Epi Exclusive LP 59 Standard in Aged Southern Fade..........

  • Thread starter Thread starter The~Kid
  • Start date Start date
Music&Chaos said:
My buddy has this one.

Absolutely beast of a guitar.

He also has a couple of other really nice Epiphones, some custom or one off runs.

I have upgraded pickups and electronics in various models and such.

Nice electronics with CTS pots and stuff.

I always think about how nice they feel and sound....until I put my beat up 2004 Les Paul studio against them. Smashes them every time. Not even close.

I have played tons and tons of Epiphones. Some are really nice for sure but when you start asking me for close to $1k for one, it is never gonna happen.
Click to expand...
The Gibson Studios and other mid tier Gibsons are great. You play them and they seem like a great value.....

Until you play a new 59 Chinese Epi or one of the other upper tier Epi Reissues....... Even the generic Standard 50s models....... Then you realize oh yeah that's how a real Gibson is supposed to sound like.


IMe short of these your going to have to spend money on a Gibson Standard or a Custom Shop for anything comparable. Low end Gibsons and Epiphones older Korean and Chinese builds usual stuff is why I really haven't picked up an Epi until now......
 
The~Kid said:
The Gibson Studios and other mid tier Gibsons are great. You play them and they seem like a great value.....

Until you play a new 59 Chinese Epi or one of the other upper tier Epi Reissues....... Even the generic Standard 50s models....... Then you realize oh yeah that's how a real Gibson is supposed to sound like.
Click to expand...
So real Gibsons don't sound as good as....real Gibsons?
 
japetus said:
So real Gibsons don't sound as good as....real Gibsons?
Click to expand...
Pretty much..... yeah regarding the low to mid tier stuff.......


They don't sound like real Gibsons.

It isn't really a new thing and Gibson has a tier of Gibsons for people who just want the name Gibson on the headstock and those are the low to mid tier Gibsons..... for example kind of the reason Slash got the Kris Derrig Les Paul was because Gibson wasn't really making Gibsons that sounded like Gibsons in the 80s......


So I mean short of spending the cash on a Gibson Standard 50s which doesn't even have long/deep tenon for example...... or on a Murphy Lab or Custom Shop (who the hell has money for that) these are the next best thing....... These are practically Gibsons made in China.
 
The~Kid said:
Pretty much..... yeah regarding the low to mid tier stuff.......


They don't sound like real Gibsons.

It isn't really new..... kind of the reason Slash got the Kris Derrig Les Paul was because Gibson wasn't really making Gibsons that sounded like Gibsons in the 80s......


So I mean short of spending the cash on a Gibson Standard 50s which doesn't even have long/deep tenon for example...... or on a Murphy Lab or Custom Shop these are the next best thing.
Click to expand...
I am glad you like your guitar in any case. I have played a lot of the newer Epiphones. Some of them are completely servicable guitars. Some were total junk. None came close to the level of the older MIJ Elitists/Elite models. And certainly none came close to the level of a Custom Shop Gibson.
 
japetus said:
I am glad you like your guitar in any case. I have played a lot of the newer Epiphones. Some of them are completely servicable guitars. Some were total junk. None came close to the level of the older MIJ Elitists/Elite models. And certainly none came close to the level of a Custom Shop Gibson.
Click to expand...
Of course I'm not comparing to Custom Shop.... And well MIC builds now relative to 2000s MIJ builds......


MIC builds now all day..... the manufacturing is just that much better than 10 years or even 5 years ago.


Your actually getting more of a Gibson from these Chinese Epiphones than from low to mid tier Gibsons IME and a better Gibson from China in a sense than a lot of the low/mid tier Gibson has to offer.
 
The~Kid said:
Of course I'm not comparing to Custom Shop.... And well MIC builds now relative to 2000s MIJ builds......


MIC builds now all day..... the manufacturing is just that much better than 10 years or even 5 years ago.


Your actually getting more of a Gibson from these Chinese Epiphones than from low to mid tier Gibsons IME.
Click to expand...
Have you played the MIJ Elite LP's?
 
japetus said:
Have you played the MIJ Elite LP's?
Click to expand...
Yeah...... again manufacturing now is much better in China or as good than anything from that time period IMO relative to MIJ Epiphones.
 
Last edited:
japetus said:
I'll see myself out of this thread now.
Click to expand...
Nvm mind better than your low to mid tier American made guitars or Gibsons in this case...

It's just technology and manufacturing process are that much better........


And your getting consistent, well reasonably priced and quality guitars most could afford now too. These things coming out of China are just that good.
 
I guess these didn't even last a day......


As said to who ever got one enjoy......


As soon as they hit the shelves at Zzounds they get sold ASAP because they are that good, they are 100 bucks less than what they usually go for and yeah that is a sick top and it feels good too......nmv the case......


It's an exclusive color too not available anywhere else. I'm never selling mine.


The 1300$ Reissues are worth it IMO but I'm more than happy with the regular 59s and have two for good reason ^_^
 
rsm said:
Late last year, I got an Epi Inspired by Gibson Custom '63 Les Paul Custom with three CustomBuckers, that would be around $700 if you purchased three of these pickups new. Got it shortly after getting a Gibson '61 SG Standard. Both are great guitars IMO; so are the fit and finish.





View attachment 400454
Click to expand...
Some kid was playing one of the new Thuderbird V 63s through a Helix at GC......

Yeah haven't played any of the 63 models in general but based of that kids tone.... damn they sound amazing as hell ^_^
 
The~Kid said:
The Gibson Studios and other mid tier Gibsons are great. You play them and they seem like a great value.....

Until you play a new 59 Chinese Epi or one of the other upper tier Epi Reissues....... Even the generic Standard 50s models....... Then you realize oh yeah that's how a real Gibson is supposed to sound like.


IMe short of these your going to have to spend money on a Gibson Standard or a Custom Shop for anything comparable. Low end Gibsons and Epiphones older Korean and Chinese builds usual stuff is why I really haven't picked up an Epi until now......
Click to expand...
My view is probably skewed, as my Les Paul is a studio+ that was only made for like a year.

I am close friends with a pretty well known guy in the Gibson restoration world and get to play on models from the 70s to current, including customs and all sorts of wild stuff.

My Les Paul definitely "sounds like a Gibson" and has stomped many others double the price.

I preferred it over the customs and stuff I have played. Maybe partially because mine has that nice rounded 50s thicker neck going on, I am not a fan of the D shape or thinner necks that many have.

Those Les Paul tribute models or whatever that were around for $1200 though... Those were not good man, I get what you are saying about the lower tier Gibson stuff being off.

Mine has the same finish and features as the standard, albeit the binding, which I hate personally.


I got pretty lucky with mine, that's for sure.
 
The~Kid said:
I guess these didn't even last a day......


As said to who ever got one enjoy......


As soon as they hit the shelves at Zzounds they get sold ASAP because they are that good, they are 100 bucks less than what they usually go for and yeah that is a sick top and it feels good too......nmv the case......


It's an exclusive color too not available anywhere else. I'm never selling mine.


The 1300$ Reissues are worth it IMO but I'm more than happy with the regular 59s and have two for good reason ^_^
Click to expand...
Again, my buddy has a couple of these, nice but NO man these aren't even close to what you are saying.

No, they aren't better than even a new studio, they feel like an Epiphone.

If you like Epi, cool, but they aren't Gibson and apparently never will be.

Just like Epiphone for what it is and don't compare the two.

They don't even finish the epis properly still, which is a big part of a guitar, at least if you're looking for that Nitro goodness.
 
Music&Chaos said:
Again, my buddy has a couple of these, nice but NO man these aren't even close to what you are saying.

No, they aren't better than even a new studio, they feel like an Epiphone.

If you like Epi, cool, but they aren't Gibson and apparently never will be.

Just like Epiphone for what it is and don't compare the two.

They don't even finish the epis properly still, which is a big part of a guitar, at least if you're looking for that Nitro goodness.
Click to expand...
Honestly I'm glad you like your Studio...... but no Studio or run of the mill Gibson actually sounds good or anywhere near what a proper Gibson should sound like. Part of the reason I haven't played a Les Paul in a while is because nothing Gibson or Epiphone made that I could afford actually sounded good until now.

The Epis just do it better, are constructed better, better quality and your paying for a proper Les Paul here and not just the name on the headstock like you are on a Studio or other mid tier Gibsons IMO. If I were to get a Gibson it would probably be a Standard 50s but yeah even then....... these things still put a fat grin on your face relative to a proper Gibson ^_^
 
The~Kid said:
Honestly I'm glad you like your Studio...... but no Studio or run of the mill Gibson actually sounds good or anywhere near what a proper Gibson should sound like. Part of the reason I haven't played a Les Paul in a while is because nothing Gibson or Epiphone made that I could afford actually sounded good until now.

The Epis just do it better, are constructed better, better quality and your paying for a proper Les Paul here and not just the name on the headstock like you are on a Studio or other mid tier Gibsons IMO.
Click to expand...
Sure, whatever you gotta tell yourself.
 
Music&Chaos said:
Sure, whatever you gotta tell yourself.
Click to expand...
I'm not telling my self anything here....... These things are nicer than your mid tier Gibson stuff made now..... nvm Mid tier Gibson stuff they made in the 2000s IMO.

I just pick it up, plug it in and it puts a grin on my face nothing short of a Gibson USA Standard LP 50s or similar would bring.
 
The~Kid said:
I'm not telling my self anything here....... These things are nicer than your mid tier Gibson stuff made now..... nvm Mid tier Gibson stuff they made in the 2000s IMO.

I just pick it up, plug it in and it puts a grin on my face nothing short of a Gibson USA Standard LP 50s or similar would bring.
Click to expand...
Again, I get to touch Gibsons people dream of. If you are feeling that vibe, good for you man for sure.

I think this guy would tell you that your Tan Pants epis and Gibsons can't touch this MIC masterpieces.

Others just don't cut the cheese!

IMG_20250513_125841661.jpg
 
The~Kid said:
Dudes back then didn't use Stainless Steel frets...... seem to have sounded fine IMO. I get stainless steel frets or other bells and whistles right as nice as a PRS is or like an LTD or ESP even is.....

These Epis are pretty kick ass and that's all Ima say. The Custom models with Quilt tops for example offer a one piece mahogany neck...... they go for 800 bucks. All they need is a pup change and your set. Personally I get stainless steel frets but I don't like them because they sound weird or make the strings sound way brighter IMO.
Click to expand...
Stainless steel frets are not at all a selling point for me personally, but I just can’t with the Epi headstock.

That new Adam Jones joint with the proper Gibson headstock looks nice though…
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top