Wish the Fender Stratocaster, the Gibson Les Paul has become a guitar icon, cherished by players in such distinct styles as rock, metal, blues, jazz, and country. From Slash to Jimmy Page, the lovers of the Les Paul are everywhere.
There’s one downside, though, to having one of these esteemed parts of rock and roll history. These are not low-priced musical instruments.
A new Les Paul will cost well over $2,000, which is pretty darn costly. So what are our choices if we don’t want to drop that kind of change?
Consider the Epiphone Les Paul Standard Plus!
Don’t let the “Made in Korea” sticker fool you. This Epiphone-branded Les Paul Standard Plus sounds, plays, and looks like its American-made brethren. But how does it compare in every detail?
We reviewed a transparent Blue Les Paul Standard Plus Top, and I have to say the guitar has one of the most stunning tops I’ve experienced in this cost range. The figuring is absolutely gorgeous, and is wonderfully complimented by its creme-colored binding and chrome hardware.
Suffice it to say, that that the Epiphone Les Paul Standard Plus Top is one extremely attractive instrument.
I’ve been lucky to have owned a Gibson Les Paul Standard for quite a while, so I found like I was in a strong place to compare the two guitars. Honestly, I was quite impressed. The neck actually reminded me of a 1960 Gibson Les Paul Standard. It was, in fact, speedier in some ways than my own Les Paul, which has a 50’s style neck.
The rosewood fretboard felt fantastic and the frets were well-polished and smooth on the whole, but not quite as flawless as my Gibson Les Paul. Still, the fretwork is really well done, especially given the instrument’s price.
When I get a new guitar, I usually swap out the stock pickups for custom Dimarzio or Seymour Duncans, just so I can get the exact tone I want. Frankly, I’d probably do the same with this Epiphone; still, that does not mean that these pickups are not “keepers.” The Epiphone includes alnico classic pickups that surely project a classic Les Paul sound. The bridge pickup has just the exact amount of “bite” and the neck pickup is smooth, perfect for lead or rhythm sounds.
Let me stress that it emphatically wouldn’t be a “must,” but I would in all probability put Duncan JB and Jazz pickups in the guitar, since I’m partial to that set of pickups.
The stock Epiphone pickups sound very good as they are, and they just might suit your needs as is. I did notice some “squealing” at high volumes, but it wasn’t that much of an bother.
It’s not plain to the naked eye just where Epiphone has decided to cut corners with this fine guitar. Like all models in this price range, the Epiphone Les Paul Standard Plus Top uses veneer instead of solid woods for the top, body, and neck. However, the guitar is still a looker and has a fine tone acceptable for a variety of styles.
The veneer body, however, really allows these Korean-made Epiphones to weigh less than the made-in-USA Gibson instruments, a welcome change. The bottom line is that the Epiphone Les Paul Standard Plus is a wonderful guitar for the money and far less expensive than its Gibson sibling.
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