for sweeping or extensions!
- It is heavy as a Les Paul any self-respecting ... prvoir a strap with a reinforcement to the shoulder. Can be used as weapons if song! However, it is well balance.
- The agreement mcaniques are well, look good and are prcises
- SETTING THE The intonation is not the best person in the world with the tune-o-matic and acute micro!
- The height of the microphone is easily adjustable. It is too low to cause acute microphone.

I give 8 because of the weight of Access in acute and intonation SETTING THE backwards.
But as she perfectly silent RULES (action, intonation, rgularit freight), I give 9!

SOUNDS

- I play all styles of Blues with a drive head and a Marshall JVM baffle 4 X 12 Celestion Greenback.
- We obtain the exact sound of vintage Les Paul. All Led Zeppelin is the! But John McLaughlin Mahavishnu PERIOD PERIOD or Jeff Beck Beck-Ola. Play on an amp lamp is back in time!
- Trs good for blues, jazz, rock, hard rock.
- Not enough output level for the metal. It becomes all messy fawn ...
- This is a guitar for earnings idalie modrment levs (IDAL with a Marshall JCM)!
- The biggest is the default dsquilibre level between the microphones: one must put the bass and treble volume MOITI background, even after having much the height of Mount micro Acute ...
- Mahogany, weight and unique dcoupe gives the micro serious trs sound velvety deep, round, full and warm. Perfect for glisss!
- The Saddle vintage gives a sharp sweet-sour, with the micro acute or both, ideal for the style of BB King, Freddie King or Albert King. Even if we get better with a semi-hollow (ES 335) ... Let's say we approach it terribly! Enough in any case to vary the sound in a song.

This is exactly the sound I was looking for but I only give 8 because of the weakness of micro acute ...

OVERALL OPINION

I have for over a year and a half and rpond exactly what I wanted: to have a Les Paul type CHRE not to play with the same constraints and (almost) the sound of many my guitar-heroes of their own songs or their style.
Oh, I forgot! For me, finishing in bne is the most beautiful guitar in the world!
I think with other mics, I spend the same Gibson!

Well, I'll do a review of espce dtail, even be too long and boring, and repeating what has t crit before.

Epi Les Paul flame top standard in 1993 (among Premire, I think) made in Korea. Purchased new.
Body into three parts mahogany (mahogany and alder today) that most of the center (nice surprise). No mahogany Premire of quality but not srement wood crate. Well, instead dun Schager in several years, he has Scher ltuve
And finally, micro sheet drable flame on the table, just for the visual. No te vritable table (!) In Rabl (!).
>>>> Horrific APRS installation of microphones and Verify ', there is indeed a thickness of 1.5 cm 2 of a saddle and Saddle Famm sheet.
Channel two parties reports, super thin, flat (type jackson! Another surprise) that begin with 22 frets quite admit their age.
The pickups are original (not for long).
I changed the tailpiece and the bridge home for a couple Gotoh transmitting much vibration. The tailpiece dorigine Stait us to quickly gorge crossing ropes and under the right hand (!!!). The nut is bone (+ rsons too).
Mcaniques of origin (always stable, surprisingly, still a good surprise). Jattendais of limprcision for change and are always l. But other fats of time.
Strings 10-52 or 11-56 mesh flat jazz (rgal one!)
I put 9.5 for configuration, instrument making (manufacturing plutt) treats and without default (not like a lot of Gibson!) Not to mention the wear on frets.

UTILIZATION

The handle is a real track game until the 17-18me fret, APRS is necessary to give a little pain may be too late for the good hands of bcherons, with medium frets -jumbo that do not hang at all (trs another pleasant surprise). It shall not be twisted or even PForm sil is fine and not new. Cest good sign.
Access in acute is ... Not easy. But we are prvenu! And we must tame a scraper of this type, it can not be played as a. For the rest it goes "well" in ctes with softened corners just over a real Les Paul (I say 'must be tamed). We know! And on mine, the weight is correct for plutt one unit of that kind. Should that lasted seven hours non-stop, even when! Otherwise, hello kin a bit like a Les Paul, what! But we know too! Cest not an Ibanez Sabre. Point.

Combining original post
+ Bone nut (most standard Gibson no longer have, that the poor plastoc!).
+ Easel in real metal.
+ Good pulling strings.
+ Action a little high (2.5 mm 2 Douzima the box).
=
- Its that sest enhanced and approaches (not compltement) dune real Gibson Les Paul Standard.
- Good volume.
- Best DEFINITIONS
- Her full, more rich and full vacuum (a rgal yet).
- Sustain crazy (a marvel).
- Vibrations all around (a tickle).
- The bends not easy (ae!) The horn on the fingertips (ouille!)
- A guitar is any more fits all (pyro) modern (though with an effort ... again!)
I walk down the note 8.5 to 9, due to the lack daccès acute angular body.

SOUNDS

Well, pass the point a little critical of the ergonomics relative (o the bevels are?? And the heel affine ???), we must talk about the big criticism of this guitar: the microphones, c is not new, it's not original! This is normal.
As I bought it new, just my preference. Then over time, and fiddling with other (better, wonderful) guitars, one s'aperoit weaknesses. The game evolves (and better 'is esprer) and the requirements are more sophisticated.
In a good amp lights, the microphones most often kindly fill their office, in the light jazz, blues, blues-rock quiet. In crunch, has spent as the saturation lev nest not too blues-rock, rock. But the ds saturax is sturdy, they admit their limitations. As for distos of all kinds, take the time to find the legalization that will make it less runny. Rock and heavy rock: OK. But forget the mtal or thrash edge, has not work.
Transistors in an amplifier, may get better but it should not be a bass amp load / medium low.
Changes tailpiece, nut-string never catch up to microphones in dire need of clarity or punch or prsence (Oh burstbuckers The pro without cover Gibson! The PAF, SH2-SH4-5-6 Duncan ! The Norton, Tone Zone, super distortion, evolution of Di Marzio!). So a lack of DEFINITIONS, cest rough, soft, tangle.
And to make matters worse, with lge, these microphones have lost a little clarity and quil DEFINITIONS had. And power as well. Dmagntisation magnets, rapid aging and low music, or my ear that does not support more? A little everything, I think. Daut, quaprs have got a standard Gibson, a Lag Roxanne, a PRS, it's more possible to support a! L or can be crmeuse Gibs and a little dirty, rocky, the microphones will be more of my Epi boiled - with songs.
It may also be part of the pulling ropes.
>>>>>> With stainless steel strings, it's brighter, but does not help the imprcision.
Ben honnte to be, the microphones will cder better place (Duncan SH 2 and 4 or 5) or more extreme (Duncan Disto, Di Marzio Tone Zone?) As so many others have on their Epi. And it will be left with a vengeance!
Come on, planning a new small frets, before replacing them in some nearby years, a shield and the tower will be llectro jou. It will be virtually no default!
I do not know if for a else would be worth to the transplant while the frets will also change, as the guitar nest longer young, but for me, I dont doubt I want this enough to continue playing Polle, and for the redcouvrir in a new light. Cest Gibson and no one will ever be a nen, but we know too. E This is a little diffrent ft, and for a cest I'll keep it. It has its qualities, and its default will be partially erased. So what?

OVERALL OPINION

So for the report qualitprix of this gear, it would lpoque plutt twice quune I Rasht an Epiphone Les Paul Standard (a little less present), even with these microphones. Javais bankrupt even buy a custom 3 pickups a few years ago. The Epi Les Paul today seem worse off in the woods, but much better at the microphones. I prfrerais a scratch with better wood. The pickups can be a change.
Short! Résumé to: Has my Premire correct scratches, and it will be one of my prfres.

Description've seen ...

I take off point for the two knobs, which, in my opinion, are almost useless (the settings are made on the receiver rather than on the guitar). But do not leave, it is very well anyway!

We can still set the microphone positions:
- Trebble only with distortion, but it is the square! (Its too rough on the other two positions, quality mics?)
- The three positions (rhythm = neck pickup, bridge pickup trebble, or two at the same time) to clean up a crunch (depending on the tastes of each, and the pieces ...)

UTILIZATION

Channel pleasant? YES, for me it is a "highway".

Easy access to acute? NO, but it is a Les Paul, not specially adapted to the frenzied solos to the last frets.

Ergonomics? The shape is superb (I love), the finish is very successful (no details wrinkle eye or hand to the touch). Of course, weight is important and it is true that one gets to have back pain after a while, but it's worth it! (See sounds)

Do you get a good sound easy? All depends on what research, but for the big sound, this is where it happens! Led Zep fans, Paul Personne, asdèce and other metalheads of all kinds, you have been warned!

SOUNDS

I use this with a Les Paul Line 6 "Spider Jam", and believe me, it sends, but serious!! I played before (5 months ago on a marshall, the AC was good too).

The sounds are perfect, as I said above, if you search for big sound and even the very big sound ... (Eg rhythmic Popa Chubby, ac / dc, Trust, etc ...)

Its clean, it is also very nice (to try heads of ways, on your amp + ieurs mgsin preferred). With a slight delay + reverb, micro pos. Central, it is close to the sound of "Satch" intro song "Circles" or the last track on the album "Crystal Planet" of the same Satriani. (I forget the title !!!?).

My favorite remains the course, the well saturated, fat, its where this guitar is made !!!!!

OVERALL OPINION

In conclusion, I use this guitar for 2 years now, and what I like +, you'll understand that it is made to sound loud and full.

I once had an strato japanese has nothing, really nothing to do (these two types of guitars are not made to play the same style), and a label at (600 francs at the time) that n 'had the shape of guitar ...

I think the quality / px good enough, we get something for nothing ...

If I can give advice to our friends (es) beginners (es): If you are sure you want
playing guitar (with a minimum of serious, given the investment: 500 euros 2 years ago), and what you want to request a scratch guitar that is not afraid of distorted sounds, it's a Les Paul you!

In hindsight, it is clear that the choice I would do, I do the same earlier!

However, I will still give me a strato (can be Mexican), or a telecaster
to have a larger palette of sounds.

Made in China in 2005
2 humbuckers epiphone since changed for Seymour Duncan Alnico II '59 and
Bridge 2 pieces (the classic gibson ^ ^)
2 volume, 2 tone, too changspour the top level
A three-position selector,
Channel Boudu al ... but, have you ever seen a les paul? ^ ^

WARNING: This opinion is a post from a guitar modified, as previously said.

UTILIZATION

I had plenty of time to get used to this round, rather large, round, it holds well in hand. this guitar is heavy, but it gives a feeling IMHO fat, body, brief power somehow not unpleasant.
"Gets it easy to sound good ?..." ? ah ben ca, yes! regalges good on the amp, and go!
The charge, (we must put one!) Is access to acute. not very original, ok, but vridique! it beyond the 17th box, the solos, you forget. I still wonder how guys like Rhoads, Slash or stuck Frehley plans such as high ... Finally, brief ... voila.

SOUNDS

My style of music, it was more Led Zeppelin, Free, Rolling Stones, Aerosmith (well, almost everything has cheuveux long and a Les Paul) at the time of purchase about 3 years ago. This evolved into heavier stuff like Iron Maiden, WASP, Ratt, KISS, etc ... and has been very little follow-up. Pure tones to bluesy metal, it follows without fail. CMOP serious tone knob to zero, Slash mean to sound "November Rain". Micro Treble, a background tone, the "Phantom of the Opera" picks you up, mouahaha!

Joking aside, we start from these two extremes, and we want what is between.
Personally, I couple with a Peavey Classic 30, Vox and Satchurator (for a little more gain), and I can not understand why they say that the Les Paul does not rimeront with versatility. Finally, each his own ...

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for almost 3 years now. This was my first guitar, I knew nothing, and the simple fact that it looks exactly like water that has convinced me of Jimmy Page. What a look! this guitar has a sacred class. The look is superb and the sound too.

I have made changes to this guitar by a luthier 250 euros, a sum that included two Seymour Duncan pickups, rewiring the jack, the knobs and a graphite nut.
The guitar I own so I am back to 650 euros in the end. expensive? in absolute terms, yes, but a much lower cost than a Gibson anyway, and once epiphone change is a comparison without any problem.

Yes, I would do this choice. and I would change the other too. and a custom, after. and a gold top. and ... well, ok, I calm down ^ ^

See below

UTILIZATION

- Channel D trs varnish enjoyable, pais (I love), APRS is like it or not.
- Accs difficult to acute (it's a Les Paul), especially beginners, APRS used to it.
- The weight I have no problem, at least you can feel the prsence the guitar! And gives an impression of strength.
- This gives the sound you want easily.

SOUNDS

- I play a little bit of everything (Hard rock, Blues, Varita Mtal, Punk ...) and it sounds much astonishment! She's really versatile.
- I play at home on a Marshall and 15CDR rpt 'on a Fender FM65R, we immediately see the diffrence in sound! His desire saturated on the first and prcis clear and warm on the Fender. Can I also use a Cry Baby, able now!
- With 5 BASS, CONTOUR / 6 MIDDLE, TREBLE, 7, 9 OVERDRIVE, you get a sound mtal close to Metallica (even if the Les Paul does not excel in this field), then 4 BASS, CONTOUR / 8 MIDDLE, TREBLE 8, 7 and OVERDRIVE knob position pickup, it has a punk sound, sharp desire (for a, she is doing well trs)
- I have a weakness for his sharp sound in the treble, the sound perfect for bold style Santana solos (but blah for the rhythm), clear sound impeccable, round, warm and prcis.

Last day 23/03/2009:
I have changed in recent months amp (a Line 6 Spider Valve 112 lamp), which replaced my Fender FM65R and did not see anything!
The real grain of the guitar compltement spring. Since the amp mule several major brands, we can have a glimpse of all the possible sounds of the instrument. The old Fender Deluxe 50's, to Vox AC30 and Marshall, and ending on the Mesa Boogie, and it provides good! J'apprhendais dernire especially this brand for its incredible distortions, where it is necessary to ensure the microphones. No problem, even the drive back. So I add "can do aisment of Metal".

OVERALL OPINION

- I use it since March 2007
- I like its shape, its versatility, but not worth a Gibson, even if it is close trs!
- I bought it on the internet for the price lower than shop, but I have not tried other models before it was acquired.
- Trs qualitprix good value, has made all of good quality stringed guitar legendary, drisoire price (409 for me ).... what more?
- I do it again this choice without hsiter

thick handle for good grip, at least it feels like the guitar.
Micro Alnico (yes the original).
Asian manufacturing but not présicée.

UTILIZATION

Weight impec you can play with for hours.
Perfect position, the extension of the body.

SOUNDS

In his clear is almost as good as the gibson ... but must say that I'm using a Marshall JCM900 that should help lol
In short my solliste a gibson and sometimes it's hard to make a difference to who plays what lol
In disto's okay nothing fantastic, she throws for 300 euros!

OVERALL OPINION

Overall I have long had the Gibson complex but since I made "peace" with Epiphone I'm really happy
Over time I'll end up letting go for a gibson which costs eight times more expensive anyway ... and its not an 8 times, but hey "Only Gibson Is Good Enough"

But I will keep in decor so it is nice to look at and occasionally I will be right over

Don't believe those who say the Epiphone Les Paul is not top-notch, or nearly so- the only thing that disappoints are the pickups, and even they are decent. I upgraded the pups to Gibson Burstbucker Pro's- nothing else was needed. I upgraded the tuners, but only because I had a set of Gibson bell-knob tuners that looked cooler- the original Grover tuners (branded, not copies) were as good as the ones I put on. I decided to wait to see how the pots, switch, caps and wiring, and the nut, performed, and now, three years later, with considerable play, they are all working just fine.

Don't let anyone tell you Agile, SX, or anybody else's LP is better- it just is not so. If these were not made in Indonesia, they would be perfect.

UTILIZATION

Exact copy of the Gibson Les Paul in body and neck shape- easy to play, if a bit heavy.

SOUNDS

Works fine with any amp I have played it with.

OVERALL OPINION

Black, ivory and chrome color scheme avoids glitch and flash. This is what a Les Paul should look like.

. Alder body and mahogany / maple binding table
. Mahogany set neck / rosewood fingerboard with 22 frets binding
. 2 humbucking pickups
. 2 volume / 2 tone / 3-position selector
. Bridge tun-o-matic stop bar tailpiece +
. Chrome hardware

I really like the violin that itches which is very well cared for, no complaints

UTILIZATION

So use it depends on taste, if you love heavy guitar (that is my case = P) and you like big round asser (lespaul therefore normal) it should please you.
At the game, I find the handle very comfortable, I have to try lots of other type of guitar (Ibanez RG, Fender Tele, Ltd., Dean, etc ...) and I didn 't find this on any other comfort guitar = D.
The access to acute is (that is not a Les Paul Flying V nonplus) ca me but I completely agree!
This is not the kind of guitar with which you will blow up in all directions, there should be a good band and if possible strap-lock (what I intend to soon buy site has a few near misses o_O?)
In conclusion I say that is a very comfortable guitar to be that we should not be afraid of back pain after a few hours of play ^ ^

SOUNDS

Then frankly I have been surprised when I have received!

"I had heard that the pickups Epiphone n 'was pretty bad and it was better to change faster, but the impression that I have had that is that they are microrespectable!
It is on that are going on everywhere, but not own personality that is very convenient!
I was among those who think we can do any style with n 'importequelle guitar so I do not deprive me: P
Even if that is true, what a personality all its own that makes it better in blueus style, and rock and roll but I find it particularly versatile!
I play hendrix, ac / dc, metallica, red hot, soad, clapton, muse, a bit of metal for fun and for m blueus' fun! You can really play at all! Just to have good stuff behind =)
I plugged into a Hughes And Kettner Matric Combo 100w and I arrive to have a rich sound palette After it is sufficient to have the correct settings.
And its clean! Wow: p

OVERALL OPINION

It's going to do almost a year since I have this wonder:


And I can tell you I'm nothing on it (can be just the color, take java's most original but can be ca that is nothing!)

What I like most about this itches? I would say his mouth = P Lespaul must admit that that is class! But all's well in this guitar, especially for the price! (Purchased € 400 on Thomann)

What I like least?? The yellow knob not very aesthetic ^ ^ (I think soon to change)

The quality / price ratio is really good I think! Throw away your on it if you like the myth Lespaul!!

Ultimately I would metterai 9 / 10 because nothing is perfect, but it must be with Seymour 's approach it!

Epiphone is Gibsons lower price line of guitar. They have pretty much the same specs as the Gibson models. The electronics are not as good but they are made from the species of wood but the wood may not be the best quality. The Les Paul standard guitar was introduced in 1958. They came with the first PAF pickups and when people talk about the Gibson tone they are talking about these. They have the standard Les Paul setup with mahogany body with a maple top and a mahogany neck with a 22 fret rosewood fretboard. Two humbucking Alnico Classic pickups with dual volume and tone controls with a 3 way toggle switch pickup selector. The up position on the switch selects the neck pickup. The middle position on the pickup selector selects both pickups. And the down position on the pickup selector selects the bridge pickup. It has a tune-o-matic bridge and stop tail piece.

UTILIZATION

The Epiphone Les Paul standard has all of the same advantages and disadvantages in playability that every Les Paul has. If you are use to modern guitars with thin necks the Les Paul neck will be very big for you. Because of the set neck design there is a large neck tenon and joint. This can make the upper frets hard for some people to reach because the body essentially joins the neck at the 17th fret. After the 17th fret you are reaching around the body to get to the frets. The tuning stability is good because there is no tremolo. The quality of hardware Epiphone uses is not that great. I have had problems with the input jack unscrewing itself and things like that.

SOUNDS

The pickups Epiphone uses are not that great. They are pretty muddy and dead. You do not get much attack with these pickups. Since these pickups do not have much definition the neck position can get really muddy. These guitars are chambered like the Gibson Les Paul standard guitars. This takes away some of the thickness from the tone. With a high gain amp the sound might get muddy due to the lack of definition. With some types of music these pickups are great. If you want a bluesy sound these pickups will do really good and you will be able to get a smooth tone out of them. With a pickup swap this guitar can sound great so I would recommend to anyone who has one of these Epiphones to try it out with some after market pickups.

OVERALL OPINION

If you are looking for a cheap Gibson Les Paul alternative there are better guitars out there. Epiphone makes the only official Les Paul copies but there are some other copies that are of a lot better quality. I would recommend looking at an Agile Les Paul copy. You can get a guitar half the price of the Epiphone but with better quality, and for the price you pay for this Epiphone you can get an Agile with an ebony fretboard and Gibson quality hardware.

The Epiphone Les Paul Standard was made to act as a lower budget version of the classic Gibson Les Paul Standard. It features all of the classic appointments of the LP, such as a mahogany body and neck, flamed maple top, dual humbuckers, and a tuneomatic bridge and stop tailpiece. The full list of specs is as follows:

Epiphone Les Paul Standard Plain Top Electric Guitar Features:
Mahogany body
Maple veneer over carved top
Alnico Classic humbuckers
Chrome hardware
Grover tuners
24-3/4" scale
1-11/16" nut width
Set mahogany neck
Slim-tapered neck profile
Rosewood fretboard with trapezoid inlays
Body/neck binding
LockTone Tune-O-Matic bridge/stopbar tailpiece

Basically, it's designed to be a classic Les Paul, but at about 1/4 the price... does it live up to the hype? We'll see...

UTILIZATION

Design wise, the Les Paul was never the most ergonomic guitar on the planet, and this Epiphone model is no exception. The Epiphone model, like the 2008 model Gibson LP Standard, features chambered construction so it's lighter than your average LP, but as I stated in my LP Standard review, the cost of a lighter wait is a thinner/un LP like tone in my opinion. The upper fret access on Les Pauls is decent enough, though the neck heel can get in the way on occasion.

Getting a decent tone out of this guitar is not difficult. Like nearly every Epiphone guitar I've tried, it's plagued with muddy, cheap sounding pickups that lack note definition, so the tones as stock are not even close to my Gibson LP that is loaded with '57 Classics. However, I have tried models that have had replaced pickups, and it does greatly improve the tone of the guitar plugged in.

SOUNDS

I've tried these guitars through various Marshall and Mesa Boogie amplifiers, both in stock and modified form. I would say the tones are reasonable enough when you consider the price they sell for new. O

The clean tones are fair enough when set up correctly. The pickups lack a lot of the punch of some higher quality models from Gibson, DiMarzio or Seymour Duncan, but even considering that, the cleans have a decent low end and midrange tone that's excellent for jazzy and bluesy tones.

The overdrive tones are nice for the guitar for sure. It seems to excel at seventies/eighties arena type hard rock. The guitar isn't quite as dynamic as my Gibson LP, so using the volume and tone controls really don't do quite as much as I might like.

All in all, the stock tones really are average at best. It improves greatly if you upgrade the pickups, but that's an additional expense to consider when buying...

OVERALL OPINION

All in all I figure the Epiphone Les Paul Standard is a decent lower budget guitar for someone who really wants to be the next Jimmy Page or Slash, but is on a budget. The construction of the guitar is fine and it plays fairly well... but the electronics are simply just not up to par. Personally, if I was spending $600 on a flamed top Epiphone LP Standard and then an additional $150 or $200 on pickups/electronics... I would simply put my money into a second hand Gibson Les Paul Studio or Studio Faded, which to me is a far superior instrument and will hold its value far better than an Epiphone.

The Epi standard is made in Korea. The 2 vol and 2 tone controls allow for easy tone variation at your fingertips.

Mahogany body with a thick maple cap
thick mahogany neck
rosewood board with 22 meduim jumbo frets
stoptail/tune-o-matic bridge

UTILIZATION

I'm more of a strat guy, so LP's have never had the best upper fret acess for me. The coupling of a beefy neck defineily hinders speed on an LP neck, but that doesn't mean it can't be done, just look at John Sykes!

The lack of comfort cuts might bother players more comfortable with strats, but that's also part of an LP's charm, that large mass of wood.

Although I've played many LP's that didn't sound or play that great, one thing that you can be sure of is that an LP will sound big, and have a low mid emphasis, just because of the wood mass and body/neck construction.

My Epi is about 9 lbs. Pretty hefty!

SOUNDS

I go for a Marshally, Modded Plexi type tone with most of my guitars, but I find that my Epi performs better under lower gain settings, where the fat LP tone can take over.

The pickups are OK. Nothing spectacular about them, but at the same time, they aren't horrible. The bridge delivers on 70s hard rock ala Thin lizzy, but it get's muddy under high gain applications. The neck is a bit better for that, but it still tends to have too much lows. Cleans are quite warm, if a bit characterless, and safe.



OVERALL OPINION

An Epi LP is a good introduction to Les Pauls, if you're on a budget. With a good setup, and new pickups, you can definetly find keepers, unfortuantely mine was not one of them. One of the best LP's I've ever played was a Zakk Wyled sig, though, so it can be done at a lower price point.