Epiphone '56 Les Paul Goldtop Reissue

Ever since I saw a picture of John Lee Hooker and Muddy Waters with one (Gibson) and read that at times in there career they recorded and/or played live with one I had to have one, if Hooker is part of your catalog, listen to his original version of "Bottle Up Up And Go" and with it toggled for both "soap dishes" that whiney slimey slippery sound is at your fingertips thru any amp I've used. (you gotta use the meat of your fingers) I had one before and I shifted heavy into acoustic country blues, and I always regretted selling the Goldtop. Now I'm back to electric and acoustic (you know how it is.. manic and impulsive creative behavior) so I've got back to both and can't tell you how happy I am with the Goldtop. Like most of you I've had the whole line of usual names and payed big bux for Gibson, American Fenders and Heritage, you know the drill .. To my eye the GoldTop looks homely under some lighting or a sparkling beauty. But the play-a-bility is really great and most importantly, many sounds canbe coaxed from it.. I'm not into speed but its very responsive and you get a lot of nice "freebies" when traveling the neck (I play almost all open tunings) Both Goldtops I've had have been emaculate. I give it a ten dor features because the soapbar P-90's are hot, slippery and different.

I think I gushed enuf above. I'm really trying to fined a fly in the ointment and I honestly can't. It can sound bright, slippery or fat.

once again, nothin to b__ch about. ESPECIALLY for $499.00.

It is a heavy ax which is why Muddy Waters changed to the tele (according to a quote from him) , I think the only weakness if it fell out of the trunk of your 56 buick on the highway would be the plastic covers on the pickups.

been a guitarists since 1962. I've noticed that as time goes on, the guitars I have been liken the sound and feel of have been imported. I use to make sure my guitars came from USA, nowadays, I grab a guitar from the wall and don't care where its made if it feels good and has a special sound and I got the ching, I bring it home. In my opinion, this Goldtop with the soapdish P-90's is a playground of sound for short money and will satisfy the itch for a great utility guitar, wrapping it up... as an aside, if you have seen the piece in the BLUES BROTHERS where HOOKER plays BOOM BOOM, this guitar can nail that sound... decadents at its best!

The guy I bought it from said it's 3 years old, which means it probably is a 2001 model. Bought it used for 2500 norwegian kroner, including shipping, which is about $300. Half of new price.
You know the specs, P-90 pups, standard les paul body, stunning gold finish. It's not as heavy as my Gibson lp classic.
It comes with epi tuners, and like some of you do, I find them a bit cheap and "plastic-ish". But hey, it's epiphone. My previously prejudical expectations are crushed to pieces.

I play a lot of styles, ranging from Johnny Cash to Sepultura. It fits 'em all, but for the heaviest music I'll use my lp classic.
I've just tried it through my Marshall Master Lead combo, which is an old, simple, lovely, (believe it or not) transistor amp. Can't wait 'till I try it through my even older Music Man tube amp.
The P-90's are just so wonderful, sweeet, bluesy clear tone, with a little more gain, warm buzzy distortion.
I like the neck pickup, it's just so full and warm sounding! The bridge pup is bright, great for lead with the tone adjusted.
I think they are very versatile with separate tone/volume controls. I find this guitar even more versatile than my lp classic.

The guitar had been pro set up right before the guy sold it, and it's noticeable. Low action, 100% intonation and new strings. Pups adjusted perfectly. Hardware shiny and blank.
One very small scratch on the neck, over the 9th fret, some buckle marks on the back, and a small scratch on the top. Nothing to worry about, hey, I bought it used.

At the moment I don't gig. I have before, and hopefully will again. I find the tuners a bit cheap, the switch is not to my satisfaction, but if these things wear out I will replace them with new better ones.
If I start gigging I will use both this guitar and my lp classic. I'm sure this guitar would last forever if taken proper care of and, ahem, with the tuners and switch replaced. Otherwise it's a rock.

No experiences.

Been playing for 10 years. I own a Gibson LP Classic, which I love,
Marshall Master Lead combo, Music Man RD110 combo, Rocktron Taboo Twin combo, and lots of pedals and stuff.
I've read all your reviews here, which I found very helpful.
The main reason I bought this guitar is the pickups(and gold finish..who can resist!). The sound is absolutely fabulous. It's my first P-90 guitar, but now I'm in love. I'd definitely buy a new one if it were stolen etc.
I'm gonna give it an overall 10 despite the tuners and switch, because the price I paid (half of new price) and the sound outweighs those details.
Don't hesitate if you consider buying this guitar!!!=)

My 56 is a 2001 model.It has the regular Les Paul controls and has the p-90 pickups. I don't think the wood is the same as on a real Gibson but the shape is the same and the paint is really cool. I worked in the cabinet shop while in prison, so I made cases for this guitar, also for all the equiptment my band uses. It's features are standard, but it is built like a tank and stays in tune. I have big hands so I love the huge neck style. I think this gives it a good tone.

My band plays heavy riffing rock (early G&R, Buckcherry, old UFO style stuff) all we have are epiphones and they rule for this style. I use a sovtek head and a sound city 4-12 cab. I run a Boss multieffect with distortion, delay, flange, and other stuff. I also use a Morley wha for some solos. The Epi gets a wicked crunch sound and looks awesome at gigs. I love the single coils but the other guitarist likes the humbuck type. We get a sweet contrast and our tones work awesome together.

We got all our guitars from a guy we met in the slam whose dad has a business buying blemished and second imports and re-selling them so all of them have cosmetic imperfect things. My LP has a crack in the finish and never had a pickguard. i had to get out some noise in the pots with some TV tuner cleaner. also we had to do minor setup and change strings on all these Guitars (56 GT, 2 cutaway Epi junior with a p90, white SG custom, red firebird, Tbird bass, all Epis) This dude made me a deal-they are all marked "2nd" or "used" on the back of the headstocks) I gave 700 for all 5 of these Epi's and I can't complain. It wouldn't be fair to judge Epi quality because these were damaged goods, really. I will give a no opinion to be fair

It can take a lot of gigging I have no problems with it. The knobs were chipped so I got some gold barrel knobs for it better now. The hardware is getting milky, but I sweat a bit. I screwed the straps onto the guitars using hardware store stuff-homade straplocs-costed 13.00 for all 5 guitars. I can depend on it, but I have the yellow Epi LP jr in case a string breaks.We try to be professional and have backups for all but the bass but I ordered a P-bass kit from a place for 119 dollars and am building it now. also we carry a backup head for the guitars in case one would blow.

They are used 2nds so we just fix stuff ourselves

We all met in med. security lockup in Indiana and satrted playing on equiptment in the music room. When released I couldn't drive so I sold my car and bought gear. My buds were all released within 3 months of me-we played practised,and planned for 6 years. We got everything cheap-wholesale guitars, pawnshop amps and effects and drums and PA put together from pieces.Harmony central was a source used to learn about all the gear. My 56 looks cool, sounds great and is my favorite piece of gear. If it were gone I'd try to get another. We are done with crime and parole is satisfied with letting us work and travel as long as we check in. We play for Law enforcement parties and functions a lot. We are getting by and getting laid and having all the fun we dreamed of. in the can. I love my time singing and playing my Goldtop and am living the life!

My most recently bought Epiphone Les Paul Goldtop '56 reissue was built in 2003 with solid top, 2x volume & 2x tone, 3-way switch controls. It has 2 Gibson P-90 picks (which really give the bluesy, "Use Your Illusion"-rock feel to the overall-sound by the way). The body is of course the everlasting classic Les Paul shape, with the golden glittery & glamoury finish.
Just by looking at this beauty things get kinda errected...

What I personally was looking for in this guitar, was the soulful sound that I heard the first time I listened to Appetite for Destruction by Guns n Roses (think of "Sweet Child of Mine", but also trax like "Out ta get me" and "Nighttrain").
The way those guitars sounded made such an impact on me, I really started to get interested in guitars and amps and sh*t.

Through the path of my musical tastes I never really lost sight of this sound, and a couple of years ago it just went fucking retro on me!

When I use it for clean parts it sounds a bit blue, direct, but always crispy. This is the foundation of my guitarsound, so no matter which effect I use, I always keep in touch with it's core.

When I use it for an overdrive-sound, the full core is there again. It seems that I could push the overdrive to a large extend, without losing the bluesy sound or the clear edge. These Gibson P-90's rule!

I use a Marshal JCM900 100 watt amp with 2 Marshal speaker cabinets.
A boss GT-3, and a Jim Dunlop Cry baby.
I use the GT-3 as an extra preamp, because the Marshal stack alone sounds a bit too rocky for the sound I need. The combination of both creates a sound that lies between the real preamp of the Marshal and a homemade preamppatch on the GT-3.
The Cry Baby for the characteristic wah sounds which no digital processor will ever be able to sound like.

This guitar appeared to have only one flaw, so I noticed within a day or 2. The pickup switch sometimes didn't work properly.
Returned it to the store and the next day: problem solved.

Everything else was perfect. The bridge was properly adjusted in height (as it not always is when buying a new guitar), and the quality of the wood is fantastic!

I also have a Gibson Les Paul Studio Special, and when I compare those two, the Studio plays like a feather. At first I had to get used to the little heavier feel while playing, but now, I feel like the affords of the rougher play are firmly overcompensated.

I would never use only one guitar while playing a gig. Even a 3000 bucks Gibson could fail during a show. But I can surely say that I could trust my Epiphone. It's super solid and thus able to withstand the rigors of playing live!

So far not necessary.

Every once in a while a guitarist gets this hunger towards new wood with iron strings to devour.
A couple of months ago it started again with me. After some research I came across this beauty (love @ 1st sight?). So I read a lot about it, and not just at epiphone.com.
What really attracted me was that it's the remake of a 1965 model classic LP. The best of the past, with the best of today, all in one guitar. For an easy price....

Brand new model bought from Unervisal Music on ebay. Features well covered below so won't go into detail on that here.

Suits my musical taste great, I play blues and classic rock. I use it through a 68 Fender Pro Reverb, Fender Deluxe Reverb Reissue, and a peavey classic 30. Won't list all the effects, but for overdrive, use a modded Tube screamer.

It can be noisy depending on where you play and the lighting. These are single coil pichups, but it isn't too bothersome, just when you are not playing is it noticable.

Very nice sound, lots of character and definition. I did not have a guitar w/p90s and this is why I bought it (plus it looks fantastic).

The solid body combined with the single coils makes a very nice combination, kinda in between a les paul with humbuckers and a tele.

Its is very versatile, I could see using this guitar all night at a gig without switching out to my les paul, strat or tele. I am going to give it a 9 for sound reserving the 10 for that one guitar that is just perfect (have not found yet).

The quality of this thing is truly great. I have a gibson les paul that is not made as well that cost three times as much used. The weight is much less than my gibson though and it is nice. When not strapped into the thing, it sits nicely balanced on my lap. The gison wants to fall over my knee so does not get much time at home, jsut when playing out.

As other users have stated, the toggle seems a little suspect, but so far so good. Mine came stock with grover tuners which work very well, and although I prefer the look of the tulip style, will likely keep the grovers as they are more reliable.

Never had to deal with so no opinion here.

I have been playing for 25 years, own lots of gear, gibson, fenders, and epiphone. I'm a gear hound, the other guitar player in my band says I have a problem and need an intervention so as to stop buying stuff (he's probably right). But that said, I love this guitar and am very happy with the purchase, its a keeper. Sounds fantastic, is very versatile, and looks great. Plus, I can feel good about taking it out to some dive bar and not worry too much about it as it is a $500 guitar and not a $2,000 guitar sitting in that environment in between sets. I have a peavey classic 30 that fits the same bill, sounds great and is not so expensive.

I highly recommend this guitar sounds great right out of the box and no pickup swaps required.

It is made in this year, i thinkz.
Got gold on top and would underneeth.
Lokes like a Less Pal, but it is Epifone gibson witch is beter thain gibson cause it has two names

Sounds like a gibson butt only better 'cauz it has too nams.

came with strings and sum nobz and gold finish.
Beter tahn gibson 'casse it is cheaper and the same guitre only made in forin cuntree

it is gold, so it will paly beter and luk nizer than pretti guitrz.

Epifone is hard to spel, sew I cannnott sa.

Beter tahn gibson cause of the cust and ephifone is better name.

First of all I would like to say that I am reviewing this guitar with the asking price of $599.00 in mind.

This is an Epiphone Les Paul Standard with the Goltop finish. Epi P-90's. Standard LP features with a 3-way pickup selector. Cherry-Red finish throughout except the Goldtop of course. Binding on the body and the neck. Generic Kluson style tuners.

It fits my style just fine but I wouldn't give it a poor rating if it hadn't fit my style. I am tired of reading reviews where people trash a guitar's sound because it didn't "give me the Duane Allman sound I thought it would" so it sucks..............sheez. This guitar sounds good and it may not give a specific person what they want but it is as versatile as I have ever seen a guitar. The P-90's are the best stock Epi pickups made. If you are thinking of getting and Epi and you want to get one that has good pickups then buy this one and forget the others as the pickups are not up to par on any other Epi...........PERIOD. I have a Gibson with Gibson P-90's in it and I have done some serious comparison and they are virtually identical. I am not exaggerating either. They are not quite as clear and bright but very close.

I have several Gibson LP's and I assure you that this one plays and feels as good as and better than some of them. It has a very fast neck and it is a very thin neck as well. The finish was pretty good but of course it is not flawless. This is a $599.00 guitar. The action was in need of personalization and it was a half hour job. I tinkered and set it up to my tastes rather easily.

This sucker is very heavy. It is actually heavier than any of my Gibson LP's believe it or not. I wouldn't recommend anyone purchasing this guitar if you are concerned about carrying around a heavy instrument. It does get to the shoulder after a little while and I have to set it down after while myself. Alot of people complain about the toggle switch going bad or the tuners being horrible and I agree. Let's remember that Epiphone is a sister company of Gibson's and not the parent company. If you want nice switches, pots and tuners then spend the money and get a Gibson Lp. If you want something that looks nearly as good and feels great then the Epi is a great choice especially with the P-90 pickups sounding so great. I changed the tuners but haven't had problems with the pots or switches as of yet. Those things are an easy fix anyway.

It may be a bit pricey at the $599.00 but if you want a solid guitar then it is a nice alternative to paying $1,500 to $1,900 for a Gibson. That price is so out of line for a Gibson it makes these look like they are free. It is 1/3 the price of a Gibson Standard but it is not 1/3 as good of a guitar. I would say it is about 80% as good as a Gibson Standard. Now of course I have only had mine for a few years but that is my opinion as of today.

2003 56 gold top made in korea
this guitar came from the factory with grover tuners and a pair of p 90 pickups that are a little noisy but superb.
the fit and finish of this guitar is a 9+ After looking at a lot of gibsons with a lot of quality control problems, for the price, I am very surprised at the quality of this $550.00 axe.The neck is first rate and thin for a lp, and I would say they did thier homework on this model. If you like the "Blue Skys southern rock sound" then this is your axe.

Go out and gig with this monster!

Don'nt know.

I have played and ownwd many guitars and this one is a keeper!

It has Les Paul fetures.
Of course the finish won't be never like a Gisbon finish but it's ok for the price.
The neck was very straight so the strings rattled a little but that is fixed very easy.

I read some reviews that said the sound was great but i didn't believed, because half a year i bought an Epiphone The Dot and the sound of the bridge pickup was very poor, i also had a "strato style" epiphone and the sound wasn't good either. So i thought that epiphone pickups where of very low quality, but when i plugged in this beuty i got surprised with the sound. For the price it has a 11 rating sound!!
And it's perfect for me that only have like four years playing guitar.

As i said the strings buzzed a little beacuse of the straightness of the neck but it was easily fixed.
The tone and volume pots seems to be of very low quality (as usual in an epiphone) but also they can be changed.
The finish is not like a gibson's but it's nice for the price.
The switch seems to be ok until today, but i know i'll need to replace it later.

I think it will last for a while, except for the tone and volume pots an the switch, every thing else looks fine.
Because of it's price and beauty i got no fear to take on a gig.

Don't have traded with this guys.

excelent guitar it sounds owesome trough my jcm900
my efects are: boss chromatic tuner>boss compressor sustainer>ts9>tone bender>proco rat>boss chorus>voodoo tremolo>boss dd3>dunlop cry baby>mxr micro amp.
Highly recomended!

2000. as far as i can tell everything is stock, except for the strap locks. all of the features have been listed before.

the sound suits my style well. i also have a standard plus les paul, between these two, i got just about all of my sounds covered.

i dont see why people would spend a chunk of money on this kinda instrument and then want to modify it.

everything is great as far as the set up. since it was used when i bought it , it had a few scratches on the back and bottum. the top was perfect.

this guitar is solid. i don't question that it will last.

i email Gibson to see what year it was made it. they responded right away.

i am playing this through a Crate VintageClub 50, all tube. the clean sounds incredible. to me it sounds totaly different that my standard les paul, probaly do to different pickups.i dint realy compare this to any others. i walked into a pawn shop and saw it on the wall and went straight to it. i made sure it worked and told the guy to hold i'd be back in an hour. $325.00 for the guitar and a hard case was a awsome deal.