My 2001 Epiphone is the one I pick up more than my Tribute Gibson Les Paul. Put the classic57 and 57+ from the Gibson in the Epiphone. Upgraded hardware. Still has the original pots have to change that. It used to be my mate his guitar. He gigged with it. Its full mahogany. Nice flame maple veneer for the looks. Did a refret with stainless frets. I am setup for life with that guitar.
Korean Epiphones are 👌, i have a 2004 LP Standard with Gibson pick ups and that thing is sweet and plays and and sounds better than a lot of "authentic" Gibsons I've been able to try.
Interesting! As a Korean, I still have a Samick Les Paul Standard that I bought back in 1996, and an Epiphone (I still have no idea of its exact model name. I just guess it's a kind of Les Paul Special copy) that I bought in 2001. Both are Korean products.
I own several and yes there's a difference after you set them up, the nut cut is critical. Way to light it u up and play the whole 9 yards. Rock on!!!!😮
@@ChanoQlo I found a bison bone nut for 13 bucks on Amazon. It came from Sweden. Just run the bottom on some fine grit sand paper to get the proper height, sounds way better than the stock nut. Bone nuts have awesome harmonics.
I have a 1985 Samick Epi Standard. Bought it off a landscaper who clearly liked to smoke joints and play because I had to scrape a layer of resin off the thing. Took it to a luthier for a tune up and she’s a beauty. I’ll put in some P rails and pop up pots next. It plays just as nice as a new Gibson standard in comparison. The wood is 1980s wood which is just better than the new stuff. With new electronics she’ll be a beast
@@6stringlounge813 dude, I'm still looking over my shoulder bc it feels like I robbed them. It's beautiful 2 small dings, damn near new for being 21 years old. The damn sticker on it looks new.
I’ve a 1995 3 pu black beauty for ever.Put a APH1 slash up in neck.a 59neck pu in middle and a 80’s dimarzio super distortion in the bridge.Added a old bigsby.It’s a great gigging axe.
I’d love to see a picture of that it sounds incredible. Better yet record a video with your iPhone and put it on RUclips. I can’t speak for everyone but I sure would love to see and hear what it sounds like.
The factory is Unsung, Korea. I have a Korean made Epiphone Explorer, and it's got the same stupid Gibson branded truss rod cover! But it's got the lowest action of any guitar I've ever owned. It's almost too low, and it sounds awesome! Nice guitar!!
For a couple years now, I’ve had in my possession a 2001 Korean Les Paul Standard that my neighbor casually threw away for unknown reasons. To this day it still feels nicer in hand than the current Les Paul Standards they sell at stores. Considering just replacing everything on it eventually instead of buying another LP in the similar price range 🤷🏻♂️
Haha! I’m in this video because my neighbor gifted me an Epiphone LP that he was going to get rid off due to it needing repairs. Turns out to be a 1998 Korean made. Feels awesome! I’ve swapped the bridge pickup for a Seymour Duncan JB, replace the pickup switch and installed locking tuners. I’m super happy with the results.
Some of those are nice guitars if you know which ones to look for and some are made with plywood. My biggest complaint with the older Epiphones is the shitty fret wire they used. It was soft for the most part nickle. If you really like an older epiphone and you play it a lot it's going to need a refret much sooner than later.
I picked up at the goodwill store, a 2000, MIK, Epiphone /Gibson in Cherry burst. Under $200..it's currently at RONALDO CUSTOM GUITARS (just outside of NYC) for a new nut, strings and general set and clean-up. Came in a gig bag with original owners paperwork !
Awesome deal glad you were able to pick one up and do something good for the community at the same time. That’s what it’s all about. Let me know how she works out
I have a 2000 Epi Classic Quilt top I bought new did all the mods CTS pots,toggle,jack,,bridge and string guide screwed deep into the wood mods,Duncan 59’bridge Seth Lover solid mounted in neck pure nickel 45-10s it’s all the sustain you could ask for and the pickups offer a lot of different sounds hard to find model I can’t find another vintage burst classic.Nice video
Just picked up an all-original MIK 1996 Epiphone Les Paul with Honeyburst finish at a local auction for $300 w/o case. Not a steal, but this LP is well-built. I could tell just running up and down the neck, during preview. The HBs are both SAMSUNGs, and I spoz could be better, but sound good to me. Again, I didn't steal it at $300, but it was a bird-in-hand (as opposed to an online pig-in-a-poke). I'm okay with it. Good video, Brook, but you play much better than you talk. 😝
The Best Epiphone ever made was the limited series 2004 last Korean made Gibson, and they spared no expense and put everything they had into it , but good luck trying to get your hands on one as only 2004 were made. When you're buying US made, you're just paying for labor and the made in the USA label.
I've had a Korean made Les Paul for 20 plus years. I have switched up the pickups, wiring and tuning pegs but the neck has never danced on me, and I wouldn't give it up anything. OK maybe a 58 Les Paul
Hi, I just buy a Epiphone Les Paul Custom 2006 made in Korea, and I impressed by the sound a quality, it look cool with de faded gold hardware. My plan is change de pick up for a Slash Seymour Duncan APH-"s AlnicoII Pro Humbucker. My Epiphone come with grover tuners, I am happy so far
I am so confused. Every source I have read online says that all Epiphones are made in China since 2004. Yet you are not the first person I’ve seen say they have a post-2004 Epi that was made in Korea. Wtf?? Maybe it’s actually MOST Epi’s are made in China since 2004, but a small amount of them were still made in Korea after 2004?
I’ve been a professional musician for almost 30 years now. And to be perfectly honest, there’s not a lot in it. I’ve played plenty of gigs with Epiphones, Squires and other inexpensive guitars and you really do just learn how to make whatever you’re playing sound as good as you can.
Also, recently I’m selling off several of my Gibsons. Interesting point my main guitar in my 70s and 80s. Rock cover band is an LTD Les Paul with the Floyd copy and a run of the mill SG. For Strat stuff are use a Strat, and for tele stuff I use a cheap tele. Simple and gets it done, the biggest thing I found that changes the sound is a good high-quality Handwired amplifier.
@@6stringlounge813 i just bought my son an Koresn ESP LTD Phoenix Firebird copy (but better) for $1,000. I had a 1976 Firebird and it was always the best sounding guitar I ever played, but I have to say, modern maching is ridiculously good for consistency, and It is just better overall than that firebird. Ebony fretboard, perfect frets and neck, just perfect for $1,000.
Lovely guitar. While the Korean wood working is very good, Epiphone quality of parts was not very consistant in the era. Epi has really upped their game as of late since ownership changed.
I have a black '94 Custom (S serial out of the Samick factory) and the previous owner installed Gibson bridge posts and a Gibson Nashville bridge, upgraded the pots and caps and wiring, new GraphTech nut, and lastly Grover 18:1 tuners. In all honesty that guitar plays better than any Gibson I've owned over the last 20 years, and I've went through about a dozen Gibson Les Pauls. The Epi just feels more solid, more "quality" if you know what I mean. Even the pickups are decent, I had planned to swap those out until I played them for a few weeks and realized it would be a waste of money to change them. So now I'm always on the lookout for other Customs from the same year.
I have an 09 Epi Explorer that I got at an extremely low price. I gutted it and replaced all the hardware and its now my #1. Ive spent 1/4th of what I would on a high end Gibson. Thats not a knock against Gibson...I just got a great deal and made it better.
how do you like the pickups? it looks like they may be closer to the gibson version 490/498 than the newer Epiphone Customs. looks like the bridge pickup is like 13k output and the neck is around 8k. was thinking about a newer made in China epiphone Custom but now i’m considering one of these older made in Korea ones.
My 96 Samic looks gorgeous but is unusable due to tuning instability, I have owned it for 22 years and tried all sorts of 'remedies' all to no avail😢 It does look fantastic though😊
I just acquired a 1997 Epi SG, G-400 Made in Korea that I am currently restoring. One thing that is very unusual is the pickups, the baseplate is not screwed to the upper pickup assembly and the pickup cover is not soldered to the baseplate, its glued. The negative wire of the pickup is soldered to the baseplate. I wonder what Epiphone was thinking when they designed these pickups? In my case the glued failed and the upper part of the pickup (with the cover) came loose on both pickups. Curious why they chose not to solder the cover to the baseplate, do you happen to know? Ground loop issues?
@@6stringlounge813 Yes, I dont know what the Epi engineers were thinking back in 1997 with their humbuckers. I ordered a set of Epi Alnico Classic Pros for her. They should sing!
My 03 epi lp sounds better than the last two Gibson lp studios I've bought in the last 12 years. And the thing weighs a ton. Definitely no weight relief.
I would even go as far as to say it probably sounds better than the top US made Gibson's since 03 . The Korean made Gibson's were the best Gibson ever made from 02 to 04 . The only reason people think the US line are better than the Epihone line is because of where they are made North Americans don't want to admit MIA is just as good if not better .
@@mandrakeblackstone5838 I just found another Korean epi yesterday. A 02, LP custom, Alpine white. Great condition according to guitar centers grading system. Doesn't have a ebony fretboard which is a bummer but I couldn't pass it up. Hopefully it's a "good one."
@@batastrophic9762 I ended up not keeping that 02 custom. The frets we're almost flat. Took it back to GC no fuss. Actually just got a 2022 epi silverbusrt custom that's very nice. I found it at a pawn shop for 550 straight cash. I know it's Chinese but it's a keeper. Still not as nice as my 03 Korean LP standard. No guitar I have is. I now have 13 electrics and one acoustic. Funny story when I returned the 02 epi a week later a package is at my door. Somehow the GC in Connecticut, I originally ordered the 02 custom from, mistakenly sent me another guitar. It was a 2019 Ibanez rg241, flame top, dark red color. Didn't order it, wasn't billed for it but was happy to receive it all the same. Thanks GC!!!
@@J_Braz_ Haha what!? Free guitar! Sweet. Funny you mention the frets on the 02... I was doing some research on my Epi last night (Epi lp custom plus, like the model in this vid but in the heritage cherry burst instead of tobacco, built Dec '03 Dec in the Korean Unsung factory apparently. I don't know how different it's spec'd to this, but mine has Grover tuners which is nice). I read somewhere that the fret material on the early noughties Koreans wasn't great. The frets on mine are well-worn in I guess, they feel fine, but being the sole owner of the guitar since '04, I do not think the amount I've played this guitar quite justifies the amount of wear on them. Sure, I've had it a while, but between 2015 and a couple of days ago it barely left its case. I've debated selling it, but the problem is it is quite scuffed beyond "mint". Also, I'm worried I'm somewhat sentimentally attached to the thing to the point where I would regret letting her go. Wondering if I should I should buy some fancy pickups for her instead. A 20th birthday present for it!
I am between a Gibson LP Studio 120 aniversary or a Korean Epiphone LP Custom, i only play Blues with clean and sometimes with a bit of Overdrive, what do you recommend to me? Buying the Korean or the Gibson? I got 2 gibson SG and at least 3 Epiphone (1 korean) so the trademark is not important in this case for me
Gibsons always hold more value on the used market however I recommend u close your eyes and the guitar that speaks to you will be the right one, I have many guitars of all price points! My best happens to be a Joe Bonamassa Gibson Les Paul Studio. I own custom shop guitars, local hand built guitars, Epiphone, Squires, etc. My point is anybody can make a good guitar. It’s up to you to find it with your ears and your hands. The last thing you need to try taking in consideration when purchasing or choosing a new instrument is it’s visual aspects. Good luck and thanks again for the comment!
are epiphone weight relieved like EVERY gibson usa has since 1983 ? even most gibson custom shop are weight relieved :basically they are studio model bodies with upgrades
Added Gibson USA pick ups alnico Gibson triple braided wire switchcraft toggle and input jack tone pro bridge and stoptail real bone nut grover tuners and i will put it up against any Gibson lp
The best part is you probably will still come in under the cost of a brand new Gibson. And now the Epiphones have that new headstock which I think makes them look even better. I still use a Gibson live when I play out with my bands but I’ve also added a LTD EC 1000fr to the mix. It plays and sounds every bit as good as my USA Gibson. And I won’t dare take my Epiphone Johnny A. Out. It’s actually my favorite guitar.
This question is now redundant/superfluous as the new Chinese made Inspired by 59 reissues and Joe Bonamassa Custom blow these pieces of junk out of the water. The only other Epiphones worth considering are the Japanese made elitist range.
My 2001 Epiphone is the one I pick up more than my Tribute Gibson Les Paul. Put the classic57 and 57+ from the Gibson in the Epiphone.
Upgraded hardware. Still has the original pots have to change that.
It used to be my mate his guitar. He gigged with it.
Its full mahogany. Nice flame maple veneer for the looks.
Did a refret with stainless frets. I am setup for life with that guitar.
Korean Epiphones are 👌, i have a 2004 LP Standard with Gibson pick ups and that thing is sweet and plays and and sounds better than a lot of "authentic" Gibsons I've been able to try.
Thats beautiful. I have an old black std epi LP with seymour Duncans. Its great.
Std? Lmaoooo
Interesting! As a Korean, I still have a Samick Les Paul Standard that I bought back in 1996, and an Epiphone (I still have no idea of its exact model name. I just guess it's a kind of Les Paul Special copy) that I bought in 2001. Both are Korean products.
I own several and yes there's a difference after you set them up, the nut cut is critical. Way to light it u up and play the whole 9 yards. Rock on!!!!😮
the korean les paul's have nice wood, you just need to change electronics and pickups, maybe the bridge and tuners, but the wood is really fine
And upgrade the nut and put in a quality bridge and tail piece
@@J_Braz_ yeah, the nut it's like the cheapest upgrade you can do and it's a great improvement
@@ChanoQlo I found a bison bone nut for 13 bucks on Amazon. It came from Sweden. Just run the bottom on some fine grit sand paper to get the proper height, sounds way better than the stock nut. Bone nuts have awesome harmonics.
Earlier you go back into the 90's the better too. All that great wood they used really hits these home...
I heard the Samick plant did well. Especially with the 94 model. If the serial number starts with S it's Samick. solid maple cap, mahogany body.
I have a 1985 Samick Epi Standard. Bought it off a landscaper who clearly liked to smoke joints and play because I had to scrape a layer of resin off the thing. Took it to a luthier for a tune up and she’s a beauty. I’ll put in some P rails and pop up pots next. It plays just as nice as a new Gibson standard in comparison. The wood is 1980s wood which is just better than the new stuff. With new electronics she’ll be a beast
Just got a 2000 Korean custom for $138.58 at the local pawn shop. Thank God I just happened to walk in randomly, best money spent in a long time.
Wow, that’s a great deal! Kudos to you for getting a steal! Thanks again for your comment!
@@6stringlounge813 dude, I'm still looking over my shoulder bc it feels like I robbed them. It's beautiful 2 small dings, damn near new for being 21 years old. The damn sticker on it looks new.
I own this exact guitar. Swapped out the pickups for some Seymour. Love this Epi.
I’ve a 1995 3 pu black beauty for ever.Put a APH1 slash up in neck.a 59neck pu in middle and a 80’s dimarzio super distortion in the bridge.Added a old bigsby.It’s a great gigging axe.
I’d love to see a picture of that it sounds incredible. Better yet record a video with your iPhone and put it on RUclips. I can’t speak for everyone but I sure would love to see and hear what it sounds like.
The factory is Unsung, Korea. I have a Korean made Epiphone Explorer, and it's got the same stupid Gibson branded truss rod cover! But it's got the lowest action of any guitar I've ever owned. It's almost too low, and it sounds awesome! Nice guitar!!
For a couple years now, I’ve had in my possession a 2001 Korean Les Paul Standard that my neighbor casually threw away for unknown reasons. To this day it still feels nicer in hand than the current Les Paul Standards they sell at stores. Considering just replacing everything on it eventually instead of buying another LP in the similar price range 🤷🏻♂️
Haha! I’m in this video because my neighbor gifted me an Epiphone LP that he was going to get rid off due to it needing repairs. Turns out to be a 1998 Korean made. Feels awesome! I’ve swapped the bridge pickup for a Seymour Duncan JB, replace the pickup switch and installed locking tuners. I’m super happy with the results.
@@ToniLovesSkateboarding SD'59 for mine thank you very much
Some of those are nice guitars if you know which ones to look for and some are made with plywood. My biggest complaint with the older Epiphones is the shitty fret wire they used. It was soft for the most part nickle. If you really like an older epiphone and you play it a lot it's going to need a refret much sooner than later.
I picked up at the goodwill store, a 2000, MIK, Epiphone /Gibson in Cherry burst.
Under $200..it's currently at RONALDO CUSTOM GUITARS (just outside of NYC) for a new nut, strings and general set and clean-up. Came in a gig bag with original owners paperwork !
Awesome deal glad you were able to pick one up and do something good for the community at the same time. That’s what it’s all about. Let me know how she works out
I have a 2000 Epi Classic Quilt top I bought new did all the mods CTS pots,toggle,jack,,bridge and string guide screwed deep into the wood mods,Duncan 59’bridge Seth Lover solid mounted in neck pure nickel 45-10s it’s all the sustain you could ask for and the pickups offer a lot of different sounds hard to find model I can’t find another vintage burst classic.Nice video
Just picked up an all-original MIK 1996 Epiphone Les Paul with Honeyburst finish at a local auction for $300 w/o case. Not a steal, but this LP is well-built. I could tell just running up and down the neck, during preview. The HBs are both SAMSUNGs, and I spoz could be better, but sound good to me. Again, I didn't steal it at $300, but it was a bird-in-hand (as opposed to an online pig-in-a-poke). I'm okay with it. Good video, Brook, but you play much better than you talk. 😝
The Best Epiphone ever made was the limited series 2004 last Korean made Gibson, and they spared no expense and put everything they had into it , but good luck trying to get your hands on one as only 2004 were made. When you're buying US made, you're just paying for labor and the made in the USA label.
The Korean's can throw down some bad mojo when it comes to guitar building
I've had a Korean made Les Paul for 20 plus years. I have switched up the pickups, wiring and tuning pegs but the neck has never danced on me, and I wouldn't give it up anything. OK maybe a 58 Les Paul
Lol, great comment, in the next 20 years people are going to be going nuts fir them
Hi, I just buy a Epiphone Les Paul Custom 2006 made in Korea, and I impressed by the sound a quality, it look cool with de faded gold hardware. My plan is change de pick up for a Slash Seymour Duncan APH-"s AlnicoII Pro Humbucker. My Epiphone come with grover tuners, I am happy so far
I am so confused. Every source I have read online says that all Epiphones are made in China since 2004. Yet you are not the first person I’ve seen say they have a post-2004 Epi that was made in Korea. Wtf?? Maybe it’s actually MOST Epi’s are made in China since 2004, but a small amount of them were still made in Korea after 2004?
I have Epiphone Les Paul Custom too, made in Korea 2009. Very cool guitar with great sound.
Thank you. I am wondering this same thing.
I’ve been a professional musician for almost 30 years now. And to be perfectly honest, there’s not a lot in it. I’ve played plenty of gigs with Epiphones, Squires and other inexpensive guitars and you really do just learn how to make whatever you’re playing sound as good as you can.
Also, recently I’m selling off several of my Gibsons. Interesting point my main guitar in my 70s and 80s. Rock cover band is an LTD Les Paul with the Floyd copy and a run of the mill SG. For Strat stuff are use a Strat, and for tele stuff I use a cheap tele. Simple and gets it done, the biggest thing I found that changes the sound is a good high-quality Handwired amplifier.
@@6stringlounge813 i just bought my son an Koresn ESP LTD Phoenix Firebird copy (but better) for $1,000. I had a 1976 Firebird and it was always the best sounding guitar I ever played, but I have to say, modern maching is ridiculously good for consistency, and It is just better overall than that firebird. Ebony fretboard, perfect frets and neck, just perfect for $1,000.
Lovely guitar. While the Korean wood working is very good, Epiphone quality of parts was not very consistant in the era. Epi has really upped their game as of late since ownership changed.
Epiphone has been owned by Gibson since 1957
False Epiphone gear is the same at the high end I promise u
@@mandrakeblackstone5838 Gibson ownership, I think hd means.
I have a black '94 Custom (S serial out of the Samick factory) and the previous owner installed Gibson bridge posts and a Gibson Nashville bridge, upgraded the pots and caps and wiring, new GraphTech nut, and lastly Grover 18:1 tuners. In all honesty that guitar plays better than any Gibson I've owned over the last 20 years, and I've went through about a dozen Gibson Les Pauls. The Epi just feels more solid, more "quality" if you know what I mean. Even the pickups are decent, I had planned to swap those out until I played them for a few weeks and realized it would be a waste of money to change them. So now I'm always on the lookout for other Customs from the same year.
I have an 09 Epi Explorer that I got at an extremely low price. I gutted it and replaced all the hardware and its now my #1. Ive spent 1/4th of what I would on a high end Gibson. Thats not a knock against Gibson...I just got a great deal and made it better.
My 01 Epi LP custom is far superior to my uncles 18 Gibson Studio. Like blows it out of the water.
how do you like the pickups? it looks like they may be closer to the gibson version 490/498 than the newer Epiphone Customs. looks like the bridge pickup is like 13k output and the neck is around 8k. was thinking about a newer made in China epiphone Custom but now i’m considering one of these older made in Korea ones.
My 96 Samic looks gorgeous but is unusable due to tuning instability, I have owned it for 22 years and tried all sorts of 'remedies' all to no avail😢 It does look fantastic though😊
I decided to search “1998 epiphone Les Paul custom” to see if anyone else had the same one as me. Mine is a bit more stage worn than yours though
I just acquired a 1997 Epi SG, G-400 Made in Korea that I am currently restoring. One thing that is very unusual is the pickups, the baseplate is not screwed to the upper pickup assembly and the pickup cover is not soldered to the baseplate, its glued. The negative wire of the pickup is soldered to the baseplate. I wonder what Epiphone was thinking when they designed these pickups? In my case the glued failed and the upper part of the pickup (with the cover) came loose on both pickups. Curious why they chose not to solder the cover to the baseplate, do you happen to know? Ground loop issues?
I would recommend replacing both of them, there only going to get worse, not worth the investment. Try gfs pickups, good and inexpensive
@@6stringlounge813 Yes, I dont know what the Epi engineers were thinking back in 1997 with their humbuckers. I ordered a set of Epi Alnico Classic Pros for her. They should sing!
My 93 standard against my 04 Gibson epiphone easy winner
My 2000 epi with Seymour Duncan pickups is insane. Better quality that I have seen on new epis
My 03 epi lp sounds better than the last two Gibson lp studios I've bought in the last 12 years. And the thing weighs a ton. Definitely no weight relief.
I would even go as far as to say it probably sounds better than the top US made Gibson's since 03 . The Korean made Gibson's were the best Gibson ever made from 02 to 04 . The only reason people think the US line are better than the Epihone line is because of where they are made North Americans don't want to admit MIA is just as good if not better .
@@mandrakeblackstone5838 I just found another Korean epi yesterday. A 02, LP custom, Alpine white. Great condition according to guitar centers grading system. Doesn't have a ebony fretboard which is a bummer but I couldn't pass it up. Hopefully it's a "good one."
@@J_Braz_I don't think any of the Korean customs do
@@batastrophic9762 I ended up not keeping that 02 custom. The frets we're almost flat. Took it back to GC no fuss. Actually just got a 2022 epi silverbusrt custom that's very nice. I found it at a pawn shop for 550 straight cash. I know it's Chinese but it's a keeper. Still not as nice as my 03 Korean LP standard. No guitar I have is. I now have 13 electrics and one acoustic.
Funny story when I returned the 02 epi a week later a package is at my door. Somehow the GC in Connecticut, I originally ordered the 02 custom from, mistakenly sent me another guitar. It was a 2019 Ibanez rg241, flame top, dark red color. Didn't order it, wasn't billed for it but was happy to receive it all the same. Thanks GC!!!
@@J_Braz_ Haha what!? Free guitar! Sweet. Funny you mention the frets on the 02... I was doing some research on my Epi last night (Epi lp custom plus, like the model in this vid but in the heritage cherry burst instead of tobacco, built Dec '03 Dec in the Korean Unsung factory apparently. I don't know how different it's spec'd to this, but mine has Grover tuners which is nice). I read somewhere that the fret material on the early noughties Koreans wasn't great. The frets on mine are well-worn in I guess, they feel fine, but being the sole owner of the guitar since '04, I do not think the amount I've played this guitar quite justifies the amount of wear on them. Sure, I've had it a while, but between 2015 and a couple of days ago it barely left its case. I've debated selling it, but the problem is it is quite scuffed beyond "mint". Also, I'm worried I'm somewhat sentimentally attached to the thing to the point where I would regret letting her go. Wondering if I should I should buy some fancy pickups for her instead. A 20th birthday present for it!
I HAVE Korean made Epiphone Les Paul 1985 Black
Had a 1999 Korean, it was nice. It wasn't as good as my Gibson
i bet a pair of p-90's would sound nice as well.
1998-2002 Japanese epi LP customs are THE best epis ever made in my opinion. LPC-80 LPC-90 FTW
I just recently acquired a 99 LPC80 and it rivals my 85 Gibson LP custom. Minus the ebony fretboard.
is a korean 2006 les paul custom for $350 a good deal?
@@nicolemiller4602 yes.
I am between a Gibson LP Studio 120 aniversary or a Korean Epiphone LP Custom, i only play Blues with clean and sometimes with a bit of Overdrive, what do you recommend to me? Buying the Korean or the Gibson? I got 2 gibson SG and at least 3 Epiphone (1 korean) so the trademark is not important in this case for me
Gibsons always hold more value on the used market however I recommend u close your eyes and the guitar that speaks to you will be the right one, I have many guitars of all price points! My best happens to be a Joe Bonamassa Gibson Les Paul Studio. I own custom shop guitars, local hand built guitars, Epiphone, Squires, etc. My point is anybody can make a good guitar. It’s up to you to find it with your ears and your hands. The last thing you need to try taking in consideration when purchasing or choosing a new instrument is it’s visual aspects. Good luck and thanks again for the comment!
I have a korean sg 400 i love it.
are epiphone weight relieved like EVERY gibson usa has since 1983 ? even most gibson custom shop are weight relieved :basically they are studio model bodies with upgrades
No most Epiphone model Les Pauls are not weight relieved, at least they weren’t throughout 80’s- 2010’s to my knowledge
not every gibson usa is weight relieved
I got my 1997 Epi Les Paul Korea for $60
lol nice one
Exceptional guitars these Koreans, very heavy, so not for the skinny boys ... but a great sustain ...
Yes they are!
Added Gibson USA pick ups alnico Gibson triple braided wire switchcraft toggle and input jack tone pro bridge and stoptail real bone nut grover tuners and i will put it up against any Gibson lp
The best part is you probably will still come in under the cost of a brand new Gibson. And now the Epiphones have that new headstock which I think makes them look even better. I still use a Gibson live when I play out with my bands but I’ve also added a LTD EC 1000fr to the mix. It plays and sounds every bit as good as my USA Gibson. And I won’t dare take my Epiphone Johnny A. Out. It’s actually my favorite guitar.
LIKE... This ALNICO or CERAMIC?
Alnico
@@6stringlounge813 Thanks
Easily 😉
What do they say,
Only if you own one.
Lol.
Shouldn't need a set up unless somebody turned a bunch of screws for no reason ??? Leave it alone if you don't know what your doing is my advice .
How else you gonna learn? You have bad advice
So the build quality is better but the pickups are shite, you’ll always sound like you’re on the neck pickup.
my korean sgs are RIPPERS!
This question is now redundant/superfluous as the new Chinese made Inspired by 59 reissues and Joe Bonamassa Custom blow these pieces of junk out of the water. The only other Epiphones worth considering are the Japanese made elitist range.