Epi quality tour.....
- Thread starter eSGEe
- Start date
gball
Ambassador of Boogie
It does seem the quality has been getting better and better, and you can see some reasons why in that video. They were quite good when they were made in Korea, then really slid badly when they first opened that Chinese factory but from the ones I have picked up in the last 4-5 years they have it pretty much dialed-in now.
My G400 is Chinese built. Somewhere around 2007. Fit and finish is fine. Really the only piece of the guitar where quality suffered was the bridge. It was junk. Replaced it with a quality bridge and all my tuning and intonation issues went away. That didn’t stop me from “modding” the thing.... but I was probably going to do that anyway.
The Hagstom Viking I have is also Chinese built. No idea year as serial# lookup is basically useless, but best guess would put it in about the same vintage as the G400. On that one. I can’t find fault on any part of it.
gball
Ambassador of Boogie
I'm not trying to imply that it's only recently that the quality improved. It may have sounded that way and that's wrong. It's just that I have only started picking them up and checking them out again recently and noticed that its a HUGE jump from when they first started up the Chinese factory. The last Epi that I owned was around 1998, and it was a really great guitar (MIK) and the ones I have seen lately are easily as good if not better. Probably better.
I understood that. Was giving my experience. I have no doubt the first ones out of China were crap. As you found, the later ones aren’t too bad. My two fall into the later ones.
chilipeppermaniac
Ambassador of Decibels
So when was it the first Chinese ones came to be?
gball
Ambassador of Boogie
Not sure exactly. I'm sure there was overlap as they ramped up. I remember shopping for a Casino with a buddy, can't remember the year maybe 2004/5 and there were both Korean and Chinese ones and needless to say the Korean ones were great and the Chinese pretty spotty. I picked up a 335 when I was in Sam Ash a couple of weeks ago and I was blown away at how well-built it was.
chilipeppermaniac
Ambassador of Decibels
I was wondering, because almost any Epi, I got was circa 2012 +. I learned of some issue areas to look for as I was comparing the various Lp models from year to year during 2012-2016 ish. Things like Tailpiece studs lifting out of the oval holes in the body, to sloppy routs around the Trapezoid inlays that they'd try hiding with fillers, Control pots that mounted in the control cavity different depths so that the knobs all sat at different heights off the body and stuff like that.
Wow..... nothing like that on my G400.
chilipeppermaniac
Ambassador of Decibels
SG's are shaped differently than LP's. No contoured tops and potential for poorly drilled holes.
OP
eSGEe
Ferengi Ambassador of Trade
I have several o7 and 08 Epis that are AMAZING -- AND HAVE OWNED A SLEW OF ePI sg'S -- never had the hole drill issues--
the guitar I have owned the longest is my Les Paul Custom Silverburst........it coincidentally has a new sister...a brand SPANKING new Epi Les Paul Classic HERITAGE CHERRY ........and its a BEAST --
heavy as all get out!-- wonderful Alnico Pro Zebras... lovely plain top---- spot on fit and finish-- grover tuners-- SWEETWATER PICS OF THE ACTUAL BEASTIE AND PROOF ITS INDA SWAMP PIC
the guitar I have owned the longest is my Les Paul Custom Silverburst........it coincidentally has a new sister...a brand SPANKING new Epi Les Paul Classic HERITAGE CHERRY ........and its a BEAST --
heavy as all get out!-- wonderful Alnico Pro Zebras... lovely plain top---- spot on fit and finish-- grover tuners-- SWEETWATER PICS OF THE ACTUAL BEASTIE AND PROOF ITS INDA SWAMP PIC
chilipeppermaniac
Ambassador of Decibels
The Filled Inlays I was seeing, were on a batch of LP's that were supposed to be the Hot Ticket from EPI that had the USA Pups and Controls.
I forget what they called it Les Paul Standard Tribute Plus, I think it was. Pretty sure it had 57 Classics IIRC
Here is one on Reverb, Not saying this one has the flaws, just those I looked at like it did.
reverb.com
I forget what they called it Les Paul Standard Tribute Plus, I think it was. Pretty sure it had 57 Classics IIRC
Here is one on Reverb, Not saying this one has the flaws, just those I looked at like it did.
Epiphone Les Paul Tribute Plus | Reverb
Reverb is a marketplace bringing together a wide-spanning community to buy, sell, and discuss all things music gear.
reverb.com
Last edited:
RVA
Ambassador
A perfect example of a classic LP - congrats!!
chilipeppermaniac
Ambassador of Decibels
Here are the Specs on those EPI LP's/
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About this item
| Brand | Epiphone |
| Color | Vintage Sunburst |
| Body Material | Mahogany |
| Back Material Type | Maple Wood |
| Neck Material Type | Mahogany |
| Fretboard Material Type | Rosewood |
| Guitar Pickup Configuration | H |
| Hand Orientation | Right |
| Guitar Bridge System | Tune-O-Matic |
| Scale Length | 24.75 |
About this item
- Carved hard maple top
- Deep Set neck joint
- Hardshell Case Included
- Authentic Gibson '57 Classic Humbucker Pickups
- Coil Tapping Feature for series/parallel pickup switching
OP
eSGEe
Ferengi Ambassador of Trade
Specs for my new one---
I call it Cherry Bomb
www.epiphone.com
I call it Cherry Bomb
Epiphone | Epiphone Les Paul Classic
The Les Paul Classic from the new Epiphone Modern Collection presents the world’s most popular electric guitar at a price anyone can afford. Featuring the classic look of a late 50s Les Paul Standard with open-coil “zebra” Alnico Classic PRO™ humbuckers with CTS electronics, coil-splitting and...
www.epiphone.com