Not a strat, but....it is real pretty.
I have a Gibson Les Paul, that I love, but don't take out of the case alot, for fear of my 6 year old bumping into it. I'd feel better having an epiphone that I wouldn't have to worry about as much. It plays and sounds great, and honestly, if it were chambered like my 09 LP standard, I wouldn't be able to tell the difference. Obviously, this is a mahogany body with a carved maple top with the flame maple veneer (according to epiphone's website)...I've never seen an Epi with this kind of flame before! Nonetheless...I was just thinking about picking it up....it comes with a new SKB case too, for $375. Seems like a good deal to me, just wanted to get some other's opinions....this Guitar and SKB case for $375? New, it sells at GC for $549, and that's without a case. I thought I might hold on to it and make a partial trade later on a telecaster...but I'll keep the case for my Gibby LP.

What do you think? Good deal?

sweet gibson man

_________________
blues - its a religion...

Why buy a cheaper version of the guitar you already own? I'd buy the Tele now. We all know that a Fender will take a beating, even from a 6yo. Bring out the LP after bedtime.
(What did you expect from a Fender forum? )

The Epiphone Les Paul is a good sounding guitar (it doesn´t sound like a Gibson though - Gibson sounds more woody). I had problems with the fretwork so I had to recrown some frets in upper part of the neck (to the body).
The pickups are high output and they sound really good.
I didn´t like the bridge compared to a Gibson bridge. Pickup switch is not that great and pots eather (they work but they are the small type).
The Gibson SG faded is a way better guitar and sounds incredible (it´s more expensive and yeah it´s an SG).
If you really want a Les Paul for a backup I would go for a Studio Les Paul wit the worn finish (great guitars for the money)

Cheers,
Robin

_________________
_________________________________
http://www.youtube.com/robinstrower
_________________________________

That sounds like a good deal on the guitar; the SKB case alone is likely worth $75 used (it looks like the nicer SKB with the TSA latches). I think it's a good deal since you want to keep your Gibson put away until your son is older. If you don't trade the guitar off on a Tele it gives you something to take around to jams that you don't have to worry about, and if your son shows interest in playing you have a guitar to give to him to start out on.

Looks pretty good for a Gibson.

_________________
"Damn Right I Got the Blues"

I know what you mean by hiding a guitar from kids.

This is a nice looking LP and from pictures can't tell if anything is wrong. The price sounds right get it if you like it. If it ends up not meeting your expectations you can always get around $280 with some retail tax savings on a trade (without a case) if the guitar is in good shape.

Well, my thinking is that for $375, I buy it, keep the case for my Gibson (the snakeskin cases it came with my Les Paul is not as strong as the SKB) and sell the guitar. There is a used 2004 USA Telecaster that I have my eye on at a local music store....they have it listed for $599. I thought I could get them to give me $300 for this guitar (minus the case, since the guitar didn't actually come from the factory with a case) and knock about $75-100 off the price of the tele. That way, I'd walk away with a practically new 04 Tele with it's factory hardshell case, the SKB case for my Gibson, all for about $600 bucks. But, I don't know. Or I could find the right buyer, and sell the guitar on CL for $350, minus the case. Just a thought. Trying to trade my way up to that tele. I've got 4 strats and an LP, but no Telecaster...I want one! Just trying to wheel and deal a little...2 cases and a telecaster sounds pretty good for $600. Or, I can probably just go buy the tele for $500 and buy a uxed SKB case. That's probably a better bet.

You can,t go wrong getting that for 375. No matter what some others have said Its still a nice guitar.