VOX ToneLab Patch Exchange

Can't speak for the EPI (sure looks nice), but a friend has the Gibson model and is very happy with it. Comes down to the playability factor of the EPI I would guess.

Check out www.harmony-central.com user reviews. That might help steer ya.

Jofro

Hi Monte;
IMHO, I think you may be better off with the EPI.
I've played both at the local GC. I've found that the lower end Gibson LP's are not as nice ( feel on the neck, wood finish etc.)
You get what you pay for.
As you may know, I own two ( 1983 Es335 Dot and a 1974 J 45 acoustic). But the company is turning out a lot of guitars to capture market share.
What about a PRS?
Steve

I Can only speak for the Epi Zakk...LOADS of sustain i can tell ya! I have never owned a LP before but i´m VERY satisfied with this one. Ok, It´s more money but I can asure you it´s worth every dime.

BTW Here´s a great deal for you!

http://cgi.ebay.com/Epiphone-by-Gibson-Zakk-Wylde-Les-Paul-Custom-EMG81-...

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=748097

Rig : Fender Stratocaster 1997 Collectors edition (no 0306 0f 1997) Sunburst, Epiphone Zakk Wylde Camo, Dunlop Wylde Wah, Vox Tonelab SE, Marshall 9200 2x100W, 2 Marshall 4x12.

unfortunately MF doesn't carry Tokai Chico and are hard to find without going the Ebay route, But if they did I would get one. It is a real toss up as I have played both of these, and the epi feels heavy like a "LES PAUL" and the "vintage" Gibson seems quite light being all Mahogany.
and didn't seem to have the "heavy" tone that the EPI did although it does come with a case and says USA on it . I like that ZAKK git Fluehue with the 81/85 combo even though I dig Zakks playing I don't want his paint jobs lol.
still undecided so I'll wait for a few more opinions while I bite my nails.
www.selfdistruction.com

Ebay scares me....lol, heard to many horror stories, I have a modifies Squire already also, Maybe I should build an LP
www.selfdistruction.com

Hi Monte
How about considering a Deusenberg?
Their ‘49er, V-Caster or Starplayer Special are solid body LP shaped guitars.
Their Duesenberg Starplayer solid body won UK - GEAR of the YEAR award in 2003.
They're cheaper than Gibson LPs and they get great reviews.

Billy Gibbons (ZZTop), Ron Wood (Stones), etc., etc. use 'em.

Anyway, that was what I decided on getting after doing some research,
but they were a bit out of my reach financially.
The best thing about 'em imo being that you get a LP playability, sound and feel BUT with the BONUS of it having a decent wang bar. Very rare!

Here is the german site if your are at all interested/intrigued:
www.duesenberg.de/

and here are some links to the USA distributor's site:

http://www.duesenbergusa.com/dsp.html

http://www.duesenbergusa.com/

and some youtube vids showing 'em in action.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=rq8kzPFKJ1o
and
http://youtube.com/watch?v=5n_AOLUJIuE&mode=related&search=

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendi...

I'm actually now considering building a Warmoth LP after surfing their site last night. Check this out...

http://www.warmoth.com/showcase/sc_guitar_bodies.cfm?type=guitar&start=2...

and

http://www.warmoth.com/showcase/sc_guitar_bodies.cfm?type=guitar&start=1...

However, I don't have the 1200 or so bones to do one of these right now, but I think I know what my next course of action will be...

I play a Warmoth Strat and it has been a great guitar. We used factory 2nds when we built it. I don't know what my dad paid for the parts (I was 11 at the time) but it turned out to be pretty sweet since the blemishes are on the back of the body and neck (knot on neck, filler putty on body). I think those two guit bodies I posted above are absolutly amazing. I don't think you could find a Gibson LP like that for close to $1200. Of course the Warmoth version won't pass for the real thing because it's a bolt on neck, but I kind of like that idea. More versatility. Warmoth rocks.

Will

I checked out their site and was suprised to see Steve Peticone (spelling). I knew that he worked for warmoth before. I've actually played in a worship team with Steve before. I didn't see any Les Paul styles listed there.

Yep, there's a reason for everything under the sun, is there not?
Basically Will, to make a long story short, I called to order a neck. When I did, I explained to the order-taker what I wanted, and he made a suggestion as to certain features. Two days later, I found out that the feature he suggested was not the one I asked for, that he had made the wrong recommendation. I called back, and told them about it. The neck hadn't been started yet, but still they wanted to charge me $40 to change the order. The sales manager called me a liar... he said that it was "beyond the realm of possibility" that his order-taker had made that recommendation, and that he would not waive the $40 charge. Eventually, when I refused to pay the extra, he cancelled the order and told me not to call back. Now, let me just say I was never rude or abrasive to any of them, I simply politely refused to pay for their screw up. The manager will certainly never ever have to worry about me calling them again! I worked in customer service for 20 years. If I ever told someone that I would rather cancel an order than to give them what they want, and then on top of it tell them not to call back, I would have been in hot water!

~S

There would be no question, if it's in your budget, I'd get the Gibson. Epi guitars are not as bad as some make them out to be, but they have much lower quality than Gibson products. They can be upgraded to decent guitars, but stock pups on Epis are usually crap, and ALL of the Epis I've had experience with (never owned an Epi LP myself, but I've had several friends who did) had shitty tuners, cheap pup mounting rings that would break, and crappy electronics that would crap out after a few years of hard use. Sure all these things can be changed and you might end up with a decent guitar, but at that point, you might as well have bought something nicer in the first place.
And, more importantly, Epis have the lousiest resale value. That's why I DO pay attention to the name on the headstock. Gibsons actually tend to resale for very good prices. A studio LP is usually a great deal (though others are highly overpriced when new).

Epis make very sweet semi-hollows and hollows, but their normal LP style guitars are not the "price/quality ratio gem" that they seem to be at first (at least the normal lines, haven't tried any sig or special edition Epis, but they aren't priced so low either)

Guille

Monte,

I did the upgrade trip with my Epi Dot and never looked back. I could have left it stock. Spending more does not make you a better git player. Being smart does.

Chico

http://www.myspace.com/thefabuloushouserockers

"When the power of love is greater than the love of power, there will be world peace." -Jimi Hendrix

Well I'm not smart Chico....lol, I need to play more actually, sometimes I pick up one of the 10 or 12 guitars (keep losing count)I have lying around and it's like I can't play what I want anymore. if you know the feeling, it's like WHY do I even try to play, especially after watching good guitarist shredding with chordal rhythms with licks in between every chord. I just don't get enough practice in with my working life, but at least I can buy the gear to try ...lol. all those songs I learn in younger years now have to be re-learned, at least the ones I remember playing, Hell even in my own songs I have to stop and think "how did I play that before ?". Oh well maybe I'll "get smart" soon.
www.selfdistruction.com

Nice looking, not true LP style w/ 3 knobs and like an EPI having a different headstock. I already bought mine, just waiting to see how UPS treated it. if they treat it like they do our parts at work I'll be refusing it...lol.
www.selfdistruction.com

well it should be soon, I got my Furman M8 and my Guitar Grimoire Progressions & Improvisation yesterday so the rest SHOULD be here today
and quit smoking !!! it's causing Global warming !!! lol
www.selfdistruction.com