One of my bandmates is looking to get himself a doublecut LesPaul Jr. with a P90 in TV Yellow. He's kind of had his eye on the Billie Joe Armstrong signature model, as it's pretty much the feature set he's after. At the same time, he's ok getting something that will be a decent platform and replacing hardware to get a good sounding and playing guitar relatively cheap.
He found this Chinese knock-off which is fairly cheap, and could easily be upgraded.
Any of you guys have experience with these guys? Is the construction any good? Do they play well? Worth picking up and replacing the pickup, tuners, etc.?
Considering how a cheap LP Jnr is usually secondhand I'd avoid buying a Chinese knock off. By the time you factor in shipping, replacing the crap parts and getting it into reasonable playing shape you'd probably end up spending more money than you would for an actual Gibson.
Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2014 9:55 am
by Fakir Mustache
I would prefer dhgate, because if it comes with "Gibson" on the headstock and you ask them to not have it on there, it's not particularly in the alibaba rules that you would get your money back if it gets confiscated, although I suppose you can prove you didn't want the logo, so it might not be an issue at all.
On the other hand, cheap hardware, cheap tuners, cheap strap buttons (although the bridge on the one I got is o.k.) Cheap pickups, but you might have better luck with P90s, which is not what I have.
The one I got has a well-built body and neck, but I suppose it is also true that you can get pretty much a copy of the same model from the '70s-2000s for about the same price, if you don't mind a possible bolt-on neck on some of them.
Re: Chinese knock-off Billie Joe Armstrong dc LP Jr.
Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2014 1:04 pm
by robroe
Ankhanu wrote: decent platform
LOL
its got one pickup. that isn't shaped like a humbucker or a single coil. so you cant drop in 99% of the pickups on the market. the pickguard doesn't cover anything. so you cant add more pickups without fucking it all up. its got 2 knobs. if you add more holes for more knobs you will fuck it up.
its a nice guitar, i wouldn't mind one. but its not a decent platform for anything
Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2014 1:21 pm
by sunshiner
Thomas wrote:Considering how a cheap LP Jnr is usually secondhand I'd avoid buying a Chinese knock off. By the time you factor in shipping, replacing the crap parts and getting it into reasonable playing shape you'd probably end up spending more money than you would for an actual Gibson.
This is true. Four years ago I had a chance to buy Tokai LP Jr for about $650 includes shipping, but ended up with a kit. As the result I've already spent almost that sum on the kit and parts. The kit is not built yet, further more it has some neck back bow closer to the nut and even if I finish it, it won't be as good as Tokai could be. Despite the fact that you are bying the ready guitar, it's quality is unpredictable. A new pickup, tuners and pots will cost you something, while the resaling value of the guitar won't be that good. If you are not going to cheat on someone of course.
Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2014 2:39 pm
by speedfish
Go used Epiphone and replace the pickup with a real Gibson p90. The Epiphone p90's are good, but brighter with less midrange punch than a Gibson. The fit and finish on the Epiphones is pretty amazing.
Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2014 2:55 pm
by cur
rondo has decent lp jr knock offs at times. I had their Douglas classic TVY that I liked a lot. I got it from Honeyiscool and later gave to my nephew because he liked it. [youtube][/youtube] I think they made a DC of this one too.
Also, Agile makes one link. They are not always in stock and Rondo has a good enough return policy if you get a dud. The one I had had it's nut slots too tight and it went out of tune when you did any bending. once corrected it was nice.
Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2014 3:12 pm
by robroe
speedfish wrote: The Epiphone p90's are good, but don't say GIBSON on them anywhere
Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2014 3:14 pm
by robroe
you can set the intonation on it. barely.
[youtube][/youtube]
[youtube][/youtube]
Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2014 3:34 pm
by singlepup
A little off topic, but I've been exploring the website shared in the OP. Hella crazy Chinese guitars. All shipped to Taiwan for free
For example, check out this left handed "Jag-Stang"
Online Chinese guitar salesman wrote:1.I am an honest and reliable seller, please trust me !
Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2014 4:17 pm
by cur
I have purchased from aliexpress and have had no problems with the sellers. You get a 30 day guarantee that can be extended. The thing I ordered got lost in transit and never made it into the shipping tracker. I pointed it out and he apologized and remade the order and re shipped it. He extended my bail out time by 15 days and was in good communication with me the whole time. I don't know about all of their sellers, but they seem well managed by the company.
Re: Chinese knock-off Billie Joe Armstrong dc LP Jr.
Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2014 5:51 pm
by paul_
robroe wrote:
Ankhanu wrote: decent platform
LOL
its got one pickup. that isn't shaped like a humbucker or a single coil. and two knobs
All that's left to buy is a decent amp. These guitars are more versatile than Mustangs.
Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2014 7:15 pm
by Ankhanu
I guess I should clarify that when I said "decent platform", I did notintend to imply the word "modding" in the middle. It was absent I meant a decent playing platform, that, when the stock hardware is gone, the basis of the instrument (the body, neck, etc) are a decent platform upon which to add better hardware to make a truly solid player.
There's no intent to mod with extra features; an LP Jr feature set is the intent for the final instrument.
Bit of a mixed bag of opinions on that matter, and some good food for thought. Thanks.
Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2014 12:19 am
by speedfish
Ankhanu wrote:I guess I should clarify that when I said "decent platform", I did notintend to imply the word "modding" in the middle. It was absent I meant a decent playing platform, that, when the stock hardware is gone, the basis of the instrument (the body, neck, etc) are a decent platform upon which to add better hardware to make a truly solid player.
There's no intent to mod with extra features; an LP Jr feature set is the intent for the final instrument.
Bit of a mixed bag of opinions on that matter, and some good food for thought. Thanks.
Try this:
not tv yellow, but will work right outa the box. Didn't intend to misrepresent the Epiphone p90, they are totally acceptable, just brighter to my ear, kinda like if a Gibson p90 and a Fender Jazzmaster pickup made a baby together.
