Taking points off for having a Floyd Rose? It should get points for that. As you said this guitar is for people who want a Floyd Rose on a LP. The question should be is this a successful FR/LP? I think it is.
I always said that I wouldn't buy a signature guitar until I got my Epiphone Wino Jerry Cantrell model. It was just a great looking and playing guitar, I added a gold open top pickup ring,that's all. When this new Lifeson model came out I was very interested since it has the Floyd 1000 model, I took a chance. I'm so glad that I did!! Another great example of what Epiphone is creating these days. Very comfortable with the belly cut and the easy axcess to the higher registers 🤘. A joy to play and plenty of available tones.
I waited on a list for over a year for the first standard version Alex Lifeson model. And didn't get one. I made sure I got one of these. and I am excited it is a Custom version in the ruby red color. Super awesome. Though it doesn't have the piezo I can live without it. I think that was the reason there were so many issues with the Standard version guitar and the trem binding in the body.
Just ordered one of these and had to return it to Sweetwater. Great sound, nice playability, beautiful guitar. However, I couldn't get mine to stay in tune no matter what I did with the locking nut. Sweetwater offered to have a tech check it out on the tuning problems, but there was another dealbreaker for me, which is, the high e string, especially towards the bottom of the neck, is so close to the edge of the fretboard, when you try to do the pulloffs on "Spirit of the Radio", it's coming off the neck and sounds that way. Even higher on the neck, it's too close. This isn't something you might immediately notice in pictures, because the worst problem is near the bottom of the neck. The string spacing is HUGE at the nut, which is one problem. It changes quite a bit with the string to fretboard edge spacing from the high e 1st fret edge to further up the neck. But I found myself sliding off the neck too easily even further up the neck. Putting on a new, smaller spaced nut might help. The tuning was WHACK though, even after HOURS of pre-stretching the strings and checking the nut screw tightness. Maybe cheap trem springs. Sweetwater was willing to fix the tuning problem at no cost to me but, again, the high e edge problem was a dealbreaker for me, and I didn't want to spend time seeing if a new nut helped the problem. Cost me $182 to send back to Sweetwater because of this, since that issue is build specs rather than a defect. No more Epiphones for me. I will start buying guitars locally.
I’ve noticed this issue with a different guitar. This is usually a result manufacturing variation. When I got my second EVH Wolfgang, my Sweetwater sales engineer checked the guitar before sending it out.
Appreciate this review. I'm trying to decide between this, a stealth all black EVH 5150, or Schecter Sun Valley Super Shredder Exotic Black..I do love the Ruby color and FR and with the case..but I feel like the Schecter is the more premium of the three options for me and Schecters have an exclusive FR tremolo not sold publicly and sits more recessed into the body like my old Ibanez Prestige..but this one is pricey..worth noting that the Schecter is also priced at $1,299.99 and no case.
I have the first epiphone (the one with the graphtech piezo Floyd) and it is 9.999/10 perfect guitar. I would give it a 10/10 if it had the 50’s chunky neck profile. The red guitar, however, seems a bit lack luster for my taste. I think they should have put a piezo Floyd on it like the previous version. Though I think this newer LP custom will scratch the itch for those that missed the first run!
It’s chunkier than the one on my Gibson Axcess but agree it’s not a 50s - bit narrow at the nut so thinking of changing to an r3 - it’s a nice guitar though and the piezo is fun - seems like a lot of value now compared to this
Counterpoint - since this is all objective opinion. The Ruby is better looking, better playing and better sounding. Floyd Rose is better than the one with the piezo (arm fitment, and smoothness) and the guitar is less finicky, mote reliable and simpler (no battery!_yay). I only own the Ruby now and sold off the original. Bonus for the looks and ebony fretboard
If the neck pickup is powerful as you say, that's pretty much similar to what Eddie liked when doing his finger tapping leads. I agree with you on the idea of the bridge pickup being the heaviest sounding.That's what I'm used to.
I’d rather have a pickup that’s too hot than one that is too quiet. You can always back it off with the volume knob, but you can’t make it louder (Unless your volume knob goes to 11)
Access guitars are amazing, I love the Gibson I played. I'd like to give one of these a legit try. I would have liked to have seen Gibson pups at this price point. I also think that on any Epi/Gibson over a thousand should be plek'd. It's such a different feel, I'd prefer a tribute over a high end Epi just based on that alone. I was also hoping to see the asymmetrical slim taper neck with compound radius out of Epi, and this would have been the best fit for that spec.
in Europe it costs 1600 € without Gibson pickup... The Epiphones are certainly beautiful guitars, I have 4 of them (Thommy Thayer, Galaktikon, Flying V Prophecy and an acoustic) they are all under €900, so that's fine. Over €1000 for a Chinese one is no longer worth it, in fact last year I bought a standard Gibson SG for €1450 new, I must say that overall it is superior to all the Epiphones I've tried, not to mention the electronics in the Gibson it is fantastic and all the details are well cared for. I think he's losing control.
I just bought an Epi '61 SG Vibrola, got it for $500 and it's unbelievable how good this is, just as good as my vintage Ibanez and Gibson guitars. So yeah Epi's are great and I'm a HUGE Alex fan, but I'll take the SG over the Axcess since I'm playing to mostly pre 1988 Rush songs.
I know, I just can't believe how insane this is. I've reached that phase where sometimes I don't pick up my guitars for months, and sometimes I play all day long. So I haven't recently paid attention to prices. I've bought my 1992 Gibson les Paul studio for 600 euros, and my 2008 SG Robot for 900 a few years ago. Who the hell is spending 1500 euros on a chinese made Epiphone. Guess we can thank the KKR for that...
I have an Epiphone Les Paul custom Shop NightFall. They were Only made in 2011. Groover Tuners, Mohagony body, EMH hz Pickups and a Floyd rose special. 400€ new! I now have it with an original Floyd and Dimarzio Evolution Neck and Activator x bridge
Great video! Just bought one a few months from Georges Music Springfield, PA. A work of art custom additions including binding, great headstock, gold hardware access & belly carve and very versatile including Floyd Rose and split cools so I can play a strat tone! It is very heavy!
It doesn’t have the Piezo system? That does it for me. 1,299 would be a great price, and I would buy one instantly if it came with the piezo. Such a shame they didn’t have that on this model, because every other Alex Lifeson model, including the Epiphone Standard version last year, has had that Built in.
Yeah was thinking the same thing and your right on the price point.. But looking at reviews at the time of release those models did have some issues. Maybe they worked out the kinks.
The guitar itself (EXCLUDING PICKUPS) is very nice but Epiphone forgot that they are competing with ESP/Schecter that currently they using Fishman Fluence pickups which are far better. $1299 is nuts. This is an easy $899 guitar.
Import guitars are ridiculously overpriced now. I just got a screaming deal on a RR24. First guitar I've bought in ten years because I'm sick of these greedy bastards charging so much for so little. I don't think ANY import is worth $1,200. Let alone $1,299. 🖕 modern guitar companies and their asinine pricing. And NO guitar outside a custom shop should be more than $2,500. I don't care what anybody says, I actually work for my money, I don't get handouts.
It’s a nice looking guitar. A Les Paul with a Floyd Rose on it. It’s strange enough for me to want one lol. I would change the Pickups though. I only own one Epi now that the pickups had to come out. I kept it because of the pickups I put in.
@@Juliosguitarstuffs I think that is why they discontinued it. It ended up costing more to build than the price was offered. I waited from sweetwater for over a year with the Standard version. every 3 to 5 months they would say its coming soon until i got the email discontinued. But then again all guitars have gone up in price since the first one was offered.
Mine arrived a couple of weeks ago. The unboxing was pretty cool to see that ruby finish and gold hardware. I actually got mine for $1,000 new by taking a chance on a "blemished" model from Guitar Center on line. I can't find the blemish...a little tiny ding near a volume knob, but I guess that is enough for someone to return it. I think I scored--you may roll the dice too to save a few hundred. You still have the satisfaction guarantee and can return it if it is f'd up. It actually came with a return shipping label just in case... It tested out great in the studio and at a decent volume the cleans are chewy and full. I like the split neck for a strat sound on clean blues. I also had a rather "hot" neck p/u which balanced out fine once I lowered it a decent amount. I agree with the less than "10" rating but have to go for "9" instead of your "8.2". How does it stack up to my PRS guitars? Not even close, especially with the thin neck and the Floyd Rose vs. the PRS tremelo. First off, the FR is a super - Bee-yotch to restring without a degree in engineering from MIT. My lord you have to be into tweaking this and tweaking that. Every restring is like a brand new set-up experience and it takes at least 30 minutes. You also have an array of Allen keys to store and never lose or you 'aint getting that thing restrung. One thing that it needs is a string tension retention bar behind the nut. You need that to force the strings to ride in unison with the locking nut. Without it the strings are floating over the locking nut and not grounding out with it. This means that after you get the strings all tuned up, as you apply the locking nut pieces the strings jump up a quarter step or more...This leaves you no headroom to utilize the fine tuners at the bridge to bring it back in... So you gotta deal with that. As far as playability, it is actually fun and slick to play allowing for any run you would ever want to shred. the block inlays are great road map markers and you barely have to glance to see where you are at any given moment. I am glad that I bought it and it will get used quite a bit. Everyone that sees it instantly falls in love with the over all look (chick's dig it) and when hit by stage lights it really glows. I think overall it is a great guitar that borderlines a fine instrument because it is well made and finished. Buy it and you will love it!
As much as I love Alex Lifeson, I think this should just be a normal production model Epiphone Les Paul Custom Axcess and it shouldn't be over $1000. At the price they are asking, it should at least come with Gibson pickups.
Just bought one at Guitar Center this last weekend on sale for $899. I went in to buy a Epi Limited Edition Custom in Siverburst but when I saw this one on sale, I decided to upgrade a bit. They had two of them on the wall, so I got to pick the one with the better top. I stayed up until 3:30am Monday morning playing with it. Me likey.
For playing Alex's earlier stuff, pre 1988 I'll take the Epi SG '61 Vibrola I just got for $500. So easy to get his tone with this guitar and the vibrola is perfect for Alex's work and it stays in tune! Still the Axcess is sweet and me being a HUGE Alex, but they're two weeks too late for me. 😁
I have the epiphone tobacco burst one. With the piezo. I love my guitar. Mainly cos of the trem, the piezo and the urganomics. But this price and no piezo???? (Although this finish is beautiful)😊
Just bought one. Love the sound, feel and the tone options of the guitar. The only thing that I don't like about the guitar is the gold hardware in which I will be replacing to chrome. It's just my personal preference. Other than the gold color hardware, it is an awesome guitar!
Love the gold hardware, particularly the Floyd Rose. Looks great paired with the crimson trans finish. And Lifeson is a legend. Still, I'm not paying that price for an Epiphone. I'm just not.
Funny I hear that all the time. yet you hear these pickups on sooooo many first albums that exploded for bands, then they go out and buy Gibson's and the second album flops! 😂
@@HereXEG being my favorite guitar IS a Epiphone Les Paul Custom Silverburst that came with ProBuckers and I replaced them years ago due to the muddy sound says more. The guitar is absolutely a phenomenal build but the electronics were not. My guitar sounds absolutely amazing now and plays wonderfully. How much does my model cost? A fraction of what this one does. The issue isn’t that it’s a bad guitar. It’s just extremely overpriced for what it is. By the way, I own Gibsons as well as well as other brands. The vast major of the time in my band I play the Epiphone and when we record it will be the main one used
i hope one day epiphone or gibson put a strat type of tremolo on les paul , simpleir tremolo and easier to work and maintain, if without locking nut, but put a set of locking tuner on, is that still make floydrose functional ??
Thanks for making this video but you kind of confirmed what I was already thinking. This is essentially an Epiphone Modern with a Floyd Rose and Case for double the price. At this price, no thanks. Especially since they didn't even put in real Burstbuckers pu. Again though, I really appreciate the video. :)
@@RhetHulbert Hi! You're probably seeing the Gibson Modern Les Paul. If you search for Epiphone Les Paul Modern Electric Guitar Sparkling Burgundy, you should see it. I'll try to drop a link below, but soemtimes RUclips blocks links thinking that they are spam. :)
I don’t know how you guys are complaining about price this is pretty standard for most important Guitars today, you may not like sure, but what you’re getting out of value for this price is amazing and consider the prices are going to continue to rise. This is a steal of a guitar.
It sort of looks like a real Gibson, they even got the horn at the lower cutaway 85% right instead of they way Epiphone usually sculpts them. It kinda reminds of late seventies Norlin era Les Paul, not how it's constructed but by how it looks.
Tried on at a local store and this thing isn’t even in the same galaxy as a real Gibson LP. Cheap floyd, cheap pickups, thin neck, no piezo, and E string falls off the fretboard. Should cost around $600 if pricing matched the value/quality.
Can someone send me a link to the Les Paul Modern he is talking about at the end? He says it is half this price but when I search for that it is nearly double this price. Great review, thanks.
I have the original version of this guitar with the same pickups and hardware plus the piezo pickups in the bridge. Not a custom but still a nice guitar with more tonal options than this. It cost a lot less but is a more versatile guitar. This one is too expensive.
A bit disappointed with Epiphone's QC on this one. Mine also came with a broken pickup selector switch. The setup was entirely non-existent. The tremolo wasn't mounted correctly on the studs and I had to dig around in the body section of the case to find the missing nut clamping blocks and screws. Fixing the trem system, doing a proper setup and replacing the pickup switch aren't huge issues for me but it shouldn't be necessary for a guitar in this price range. I have 5 other Epi Les Pauls and this one needed the most work to get it right. On the plus side, other than the switch and tremolo issues the fit and finish is great. I usually need to do a fret polish on my Epi's , but I don't think so with this one. It feels great and it is beautiful! Is it overpriced? Maybe a little bit. At this price I wish it had Burstbuckers. But being the Rush nerd I am, and the fact that I missed out on the last Lerxst Epiphone it's still worth it for me.
Playing those brand new beautiful guitars in that Levis jacket with metal snaps all over really bugs me for some reason. I don't even play mine in a zip hoodie.
How does the neck and headstock stand up to the Floyd Rose? Much flexing/bending? I've waited for a reissue to have an LP with a Floyd but the gold hardware doest work for me. Not crazy about red either. 😊 The pickups sound like, Epiphone. I'll stick with my $375 Kramer Assault. The headstock is weird but... BTW, stretch the hell out of your strings, get the Floyd level when it's in tune, lock everything down and you shouldn't have a problem with tuning. At least nothing the fine tuners can't handle. Even my headstock flexing, cheap a$$ Kramer will do that.
I don't think the Les Paul Modern has the Axcess neck though, right? That's a main point of this guitar's design. I don't know that should make it twice the price, but it would be more.
Yeah people are crazy paying the current epi prices. Holy shit. Save a little more and buy a Gibson. Regardless of what you read in comment sections they are not the same.
Epiphones have consistently been rated better. Gibson is rampant with quality control issues modern day. Have a lot of friends that share a lot of people avoid new Gibson like the plague because of it
As I own a studio - with a few Gibsons, I can speak to this. The price reflects the quality frankly, its very very nice in look and feel - the Custom is a custom is a custom. Likewise, I was a bit bashful about my Scotty Moore, gold ES-295 as it wasn't a "real" 295 but my luthier looked at me like a moron and said "Dude, it's a 295!' and ya, Korean quality and worth twice what I paid for it 20 years ago. I really wanted to hate this (Lifeson Custom Acess) guitar - the Gibson being 8-10k was not an option - and frankly - everything I liked least turned out to be a bonus - seriously! The CERAMIC neck pickup is hotter than the Alnico bridge and chugs or smooth overdrives - and mixes so well with the bridge it makes for really great tonescapes. The combo of the single coil splitting and the out-of-phasing when both pickups are engaged is yet another layer of tonality - and I do NOT miss the thin, reedy hassle of the piezo and as I already mentioned - I am blown away if I play it clean, driven, with or without pedals, and in either the Marshall, the tweed Deluxe or my 1966 Supro 18w style 24 - I tune it easily and dig in..... and even after I've played my 335, my Standard, my Special back to back to back - the Custom Access is a new feel, a new sound and I come up with new riffs - and 'm always kinda blown away that it still has the ablity to impress the hell out of me. So... Here in Canada it was $1749.00 with hardshell case so tax in - almost 2k for a Chinese Epiphone..... but the 8-10k USD Gibson is not 4-5x as good.... it's maybe 10% better - probuckers are just pickups and if you drink the pickup kool-aid you'll be giving Gibson the birth certificate of your oldest child to get a nice metal box with $11 worth of parts masquerading as the secret to sound like Lerxst.
This guitar would be awesome with a set of gold emgs, a 81/60 combo would rip. Ill wait until goes in the market used for cheaper, nab it and throw some real pickups in it.
This should have been released in the 1980's. Henry at Gibson totally dropped the ball. A Les Paul with a Floyd would have sold extremely well. Remember that lots of Les Pau players switched to the super Strats largely because the SS's had a Floyd.
Totally agree! Neal Schon was one of the first to do it around the Escape album, the black LP, white pickguard, Floyd Rose. Hardly saw anybody else until Alex later on.
Some Les Paul Customs with factory-installed Kahler tremolos were released in the 80s. I own one. But no Floyds. You're right, that would have been a smart move.
Is it a one piece neck like the Bonamassa guitars or typical scarf joint? I think at this price Epiphone should do 1 piece and Gibson USA electronics and then have cheaper $800 “standard” import versions, but I don’t own a guitar with a Floyd so I’m looking
What’s with all the whining about prices? Back in the early 70’s, when I was 18, I worked for a whole month picking tobacco so I had the $500 to buy a new ‘big B’ Traynor speaker cab. We’re guitar players for cryin’ out loud - we just go for it. The prices aren’t _THAT_ bad!
The big deal for me about putting a Floyd Rose on a Les Paul is that it negates the design flaw of a Les Paul... which is the sharp angle that the strings take on the other side of the nut. It's why Les Pauls go out of tune so easily... and the locking nut fixes that completely. That being said, the trem arm does get in the way though, and it's just not traditional Les Paul fair.
I picked one up last week. Great price point, beautiful guitar, gold accoutrement, Alex lifeson ffs! What's not to like? Get one before they're all gone! Very very happy with mine! 👍
Cool guitar and great video - thanks for posting. I'm sorry but I struggle paying $1200 for an Epiphone guitar with Epiphone pickups and electronics. I think the Floyd is a really unique addition but it doesnt look like it works for the LP body style - havent played one, just my thoughts.
One of the best things Epiphone ever did was redesign the headstock. My '88 Sheraton has the big one and that's fine because it's supposed to be a classy guitar but the Epi line of LPs to me were always a "copy" because of the headstock. Not so much now.
Eeeeek! This thing is $400 more than the Standard (with the piezo) and is nowhere near the guitar that one is. I can see the prices on the Standard going way up in the used market now.
Beautiful guitar 🎸🎸. But not worth the money with them pickups. Uggh. They sound cheap. Good video buddy 👍👋✌️🎸🎸. You could buy other guitars that sound better for that price. Such as Ibanez. Esp etc. 👍💯✌️
UK pricing makes no sense right now (Andertons) £1299 Lifeson £1199 Jones art back thing £1099 Mustaine Prophecy V Wait a couple of months for the Lifeson to get Jones/Mustaine sized sale discounts too.
@@PaulCooksStuff last one sold out and was selling premium pricing on eBay - depends on stock - always a risk they run out though I suspect the piezo was a big problem for the other one
My guitar arrived with the switch knob broken off as well. The nut is too big on mine, the string spacing is off, so the high E string wants to fall of the fretboard. Otherwise I'm very happy with the guitar. It plays and sounds great. I'm a lefty, so I was thrilled that they are making this model in a lefty.
@@simonquinn I had to replace the nut. I went with a Floyd Rose #2- the guitar came with a #4. I also had to add four .3mm shims as the #2 nut is 1.2mm lower. This is unacceptable. Gibson needs to address this.
2021 Lifeson Epi: Has piezo bridge, cost was 899€. Mine worked without a hitch except for the battery dying after 20 mins. Great guitar, incredible bang for buck even if you're not a die hard Rush fan. 2023 Lifeson Epi, has no piezo, costs 1599€. Epi pickups, veneer top, specs are arguably worde than the 2021 version ... Nope. This doesn't add up.
@@downshift00 Yeah but that's Gibson, they've charged an extra thousand for a unique color before. That being said, I guess the price makes a bit of sense on this guitar when you factor in inflation. I'm sure a few years ago this would have been $1000 even.
Alex took all the best specs and crammed them into a beautiful quilted top, this is my dream specs, happy birthday Bret!
Taking points off for having a Floyd Rose? It should get points for that. As you said this guitar is for people who want a Floyd Rose on a LP. The question should be is this a successful FR/LP? I think it is.
I always said that I wouldn't buy a signature guitar until I got my Epiphone Wino Jerry Cantrell model. It was just a great looking and playing guitar, I added a gold open top pickup ring,that's all.
When this new Lifeson model came out I was very interested since it has the Floyd 1000 model, I took a chance.
I'm so glad that I did!! Another great example of what Epiphone is creating these days.
Very comfortable with the belly cut and the easy axcess to the higher registers 🤘. A joy to play and plenty of available tones.
JUST BOUGHT ONE 899 AT GUITAR CENTER ON 12 21 24 NEW!!!! LOVE IT ❤️
I waited on a list for over a year for the first standard version Alex Lifeson model. And didn't get one. I made sure I got one of these. and I am excited it is a Custom version in the ruby red color. Super awesome. Though it doesn't have the piezo I can live without it. I think that was the reason there were so many issues with the Standard version guitar and the trem binding in the body.
Just ordered one of these and had to return it to Sweetwater. Great sound, nice playability, beautiful guitar. However, I couldn't get mine to stay in tune no matter what I did with the locking nut. Sweetwater offered to have a tech check it out on the tuning problems, but there was another dealbreaker for me, which is, the high e string, especially towards the bottom of the neck, is so close to the edge of the fretboard, when you try to do the pulloffs on "Spirit of the Radio", it's coming off the neck and sounds that way. Even higher on the neck, it's too close. This isn't something you might immediately notice in pictures, because the worst problem is near the bottom of the neck. The string spacing is HUGE at the nut, which is one problem. It changes quite a bit with the string to fretboard edge spacing from the high e 1st fret edge to further up the neck. But I found myself sliding off the neck too easily even further up the neck. Putting on a new, smaller spaced nut might help. The tuning was WHACK though, even after HOURS of pre-stretching the strings and checking the nut screw tightness. Maybe cheap trem springs. Sweetwater was willing to fix the tuning problem at no cost to me but, again, the high e edge problem was a dealbreaker for me, and I didn't want to spend time seeing if a new nut helped the problem. Cost me $182 to send back to Sweetwater because of this, since that issue is build specs rather than a defect. No more Epiphones for me. I will start buying guitars locally.
I’ve noticed this issue with a different guitar. This is usually a result manufacturing variation. When I got my second EVH Wolfgang, my Sweetwater sales engineer checked the guitar before sending it out.
Appreciate this review. I'm trying to decide between this, a stealth all black EVH 5150, or Schecter Sun Valley Super Shredder Exotic Black..I do love the Ruby color and FR and with the case..but I feel like the Schecter is the more premium of the three options for me and Schecters have an exclusive FR tremolo not sold publicly and sits more recessed into the body like my old Ibanez Prestige..but this one is pricey..worth noting that the Schecter is also priced at $1,299.99 and no case.
I have the first epiphone (the one with the graphtech piezo Floyd) and it is 9.999/10 perfect guitar. I would give it a 10/10 if it had the 50’s chunky neck profile. The red guitar, however, seems a bit lack luster for my taste. I think they should have put a piezo Floyd on it like the previous version. Though I think this newer LP custom will scratch the itch for those that missed the first run!
It’s chunkier than the one on my Gibson Axcess but agree it’s not a 50s - bit narrow at the nut so thinking of changing to an r3 - it’s a nice guitar though and the piezo is fun - seems like a lot of value now compared to this
Exactly, a no go without the piezo, they dropped the ball without adding it! Too short of a run with the first guitar.
@@eoinjennings519 yeah I completely agree! The Standard has much more bang for you buck for what it has!
Should have built it with Piezo pickup
Counterpoint - since this is all objective opinion. The Ruby is better looking, better playing and better sounding. Floyd Rose is better than the one with the piezo (arm fitment, and smoothness) and the guitar is less finicky, mote reliable and simpler (no battery!_yay). I only own the Ruby now and sold off the original. Bonus for the looks and ebony fretboard
If the neck pickup is powerful as you say, that's pretty much similar to what Eddie liked when doing his finger tapping leads. I agree with you on the idea of the bridge pickup being the heaviest sounding.That's what I'm used to.
I’d rather have a pickup that’s too hot than one that is too quiet. You can always back it off with the volume knob, but you can’t make it louder (Unless your volume knob goes to 11)
Volume on your wha works well when the guitar needs to be at 13! 😂 @@dstarling61
Access guitars are amazing, I love the Gibson I played. I'd like to give one of these a legit try. I would have liked to have seen Gibson pups at this price point. I also think that on any Epi/Gibson over a thousand should be plek'd. It's such a different feel, I'd prefer a tribute over a high end Epi just based on that alone. I was also hoping to see the asymmetrical slim taper neck with compound radius out of Epi, and this would have been the best fit for that spec.
in Europe it costs 1600 € without Gibson pickup...
The Epiphones are certainly beautiful guitars, I have 4 of them (Thommy Thayer, Galaktikon, Flying V Prophecy and an acoustic) they are all under €900, so that's fine.
Over €1000 for a Chinese one is no longer worth it, in fact last year I bought a standard Gibson SG for €1450 new, I must say that overall it is superior to all the Epiphones I've tried, not to mention the electronics in the Gibson it is fantastic and all the details are well cared for. I think he's losing control.
This is getting close to the price of a core USA prs ce deal in uk that was out last month
I just bought an Epi '61 SG Vibrola, got it for $500 and it's unbelievable how good this is, just as good as my vintage Ibanez and Gibson guitars. So yeah Epi's are great and I'm a HUGE Alex fan, but I'll take the SG over the Axcess since I'm playing to mostly pre 1988 Rush songs.
I know, I just can't believe how insane this is. I've reached that phase where sometimes I don't pick up my guitars for months, and sometimes I play all day long. So I haven't recently paid attention to prices.
I've bought my 1992 Gibson les Paul studio for 600 euros, and my 2008 SG Robot for 900 a few years ago. Who the hell is spending 1500 euros on a chinese made Epiphone. Guess we can thank the KKR for that...
I have an Epiphone Les Paul custom Shop NightFall. They were Only made in 2011. Groover Tuners, Mohagony body, EMH hz Pickups and a Floyd rose special. 400€ new!
I now have it with an original Floyd and Dimarzio Evolution Neck and Activator x bridge
Great video! Just bought one a few months from Georges Music Springfield, PA. A work of art custom additions including binding, great headstock, gold hardware access & belly carve and very versatile including Floyd Rose and split cools so I can play a strat tone! It is very heavy!
It doesn’t have the Piezo system? That does it for me. 1,299 would be a great price, and I would buy one instantly if it came with the piezo. Such a shame they didn’t have that on this model, because every other Alex Lifeson model, including the Epiphone Standard version last year, has had that Built in.
I really like this one from Epiphone. They're knocking it out of the park!
Weren't the first run Lifeson models going for around $899? Plus it had the Piezo installed.
Ouch!
Yeah was thinking the same thing and your right on the price point.. But looking at reviews at the time of release those models did have some issues. Maybe they worked out the kinks.
The guitar itself (EXCLUDING PICKUPS) is very nice but Epiphone forgot that they are competing with ESP/Schecter that currently they using Fishman Fluence pickups which are far better. $1299 is nuts. This is an easy $899 guitar.
Import guitars are ridiculously overpriced now. I just got a screaming deal on a RR24. First guitar I've bought in ten years because I'm sick of these greedy bastards charging so much for so little. I don't think ANY import is worth $1,200. Let alone $1,299. 🖕 modern guitar companies and their asinine pricing. And NO guitar outside a custom shop should be more than $2,500. I don't care what anybody says, I actually work for my money, I don't get handouts.
Agreed. The first run of AL LP Standard has more features on it than this LP Custom, and it was $899 new!
It’s a nice looking guitar. A Les Paul with a Floyd Rose on it. It’s strange enough for me to want one lol. I would change the Pickups though. I only own one Epi now that the pickups had to come out. I kept it because of the pickups I put in.
@@Juliosguitarstuffs I think that is why they discontinued it. It ended up costing more to build than the price was offered. I waited from sweetwater for over a year with the Standard version. every 3 to 5 months they would say its coming soon until i got the email discontinued. But then again all guitars have gone up in price since the first one was offered.
Mine arrived a couple of weeks ago. The unboxing was pretty cool to see that ruby finish and gold hardware. I actually got mine for $1,000 new by taking a chance on a "blemished" model from Guitar Center on line. I can't find the blemish...a little tiny ding near a volume knob, but I guess that is enough for someone to return it. I think I scored--you may roll the dice too to save a few hundred. You still have the satisfaction guarantee and can return it if it is f'd up. It actually came with a return shipping label just in case... It tested out great in the studio and at a decent volume the cleans are chewy and full. I like the split neck for a strat sound on clean blues. I also had a rather "hot" neck p/u which balanced out fine once I lowered it a decent amount. I agree with the less than "10" rating but have to go for "9" instead of your "8.2". How does it stack up to my PRS guitars? Not even close, especially with the thin neck and the Floyd Rose vs. the PRS tremelo. First off, the FR is a super - Bee-yotch to restring without a degree in engineering from MIT. My lord you have to be into tweaking this and tweaking that. Every restring is like a brand new set-up experience and it takes at least 30 minutes. You also have an array of Allen keys to store and never lose or you 'aint getting that thing restrung. One thing that it needs is a string tension retention bar behind the nut. You need that to force the strings to ride in unison with the locking nut. Without it the strings are floating over the locking nut and not grounding out with it. This means that after you get the strings all tuned up, as you apply the locking nut pieces the strings jump up a quarter step or more...This leaves you no headroom to utilize the fine tuners at the bridge to bring it back in... So you gotta deal with that. As far as playability, it is actually fun and slick to play allowing for any run you would ever want to shred. the block inlays are great road map markers and you barely have to glance to see where you are at any given moment. I am glad that I bought it and it will get used quite a bit. Everyone that sees it instantly falls in love with the over all look (chick's dig it) and when hit by stage lights it really glows. I think overall it is a great guitar that borderlines a fine instrument because it is well made and finished. Buy it and you will love it!
As much as I love Alex Lifeson, I think this should just be a normal production model Epiphone Les Paul Custom Axcess and it shouldn't be over $1000. At the price they are asking, it should at least come with Gibson pickups.
right im sure those pickups are not great
Compound fretboard radius, 24 frets, More color options locking tuners for easy string changing, then it might be worth $1300!
Just bought one at Guitar Center this last weekend on sale for $899. I went in to buy a Epi Limited Edition Custom in Siverburst but when I saw this one on sale, I decided to upgrade a bit. They had two of them on the wall, so I got to pick the one with the better top. I stayed up until 3:30am Monday morning playing with it. Me likey.
For playing Alex's earlier stuff, pre 1988 I'll take the Epi SG '61 Vibrola I just got for $500. So easy to get his tone with this guitar and the vibrola is perfect for Alex's work and it stays in tune! Still the Axcess is sweet and me being a HUGE Alex, but they're two weeks too late for me. 😁
I have the epiphone tobacco burst one. With the piezo. I love my guitar. Mainly cos of the trem, the piezo and the urganomics. But this price and no piezo????
(Although this finish is beautiful)😊
Just bought one. Love the sound, feel and the tone options of the guitar. The only thing that I don't like about the guitar is the gold hardware in which I will be replacing to chrome. It's just my personal preference. Other than the gold color hardware, it is an awesome guitar!
AS OF 12/18/24 THUR 1/8/25 GUATAR CENTER 899 SWEET!!!! WALK IN OR CALL OMLY!!!! ONLINE FULL PRICE!!!! ME LOVE THIS GUATAR LONG TIME 😂😂😂😂😂
Love the gold hardware, particularly the Floyd Rose. Looks great paired with the crimson trans finish. And Lifeson is a legend. Still, I'm not paying that price for an Epiphone. I'm just not.
right, you can buy an actual used GIBSON les paul for only a few hundred more.
1300 is chump change in the guitar world now.
Probuckers and that price? Absolutely not.
and no piezo
Funny I hear that all the time. yet you hear these pickups on sooooo many first albums that exploded for bands, then they go out and buy Gibson's and the second album flops! 😂
@@HereXEG being my favorite guitar IS a Epiphone Les Paul Custom Silverburst that came with ProBuckers and I replaced them years ago due to the muddy sound says more. The guitar is absolutely a phenomenal build but the electronics were not. My guitar sounds absolutely amazing now and plays wonderfully. How much does my model cost? A fraction of what this one does. The issue isn’t that it’s a bad guitar. It’s just extremely overpriced for what it is. By the way, I own Gibsons as well as well as other brands. The vast major of the time in my band I play the Epiphone and when we record it will be the main one used
@@HereXEGwtf are you talking about?
Agree they sound cheesy to me. Ughh 😢
i hope one day epiphone or gibson put a strat type of tremolo on les paul , simpleir tremolo and easier to work and maintain, if without locking nut, but put a set of locking tuner on, is that still make floydrose functional ??
Thanks for making this video but you kind of confirmed what I was already thinking. This is essentially an Epiphone Modern with a Floyd Rose and Case for double the price. At this price, no thanks. Especially since they didn't even put in real Burstbuckers pu.
Again though, I really appreciate the video. :)
yeah, these pups sound horrible! and cheap! $1299, are they insane?
The neck joint is not like the modern at all. This is an epiphone version of the custom axcess floyd rose.
Can you show me the half price guitar? When I search for Les Paul Modern I'm seeing double the price. Thanks.
@@RhetHulbert he meant epiphone modern. Which it isn't. The modern has a different neck joint.
@@RhetHulbert Hi! You're probably seeing the Gibson Modern Les Paul. If you search for Epiphone Les Paul Modern Electric Guitar Sparkling Burgundy, you should see it. I'll try to drop a link below, but soemtimes RUclips blocks links thinking that they are spam. :)
I don’t know how you guys are complaining about price this is pretty standard for most important Guitars today, you may not like sure, but what you’re getting out of value for this price is amazing and consider the prices are going to continue to rise. This is a steal of a guitar.
It sort of looks like a real Gibson, they even got the horn at the lower cutaway 85% right instead of they way Epiphone usually sculpts them. It kinda reminds of late seventies Norlin era Les Paul, not how it's constructed but by how it looks.
Tried on at a local store and this thing isn’t even in the same galaxy as a real Gibson LP. Cheap floyd, cheap pickups, thin neck, no piezo, and E string falls off the fretboard. Should cost around $600 if pricing matched the value/quality.
Great review! I have the previous 2021 model with Piezo pickups (love it), not sure what this one would add for me. It is beautiful though…
Wow! Very nice. I would def be interested, but then, you can get a Gibson Les Paul Jr for $1399.
Locking tuners? Floyd rose se,1000,1500? 1 piece neck or scarf joint?
You left out so many things that are important for a thorough review.
It’s a Floyd 1000
no locking tuners floyd rose 1000, epi so probably scarf joint even their website just says glued in set neck
Had a Kahler on a LP Aria Pro II series guitar. Man that thing played very nice. Wish I hadn't sold it.
Can someone send me a link to the Les Paul Modern he is talking about at the end? He says it is half this price but when I search for that it is nearly double this price. Great review, thanks.
Thanks for watching, here's the Epiphone Les Paul Modern:
www.zzounds.com/a--3979398/item--EPIEILM
I have the original version of this guitar with the same pickups and hardware plus the piezo pickups in the bridge. Not a custom but still a nice guitar with more tonal options than this. It cost a lot less but is a more versatile guitar. This one is too expensive.
Damn, I don't even like LP style guitars, but that thing is very nice.
A bit disappointed with Epiphone's QC on this one. Mine also came with a broken pickup selector switch. The setup was entirely non-existent. The tremolo wasn't mounted correctly on the studs and I had to dig around in the body section of the case to find the missing nut clamping blocks and screws. Fixing the trem system, doing a proper setup and replacing the pickup switch aren't huge issues for me but it shouldn't be necessary for a guitar in this price range. I have 5 other Epi Les Pauls and this one needed the most work to get it right. On the plus side, other than the switch and tremolo issues the fit and finish is great. I usually need to do a fret polish on my Epi's , but I don't think so with this one. It feels great and it is beautiful! Is it overpriced? Maybe a little bit. At this price I wish it had Burstbuckers. But being the Rush nerd I am, and the fact that I missed out on the last Lerxst Epiphone it's still worth it for me.
Playing those brand new beautiful guitars in that Levis jacket with metal snaps all over really bugs me for some reason. I don't even play mine in a zip hoodie.
How does the neck and headstock stand up to the Floyd Rose? Much flexing/bending?
I've waited for a reissue to have an LP with a Floyd but the gold hardware doest work for me. Not crazy about red either. 😊 The pickups sound like, Epiphone. I'll stick with my $375 Kramer Assault. The headstock is weird but...
BTW, stretch the hell out of your strings, get the Floyd level when it's in tune, lock everything down and you shouldn't have a problem with tuning. At least nothing the fine tuners can't handle. Even my headstock flexing, cheap a$$ Kramer will do that.
I don't think the Les Paul Modern has the Axcess neck though, right? That's a main point of this guitar's design. I don't know that should make it twice the price, but it would be more.
Played one earlier today. Honestly didn’t like it. Sounded extremely muddy. Felt cheap. Wasn’t the vibe especially for 1299.
THATS EPIPHONE!!!! ITS NOT A GIBSON PEOPLE!!!!
Where's the piezo?? It's a step behind than the first model
Would prefer if Epiphone released a 355 Lifeson model, instead.
Me too!
Oh yes! In cream white I would buy one in a heartbeat
John, did you get your old strap back. I think I asked in a comment a month or so ago, but I noticed it again in this video. If so, congratulations!
The guitar is really beautiful, not sure if I like the sounds of the humbuckers.
I'm looking at one right now, sweet, I want the Floyd Rose on the Epiphone,
Yeah people are crazy paying the current epi prices. Holy shit. Save a little more and buy a Gibson. Regardless of what you read in comment sections they are not the same.
Epiphones have consistently been rated better. Gibson is rampant with quality control issues modern day. Have a lot of friends that share a lot of people avoid new Gibson like the plague because of it
As I own a studio - with a few Gibsons, I can speak to this. The price reflects the quality frankly, its very very nice in look and feel - the Custom is a custom is a custom. Likewise, I was a bit bashful about my Scotty Moore, gold ES-295 as it wasn't a "real" 295 but my luthier looked at me like a moron and said "Dude, it's a 295!' and ya, Korean quality and worth twice what I paid for it 20 years ago. I really wanted to hate this (Lifeson Custom Acess) guitar - the Gibson being 8-10k was not an option - and frankly - everything I liked least turned out to be a bonus - seriously! The CERAMIC neck pickup is hotter than the Alnico bridge and chugs or smooth overdrives - and mixes so well with the bridge it makes for really great tonescapes. The combo of the single coil splitting and the out-of-phasing when both pickups are engaged is yet another layer of tonality - and I do NOT miss the thin, reedy hassle of the piezo and as I already mentioned - I am blown away if I play it clean, driven, with or without pedals, and in either the Marshall, the tweed Deluxe or my 1966 Supro 18w style 24 - I tune it easily and dig in..... and even after I've played my 335, my Standard, my Special back to back to back - the Custom Access is a new feel, a new sound and I come up with new riffs - and 'm always kinda blown away that it still has the ablity to impress the hell out of me. So... Here in Canada it was $1749.00 with hardshell case so tax in - almost 2k for a Chinese Epiphone..... but the 8-10k USD Gibson is not 4-5x as good.... it's maybe 10% better - probuckers are just pickups and if you drink the pickup kool-aid you'll be giving Gibson the birth certificate of your oldest child to get a nice metal box with $11 worth of parts masquerading as the secret to sound like Lerxst.
This guitar would be awesome with a set of gold emgs, a 81/60 combo would rip. Ill wait until goes in the market used for cheaper, nab it and throw some real pickups in it.
This should have been released in the 1980's. Henry at Gibson totally dropped the ball. A Les Paul with a Floyd would have sold extremely well. Remember that lots of Les Pau players switched to the super Strats largely because the SS's had a Floyd.
Totally agree! Neal Schon was one of the first to do it around the Escape album, the black LP, white pickguard, Floyd Rose. Hardly saw anybody else until Alex later on.
Some Les Paul Customs with factory-installed Kahler tremolos were released in the 80s. I own one. But no Floyds. You're right, that would have been a smart move.
Put a Gibson '57 in the neck position?
For Gibson, yeah, 1300$. No Epiphone is worth that much especially with a used market.
Is it a one piece neck like the Bonamassa guitars or typical scarf joint? I think at this price Epiphone should do 1 piece and Gibson USA electronics and then have cheaper $800 “standard” import versions, but I don’t own a guitar with a Floyd so I’m looking
What’s with all the whining about prices? Back in the early 70’s, when I was 18, I worked for a whole month picking tobacco so I had the $500 to buy a new ‘big B’ Traynor speaker cab. We’re guitar players for cryin’ out loud - we just go for it. The prices aren’t _THAT_ bad!
The big deal for me about putting a Floyd Rose on a Les Paul is that it negates the design flaw of a Les Paul... which is the sharp angle that the strings take on the other side of the nut. It's why Les Pauls go out of tune so easily... and the locking nut fixes that completely. That being said, the trem arm does get in the way though, and it's just not traditional Les Paul fair.
I picked one up last week. Great price point, beautiful guitar, gold accoutrement, Alex lifeson ffs! What's not to like? Get one before they're all gone! Very very happy with mine! 👍
Superb review!
More money and less features as the last model. Would love the piezo pickup back in.
Not sure about the sound, lacking some bite I think. but overall a nice guitar.
Wow, love this guitar! Gotta try one for sure 😀👍
Do you ship to the UK?
I have a fender stratocaster SRV that I'd trade?
This or a PRS SE Custom 24-08?
I think you need to add a subjective rating. For... looks, cool factor, undescribable feel, etc.
The complete floyd rose assembly is quite heavy
It is very, very beautiful, but... it's too expensive for Epiphone pickups and a Floyd 1000
Hi , any info on weight?
HOW MUCH??
They must be smoking
Awesome guitar
Cool guitar and great video - thanks for posting. I'm sorry but I struggle paying $1200 for an Epiphone guitar with Epiphone pickups and electronics. I think the Floyd is a really unique addition but it doesnt look like it works for the LP body style - havent played one, just my thoughts.
Floyd Rose 1000 Series tremolo Licensed design based on original; great stability
It has a korean floyd rose, they are OK. But not as good as the original Made in Germany.
Wow. Thats a stunning guitar. 😍
Damn, I was hoping for a thicker neck vs. slim profile.
No but will have to buy it anyway 😂. I have the other one and it’s great and an Axcess Standard
you buy a Lifeon les paul because of the heel imo. :)
did you have it in the case with the bar on it..?
No lol, just setup for the case open shot. Thanks for watching!
@@PlayandTradeGuitars You need to put the switch tips on the guitars you demo/review....please.
One of the best things Epiphone ever did was redesign the headstock. My '88 Sheraton has the big one and that's fine because it's supposed to be a classy guitar but the Epi line of LPs to me were always a "copy" because of the headstock. Not so much now.
Eeeeek! This thing is $400 more than the Standard (with the piezo) and is nowhere near the guitar that one is. I can see the prices on the Standard going way up in the used market now.
just bought one today from Georges Music! Actually my top is better figured!
Beautiful guitar 🎸🎸. But not worth the money with them pickups. Uggh. They sound cheap. Good video buddy 👍👋✌️🎸🎸. You could buy other guitars that sound better for that price. Such as Ibanez. Esp etc. 👍💯✌️
To me a hotter neck pickup makes more sense.
Amazing guitar!! But… 1600€ IN EUROPE?? ( 1760 US$ at the current exchange rate ) AND NOT EVEN BURSTBUCKERS?? THEY MUST BE JOKING…
The epi pups are fine but agreed they should have gone for Gibson pups at this price - they had for cheaper models
@@eoinjennings519 For that price? Definitely… 1760 USD in europe!!
Burstbuckers would have been a better choice.
UK pricing makes no sense right now (Andertons)
£1299 Lifeson
£1199 Jones art back thing
£1099 Mustaine Prophecy V
Wait a couple of months for the Lifeson to get Jones/Mustaine sized sale discounts too.
@@PaulCooksStuff last one sold out and was selling premium pricing on eBay - depends on stock - always a risk they run out though I suspect the piezo was a big problem for the other one
My guitar arrived with the switch knob broken off as well. The nut is too big on mine, the string spacing is off, so the high E string wants to fall of the fretboard. Otherwise I'm very happy with the guitar. It plays and sounds great. I'm a lefty, so I was thrilled that they are making this model in a lefty.
Same issue here with the high E string. Slipping off on frets 1-3. Can't play "The Spirit of Radio" without slipping straight off the board.
@@simonquinn I had to replace the nut. I went with a Floyd Rose #2- the guitar came with a #4. I also had to add four .3mm shims as the #2 nut is 1.2mm lower. This is unacceptable. Gibson needs to address this.
Wow - I just returned mine after a couple of days. Very disappointed @@davegto67
Thank you
2021 Lifeson Epi: Has piezo bridge, cost was 899€. Mine worked without a hitch except for the battery dying after 20 mins. Great guitar, incredible bang for buck even if you're not a die hard Rush fan.
2023 Lifeson Epi, has no piezo, costs 1599€. Epi pickups, veneer top, specs are arguably worde than the 2021 version
...
Nope. This doesn't add up.
Exactly. Wtf
How is this less expensive than the Dave Mustaine?
That's what I wondered.
No Piezos. Fail. That was the best feature of the last one.
🎉🎉cool guitar🎉🎉
That finish. Figures it's a cheap assed decal.
Now that we know the Epiphone Greeny is $1499, that makes this seem like almost a bargain.
Beautiful guitar...LOVE Alex but not the floyd rose and price...HARD PASS for me!
With a case, floyd rose and ebony fingerboard...probably sell a few. I could see them being discounted significantly during the holidays though.
Love the looks but the sound sucks
❤❤❤…woo I love that guitar 🎸
Heard it was crap lot of quality issues
Any love for the Leftties out there at Epiphone Willowdale?
Too expensive for an Epiphone!
Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Wino is basically this guitar without the Floyd and it's $850. So they really want $450 extra for a Floyd.
Lol the neck joint is completely different than the JC. More like the Matt H. Epiphone
@@downshift00 Oh yeah you're right. So they want $450 for a Floyd and a sculpted neck joint then lol
@@Joe.Shmo.Eskimo lol gibson charges $500 for that on their customs.. So there ya go.
@@downshift00 Yeah but that's Gibson, they've charged an extra thousand for a unique color before. That being said, I guess the price makes a bit of sense on this guitar when you factor in inflation. I'm sure a few years ago this would have been $1000 even.
@@Joe.Shmo.Eskimo ya inflation has raised everything a few hundred unfortunately. 🙁
Live it 👍