Epiphone Elite Les Paul Standard Plus

Specs: 2003, made in the fuji-gen factory in japan. It has a one piece mahogany neck with 22 frets and the body is made out of two pieces of mahogany. 2 volume and two 2 tones with a three way pick up selector. it is an h/h guitar with passive american made pickups.

The first thing that pops to mind when i think of this les pauls sound is FUll. The second thing i knoticed about this paul is how much sustain it has. It kills with my slo clone. The pick ups are very bassy though, not necessarily a bad thing. Also my slo doesnt clean up as well with the volume knob as my flying v with duncan pickups.

perfect! my only complaint is that they used ceramic disk caps but thats an easy fix.

solid, the metal parts do seem to oxidize a good bit.

never had to deal with epi so i dont know.

If it were stolen and i had to get another guitar i'd hunt down a burst one on evil bay. I love the tone this bad boy puts out.

Vintage Sunburst, Made in Japan, on Fuji-gen Plant, that has a reputation for excellent quality and craftsmanship. Solid mahogany body and maple top, hardshell case, made in USA pickups - 50SR and 60ST.

Very very cool! This guitar has a great sound! Like any Les Paul, this is not for any king of music! So, for hard rock (like Guns) this is excellent. The sustain is great! 10!

The factory set-up is perfect. The pickups are adjusted.
There is one and only a finish flaw. But this flaw is almost insignificant.

No opnion.

The Epiphone Elite is an excellent guitar.
If you can't pay for a Gibson Standard, the Elite Standard Plus is the best choice.
Now, unfortunately, this line is discutinued.

Everything you would expect for a Les Paul. Gibson made pickups, 2 volumes, 2 tones, 3-way pickup selector switch. Grover tuners. Mahogany body and neck. Nickel Hardware. Rosewood fingerboard, 22 frets. Beautiful Epiphone Elitist hardshell case. Cherryburst finish.

The sound on this guitar is amazing. Rich,deep Les Paul groove.
I use a Fender Champion 25 DSP amp. I play for fun and it suits me perfectly. I'm a collector as well as a player, and it gives me a Les Paul without the Gibson price.

This guitar was set up perfect for me from Epiphone. Made in China, no flaws or glitches of any kind. The finish is perfect, beautiful stain gleam. Extraordinary for the price. Very well made.

No fear about buying a guitar made in China. This guitar is solid, it will last forever (if taken care of). Built like a tank. Very dependable. Terrific color and finish. Nickel hardware is awesome.

Bought guitar thru the Guitar Center,no complaints. Kept me posted, when guitar was shipped and when I could expect it. It took less than a week to receive it. NO problems. Didn't have to deal with Epiphone, but, it was inspected and set up nicely in Nashville.

I've been playing for many years for fun. Collect classic, vintage guitars. I wanted a Les Paul, but, don't have $5000 for a Gibson. Believe me this Epiphone is a perfect replacement. I have Strats, Teles, Gretsch Tennessee 1962HT and now this Epiphone. Looking to add a Rickenbacker 325C64,a Robert Cray Custom Shop Signature Strat, a Gibson SG Standard (someday),a Gibson Firebird (someday).
If you are looking for that great Les Paul sound and looks and you can't afford a Gibson, buy this Epiphone. It is worth every penny and you won't be sorry

Purchased in 2007 and paid $900 US. This is a simple and pure Les Paul Standard with the nice upgrades in wood and finish. Japanese-made. The finish is a "Honey Burst" that is just beautiful and warm, just like the tone. The laquer finish is excellent. Pickups are the upgraded made in USA Gibson Burstbuckers. Tune-O-Matic Bridge is standard issue, not my favorite, so I'm going to upgrade it a bit.

I'm a Classic Rocker type, born and bread in the 60-70-80's. This guitar has all the tone, warmth and "bite" you could ever want in a Les Paul. The neck is just right with the 60's profile, not too big, not too small, but has all the right tonal qualities needed. Roll off the tone knob on the bridge pickup and you have the Clapton tone. A vibrant and lively guitar that reacts the way a Les Paul should through my Marshall JCM2000 DSL50! Clean or Overdrive, this guitar maintains clarity. Chords just sing and individual notes are nice and juicy. This is a sweet sounding Guitar.

Excellent! The guys at the shop did a custom set up for me. I recommend this with any guitar. A factory set up is fine, but if you have quirks as to string height, guage and all that, then just pay the $20 or so and have the guys help you out. If you know what you are doing, make the adjustments yourself.. As stated, finish is pristine and rivals the $3000 Gibson anyday. It is as beautiful as any vintage LP out there for 10 times the price. Binding is set well and done nicely. Volume and Tone knobs are solid, no play or dead spots. I grabbed every Gibson on the rack and just with the factory setting this was a Dead Solid Guitar! It was set up just for me, even prior to the final custom set up.

Again, Dead Solid. However, with any Tune-o-matic bridge, you get a sharp spot now and then and it may need some rounding off. I'm thinking of getting some teflon saddles, or upgrading them in some fashion so to have less string stress. I tend to bend and juice notes ala Mr. Clapton. Tuning-wise, the Grovers are fanstic and it stays in tune. Again, my small upgrade ideas are pennies as compared to paying thousands for the Gibson of same or lesser quality.

My dealer and Epiphone have one of the best quality control standards out there and have supported me. No problems thus far, so no dealings other than tinkering around with it at the shoppe. I own older Gibson from back in the 70's/80's and have always had good communications.

Bottom Line: Why pay Thousands of dollars more on a Gibson that is of lesser quality than this guitar??? Get past the name on the guitar and start looking at all the factors. This guitar is built better, sounds better and is an excellent value. For the quirky player, a few inexpensive upgrades and it fits like a glove. If you want the Les Paul sound, feel vibe or what have you. This is it. Gibson has great guitars (no disrespect intended)but to get this quality in a Gibson you are going to pay double, if not 3 times, the price. Hey Epiphone and Gibson are Sister brands anyway and Epiphone started it all. I've been playing some 30 years and owned many a guitar, this is a solid performer and a great value.

My Elitist Les Paul Standard plus was made in Japan in 2007. It has 22 frets, and great action. It's a solid top, and it came with the standard 4 knobs and toggle switch. The pickups are really great. Dont have the exact specs for them, but they are made for the elitist line by Gibson, so you can rest assured that the sound will be quite amazing. The body is made out of bookmatched african mahogony, and has a maple top. Fretboard is of course rosewood. I purchased the vintage sunburst finish. Looks great, just a tad too yellow for me, but thats just a personal thing. Alot of people like the finish quite a bit! The body style is your regular LP style, single cutaway. It can with a tune-o-matic bridge, and grover tuners (which I believe are standard on all the Elitists). The neck is a 60's style, which is perfect for guys like me. The guitar came with a specal "elitist" case. Black hard shell with purple lining. Alot of people dont like the lining, I happen to like it quite a bit!

My band plays music similar to copeland, weezer, and dashboard, and this guitar can handle all of the styles. The clean tone is really great, as is the distortion. My only complaint is that there isnt really alot of bottom-end to the sound, so you'll need to make a few adjustments to the settings of your amp. I play thru a line 6 spider 3 150 watt amp head, and the sound is pretty much amazing. Ths sound is full, just a bit on the bright side. With a good set up, you've pretty much got harmonics on every fret.

The action from the factory wasnt that great. I was getting a bit of fret buzz, but after a professional set up, it sounded great. The pickups came great right out of the case, no need to tweeak them. There werent any flaws whatsoever on the guitar. However, if youll be adding strap locks, be careful. The wood is so dense that you might push on the screw so hard to slide and knick your guitar. I knicked mine slighty, and it can hardly be seen.

This guitar can withstand pretty much anything. Its been thrown around and plays like its brand new. The hardware is also solid, and i havent had a problem with it. Strap buttons were solid, though i replaced them with strap locks. But over all the guitar is 100% completely reliable. You could have a backup, but you probably would never use it. Yeah, the guitar is that good.

I havent really dealt with customer support, but the warrant is a limited lifetime to the orignal owner of the guitar.

Ive been playing for 10 years, and this is by far one of the most solid guitars Ive played. If this were to be stolen, I would immediatly buy another. It truly is a gibson under another name. I really like the the overall sound of the guitar, as well as the weight (it isnt chambered). I compared it to the gibsom LP standards when shopping for guitars, but for the money this guitar blew the gibson out of the water. The only thing I wish it had more of was the bottom end in the sound, but it isnt too bad once youve tweaked your amp. A truly great guitar, I think anyone would be pleased with it.

Standard appointments, "light-burst" flame maple top, mahogany back, 50SR/60ST USA humbuckers, grover tuners. I believe I have a 2004.

Love it. Replaced pickups with Seymour Duncan JB/Jazz and it sounds spectacular. I play mostly rock/metal, but noodle around with some jazz and blues and this guitar does it all. Works great with my Vox, Marshall, and Bogner. Superb tone with any amp. I currently own 9 guitars and this one gets played more than all the others combined. Couldn't be happier.

Action is perfect, plays like a dream. Fit and finish are amazing. Only nit would be what looks like one minor imperfection in the top veneer.

Very solid instrument. Can't imagine any reliability problems.

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I've been a guitar hobbyist for over 20 years now, and this has to be one of my all-time favorite guitars. I've played many Gibson Les Pauls over the years, and have to say I haven't liked any of them as much as I like this guitar. I would definitely buy the same guitar again if this was lost or stolen.

Gorgeous faded cherry finish with a flame maple veneer on a maple cap, good tuners, same as gibson pickups (490r/498t), nice weight, bone nut, and good electronics make for a solid guitar!

I run it into a tube marshall dsl401 40 watt combo with a 1x12" extension cab. It roars with the same as gibson pickups, has tons of sustain, and the classic LP tone. You can roll the volume/tone back to get vintage tones or dime them out for screaming modern sounds as well.

Couldn't be better, sounds every bit as good as your average Gibson.

Mine is stamped "used" on the headstock and has some overspray on one small spot of the binding. The top is bookmatched subtly but PERFECTLY and is one of the best I've seen. The back is great looking as well with the mahogany grain.

Fit is flawless and it has one of the better necks I've ever played with, it's arrow straight so the action is down ultra low with no buzz even when really hammering on it.

Everything about these guitars are top notch. Everything about them but the finish (poly vs nitro) is equal to or greater than the low end gibsons, and rivals the standards and custom shops in some cases. I was lucky enough to get one of them, minus the small overspray mentioned earlier its a full blown amazing guitar and I wouldn't trade for anything less than a Gibson LP Standard faded that played as well.

NA

Been playing for seven years and also own an Elite SG, formerly I had an epi G400 sg. My instructor has a gibson LP standard and 2 PRS custom 22s and this guitar is equal to all of them, he even offered a trade for one of the PRSs after he gave it a go over.

These are worlds different than the standard epis in quality and tone, if gibson marketed them as "Gibson Japan" or something they would be selling more than they could make.

This is a faded cherryburst flame maple top with a wine red back and neck. It features standared Les Paul American made hardware including pots and pickup selector, with Grover tuners all H/W is nickel. Book-mateched AAA flamed and at some angles alomost quilted in spots maple top and bookmatched African Mahogany back. Neck is one-piece Mahogany, with the long neck tenon which made the Gibson Custom shop famous. Fretboard is Rosewook with real pearl trapezoid inlays, frets are medium height, bound neck and top of body. The pickups were changed by a previous owner, I am looking for Gibson pickups to restore originality.

As of right now is sounds nice but the pickup job was terrible. Once i replace the P/U's I'm sure the sound will be as it should be. Right now I have to play loud to get proper pickup response, but if its loud it sounds perfect. I will update after the proper pickups are restored. I play through a Mesa Boogie DC2 and a Gallien-Kreuger 250ML.

This is where this guitar shines. The action is perfect, tunes up like a dream. Real bone nut, not plastic. Frets are dressed and finished properly, no shapr edges, and meet with the binding perfectly. No burrs, or high frest. Hand selected woods properly aged and matched set this guitar apart from MOST of whats available in retail stores. It is like a custom oredered guitar.

This Les Paul weighs in at just about 10 pounds. I want a heavy Les Paul, not like a lightweight Studio (although they are nice guitars). The strap buttons are oversized, same as my Gibson Les Paul Classic Premium Plus, very solid, and secure feeling that the strap wont pop off. As far as a backup, I use several guitars for different tuning, so this is not an issue, although i would bring it alone if it was all i had.

I've been playing a LONg time, I have other Gibson Les Pauls and an Ovation accoustic. I'm glad i bought this because it is basically a custom shop Les Paul, except the shop is in Japan instead of Michigan and it cost $600 instead of $4500. I sold my Gibson Studio Plus and it had a Gibson sticker on the headstock, this one has Epiphone on the headstock, but is real pearl inlaid. Also this has the serial number imprinted into the wood just like Gibsons and unlike most Epiphone which ues stickered serial numbers.

I?m not sure what else you need your LP to do and still be a traditional LP. Add the long neck tenon, Gibson pickups and bridge, Grover machines and the 14 degree wood grain cut on the neck and it?s not even a question for me. It?s a 10.

Mine is a Standard Plus with book matched, honey burst flame maple top and book matched mahogany back. The flame is subtle. At some angles it explodes off of the top. At other angles it almost looks like a plain top. While an insane figured maple top is always cool. The subtlety of this top has a certain class of its own and is perfectly book matched contrary to what others have reported about theirs. It has a medium thick neck. Not as ?slim? as the 60?s model and not as clubby as the 50?s model. I think it?s just right for me but it is a bit on the clubby side I suppose. And they use real pearl and abalone for inlays.

It is quite light by LP standards. The seller told me it was 8.5 lbs. and that seems about right even though I haven?t weighed it myself.

Very warm and sweet. Unplugged it?s resonant, bright and snappy not dull and thuddy. Plugged in, the Gibson pickups are warm, rich and defined. I can play this guitar clean for hours and not feel the need to use overdrive. The tone is just so rich and harmonic. It often sounds like it?s swirling inside my Traynor 410 cab - Peavey Classic 100 head.

The bridge pickup is slightly bright but not harsh. If you prefer, use of the tone knob dials out this brightness and adds a bit of versatility. I find the middle position using both pickups to be a great clean tone. A very usable tone with good character which isn?t the case with many guitars with the selector in middle position. The neck pickup is very good. Not a lot of booming low end but a classic representation of a neck PAF.

Sustain is excellent and balance between notes is impressive. No frequency or string is more pronounced than the others. The mids are warm. The low end is present and the highs have a jangle yet none of these interfere with each other. Let a chord ring and it morphs into sweet overtones.

It handles overdrive well and will cover styles from Jazz to Blues and Classic Rock without even thinking about it. Depending on your Country sensibilities it will do Country. It doesn?t handle high gain as well as my Music Man EVH or my Wolfgang. But it will go there. I just doubt that a full time high gain monster would be satisfied with these pickups. As it is, this guitar covers classic ground with great proficiency.

This guitar was used and basically in new condition. I gave the truss rod a quarter turn and that?s it. The rest was set up perfectly. Action is excellent and the playability takes a very light touch and is quite fast. Especially based on the size of the neck. Mine is strung with 10?s

The only area of concern here is that two of the inlays on the neck are popping up slightly. These are easy enough to fix but it is disappointing when every other aspect of the build quality on this guitar is perfect.

As you probably know by now the finish is poly instead of nitro lacquer. The degree to which this matters is subjective. My intent all along was for this guitar to be a workhorse player. Poly is a workhorse finish. Depending on who you talk to, poly is either horrible for, or irrelevant to, the tonal characteristics of a solid body guitar. Honestly, I don?t care. This guitar sounds and plays great now. If it sounds the same in 50 years and doesn?t get sweeter with age, that?s just a cross my grandkids will have to bear. I didn?t buy this as an heirloom. I bought it for me to play right now.

And one more note on the finish. I?ve seen comments on poly and how guitars are dipped and the finsh is thick as a sheet of glass, etc. On some guitars maybe. Not on this one. The thickness of the finish on this guitar is very reasonable. Not thick and syrupy. Not suitable for an acrylic paperweight. It is the thinness One would expect on a quality electric guitar. And it bears comment that most guitars made now use some version of poly.

I have no reason to believe this will be any less reliable than any other LP that's ever been made. Check back with me in 30 years.

I have no idea what their customer support is. I'm not very optimistic but to be fair, I just don't know.

People who pooh-pooh Elitists tend to say, among other things, that these are just copies. Well, they aren?t copies of the Standard LP?s. Elitists don?t have weight relief holes drilled in the bodies to make them lighter. The wood used for Elitists is selected so they don?t have to drill weight relief holes like Gibson does at its Custom Shop. So I would assume that better wood and no weight relief holes is the best way to do it. As far as Gibson is concerned anyway.

Elitists have a long neck tenon and a neck joint that is used by the Custom Shop LP?s. Again, this is different than the neck joint used in the Standard LP?s. And this joint is a major selling point Gibson uses to pitch their Custom Shop models.

So if it?s just a copy, fair enough. But it?s a good copy of Custom Shop LP?s that sell for $3k plus or minus. And if an aluminum tail piece and vintage pots and caps are what you need, spend another $70 and mod your Elitist accordingly. You?ll have a guitar similar to a Custom Shop guitar for a fraction of the price.

I say all this, not because I want to join the Gibson vs. Elitist war that seems to rage. But, that the topic can even be seriously discussed speaks VOLUMES for the Elitists. Standard Korean and Chinese Epiphones wouldn?t hold up to the same scrutiny. Not because they?re bad per se. But because they aren?t on the same level as Gibsons or Elitists. So don?t disregard the Elitist just because of the name on the headstock.

Over all my only disappointment are the inlays popping up. Again, easily fixed. Not an unusual problem. But it still shouldn?t happen. If I'd paid more than $2k for this guitar, I'd knock off some points in this category for this problem. As it is, I'll gladly pay what I paid, make the easy repair and get on with my life.

Beyond this, I can?t find a thing about this guitar not to like. If you want an LP with a classic feel and tone, from a player standpoint, this is a no compromise LP that really is hard to beat.

Unless you need some extra cash, don't sell your Gibson just to get an Elitist. But don?t be surprised if you like the Elitist as well as your Gibson.

Im sure they are all listed below. The top is two-piece, solid maple which is a big difference from the regular Epi Les Paul models. The two-piece mahogany back was finished very well on mine and I had to look at the edge of the guitar to see the seam. American hardware and P/Us etc ect. It has all the features you would expect from a Les Paul. This catagory shouldn't really have a rating because you know what you want in a guitar and extra "features", like Fishman bridges, would be unnecessary to some (like myself) and add value to others.

I should start by saying I have very little experience with "real" Gibsons. I know that's the comparision everyone is looking for. I worked in retail and out of respect for the salesmen (and women) I don't go to guitar shops and play instruments I know I cannot afford. I ordered this one from Musician's Friend never having touched one and relying on their return policy alone. I had no trouble deciding to keep it. The stock P/Us sound very nice. The bridge is a little harsh and seems balanced too much toward the treble side. The neck sounds beautiful and mellow with distortion and the tone rolled all the way back. I will porbably replace both with Alnico II Pros b/c my "holy grail" of tone can be heard in any solo on November Rain. That's a matter of personal taste. They sound better than any stock P/U I have heard in the price range. Rating: 10 for the neck and 8 for the bridge = 9 average. This is my first set neck guitar and the sustain seems infinite.

I guess I should include which amps I use for reference purposes: 1994 Fender Blues Deville (when it works) and a 2006 Roland Cube 60 (solid state, Yeah!) Few effects, boss Distortion and a Dunlop Crybaby if any. This guitar really makes better use of your amp's natural sound w/o having to use effects. The Cube has several effects built in, this guitar sounds better on both amps than my Yngwie sig Fender.

Finish: Flawless. I have a Honey Burst model. The grain is deep and the clear coats still look wet. I love the character the dark imperfections that run with the grain in the maple gives the top (looks like it has cracks in the finish). Again, this is a matter of personal taste, but I like subtle flame/quilt over the AAAAA stuff.

My guitar had some problems with the final nut prep and neck binding however. The top edge of the neck binding looks like it never received a final sanding and appears to have some saw marks. Nothing big. However, a bigger deal was the final nut prep (or lack thereof). Stings G-e hang during tuning and fall out of tune when I bend the strings. I fixed the problem by starting with 1000 grit sand paper and polishing/shaping the slots until I reached 2000 grit. Epi claims the Elitist series gets more hands on attention, but I think thats just a reference to the buffing on the top coat and action/intonation final set up. Other than the tuning problems, the guitar had a great set up out of the box. Low action with no fret buzz.

The neck is larger than I am used to, but comfortable. I do wish the frets were a little taller.

The two piece back (and probably the grade of mahogany used) is the biggest difference I see between this guitar and its American cousins. I think it would take a professional musician to tell the difference tonally. I say that because there are Les Pauls on ebay that are approaching 50 years of age and are still kicking. I would expect no less from this instrument with proper care. The finish is not nitrocellulose but only time will tell what a difference (if any) that will truly make. I actually hope the finish ages, yellows and checks a little.

Hope I'll never need them. I would rather work on my own stuff than be without a guitar for months on end anyway.

Been playing for about 12 years. Own several bolt-on neck guitars (all with tremolo systems, fender style and floyd-rose). Of course I wish it said "Gibson" on the headstock. I would rather be playing on a guitar that rivals Gibson quality now instead of waiting until I can afford a guitar thats major difference is probably only the logo on the headstock. Wonderful fit and finish, just needed some nut work. I would buy another one with out hesitation (and may get one in a different color if they are still around in a year). Just get one and play, you won't be disappointed!

Mine is a Chinese vintage sunburst LP (beautiful!), 22 frets, grover tuners, 2hb... and all the stuff of a LP, you know. It came with the WORST cable I've ever tried, use it to kill your ex-girlfriend lol.

I can say its hb can do the work! they impressed me so much, I was expecting they were worse, but... surprise! They aren't noisy at all

The neck one sounds pretty good with no or a little bit of distortion (turn down the tone pot and enjoy its bluesy sound!), but it becames very muddy and has a lack of tone if you put the dist. at a high level. On the other hand, the bridge pickup is awesome however you set your amp! Set it with no dist. and a bit of delay and you'll find a sound like Paradise City intro, and turn up all your dist. knob and wake up your whole neighbourhood with an awesome screaming sound!

Maybe this is the worst part of the review. You must take into account there is a mid-range axe, so don't expect very much of the quality controls. First of all, the action and intonation were awful. Buzzing strings on top frets and very high at bottom ones... but it was due to the crappy nut it brought. I changed these useless retail .009 strings to a .010 dean markley's ones and raised the nut, and now it's very comfortable (not as my Pacifica with .009, but it doesn't matter)
It has a flaw at the end of the fingerboard, those chinese workers must pay more attention when using saw machines (I hope he's lost a finger!)
I've heard Epi's bring a crappy, noisy pick selector and loose controls, but mine has superb ones!
I give it 7 because of its poorly cut nut, its crappy strings and its flaw on the fingerboard. Otherwise, i'll give 10

Chinese electronics seems to be weak and unstable for gigging, but I think it could do the work without problems. Maybe the pu selector could fail on a few years. The hardware is very stable and seems to last forever and ever. Solid strap buttons, solid machineheads, and overall a very rought axe. If it fall down it will probably drill the floor without getting break!!
I could gig with it without a backup, but it's too annoying when you break a string and must replace it... Fortunately I have my never-string-breaker Pacifica!

I've been playing for 7 years, and I have a Yamaha Pacifica, a pair of classic guitars and a Marshall g80rcd amp. The Yamaha is pretty good, but its sound is uncomparable to LP's sustain and warm tone! LP could be not as easy to play as Pac, but it is very comfortable too (remember, it has a thicker fretboard), and sounds very good with my amp, especially with the "crunch" setting.
I compared it to an Epi's LP Studio (much cheaper, but also much more awful)and an SG G400, but the first time i saw it i knew the Standard Plus was made for me!

Epiphone Elitist Standard Les Paul Plus in Honeyburst finish. As far as I know a 2005 or 2006.
Flame Maple top, two humbuckers two volume & two tone controls.
Mahogany back, grover tuners, bone nut, mother of pearl inlays,
made in Japan (which these days is what made in America was 50 years ago).

This guitar can pull off any style. To me a Les Paul can do it all, whereas a Stratocaster has to go through tons of pedals to make it sound other than a Stratocaster. Very few people on planet earth plug in a stratocaster and go. With a Les Paul, plug in and go, maybe add ye ol' distortion. I play classic rock mostly and consider myself a hobbyist although I have had many guitars in my lifetime, about 25. It sounds really good and can easily stand up to any professionally made guitar and would be welcome in any band.

The setup was fantastic. Everything adjusted correctly.
There was one rather large nick on the back of the guitar, which is where you want a rather large nick if you have to have one. I can't believe quality control missed it. It couldn't have happened during shipping, the case would have protected it. Musician's friend said I could swap it out, but when they checked the computer they told me the honeyburst finish has been discontinued, however epiphone assures me it has not been. Who to believe?
The bookmatched top is nice but very subtle.

This guitar can gig to infinity. Everything is rock solid and very well made. They will be talking about these guitars 40 years from now. Strap buttons are normal but some people don't trust them, better safe than sorry.

Never dealt with them.

I took my first guitar lesson from David Teems in Decatur Ga. in 1971. I mess around on guitar but everyone says I'm real good although I have no idea what I am doing. I just love guitar.
This is my only guitar right now but more are on the way. I would get another one of these if lost or stolen. It has a great playable neck but like any new guitar it needs to be broken/played in. It is exactly like a high end Gibson but with a different head stock. I was going to get an ash strat and I still am eventually, but, how can someone life without a Les Paul?

I purchased this Elite LP Std Plus used in December of '04, so the manufacture date is somewhere in the '02-'04 range (I did know at one point). The guitar meets the same specs as stated in the many reviews below. I have the faded cherryburst finish, and the depth and intricacy of the flame maple is fantastic.

I find the pickups to be capable of a wide array of tones with a little tuning at the amplifier; this guitar can carry on a solid rhythm, or belt out a lead just as easily. I play through a Marshall AVT100 and a Digitech GNX4. With the sound palette available to me, I wouldn't even consider changing the pickups.

As stated, I purchased this used, but don't think the seller had anything done to it before I got it. When I received it, the only things that I needed to do were tighten the jack as it was loose, and adjust one pickup up a little. Whether or not that came from the factory or from use, I don't know. Everything else was on the money, and I haven't had to mess with it since. Aside from adjustable issues, there is a nick in the fretboard binding at the 19th fret. Again, I don't know if this was from the factory, or from the last user. Either way, it's a minor blem that has no overall impact.

The guitar is solid. The hardware and finish are of very high quality, and I have no doubt this guitar will long outlive me. I have changed out the strap buttons for strap-locks, but that is a personal preference issue; there was nothing wrong with the buttons I removed. I can depend on this instrument, and wouldn't hesitate to gig without a back-up if necessary.

I've never had an issue, so I can't comment.

I've been playing guitar for 24 years, and have gone through my share of instruments/equipment. This is one that I'll hang on to. I've owned guitars that range in price from higher to lower than this one, and can honestly say that this guitar meets my definition of a premium quality instrument at any price. My playing has taken a turn toward Jazz and I've been looking for a good archtop to fill the void. After copious amounts of research, and considering the level of satisfaction I have with my Elite LP, I just purchased an Elite Broadway. I am truly a fan of the Epiphone Elite line, and look forward to the next addition to my arsenal...I think an SG is in order soon.

I ordered mine online after trying out some Les Pauls and this is a great guitar. Pretty much what you would expect from a Gibson without the different headstock. The neck seems a little thinner which I prefer and the guitar is still heavy like any LP but I've gotten used to it. The case it comes with is pretty nice as well.

I got this guitar for a different sound than my strat. I'm in love with my strat and it fits most of my musical styles but this is great for my harder or more classic rock style sounds. I use it about 40% of the time compared to my fender. I play it through a fender blackface deluxe reverb most of the time and it sounds great-the pickups push the amp and overdrive it when turned up past 6 and it sounds great. The pickups are really good from what I've played before-not the greatest pickups but for what you pay for they're good. Nice and clear sound when you need it and they'll cut through nice for solos with that usual LP tone. Overall pretty impressed with the sound and feel no need to change the pickups at this point.

From the factory I was suprised at how well it was set up for me and how well it just played. At first I was thinking of setting it up but after a few days of playing it felt fine. The wood used on this guitar is very fun to look at-the top is a really nice deep flame maple that is bookmatched really well-looks good with the desert sunburst finish. The back of the guitar also looks great with the African mahagony which is angled and makes a "v" shape with dark and light highlights behind the transparent red finish. The neck is flawless with great mother of pearl inlays and the headstock looks a lot better than epiphone's normal older headstock. A few problems were the chrome pickguard mount has a slight finish problem-even though its hard to see its annoying. Also the laquer finish where the top of the body meets the side of the neck has a lot of extra laquer-it's not a problem it's just kinda caked in there. All of the pots and electronics are top notch-gibson usa and they feel great. Overall the guitar is very nice and plays/sounds as well as it looks.

This guitar is built tough and like most good guitars it will hold up. The hardware is high quality and the finish should have no problems especially if you take care of it. It's definately dependable-I'm always most concerned about electronics but they're solid. I know of many epiphone regular model les pauls and sg's that have crappy electronics but you pay more for this and you get the USA stuff so its a lot more comforting when you're playing live. I never used to gig with a backup with my strat and never had any problems but when I got other guitars I'd bring them along. I'd feel pretty safe with this but I always bring a few with me just in case-even with a top notch guitar.

I've never dealt with them but I've had a couple epiphones and never had to call.

I've been playing for 8 years and own and have played many other guitars and this is one of the better ones to look at and play. It's a LP so its heavy and doesn't feel exactly right at home like my strat but I can't get the sounds it gives from my strat either. I'd buy one again if it was stolen or lost because its a good price for a high quality LP that has a good sound that I need. The sound is great and its a lot of fun to play. There may be other cheaper or better guitars similar to this around but a lot of it is the classic Les Paul styling-its something that a lot of people love and it does the job really well and has a great record from the past.

Manufactured in 2003, Japan. Bought from Guitar Trader. 22 frets. 2 Piece top (well blended) Flamed Maple- striking in faded cherryburst! Top is a showpiece. Standard LP Controls, 3 position PU switch, 2 Vol, 2 Tone. PUs are not as hot as LP Classic, but close to the tone of Gibson LP Standard. They rock well with tube overdrive. Good sound quality. Not really a hard rock setup without devices I think. Rock N Roll & Blues. Body is mahogany as is neck, FB is Rosewood, 50s style LP? Im not sure. Nitro Like finish clear and hard. TOM Bridge, Grover Tuners! Case Included, not the best LP case.

Awesome rock guitar for me. Will suit other styles for sure. Rich tones, clear and bright to dark and woody. Kicks butt on similar price Fender. Great variety- its a Les Paul... I like the sound alot.

One issue from Gibson- the output jack was bad, it was replaced in the first week. I played alot and have had no other probs. Good action, bookmatch flamed maple done very well. 1 or 2 tuners slip- but may be the strings. Excellent neck and fretboard. A joy to play but they should have caught the jack at quality control!

This Les Paul is not quite as rugged as the LP Standard I had, but for $900 it seems like it can go the distance. I dont play it on tour yet. Hardware is good. Grover tuners. I play it alot. I would gig it for sure.

Gibson is available and helpful when needed. This is a quality guitar. Repaired by Andys Music, Mobile, AL (output jack faulty).

Ive been playing 5 years. I feel like this guitar was a good deal, no regrets. If I had $2000, Id buy a Gibson Standard LP, If I had $900 again, Id buy another for sure. I love the finish, it looks very classic. Also dig the smooth to growling sound output. The tone is very cool. OR 57 Classic Pickups. May change later.

This is Epiphones top of the line series of guitars,handmade in a special factory in Japan(that also produces gretch guitars)
Considered an in-between price range and quality when compared to a Gibson and the base Epiphone series. I pretty much agree with that,however I found some quality control problems.(keep reading).

As far as sound is concerned I,d say it does the job well,rythum position is warm and fat,treble position gets some nice biting tone with nice sustain.Center position rich and full,not bad at all for stock pickups,but i will probably change them down the line.

Now it gets interesting,After waiting four months for this axe(they can,t seem to keep faded cherry models in stock!)I looked this guitar over.The poly finish was flawless all around,same for the sunburst,bindings,tuners,fretwork was nicely finished off as well as inlays.NOW,as for the tune-o-matic bridge,i noticed some high speed buffing wear marks around the thumbscrews! Also,the same marks were evident on the outside edges of the stop bar tailpiece! Quality control?? HELLO! Also the chrome plating on the pickguard support was defective.I have never seen this even on my old 100 dollar Carlo Robelli paul! I believe they are rushing these guitars out(LITERALLY).

This guitar is solid enough to last a long time,no problem. Always have a backup(see murphys law!).

Fairly helpful but it becomes a hassel to make appointments,etc,etc!
Man I just want to PLAY!

Been playing for over 24 years,in and out of bands. Own a couple of marshalls,1 p-bass,1 flying v,1-apocalypse pro,1-sg-400,1stratand now this paul.
I would replace this one with the same.
Just wish they pay a little closer attention in the QC department.
I will remove the defective hardware and use it on a project homebuilt in the works.Will replace new hardware myself(can,t deal with hassels.)

Made in 2003. I bought this s/hand but in excellent condition (1 tiny dent on the bottom bout). Everyone reading this will know the controls, frets etc. If not look at the previous reviews. This is a beautifully made guitar. Quality book matched flame maple top (mine is in honeyburst, which is gorgeous)and excellent quality African mahogany body and neck. Inlays are real MoP and very well done (filler, what filler?). Mine came with original Epi Elite case, tags, etc. and with straploks fitted.

I play rock and blues - mainly covers nowadays. Amps are Trace Elliot Trident or Marshall JCM 900. The clean sound on either or both pickups is sweet and exactly what you'd hope for from a Les Paul. Crunch is likewise excellent with plenty of poke. The high gain tones are awesome. Sweet, singing sustain from either pickup. The sort of sound that makes you want to play 10 minute solos!

Finish and overall construction is flawless. Better than any USA Gibbo I've played before. Set up was OK after a tweak or two but for optimum performance, I intend to have my usual luthier have a look and breathe some magic over this axe. It will be well worth it. I really like the pickups. Yes, they are a tad brighter than Burstbuckers but they give this Paul a little more cut and it's less likely to sound thick and turgid as a result, especially if you're using lots of gain.

I've only had this for four weeks but it's very well put together and I expect to own it for many years without problems. I don't ever gig without a backup but, if I had to, I would trust this guitar to perform and I don't think it would let me down.

N/A

Been playing since 1970. I own several other guitars from Gibson, Yamaha, Ibanez, etc. This is as good or better than any of the others that I own (but they all have their plus and minus points). Elites are no longer imported into the UK and I've been told by a dealer friend that the sales of USA Gibsons were being adversely affected by the extremely high quality of the Elites, so Gibson put a stop to the imports.

2003 epi elite les paul standard plus, flame maple honeyburst, 2 us gibson made pick-ups, TOM bridge, REAL MOP trap inlays,3-way toggle,bone nut,grover tuners, german nickel hardware, 2 volume 2 tone pots,even a classic 2 screw truss rod cover! ( it should say gibson in script writing instead of the block letters because this guitar is certainly ....and surprisingly....WORTHY! traded a 1988 gibson es-175 for it straight across for it,but the gibson was in very bad shape with water damage. the epi was for sale for $799 USED and i jumped on it.

i have been playing guitar for 24 years (mostly gibsons) and i can tell you that this thing sounds outstanding. owned many amps (tube and solid state) and have FINALLY found happiness with a crate v-series 5012. plugged the epi into one at the store and was enthralled by the tone! i play classic rock all the time but my heart is totally into southern rock like lynyrd skynyrd, the allman bros. and molly hatchet. for the last 7 years, ive been playing fender guitars because my ex-wife bought me a strat for christmas and i became hooked on everything fender. this past tax season,i found myself wanting a humbucker equipped guitar so i started checking out gibsons and occasionally epis. gibson guitars today are so over priced that i could hardly believe it! the epis were much cheaper and some very well made like the korina explorer....still.....i wanted a paul and suddenly i was in the right place at the right time. elite? whats this? never heard of it or saw one untill that day. it was parked right next to a couple of korean pauls....and it stood out dramatically. upon picking it up,i was surprised by its weight(i like heavy guitars), but even more impressed with its sound. this was it this is the sound i remember and must have again. the bridge pu is a tad brighter than on my last les paul (72 custom) but that was fine by me especially after playing strats and teles for the last 7 years. american buckers are a fine plus on a japanese guitar. since the first day i tried it, i have gone through all my musical tastes from new country to kid rock and this guitar was the biggest surprise i have seen...and heard.

i dont know who owned the guitar before i got ahold of it, but the action was set just fine for me. i dont have a particular preference over high verses low, i go with how comfortable it feels with 10 gauge strings. that said, i guess i like my action a little high because i love to do bends and the music i play requires it. this guitar plays so easily it almost seems to play itself. i also can be very picky with the finish but this finish allays all guesses. simply stated, i cannot find a single flaw. neck joint,binding,tunability, all were unsurpassed on this baby. a very well built quality feeling instrument.

i couldnt wait to play this guitar live! playing in a southern rock tribute band demands a sound like this although this thing could easily play metal and jazz with ease. very, very dependable it will not let you down. i truly believe that the hardware and the spectacular finish will long out live me! hell, even the rhthym and treble ring are better then the korean ones with the gold letters and a small detail like that is impressive to me! the strap buttons? i dont have a problem with them but i use wide thick straps so im always strapped in tight.as for using it without a back up guitar.... maybe if i was guaranteed that i wouldnt break a string! of course that is impossible to preditct so untill then this axe has become my main guitar putting my trusty tele deluxe into the second slot!

never ever had to deal with them and i really dont think i will need to.

overall, this is simply a great guitar. it just might have the folks at gibson a little worried because now even novice guitar players can afford this gem let alone us old 1970s players! for playability, beauty, dependabilty, and sheer soundability, this guitar is a phenominal find. kudos to epiphone for finally building an exquiste guitar worthy of the les paul name and legacy. oh by the way, i love the re-designed headstock and the new scripted logo! is that logo MOP? who cares...you cant play it but it sets it apart from the rest...truly an elite!

What an Outstanding guitar, This was my 2nd Guitar ive ever bought. 22 Frets, with Ebony Fretbord. African Mohagany Body with Maple Top. Grover Tuners (which are awesome, and it stays in tune almost always) Fat Neck, but fun to play.
Overall Great Features!

I have been playing for 2 Years, I play anything from Blues - Heavy Metal. This guitar covers it all. Gibson made pickups, They have a nice dark cruchy tone, and also nice clean tones. Sometimes i wish they were a little louder, but i am very happy with the sound i get. The Neck Pickup is my favorite, it gives you that dark crunch, while the Bridge is more made for lead, trebly sounds.

The action was perfect, I bought it used with no scratches and dings. The Only problem i had was the strap holders were loose, and thus i had to buy i new one. This guitar was deffiently made by Professionals

This guitar will last me years and years of non stop playing. This is my baby

never had to deal with them

Ive been playing for 2 years, and this is one of the best looking guitars ive seen, it probably sounds better then the Gibsons

Pour une fois cette avis sera en francais :)

Donc c'est une Epiphone Elite Les Paul Standard plus acheter en 2004, couleur HoneyBurst absolument magnifique.

Avant de continuer...mais qu'est ce qu'une Epiphone Elite ???
C'est simple... la serie Elite c'est un peu le Custom Shop chez Epiphone... donc ca n'est pas fabrique en Coree de facon industriel...
c'est fait a la main par des luthiers au Japon ! Le tout avec des elements fournis par Gibson USA en personne :) donc les micros sont par exemples de vrais micros Gibson Humbuckers USA...pareil pour l'electronique...

Au niveau des bois utilises...et bien ce sont les meme que ceux d'une Gibson LesPaul Standard...et oui... notez que je n'ai pas dis Gibson LesPaul Classic, mais bien Standard donc niveau au dessus question selection des essences etc...

Les mecaniques ? Groover... impecable...

Le poid ? une vrai LesPaul...j'ai verifie...;)

Le son... mon dieu...en fait j'ai eu plusieurs guitars avant celle la...en gros Godin-ST6(super), Ibanez-S1670FMPrestige(super), JacksonUSA-Dinky(oula grosse guitare la ;)), Fender-FatStrat Higway(super)... toutes ces guitares avait un bon son voir tres bon surtout la Jackson avec ses Seymour&Duncan... et bien je vous avoue ne pas en revenir du son de cette LesPaul...incroyable, superbe, magnifique... j'en ai les larmes aux yeux quand je joue avec... PUTAIN c'est grave !!! Le son est tres dense, tres profond... j'utilise un V-Amp2 et le son est enorme...mais beau... vraiment...

Alors je precise que j'ai compare le jour de l'achat avec une Gibson Les Paul Standard... je suis reste 1 heures et demie dans le magasin a essayer les 2 guitares... Attention je precise que je ne suis pas entrain de descendre en flame les LesPaul Gibson, puisque je suis un grand fan de ces guitares... d'ailleur si j'avais eu les moyens j'aurais pris directement une LesPaul Standard Gibson...Mais comme mes finances ne me le permettaient pas a ce moment la et qu'il etait hors de question de prendre une Gibson LesPaul studio vu la qualite au rabais de ces series et vu leur prix carrement disproportionne...je me suis donc interresse a ce model Epiphone...
Donc entre les deux guitares le sont est tres proche...j'ai note une petite difference entre les deux...mais je ne peut pas vous dire celui que je prefere... :) LesPaul ou LesPaul ??? hehe...

Mouahahah... c'est excellent ca... la finition ? je me marre...
Ben ouais comme je vous ai dit je suis reste pendant 1 heure et demie a regarder la Gibson et l'Epiphone sous toutes les coutures... en plus elles avaient toutes deux la meme couleur(honeyBurst)...la Gibson etait plus terne que l'Epiphone...mais disons qu'elle etaient aussi belles... par contre niveau finition et ben c'est du meme niveau...Comment dire... on ne peut absolument rien reprocher au travail fait par les Luthiers Japonnais... rien du tout... c'est SUPERBE,MAGNIFIQUE... dans les moindre details... la seul diference c'est que sur la Gibson LesPaul standard le binding(filet blanc) recouvre les frettes sur 2 millimetres de chaque cote alors que sur l'Epiphone le binding ne touche pas les frettes...
Une autre difference de finition ? OK... sur la Gibson les boutons de volumes et tonalite n'etait pas bien fini...sisi l'interieur etait loupe sur 2 d'entre eux... alors que sur l'Epiphone ils sont impecable ;)... encore une diff ? OK
Sur la Gibson au niveau du la fixation du chevalet sur la table, les trous ou se trouve les vis comportaient des bavure de vernis... sur l'Epiphone tout est tres net... :) lol

Le manche me convient parfaitement... un plaisir de jouer la dessus... ca me convient bien mieux que le manche de mon ex Ibanez... je prefere meme ce manche a celui de ma Jackson... et oui... meme si l'acces au aigues n'ai pas tres aise sur les derniere cases on s'y fait, ca n'ai pas un probleme...

tout parait tres solide sur cette guitare... perso je ne fais pas de scene donc je ne peux pas vous parler de ce domaine...
Mais en tout cas je ne me fais pas de soucis pour la qualite de finition, vernis etc...

je n'ai pas eu affaire au support technique...

Cela fait quelques jours que je l'ai achete chez mon Luthier prefere... Merci a lui d'ailleur pour ses precieux conseils et merci de m'avoir laisser teste aussi longtemps une guitare a 1450? ainsi qu'une a 2750?...
www.damico-store.com
Jamais une guitare ne m'a fait un tel effet... tout d'abord je trouve les LesPaul magnifique de par leur forme et couleurs...c'est rond c'est beau, plein de courbes :) ensuite le son de cette guitare m'ensorcelle carrement... :) comme je vous l'ai dit je voulais une Gibson LesPaul Standard USA... et je m'etais dis qu'apres L'epiphone je prendrais un Gibson... et bien maintenant je ne sais plus si ca vaut la peine...
Ce que je pense c'est que c'est une vrai LesPaul, faite au Japon et qui vaut largement une Gibson Standard a tous les niveaux...mais a presque 50% du prix... :) Je pense que personne ne peut mettre en doute la qualite des produits haut de gamme Japonais(Hi-Fi, electronique, Motos...) et la on est bien en presence d'un produit haut de gamme...
Donc si vous voulez une LesPaul pour le prestige de la marque ou en pensant a la revente, vaut mieux prendre une Gibson...

Si vous chercher une superbe LesPaul pour jouer parseque vous aimez ces guitares alors vous pouvez sans aucune hesitations prendre cette Epiphone Elite, vous ne le regretterez pas...

D'ailleurs a votre avis pourquoi Gibson(proprietaire d'Epiphone) a fait passer sont prix de 1450 euros a 2000 euros ??? ;)

04' epi. les paul std plus. two us made humbukers. mahogany neck and body. rosewood fingeboard. 22 frets. mine is a faded cherry burst...looks extremelly beautiful 45 degree from the top...not as nice look directly from the top tho..but still gorgeous... awesome Grover tuner..big big plus.for more info about the spec. check the epi website o other reviews.

well..how to begin...the stock pups are a bit too harsh for ma ears. they are like the 490/498 gone bad...i like my pups close to my strings...to get a warmer and louder tone. but that still didn' do. they are covered pups but sounded like open coil...which are nice i like open coils. but they just don bring home the tone for me. anyways. so i changed em to burstbucker 2 for neck and 3 for brige. same ones i have on my gibson LP custom. if u ever get a chance... hear those babies out...they are at the same level as the PAF 57's.

the action was awesome rite out of the box. didn't have to do anything to it. but just like anyother LP productions...the stock strings are terrible. u should always change the strings when u have a facotry sealed gutiar. the strange thing is...the strings were in perfect pitch when i got it rite out of the box...that never ever happens...

this is my back up guitar for my les paul custom. but somehow i feel like this guitar is much more reliable than my LP custom. the tuner is the biggy. Gotoh, Sperzel & Grover are awesome tuners. they stay in tune night in and night out...it's a pain to worry about tuning when u r on stage. as the gig gets longer and longer, u r goin to start to appreciate the beauty of them.
of couse the Bridge is no match of the Nashville TOM but they get the job done.

never dealt wit em...limited life time worranty...oh well who cares...

this is a truly great gutiar for it's price. i cannot tell the difference between this guitar and a Gibson LP std. yes there is a huge difference in tone when u compare this guitar to a Gibson Custom or the level above that.
the worksmanship is great. it's made by the same factories that also make Gretsch...nuffsaid!
if u want a LP and don't have to money for Gibson. get this gutiar and don go for the Korean made Epi and use the rest of the money on Amps or effects. u r goin to regret it someday. i was realli surprised about the depth of this guitar. although i wish they have more color variation. but still faded cherry burst looks twice better than Heritage sunburst. i realli can't think of anything bad to say about this gutiar...

Features? It's a Les Paul! (as described in the reviews below...)
Since the guitar's got everything what a Les Paul needs, it deserves a 10.

I play cover rock, stuff from 70s, 80s to Likin Park. My amp is a Diezel VH4. The guitar sounds as a Les Paul should sound, creamy, full and punchy. The pickups are very quiet, they have a bit more output than a standard PAF-type, enough to give the sound a nice transparency at highgain settings, which often tend to sound muddy with regular Les Paul pickups.

This was my biggest reason to buy this guitar (instead of a Gibson LP Standard). The overall finish on this beauty is absolutely flawless!
I tried a lot of Gibsons (not every Gibson out there of course...), Standards and some Studios, too, but I was very disappointed of the poor quality most of them showed. Soundwise there were some nice sounding ones, but again,the workmanship in relation to the price was simply ridiculous.

A big plus for you Epi guys in Japan! Setup and playability on the Elite was real good right out of the box, I can get an extremely low action without any buzz! Very nice flame top. Not too heavy. In one word: Excellent!!!!

Everything as solid as it should be!
I changed the strap buttons to strap locks (I do that on every guitar I own), and no, I would NEVER go to a gig without backup guitar!

I had a question about the serial number and got response from the customer support in a few hours. Nice. Does this deserve a 10? I don' t know!

If you want a perfectly playable, sweet sounding high quality Les Paul, go for the Epi Elite. If you buy a guitar for the name on the headstock or the resale value, get yourself a Gibson!

My Elite is a japanese made 2003 model in a honeyburst finish. All of the features are typical of a Les Paul - a pair of medium output humbuckers, volume and tone controls, and a 3 way toggle switch for pickup selection. Woods used in the Elite series are the same as their Gibson counterparts - mohagany bodies with maple tops, and a 1 piece mohagany neck. A tune-o-matic bridge and Grover tuners make for very stable tuning. One of the nicest features of this guitar is the neck. It is quite beefy, but very comfortable and playable. A very nice Elite series case was also included. Overall, this is a pretty traditional guitar without a lot of features, but it has everything most players would need.

The sounds that this guitar is capable of producing is quite surprising. As expected, for rock music, it does a great job. It is very thick and crunchy, but retains clarity and definition. I was pretty shocked at the clean tones that are available. In the middle position, the tone is fairly bright and detailed. The neck pickup alone sounds relatively dark, but is still clear. I use this guitar with a Peavey Transfex Pro 212 amp and a few pedals (chorus, flanger, phaser, and wah) and can get just about any sound I'm after from Marshall type overdrive to Jazz Chorus clean. It does not quite have the nuances to touch that, for example, a Gibson Historic has, but it comes surprisingly close.

This is an area where the Elite series instuments really shine. The factory setup was perfect. The top is properly bookmatched, the binding and fretwork is flawless, the hardware is of high quality and well set up. The only thing that I needed to do was have the nut slots opened up a little to accomodate a heavier sting guage (with the factory strings, it was cut perfectly). The actual finish of this guitar is very impressive. From certain angles, the top appears to be fairly plain, but, as you move, a very beautiful 3-D flame appears. The producers of Elite series intruments pay very close attention to very small details which result in an incredibly well made guitar that rivals instruments at twice the price.

With reasonable care, this guitar will last a lifetime. I don't really gig anymore, but a backup would likely not be required (I'd bring one anyway-you never know what could happen!). The components are of high quality and the workmanship is excellent.

I have never needed to deal with them.

I have been playing for 25 years and have owned a lot of gear in that time. I currently own guitars by Gibson, PRS, Washburn, and Squire, as well as an F bass. I've been searching for a "real" Les Paul (that was better than my Washburn WP-50 clone) for the better part of the last 10 years. Although Gibson's quality has dramatically gotten better in the last several years, I do not believe that their production Les Pauls are significantly better than the Elite series. I certainly don't think that they are worth almost double the price of the Elite. If you are concerned with the name on the headstock or re-sale value, then a Gibson would probably better fit the bill. If you're looking for a great value and a guitar that plays, sounds, feels, and looks great, the Epiphone Elite series is very hard to beat.

Beautiful 2003 model year Epi Elite LP Standard Plus , faded cherryburst, made in Japan, solid flamed maple top, 50s style solid mahogany neck, poly finish, grover tuners, bone nut, and gibson case. If you are looking for what a real gibson used to be, and can't buy a custom shop LP, this is it.

Range and Tone, I can play Johnny Cash, Dire Straits, ZZ TOP, or AC/DC with it. It has no electronics snaps or pops that you might associate with a Epi, and the Gibson P/Us are good. I have played several $3000 gibsons, and the sound was just as good.

This is where my ONLY complaint about this guitar will be. The ivory P/U edge covers were not aligned properly, the corner screws are too close together and warp the center of the ivory neck P/U cover up about 1/8". They are aligned correctly otherwise, just too tightly spaced. This does not affect the playability.

Otherwise the fit and finsh is awesome, the 3K gibsons had a rough and coarse finish and a high action compared to this. The bone nut is perfectly fitted, no buzz, came factory with about .07 relief at the 9th fret. All binding was perfect, the poly finish is tough, and will not age and crack like gibson's low-tech out of date nitro. Beautiful book matched top, just like the 50s gibsons were, soft flames, not IN YOUR FACE BRIGHT NEON TIGER STRIPED like today, subtle.

The only setup I had to do was adjust the height of the bridge for my personal taste, and adjust the polepieces on the P/U.

I am satisfied.

Tough, built like a tank. (and for you Fender guys: weighs like one too).
I still added strap locks anyway, for their top of the like Pro grade axe, why can't Epiphone get the fact that we all want strap locks, put them on for me.

Havent dealt with them. I probably should, because of the P/U issue, but I couldn't live without my LP for more than a few days.

Can't afford a real Gibson custom? want great value in a guitar that will last as long as you? Want tone, fit, silky finish and a pretty flame top? buy it. I have never regretted it.

The usual features, as indicated on the other reviews in this section. Mine is a beautiful honeyburst flametop.

I played the Epi through Marshalls (both JCMs and the AVT).The sound is wonderful. The bridge pickup has a biting top end to it and the neck pickup sounds very smooth and fluid. All notes are clear when chording, even with overdrive. Think of Jimmy Page's guitar sound in "Heartbreaker" from Led Zeppelin II. This is the sound the whole world wants.

There are absolutely no flaws whatsoever on this guitar. The finish is immaculate and the set was perfect. No fret buzz at all while the action was reasonably low. I put on new 10 guage strings (the guitar came with 8s, which felt like rubber) and despite that the strings weren't yet stretched, the guitar stayed perfectly in tune. I attribute this to the Grover tuning heads that come with the guitar.

I agree with others in this forum that if you're playing live, the strap buttons should ideally be changed. The guitar feels very, very solid.

I just purchase it today, so this hasn't been an issue.

I've been playing for almost twenty years, but I've only recently started playing again after a long hiatus. I'm playing the Epi through a Marshall AVT 2000 (for my home recording studio). I also own an 1968 Gibson SG Standard, a 1985 Ibanez Roadstar 2 RS1300 - Marine Sunburst (1 of only 6 made!)and I have a Peavey VTB NTB guitar on order (the reissue of the Adrian Vandenberge model Peavey used to make). I've played many, many guitars during my years of playing and this guitar has undoubtedly impressed me. I actually went into the store intending to purchase a Gibson Standard. However, when I saw the Epi Standard Plus hanging on the wall winking at me with its gorgeous honeyburst flametop, I just had to try it. I compared this Epi with various Gibson Les Pauls in the store (the Standard, the Custom) and this blew them away in terms of sheer quality and craftsmanship. The Gibsons just didn't feel as polished: it appeared that not as much care went into making them as with the Epi. The sound of the Epi was comparable to those of the Gibsons - no difference other than being a little brighter (which is good). I can only attibute this difference in quality to the fact that the Epi Elites are made in Japan.

It's been sometimes said that you buy a Gibson for its resale value, not for its quality (which may pale compared to some of their Japanese copies). The converse of this assertion is that you buy a Japanese guitar for its quality, not for its resale value. This is no longer true. For example, Ibanez Artists made in the 1970s and early 1980s (while they were still made in Japan) are fetching pretty significant prices in the used/vintage market, far in excess of their original price tags. Theses Artists were essentially double-cutway Les Paul copies made better than the Gibsons made in the 1970s and early 1980s. I believe that the Epi Elites will become similarly collectible. Some food for thought.