Better Guitar

player opinions

Name: Andy
Band: -----
Model Year: 2004
Price Paid: $415
Performance
This is my third guitar, I’ve had a Strat, and a Jag, and this is by far better then both of those. I got a good deal on this guitar also, so I lucked out. I don’t think you would be disappointed with this guitar at all.
Performance Rating: 10
Sound Quality
Well the tone on this guitar is everything you would want out of a Les Paul. I have a Fender Ultimate Chorus amp and the effects sound great with it. This guitar can go anywhere from a soft mellow blues tone to a grungy distortion, and you can get a very deep sound out of it. For playing classic rock, or metal this guitar is perfect.
Sound Quality Rating: 9
Construction
t’s not as solid as a Gibson obviously, but its lightness makes up for it. You can play standing up for much longer with this guitar without any back aches or anything, unlike the Gibson, which you all know is a ton of bricks compared to this guitar. But you gotta be careful handling it, because a rough hit could damage some electrics or body work.
Construction Rating: 8

Name: Zep Brickston
Band: Tamboerijn
Model Year: 1990
Price Paid: $500
Performance
Well it didn’t play good at first, but now that it has adjusted to my playing styles, it’s real easy to play. It does what it promises. I mean I wanted that Slash guitar sound and I got it. The body is from mahogany wood and that is pretty heavy.
Performance Rating: 8
Sound Quality
t’s got a clean hard tone in the treble section and a more blues-like tone in the rhythm section. The middle gives you a real bright sound like opening a bottle of coke. The effects I work with are (Harmonix-Polychorus, Boss Turbodrive2, Jimi Dunlop wahwah and Fender booster) clean as a whistle. My amp does sound awesome. It’s a Fender Deluxe series — fantastic sound that lights up a room.
Sound Quality Rating: 8
Construction
It’s somewhere between cheap and expensive. The guitar has been made in Korea and we all know how good a job the Koreans do in anything — for example soccer. Well the guitar might need refretting but it sounds ok. Well the neck has suffered since my Mom dropped the guitar. But I repaired the neck. It has a very nice finish of tiger stripes. The effects are perfect, no problems yet.
Construction Rating: 7

Name: James
Band: They Killed Fritz
Model Year: -----
Price Paid: $525 (w/ hardshell)
Performance
Quite simply, this guitar performs as well as a Gibson Les Paul Standard — at half the price. It never goes out of tune, no matter how heavy I play and it offers a great range of tone.
Performance Rating: 10
Sound Quality
The sound quality is outstanding. I worried about using this guitar through my JC120, but I can actually get nice, warm tone. I use several pedals and effects units, and this guitar shines through it all.
Sound Quality Rating: 10
Construction
A workhorse guitar. Won’t leave home without it.
Construction Rating: 10

Name: Jim Brunelle
Band: Roses Between Two Thorns
Model Year: -----
Price Paid: $480
Performance
It meets my standard of playing. I do strictly 50’s thu 70’s rock and roll. The action never changes. I have another Epi which is a 1967 custom shop series. I rate both a 5. I have had warranty work done on both, mainly the 3 way selector doesn’t seem to last long — about every other year I replace it. They should have the Gibson switch, much heavier and withstands the abuse. And the chrome seems to tarnish much quicker. That’s about it. I am still very happy with them both.
Performance Rating: 10
Sound Quality
Like I said above, they perform to my standards of playing.
Sound Quality Rating: 10
Construction
Construction is good, except problems with the chrome finish flaking turning to a rustic look. The pickups are plastic and the heads rust the finish on them. The dealer told me it’s not covered under the lifetime warranty, which I think it should. Both guitars are wiped down all the time with Gibson cleaning products.
Construction Rating: 8

Name: John Antol
Band: -----
Model Year: -----
Price Paid: $600
Performance
Excellent player. Easy to play. Always stays in tune, even after traveling. As good as or better then some Gibson Les Pauls. I say this from experience.
Performance Rating: 10
Sound Quality
Excellent sound quality. Crisp and clean. Sounds better then a Gibson Custom Les Paul I had from the 70’s. Important: Don’t let country of origin fool anyone into thinking this is not a first class guitar, because it is.
Sound Quality Rating: 10
Construction
Excellent construction and workmanship. Great frets. Solid and extremely reliable. Great finish. I’ve had no problems with this guitar. I recommend it to anyone.
Construction Rating: 10

Name: Allan Watkins
Band: Boucan Brothers
Model Year: -----
Price Paid: $625
Performance
This is one joy of a guitar. While playing live I have experienced no tuning or intonation problems. The factory pickups are HOT HOT HOT! and I selected this model over several used Gibson LP’s while at the store. The fit and finish are excellent, without any of the “orange peel” finish problems that have been noticed on many of the current Nashville product. But most of all in our band which is Blues/Southern rock, when I need that “Dickey Betts” tone, just pick up this little beauty, turn it up a little hit that neck pickup, kick the tires and light the fires. This is a highly recommended product for those on a budget, and also the only LP “clones?” with the signature of MR. PAUL on the headstock. It is also one great guitar for anyone when we remove the silly “where was it made” stigma. Who cares? This is a working guitar, not a collector’s wall hanger. Pick one up and give it a spin.
Performance Rating: 10
Sound Quality
The sound quality is as one would expect a LP from any era, but especially the late 60’s to sound; “tender beef.”
Sound Quality Rating: 8
Construction
No problems in two years of gigging on a regular basis and out of ten guitars this and a Strat (also from Korea) are the two that are always packed.
Construction Rating: 10

Name: Scott Metzger
Band: pk
Model Year: -----
Price Paid: $999 (list)
Performance
This baby is wonderful, I have played Gibson Les Pauls before and when playing this Epiphone model I can’t tell any difference. I have a beautiful silver finish and it looks and plays great.
Performance Rating: 10
Sound Quality
The tone is awesome, I play a wide range of stuff in my band with sounds ranging from Deftones to Led Zeppelin, and whether soloing or playing vicious rhythm, the tone is top class.
Sound Quality Rating: 10
Construction
Very good construction, I just dropped it twice when a strap broke this past weekend and the fretboard came lose from the neck from the 1st to third frets, luckily I was able to push it back into place and the original glue held it back in place.
Construction Rating: 8