Epiphone Les Paul Standard Plain Top

I bought it on Forstarkardoktorn.com in Stockholm. It was the best! Paid 850$
It's only available in Scandinavia though...

I like most things about it!

The Machine Heads suck! Buy new ones!

It has a Solid Mahogany body with a class AA- european maple top that is both heavy and beautiful. The finish is incredible compared to the Standard model and so is the detail quality. It has Mahogany a neck with mother-of-pearl inlays and has great action and playability (1960 shape). It is handcrafted in Czechoslovakia so it's not some plastic junk Korean made guitar. The pickups and the rest of the hardware come from Schaller. The pickups sounds very vintage and real. This guitar doesn't feel like an Epiphone at all! More like a Gibson if you ask me!


If you buy an Epiphone, buy this one!

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

The Les Paul Standard is the essence of all that is Gibson, really. The Epiphone equivalent somewhat matches that signature characteristic, but I find that it falls short in a few areas that I'll explain later. It has a mahogany body with a maple top, a set mahogany neck with a rosewood fretboard and trapezoid inlays, 22 frets, binding all around, tune-o-matic bridge, three humbuckers, two volumes, two tones and a three way switch.

UTILIZATION

The guitar had a few flaws. For one, the nut wasn't cut properly. Whenever you tuned up, you could notice that there was an audible ping. This is because the nut was binding the string. The frets on these were pretty decent in terms of the fret ends, but there were a few low frets on this. A nice fret level could allow you to get some sick action on this, and if you get one, I recommend looking into this. Aside from that, the build quality was pretty similar to the rest of the Epiphone line.

SOUNDS

The pickups in this were pretty dull and bland sounding. The bridge pickup was muddy and seemed to lack what I usually look for in a bridge pickup. The neck pickup sounded dull, and I couldn't get that super smooth lead tone I love so much. If I were to keep this guitar, I would probably put in something like a JB/59 combo in this. That would really help give it some balls, and considering I play metal, they'd be more suited towards what I look for in a guitar.

OVERALL OPINION

These are decent guitars, but be sure to pay attention to details. The nut on this wasn't the best, the frets could use some leveling, and the pickups really need to be replaced. Once you address those issues, it's a real solid playing guitar. If you can afford the real deal, I recommend getting that instead. If not, this could be a decent alternative.

(Originally written by leguitaristedu02/translated from Audiofanzine FR)
- Made in china

- Two humbuckers and tune-o-matic bridge

- 2 tone and 2 volume controls, 3-way toggle switch



UTILIZATION

The neck is very pleasant.

But access to the upper frets is not very easy.

The guitar is heavy (like a Les Paul)

The sound is really good (I play a small, 6-watt Line 6 Micro Spider amp).

SOUNDS

This guitar is perfect for my music style: Led Zeppelin, Green Day, Pink Floyd, etc.

I don't know how to adjust the guitar yet...

I like every sound it produces.

OVERALL OPINION

I've been playing it for three weeks.

I like everything about this guitar!!

I bought it on the web so I didn't actually test it before buying it, but I did test other guitars.

Good value for money.

I wouldn't change it for anything else in the world!

Made in China, but I think for once it's bnfique: the guitar as an offer for a Gibson US drisoire price (450 euros) ...
In the range of plain top Epiphone is placed above the satandard more.
-Body mahogany
- Flame maple table
- Handle collbr /> On mine I substituting the alnico V by Elitist for an even more fawn vintage Les Paul 58 '.
I also mount of mcaniques Grover USA
I have a Gibson SG Faded which in terms of finish is well below the Epiphone. The Epiphone is really very well Finni and very beautiful.


USE

The handle is a true Russianness less fat than the Gibson and faster. The access to the treble is very easy as a given that there are only 22 boxes.
The guitar is heavier than the SG, but the big sound comes directly to weight. This is not an Ibanez basswood, it's clear!
Gibson typical sound, it is obtained immediately.

SONORITS

I play blues, rock 70 ', hard blues so this is the Idale guitar.
With the original pickups sound is already bigger and bulky as the Gibson SG that is much sche timbre level.
The Elitist reinforces this side "Bold" and strong.
Both pickups are killing particulirement solo. The guitar sends a phenomenal sustain (even with the original alnico is above the Gibson Faded.

Compared a Gibson Les Paul Standard, it is not a huge difference except the price. Not in any case what justified the supplmentaires 1500 euros.

NOTICE GLOBAL

I was tired of my Gibson SG and its handle lumberjack that slowed my game, I could afford to pay me a Gibson Studio but the handle is the same. So I turn to Epiphone whose sleeves are better, less fat and less tiring. I do not regret my purchase, I have a Gibson or (better with Elitist microphones) and possibilt to play the same speed with my fender strat.
I advise the top level rather than the standard because for 60 euros more possde it a better violin.
Made in the USA, it would cost 1500 euros ...