Epiphone Les Paul Black Beauty

This guitar was made in Korea and was put together in 1999. I bought it stock in good condition.

The sound of the stock pickups was adequate, but I use 5E3 amplifiers in stereo and I needed a clean sound that I could run up to distortion without it sounding muddy. I opted for Burstbuckers. I also had my tech install a push-pull switch to allow for a variety of pickup configurations, including "all 3 at once". Since doing that, the guitar is the best sound I have ever heard. I play blues and country and everyone that hears it is breath-taken by the sound.

After a complete setup, I had to learn to play it. It frets easily and I was trying too hard. The action, when set appropriately, will give a buzzless sound that is clean and easy.

This is my last guitar. I am so sold on this setup, with the mods, that nothing can replace it. No reason to spend 5K on a guitar when you can spend $500 for a used one and make it sound like a million!

It has nice gold hardware, although it does wear over time, but I think that just makes it look "lived in". Has three pickups rather than two and it's a neck thru rather than a bolt on - overall the features are pretty standard.

I play anything from Def Leppard through AC/DC, Motorhead, Metallica, Slayer etc. This thing manages any of that stuff no problem. It has a very dirty distorted sound - think Slash - which I absoloutely love. The pickups are pretty high output and I actually much prefer them to the DiMarzio FRED and PAF Joe's I had put in my RR3.
This thing is just so much FUN to play loud!
That said, clean is pretty good too thanks mainly to the middle pup. Neck pup is just a bit too muddy for playing rythms either clean or distorted but it's great for leads.

Don't recall how the thing was setup as I had it done professionally once I got it. Now it's just a joy - the action is SOOO low, the frets are low and this is easy to play fast on. Again, this is much more fun to play than my RR3.
Only thing that's not great - and EPiphones seem to suffer from this - is the electrics. The volume and tone controls are either ON or OFF, you don't get much in between. Not much use, but then for rock and metal you're not really too bothered with this. Still, I did expect more, the Jackson does beat the Epi in that respect. Not only that, but the actual volume and tone pots feel spongy and not very secure. They've lasted me for years without falling off, but I hate touching them just in case.

I've had this for over five years and never had any real problems with it. It's a bit worn as I use it quite a lot, but like I say, it's "lived in" and adds to its character.
Stays in tune all the time, no problems there.

Never had any issues with the guitar.

I have owned a few cheapo guitars, and got this as my first really nice guitar. I've since bought an Epiphone SG, a Jackson RR3 and am waiting delivery of a Jackson SL3.
I will sell the Epi SG and RR3 but I'll keep this no matter what. It's simply a fun guitar to play thanks to the low action and filthy bridge pickup. And if you've seen a photo of a Black Beauty when it's clean you'll know how beautiful these guitars look.
Heavy, sturdy, total rock machine.

Great features, excellent guitar. Didn't love the P/ups so I changed to gold GFS Dream 90's for the mid and neck,, and a gold GFS Hot Liverpool overwound Retrotron Humbucker on the bridge. The neck 90 is reverse wound, so it is like a Humbucker when the mid and neck are both energized. I coil tapped the Retrotron, and installed a toggle to fire it up in any pickup selector position.

I count 8 different sounds now with the coil tap, switch, and pups I installed,,, and all of them are fantastic. The new pickups are very high quality, and the sustain of this guitar is incredible. A perfect match.

I got this guitar from a seller who sold it new, but damaged (frieght). Two cracks on the back of it,, but everything else was great. The finish on this is amazingly thick annd durable looking. I did all my own setup, but it was very easy, and set up perfectly the first time, in a few minutes.

This guitar is like a rock. Heavy, tough and built to last.

Never needed it.

I've been playing and setting up my own guitars for 35 years. I would absolutely replace this if lost or stolen. The guitar will play any style I have tried. It will sing sweetly, or rip your eardrums apart, or anything in between. Whatever you like.
I guess the only guitar that I have had that played and sounded like this was an old 3 pup Airline I had 20 years ago.

This is a Made in Japan Epiphone LP Black Beauty. The features are that of a Gibson LP Black Beauty, Ebony fretboard, MOP inlays on the headstock, solid maple top ect... The othere cool thing about these Epi Japan models are the shape of the headstock, they are the Gibson shape. It seems the difference comes with the electronics of the guitar. Japanese pick ups and cheap pots and switches ect...

The sound of this guitar when I first received it was just OK but then I switched the pups for Gibson 57 classics and changed the pots to CTS 500K pots and now she screams. I A/B'd it with an actual 70's Gibson LP BB and she is dead on. The score for this section is after the MOD. Before I would rank it at a 6

Everything is great! Feels just like a Gibson LP BB. The Epiphone LPs that you can buy here in the states I believe are made in Korea and let me just say that those compared to the Gibson counter part really do not come close. However if you can get one of these MIJ Epis, do it they feel just like Gibsons.

Built like a tank.

Have not needed to use.

For a fraction of the price, and I mean fraction, these MIJ Epi LP are the next best thing to having a Gibson. All one has to do is replace the pups with Gibson ones and replace the pots with CTS. Thanks God for ebay or I would have never been able to puchase one of these. If this were to be lost or stolen I would replace immediately.

This is a very well made guitar from Epiphone. It has all the standard Les Paul features. The extra feature which I like the most is the Middle pickup. The body wood is probably a Mahogany and fret board is made of Rosewood. It has a H/H/H pickups configuration, very cool indeed. It has Grover machine heads and all the hardware is Gold plated. I wish it would have coil tap switches for splitting the humbuckers to get single coil tones.

This guitar has really impressed me due to its remarkable sound quality. I found its sound so warm, full, rich and it really growls wonderfully. It completely fulfills all my music styles requirements. I use Fender FM212R, Yamaha G50 112 III and Yamaha JX50 guitar combo amps. The middle pickups sounds so sweet especially in Clean sound setting and if you add a chorus then it will blow your mind instantly. It is not noisey atall and if you add a overdirve with it while using the bridge pickup then it really comes to its own and you will hear it screaming, crying and singing wonderfully. However I found its bridge pickup not that bright though it has a good midrange but I rather wish it would have a more bite and brightness. Nevertheless, I must say that it is still an amazing guitar as far as sound qualtiy is concerned. I like its heavy weight construction which gives it a more powerful/warm/rich sound and sustain. I like its beautifull carved top for extremely comfortable playing. I somewhat dislike its fat, thick neck, I wish it would have a Fast Low-profile neck. I totally dislike its high sharped edged bridge saddles which tends to hurt your palm during strings muting technique.

I found the guitar set-up at the factory very satisfactory. However I found the action a little higher for my personal taste so I got it adjusted according to my need. The overall action is fast and very comfortable. The pickups adjustment is again very well set at the factory. I have noticed a few flaws in this guitar when I checked it thoroughly after openning its box, 1) Observed a slight pin-point paint chipping off near the neck-body joint area. 2) Observed a fading of Gold plating from tail-piece after few months of use and some stains were also appeared on it as well as on the machine heads which seem permanent. 3)The fret board rosewood is not A-class wood, I observed wide grains on wood surface. 4) There is a small pin-point dent on the body of guitar near toggle switch. 5) Observed insulation melting for one of the wires inside the pots cavity. In the end I must say that the overall finish is great and these flaws have no effect on its superb sound qaulity.

This is a very solid guitar and I have a full faith that this will withstand the live sitautions very well. The hardware is impressive but I am not saitisfied with the durablility of Gold-plating as mine one has developed fading and stains after only a few months of use. I am quite satisfied with the body paint or coating and I found it tough and durable. Yes strap buttons are very solid. I used it in live show without a backup.

I live in Pakistan. Once I contacted Epiphone customers relation department in US on email for seeking help but they never replied to my queries while on the other hand I contacted their China customers relation department from Pakistan and they guided me but not offered any help directly.

I live in Pakistan and playing guitar for the last 27 years. I have lot of gears including Yamaha AES620, Yamaha Pacifica 412V, Yamaha Studio Lord SL400S copy of Les Paul 1980 electric guitars, Ovation CS257 electric acoustic guitar, Fender D6 12-string guitar, Yamaha FG470S. Fender FM212R, Yamaha G50 112 III, Yamaha JX50, Behringer ultra acoustic ACX900 all are guitar combo amps. Got lot of Boss effect pedals and few from Ibanez, MXR, Danelectro and Zoom. One Seymour Duncan Woody pickup.

I replaced the stock pickups with 3 duncan performer pickups. Scorching, blistering solos, and rich clean sounds.

Great action. Of course, had to set it up, because it wasnt 'road-ready'.
Finish is glossy, and shiney. Can stay that way if cleaned properly and often.

I believe this guitar (with some component upgrades...ie..pickups, hardware, maybe electronics... will be very reliable. I use it now as my main guitar. I had previously owned a Gibson BlackBeauty that had been stolen. Strap buttons seem reliable enough.

I am currently seeking information on putting the black chrome hardware on it. Black Beauty Gothic?... hmmm... replace the gold tuners and bridge and tailpiece with gothic black chrome. Cant seem to find info.

Been playing for 35 years. I also own a strat. I really like the tone of the BlackBeauty in the middle pickup position. Very mellow, but has a rough edge if applied harshly.

right, this sexy getar has 3 alnico pickups, one of the main features on this guitar, nice glossy black finish with aged binding.it has some nice grover tuners and a tune o matic bridge, all in sexy gold harware, its the standard les paul shape,
Guitar number:U05013126
There are two seperate tine controls and two volume controls the volume controll for the rythem pickum controlling the middle pickup also.it has a nice fat neck,
a nice standard guitar...i love it!

this guitar has a nice rich warm sound when running on sclean and ont he rythem pickups.the sound is still fat on lead aswell, the middle pickum makes little difference, wich is a dissapointment,
i play lots of metallica(badly) espetialy the clean sonfs like nothing else matters, and the unforgiven. im running through a vantage 15 watt amp and zoom g2 pedal, sometimes the guv'nor 2 marshal overdrive pedal also. at the momoent im finging it hard to get a nice metallica sound using these but its not the guitars fault. its my amaturness'. i love the sound although with my set up it can be very frustrating.

i was annoyed with the pickups being lose on transport but everything else was cool, flawless finish

hardware has nearly gone, i have had it since xmas 05 last december,i fitted schaller straplocks to it and they both worked loose so i dowelled up them and then they were fine, i will gig with it when people start to take my music seriously:(, wouldnt need backup with this beast

no comment but a 10 cus the guitars good

been playing for almost a year, i wouldnt buy it again cus i wouldnt be able to afford it again but if i could i would,
i hate my set up i need a good amp with a nice tone, i got it 100# cheaper than at my local music shop tho.
If u have any information about getting a nice metal distiortion contact my email

2005 model. Read other reviews for info.

I play Led Zeppelin, Nirvana and Red Hot Chili Peppers and it suits all of these styles. I play with a marshall MG100DFX and it sounds great. This guitar has a huge variety of sounds from soft and melodic to a loud and sharp sound. Effects also sound great. I love a chorus/delay rythym solo. I ussually keep all the knobs fully up too get a loud rich tone and sound.

The only fault when I got the guitar were some unequal frets but that only took a day at the shop to fix. Everything else ws fine from the start.

One flaw was the strap buttons, while I was playing the strap fell off one of the buttons and the cord wedged into the plastic jack. I gave it back to the shop and I got the jack in replaced by a gold metal piece. After that I bought a pair of safety strap buttons so the strap can't fall off.

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This guitar is fuckin' awsome and the sound is amazing throuh my amp. I play in a band and it doesn't screw up at a high volume and it looks like a great piece of art. I'm very happy with my purchase!

97 Black Beauty, 3 pickups 22 frets, gold hardware, grover tuners, mahogany body, top and neck, black laminated finnish and lp style obviously.

my style is only hard rock classic rock and blues and this guitar is excellent for thrashing out sum of those riffs. it can be used for blues perfectly 2. im using an Alesis WildFire 15 amplifier it's small (considering im new having played 4 only a year an a half) but it has 70 effects built in. this guitar sounds awesome on the amp especially with a CryBaby pedal. the stock pup's r wat u would expect but they still pack a punch. the middle pup only slightly changes the sound but still makes difference i supose.

the action was excellent. it was set up very gd by my korean pals :p. i put the middle pup down slightly cos it got in the way now and again. i heard that the gold hardware starts 2 fade after a while but i dun care. i also heard that the input jack goes loose, but thats wer a tighten up comes in ;). but the black finnish relly encoureges u cos it lookes so LUSH!!!!

i would definetly play this live, it owuld stand out on stage 2. the hardware should last me through the years.the finnish is thick as shit so it'll take a battering for this 2 get mearly touched. the strap butons seem ok but in a few days i'll end up geting strap locks cos my other guitars come out of the strap and hit me in the head wen held vertical like slash ;p thats why i can never trust em. u can relly rely on this guitar the strings havent snapped yet neither ;). i will never gig without a backup, u never know wat could hapen ;p

it's under a lifetime warrenty (excellent) as long as i dun change anything.

iv'e only been playing for 1 and a half years and im not even scratching the surface of being good. i own an american strat, 52 tele and this of course and it is the best of the 3. if it wer stolen i would personally beat the person who stole it, i would by it again but i would look for 1 wih a bigsby on it. i love the fact that it has come right out of the gibson factory, wen u think about it coming out of the worlds greatest guitar factory it gives u a warm, glowing, warming glow inside. (haha off the simpsons ... mmmmmmm gisbson) ;p. i compared this 2 my strat and tele and this 1 came out on top. is only it had jimmy pages signature.

97 Black Beauty, 3 pickups with Bigsby. Either Gotoh or Grover tuners, gold hardware

The bridge pickup is kind of weak, and the middle pickup doesn't change the sound much as-is, but I'm planning on getting it rewired with a push-pull pot for more sounds.

The neck pickup sounds great though!

I got it used and it buzzes on the bottom two strings from the 1st to the 2nd fret. There's some fret wear visible, so maybe that's why.

The action is nice and low - maybe too low?

weighs a ton, appears solidly built. I got a hard case with it and take good care of it, so it should be fine.

the gold plating on the pickups has started to wear off, but that's to be expected with any BB that's actually been played.

never dealt with the company, but the people on the epiphone forum are friendly and helpful

this is my main guitar - i got it because Jimmy Page did all his session work with an original Gibson BB, and he knows more than I do.

I'm planning on replacing the pickups and doing the wiring mod from above but other than that there's not much I'd change on it.