Signature STR-1 HB Les Paul Copy

This a Les Paul style guitar made in Japan (Fuji gen) i think, Its got a standard gibson scale length with Gotoh hardware. The body looks like a 2 piece mahogany with a 2 piece mapel top. I have had the pickups out and the is a long tenon set neck on it.

I got this guitar of E bay and was expecting to have to upgrade the pups but after playing it for a week i am blown away by the tone this thing produces. I play through a fairly simple setup consisting of a superchamp xd and a Voxac4tv with no pedals and this guitar just sounds so sweet and for the first time my playing is starting to improve because i just do not want to stop. It has the sound i have been looking for for years and it only cost me ??330.00 BARGAIN

This guitar was perfect in every aspect of playability it has a low action but not so low that it strangles chords any one who has got one of these will know what i mean its just so easy to play. The build of the guitar is superb

I only really use this guitar for home use so it does not get a hard time but i feel sure that if you useit to gig with it would be up to the job as well as any other quality guitar.

Not made any more and it is second hand so can not really comment

Best guitar i have ever owned barr none just makes you want to play. If it were lost or stolen i would look for another one but they are very scarce so i will gaurd it well. Brilliant guitar,nuff said.

has all the features of a les paul all thats needed!mine is the custom version,gold hardware,grover tuners the best kind!came with standard pick ups were more than adequate but wanted pick ups with more bite so upgraded with gibson burstbuckers,made in japan but as far as i know not being made anymore.has all the features u need and none that u dont so a 9.

using a peavey 212 special,boss wah and delay,suits my sound great original pick ups were not bad had a unique sound but lacked same kick as the burstbuckers pick ups that it has now,it has a serious bite and crunch on bridge pick up and a thick bluesy super sustainin sound on the neck pick up.i like this sound and id take this guitar to battle against a gibson anyday,a standard gibson anyway as ive had 2 of them.

heres where this guitar won me over and anyone who has one 100% knows what im talkin about,one of the lowest actions ive ever seen and a fret board thats effortless to play this is where in my opinion it beats the standard gibson quality hands down,the overall quality of this guitar is in a class of its own,i gave up 2 gibson les pauls and everytime i play this ive no regrets.this was ready to play from factory!!

have my one a year now and its still rocking,bit of tarnish on stoptail bridge other than that its healthy no body finish wear yet,hav gigged this guitar for 6 and 7 song short gigs but id be happy to vibrato tremolo and string bend this guitar all night!

not a chance of finding who made these!i suppose u could use gibson parts except for the bridge poles that are drilled into guitar as these are a different diametre but any other parts should be ok wiring pick ups bridge nut tuners etc.

been playing on and off 6-7 years,own a parkwood 360 acoustic and a fender 56 relic.if it was stolen i would try get another but there is so few left might be a problem,i think these guitars could be in the hundreds. if u want a quality guitar this is it if u want to buy a for name buy a gibson.thanx to the makers of this guitar who made my enjoyment for playin guitar even more so!

This is a sort of follow-up review to the previous review since the guy did actually sell the guitar to me on ebay. It is a japanese-made Les Paul Custom copy, white with gold hardware and extra binding as on a Gibson Custom. It is, as the preview guy says, a very high quality guitar and I bought it because I already had 'Standard' Signature Les Paul. These are cheap because they are a well-kept secret! The action is fantastic and the hardware good. Grover tuners on this one, and ther rest is Gotoh. These are reputed to be made in the Fugigen Gakki factory where Epiphone Elitist are made, and the old Orvilles.

I have replaced the Gibson Burstbucker and Hot Slag the last guy fitted with a pair of Kent Armstrong P90s in humbucker cases. They are great and sound like a pre-'57 Les Paul. The tone is wonderful, the sustain goes on like in Spinal Tap, and the depth and complexity of the sound equal to or better than most Gibson Les Pauls, in my opinion.

The action is low and the strings (10s) very responsive. As the previous review says this guitar was attacked by someone majorly but the function not affected. I replaced the bridge with a new Gotoh gold one as the saddles on the old one were strangely worn, even though the guitar cannot be old. The neck-to-body laquer joint has a hairline crack but that may be because of slight differential movement. This is a very solid guitar.

Given the damage it has already sustained, plus it falling over once while I've had it, I think it will outlast me.

Nothing seems to be known about the Signature brand for sure though there are 'stories' to be read here and there. But no after-sales..

Been playing 42 years, but only 2 on electrics. I already had one Signature STR-1 HB Les Paul Copy and wanted another. I'm not disappointed, and grateful to the previous reviewer for kindly passing it on.

Not sure of the year but but Japanese made 22 frets twin gold humbuckers and goto tuners. Unsure of the woods thicker neck than my 60s Gibson Les Paul and much higher quality than any other copies ive seen

I love Les Pauls and i also own a Gibson Les Paul Classic. First up bin the pickups their crap. Well for me their to muffled and vintage in tone. Ive put an iron bridge hot slag on the bridge and a Gibson Burstbucker on the neck now its been transformed. This guitar is unbelievable. The sustain is absolutely awsome. Its better than my Gibson by far and is my first choice for gigs now. Only rating 8 as the original pickups are pants

I had the guitar supposedly reliced off e-bay. I suspect more of an angry wife or girlfriend as the guitar has been hacked with a knife on its top edge and damaged the binding also. Anyway that aside this thing has been put together really well. Great attention to detail and a very high quality finish. Everything was working perfectly when i got it.

I use this for gigs all the time now over my Gibson. Its built like a tank. Just keep the switch cleaned regularly with contact cleaner and you will have no probs at all

Cant say as i hadnt even heard of this brand till i bought it. Cant find any info at all about the guitars

Been playing for 10yrs and im in a covers band. I use a Marshall amp and a selection of Marshall pedals plus a Holy Grail reverb pedal and a Behringer wah. It performs well clean or distorted whether just used through amp or driven by pedals. Its miles better than any Epiphone ive ever seen or played and definately better than some Gibsons. My only complaint is the neck is a bit chunky. Well its thicker than my classic and that is my only complaint appart from the standard pickups if you can call that a complaint. If it got stolen i would love to buy another but you just cant find them anywhere so im going to hang on to mine. So you can stop looking on e-bay im not selling my prize guitar

This is just to add to the comments already made about these excellent MIJ guitars - I don't have one! There's one for sale locally at ??575, which is too rich for my blood right now, but they are exquisitely made and from the highest quality fittings. The electrics are undoubtedly Gotoh.

if you like to tinker, then by all means replace as per your personal preference but what's fitted will suit most uses for most people! & if you leave as 'original' it might be worth more in the long run...

The action is near perfection - the frets are smooth, the trapezoid inlays very high quality and the indian rosewood fretboard a joy to play. I judge it would keep its set up without much interference. The Tech guy I spoke to was blown away by the quality - never seen anything like it even on some original Gibson LPs!

The 'salesman' in the shop said he has professional muso customers who gig these as their Gibson LPs are just too precious to take out, these days. So that speaks for itself. All the finish on every aspect is very high quality & extremely durable.

This, as others have said, is the low point. It's hard to find any admission of the manufacture of these beasts. But - in the unlikely event - replacement parts were needed standard Gibson or OEM would do the trick, I'm sure.

These are going to become very rare instruments - I'm given to understand that they are made by Fujigen Gakki - one of the top instrument makers in japan & when we're talking quality here its the very top - in the world. Like Gibson they started making violins, so they know how to make the arched top.

If you're Japanese is good try http://www.fujigen.co.jp/ (the pics are good anyway)
& in english details of a factory tour from this German website - www.daeschler.com/articles/fujigen/

but here's the deal: Gibson have now contracted with the company to make the Epiphone Elite range & the core to that was they had to STOP making the Signature range. So my advice is if you see one - grab it; they can only increase in value.

Dark Honey/Tobacco Burst plain top finish high quality Les Paul clone. Gotoh hardware throughout, 22 fret close grain rosewood board, medium jumbo frets w/block inlays and capable of a very low action. See other reviews - I've got one of the last ones in the UK in this colour. 8 for features but this is a Les Paul!
The neck profile is slimmer than my Tokai so closer to the Gibson 60's profile than "rounded 50's"
These were made in the "Terada" factory in Japan, where a lot of other high end copies have been made.

Sounds great with stock Gotoh pickups - replaced with Gibson 498/490 pair and it's perfect. Usual Les Paul sounds

One piece dark Honey/Tobacco burst plain maple top, two piece mahogany back. Mahogany neck with small wings grafted on (same as a Gibson headstock) although headstock shape is different. Finishing excellent and the poly finish is much tougher than Nitro. Binding extended to cover maple cap in the cutaway but the fret ends are not bound. Not sure if it has a long tenon neck joint, will look at the next string change in one of the pickup routs. Setup excellent from the box, intonation spot on and very low action. As others have said, benefits from moving up a gauge to 10-46 strings.

I love it!

Used lots already, it's a real players guitar, who cares that it's not made by Gibson. Gotoh hardware speaks for itself and the Gibson pickups make it perfect.

I love this LP - I've had Tokai's (still got a LS80F) but this really is the business and the correct timbers make a huge difference to the unamplified sound - the Tokai LS80F (good as it is) sounds dull by direct comparison with the same brand of new strings on both guitars. I'm desperately trying to get another one before these disappear, much as I love my Tokai Les Paul, this is probably the equivalent of their LS150 at a quarter of the price!. The only comparable Japanese guitar I have is a Tokai Love Rock 2 Doublecut, which I also love - again, superior construction makes the important sonic difference on that instrument too.

It sounds fabulous live, really nails the classic rock tones and is so easy to play thanks to the quality of the fretwork, low action and neck profile.

Ive got the satin one. No varnish.
All the usual stuff. Not sure of the year. Its a japan of course. Plays like the real thing.
Great features. Lovely finishing. A pleasure to hold and play. Makes epiphone look crap.

Ive always been a strat player. I have also played other guitars but thought strat type guitars were just so much better. However, I may be converted to this les paul. All I can say is WOW! Lovely sound brilliant! I might upgrade the pups at some point but am happy at the moment!
This is full rich textured sound that makes my us strat sound thin and weedy. Brilliant to solo with. Has improved my sound and technique.

Action is great. Its low and very easy to play. I am amazed.
The finish is beautiful. Its plain but very high standard. The neck is fantastic and the frets smooth as silk.
Pups are good and no crackles on the electrics.
This feels like a custom shop handmade american guitar. Stunning really. Did I mention that I am amazed!?

Very solid well built quality guitar. This is not comparable to an epiphone. Comparable to a gibson.
Ive had no problems with this yet. I will gig with this alot over the next few months so will know more then. I have no reason to believe that this guitar will just get better the more I play it!

No customer support as far as I know.

Ive tried other les paul types, notably epiphone. Ive been playing a long time and thought (stupidly) that as a real gibson was out of my reach epiphone would be the next best thing. ......This guitar is fantastic. Epiphones are basically cheap rubbish compared to this.
Its a guitar thats got all the basics right. Best of all it feels great to play, it oozes quality and sounds good. Its also made my playing better and improved my sound. What more can you ask for?

Its a 2005, in Honeyburst and plain top like the Gibson Les Paul 59. Usual 2 volume, 2 tone, 3 way pickups selector. Made in Japan....and doesn't it show. Solid 1 piece mahogany body with full 3/4" plain maple cap as seen thru the pickup routs. I think they're stock Gotoh pickups as with most MIJ stuff, as is the rest of the hardware. Tunematic bridge. I'd have to say an almost perfect Gibson copy in every detail apart from the slight difference in the headstock shape. Oozes quality.
Actually it is missing another slight detail from a Les Paul and that is the stupid Rhythm/Treble label for the pickup selector, who the damn hell ever really understood why they chose those?
It doesn't have tons of features but it has you'd expect from a LP so it must get..

I use it for blues and blues rock, classic rock, but the LP can do just about anything as many bands have shown and this one is no exception. Rich,smooth creamy humbucker sound, very PAF like. I'm running it thru a Vox AC30 with a JD Cry Baby and Ibanez Tubescreamer. Perfect classic rock tones, Thin Lizzy, Jimmy Page, Slash....yes Slash of course, but then it's a Les Paul, what did you expect?

The setup from the shop was OK, but I like a particular setup, with a very flat neck and low action bordering on bizz and this think intonates superbly and has superb truss rod adjustment. I usually teak the truss road over about 2 days until I have exactly the flatness I require and this did it perfectly.
The finish is where this beats Gibson hands down. Gibsons QC is theri weak point, and most people know that a good Gibson is a joy to behold but they're hit and miss. This is perfection like a high end Gibson custom shop should be. Not a thing out of place, not a dribble of lacquer where it shouldn't be, binding ends match perfectly and overall it is just a pleasure to look at. Quite stunning.

I am very confident that this could not only gig but with the appropriate care see my son and his family through their gigging lives. Solid, superbly built and with high class hardware. I'm not sure what would be good enough to back this up, apart from another one ina different colour:)

Here is the drawback. There is none. Thses guitar were imported into the UKto fill the gap between Korean Epiphones and Gibson USA. In the US and I believe in Europe it is possible to buy a guitar called the Elitist or an Orville. Thses guitars are Made in japan at the famous Terada factory, which is where this guitar comes from, and not the Tokai factory as some have mentioned. But the importer stopped importing as they didnt sell due to the lack of name on the headstock, it just has a fork type logo. But everything iy could ever need for it can be obtained from any parts supplier. Just ask for Gibson parts.

I have ben playing for 23 years. I have owned 2 Gibson Les Pauls, one of which wasn't brilliant, while the other a "budget" Les Paul Studio, was a delight to play and own. This is the two combined, the pleasure of ownership and excellent playability combined with stunning classic good looks. If it were stolen I would desperately try and get another, or an Elitist or an Orville, from the same factory. I couldnt envisage a situation where I'd pay 3-5 times more to get a guitar with a name that plays or looks no better? I did compare it to higher end Tokais which were a bit more expensive, and looked at another lesser looking Studio, but this just stood out. I even went nearly 300 miles to get it. The only thing I have changed is the pickup selector, to a Switchcraft as i prefer the better feel and the knobs to reflector tops. Maybe in the future I may treat it to some boutique pickups.

MIJ Les Paul Standard copy,

med. frets (22) Trapezoid inlays

Solid top, 2 piece, i have the plain maple version.... i say plain but its more of a birdseye!

H/H config, Unkown pickups, probably Gotoh seeing as most MIJ guitars have them!

Body and neck made from high grade african mahogany, looks gret, v.nice grain. 2 piece back unlike gibson one piece,

Bridge, tuneomatic (with wire retainer clip), Stoptail, good quality nickel finish - not chrome

Gorgeous finish, suppsoedly honeyburst but looks very similar to gibson Desertburst

24.75" scale, what else on an LP?! 50's profile, 10.5" radius

Had a hardcase thrown in with mine

Basically, everything you need and nothing you dont

Very versatile, surprisingly nice clean tone
I play alternative rock so... RHCP's, Pumpkins, plus older styled rock like G'n'R, Aerosmith, AC/DC, Metallica.

Stock pickups could do with a bit more power for the metallica stuff but for the rest theyre great, really fat and articulate, nice midrange and very noise free. Will upgrade in future but thats because i like to tinker with my toys!

Btw, i plug into a ZW-1 Wah > Boss CS-1 > Boss CE-3 > Marshall DSL 401, sounds great, thats my gig setup and i always get thumbs up from the sound men at clubs, they just have to take a D.I from the marshall which makes their job easy i guess!

Action as supplied was spot on, havent actually played a better guitar, dont know if it had been set up in the shop but if it had then the 6 other signature LP's had been too, i was going to pick the one with the best setup but they were all good! i ended up going for weight and playability, mine had the nicest neck profile - i like them with some meat on!!!

The polyurethane finish is great, not a flaw anywhere... probably will be soon as i gig but thats to be expected! The burst is really well execeuted, looks like its done by hand as its not quite even all the way round... but it in a good way.... hard to explain! ill post some pics soonish.

Hasnt let me down at all. When i got it there was a set of 9's on there.... not nice, way too bendy but they still played with no buzz or rattling, got it home and chucked on some Elixir 11-56 hybrids (EAD are 12's, GBe are 11's) and it now sustains for days.... if not weeks!!! i found a way of getting infinite sustain with this and my amp set on a med. gain, kinda fun! as with all LP's, theyre solid as a rock, dont think its gonna break anytime soon.

The electronics are all nice n neat, thought i might need to strengthen the solder but its fine. I'm really impressed with MIJ build quality, i have a 2005 MIJ fender strat too and that is unbelievable... different story tho!

Here's the bad part, i cant find anything about the company so if anything happens to it i doubt ill be able to send it off for repairs under warantee. The shop i bought it from SAYS that signature guitars are actually epiphone elites that have been rebranded under a different name for the european market (im in the UK) because the elites werent selling too well but now rosetti have stopped importing them because theyre affecting normal epiphone sales..... however, im reluctant to believe this. To be honest, i dont care who made it, its a fantastic guitar, i just wish i had contact details for the company so i could say thankyou! gonna give them a low mark for this but im sure after building a guitar this good that they wouldnt be cr*p! :(

Not going to go into how long ive been playing, who ive worked with etc etc because who can prove the cr*p that ppl write on here about themselves anyway?!

Basically, i love this axe, its definately my favourite (doesnt stop me wanting a gibson LP custom though!) out the 10 (3 korean, 3 indonesian, 1 chinese, 2 MIJ, 1 USA - Martin DX1, FANTASTIC!!!) guitars i own, i try and use it all the time... even if i should really be using my strat or tele because it never sounds wrong, isnt that the mark of a great guitar? then again, thers a reason the design has been around for 53 years! The only real difference between this and say... a gibson les paul classic (closest spec) is the headstock, neck profile, 2 piece back and pickups. in some ways i'd rather have the gibson (name, resale value, nitro finish) but then again, i could have two of these for the price of one gibson.... VERY tempting. Love this guitar, i honestly would cry if it broke :'( id probably have to go out and buy a gibson LP Custom to console myself :p

PS, could anyone who owns, plays, has palyed or has any info on these guitars send me an email, would really appreciate it!

Regards, Simon