Epiphone Les Paul Standard Bass

New Epiphone Les Paul, specs as per the other reviews (except to say it has hollow chambers in the body, which is why it's so light). As far as I know it differs from the current Gibson in only two regards - a rosewood fretboard (as opposed to ebony) and the absence of a pickup selector.

Mine has a nice cherry sunburst finish, and a lovely neck - it's what Gibson would call a 'slim taper', but still rounded and substantial. It's slimmer than the neck on my old Squier P-bass and has a slightly shorter scale length, but it doesn't feel at all flimsy.

For me the neck is one of the best things about the instrument - a lot of things that I struggled to play on the Squier were suddenly manageable the first time I tried them on this bass.

Another feature I like is the extra playing surface afforded by having two humbucking pickups. Having learned to play on an instrument with one single coil, I really appreciate the extra tonal variety you get from being able to anchor your thumb in several different spots.

On the downside there is a minimal amount of neck-dive (more when I'm carrying it than playing it), and the absence of a selector switch is a minor nuisance. I don't think I'd use it that often if it were there, but the only reason not to have it is to cut costs. This slight irritation is compounded by the fiddliness of the top hat controls - because they're so small it's slightly awkward to get a good hold of them.

I've given this a 7 for those small flaws. Although there aren't many features, everything that's there does its job, and it's very comfortable to play.

This bass has a warm, round sound with a definite whisper of that distinctive Gibson timbre which I associate with EB3 players like Jack Bruce and Andy Fraser. Most of my playing is broadly in that blues-rock genre, so it suits my style very well.

I generally use bog-standard alternate finger picking, with my right thumb anchored on the front end of the neck pickup. For me that's the sweet spot on this bass - a very full sound.

The difference between the bridge and neck pickups is subtle rather than dramatic, and I generally have both on 10 (for volume and for tone). I've found that the best way to get a brighter tone when I need it is to pick over the bridge pickup, or to use a plectrum. It's certainly not bright enough for slapping and popping, but it's not a muddy sound - I've found that I can play double stops low on the neck and have both notes ring out cleanly. But if I was to get into thumbstyle playing, I think I'd need a different bass for that.

I've had no problems with extraneous noises on this bass. I play it through a Dunlop Crybaby bass wah, sometimes into a Behringer Bass V-amp. The rest of the time I'm using a practice amp or whatever amp the venue provides. Unlike my previous bass, I've found that I can get a good sound out of this one with any amp - and it works equally well in a home recording or live environment.

I've only found two flaws in this regard. The first is fret buzz if you hit a low note VERY hard. The second is a tendency for the other strings to ring out unwanted (when your finger comes to rest after plucking a note) if you play very close to the bridge.

I've not corrected these yet as I never hit a note that hard or that close to the bridge on purpose. But it will need attention at some point just so that I have the option (and so that a playing mistake won't have such ugly consequences!).

But the feel of the neck is great (as mentioned above), the frets are well-finished, and the slight incline in the nut (giving the E a slightly higher action than the G) is a surprising but effective detail. The tuners are sturdy and responsive, and everything else is tight and solid. The paintwork is gorgeous - I actually fing the back even more attractive than the sunburst top!

I've played this lots of times with my band and never had a problem - it rings out loud and clear through any amp and it stays in tune. The hardware is good and solid - not too much of it so not too much to go wrong (famous last words anyone?)

The finish has stood up to my oafish clumsiness thus far without any scratches or dings (in spite of being bumped or dropped more than once). The strap buttons are a little on the small side, but solid - they don't inexplicably loosen themselves, unlike my Epi LP 6-string.

If I had to I'd happily use this on a gig without a backup, but I prefer not to invoke the First Law of Sod if I can help it.

I've never had to deal with Epiphone.

I've been playing bass for 10 years and guitar for 23 (and sax for 6 come to that). These days bass is my main instrument and I haven't used the Squier or yearned for another bass since buying this a year ago. If it were lost or stolen I'd snap up another in a flash.

I love the feel and sound of this so the minor flaws mentioned above pale into insignificance. When I bought it I auditioned a couple of Mexican Fenders and a pointy purple Yamaha thing, but there was no comparison.

The only thing I wish this had is a pick-up selector, but only for convenience's sake. As it stands I can't see myself replacing this until the day I can afford a Gibson, and even then, the difference in quality would have to be comparable to the difference in price.

22 frets.. 2 humbuckers, passive electronics.. a couple of tone knobs
nothing really special. just the bare essentials in a bass.
got it about 10 months ago.. have used it in a couple of gigs..
got it dirt cheap so..

ok the sound.. at first the sound seemed really lacking to me. the bass was not really present, it had a lot of treble, i bought it anyway. now after 10 months of using it i can say that the sound is really diverse. it can suit a lot of musical style.
i play rock, metal, and just plain o'l music.. really impressed with how it adapted quickly to my bass styles. i have used it for slapping, i'm guessing that i dont know what a reall slapping bass would sound or feel like. but i would say the slap sounds are fairly ok.. nothing big.
the overall sound is nothing special but it gets the job done
id give it a 7.5

the action was really bad when i got it. lots of fret buzz. really made me mad. i had it fixed and now there is little to no buzz at all. im kinda happy with how the action is now.
the finish is really nice. the sunburst color makes it look more expensive, but its not.
the tuning, for me i play a few notes and it really gets out of tune real fast.. i dont know why, is it me?? or are there others out there?
aside from the tuning pegs, everything seems to be in order

i have used it in a lot of gigs. i play metal so it gets really wild. and so far the guitar has withstood the abuse i have given it.
hardware seems like it could last if given the proper care. i have a strap lock so it never falls down. i can depend on it, so far the guitar hasnt failed on me.
i would gig with a backup with this one.. just to be sure.. but i dont bring a back up

so far so good

been playing for 4 years now.. im still in high school. i love that it gets the job done. when i play i can count on it that it will not fail me. but thats about it, its just too plain there is nothing that seperates this guitat from others, no 'wow factor'. i own a fender jazz bass, sadly the jass for me is still better. wish that mine didnt get out of tune a lot!
if it got stolen i wouldnt buy a new one..
i did get for just 180$ so im not really complaining
its not even a second hand guitar! sale baby!

1998 made by Samick in Korea, Great to play, I have been playing this one for three years and have sold all the rest of my collection. Second only to the Gibson LP. Slight scratch when adjusting the knobs.

Wonderful sound, I only use polish finish flatwounds and I have the best bottom end smooth sound anywhere. I use it with mt Peavey and SWR amps, only because Marshall is to expensive. Great for stage and studio, warm to bright sounds using the tone knobs, such a wide variety of sound adjustment just by picking technique without the use of the knobs or pedals.

Great action, best for plucking and not slap but with the adjustable bridge can be setup for one or the other. Adjustable pick ups.

Tough and lasting guitar. I use it on the road and in the studio. Strap buttons were to small and strap would come off but I always caught it so I installed Shaller strap locks. Neck has always been great and I never carry a back up.

Never needed them.

If I have to replace this one I will probably get a 5 string version of the LP.

It has standered les paul features.Made in Korea

It is amazing full sounding bass. It fits moderen rock very well.I use it wiht a yorkville BM200 combo and YBA 200 head and cab.It the only bass I play. My 5 string stays in it case.

The action is great on this bass.The pick-ups ajuts good, but the back one fell in on me twice witch was pretty frustrating but that was also my own stupidy.Beautiful Beautiful Bass!!!!!

I hit the head stock on the roof pretty much everyday and still no paint gone or dings in the head stock very very good wood too!!!The hardware is very good and will be able to play live shows with it. Defendily wouldn't need a back up!!

Never delt with them

Overall very very beautiful amazing bass to have I guarentee that you cant go wrong with this bass. When I saw it in the store it just stood out because it was a one of a kind bass!!!!

This is a 2001 made-in-Korea passive-electronics four string with the vintage sunburst finish. I picked it up this summer (2002) from Musician's Friend for $300: a great deal. It looks great, better than in the pictures on line, with its classic Les Paul style, nice finish, neck inlay, and detailing on the headstock.

The stats are the same as those described in other reviews, so I won't repeat them other than to note the lack of a pickup switch for the two humbuckers. This isn't a huge problem since I don't do a lot of switching and because the pickups sound pretty much the same anyway.

I don't think I've ever seen a Gibson Les Paul Standard bass where I could get my hands on it, so I can't compare its sound with the Epiphone's. The Epi is a fraction of the price, though, so I got this one when I wouldn't have bought the Gibson.

It didn't come with any accessories other than the worthless cheapo amp cord you get with instruments nowadays. They should have a special cord recycling program to find some use for them since they're not worth plugging into your instrument.

It sounds great in an understated way. That is, it blends in nicely with other instruments in rock and folk music. It would probably also work well in country music, but that's not my thing.

You'd probably want something else for slapping or other high-profile playing, but if you see yourself as part of the rhythm section, it's a good bass with a very full and somewhat dark sound. I generally have the tone pots turned up most of the way since I like a little brightness atop the resonant humbucker sound.

Each of the two humbuckers has a volume and tone knob, with a fairly limited tonal range controlled by the pots. It gets only moderately bright but can also produce a deep, resonant sound verging on darkness if that's what you prefer. It would be nice to have the pickup selector, but so far I haven't really noticed its absence.

This bass would probably be best for stage rather than studio work, given its fairly narrow range of tones. You could use effects but I think it's always best to try to let the instrument do as much as possile.

Right now I'm still using the factory strings, which probably speaks to my laziness more than to any particular delight with their sound. I'll probably experiment with some different brands in the next several months, but I plan to keep the same 45-105 range that was recommended by Epiphone.

Great set-up right out of the box, with the action just perfect. Usually I tinker around with the action, but no need here. The pickups also worked fine, although I may play around with some upgrades down the line. There were no flaws whatsoever beyond needing to tighten a couple of tuning pegs.

This bass also keeps in tune pretty well, at least better than most Fenders I've been around. It reacts to climate changes a lot less than my other instruments.

The finish and overall appearance are real highlights. I really like the Les Paul styling and the sunburst finish. It looks really nice, and it's a pleasure to have a design different from the standard Fender or shredder styles.

I expected this to be heavier than it is; it seems to be about the same weight as a J-bass, but I'd have to compare them more carefully to see. I also thought it was better balanced than some reviewers have found, with it being only a bit neck-heavy despite its full scale length. (No problems thus far in playing it for extended periods.)

For the most part, this bass is very solid and durable. The design simplicity helps a lot, and the neck shouldn't give any problems across time. I like the headstock design and haven't noticed any problems at all.

I don't know how reliable the electonics will be. So far, no problem, and I know some good repair guys locally. It seems at least as reliable as most basses, but we'll see across time.

The finish seems pretty durable on the top and back, with no belt scratches or anything else thus far. The strap buttons are well-made and solid, especially when you compare them with the Danelectro basses' nightmare plastic strap buttons!.

One thing, though: you'll have to be a bit careful with carrying this bass around, as its sides are fairly fragile; modest bumps can put pretty notable dings in the sides. The top and back seem okay, though.

I can't imagine playing anywhere without a backup, but otherwise this bass seems very reliable. I take pretty good care of my stuff, so I may not be the best person to judge reliability.

I've never had to deal with Epiphone, which is a good thing, I guess.

This bass was a great deal. I think they were trying to close out the vintage sunburst finish, as it cost about $130 less than the black and heritage red sunburst finishes, but this is my preference anyway.

This would be a great first bass since it's very forgiving in its playability and solid in its sound. It cost less than a MIM Fender P-Bass or J-Bass, although some of those instruments are pretty nice for the money, too. I know some people don't regard Epiphone that highly, but I've been very satisfied with this bass.

Again, this is pretty much a meat-and-potatoes instrument; if you play funk or anything else calling for extremes, you'll want to get something else. If you have more of a basic rock (not metal)style, this might be a good instrument, especially if you like the Les Paul styling and the humbucker sound.

For the money, this was a good investment. It's well made, a lot of fun, and great sounding.

Just the standard model in Heritage Cherry Sunburst with the flame maple top and a rosewood fretboard. It is a beautiful instrument, in fact I keep it out of the case on a stand in my living room just so I can look at it. The knobs are an amber color that goes really well with the body color. The two humbuckers are chrome color which also look sweet.
Each pickup has a volume and tone knob for a range of settings. The bridge is kind of tricky, the kind that falls off when you're restringing, but it's chrome too and at least looks good.

When I first got it (about 4 months ago) it had so much more growl than my ESP 400 P bass that I was in heaven. I've since noticed that, even with the tone knobs all the way down, it is always bright and growly. That's cool, but I can never get the way low warm sound that's needed sometimes. I cuts through my band like a knife and I'm always heard, but there's not too much of a range of sounds. I play blues-rock and sometimes I just need to be low and warm. I may switch one of the pickups in my hunt for that sound. I don't like having to have two basses on stage.

I didn't play it at all before setting it up myself, so I don't know about the factory settings. It plays well and is a lot of fun. The saddle for the A string is about 1/32" higher than the others which sometimes allows the string to ring too much.
As I said already, it is beautiful, but there is one flaw on the cream binding that goes around the body, a splotch of red paint. It's really only noticeable by me and I just think of it as a beauty mark.

Seems very rugged. It's just the right weight, not too light, but not too heavy. I'm not sure how it'll look in 20 years, but it seems like it might hold up okay. I baby my basses so it's got an easy life. The plastic around the humbuckers looks like it might be the weak link, but we'll see after switching out the pickups a few times. I replaced the strap buttons with straplocks but not because they were bad, I just like straplocks. I use it without a backup often.

Never dealt with Epiphone.

I really like this bass and rate it highly. I got it because my old ESP 400 Pbass only gives me a low warm round sound and I wanted something with more bite and more versatility. I got the bite with the LP Standard, but not the versatility. Still, for the price it's a kick ass bass. If it got lost or stolen, I'd probably get something else, but I'd still miss it a lot.
I've been playing about 3 years and gig weekly and sit in with folks regularly and this bass always comes through no matter whose rig I'm playing on or the size of the band, so it definitely has a distinct sound.

Just got this from Musician's Friend about two weeks ago. So far, so good. She has a set maple neck, 22 frets on a 34" rosewood fretboard with trapezoid inlays, and an alder body with flame maple top. 2 volume knobs, 2 tone knobs, dual humbucker pickups, and of course, that old familiar LP body style. I went with the Vintage Sunburst finish, mainly because it was on sale, but it looks awesome nonetheless. Nice, comfortable fretboard with large frets. Standard tuners, possibly a tad on the basic side, but hey, they're tuners. It's a pretty basic thing. Pretty good features throughout, although like everyone else, I'd love to have a pickup switch. I guess I'll just have to struggle on knowing that someone else's bass is one nano-increment better than mine. *Sigh*

She sounds pretty darn good so far. I've never been crazy about that "new bass strings" sound, so it was a little bright tinny for my taste at first, but it's already mellowed itself significantly and sounds almost perfect, though I'd still like it to sound a little fuller on the lower notes. Hopefully with time,..... The tones are variable enough that you could probably get it to suit about any style of music. I personally use it for Indie rock, or just plain rock, really. I run it through my 100W Crate Combo and it sound pretty darn good, though just a little quieter (and cleaner) than my other bass. The dual tone and volume took a little getting used as I am accustomed to a single pickup, but I'm getting the hang of it. Overall, I'd say that it's a versatile Bass that just about anyone could use if they're willing to tinker with the nobs a bit.

The set-up was pretty good from the factory, but of course I just had to mess with it a little. Unless you're going to take it to a shop and have the action set up for you, I think you should always plan on making some adjustments of your own. It's a nice way to get to know your bass and it can make a world of difference. Everything on the bass looks and feels pretty good. I don't see any flaws cosmetically on the bass at all. I was worried about a couple of things when I ordered it because of some reviews I had read, but I'm happy to say that my fears were assuaged. Some people said that they thought it was a little heavy. Well, I had a pretty light bass before, and while the Epi is a smidge heavier, it feels just right. The countour of the body makes it very comfortable to hold. The only knock that I have on it is that because of the Les Paul body style, the guitar douesn't taper at all on the top of the body, so my pickin' arm often ends up resting on the edge and it can dig in a little if I'm not careful. It's no biggie, just something I didn't have to worry about before. Also, I was concerned that the tuning pegs might be cheap and crappy. I'll admit that they're not the greatest looking pegs I've seen, but they look alright and they certainly do their job, so I don't even notice. Let's just say that they don't stand out in either a good or a bad way.

I haven't played a show with it yet, so I can't honestly speak to it's durability. It seems very sturdy, though, and we don't get too rowdy, so I'm not really worried. The hardware all seems good. The only things that I could see ever needing to be replaced would be those tuning pegs and maybe the humbuckers after a while. The finish looks strong, but I'm already dreading the day that I drop it or the strap comes off somewhere. It really looks great, but a couple of dings would really bring it down, aesthetically speaking. That's the problem with having nice things. Strap buttons seem solid, but I put in a Strap-Lok just to be safe. The only question mark for me is the set neck. It seems like a nice idea and all, but I'm just a little uneasy about not being able to fiddle with it if I had to. No big deal though; if I had to fiddle with it, that probably means it's time for a new bass anyway. I'd say it's a very sturdy instrument all-in-all, and I wouldn't worry about playing it in almost any situation, though it definitely isn't one of those bomb-proof slabs that Fender sells. But who the hell wants a Fender anyway?

The bass comes with a "limited" lifetime warranty. I haven't had any problems yet, so here's a poem in lieu of a critique: I pray my bass she does not break, she's more than just a Gibson fake, she feels like home to this old man, although I know she's from Japan. And if she does happen to crack, I'll box her up and ship her back, and with my luck, they'll smile and say, "Your warranty expired yesterday".

Overall, I'd say that the Epiphone Les Paul Standard Bass, or ELPSB as I like to call her, is a pretty good bet as far as Basses go. It's the nicest looking bass I've seen for under a thousand dollars and it sounds pretty darn good to boot. I have been playing guitar (poorly) on and off for about ten years, and bass (slightly less poorly) for about a year. This will certainly serve me well for many years to come, knock on wood. If it were lost or stolen, I'd probably just go back to using my old bass. This is not a negative reflection on the Epi, but rather a grim reality. You see, I suffer from an increasingly common medical condition known as "Lazy Ass". That is, I am unemployed. And while I was lucky enough to get this Bass on sale for the kick-you-in-the-groin great price that you see above, the sale is over now, and so are my bass buying days for the foreseeable future. I don't know, ask me again in six months, by which time it probably will have been lost or stolen. I love how it looks, how easy it is to play, the weight, and the overall feel of it. The sound is growing on me more and more as the strings slowly get worn in. And as far as the Set neck goes, I guess we'll just have to wait and see if it provides any interesting situations in the future. Well, that's about it. I say, if you can find this beauty at or near the price that I did, I would definitely recommend buying it. I promise that you won't regret it. And if you do, I promise that you'll never find out where I live.....

It has 22 frets (which easy does the trick, playing rock'n'roll), its a four string with two humbuckers(Ooh them humbuckers!), the fingerboars are made from rosewood/trapezoid and are very "fast to play".The neck material is made form maple and the hardware is chrome.
It has two volume controls, one for each pick-up and two tone controls.
It is very easy to make the sound you want, and very logical to use.
The bridge system is also very easy to understand and use, and btw. very adjustable.

Ooh, it just sound fucking GREAT, and i love it!!!I can only put it down to 9 on the arguement that its almost too distinct!!!
Again, this is very much adjustable, and though it very distinct, it just has this "all around blistering thick bass-sound".
It also has a lot of sustain, maybe not the most fantastic sustain, but its there, and its great.
I dont think i will ever go for anything that doesnt have humbuckers on it!!!

Hey, have a look at it!!!Its rock'n'roll-design at its absolute peak!!!
I've never had a bass in my hands that fitted me this well!!
Its fast to play, easy to bend, easy to slap and good to do hole bass-chords on.Ok, its heavy as fuck, but hey, shouldnt a base be heavy as fuck???Actually i dont think its THAT heavy!!!

I've only had it for a short time, and actually would'nt know!!!

I've only had it for a short time, and actually would'nt know!!!

Hi there, ive been playing, on and of for about 14 years and besides my new investment i own a Tune-bass w/active pick-ups and a Hartke300 transistor-top w/a 410 and a 115 Hartke transporter series speakers.I play with a Phat-head pedal wich is a pedal that offers a range of variety in distortion.
I just recently bought this bass, and have not tested it to its full, but still i just wanna say that this is my dream come true!
Ofcourse theres always something that you'd wish for, but then again, you should get someone to make it for you excactly the way you want it then!
I play in a hardrock-band, and decided/found out that my Tune-bass (which is GREAT) werent cut for this deal!
It needed more power somehow, although the pickups where active and it had a billion ways of adjusting the sound, its just didnt give me what i wanted for this music.Only reasons for not giving it ten is the fact that i believe that the Gibson-original IS better!?..And that i cannot yet comment on reliability/durability and customer support.
Anyway, if you play rock-music and dont have the cash nor the time to find a Gibson les paul, GO FOR THIS!!!

Made in Korea, jumbo frets, 2 volume, 2 tone, 2 Epi stock humbuckers. I got mine in the ebony with a nice creme binding on an alder body. Wonderful Les Paul shape and feel, but still the delightful rumble of the four string bass. I give it a 7 for giving me some options (the 2 tone and 2 volume, not to mention the 2 humbuckers instead of having to settle for jazz or split). I wish it had a pickup selector... but I can live without paying the extra 1200 bucks for a Gibson that has a pickup selector.

I am the bass player in a emo/screamo/hardcore/punk band. We play hard, heavy, then quiet and really smooth. This bass just kicks the ass of my old Ibanez and the Fenders (and Fender clones) I've played. Bottom end just rocks the floor and the highs are nice and smooth without being sharp. The sound is full and warm, but never muddy. Maybe its my untrained ears, but I feel like I'm in bass heaven when im throttling the low E string. I use a Crate 12 watt practice amp, but I have played it through 10" speakers and 15" speakers.. and on the 15"s it blows my mind. So much bottom end. Has not failed to impress when I'm on stage.

Finish is beautiful. Action is low, but comfortable, though it can produce some loud *clack* (strings whacking the fretboard) noises when the playing gets intense. I don't think that can be avoided too much though. The pickups can't exactly be adjusted in their mounting rings, but they are a good height and they don't get in my way. The volume and tone controls... don't do too much. Though when you REALLY crank them down you can hear a considerable difference. They aren't that sensitive, but I'm sure you could figure something out if you really wanted to. The tuners are excellent, it hardly ever goes out of tune, even when I put it away in my hardshell case. Tuning is never a concern. Just a beauty that makes even guitar players envious.

This bass can take an ass kicking, and have enough to kick your ass. Finish is nice and solid, and the construction (and weight) is like a rock. I've dropped it a few times, to my horror, but it was practically unscathed. The strap buttons are kind of small, but hardly ever go out on me. I'm still going to get locking ones though, just don't want to take the chance. There are some dents in the back from my huge belt... but the finish still hasnt scratched or chipped. I've gigged with it, thrashed with it, pounded on it, HIT other people with it (almost broke someone's nose with the headstock during a show), and it's stood up to the wear and tear of time. A rock. A fricken' rock.

I've never dealt with Epi, but I hear they are pretty good. No experience with them though, so I can't say.

I've been playing 3 years, and although it isn't much, I can tell what I like. I bought it blindly, because it just seemed like something I really wanted, and I have absolutely NO regrets. It is amazing. It is my dream bass at an affordable price, thanks to Epiphone. I'm not a big fan of the Fenders, tho I'm a sucker for Telecaster basses. I just love everything about this bass, except maybe the weight. But I'm used to it and I rock out all day and night. Bring the rock with this bass... you don't have much of a choice.