Played a Epiphone Elite Les Paul Standard today...

[michael saulnier]

After reading much about them, I finally got to play an Epiphone Elite Les Paul Standard this afternoon at a local guitar shop, Guitar Trader.

 

They only had one in stock, an Ebony one, so I can't comment on the "look" of a flamed top or anything.

 

My first impression when I took it off the wall was how "light" it was compared to my personal LP Standard. Considering LP's can range between 7 and 12 lbs... (mine's probably around 9 or 10lbs.)... I'd say this was one of the lightest LP's I've held. Perhaps this had some sort of "chambers" carved in it... or just some light wood... The "thickness" and shape was classic LP, so it didn't seem to be "thin cut" or anything.

 

The fit and finish was very nice. The neck was straight, frets nicely even and polished, all the "joints" were well done, paint was good, nut cut well... in all there was nothing to complain about as far as this is concerned. The knobs and tuners felt fine, and reminded me of my own LP.

 

It was setup very nicely, with low action. It had 9's (or maybe 8's) on it, so for me, (who prefers 10's or 11's) it was a bit too "rubber band-like"... but that's not the fault of the guitar. I have no doubt that it would "tighten up" with heavier strings.

 

Even with light strings, it had a great, "real LP" sound. I played first through a Fender Deluxe '65 reissue and was immediately able to get great clean blues tones from the neck humbucker. I don't think these are the "exact" pickups used in the current US made LP's, but the neck was very warm and responsive to changes in the volume control and tone knob... just like my own LP.

 

The bridge pickup was classically "bright" when played clean with the volume full up, but did blend nicely with the neck for chord playing and single note stuff.

 

When overdriven, the bridge pickup delivered that "cutting" tone associated with lead LP sounds with no problems. I only played in the store and didn't rock out at "band levels" but nothing seemed to indicate that a louder sound would have any problems. YMMV.

 

I would rate the pickups as "classic" sounding versus "high gain"... but they would be suitable for all but the most "heavy" tones imho.

 

Again, the light strings didn't produce all the "oomph" I would like when playing overdriven riffs and chords, but I think that would improve greatly when if I put at least 10's on it.

 

I didn't have the time to blind A/B it with a US made LP, but I'd think it would be hard to "hear" the difference using the same setup.

 

With a retail price around $1000 this guitar competes with US made LP Studio's. I'm not sure which one I would prefer. I would probably check out several of both and pick the one that "spoke" to me on that day. I would certainly NOT automatically regect the Epi as less worthy as I might with many of the Korean ones... which are just not made with the same materials or care.

 

I'd like to know more about why it was so light. Not that this is a bad thing. In fact, if I've ever disliked ANYTHING about my LP's, it's been that they're real heavy when you're playing for a few hours at a time. Having a great sounding, great looking LP that was pretty light... well I could see that as a GOOD thing!

 

Some people won't get past the Epi logo on the headstock. Nothing I write here would change that in any way...

 

But if you CAN get past that, These are worth checking out.

 

One tip if you're looking a wall full of Epi's and can't easily figure out which ones are the "Elite's"... On the top of the headstock, the Korean Epi's have a "v" shaped cut on the top of the headstock... the "Elite's" have a rounded "dome-like" headstock top. This makes it easy to see if one's a Korean or Elite. Cool!

 

Anyway, I hope this review helps someone...

 

If you have any questions, let me know... and I'll add more info.

 

guitplayer

[revolead]

Haven't got a chance to play one yet, but from what I've read and seen, this is my personal view:

It seems like a great guitar, great sound, good looks, and plays well. But for its high price it kind of defeats the purpose in an Epi Les Paul. For two-hundred bucks less there's a great looking used Gibson LP Studio in wine red with gold hardware, that looks just as good, and probably plays better.

One thing I will say is the Epi line defintely looks sharper overall, but I think only time will tell whether this series will hit it off enough to compete with Gibson (depsite the fact they're the same company) at the price their looking for. It might appeal to the European folks, who are complaining about the high cost of US exports to Europe.

My final statement:

This guitar series will neatly blur the line between Korean imports and US made guitars.

[whitefang]

You have to remember, Revo, that not EVERY music outlet is flooded with good looking, used LP Studios! So, if the Epi is found comparable at a lower price than most Gibson LP's, it's worth a look. I've never been too fond of the studio to begin with...

 

Whitefang

[daddyelmis]

I don't really understand the purpose of a high priced "elite" line of Epi's. Gibson did it's best to make Epi the "working man's" guitar -- decent looking, decent playing and very affordable.

 

If I'm spending a grand on an electric, I've got a lot of choices.

 

My own cynical, biased and grumpy opinion is that this is yet another example of Gibson trying to run the price up on everything it touches.

[fantasticsound]

Enough with the Gibson bashing... either you like 'em or don't, either you think they're making instruments for people or you think they're trying to gouge the public. That much has been said, ad infinitum.

 

A well respected member of these forums posted his impressions of a relatively new line of Epi's. I think he covered the bases quite well. As for the price, There has always been a perceived gap between the Korean Epi's and Nashville (and now Memphis) Gibson products. The only reason they've created the Elite series is to fill the hole in their marketing ladder. If you DO like Gibson products, this simply puts another choice on the menu of new instruments.

 

If you want to whine about Gibson overpricing the product, more power to you. I happen to agree with many of the price/performance issues that have been raised with regards to Gibson instruments. But the Elite line, if it lives up to the intentions of Epi's management, offers a premium product for 1/2 to 1/3 of an equivalent Gibson. That puts better instruments in the hands of those musicians who can afford an intermediate instrument, but not a truly expensive one. That's not all either. It takes Epi out of the garbage to decent market and adds a premium, showcase set of models that are actually available to the public in something other than limited quantities. More power to 'em.

 

BTW, the Elite I played several months ago was very nice, with a sweet flamed top. And I'm not really a Les Paul model fan... Maybe with P-90's... hmmm... that sounds niiiiiiice.

[doc taz]

As far as I know, the Elite models are a sort of stop gap. That is, the regular Epis are for those of us average Joes and Jills that are on a budget. If you're willing to pay a bit more, but not the usual Gibson price, yet still want good quality, then the Elite is for you. Then there's the Gibsons.

 

Just depends on whatever you can get your buck$ on, folks. There's something for everyone. I just tried a Zakk Wylde Epi, and though it's not my style, I thought that it was an excellent guitar. The EMG pickups on that are passive, so I found it easier to get some warm tones out of it. Not that active EMG's can't sound warm, mind you. Played it through a Marshall TSL 60 combo, using all three channels.

[daddyelmis]

Originally posted by fantasticsound:

Enough with the Gibson bashing... either you like 'em or don't, either you think they're making instruments for people or you think they're trying to gouge the public. That much has been said, ad infinitum. If you want to whine about Gibson overpricing the product, more power to you.

JEEEEZZZ . . . a wee bit touchy on the subject? There are a ton of well respected luthiers and performers that have opined on the fast track of Gibson's prices up and inverse track of their quality down. It ain't just me pal. I think anyone can buy anything they can afford.

 

Recall that Epi was originally not a bargain guitar . . . until acquired by Gibson. Now they are going the other way.

[michael saulnier]

Originally posted by daddyelmis:

I don't really understand the purpose of a high priced "elite" line of Epi's. Gibson did it's best to make Epi the "working man's" guitar -- decent looking, decent playing and very affordable.

 

If I'm spending a grand on an electric, I've got a lot of choices.

 

My own cynical, biased and grumpy opinion is that this is yet another example of Gibson trying to run the price up on everything it touches.

Keep in mind that Gibson hasn't slowed or replaced the production of the "value" guitars made in Korea in the Ephiphone name. In fact, everwhere I've been, the $400 to $600 Epi's are usually the only ones available... and I bet they're a top seller. Decent guitars for a decent price.

 

IMHO, Gibson's plan was partly inspired by the "gap" between their $500 or so Epi product, and their $1,500 and up US Gibson product. So, how do you position an LP product in that gap.

 

They've tried several things.

 

Studio's are the obvious US made product. Then you had the "gothic" and "non-carved top" and the "aged" products... these have done ok... and they're still out there for someone to buy.

 

But there was an opportunity.

 

Epi made in Korea seem to be similar to US LP's at first glance. But they're not really made from the same quality materials or even the same construction techniques. For example, the "maple tops" on Korean Epi LP's are a thin veneer, that looks ok, but doesn't impact the tone the way the thicker, carved maple tops on the US LP's do. There's also a pretty big gap in tuners, pickups, electronics, laminated wood instead of solid wood and so on...

 

Basically as nice as they look, Korean LP's aren't really "similar" to US made LP's.

 

On the other hand, the Japanese made "Elite" ones are VERY similar. They're made with similar techniques and materials. The pickups and electronics are US made, the wood is solid and the maple top is the same thickness as the US LP's. The tuners are good, the nut is cut with precision, and the attention to detail in the construction is at least as high as the US made ones... Essentially, they're FAR more similar to the US LP's than the Korean made ones.

 

You may or may not know that Fender Japan makes some HIGHLY regarded versions of their guitars... Strats and Tele's primarily. These have become sought after guitars for their quality and modest prices.

 

I bet Gibson's trying to establish a similar situation where they can offer a product that closely approaches their US made LP's at a price point that is still attractive to people who can't quite justify or afford the US ones.

 

Considering the quality of the guitar I played, I think they're met the objective of making a well made, great sounding guitar. Whether it will be a "good seller" I think is still an open question.

 

I DON'T think this is just an effort to "run up the prices of everything it touches" as you put it... It's a very nice guitar, priced competitively for what you get imho.

 

Remember that besides LP standards and LP customs, you also have Elite 335's, Casino's and other guitars... so it's a complete line... I saw a 335, but didn't have a chance to play it for more than a few minutes... but it sure seemed nice. I'll try it another time.

 

Anyway... you wondered about the "purpose" of the Elite line... That's my take on it!

 

If you don't like it... don't buy it! Voting with your dollars always works...

 

guitplayer