Looking to trade for one of these sometime this week. I've read some really good reviews and was wondering if anyone on here owns one or has played one. If so, I'd like to know what you think about it. I know this is a Fender site, but it's the only guitar site I get on. Thanks!

Hi Jack: no worries about that bit, I'm sure.

It is far from my sort of axe or my sort of music, so take the following with a good dose of salt. But it so happens I did once sit in a shop and try the Epiphone side-by-side with the Gibson version of the same guitar, just for shucks. Gibson claim theirs is the same spec as Zakk's own instruments - someone else will have to confirm or deny that. At any rate, the Gib must be our benchmark.

I'm very far from a brand snob (I hope) and I'm also not usually too worried about hype over exact pickup details. So it was to my surprise that I really did notice quite a bit of difference in the fit and finish and also in the sounds those two guitars put out. No doubt that has a lot to do with the pickups: a quick search refreshes my memory that the Epi carries EMG HZ4 and HZ4A pups while the Gib comes with "Zakk's own choice" of an EMG85 and an 81.

I was taken aback at how much difference I noticed, and I'm afraid I liked the much more expensive guitar better.

I've a feeling that's probably not what you wanted to hear, is it?

My suggestion would be to shop around for a Zakk Epi (if that is the look you must have) and wait to find a really nicely finished one. They are definitely out there: you don't have to pay thousands for a well playing guitar, but perhaps you have to look a little harder.

Then swap out the pickups if you feel you need to - along with the additional electronic issues (passive to active) that will involve, of course.

Good luck - C

Ceri,

I appreciate your comments a lot. It's not so much the look I'm searching for. It's more of a different guitar for a different sound.......just for the $%&* of it and have a different sound in my arsenal. I'll appproach this more as a sceptic now for sure. I've owned a guitar with EMG's before and really liked them and since I wanted a Les Paul style guitar, I agreed to take a look at this one that someone has in a possible trade for one of my guitars.

I wonder if I can get any classic Zeppelin sounds out of it along with some Deep Purple sounds etc. The thing that attracted me to the Epiphone was the passive PU's rather than the active PU's as are in the Gibson. I'm not much of a metal head, but I'd heard that you could get some really good sounds out of it as with a classic Les Paul. Would you have happened to play any classic rock with the Gibson or Epiphone? (and yes, I will occassionally make it squeal just for giggles if I do get it....or one like it.) Thanks again for the info.

If you want an Epi try the LP Tribute,
http://www.epiphone.com/news.asp?NewsID=1632

This thing has two push/pull tone pots to allow for series/parallel pickup switching. I tried one and it was built really well and sounded great. It has Gibby Classic 57 pups and has a ton of possible tonal variations. I found it to be really nice for Classic Rock and Blues.

_________________
Life...... It's sexually transmitted and always fatal

Does anyone know how to pick up a Les Paul and not try out a few bits of Zeppelin? I sure don't!

Your reasoning on the passive EMGs makes good sense, I'd say. But this is where personal taste takes over because myself I'd be favoring some even more traditionally flavored humbuckers in any LP I actually wanted to drag home. So my ideas on this are probably not a useful guide for you.

So I'm afraid it's the same old tired but realistic advice: you've got to demo these things side by side for yourself in a shop and let your ears decide.

If it isn't the paint job that is particularly attracting you to the Zakk Wylde I do think there is a case for looking at other models too - because the ZW Sig is a pretty standard LP apart from the pickups. 63supro's suggestion is good, and I'd just throw the Les Paul Ultra into the mix as something else you might try and find a use for.

I'm normally confused by people who buy a guitar and immediately swap out the pickups. But maybe this is one occasion for doing just that. Find a nicely spec'd, probably cheaper Epi LP and then put your own preference in pickups into it.

Graphics aside, that's what Zakk did, after all!

Best of luck with it - C

I always found Zack's tone to be too Kazoo like. I just can't find anything appealing about. But then again I'm not a Metal/White Noise kind of guy and no expert on it at all. He kind of reminds me of the Hulk Hogan of Metal.

_________________
Life...... It's sexually transmitted and always fatal

Hi JackDragBean, If you want a great guitar, LP style, With the Zack style, stay away from the Epiphone and check out one of these ans see how you like it. You might just change your mind. http://www.espguitars.com/guitars_deluxe_ec.html

hey guys,

the other big difference you will find is the neck. most gib or epi have a mahogany set neck that is painted. the zakk wylde has a maple set neck that is satin finished i believe so it has a slightly snappier tone than a traditional lp style this paintless neck is also supposed to make it faster and less sticky to play.

hope this helps

_________________
I like my tone like my women. Full round bottom, sweet and clean but can get as dirty as I desire.

also you may want to check this site out http://www.rondomusic.com/

they make very inexpensive yet very quality guitars. i recently picked up an agile AL-2000 for 160 bucks and it has a solid mahogany body, a maple set neck, jumbo frets, p-90 pickups and even grover tuners.

you may want to change out some of the electronics but all in all these are great guitars for great prices. they even make neck-thru les pauls

i would much rather have one of these than a epiphone

_________________
I like my tone like my women. Full round bottom, sweet and clean but can get as dirty as I desire.

Thanks again Ceri. I really appreciate it.

Stratgeek, the satin finish neck was actually something that had gained my attention about the guitar. I have the same finish on my Squire Tele Custom II and I really like the way it feels and the speed of the neck. I guess I just need to look at it and see what I think about it as a whole. There are some pluses and some minuses, and I'll just have to see which weighs more.


Thanks again everybody. Any other ideas are welcome.

Just my opinion, but the EMG HZs that come stock in that guitar are awful. Nothing at all like active EMGs, except for the fact that they sound sterile. Other than that, the one that I tried out was a really nice guitar.

EDIT: +1 to Marvin's suggestion. LTD guitars are much better in the "bang for your buck" department. The EC1000s are nicer than Gibson Les Paul Standards, at least as far as quality and consistancy.

Yeah, funny thing is,The Epiphone Zack Bullseye is about $700. bucks with those crappy pickups, all your is paying for on that is the paint job and the signature. It's still $700. for an Epiphone. I'd hate to see someone throw away money like that when you pay about the same for the LTD 1000 with actual EMG's (81/60) or a nice set of Duncans. and on the black you get an actual EBONY board. And I guarantee the LTD 1000 will sound just like Zack Wilde and BLS more than that one that has his name on it. The LTD series guitars are a Great Value imo, amd you don't come across that too often these days.

I understand the whole bang for your buck etc., but I'm looking to trade one of my guitars with someone for the Zakk Wylde Epiphone, so no money will change hands. The amount of money etc. is not the problem. I guess when it comes to those guitars that have been mentioned, I don't know anyone wanting to trade one so I was getting information on the Epiphone. I'm looking at trading an Ibanez Artcore for the Zakk Wylde Epiphone. As far as money goes, the Epiphone is worth more than the Ibanez. That's neither here nor there. Maybe when I have some money to blow, I'll look into those that have been mentioned. I was just looking for info on this guitar. Thanks though!

I have an Epiphone Les Paul Custom that is a great guitar. It satisfied all my Les Paul urges. Not saying it's better than the higher cost Gibsons but it blows the Studio's out of the water. I believe the WZ and the regular Customs are very similar.

_________________
Tune Low, Play Hard & Floor it!

Just saw this one on the local craigs list:

http://newjersey.craigslist.org/msg/2067083184.html