Well, as an owner of two MIM Fender Strats, I can vouch for them being very good quality guitars. My CP 50's, in particular, has quality components and the workmanship is first-rate and I didn't buy it to modify it. So, Gorgon, I can see we are on different planets in regard to our opinions on lower priced guitars and that's fine. It seems to me though, that if you pay some attention to the specs and reviews, you can get very nice Epiphones and non-USA built Fenders.

I'm not a professional musician but I do enjoy collecting and trying to play guitars so I appreciate the fact that good quality, inexpensive guitars are available. Unless I hit the lottery, I don't ever plan to put out the $$ to buy a Gibson Les Paul that is equivalent, feature-wise, to the Epiphone Les Paul 60's Tribute so I will very likely buy the Epiphone and enjoy the heck out of it. At the same time though, based on the feedback here, I am ALSO going to take a look at the lower priced Gibsons and consider one for a future purchase...

I may be way out of line here, but, I just have to say this...

It is sacrilege to even think of owning a Gibson "Lucille" when it is BB King's guitar. It'd be like fooling around with another man's wife... The Epi "Lucille" is a cheap imitation copy and again, should not be owned or played.

....there I said it. I feel better.

And all those folks who bought Artist Strats should be ashamed of themselves too!!

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Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.

I have a few. I've owned 5 of them in all. I think they're great "budget Gibsons" if you can get a good one.
I still have the Dot and the cherry SG, but sold the P90 LP and an SG custom for a Gibby double cut P90.


The most recent acquisition is the '61 Reissue Casino. I really wanted a Casino after borrowing one for a while, but didn't like the big headstock or the sound of the chrome covered pickups in the standard models. When this one came along I had to grab it! Light as a feather and Gibson P90s work for me.


This is what I replaced the P90 LP with:

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Guitars For Vets

I hope you don't own one of these then....



Les's baby, not yours!

I don't think anyone's been able to explain that to Jimmy Page or Slash though

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I have Strats, a Gibson Les Paul, as well as an Epiphone Les Paul.

If you work on guitars at all, you can't beat an Epiphone Les Paul. The reason I say that is that the Epi pickups are a bit weak, in fact all the electronics are weak.

I recommend replacing the pickups (I put in a Gibson PAF and PAF Pro set).

I recommend replacing the switch at the first sign of trouble.which you may never have a problem, but Epi pickup switches are notorious for dying out after about a year or so. If you do change it, make sure to read the schematics for the new switch. They do NOT match the Epi. I thought I could simply write down what wire connects to what poll, and it didn't work. After a quick check of the schematics, the switch was done, and haven't had a problem in a decade.

After those changes, the guitar is incredible. Sounds great, plays great. Plus it's lighter than the Gibson Les Pauls, which is a good thing when you are playing out.

I just can't stand the headstock on the Epi's..... I think it's the most damn ugly headstock of any guitar I have ever seen, every time I see the big dopey looking spade on the end of a beautiful dot or LP I just cringe... I couldn't live with it.......superficial huh....I am not usually I have a 80's Mij squier I love and proudly play out.... But Epi's just look like retarded Gibsons to me....

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Here's something to make you forget about the headstock.

Oh, Nancy (sha-wing!) ... you look even better now than you did back in the day.

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Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.

I don't even know who she is but she looks so frickin cool I'll give you that.... I dig the messy hair classy Rawk n Roll look she's sporting for sure..... But she's still got one of those half pie shovelophones.... If it were only a Gibson the picture would be wall worthy.....

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When Les Paul designed the "Les Paul" guitar he was working in the Epiphone factory.
Epiphone existed long before Gibson 'acquired' and subsequently ruined it.
Epiphone is almost 140 years old! 1873-2012 = 139 years. That's 29 years older than Gibson, which was founded in 1902.

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personally i like the headstock shape , much nicer than the gibson one imo , feast you'r eyes

this is the headstock from my new to me epi lp custom chrome ,

this has everything i want in a les paul , it sounds phenomenal and the playability is much better than the gibson i had , oh and it's easier to clean than a black nitro finished gibby , i was fed up cleaning that thing this ones a keeper , cheers
Alan

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That's a nice Epiphone Alan where'd you get that from? What did you change on it and how much was it? Looks cool. If i ever get another guitar it'd need to be a Epiphone LP 'cos i could never afford a Gibson ever again i don't think.

See i want for that reason to believe that they're as good as Gibsons but look at the price difference, they can't be

Also my opinion is slanted towards being more dritical of them because of the ES175 i've got. Man the tuning pegs are a friggin' disaster No guitar no matter how cheap should ever go on sale with pegs as bad as this. It's just not right.

What Epiphones are still made in the US?

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Luck won't do it and ignorance can't

George Van Eps.

That's Nancy Wilson of Heart and she has a number of Epi LPs. If memory serves I believe the one she's playing in that pic was purchased by her at a NAMM show several days before the picture was taken.

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Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.

hi Gary , i gave this guitar the works a few years ago , a guy from perth used to send down his epi's for a redo of the guts, this one has , 50,s wiring with braided wiring , cts pot , pio caps , switchcraft switch and jack , as for pickups , it's fitted with an irongear dirty torque in the bridge and a rolling mill at the neck ( i traded a mij strat for this about a month ago) since i got it it's had a gotoh bridge , speed knobs and green tulip kluson tuners added it also is mahogany with a maple cap (full size) just gius a shout if you want to try it out Gary , it'll surprise you oh and nea probs with tuning cheers
Alan

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Wow.....thanks great info I never would have thought it....

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