Okay.......stupid question about LP weights

[SARJ]

The nearest GC is 200+ miles from me so I don't get over there much. I have been looking at getting an ESP/LTD EC 500 or an Epi LP Custom (Not the Elite model). I have read many reviews on each and it's come down to this. The EC 500 has been described as "light weight" and the Epi LP Custom review actualy listed a weight of almost 10 lbs or stated that it is a heavy guitar. I want a heavy LP style guitar and I want a good quality one. I have owned a few Epi LPs and my early 90s model was super heavy and the next 2 I had got lighter and lighter. I love the EMG 81/60 layout on the EC 500, but have been itching for a Duncan SH-6 Distortion loaded axe as well. I can always instal an SH-6 in the Epi for minimal cost. I just want to get the low down from you guys before I make a commitment.

[Rupe]

I fail to see what the question is?

Epi LP's will vary widely in their weights, even among the exact same model. If you want to make sure that you get a heavy one, you will need to go play them and find the one that you want. Beyond that, you would have to find a dealer who you could order from that would be willing to weigh them for you...good luck!

[organelle67]

I have an Epi LP Custom...Korean made. I think they're all made in China these days...think the factory was moved there. But the Chinese made Epis I've seen in GC look to be built to Epiphone's quality standards.

And yes, I have a Seymour Duncan Distortion in the bridge on mine....and love it...good pickup, nice output and crunch.

I'm biased, so I would suggest the Epi and drop in a SD Distortion. You can check the quality of the Epi yourself at GC, but they still seem to be excellent quality. Hope that helps.

[Bengal]

Epiphone use to use Alder as their back wood to make them lighter. I'm not sure if they still do that or not.

As for Epi's being heavy, since Gibson is chambering all there LP's now that says to me that Gibson gets some heavy mahogany. All the light weight mahogany is saved for the Reissue line. So it would make sense that Epi's would get heavy mahogany too. I'm pretty sure they don't chamber the Epi's so I guess it would make sense to think that they might be heavy.

The LTD's are thinner than a LP, right? That could account for the light weight.

[iced_earth]

Check out the Edwards guitars on Ebay - much more traditional LP style than the ESP line. ESP and Edwards are owned by the same company. Last I checked Edwards were made in Japan, with quality level between LTD and ESP. I've got an Edwards and an ESP Eclipse and would tend to agree with that, but there is not much separating them. The Eclipse is definitely thinner and lighter weight. The Edwards is noticable heavier, but not quite as heavy as my friend's early 80s Les Paul.

[SARJ]

Thanks for the advise guys. Epiphone has the chambered LP Ultra, but the rest of em are solid body/arch tops. The first time I played an Epi LP back in 89 they were rediculous heavy to me. I was told later that heavy Gibsons and Epis used to be made of dense Honduran mahogony and the supply ran dry for a spell and Epi for sure did in fact use alot of alder for a while. I also read on the board a while back that the quality on the slanted logo models went down hill verses the straight logo models prior. I wouldn't count on real flame maple. Just about everybody veneers their tops. Looks like I'm gonna go with an Epi LP Custom. At the same time I'm gonna drop an SH-6 in too.

Thanks again

[organelle67]

I'm pretty sure my Epi is all mohagany...it weighs around 7 pounds if I remember right. Nice quality chunky les paul...the way Les Pauls should be!

I took mine to GC once and compared it to a Gibson LP Custom...and there was hardly any difference at all in appearance or quality....the Gibson had an ebony fretboard, and a slightly bigger headstock...as opposed to my rosewood fretboard and slightly smaller headstock....but everything else was the same...tuners and everything. The $3000-$4000 price tag on the Gibson was outrageous and ridiculous...that guitar just ain't worth that much...period.

I'm very satisfied with my Epiphone LP Custom, drop some quality pickups in, and you've got a pro quality guitar IMO.