I generally don't like Les Pauls, but with two exceptions.
1. Goldtops with P-90s.
2. Black with Bigsbys
Unfortunately, that list excludes Goldtops with Bigsbys. I don't think that looks right. Goldtops are pretty things and should look clean, Bigsbys are ugly things and should look functional and used.
I've been consistently let down by Epiphone Les Pauls. If you're getting an Epiphone Les Paul made in China or Korea then you're better off getting one of those Chinese Gibson Les Paul knock offs because you're gonna be swapping the pups, the capacitors, and the potentiometers anyway most likely. I wouldn't recomend buying a one new from tradetang or anything, find one used locally because those factories have no quality control.
Honestly, my advice would be to save up and get a real Gibson Les Paul. You'll have it for life.
I've owned many Epiphones and a few Chinese knock off Les Pauls. They always end up getting modified, and then sold or traded. My Gibson Les Paul traditional has never left my stable and never will.
pumpkin wrote:Honestly, my advice would be to save up and get a real Gibson Les Paul. You'll have it until you despair at the poor QC for the price you paid
.. and then you'll try to flip it for the maximum return on ebay.
I only have experience of a '94 Riviera and this '56 Gold Top RI (dunno what year it is? Proggie?) but I didn't change pickups or pots on either, nor do I think I will.
pumpkin wrote:Honestly, my advice would be to save up and get a real Gibson Les Paul. You'll have it until you despair at the poor QC for the price you paid
.. and then you'll try to flip it for the maximum return on ebay.
I only have experience of a '94 Riviera and this '56 Gold Top RI (dunno what year it is? Proggie?) but I didn't change pickups or pots on either, nor do I think I will.
pumpkin wrote:Honestly, my advice would be to save up and get a real Gibson Les Paul. You'll have it for life.
See now I don't really agree with this, the epiphones are great guitars for the money, and then for the price of a gibson you could get something MUCH nicer on the secondhand market - lesser known boutique stuff etc... which blow gibsons out of the water for quality and sound.
pumpkin wrote:Honestly, my advice would be to save up and get a real Gibson Les Paul. You'll have it for life.
See now I don't really agree with this, the epiphones are great guitars for the money, and then for the price of a gibson you could get something MUCH nicer on the secondhand market - lesser known boutique stuff etc... which blow gibsons out of the water for quality and sound.
See, I agree with this and I don't. First off, buying a used Gibson is totally the way to go. Yes, Epiphones are good "for the money". As far as the boutique stuff goes, I've yet to play a les Paul that beat a Gibson made one. The problem with the boutique Les Pauls is they don't hold value very well either. A Gibson Les Paul will always be desired.
I meant for the same price of a new gibson you could buy a used boutique guitar, because of the low re-sale value. I wouldn't ever buy a guitar under the pretense that I'd be able to sell it on for a high price either. I've always been left feeling very unimpressed after playing gibsons, especially the les paul standards. The build quality just doesn't hold up to many of the other top brands in the market in the same price range, for example a gibson les paul feels significantly cheaper than say a vigier excalibur or gv.
mrperson wrote:I meant for the same price of a new gibson you could buy a used boutique guitar, because of the low re-sale value. I wouldn't ever buy a guitar under the pretense that I'd be able to sell it on for a high price either. I've always been left feeling very unimpressed after playing gibsons, especially the les paul standards. The build quality just doesn't hold up to many of the other top brands in the market in the same price range, for example a gibson les paul feels significantly cheaper than say a vigier excalibur or gv.
I'd much rather have one of these:
than one of these:
Have to disagree with you there mate. To each their own!