I realize it's not the high end version.

I am a rookie so this may be right up my alley.

Any info would be appreciated.

Bob

I'm thinking the country of origin is more important than the year. The electronics, bridge, tail piece, nut and tuners will most likely need to be replaced unless that's already taken care of by a previous owner.

Try a few to make sure you like them. For me, they are generally too heavy and sit on my lap in a position I don’t care for.

They do come with a short scale length making them slightly easier to play.

I've had several and I've played quite a few over the years. They're generally a really good bargain and a good alternative to a much more expensive US made Les Paul. Some people like to replace the pickups and hardware but they're entirely playable in stock form. I've played some that if a person was blindfolded they would have no idea if they were playing the Epiphone or a $2k American made Les Paul.
Now, there are some American made Les Paul's under $1k but they have no binding, inlays or pretty stained maple tops. There are several forums out there that are dedicated to Epiphones and some Gibson forums talk about them too.

It’s Guitar Month at Sweetwater. Like Oz, LPs just aren’t my cup of tea. This summer though I traded in a Gibson ES339 that I never took to, for an SG ‘61 Reissue that I really, really like. Sweetwater has an Epiphone G-400 Pro SG with mother-of-pearl fret markers and headstock logo, just like the ‘61. It’s $419, which I think is a screaming deal if it’s anywhere near as good as my Gibson.

I’ve bought quite a lot from Sweetwater over the years and have been happy with their customer service—and that includes a Martin guitar and a Fender tube amp

Hate to tempt you to spend more than you are planning, but as part of their Guitar Month promotion, they’re doing 0% interest for 48 months.

Unless you plan to keep it forever, I wouldn't go replacing all the electronics and hardware. If you do, you'll have plenty more into it than it's really worth for resale. There can be some great deals on USA-made LPs out there, if that's what you're trying to get to by modding an Epiphone. I have about $1600 into mine and it's just gorgeous, though I understand that's way more than any Epiphone costs. If the guitar plays well for you in stock form and you have money burning a hole in your pocket, spend it on a good amp that will make you want to play all the time, no matter the guitar.

quote:

Originally posted by Rick Lee:
Unless you plan to keep it forever, I wouldn't go replacing all the electronics and hardware. If you do, you'll have plenty more into it than it's really worth for resale. There can be some great deals on USA-made LPs out there, if that's what you're trying to get to by modding an Epiphone. I have about $1600 into mine and it's just gorgeous, though I understand that's way more than any Epiphone costs. If the guitar plays well for you in stock form and you have money burning a hole in your pocket, spend it on a good amp that will make you want to play all the time, no matter the guitar.

+1

Epi is really hit/miss. You can find killer playing Epis, and some that are shit. Depends on who was running the line that day, I guess. If it plays great and sounds great, it's worth it. If it's a project, it should be priced accordingly. Is there something about this particular guitar you're into?

When I read your subject line my mind automatically read that as "1959" Les Paul. Which is a whole different kind of thread.

Good friend has a ES-335. He’s tweeked it with some bigsbys and a few other things

It’s one of the guitars he uses while touring with Emmylou

If you don't know enough to evaluate it yourself, take someone who knows guitars.

As said, Epis can be all over the map in quality.

quote:

Originally posted by fwbulldog:

quote:

Originally posted by Rick Lee:
Unless you plan to keep it forever, I wouldn't go replacing all the electronics and hardware. If you do, you'll have plenty more into it than it's really worth for resale. There can be some great deals on USA-made LPs out there, if that's what you're trying to get to by modding an Epiphone. I have about $1600 into mine and it's just gorgeous, though I understand that's way more than any Epiphone costs. If the guitar plays well for you in stock form and you have money burning a hole in your pocket, spend it on a good amp that will make you want to play all the time, no matter the guitar.

+1

Epi is really hit/miss. You can find killer playing Epis, and some that are shit. Depends on who was running the line that day, I guess. If it plays great and sounds great, it's worth it. If it's a project, it should be priced accordingly. Is there something about this particular guitar you're into?

I agree with all of this, with the possible addition that I think all Gibsons and Epiphones can be hit or miss and should ideally be tried before you buy.

And yes, do try to find a real Gibson out of the gate over an Epiphone if you can. I picked up a 2001 Les Paul Smartwoods Exotic for $800 about five years ago. Then I swapped out the tuners, bridge and tailpiece for TonePros stuff, CTS American pots and Switchcraft switches and jacks, cloth covered wire, and wound my own PAF humbuckers. Did basically the same thing with a $500 2005 Les Paul Standard Double Cut, but low wind humbuckers with no cover and a paper in oil cap. Now I've got a pair of customized Les Pauls that play and sound amazing. If you do that with an Epiphone, make sure you do it with one of the ones they occasionally let out of the factory that have the magic and you'll be doing well, otherwise you just have a custom Epiphone.

Even within Epiphone, there are a bunch of different Les Paul models. 1995 barely narrows it down. Les Paul's can be heavy, I'd try before you buy. Just a warning, guitars take up way more space than guns.

This is my Les Paul:

Goldtop. Nice. I want one more, and that'll be a Goldtop with P-90's and maybe a trapeze tailpiece or a Bigsby, just because. Top hat knobs, oh man. That early 50's vibe.

There's something about a goldtop. I love that look, especially with some P90s.

quote:

Originally posted by P220 Smudge:

quote:

Originally posted by fwbulldog:

quote:

Originally posted by Rick Lee:
Unless you plan to keep it forever, I wouldn't go replacing all the electronics and hardware. If you do, you'll have plenty more into it than it's really worth for resale. There can be some great deals on USA-made LPs out there, if that's what you're trying to get to by modding an Epiphone. I have about $1600 into mine and it's just gorgeous, though I understand that's way more than any Epiphone costs. If the guitar plays well for you in stock form and you have money burning a hole in your pocket, spend it on a good amp that will make you want to play all the time, no matter the guitar.

+1

Epi is really hit/miss. You can find killer playing Epis, and some that are shit. Depends on who was running the line that day, I guess. If it plays great and sounds great, it's worth it. If it's a project, it should be priced accordingly. Is there something about this particular guitar you're into?

I agree with all of this, with the possible addition that I think all Gibsons and Epiphones can be hit or miss and should ideally be tried before you buy.

And yes, do try to find a real Gibson out of the gate over an Epiphone if you can. I picked up a 2001 Les Paul Smartwoods Exotic for $800 about five years ago. Then I swapped out the tuners, bridge and tailpiece for TonePros stuff, CTS American pots and Switchcraft switches and jacks, cloth covered wire, and wound my own PAF humbuckers. Did basically the same thing with a $500 2005 Les Paul Standard Double Cut, but low wind humbuckers with no cover and a paper in oil cap. Now I've got a pair of customized Les Pauls that play and sound amazing. If you do that with an Epiphone, make sure you do it with one of the ones they occasionally let out of the factory that have the magic and you'll be doing well, otherwise you just have a custom Epiphone.

I agree to a point but if you're not at least going to replace the cheap plastic nut and have the bridge saddles smoothed/replaced you're not going to have any sort of tuning stability. I'd say that's $80 well spent.

I have decided that I don’t need a project guitar at this point.

Thanks guys,
Bob

quote:

Originally posted br mark123:
I agree to a point but if you're not at least going to replace the cheap plastic nut and have the bridge saddles smoothed/replaced you're not going to have any sort of tuning stability. I'd say that's $80 well spent.

Oh, absolutely. Sometimes I forget that not everyone does what I do with my guitars when I get them. My point is simply stop at step one in polishing the turd until you’re absolutely sure there’s a diamond packed in that rough. Yes, make sure it plays right, but be slow to add layers of polish.

I polished a lotta turds. Some for giggles with my money, some reluctantly using a customer’s money. Don’t polish turds, you polish a gem, and until you know the difference, it’s generally best to save your money and simply try a lot of guitars.

quote:

Originally posted by P220 Smudge:
... it’s generally best to save your money and simply try a lot of guitars.

This is the key. rbert0005, I didn't mean to be discouraging, it's just that I've seen a lot of guitars sold, and a lot of disappointed people. As stated above even new and expensive guitars often need tweaks. The only ones that I've seen that have been near 100% out of the box have been something with a official Floyd Rose or Kahler bridge and locking nut. Yes, I'm big on tuning stability and perfect intonation.

I have a couple Gretsch’s and a Guild to keep me busy.
Me being me thought I needed a project. I don’t.

Bob

https://imgur.com/a/uqTXgNL

I have this Gretsch “Electromatic” that was perfect outta the box. Intonation was spot on!

I have this one coming in in a couple of days. If it’s not perfect there’s a ton of people here in Nashville that can make it that way! I would suggest you play a lot of different ones even of the same brand/color!Man this yellow guitar is beautiful!

https://imgur.com/a/86GUzsm

quote:

Originally posted by rbert0005:
I have a couple Gretsch’s and a Guild to keep me busy.
Me being me thought I needed a project. I don’t.

Bob

Me being me, I’ll play my own devil’s advocate here: Maybe a project is what you need but don’t realize it. I polished a lot of turds, as mentioned, but it taught me how to polish all the same. After a lot of trial and error tinkering on guitars that needed work, I learned the basics of the mechanics, then some more advanced stuff, then some specialized stuff. Once you do a complex inlay piece on a Martin as an apprentice and you show it to the shop owner for approval and they tell you “and, as with all such things worth doing, it was a million tiny simple processes, all performed with great care. That’s how all art is made” it really clicks. It’s the same feeling when you take a 1985 Japanese Squier Strat and literally remove everything from the neck and body except the frets and build it back up from there new. Accomplishment, and a deeper understanding of the workings of the instrument.

Like a curbside rebuild, it’s not for everyone, but those guys at the car shows with the really nice stuff they rebuilt themselves? I have at least an inkling of how that feels when I show some of my guitars to people.

So let me amend my prior statements to “if you’re going to polish a turd, at least realize that is what you are doing and set your mind to learn the proper methods involved in the polishing of the turd.” The last thing I should ever do is willingly discourage someone from dipping their toes into guitar teching and customizing. If a guy like me can do it, anyone can. All it takes is patience and attention to detail.

If the guitar itself really speaks to you but has dog hardware or electronics, sure grab it and deal with that stuff until or as you replace stuff. Good guitars can be found at most price points, so if you find one and it speaks to you, hey - snag it.