Epiphone Les Paul Classic Quilt Top

Not exactly sure what year it was made, neither did the original owner! Approximately 2000? This is a "Limited Edition" model, as per the sticker on the back of the headstock. Bought guitar used, but in Excellent+ condition. Beautiful Tobacco Sunburst over quilted maple top. Serial number is U02030909. Standard L.P. set-up as far as pick-ups, controls, switch. This guitar is a factory 2nd, and I almost didn't buy it, since I wasn't told about that fact up front. Truss Rod Cover says GIBSON. Has the open coil humbuckers. Has the Tulip type Kluson Tuners. Body and neck binding. It's a Les Paul and that's what I wanted. Came with an Epiphone Hardshell case and installed Straplocks.

Play in a 4 piece band. Play covers of Classic Rock, Southern Rock and Classic and Top 40 Country. I play thru a Traynor YCV40 1x12 combo with an add'l. Traynor 1x12 Ext. Cab. Use an Ernie Ball Volume Pedal and a Boss Chorus Pedal. No noise at all from the guitar or the amp. I normally play Tele style guitars, but wanted to try another Les Paul (have owned many Gibson and Epiphone L.P.'s over the years). This guitar has such an awesome tone, it may become my #1 stage guitar, over my G&L ASAT Classic Premium or my Fender Std. and Nashville Tele's! Very nice clean tones from both pick-ups and some of the most awesome crunch and lead tones with distortion settings! I only change out pick-ups on a guitar if the stock ones don't "measure up". No need to change these out! Couldn't ask for a better L.P. sound!

Bought used. Always set my own guitars up to my specs. Action is superb! Neck and frets are great! Pick-ups were already adjusted perfectly. The top is BEAUTIFUL!! Finish on rest of the body and neck is top notch. Don't know why this would have been marked as a factory 2nd? Except for the normal play wear you can expect, guitar is just outstanding! Maybe this guitar was professionally set-up previously, I don't know, but it is a wonderful instrument for an import. As good quality wise as the last 2 Gibson Les Pauls that I purchased from a dealer!

I gig all the time without back-ups! If you feel you need a back-up, then you don't have much faith in your equipment! Until I started reading reviews on this site, I never even thought of taking a back-up of anything! I know all my gear inside and out. If I don't feel like I can make it thru a gig with a piece of gear, I don't take it! Hardware and Finish are top notch. Strap buttons were already replaced by previous owner to straplocks. I wouldn't keep it if I couldn't depend on it!!

Never had to deal with them. Bought used and make my own adjustments and set-ups. Anything that I can't handle, I take to one of my long time dealers.

I don't doubt that some guitars need to have pick-ups, tuners, electronics and hardware changed out after purchase. I don't do this on a regular basis, only if the items REALLY don't "measure up". I don't see the need to replace anything on this guitar right now. If, in the future, something wears out or breaks, it will be replaced accordingly.
I have been a gigging musician for 35+ years and have owned so many guitars, I don't even want to think about it! I don't do the "vintage" thing anymore. I have owned more guitars at one time than some of the dealers that I have dealt with over the years!
I almost didn't buy this guitar, when I found out it was a factory 2nd. I'm so glad that I did buy it and now have a very enjoyable guitar to play and admire!

Made in 2005.Bought this guitar new,made in Korea.22 frets,transparent black quilted top(really nice!).

I must say for "stock" Epi pickups,these sound really good,no need for replacements.I usaully replace the pickups in all the guitars i've owned with Seymour Duncans,but these pickups have enough bite and clarity,distortion for my taste.On my Korg amp modeler w/home stereo reciever as an amp,they sound the same as my Jackson with emg 81's,so i think i'll leave them in.No mods needed here.

I must say for a $500 guitar made in Korea,this guitar is exceptionaly put together very well.Being a former owner of a Gibson les Paul flametop,The fretwork on this Epi i would say ,far exceeded in quality,fit and finish.One major plus i noticed over the older Epi les paul classics,is that the new Les Pauls have the 'Closed"crome tuners,as opposed to the open style pearl tuners.These tuners are "grover" style and work very well(no need for upgrade here).The quilted maple top is exceptionable!Over all the guitar is a definate "Bang for the buck"guitar!It also weigh's considerably less than my Gibson counter-part,and is much easier to play(my opinion)There is how-ever just one flaw that got my attention,was the binding on the top of the body by the input jack,it looks as though the binding was cut a little short(1/16th of an inch),other than that,nothing else has caught my eye.Of course i knew this before i bought the guitar.There were 3 exact models avaliable in the store,and i just had to have the best-lookin'quilt top,and one tiny flaw wasn't gonna make me pass it up.

I have been playing for about 20 years on and off.Ive had at least 15 or so guitars in that time.This guitar is a definate "value",compared to a Gibson,I'd buy another EPI,before i'd buy a Gibson.I'm not one who pays xxxamount for a name.My Gibson had more flaws for 3 times the money i payed for it.

Everyone knows the Les Paul features. Mine is a 2003 model, I bought it brand new. Made in Korea. Mahogany body, maple neck, and a beautiful red quilted top that I always get compliments on. Did not come with a case.

Stock pickups and factory electronics are passable. When I had the pickup switch, pots, jack, and wiring replaced, the guitar sounds Absolutely Awesome and has more of a definitive Les Paul sound. This is where Epiphone really skimps on things- the electronics. I was planning on replacing the stock pickups, but with the new components, the pickups sound excellent. The replacements were CTC pots and Switchcraft jack and switch. The guitar sounds more Gibsonlike than before.

To those who choose/own an Epiphone Les Paul, I can not reccommend this modification enough. The woods used are fine. The pickups are great. Its the crappy electronics that set this great guitar back a peg. The 10 rating in this category is after the electronics change, before that I'd give it a 7-8

Action is great, as with any guitar, it has to be set up with your preferences. Flaws- the Treble/Rhythm plate was turned slightly, and the neck pickup ring is pushed in slightly by the neck. Grover tuners are excellent- I never have tuning problems with this guitar.

Excellent Les Paul, but needs wiring, pots, and switch replacements to be truely great.

2004 year model, Indonesian made, 2 piece solid maple quilt top, mahogany body & neck. Very attractive tobacco sunburst finish accents the quilted maple cap. Typical Les Paul pickup control layout - 2 vol., 2 tone pots, 3 way switch, etc. Neck is on the slim side, same feel as my Ibanez Artist, very comfortable to play. Came with modern style Grover tuners but my son had me install Grovers that are replicas of the old Kluson tulip-knob tuners that came on the 50's era Gibsons. Nicely compliments the guitar's appearance. No case or gig bag included, though at the price, there really should be a good quality gig bag at the very least.

It's got that rich, meaty Les Paul sound - loud as hell with great sustain. Every note is pronounced, even with effects added. Through my Fender Super Reverb amp, it's blues deluxe. Add tube overdrive and you can see why all the blues greats from the 60's loved this guitar. All the electronics, pickups, etc., work and sound perfect. Even though it's my son's guitar, I play it a lot. It's even got a wonderful, resonant sound unplugged.

The action was a bit too low out of the box, but adjusted easily enough. No flaws anywhere that I could find. The finish is gorgeous, although I thought the very dark cherry stain on the neck and back should be a little lighter to show off the mahogany grain, but that's a minor thing really.

Everything about the guitar looks and feels solid as a rock. Good quality all around. I have no doubt to it's reliability or durability. It's a well-built, professional instrument.

Warranty is limited lifetime. Haven't dealt with customer support, so I can't say one way or the other.

My son ordered this over the web, something I would never do. I prefer to try a guitar in person at a music store so I know exactly what I'm getting but I've got to admit, he got a real winner in this guitar. I wish I'd bought it myself. Once you pick it up, it's hard to put down. I've been playing for over 40 years and I've played some wonderful Les Pauls, old and new, in that time. I can honestly say the only difference I can see between this guitar and a Gibson Les Paul is the name on the headstock - that's all.

2005 butterstoch quilt maple top made in Korea LP Classic, 2 open hummys, no pickguard, the rest you know

With the Gibson designed open hummys the sound of this guitar is very near my LP Standard with SD 59's. Not quite as good, a sound of its own ofcourse, but they have the sound expected of good humbucker PUs - growl, articulate when using distortion, smmoth when clean. The PUs on the Classic are MUCH better than on the Epi LP Standard.

I purchased this guitar used. The finish is perfect, nothing stands out as an imperfection. The quilting on the maple top is beautiful along with the butterscotch color, though it would not be my first choice in color. Action is quite low with no fret buzz. Body is heavy enough which makes me think it is mostly mahogney. Looking at the back it looks to be 1 piece or at least very carefully matched with other pieces.

Solid and on the heavy side I think this thing will hold up, strap buttons are suspect, easy enough to change

haven't dealt with them

If you are looking for an EPi LP get this one. MUCH better build quality than the LP Standard. The standard comes with an alder body with maple top. The electronics even seem better on this one, I had to replace the electronics on my Epi LP Standard. And this guitar new is $100 LESS than the LP standard!

2005 TRANSPARENT AMBER MADE IN KOREA.QUILT TOP MATCHED UP TO NEAR PERFECTION.SEEN TOP END AND CUSTOMS THAT AINT MATCHED SO WELL.ALMOST LOOKS LIKE ONE SOLID PIECE.22 FRETS MEDIUM DARK ROSEWOOD AND SOLID ONE PIECE MAHOG BACK-CANT FIND A SEAM ANYWHERE.OPEN COILS THAT HAVE ENOUGH MEAT AND CLARITY TO COVER ANYTHING I NEED FROM CRYSTAL CLEAN TO ALL OUT THRASH.

THIS THING IS A PANDARA'S BOX OF TONE!!!! I HAVE MANY STOMP DISTORTION BOXES TO SATISFY MY URGES-PROCO RAT I GOT IN 1985, AMERICAN METAL,METAL ZONE, RAMPAGE JUST TO NAME A FEW.ROLL OFF THE VOLUME ON EVEN THE METAL ZONE WITH THE NECK PICKUP AND ITS A BLUES TONE WITH JUST A LITTLE RASP TO IT. FLIP TO A WIDE OPEN BRIDGE AND YOUR CHUNKIN SOME HEAVY THICK METAL INSANITY.PLAY THIS AXE UNPLUGGED AND YOU CAN FEEL THE WOOD ON THIS BABY TALKING TO YOU-VERY RESONANT AND LOUD PLAYED ACOUSTICALLY.

DECENT FACTORY SETUP BUT I'M A HABITUAL TINKERER. ILL SOON GET MY OWN SETUP ON THIS ONE AND IM SURE ILL GET THE LOW ACTION I LIKE. BINDING IS SMOOTH UP AND DOWN THE NECK AND AROUND THE BODY AS WELL. TUNERS ARE ADEQUATE AND I CANT SEEM TO GET IT TO GO OUT OF TUNE NO MATTER HOW LONG OR HARD I PLAY IT. IVE ALWAYS OWNED FLOYD ROSE AXES AND HAVING A NON LOCKING SETUP ALWAYS SEEMED TO KEEP ME AWAY FROM AXES LIKE THIS.THIS GUITAR IS AN EXTREMELY WELL BUILT TOOL AND I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE ITS AN IMPORT.IVE PLAYED GIBSON PAULS AND THEY ARE ONLY SLIGHTLY BETTER FOR A WHOLE LOT MORE CASH.

IM A HOME PLAYER NOT A WEEKEND WARRIOR.THE ONLY CONCERN I HAD WAS THE STRAP BUTTONS(JUST LIKE ON EVERY OTHER GUITAR I OWN)MY FIX IS TO DRILL OUT THE SCEW HOLES AND PUT IN TIGHT FITTING DRYWALL BUTTERFLIES(THE LITTLE PLASTIC ONES) . I THEN INSTALL DUNLOP STRAP LOCKS -THE SCREWS SPREAD THE SOFT PLASTIC EXTEMELY TIGHT.I HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM ON ANY GUITAR IVE DONE THIS TO AS FAR AS THE BUTTONS POPPING OFF.AS FAR AS I CAN TELL THE POTS AND SWITCH ARE GOOD QUALITY-NO NOISE TO SPEAK OF.OF THE GUITARS I OWN THIS ONE IS BY FAR THE BEST BUILT.MY ESP M302 IS GOOD BUT NOT WITHOUT ITS PROBLEMS-NOISY SWITCH AND POOR QUALITY POTS- WHICH ARE CURABLE WHEN I GET PROPERLY MOTIVATED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEMS.IVE ALSO GOT AN IBANEZ RG320 WHICH ICNT IN THE SANE LEAGUE WITH THE OTHER TWO.

LIFETIME WARRANTY AGAINST POOR MATERIALS AND WORKMANSHIP. WHAT MORE COULD YOU WANT ESPECIALLY FROM A GUITAR THAT WAS LESS THAN 600 CLAMS.

IVE BEEN PLAYING ON AND OFF FOR AROUND 20 YEARS AND HAVE PLAYED MANY GUITARS FROM HUNDRED DOLLAR SQUIERS TO PRS AND ALL KINDS OF CUSTOMS AND FRANKENSTEINS.DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR THIS EPI PAUL IS BY FAR THE BEST VALUE FOR FIT AND FINISH ,LOOKS ,AND ABOVE ALL ELSE-TONE.EVERY INSTRUMENT HAS ITS OWN PERSONALITY AND IT COMES DOWN TO WHAT A PLAYER LIKES.MONEY DONT MEAN NOTHING IF YOUR GUITAR DOESNT SOUND AND PLAY THE WAY YOU LIKE IT.END OF STORY.

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A SERIOUSLY NICE GUITAR FOR NOT MUCH CASH THIS IS ONE TO LOOK INTO. BUT TRY AS MANY AS YOU CAN BEFORE YOU DROP THE CASH. IT TOOK ME ALMOST TWO YEARS OF TRYING OUT THESE GUITARS TILL I FOUND THIS ONE AND IM GLAD I WAITED.

Mine is a 2004 made in Korea. 22 frets, solid top, 3-way with 2 volume and 2 tone tophats, stock passive humbuckers, tune-o-matic body, Grover tuners. Much higher quality than same priced LP Standard.

I play classic rock, country, and worship. It has a full, rich sound, especially from the neck pickup. Not at all noisy. I am going to change the pickups to overwound 4-lead pickups to better match my style and allow me more configuration options, but the stock pups are not bad.

It was setup quite well out of the box. After about nine months I adjusted to pickups to get a sound I was happier with (my personal taste, not because of problems!) Action was dead-on for me. Selector switch cap broke, but that's minor.

I've been playing it in Church every week, and some gigs without a backup. It still has no scarring or buckle rash. It is solid mahogany.

I called their customer support for questions, and they were extremely helpful. I haven't had a need for any repairs yet, so I can't really say how that would go.

I'm running this axe through a Behringer GX210 amp and a Korg Toneworks AX1500G processor. I also have a modified Ibanez that I use mostly for power rhythm. My LP is perfect for lead and rhythm. I have played other people's Gibson LP's and found it to be similar quality as their studio or standard models that cost 3 to four times as much.

Made in 2005 in Korea. Didn't count the frets, I'm not worried that. The top is made of quilted maple, which is a little softer than standard maple, and way softer than bird's eye maple. The top is also a lot thinner on an Epi than Gibson. The color is gorgeous black/ dark grey with black burst on the edges. The body is Mahogany, there might be some alder in there as well according to Musician's friend, not sure why Epiphone would use three types of wood in the body. The neck is mahogany and fretboard is dark rosewood with pearl inlays, very nice touch. Tuners are stock made in Chine crap. Pickups are alnico humbuckers. No case, gig bag, not even a freakin box. Deduct 2 points here.

I use this for mellow stuff like jazz and clean stuff. Beefy sounding neck pup, but horrible sounding bridge, way too thin for an LP. I already have replacement Pups, Seymour Duncan Custom 5 in bridge ASAP.
It sounds awful with distortion. I use a Marshall tube amp, no, not an AVT, but rather a JTM 45, bluesbreaker. It is quiet, but the God-awful bridge pup is useless to me, so I use s strat for lead anyway.
I give it a 10 for neck pup and only a 6 for the neck, only becuase it makes the neck a tad brighter in the middle position. Average score = 8 + 1 for sound of both pups on at once.

Action was set up way too high from factory. I lowered it by 1/8" and it still has no buzz! Amazing for an Asian guitar. I removed the Treble/Rythem sticker, it looked so stupid, being cream color. As if I don't know which pup I'm using. I replaced the switch and placed it sideways, so it now points in the direction of the pup. Why hasn't Gibson/Epiphone thought of this? I removed the God-awful pickguard, let's just say it never existed. I replaced the God-awful cream colored pickup holders with black ones. What was Epiphone thinking when they put gold knobs on a black and chrome guitar? Are they that stupid? huh?

I think it hold up.

I have never contacted them, but Gibson support is flawless. I wish that other big American Musical Instruments company in California would be more like them. I had my LP (not this one) repaired and set up by them (Gibson), did a great job, also sent me free switch. I have owned 5 Epi's and 3 LP's. Quality is always an issue with Gibson.

Been playing many jears. Don't waste your money on Gibson. Some guy picked mine up by accident, thinking it was his Gibson $2500 LP, but it was my Quilt-top! I listed all the things I hate; gold knobs, cream-colored plastic parts, no case, crappy bridge pup, faulty switch, thin sound for such a heavy guitar. But i love the neck pup, which is what I use 70% of the time, both pups 20%, bridge maybe 10%. I planned on buying a PRS Billy Carter guitar, but it looked stupid with the green bats or beer cans, whatever it was on neck. I also played several Epiphone LPs and SGs all under $500.00. I liked the Scheckster flametop, but wasn't sure, so I picked this stunning LP and am glad I did. Amzingly enuf, it sounded a lot better when I got it home than in the store, and I was using a Marshall Plexi Reissue. Go Figure!! That has never happened before. I usually get home and think , "why did I buy this?

2005 Les Paul Classic Quilt Top. Made in China. Mahogany body with Cherry Red Quilt Top. Epiphone--but Gibson Designed--humbuckers, Tune-O-Matic Bridge, Grover tuners, 22 frets, wonderful neck and beautiful cherry finish!

The sound is fantastic! I tried a $1,800 Gibson Les Paul Classic before buying this and I could hear no difference between the two! The bridge pickup growls and the neck pickup is warm and full sounding. After I had the guitar professionally setup (which every guitar should be set up correctly) it just sounds great!

The guitar needed a professional setup--which isn't unusual--they all do! The neck pickup needed to be raised slightly and the bridge pickup lowered. The workmanship on the guitar is incredible for the price range. I had the switch replaced with a Gibson one, the jack replaced and all the pots. This cost about $75.00 dollars--plus $75.00 for a proper setup--but it is worth it! You get the quality of a Gibson Les Paul at one third the price! A professional guitar builder I know says these are excellent guitars once you replace the
switch, jack and pots---and have it properly setup. I would give the guitar about a 7 before having the work done---and a 9 after!

This is a well built guitar except for a few things that I wanted to upgrade right away. I had the strap buttons super glued and re-enforced. Strap buttons on mahogony guitars are nortorious for coming loose--now they won't! The finish on this guitar--and all the neck and fret work--is as well done (or better!) as the new Gibsons I've seen.

I've always had good luck with Epiphone. I don't anticipate any
problems. I chose to have some hardware upgraded right away---it
wasn't causing me any problems--I just wanted it upgraded to Gibson standards.

I've been playing for over 15 years. I own two other electrics plus a Takamine acoustic guitar. I love this guitar! I highly reccomend it! Do yourself a favor--and buy one of these--spend an addtional $150.00 dollars and upgrade the switch, jack and pots--have it properly setup--and you'll have a guitar that is 95% of a Gibson Les Paul at one-third the price! You won't ever need to upgrade the pickups--they're that good! If you don't do the upgrading you will have a good guitar---with the upgrading--there's nothing under $1,500 dollars that is any better.

I bought this used. Everything is stock with a trans- black finish. Control scheme is identical to a Gibson LP.

I play metal mostly and this guitar fits the bill just fine. The pick ups are surprisingly quiet for stock Epiphone pick ups.

Action is nice after I adjusted the bridge and truss rod. The finish is great on this. I notice there is a lot of variance on the trans- black models: some, like mine, are very dark and others I've seen almost look gray! I guess it depends on which batch they made.

I blind tested this with a Gibson LP and noticed virtually no difference to my ears or fingers.

I've played for over 25 years and have owned/own 8 guitars. I've always liked LPs but couldn't afford one. I'm pleased with this one. That being said, I will add new black hardware, clear knobs, and locking tuners to fully customize this, as it will be my final guitar purchase. Pick ups and fret upgrade are possible in the future.