Epiphone Les Paul Studio Review - How Close to Gibson is It?

The Epiphone Les Paul Studio is a extremely good beginner-level instrument at a competitive price.

Gibson's best-selling guitar is on a regular basis the Les Paul Studio, which is understandable, since it permits its owner some of the features of the more pricey Gibson Les Paul at a much more inexpensive cost.

Nevertheless, at over $1,000, the Les Paul Studio is still out of the price range for many people, especially younger players. The Epiphone Les Paul Studio is an attempt to bring the feel of the Gibson model to a more inexpensive level.

Features

The Epiphone Studio model features a mahogany body and set mahogany neck with rosewood fretboard. Chrome hardware is standard equipment, as is a tune-o-matic bridge and stop tailpiece. Pickups consist of two open-coil Alnico Classic humbuckers.

Performance

With a list price of less than $400, it's certainly much more inexpensive than the Gibson equivalent. But what about the guitar itself?

We were delighted to see that the instrument has a set neck rather than a bolt-on, which is what you ordinarily see with guitars in this price range. That's not a bad thing, since many good instruments (i.e. Fenders) have bolt-on necks, but having a Gibson with a bolt-on would seem just plain weird. Regarding the wood, it uses mahogany for both the neck and body and has a carved top.

With respect to the guitar's other features, it has a rosewood fretboard, chrome hardware, a tune-o-matic bridge, and stopbar tailpiece. Electronically, the Epiphone has two Alnico Classic open-coil humbuckers.

Given the cost, we found this instrument to be a strong beginner instrument. However, you might have to budget for some modest upgrades.

The action was very nice. Some buzzes were present here and there, though, because of some high frets (not uncommon).

The instrument's selector switch and volume pots were a bit scratchy, but not too bad. The humbucking pickups supplied some truly nice blues and rock tones.

Nonetheless, those are relatively bargain-priced fixes and minor complaints. When you realize that the price of a new Epiphone Les Paul Studio is around $350 and that a used one goes for around $200, it's difficult to complain.

The Bottom Line

All in all, the Epiphone Les Paul Studio is a extremely good beginner-level instrument at a competitive price. It would make a fine first instrument or even practice instrument for a more experienced player.

Name of Gear: Epiphone Les Paul Studio

List Price: $606.00

Manufacturer Info: The Epiphone Company; epiphone.com

Pros: Good value; nice guitar for the price

Cons:Noisy pots and pickup selector; a few high frets

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Epiphone G-400 Review - A Worthy SG Replacement?

If you want an inexpensive instrument that can cover a lot of sonic ground, you can't go wrong with the G-400.

Although it may not have as much weight (figuratively speaking) as the iconic Fender Stratocaster or the Gibson Les Paul, the Gibson SG is still a noticeable part of rock and roll history, as Angus Young can attest.

Everyone from Eric Clapton to Tony Iommi has adopted the Gibson SG for its piercing sound. Since not everyone can afford the $1,200 street price for a Gibson, however, their sister company Epiphone makes an affordable SG model, the G-400.

Since the Epiphone G-400 is plainly more inexpensive, we have to discover how well it "stacks up" to its big brother, the Gibson SG.

Features

The Epiphone G-400 is built with a mahogany body and set mahogany neck. It features two Alnico V humbuckers, a rosewood fretboard with trapezoid inlays, chrome hardware, and a tune-o-matic bridge and stop tailpiece.

Performance

We have zero niggles with respect to the cherry finish, which is just plain beautiful and looks fantastic on the instrument's mahogany body. The SG shape itself is perfect. If it weren't for the name on the headstock, the instrument would be a dead ringer for a Gibson SG.

The mother-of-pearl inlays are wonderfully done, though we did discover some small traces of glue residue near the edges. Similarly, we noticed some minute traces of glue holding the neck joint in place, but these squabbles aside, we determined the construction quality to be really well done.

The instrument's intonation was easy to set and was very good, though we wish the bridge saddles weren't as cutting as they are. The instrument held its tuning very well, even after some pretty radical bending.

The instrument plays well, suitable for pretty much any style of music. We did notice a a couple of buzzes and rattles here and there, but we did set the action fairly low, and we didn't observe any of these sounds through an amplifier.

I'm of the belief that a good electric guitar has to sound superb unplugged, and the G-400 doesn't let down in this domain either. It's vibrant, resonant, and offers substantial sustain, stunning given the guitar's low weight.

The guitar's acoustic tones were, pardon the pun, "amplified" when we plugged into our test amplifier, a Dr. Z MAZ-18 NR. The pickups of the G-400 offered very balanced tones, useful for numerous distinct styles.

We auditioned the pickups in all three toggle settings and found the tones useful in all settings using both clean and distorted amp/pedal sounds. When we really went for a metal sound (using a Visual Sound Jekyll and Hyde pedal), we thought the instrument was a bit muddy sounding, but's not really a criticism, considering how toppingly warm this guitar is overall.

So, if you wish to play this instrument in a Judas Priest tribute band, you'll probably want to put in some hotter pickups with a bit more treble bite.

The Bottom Line

There's not much more to say. The Epiphone G-400 is a splendid guitar at a superb price. If you want an inexpensive instrument that can cover a lot of sonic ground, you can't go wrong with the G-400.

Name of Gear: Epiphone G-400

List Price: $606.00

Manufacturer Info: The Epiphone Company; epiphone.com

Pros: Solid value; good playability; sweet rock and blues sounds

Cons: Bridge saddles need work; a little glue residue

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Epiphone Casino Review - Vintage Class

If you need a particular, versatile instrument for blues, rock, or jazz, the Epiphone Casino is a sure thing.

It's effortless to think that guitar makers like Fender and Gibson have always been the top-selling musical instruments they are now, but that's in reality not the case. Believe it or not, for many years Epiphone really dominated the electric guitar universe, thanks mainly to a group of young musicians from Liverpool (the Beatles, in case you don't know your music history really well).

George and John were not the only guitarists who could be seen playing Epiphone Casinos. The Casino's fresh, dynamic tones could be found in tons of concerts and recordings. Though it's improbable you'll be able to pick up a real 1960's Casino, you can grab a current reissue model that is worth a look. Here are just a few of the details of the current model.

Features

Regarding its construction, the top, sides, and back are all made of a laminated maple. The neck is mahogany and the fingerboard is rosewood and has 22 frets on a 24 3/4" scale. The nut is a comfortable 1.68." The Casino boasts 2 Alnico V P-90 vintage-style pickups with a trademark tune-o-matic bridge and trapeze tailpiece. Parallelogram inlays and body-neck binding with chrome hardware complete the cosmetic adornments.

Performance

As you test a new Epiphone Casino, you'll in all probability observe at least a couple of things. First things first. The Casino is very lightweight, owing to its semi-hollow design. If you're used to playing a Les Paul, the Casino feels like a feather by comparison.

The second thing you'll likely notice is the sound itself. "Crisp" is probably the best adjective I can use to describe it. It doesn't have the usual Gibson or Fender tone, but that's not a bad thing. It's unique, its own animal.

We were really satisfied with the tones we got from the Epiphone Casino. It can get some outstanding clean or classic rock tones, but don't anticipate any "Iron Maiden" licks to sound authentic. The P90 pickups have some great tones, even if they're not hum-cancelling (but they're not really noisy anyway).

When we first played the Casino, we discovered it needed a fast setup. After we adjusted the bridge and neck, the Casino played very well. The neck especially is really comfortable.

If you're blessed enough to buy a new Epiphone Casino, don't be astounded if you start rattling off some of your favored Beatles' tunes. We played our Epiphone through a new Vox AC-15 and were very encouraged with the warm, rich sounds we got.

The Bottom Line

Since the street cost is only around $599 (much less if you can find it used), it's difficult to find grounds not to pick up an Epiphone Casino today. If you need a particular, versatile instrument for blues, rock, or jazz, the Epiphone Casino is a sure thing.

Name of Gear: Epiphone Casino

List Price: $1,042.00

Manufacturer Info: The Epiphone Company; epiphone.com

Pros: Classic blues and rock sound; visually appealing; light; good bargain

Cons: Weak factory setup

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Epiphone Les Paul Standard Plus - A Review

Not unlike the Fender Stratocaster, the Gibson Les Paul has become a guitar symbol, preferred by guitarists in such different styles as rock, metal, blues, jazz, and country. From Ace Frehley to Zakk Wylde, the fans of the Les Paul are all over the globe. For us ordinary humans, there's usually one serious downside to purchasing a Gibson Les Paul. They don't come cheap! The average typical price of a new model is well over $2,000, which is hardly small change. What's a Les Paul lover to do?

Enter the Epiphone Les Paul Standard Plus!

Aside from its signature Epiphone headstock, an Epiphone Les Paul is a Korean-made guitar that plays, feels, and looks like a "real" Gibson LP without the prohibitive price tag. It even bears the signature of the late, great Les Paul on the headstock. So how does it stack up?

We reviewed a transparent Blue Les Paul Standard Plus Top, and I have to note that the instrument has one of the most gorgeous tops I've played in this price range. The figuring is absolutely beautiful, and is gloriously complimented by its creme-colored binding and chrome hardware. Appearance-wise, the Epiphone LP Standard Plus Top is simply a beautiful guitar.

Having used a Gibson LP Standard for some time, I was interested to take note of how the Epiphone LP would stack up, and I have to say that I was tremendously impressed. The slim-tapered neck reminds me of the 1960 Gibson LP Standard neck and in many respects was much faster than my Gibson LP Standard with a 50's style neck. The rosewood fretboard felt great and the frets were smooth and nicely polished all in all, but not quite as pristine as my Gibson LP. Be that as it may, the fretwork is still very good, especially given the instrument's low price.

The alnico classic pickups convey the classic LP bite out of the bridge pickup and a smooth and round tone from the neck pickup. I almost always swap pickups out of my stock guitars and would likely do the same here. I think a Seymour Duncan JB and Jazz would sound perfect in this electric guitar, but the replacement would be more of a preference than a necessity. These pickups sound solid and might just be what you're looking for without the need for new pickups. They did tend to squeal a bit at high volumes, but not annoyingly so.

The give and take in a model such as this guitar aren't easily apparent. Epiphone saves some costs by having a veneer flame top glued to non-flamed maple. Likewise, where Gibson LP Standard bodies are made from a single mahogany slab, the Epiphone mahogany body is laminated, just like the neck. Nevertheless, these cost-cutting decisions allow the guitar to weigh even less than their Gibson siblings. For the cost you pay, the Epiphone Les Paul Standard Plus Top is a beautiful sounding and nicely playable LP for a small fraction of the price of the Gibson model.

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Gibson Les Paul Standard Review - Are the Changes Worth It?

The new Gibson Les Paul Standard is a terrific guitar in many ways, and we sense the spirit of classic Les Pauls here.

Along with the Fender Stratocaster, the Gibson Les Paul is synonymous with rock & roll and blues guitar. Though the shape and thick, chunky sound have stayed constant throughout the years, the particulars, from pickup selection to neck design, have been modified to reflect Gibson's continued desire to innovate.

In 2008, Gibson introduced a Gibson Les Paul Standard that contained more than its fair share of alterations, some welcome and some not. Let's take a look at the guitar's construction details more closely.

Features

The new Les Paul Standard now includes Strap Locks (Dunlop), chambered body, Grover Locking Tuners, TonePros bridge/tailpiece, Neutrick output jack, and a setup via Plek.

The body wood is mahogany with a figured maple top. The scale length is 24-3/4" with a mahogany neck and rosewood fretboard. The pickups are Gibson's own Burstbucker Pros. A quality hardshell case is standard equipment.

Performance

We didn't ascertain any lack in tone due to the chambered body, and played acoustically, the Les Paul Standard had a well-balanced, deep tone. If you've ever gigged with a Les Paul for any extended period of time, you'll prize the lighter weight.

Since I ordinarily substitute tune-o-matic style bridges with TonePros, the upgraded bridge and tailpiece are a welcome addition, as is the Plek setup, which resulted in a solid playing and sounding guitar right out of the box.

We did have to make a small truss rod adjustment, but for an instrument that was sent halfway across the country, that's regular procedure. For the record, though, this guitar was ready to take to a gig straight out of the box. Not bad.

The finish on the revised Standard is as superb as ever. We went over a Heritage Cherry Sunburst finish that had just a gorgeous flame. We found no defects in either finish or fit, and the fret dressing and setup was as good as we've ever seen from a production instrument. Gibson also opted to exclude the pickguard from this model, though you could easily install one if you miss it. The pickguard is included, however.

We were intrigued when we found that Gibson built this series using an asymmetrical neck profile; however, we have to say that we're glad they did. The profile sports a thicker bass side and a thinner treble side.

Think of it as the best of a 50's and 60's profile in one neck design. The fretwork and factory setup were the best we'd ever seen from an out-of-the-box Gibson.

It's hard for us not to think of a LP without thinking of the sound of a Les Paul cranked up through a Marshall, so we ran the Gibson through a reissue Marshall JCM800 half-stack. We liked what we found, though you do need to know that the chambered body gives the guitar something of a ES-335 sound when cranked. Think old Clapton.

The Burstbucker pickups seemed to be a pretty nice fit, since they are aggressive and dark by nature. There are unquestionably some definitive Gibson tones to be found here, though the chambered body/Burstbucker combination has its own unique flavor. To each his own. We liked them.

We have to say, though, that there were a couple of things we just didn't care for. Gibson chose to include Neutrik locking input jacks, for example. Some individuals love them, but we're not fans. Still, the Neutrik jacks are superior quality, so we appreciate that at least.

Same goes for the PCB mounted volume and tone pots. In fact, all pots, the pickups, the selector switch, and the jack are all connected to a main PCB board via pluggable connectors. While it's cool in a way, it could also greatly hinder switching a pot or swapping pickups. We were left rubbing our heads on this one.

The Bottom Line

Still, these concerns are minor. Overall, the new Gibson Les Paul Standard is a terrific guitar in many ways, and we sense the spirit of classic Les Pauls here. Gibson also now makes a "Les Paul Traditional" that might appeal to individuals who want a more conservative Les Paul. Obviously, Gibson has something for everyone in their Les Paul series.

Name of Gear: Gibson Les Paul Standard Plus

List Price: $3,899.00

Manufacturer Info: Gibson Musical Instruments; gibson.com

Pros: Excellent setup; good classic LP sounds; nice feel

Cons: PCB mounted pots

If you are searching for the absolute cheapest price on a new or used Gibson Les Paul Standard, then you need to visit Ray's Guitar Shop, which offers the lowest prices on all new and used guitars. It doesn't matter if you're searching for a Fender Stratocaster, an Epiphone G-400, or a PRS McCarty. If you're searching for cheap electric guitars, then look no further than Ray's Guitar Shop!

Gibson Les Paul Studio Review - Read Before You Buy!

With its playability, sound, and low price, it's easy to consider why the Les Paul Studio is one of Gibson's most popular models.

Since 1983, the Gibson Les Paul Studio has been one of the company's best selling guitars. Though originally directed at studio players (hence the name), it has since become a favorite instrument for both recording and live use.

Features
The Les Paul studio has a carved maple top with a chambered mahogany body, contributing to its low weight. The neck is mahogany as well while the fretboard is either rosewood or ebony, depending on the finish. Stop tailpiece and tune-o-matic bridge are standard equipment, as are 490R and 498T Alnico 2 magnet humbucking pickups. Depending on the finish, you'll get either chrome or gold hardware. The familiar two volume knobs, two tone knobs and three-way switch are included, as is a Gibson hardshell case.

Performance
The first deviation from the standard Les Paul you'll detect is the lack of body and neck binding. However, the Studio model still has the essence of the classic Gibson tone.

The neck is sure enough Gibson through and through. It reminded us of a 50's LP, which in all likelihood helps the guitar grab that chunky sound Gibson is so well-known for. The pickups (490T and 490R) also help catch this classic tone.

Despite its name, the Les Paul Studio has earned an outstanding reputation as a live guitar workhorse, due in no small part to its decreased weight. The chambered mahogany body make the Studio model an excellent guitar for gigging because it has the LP sound without the LP weight.

The model we reviewed came with a classy black finish and gold hardware. Fit and finish were superior throughout. The frets were well-polished with hardly any buzzing present.

The rosewood fretboard was pure Gibson down to the instantly distinctive trapezoid inlays. From lead guitar to thick power chords, the instrument felt, played, and sounded like a much more expensive Gibson guitar.

If you're wondering what the distinctions are between a Les Paul Studio and a more traditional model, it's actually pretty easy. The Studio model lacks body and neck binding and has a chambered, lighter body.

The Bottom Line
With its playability, sound, and, of course, low price, it's easy to consider why the Les Paul Studio is one of Gibson's most popular models, and we give it our heartfelt recommendation.

Name of Gear: Gibson Les Paul Studio
List Price: $2,169.00
Manufacturer Info: Gibson Musical Instruments; gibson.com
Pros: Wonderful action; good range of sounds; excellent value
Cons: None

If you need to find the cheapest price on a Gibson Les Paul Studio, then there's only one place you need to shop. Ray's Guitar Shop has the cheapest prices on all new and used instruments. It doesn't matter if you're looking for a B. C. Rich Warlock, a Carvin Bolt, a Fender Stratocaster, or a Gibson SG. If you're searching for cheap electric guitars, then Ray's is the place.