guess i couldn't be any more wrong

Maybe you should save up for a american tele... If your gonna go big, you might as well really go big... And I wouldn't think you need it right away, seing as you have a strat.

im not saying im getting it right away, but as soon as i got 350 bucks to spare, im getting it. or i could save more and get an american, but i noticed no difference pretty much.

I think you should just go for the mexican now, and then upgrade, thats what I'm doin to my Epi lp. All I've left is the pickups, and I'll have something that sounds very close to a real les paul, for half the price. The only thing you don't get is the name, but if it sounds and plays the same, then i certaintly don't care if its not a real gibson or american fender.

As far as I can see, the difference between a USA fender (standard) and a MIM fender are much smaller then between an Epi and a Gibson (there is a HUGE difference in sustain and tone between an Epi LP Std and a Gibson LP std...). Going for a MIM is a fine choice, and you could always upgrade the pups later.

On a sidenote, you Americans are darn lucky to get those guitars so cheap. A MIM tele is around $520, at it's cheapest.

I honestly don't see why you seem to think so little of Epiphones standard's compared to Gibsons standard's, especially when its a $1500 price difference, compared to $550 between a MIM and an American. No tone? While the stock pups arent the greatest, they work and sound pretty good, especially through a good amp, and can then be upgraded when you've got the cash. No sustain? I can play it at night unplugged and have never wished for more sustain, and with lots of gain, notes can be held for however long is needed. I have never wished for more sustain. Sure Gibsons are better than Epi's, but with upgrading the hardware, I think it gets pretty damn near close. I have played both a real Gibson and a souped up Epi. The only difference I noticed was the sustain, and the Gibson only had a slight edge on the Epi, other than that, It sounded the same.

And besides, most people don't use gobs of that Gibson sustain anyway.

I think the key to Epi LP's is finding a good body. Then the rest is just upgrades and you can save yourself 1200-1500 bucks. Even more bargains can be had if you buy used.

Hi. I only tried one Epiphone recently. It was the "Dot" model
semi hollow body....no amount of upgrades in the world could
help this thing, it was pathetic.... sound was bad it was built bad
it was just Bad, Bad, BAD...and not in a good way either.
Everything I heard good about epiphone (& that's not much) was
missing on this Axe.
LOL it's amazing they spelled the "F" holes right :D

You know when a manufacturer makes a "poor man's copy" of
what ever guitar, they make the same Looking guitar only out of
crappy parts or lower standards....why don't instead of some
plywood maple like finish with reworked radio microphone pickups
Squire? Why not a single pick-up strat without a whammy?

I'm not saying the entry guitars and intermediate guitars are all sad
but it does seem like you can get like a better strat copy from another manufacturer than you can a lower end strat with a fender in it's name though.

Also, as much as I knocked epi's, I think they made a guitar that's as good as a strat or a gibson LP in it's own right- the Casino. but don't try
any slipknot with it

Some of the older designs that are NOT straight Gibby knock-offs seem to be the better guitars in Epi's line -- Casino, Sheraton (II), Emperor Regent/Joe Pass. And there is alway the Elitist line.

-G

Racer Y, the dot model i believe is a really cheap model, I do think you should stay away from those, same with the LP100. I'm talkin about the 500 dollar Standards tho. I know they have quality control issues, and not all of them are the greatest, but some come out pretty nice. Guess I got lucky. Doesn't Gibson also not have the greatest quality control either?

500!!?? FOr your confirmation party??? I got 3 crosses and a card.Lame...

Now im left to wonder what i would have done with that money

oh man

maybe

save for a sweet ibanez jazz box or something. I love those things, and im not even a jazz player.

RocknRoll: I'm simply saying what I can see. An epi standard is nothing like a Epi. Doesn't have mahony body, no neck-through, worse pickups. Even when you upgrade the electronics, you still end up with a chunk of wood that only visually resembles an LP. In my humble opinion, there are tons of good clones for around $500, and the Epi is not one of them. So to get back to the topic: a MIM can be upgraded quite closely to a USA strat, whereas a Epi can never be a Gibson. And that's not an opinion, but a fact based on materials used.

I am not saying it has no tone, I just say it is no LP, and doesn;t sound like one. It sounds very similar to be my double-fat strat, which is basically the same deal. It's a nice guitar, but in no way a proper alternative for those who want but cannot afford a real Gibson.

Kyle: You mean that AFS series? They kick butt!

Ska: On a sidenote, there actually are other brands then Fender. Before you decide what to buy I'd seriously go and check other brands out as well...

What exactly do you mean by an epi standard is nothing like a Epi Arjen? Epiphone Standards have mahogany/alder bodies with a maple top and set (isnt that a neck through design?) mahogany necks. Sure it isnt AA premium wood like on real pauls, but its certainly not just a chunk of wood. Isnt mahogany alder and maple considered pretty nice wood?

I agree with the sentiment that if you're going to buy an epiphone, buy one of their truly proprietary models: sheraton, casino etc.

I would definitely avoid any of the LP descendants. You may get a similar look, but there's no way in hell you're getting the sound. Pickups can be exchanged, tuners can upgraded, but when you start with a lower quality of wood, there's no getting past that, and by the time you get upgraded to the place you want, you could at least have a Studio... you can pick one up new for 800, or used for closer to 600.