Epiphone Elite Les Paul

THIS GUITAR IS FANTASTIC!!!! I first purchased this beautiful elite les paul in faded cherry burst in 2006, and it has been my workhorse since then, and will continue to be for many, MANY years to come. I cannot express how good the quality, sound and beauty of these guitars are. It came with an average case with plush violet lining, but it does the job and shows a great contrast between the guitar and the case. The laminated finish, despite not having lacquer as a finish, is flawless and stunning, wouldn't have it any other way. The D shaped neck fits perfectly around the hand, and despite the 7kg of weight from the guitar, it is a comfortable guitar to play. The Grover tuners are perfect, hold tuning for weeks on end. I can't comment on the strap buttons as I changed them to strap locks before I even played the baby.

I play mostly bluesy/rock/modern music with a mix of house and this guitar performs for every genre. It fits perfectly for those sweet guns N' Roses tunes, sings for blues, and even can scream hard for metal. I use the Elite Les Paul with my Marshall JCM2000 TSL602 and combined is the greatest tone I have ever come across. The pickups perform with outstanding results. I have even taken this guitar to a Gibson dealer and compared the guitar to $8,000+ VOS Gibson Les Pauls, and the Elite gives the VOS Gibson a serious run for its money and to be honest, the "higher quality" Gibsons are not worth it if you can get you're hands on one of these Elites.
There is a little noise from the pickup switch, but nothing that can't be fixed with a little time and effort. Unlike the cheaper Epiphones, the TONE KNOB ACTUALLY WORKS! Deep, warm and full tones can be produced through this guitar, as well as tones which can tear the clothes off any girl listening.

I haven't had to adjust the guitar at all from the factory. When I bought the guitar in 2006, the guitar was sitting in the back of the storage room, behind everything in the case, catching dust. We had to move amps, guitars, etc to get to it. The stickers and plastic were still on it. My guitar happens to be built in 2003 and is number 153. It had also never been played before, so it was straight from the factory.

The finish was absolutely perfect. There isn't really much more I can say about that.

I would trust this guitar with my life. I'm not kidding. I have never had a problem with this guitar. The only thing that I see could have a few problems in the future is my neck pickup as it fades out once every few months, no problem though. I have also had to replace the pickup rings but that was due to cracking, not a manufacturing fault so its no problem once again. Easy fix, $10 haha.
The finish seems like it will last a very long time. I keep it polished and clean 24/7, even though I play it every day. When not played, it spends its time in the case.
I would feel completely confident to gig with it without a backup. There is no need for a backup when you have a ELITE les paul.

never had to deal with epiphone's support.

I have been playing for 7 years now, been through many guitars and this has been the only one I have never even thought of getting rid of. I am in love with this Epiphone. If it were lost or stolen, I'd be heartbroken. I would hunt down the person who stole it, and make him regret it, but yes, I would replace it instantly. I am currently in the market looking for a 2003 Elite '57 Goldtop aswell.

It has been compared to the top of the range Gibsons, and still outdid a whole heap of them, and gave all of them the biggest run for their price tag.

I will change the pickups to either Gibson Burstbuckers or Seymour Duncan Alcino Pro-II pickups on both rhythm and treble at some point, due to personal taste.

I seriously recommend this guitar. If you want a reliable, sexy, beautiful guitar that you can actually love, look no further. Don't bother with the Gibsons, this guitar will outstand any expectations you have for a guitar.

This guitar has a flamed maple top with a maple solid body and maple neck with 22 frets on an 18". Guitar came with a hard shell case which I would ask for nothing less on a guitar like this. I've heard that Epiphones are known for their screwy toggle switches, but mine works just fine. All nickel hardware which adds to the beauty and durability of the guitar.

I mostly play classic hard and punk rock along with new hard and punk rock and this guitar grabs that sound well. I use this guitar with a Marshall gold face and this combo is very well suited to each other. It's about like french fries and ketchup. This guitar has a warm, full sound when played through a Marshall. The only thing I don't like is the lack of artificial harmonics able to be found on the guitar.

I bought this guitar at a music shop and I guarantee that the store did a little bit of modifications before they displayed it. But the action was perfect when I bought it. I had to adjust the pickups just slightly but it was more of a preference thing because the guitar sounded awesome but I wanted a little more grunge to my playing. I couldn't find any flaws in the finish or wood.

Given the solid maple body and nickle hardware, this guitar can definitel withstand live playing. The finish on the guitar is thick and will be there for a while. The strap buttons are solid, but I recommend strap locks because of the weight of the guitar. This is definitely the most dependable guitar I have ever owned. I don't recommend playing without a backup, but this guitar may be the exception.

The warranty was good on the guitar. I only had to call their customer sevice once and they were very friendly.

I've been playing about 2 years and this guitar adds so much to one's playing style. If someone stole this guitar I would probably hunt them down and kill them prior to buying this guitar again. I love the beautiful sound you get out of this guitar.

This is a follow up to my review that follows. After I wrote that review, I got more and more frustrated. So I called Gibson, got a return authorization and sent the guitar to them. They phoned me 3 days ago, agreeing to send me a new guitar. 2 days (not 2 weeks) later, I received a new Epiphone Elitist.

It's a beauty, and as far as I can tell, it's a perfect 10--it's everything I thought the Elitist should be. So, I'd have to up my reviews as concerns Gibson--it seems more likely that the guitar shop sent me something they'd had out as a demo. Maybe not, but what they sent me was shite. At any rate, Gibson redeemed themselves beautifully. If you can, play the guitar first, just to make sure, do it. The one I have now is just a dream guitar. I give Gibson's customer service a 9.7 (they get a bit snitty, or they'd get a 10). Everything about the guitar seems to be a 10.

Stock Epiphone Elitist. Horribly set up when I received it, the guitar now plays great, feels great, etc. Still, it was a big disappointment when I received it. Elitists are supposed to strive for "near-custom" quality, but this one didn't make it. Out of the box:
1. The Les Paul logo is bubbly and imperfect.
2. Supposedly uses different electronics from the Korean models, and yet it's got that same crappy short in the pickup switch.
3. The truss plate is supposed to have "Gibson" printed on it. Mine was blank.
4. Out of the box, every string buzzed. Worst set-up I've ever gotten on a new guitar, any new guitar.
5. The D string slips, and the tuner is cranky. Big-as* disappointment here.
This may seem like picky critiques, but the guitar costs double the price of a regular Epi--I expected better from the Elitist.

These are minor problems, sure

Sounds great. Pickups seem okay, but I haven't run it through a big amp yet. Playing through a PODxt, no problems with screechy harmonic feedback.

I've set it up to play now, and it plays well.

The finish is beautiful--heritage cherry sb--and the wood is beautiful as well.

As I mentioned, noisy pickup switch, bad tuners.

I think it's okay at the end of things, just not the quality that I thought I would get

A joke:
Bought it at Southpaw, the big Texas lefty dealer. I wrote them an email about my problems with the guitar: they never responded.

Gibson offered to let me send the guitar to them for repairs: right, I just bought it and I want to send it to them for 6 months--what terrific customer support! Also, a rep promised to send me a new truss rod plate--I'm still waiting. It should be here by the time they find Osama Bin Laden.

I've been playing for many years. I used to own a regular Epiphone Les Paul. Once I set it up, it was great, but I expected to have to set it up and add a new switch. If I had it to do over again, I'd probably buy the regular, put in a new switch and a couple of pickups, and I'd still be under the price I paid for the Elitist. I give the guitar an overall 7 for the way I got it and because of the switch and craftsmanship.

GIBSON EPIPHONE LES PAUL STANDARD
Year Made: Ca. 2002-3 In China

Solid Top

Two Tone Controls, Two Volume Controls

Passive electronics

Tune-O-Matic Bridge

Grover Tuners (great!)

Case Included - I caught Guitar Centert at their annual sale bash

Price Paid: US $599.00

Purchased From: Guitar Center, Warwick, RI

Features: 9.5
Black in color, mahogany back, sold alder top; cream binding around body and neck, expertly cut trapezoid neck inlays. Neck newer "60's" style. Beautiful paint work. In my view, excellent craftsmanship.

Sound: 9.5
A year ago, I purchased a stunning Gibson Les Paul Standard Light Sunburst with the new "Burstbucker 5" pickups. They were too tinny and metal for my taste - BLUES. I replaced them with '58 Classics which were a great improvement. This probably sounds unbelieveable but I prefer the sound of the Gibson Epiphone Les Paul over the Gibson Gibson Les Paul. I attribute that to less edgy pickups (made by Gibson in the US) and perhaps more importantly, due to the lighter, less dense alder top. However it shares in my view that certain amount of "muddiness" inherent in all humbucking guitars.

Action, Fit and Finish: 9.5
Guitar nicely set up from start. The neck pickup was angled a bit too low towards te bridge which was an easy fit with a couple of turns of the screws. Very pretty to look at. Exudes the BLUES. One would do better service to the instument however, by re-stringing with top quality stuff.

Reliability/Durability: 9.5

Solidly built guitar. (I own 3 American Stratocasters, 1952 R-Issue Fenter Tele, a gorgeous Gibson Les Paul Standard, an Epiphone Sheraton II, several All-Metal Resonator guitars and several steel string acoustics and two nylon classicals)

I play the instrument predominately straight through my Fender Blues Junior. Unreal natural sweet distortion at high volume.

Sound: 9.0

It's my favorite humbucker, and as I've mentioned, the sound is more pleasing to than the Gibson Gibson Les Paul Standard. I'm very used to single coil, but being slowly one over.

I don't know what a "10" guitar is about. This guitar however is probably a "10" given it's extraordiarily reasonable price.

Overal, a FANTASTIC GUITAR particularly for the money. Don't get caught up in names. In its heyday, Epiphone was up there with Fender and Gibson, and it looks like they may be coming there again.

I AM NOT A MANUFACTURER

Please see above

Again, I don't know what a "10" is, besides my girlfriend.

Please See above

Please see above.

Please note I am not a gigging musician. I am a lawyer but have always lived, dreamed and survived on music.

Unknown at this time.

Answered in the order asked:

I've been playing since I was 5 years old.
No.
Definetly
Sound. Inherent muddiness in all humbucking guitars. Great sounding humbuckers and craftsmanship for the price and an indescrible "oneness" I feel with the instrument.
No.
Again, don't be caught up in GD names.

Typical Les Paul features, solid maple cap, mahogany back, mine is the honeyburst finish which is very nice looking. Binding around edges of body and neck. trapezoid inlays.

Sound is awesome. I had a Gibson studio Les paul and sold it to buy this guitar. Both guitars sound very similar. This guitar sounds excellent with distortion and has tons of sustain.

Guitar was set up perfectly right out of the box. The finsish and attention to detail is impressive. Cannot find any flaws in it. The guitar is beautiful looking, I like it better than my studio.

I don't gig, but I think this guitar would stand up to the road and live playing. I would definetly suggest getting strap locks, the way Les pauls are shaped the strap slips off of the front pin pretty easily.

Have not dealt with epiphone.

I've been playing for 15 years I also have a fender strat and acoustic. If it were stolen I'd buy another from the same seller as fast as I could. These guitars are not going to be the investment a Gibson is, but if you are looking for a quality built great looking Les Paul to keep and play this is it.

Elite Les Paul Standard - This guitar is assembled in Japan with Gibson USA parts. Flame maple top with mahogany back and neck, Honeyburst finish with ivory pick-guard, pickup trim, toggle switch, etc. Fretboard is rosewood with pearl inlays, 22 frets on 18" spacing. SLim-style neck is fast. Gibson USA pickups with Alnico magnets. The Grover tuners are exceptional. This guitar is almost worth the cost for how good it looks. It is just itching to be played.
Hard shell Les Paul style case included. With the toggle switch on a Les Paul, I wouldn't want to put one in anything but a Les Paul style case.

You think it looks good, wait until you hear it! I play mostly Led Zepplin, Pearl Jam, ACDC, Steve Earle, The Tragically Hip, Bon Jovi, etc. If guitar based rock is your style, this guitar nails it.
My amp is a 2x25 watt Fender Princeton Chorus. I also have a number of effects (Boss MT-2, Wah, equalizer), but this guitar doesn't need a lot of effects to sound great. Straight up from my amp is how I have been playing lately and it rocks.
Bridge pickup (treble on toggle) is definitely bright. With a clean sound better suited to soloing or chord accenting. With some distortion it is great for riffing or soloing.
Neck pickup (rhythm on toggle) is a great all around pickup. A great clean, full sound for chords. With distortion, it takes a bit of the edge off the bridge pickup, and sounds great.
A great tone that I use a lot is the toggle midway position. On other guitars, I have never had much use for going half way between pickups, but this is a sweet spot.

When bought, the guitar was set up for extra light strings (0.009" high E). I like to play a little heavier gauge srings (light, 0.010" high E). Direct changeout resulted in slightly off intonation and required fine tuning of the bridge to correct. Once done, the guitar's tune was perfect everywhere on the fretboard.

This guitar will definitely handle live playing. The hardware is a high point on this guitar. Very solid and durable.

Once in tune, you have to be doing some serious bends to knock it out. That being said, it is so easy to get back. I used to play a guitar with a Floyd Rose and a locking nut. While it was virtually impossible to knock out of tune, changing tune was a nightmare.

I don't know if you should ever play a gig without a backup, but there shouldn't be any problems with this guitar.

No dealings with the company.

This is just an amazing guitar. I have been playing for over 10 years and have always wanted a Les Paul, but couldn't afford one and wasn't happy with the the regular Epiphone's. This guitar is so good that I can't wait to get home to pick it up. If you see one, try it and compare to a full Gibson Les Paul. While the jump from a $400 CDN Epiphone regular to a $1800 CDN Epiphone Elite is quite obvious (and worth the $ in my opinion), I couldn't justify the extra $ (basically double) to go the next step to the full Gibson.
Absolutely no regrets about buying this guitar. I also looked at Fender Stratocaster, Ibanez JEM, Pacifica and the Epiphone Elite Les Paul beat them all out hands-down for what I wanted in a guitar.

Typical Les Paul configuration - all the standards. One of the main advertised selling points is USA made pickups - all the same woods as the Gibson model - finish is differant from the Gibson model - differant sealing coat (from what I've read) - comes with Grover tuners (nice)- slim style neck as opposed to the 2x4 necks on the Gibson Standard - real pearl inlays as opposed to the mother-of-toilet seat used on the lower cost Epiphone copies - comes in nice hardshell case.

Have been using a Strat for years and finally got bored and frustrated with that bitey clear sound. Knowing that if you want to sound like a Les Paul you buy one. I play classic rock/blues and some modern stuff - obviously a Strat doesn't get low enough to recreate some of the heavy stuff. This guitar fulfills my needs.

Am playimg thru a Vox Valvetronix 2x12 amp (love it - but's that's another review). So far this guitar satisfies and imitates a gibson LP to the "T".

Very quiet - great neck pick up - great combo sound - haven't fallen in love with the bridge pickup yet - haven't made up my mind yet if it's too mushy in the low end and top end is too brittle (I used to play Pauls years ago and the first thing I did was toss in a Duncan JB pickup for this very reason on the Gibson models)but so far so good.

I was looking for a Les Paul sound that I could afford and this guitar is doing the job great.

Guitar came from the factory set-up great - no buzz anywhere and action was perfect for me - had to adjust the pickup height a little.

Finish and condition of the guitar was immaculate out the case. I was expecting a few flaws but right out of the case I was knocked out.

Have played this guitar for 6 weeks at steady 3 night a week gigging.
Absolutely no complaints. I still bring my Strat along as a backup but haven't and don't foresee any problems. Believe the hype.

Musician's Friend is ok to deal with. Since this guitar came perfect I won't need to deal with them and the warranty is the standard "limited lifetime". Don't think I'll ever need to find out.

Don't know about you but I certainly couldn't afford a Gibson and the lower standard Epiphone Les Pauls are not to my standards. When I read about these and the reviews in magazines I was impressed. I considered a PRS Santana model for less money but after playing one it didn't grab me. I've been playing professionaly over 20 years and have pretty much just played Gibsons and strats. I wish I could afford a real PRS or a reissue LP but I have no regrets about buying this guitar.

Usually the hype about a product is BS - but I gotta give Epiphone their due - this guitar is everything they say it is. Read the review from Guitar Player magazine for a good referance too - they are right on.

If a Gibson is out your money range and you have the jones for a Les Paul - get one of these.