Epiphone Les Paul Goldtop Elite

**stingx** · 06-21-2004, 08:01 AM

I never had the opportunity to try one of these in any store. Anyone familar with them and who could comment on quality? Looks like a well built (american components...maybe all american built??) LP. The gold top is gorgeous in the pic.

http://www.epiphone.com/elitist/lpgoldtop.htm

**stingx** · 06-21-2004, 08:05 AM

Cool...just found this:

http://www.guitarworld.com/gearrevie..._epiphone.html

...getting interesting now [img]images/smilies/smile.gif[/img]

blahblah · 06-21-2004, 08:39 AM

korean built...heard they're not very durable..especially the tuning keys..whatever you call'em..i don't know :S

**stingx** · 06-21-2004, 09:40 AM

I've been doing research on them all morning. They are hand built in Japan in a factory that only builds the elitist series. All Gibson hardware throughout. They go for about a grand so it's seems to be a handbuilt guitar just the like Gibson LP except handbuilt in Japan with the same appointments as the American model.

I was just curious if anyone owned/played one to comment on it.

**CanyonCarver** · 06-21-2004, 10:30 AM

I own a Epi LP built in China, I bought last week. It plays like heaven now and sounds terrific.
The hardware seems just great, but it was not setup when I bought it. I know how to do that so I spent an hour setting action, neck and intonation and I am very happy with it now.
The Elitist is obviously one notch above my basic model so it should be a great guitar. [img]images/smilies/icon_thumb.gif[/img]

El_jalepeno · 06-21-2004, 10:55 AM

Right. The Elitist models are a step above a regular Epiphone, and excellent quality. I have an Epi LP standard which I have had since 2000. Never had any problems with it whatsoever except needing to replace the toggle switch when I first bought it. Excellent guitars. [img]images/smilies/icon_thumb.gif[/img]

Most of my recordings are done with my LP. [img]images/smilies/icon_jam.gif[/img]

mab8485 · 06-22-2004, 12:36 AM

[ QUOTE ]
stingx said:
I've been doing research on them all morning. They are hand built in Japan in a factory that only builds the elitist series. All Gibson hardware throughout. They go for about a grand so it's seems to be a handbuilt guitar just the like Gibson LP except handbuilt in Japan with the same appointments as the American model.

I was just curious if anyone owned/played one to comment on it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Just thought id let you know that the chances of it being a handbuilt guitar are very small. I doubt that american gibsons are handmade either (except for custom shop).

blahblah · 06-22-2004, 07:09 AM

maybe labour is cheap there so they have like 100 workers working on your guitar at the same time? hehe

El_jalepeno · 06-21-2004, 10:57 AM

[ QUOTE ]
blahblah said:
korean built...heard they're not very durable..especially the tuning keys..whatever you call'em..i don't know :S

[/ QUOTE ]
A negative experience is appreciated to help out those looking for info, but if you don't know of a problem, or even what a part is called, or even just hearsay, probably best to just sit the post out. [img]images/smilies/icon_thumb.gif[/img]

**stingx** · 06-21-2004, 11:07 AM

Thanks, gents. I ask about things when I am unsure and especially before considering to plop down about a grand or so. I appreciate your posts as they were helpfull. I am glad you guys enjoys your LPs. I just located a music shop close by thta has one. I will go check it out for feel, etc but will order the gold top online if I like it because they don't carry that one and charge substantially more than I can get it for online.

cheers...

blahblah · 06-21-2004, 11:29 PM

[img]images/smilies/icon_doh.gif[/img] [img]images/smilies/icon_redface.gif[/img] whoosh my bad [img]images/smilies/dunno.gif[/img]
good lukc with your LPs anyway [img]images/smilies/icon16.gif[/img]

Arakeen · 06-29-2004, 02:53 PM

Found this among my pile of old magazines......Guitarist.co.uk seems to have been taken offline so I took pictures with my digicam, open them up full size and you can read all about it..........

Hope it helps.