written by on 17/02/2010
I have played a few guitars in my, albeit very short, time (I'm 16). I have been playing for 8 years, and have played my fair share of guitars. The Epiphone Les Paul Standard stands out for me, among others, because of its relative inexpensiveness, but the quality-for-money value that is immediately apparent after you open the box. The sounds is great, pickups don't pack as much of a punch as the Gibson, but they're great. Finish is superb, I would expect it to last for a long time. Tuning seems to be a minor issue on some Epi LP's; after time, some minor tuning adjustments may need to be made, although this can be rectified by buying Grover tuners. Overall a very good guitar, a great substitute for those who want the Les Paul tone but not the price tag of a Gibson. The Epiphone would make a great intermediate-level guitar, maybe even advanced, before you move on to the Gibson (if you so choose). Even the Epiphone Special guitars (lower range) are good quality, so here you have a bargain with everything you would expect from a Les Paul, right down to the insane variety of sounds that can be made adjusting tone and volume. Great for blues, jazz, rock, metal, country and more. Keep on rocking!