I have the Les Paul Special first edition and the intonation could not be altered. I hope this is mentioned in the video but I was very disappointed with the lack of intonation control, plus the bridge and saddles were combined. I believe this guitar was created for people on a very tight budge only. Great review!
Thank you, much appreciated! It sounds like you had/have the Special with a single 'wrap over' bridge. On that style of bridge usually intonation can be adjusted, but for all strings at once. Normally that style of bridge has a couple of small 'grub screws' which can be tightened or loosened against the bridge mounts on the treble and bass side to change intonation. Hope that helps. Keep rockin' 🎸🤘
@@appetiteforguitar Yeah, no matter how the grub screws were altered, the intonation would never be within 10 cents of the open string.... I have a pretty precise tuner as well. Thank you for the info, but I am really glad I upgraded from the wrap over style. Standard bridges are the way to go IMO.
Sounds like a great project! That's the thing with these guitars... really good foundations for mods. I'm debating getting some Seymour Duncans or equivalent (but cheap) to slot into this one.
Just started follow your channel - great balanced review and sound test. 👌🏻To anyone contemplating the Special II my advice would be: find/beg/steal the extra for an Epiphone Les Paul studio (or get a used one) - full set neck, proper 4 way controls, Grover tuners - for me you get SO much more for your money and a more authentic Les Paul that’s an even better modding platform if that’s your thing.. plus the LP signature headstock decal is correct and present haha..
Welcome aboard! I couldn't agree more - I got a Studio recently and a review is incoming. It's a lot more guitar and superior in pretty much every way. The Special could be made a lot better with the right mods - I did put some Hipshot open gear locking tuners on this at one point - but there are better LPs out there. Even the Slash version of this guitar is a big step up - good pickups and the tuners work better.
True, the white one is still around 2nd hand thankfully with a bit of searching. The other colors are nice too. Even better is the Studio E1. Still a bolt on neck, but with x2 tone and volume controls... going to try and get hold of one for review.
I have owned mine 20 years now, in cherry burst. Not a mark on it. Saying that, don't play it much. It does everything l want though, holds good memories for me. Anyway, if you love your guitar, it loves you back. Whatever it is.
Hey man! I'm looking to start playing guitar and I really don't know anything about them yet. I was looking for used guitars and I found one Les Paul Special II and an AMP for 100€. Is that a good deal, since I'm just getting started and can't invest a lot of money to it right now. Anyways a great video!
Thanks! Yes, that sounds like a good deal. It's a great guitar for a beginner. You should have a lot of fun with it. If you are buying used, I strongly suggest asking someone who understands guitars to have a look at it and set it up for you so it plays well. That way you will enjoy it as much as possible.
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it. Regarding the killswitch, it might be possible... I do know for sure that Epiphone released a guitar called the Les Paul Special II GT that has a killswitch already built in. That could be what you want for an easy life - saves installing one.
Nice. I got a question. I have the opporunity to acquire either this one, ir the AFD, or a 90's korean epiphone studio ? Since you own all 3 models what would be your pick and your ranking? They are all similarly priced. Thank you
No worries, glad you enjoyed it. Great question! The Special is good fun, but to get the most from it, it could do with upgrading pickups and tuners. So that leaves AFD and the Studio. Studio has the set neck (rather than bolt on of AFD) and a bit more control of the sounds thanks to the extra tone and volume knob. It arguably has a bit more nuance in the tone and can slip from jazzy warmth to punchy hard rock with ease. The AFD is still great though and is awesome for it's nice crunchy clear tone. It still sounds good for clean tones, but maybe just sounds a little bit less warm than the Studio when clean. Both are great choices. It's worth considering the latest generation of Studio too. Full review of that one here and I've got a deep dive comparison of the 90s Studio vs the new Studio coming up soon: ruclips.net/video/8LzvGIPR4mU/видео.html
Hmm... sounds like it could be a Gibson Les Paul Special - from the front it looks very similar apart from having x4 knobs instead of x2 on this one. If it is that, it is one nice guitar! I recently reviewed my own Gibson Les Paul Faded which is a lovely beast... it might be something along these lines, but in white: ruclips.net/video/x1Ev381GUVY/видео.htmlsi=I4qY6m8Zb85U4nfT
It feels very similar to play, but the tuners are not quite as stable and the pickups don't have the same beefiness to the sound as the AFD version. The AFD model just has that nice chunky sound. This sounds absolutely fine though, just not as full. Great if you have moment to sub, really helps the channel. My sound demo of the AFD version here: ruclips.net/video/QOiPLqVa-cQ/видео.html
Ive justvaquired this guitar and it has a small battery pack in the back and the tone knob clicks round likeca switch between different tones, im so confused.
From memory it was a Cakewalk plugin called TH3 - the free 'lite' version which gives some great sounds without having to crank a physical amp. I've just got Bias FX too, so I'm sure that will start to feature more.
0:30 Still confused about this, wouldn't you want to bring your best guitar to a gig? Maybe have a "cheap" 2nd one as a backup and leave the rest at home no?
I see what you mean. I guess Epiphone means not putting a more expensive guitar at risk. I've had guitars get dinged at gigs before on stage with various instruments and people moving about. This guitar would be OK at a gig, but I would at least upgrade the tuners.
The Special can be ok I think... but needs a few upgrades to made it really good. I agree the Studio is massively better. I did a full review of the new Studio you might enjoy: ruclips.net/video/8LzvGIPR4mU/видео.html
I got this guitar used for $80 a few years back. I swapped the nut and drilled in new tuners and it’s not bad now. It did have some neck dive but a leather strap fixed that.
I have the Les Paul Special first edition and the intonation could not be altered. I hope this is mentioned in the video but I was very disappointed with the lack of intonation control, plus the bridge and saddles were combined. I believe this guitar was created for people on a very tight budge only. Great review!
Thank you, much appreciated! It sounds like you had/have the Special with a single 'wrap over' bridge. On that style of bridge usually intonation can be adjusted, but for all strings at once. Normally that style of bridge has a couple of small 'grub screws' which can be tightened or loosened against the bridge mounts on the treble and bass side to change intonation. Hope that helps. Keep rockin' 🎸🤘
@@appetiteforguitar Yeah, no matter how the grub screws were altered, the intonation would never be within 10 cents of the open string.... I have a pretty precise tuner as well. Thank you for the info, but I am really glad I upgraded from the wrap over style. Standard bridges are the way to go IMO.
this is a very good modifying guitar. I picked mine up for $50 because of a broken headstock. Put some work in it and changed out everything. So good.
Sounds like a great project! That's the thing with these guitars... really good foundations for mods. I'm debating getting some Seymour Duncans or equivalent (but cheap) to slot into this one.
This has made me think,
Maybe? Why not? Thanks!
No worries... it's a fun guitar. Great base for mods. Nice even without. Keep rockin' 🤘🎸
Just started follow your channel - great balanced review and sound test. 👌🏻To anyone contemplating the Special II my advice would be: find/beg/steal the extra for an Epiphone Les Paul studio (or get a used one) - full set neck, proper 4 way controls, Grover tuners - for me you get SO much more for your money and a more authentic Les Paul that’s an even better modding platform if that’s your thing.. plus the LP signature headstock decal is correct and present haha..
Welcome aboard! I couldn't agree more - I got a Studio recently and a review is incoming. It's a lot more guitar and superior in pretty much every way. The Special could be made a lot better with the right mods - I did put some Hipshot open gear locking tuners on this at one point - but there are better LPs out there. Even the Slash version of this guitar is a big step up - good pickups and the tuners work better.
In my piece the pots are dime size non branded ones. The pup selector broke almost at once.
Oh dear, that's a shame!
Nice review. That white is sweet. I guess they discontinued the color . That's a shame.
True, the white one is still around 2nd hand thankfully with a bit of searching. The other colors are nice too. Even better is the Studio E1. Still a bolt on neck, but with x2 tone and volume controls... going to try and get hold of one for review.
I have owned mine 20 years now, in cherry burst. Not a mark on it. Saying that, don't play it much. It does everything l want though, holds good memories for me. Anyway, if you love your guitar, it loves you back. Whatever it is.
Well said! 🎸
I have this lp in black and did upgrade tuners tusq nut polish frets with 300 grit paper 08 dadario all adjustment plays mint
Awesome!
Hey man! I'm looking to start playing guitar and I really don't know anything about them yet. I was looking for used guitars and I found one Les Paul Special II and an AMP for 100€. Is that a good deal, since I'm just getting started and can't invest a lot of money to it right now. Anyways a great video!
Thanks! Yes, that sounds like a good deal. It's a great guitar for a beginner. You should have a lot of fun with it. If you are buying used, I strongly suggest asking someone who understands guitars to have a look at it and set it up for you so it plays well. That way you will enjoy it as much as possible.
@@appetiteforguitar Okay, thanks for the info man!
No worries
Nice I just bought one myself in black.Tuners are unusual so not easy to upgrade but found a set of Kluson s that fit on StewMac .
Good upgrade for sure
Good info Dave , think I`ll invest in a set .
Great review .I`ve seen Epi SGs that have a kill switch volume control ,possibly able to fit to this guitar ?
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it. Regarding the killswitch, it might be possible... I do know for sure that Epiphone released a guitar called the Les Paul Special II GT that has a killswitch already built in. That could be what you want for an easy life - saves installing one.
A bit of soldering never hurt anyone 😀😀@@appetiteforguitar
Only £12 for a kill switch ,not too expensive .@@appetiteforguitar
Nice. I got a question. I have the opporunity to acquire either this one, ir the AFD, or a 90's korean epiphone studio ? Since you own all 3 models what would be your pick and your ranking? They are all similarly priced. Thank you
No worries, glad you enjoyed it. Great question! The Special is good fun, but to get the most from it, it could do with upgrading pickups and tuners. So that leaves AFD and the Studio. Studio has the set neck (rather than bolt on of AFD) and a bit more control of the sounds thanks to the extra tone and volume knob. It arguably has a bit more nuance in the tone and can slip from jazzy warmth to punchy hard rock with ease. The AFD is still great though and is awesome for it's nice crunchy clear tone. It still sounds good for clean tones, but maybe just sounds a little bit less warm than the Studio when clean. Both are great choices. It's worth considering the latest generation of Studio too. Full review of that one here and I've got a deep dive comparison of the 90s Studio vs the new Studio coming up soon: ruclips.net/video/8LzvGIPR4mU/видео.html
@@appetiteforguitar thank you
i have a much older model. its this guitar, but instead of saying special II it says gibson. what is it?
Hmm... sounds like it could be a Gibson Les Paul Special - from the front it looks very similar apart from having x4 knobs instead of x2 on this one. If it is that, it is one nice guitar! I recently reviewed my own Gibson Les Paul Faded which is a lovely beast... it might be something along these lines, but in white: ruclips.net/video/x1Ev381GUVY/видео.htmlsi=I4qY6m8Zb85U4nfT
@@appetiteforguitar it also says ephiphone lol. it has 2 knobs
Is this pretty comparable to the Slash AFD version? What are the differences with the pickups on this vs the Slash AFD?
It feels very similar to play, but the tuners are not quite as stable and the pickups don't have the same beefiness to the sound as the AFD version. The AFD model just has that nice chunky sound. This sounds absolutely fine though, just not as full. Great if you have moment to sub, really helps the channel. My sound demo of the AFD version here: ruclips.net/video/QOiPLqVa-cQ/видео.html
Looks like a good one! I am still putting up shorts. Cheers on a Tuesday!
Thanks, nice little guitar overall. Happy Tuesday! 👍
Welcome and thanks!
Ive justvaquired this guitar and it has a small battery pack in the back and the tone knob clicks round likeca switch between different tones, im so confused.
interesting... if it's got a battery pack in the back it sounds like somebody modded it
What amp are you using in this review please ?
From memory it was a Cakewalk plugin called TH3 - the free 'lite' version which gives some great sounds without having to crank a physical amp. I've just got Bias FX too, so I'm sure that will start to feature more.
This will be like those cheap guitars that will be sought out after many years.
0:30 Still confused about this, wouldn't you want to bring your best guitar to a gig? Maybe have a "cheap" 2nd one as a backup and leave the rest at home no?
I see what you mean. I guess Epiphone means not putting a more expensive guitar at risk. I've had guitars get dinged at gigs before on stage with various instruments and people moving about. This guitar would be OK at a gig, but I would at least upgrade the tuners.
Why? The audience doesn't notice or care. It's just a guitar.
How did you find a white LP special2 ? It sounds fine to me. And looks great!
it sucks guys, truly, i used it for a year but it so bad that i get a job and with that money i bought a epiphone les paul studio
The Special can be ok I think... but needs a few upgrades to made it really good. I agree the Studio is massively better. I did a full review of the new Studio you might enjoy: ruclips.net/video/8LzvGIPR4mU/видео.html
I got this guitar used for $80 a few years back. I swapped the nut and drilled in new tuners and it’s not bad now. It did have some neck dive but a leather strap fixed that.