White Ephiphone Les Paul Studio
July 07, 2009
A buddy of mine from London was in town recently and wanted to stop by Guitar Center to pick up an effects pedal, taking advantage of the lower US pricing. While I wasn't planning on buying anything, 30 minutes later, I walked out with a new Epiphone Les Paul Studio in arctic white. I was planning on buying a second guitar which I would keep over at my in-laws place. (I think this is part of my wife's overall plan to get me to spend more time with family. Hey, if that get's me a new guitar, I'm fine with it.)
Originally, my plan was to test out some gear, and then just buy something locally near my in-laws. Since this would be a spare guitar that would only get occasional use, I was aiming for something around $200-$250. I tried a few sub-$200 guitars, but the quality just wasn't there and I figured I would just get frustrated if the action was too high or if the guitar wouldn't stay in tune. I tried a few low-end Squire strats and telecasters and while they were ok, nothing really set me on fire.
But then I spotted a beautiful white Epiphone Les Paul Studio for $300. I was really impressed with the playability and the tone. Admittedly, it's not a high end Gibson, but the action and setup are decent right out of the box and it feels sturdy. The guitar is also lighter than I had expected, my estimate around 7.5 pounds. The pickups are great, the neck is good and it's got nice sustain and a beefy classic humbucker sound. Plus, I gotta admit, in arctic white, this guitar looks very cool. If a white Les Paul is good enough for Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols, it's good enough for me. And my in-laws.
Overall, it's a very high quality guitar with a nice warm tone and plenty of sustain for blues or rock, especially when you apply a bit of overdrive. The only thing that I think degrades from the overall quality is that the tuners are not that stable. But if you can live with occasionally re-tuning, it's a great sound at a bargain price.
Update:
I've added a video review on YouTube below.
- Epiphone: Home, Les Paul Studio
- Musician's Friend: Epiphone Les Paul Studio
- GuitarVibe: 70's Strat Reissue, PalmGuitar Review
OMFG! That looks so frickin' cool. I want one! Of course, what I really want is one I can plug in to my xbox 360 and rock out. Cheap Trick rulz! :p
Posted by: Corey Hart | August 29, 2007 at 07:18 PM
I am a sucker for a white electric guitar. ;)
The Les Paul Studio continues to be a top seller for Epiphone. I posted about this earlier today.
Posted by: freddy1955 | July 21, 2009 at 12:34 AM
Great video review..mind if I add it to my blog?
Thanks
Posted by: Les Paul | January 15, 2010 at 03:02 PM
Yeah go for it. Just don't make fun of my hawaiin shirt!
--Zack
Posted by: ZUrlocker | January 16, 2010 at 12:51 AM
The guitar seems like a pretty worthwhile deal, especially for a beginner like me.
Posted by: Zikri | June 03, 2010 at 10:59 AM