Welcome To Guitar Hookup!

The Epiphone Les Paul Guitar – Does it Live Up to the Legend?

The question of whether to buy an Epiphone Les Paul guitar is hotly debated when guitar players gather round the campfire. Cheap guitars in general have the same reputation as cheap cars but with the Epiphone Les Paul models you might be able to score yourself an excellent instrument.

Way back in the late nineteenth century, Turkish instrument maker, Anastasios Stathopoulos learned his craft making stringed instruments. He brought his expertise with him in the 1903 when he moved his family to The United States Of America. The company prospered in their new homeland and the American fascination with the banjo meant an opportunity to extend their skills to this new instrument. The name Epiphone, derived from the name of Anastasios’ son, Epamimondas, came into being in 1928 when the company began making guitars. In 1957 the factory was taken over by the Gibson company.

The Les Paul guitar is a solid body electric guitar made by Gibson in the early nineteen fifties and named after the popular guitarist and inventor of his own solid body guitar, Les Paul. Les Paul’s design for a solid body guitar had been originally turned down by Gibson but in the face of the popularity of the electric guitar, Gibson designed their own version incorporating some suggestions by Les Paul and using his endorsement to draw public attention to their new product.

The Epiphone Les Paul guitars are versions of the original Gibson models but they are made from cheaper materials in factories in countries like Korea where labor is not as expensive. They also lack some of the fancy detailing that can be found on the Gibson factory model guitars, the fretboard inlays being markedly lower quality. In all their are around twenty Les Paul model guitars made by the Epiphone company.

Their is quite alot of debate about whether the Epiphone Les Paul guitars are as good as the original Gibson models. Many guitar players think that in general the Epiphone tone is not as good as the Gibson and some feel that the Epiphone necks are less player friendly than the originals.

Of course quality standards vary from factory to factory with many stories emerging from guitar buyers about inferior building and flaws in the headstocks, fretboards and other details. However some guitar players have said they were pleasantly surprised when trying out Epiphone guitars. The Epiphone version of the Les Paul Standard guitar, although much lighter than the original has been reported to have a very responsive action and a sound almost identical to an original Les Paul.

The Epiphone Standard is built entirely to the Gibson factory specifications using more separate bits of mahogany than the Gibson but with no noticeable difference in sound quality. Some guitar players even report that they can find no difference between the pickups used in the Epiphone Standard and the Gibson Standard. The machine heads are a little more jerky to use than the Gibson’s but they keep the guitar tuned.

If you like the Gibson Les Paul Custom guitars, you will be pleasantly surprised to know that the Epiphone Custom guitars look almost the same as the Gibsons with very similar inlays. If you like the Bigsby tailpiece, you can even get it in an Epiphone.

Custom Guitar Building – Headstock pearl inlay route and glue plus headstock tuning machine holes

GUITAR NECK MAPLE LEFT-HANDED PEARLOID BLOCK INLAY NITRO FINISH FOR TELECASTER $99.00

L.P Custom Guitar Ebony FretBoard W Celluloid Block Inlay Jumbo Frets Truss Rod $39.99

EDEN T Model Paddle Guitar Neck Rosewood Maple NO INLAY $39.99

EDEN Paddle Guitar Neck Right/Lefty Star Inlay 21 Frets $39.99

1 oz ( 28.50g) White Mother of Pearl/ MOP Inlay Blanks for guitar.polished.shell $9.95

LP Custom Guitar Kit Chambered Body, Trapezoid Inlay – the best there is! $399.00

Set L.P Guitar Standard Celluloid Trapezoid String Inlay New $0.99

Late 90’s Jackson DXMG Guitar Neck Sharkfin Inlays GN-1841 $80.00

15PCS NEW ACOUSTIC GUITAR WOOD INLAY (GREEN SHELL+WHITE SHELL) ROSETTE B-33 $299.00

20PCS NEW ACOUSTIC GUITAR WOOD INLAY (ROSEWOOD+WOOD STRIP)ROSETTE B-25 $53.90

20PCS NEW ACOUSTIC GUITAR WOOD INLAY (ROSEWOOD +GREEN SHELL) ROSETTE B-10 $95.00

20PCS NEW ACOUSTIC GUITAR WOOD INLAY (ROSEWOOD) ROSETTE B-01 $33.90

5PCS NEW ACOUSTIC GUITAR WOOD (SAPELI INLAY ROSEWOOD) ROSETTE B-21 $12.70

20PCS NEW ACOUSTIC GUITAR WOOD INLAY (ROSEWOOD+WOOD STRIP) ROSETTE B-23 $49.99

4PCS NEW ACOUSTIC GUITAR WOOD INLAY (ROSEWOOD+GREEN SHELL) ROSETTE B-28 $49.99

15PCS NEW ACOUSTIC GUITAR WOOD INLAY (ROSEWOOD+WOOD STRIP) ROSETTE B-24 $36.00

20set (120pcs)ebony+Abalone inlay Acoustic Guitar Pressure string column H-07 $49.99

VINTAGE EPIPHONE FT-150 BARD ACOUSTIC GUITAR WITH MOTHER OF PEARL INLAY NR $199.99

5PCS NEW ACOUSTIC GUITAR WOOD INLAY (ROSEWOOD +GREEN SHELL) ROSETTE B-10 $24.00

5PCS NEW ACOUSTIC GUITAR WOOD INLAY (SAPELI) ROSETTE B-02 $9.90

20PCS NEW ACOUSTIC GUITAR WOOD INLAY (SAPELI) ROSETTE B-02 $33.90

HIGH QUALITY ACOUSTIC GUITAR ABALONE INLAY ROSEWOOD ROSETTE GUITAR PARTS $12.99

DRAGON INLAY ROSEWOOD FINGERBOARD GUITAR PARTS GF388 $50.00

EAGLE INLAY ROSEWOOD FINGERBOARD GUITAR PARTS GF387 $50.00

PLANET INLAY ROSEWOOD FINGERBOARD GUITAR PARTS GF386 $50.00

Crossroads 2: Live In The Seventies $31.99 All products are BRAND NEW and factory sealed. Fast shipping and 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed….

Bear & Son Pocket Knife with Custom Cherry Wood Guitar Inlay $65.00 Bear & Son Executive Lockback. 3″ Closed. Stainless Drop point blade, rosewood handles and nickel silver bolsters. Cherry wood Guitar Inlay is hand inlaid to insure a great look and unsurpassed quality. Each inlay is custom designed and inlaid in my studio. I offer many other designs for all my products as well as custom designs….

Grizzly T1039 Ablam Straight Strips – Paua Abalone $9.95 Consistent and deeper color. Will not sand through. Breaks easily to make bends and joints. Breaks are not obvious, in fact, the more breaks, the nicer it looks! Need 13 strips to do one side of guitar….

Grizzly H2890 Select Mother of Pearl Inlay – 3 x 5 CM $6.25 Luminous Mother of Pearl has been a favorite decorative inlay material for many centuries. Sold in packs of two, these beautiful Mother of Pearl pieces are excellent for inlaying. Each piece is about 1/16″ thick….

Money Clip with Hand Inlaid Cherry Wood Guitar $30.00 Beautiful nickel alloy money clip with Bocote wood face. Cherry wood inlays are hand inlaid to insure a great look and unsurpassed quality. Money clips make great gifts. Perfect for holding credit cards, and business cards. 100% USA Made….

3 SETS DR Strings DDT Drop Tuning Medium 10-46 Electric Guitar Strings (DDT-10) $18.09

*NEW* Fender JEFF BECK STRATOCASTER SFG Electric Guitar $1,598.99

JACKSON Reverse Headstock Dinky 6-String RH Right-Handed Electric Guitar BLACK $149.99

6 sets Ernie Ball 2239 RPS Super Slinky Electric Guitar Strings $29.99

FENDER ELECTRIC GUITAR AMP FRONTMAN 25A 75 WATTS $49.99

CHROME BACK PLATE FOR FENDER ELECTRIC BASS OR GUITAR WITH SCREWS $7.00

Fender Starcaster Strat Electric Guitar Starter Pack, Black 286000006 $124.99

ESP LTD EC-100QM Electric Guitar Faded Cherry Sunburst 886830351204 $104.58

NEW DEAN EXOTICA FM FADED TIGER EYE ACOUSTIC ELECTRIC GUITAR $399.00

FENDER ERIC CLAPTON SIGNATURE STRATOCASTER BLACKIE ELECTRIC GUITAR w OHSC +CANDY $1,199.00

Martin 2012 DCPA4 Rosewood Acoustic*ELECTRIC* Performing Artist Guitar Used 1 Hr $1,251.24

Vintage 1962 Fender Stratocaster Electric Guitar Strat $0.78

New Crescent REDBURST Electric Guitar+ACC FREE Digital Tuner $74.99

6 sets 2626 Ernie Ball Not Even Slinky Electric Guitar Strings $29.99

Ovation CC24 NBM Burled Maple Mid-Depth Bowl Acoustic-Electric Guitar $379.99

Fender Kingman Acoustic-Electric Bass Guitar $394.99

Ltd by ESP TE-202 Maple Distressed Black TE 202 Electric Guitar Brand New In Box $349.99

Epiphone SST Studio Acoustic-Electric Guitar Natural 886830349669 $279.20

Rogue Grand Concert Cutaway Acoustic-Electric Guitar Natural 886830351358 $103.99

10 sets Ernie Ball 2221 Regular Slinky Electric Guitar Strings $39.99

10 sets Ernie Ball 2215 Skinny Top Heavy Bottom Electric Guitar Strings $39.99

ASSORTED ELECTRIC GUITAR PARTS…..NECK PLATES, BRIDGES, TREM ARM, ETD. $14.00

10pcs+2 Acoustic Electric Guitar Picks Plectrums(Various thickness&colors) $0.99

ESP LTD V-300 Electric Guitar BLACK *B $497.88

ESP LTD V-307 7 String Electric Guitar *B $638.88

ESP LTD V-300 Electric Guitar WHITE *B $497.88

ESP LTD ST-203 Matte BLACK Electric Guitar – *B $297.88

B.C. Rich JRV 7 Hardtail Electric Guitar *B $299.88

ESP LTD M-1000 Electric Guitar *B $719.88

Takamine EG444C-VV Acoustic Electric Guitar $499.00

Squire by Fender 2007 Stratocaster Bullet Strat Electric Guitar $94.99

Ltd by ESP TE-202 Rosewood Distressed 3 Tone Burst TE 202 Electric Guitar New $349.99

ESP LTD GL-200K Electric Guitar Graphic 886830368424 $399.20

Epiphone Korina 1958 Explorer Electric Guitar Regular 886830368493 $319.36

Fender USA Deluxe HSS Stratocaster 2003 Electric Guitar with Case SUNBURST $949.00

Fender Highway One Stratocaster Electric Guitar 3-Tone Sunburst Maple Fretboard $729.99

NEW ITALIA MONDIAL SPORTSTER FERRARI RED JAZZ ELECTRIC BASS GUITAR w/ WILKINSONs $649.00

NEW CHARVEL BY FENDER DESOLATION DS-2 ST 293-1021-557 ELECTRIC GUITAR w/ CASE $399.99

NEW CHARVEL BY FENDER DESOLATION DC-1 ST 293-1111-503 BLACK ELECTRIC GUITAR $599.99

NEW PRO ITALIA MONDIAL SPORTSTER BLACK BEAUTY JAZZ ELECTRIC GUITAR w/ WILKINSONs $599.00

NEW MICHAEL KELLY CUTAWAY N15CEC NOSTALGIA ACOUSTIC ELECTRIC GUITAR w FISHMAN $299.99

Ibanez GIO Electric Super Strat-style Guitar HSS Sweet! Look! $50.00

GREAT LUNA AMERICANA MODEL AMT-100 CUTAWAY ACOUSTIC/ELECTRIC GUITAR – BLEM #P5^ $329.95

PRS Tremonti SE Electric Guitar Black 886830335273 $436.00

Crescent NEW WHITE Electric Guitar+15w Amplifier+ACC+ Electric Digital Tuner $109.99

Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster V Neck Electric Guitar Black $1,599.99

2006 Fender USA Stratocaster Electric Guitar with Case • Black & White $0.99

Cordoba C5-CE Nylon String Acoustic-Electric Guitar *B $299.88

Seymour Duncan APH-2s Alnico II Pro Slash Humbucker Electric Guitar Pickup Set $189.95

ESP LTD MH-417 7-String Electric Guitar $589.88

ESP LTD H-351FR Electric Guitar OW *B $549.88

ESP LTD F-350 Electric Guitar EMGs BLACK $469.88

ESP LTD Deluxe Viper 1000 Electric Guitar *B $679.88

ESP LTD EC-401 Electric Guitar OLYMPIC WHITE *B $548.88

ESP LTD F-50 with Floyd Rose Electric Guitar *B $234.88

Epiphone Les Paul Electric Guitar ~ Cherry Sunburst $398.77

ESP LTD EC-401VF Electric Guitar STBC *B $496.88

Ltd by ESP SC-208 Stephen Carpenter Black Deftones 8 String Electric Guitar New $449.00

VINTAGE 60′S/70′S TEISCO INSTRUMENT CABLE~ELECTRIC GUITAR CORD 15 FT.~ OLD STOCK $19.99

DiPinto Belvedere Deluxe Electric Guitar $499.00

NEW CORT X-6 VPR VIPER SNAKESKIN LOOK & FEEL ELECTRIC GUITAR w/ BLUEBUCKER PUs $370.00

NEW GODIN 5TH AVENUE CW KINGPIN II CUTAWAY ARCHTOP ELECTRIC GUITAR w/ CASE $995.00

NEW SCHECTER RAIDEN DELUXE-4 DARK METALLIC BLUE 4 STRING ELECTRIC BASS GUITAR $299.00

portable RED Quick Change Clamp Key Capo for electric or Acoustic Guitar evi BDJ $0.75

Vintage Granada Electric Guitar w/ Original Case MIJ Strat MADE IN JAPAN $0.99

NEW CORT CJ10X NATURAL SOLID SPRUCE JUMBO ACOUSTIC ELECTRIC GUITAR w/ FISHMAN EQ $755.00

★★ Ernie Ball 2253 Super Slinky Pure Nickel Electric Guitar Strings ★★ $5.49

★★ Ernie Ball 2255 Extra Slinky Pure Nickel Wrap Electric Guitar Strings ★★ $5.49

★★ Ernie Ball 2251 Pure Nickel Slinky Electric Guitar Strings ★★ $5.49

★★ Ernie Ball 2252 Classic Pure Nickel Hybrid Slinky Electric Guitar Strings ★★ $5.49

★★ Ernie Ball 2250 Nickel Classic Power Slinky Electric Guitar Strings ★★ $5.49

Gibson Joan Jett Signature Melody Maker Limited Edition Rare Electric Guitar $1,000.00

VINTAGE 1964 FENDER MUSTANG ELECTRIC GUITAR $1,800.00

Planet Waves NS Capo Lite Black Acoustic/Electric Guitar PW-CP-07 $9.95

MINT 2007 Fender USA Stratocaster Electric Guitar with Case • Translucent Blonde $0.99

NEW ADULT Crescent BLUE Electric Acoustic Guitar+Acc+STAND $99.69

SCHECTER DIAMOND SERIES DAMIEN FR ELECTRIC GUITAR FLOYD ROSE BUNDLE $202.50

IBANEZ GIO GLOSS BLACK ELECTRIC 6 STRING GUITAR ERNIE BALL HUMBUCKERS BUNDLE LOT $90.00

NEW ITALIA MONDIAL SPORTSTER BLUE BEAUTY JAZZ ELECTRIC BASS GUITAR w WILKINSONs $649.00

2PCS Warning sticker for your Electric or Acoustic Bass Guitar Amp danger label $7.99

Music Man StingRay 4-String Electric Bass Guitar Honey Sunburst Maple Fretboard $1,470.00

Jackson KVXT King V X Series Electric Guitar Quicksilver $549.99

NEW CORT ARTIST SERIES MATTHIAS JABS GARAGE 2 ELECTRIC GUITAR w/ CUSTOM GIG BAG $595.00

NEW CORT FUEL SERIES RETRO MOTOR OIL ELECTRIC GUITAR DESIGNED BY STEPHEN JENSEN $398.00

NEW HAGSTROM DEUCE CLASSIC JET BLACK VINTAGE ELECTRIC GUITAR w CUSTOM 58 PICKUPs $649.00

NEW SCHECTER BLACKJACK SLS C-1 FR SATIN BLACK ELECTRIC GUITAR w/ FLOYD + DUNCANs $899.00

2PCS Warning Decals for your Electric or Acoustic Bass Guitar Amp danger label $7.99

Ibanez AS73 BS Artcore Electric Guitar Brown Sunburst $399.95

CARLO ROBELLI ELECTRIC BASS GUITAR 4 STRING NEW YORK W/ CASE $0.99

NEW Fender Squier Affinity Strat Electric Guitar – Blue $20.98

James Trussart Guitars Steelcaster Electric Guitar $2,499.00

Bigsby B7 Vibrato Electric Guitar Tailpiece $104.95

Bigsby B5 Vibrato Electric Guitar Tailpiece Nickel $94.95

Guild F30 Aragon Acoustic-Electric Guitar Iced-Tea Burst $2,131.49

Black Guitar Strap for Electric or Acoustic or Bass NEW $2.95

Ovation Al Di Meola Acoustic-Electric Guitar Black $2,999.00

Parker Guitars DF522FR Maxx Fly with Floyd Rose Electric Guitar Black Matte $1,043.13

Ibanez GRGM21M BKN Mikro Electric Guitar Black Night $139.99

Veillette Electric 12 String Guitar $2,800.00

Ibanez AW50ECE NT Artwood Series Acoustic Electric Guitar Natural $299.99