I bought a new Epi LP Standard Plus Top Pro on Saturday.
I bought it after trying out a Gibson LP Studio 70s Tribute, 60s Tribute, 2 LPJs and a LP Junior Special. Only the Jnr Special was decent - the others had badly finished frets, poor paint jobs, uninspiring sounds from the pickups.
Despairing of getting anything nice (I had a fistful of GAS cash available) I thought I'd have a go on an Epi. I've had Dots, Casinos, Sheratons before which were great and several variants of LPs which were always.... anaemic really, just ok but nothing special.
I wanted to try a 1960s Tribute with the Gibson 57 Classics but there were none in stock in any of the local stores so I tried out a few of the Standard Plus Top Pros. These have new Epiphone Probuckers - modelled on Burstbuckers apparently and I thought, "Yeah, right".
But playing through a Fender HRD with them was a revelation. Punchy, great clarity and grunt and covered jazz to classic rock with ease. And coil-tapped too.
The finish and playability on the three I tried out was superb. I plumped for a Honeyburst and it is a stunner (apart from the headstock, obviously...
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£350 and, honestly, it is a superb guitar. Comfy neck, nice low action, no issues with holding tuning even on huge bends which suggests a well cut nut. Finish is superb and the pickups are really, really good.
I always feel a bit snooty about Epiphones but I reckon they need some love. As long as you try a few out, there are excellent guitars in their range and they are great value compared to their more illustrious big brothers.
There, I feel better now.
Comments
There are a few things I'd much rather Gibson did ... like getting rid of the unpleasant clubby headstock on their LPs in favour of a proper open book. Fender have no issues with making Squire Strats with proper, elegant Fender head shapes ... why do Gibson drag their heels on this? They apparently have no problem with doing just that for the Japanese market.
Formerly TheGuitarWeasel ... Oil City Pickups ... Oil City Blog 7 String.org profile and message
I've got a late 90's Epi Les Paul (Limited Edition don'tcha know - yes, with a Bigsby! In Wine Red even!) and I don't think I'd ever part with it. I bought it from new, upgraded the pickups a couple of years later, and have just installed a Shugz loom and it's a cracking guitar. I had a Gibson 60's Tribute Gold Top, and in terms of build quality, the Epi beat it hands down I'm afraid. In fact, I've since sold the Gibbo after just a few short months of ownership. It was quite disappointing as I've always wanted a guitar with Gibson on the headstock.
I think I paid about £350 ish for my Epi about 15 years ago, and it was the best guitar related investment I've made.
I've been gassing terribly for a 56 goldtop or a riviera recently. Too bad they only do the rivieras with 3 p90s now and gold hardware. I either want mini hums or one of the 90s ones with the full sized buckers.
http://i1188.photobucket.com/albums/z410/ESBlonde/Guitars/016.jpg
Remember, it's easier to criticise than create!
Bloody skint though lol.