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Posts: 86
Location: Detroit area | Dudes, GAS is upon me. I already have a sweet single-coil set up w/my Tele. I'm GASsing for some humbuckers. Epiphone has seemingly made some huge strides in the past few years. Is it worth it to save $$ for a "real" Les Paul, or is a $600 Epiphone LP Custom pretty much the same guitar? |
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Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret |  |
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November 2005
Posts: 1126
Location: Omaha, NE | I bought an Epi Lucille last year. Love it. Looked long and hard at lots of different guitars, including Gibson. I ended up deciding I liked the Epi better than the rest. Its just the one that spoke to me. So, in general, I agree with where you are going: You don't have to spend Gibson money to get a good LP. |
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December 2003
Posts: 1071
Location: Carle Place, NY | For a bit more than the Epi, but a lot less than a Gibson, you can get a mint condition used Heritage LP. These are made at the old Gibson plant in Kalamazoo and have better quality than the Gibsons.
Cherry sunburst
Translucent orange
They also turn up on craigslist frequently. |
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March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | I was just talking to someone about this issue, sort of. He has an EPI Les Paul that he really likes and we both liked the Dot, but when I was trying out a bunch of low end guitars for someone last year I noticed a bunch of quality issues with Epiphones. I don't know if the quality slipped, if there was a difference in quality of acoustic Epis vs. electric issues, or if I just saw some bad ones.
I'm biased. I'd go for a Viper or 3 or 4 Ultra GSs with various humbucker/single coil arrangements for the same price as one Epi LP. |
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Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Hamer. |
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May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | I'd go with one of the reverends, which I really like, no quality control issues and they are gig ready.
They also make an SG that would work pretty good.
http://www.reverendguitars.com/reverend/guitars/set_neck_series/rou...
An alternative would be something that CWK mentioned years ago, and I pursued ... make yourself a warmoth. If I were doing a humbucker thing ... I'd use a tele mahogany body, route it for humbuckers (about $170), or a P-90 in the neck position, tele humbucker bridge, 4 way switch, bridge, neck and bridge series, neck, bridge and neck parralell. Tone and volume control. Tone would have a midrange control. (Electronics you'd get off of ebay) 25.5 scale maple neck with rosewood fretboard, 1 11/16 or 1 3/4 width neck. ($200). (They also have 24.75 scale necks.
Finish the body with tung oil and the neck with tru-oil.
Space the purchases out over a few months, and by summer you're rocking!
You'd then have something like a hamer talladaga, but more humbuckery.
As for EPIs or Gibbies, there OK, and I've found the differences not to be that great. It all depends what you're looking for. |
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Posts: 5575
Location: big island | what wabbit said, or didn't...
some pictures are worth a thousand words. |
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May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | If you could find a nice used Hamer that would be good too. Or a Carvin. |
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Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | McInturff ;)
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Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | If ya go with an offshore Epi, then avoid the latest Chinese models. Your best bang for the buck is a used mint Korean. Also avoid gold plating unless you decide to go USA. |
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Posts: 86
Location: Detroit area | Hmmmm. Never heard of Reverend even though they're right here in MI. I'll check them out. |
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Posts: 6996
Location: Jet City | Way better than either....
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Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Yeah, UK-II woulda been my second suggestion... |
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Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | neither, get a UK2 or warmoth parts and make your own. |
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Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Depends upon what you're looking for and what you want to do with it. |
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December 2003
Posts: 1071
Location: Carle Place, NY | Originally posted by cliff:
Hamer. A USA Hamer is an excellent choice also. I've seen some really nice used Hamers at the same price as a new Epi.
Like this one
What's been said about the quality of the Chinese made Epi's is also true. If you get an Epi LP, makes sure it's Korean. |
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Posts: 6996
Location: Jet City | Originally posted by Mauvais Beal:
neither, get a UK2 or warmoth parts and make your own. There you have it. Topic finished. NEXT! :D |
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April 2007
Posts: 225
Location: Stow, Ohio | Korean Epi, with Seymore Duncans 59's.....that's my #1. I play it more than my 84 Gibson explorer.
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May 2004
Posts: 383
Location: Indiana | Hamer, Heritage, Ovation. Better guitars, better companies, less money.
Bill |
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December 2006
Posts: 6996
Location: Jet City | Nice axe Elliot. That Explorer... Is that one of the flamed tops with binding? Or maybe a Designer Series?
I have a designer series V from the same year. |
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April 2006
Posts: 2491
Location: Copenhagen Denmark | Japan Made Stratocaster...PhatStrat type.. |
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November 2005
Posts: 1126
Location: Omaha, NE | PRS makes some nice stuff too...their import line is worth a look. |
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Posts: 225
Location: Stow, Ohio | Damon67
here is the Explorer
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December 2006
Posts: 6996
Location: Jet City | Nice! I bought mine new in '84. It's a different series though. I've modified it a bit over the years
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I have GAS. So, Epi LP or Gibson LP?
