They follow the same feature lists as Gibson does between the models.

The Specials are thin-bodied.

The Custom has more binding, carved maple top, slimmer neck, etc.

Studio has no binding or special finishing touches. Bare bones Paul.

Then there's the standard variations of pickup models and colors and other options that vary between the models.

The Gibson website should give you spec's on all currently available models for Epiphones. Should. If not then the dealer should display them somewhere.

Deluxe is very sneaky-- the seamless back is attainable by mounting all the electronics through the f-holes rather than an electronics cavity.

A lot of work for merely cosmetic returns on your investment.

Gibson guitars are very overpriced, which wasn't your question I know... but as much as I DO like LP's, if I got a Gibson LP, it would likely be a Studio.

Greg

And have you played any of the "Faded" versions that Gibson is selling for like $700?

IMO the tone is indistinguishable from some models costing hundreds more, it's just that the frets aren't dressed as well. But they're dressed as "smoothly" as any Studio version I've ever played and the feel of the neck is exactly the same.

You can save a few hundred bucks on an SG, Paul, V or Explorer and get authentic Gibson Kick and Edge for $400 les than the studio models and almost the same tone as a Standard.

IMO anyway.

I've got a Alpine White LP Custom, and a Custom Shop Tele... The tele has a Seymour Duncan Invader in the neck and a Hot Rail in the bridge and I like the Tele Better... Lighter and ballsier.... DOn't get me wrong... The LP is GREAT, but I play through a Yamaha B110II Head (70's tube bass head) and a Marshall MG412A cab with a Digitech RP6, a few stomp boxes and a A/B switch to kick into my Crate 30w amp that stays well mic'd. The Tele always stays dialed, tuned, and sounds bad ass. Just my $.02.

Custom Shop Tele... The tele has a Seymour Duncan Invader in the neck and a Hot Rail in the bridge

That's one heck of an axe, I'm cautiously hunting for something exactly like that myself.

This seasons Epiphone les pauls are scary good. Not last years, but the ones arriving right now. The nice chunky necks, highly detailed fretwork and setup...and the most astonishing thing I noticed was the pickups. They sound PAF ish to the bone. Near Pearly Gates tone, if I may be so bold. There were stickers on the pickups, classic alnico V of the one I was auditioning.

Now as far as Tele's go, one just arrived in my living room last week :D . Fender American Deluxe Nashville, locking Schaller tuners, Schaller strap locks, killer maple/rosewood neck (plays like butter), two piece alder body, binding, transparent candy apple red, custom switching, 4-bolt tilt neck,yadda, yadda, yadda. 1998. Near mint, zero fretwear. The flawless attention to construction detail makes me proud that someone gives a damn.

But for the life of me, I can't get this axe setup to play without buzzing in the low registers. DR pureblues10"s, plenty of neck relief. Perfect neck pocket, I've even taken high res pics of dates and inspection signatures in the pocket and on the necks butt end.

I know what it needs.

It needs to get sent out for a Pleck job.

Now I've aquired this beauty at a low enough price to make this worthwhile for me to to do (and I know what to do), but what about the other poor saps that didn't know what to do and sold it in dismay.

Point is, Corona Cali, (like the engraving on the neckplate reads), can do better to live up to its own legacy, lest people start to forget and not care anymore.

CoyoteTrax wrote: They follow the same feature lists as Gibson does between the models.

In which case: my Gibson "Les Paul Custom Plus" has a nicer (flamed) maple top than my old "Les Paul Custom" did, and a general feeling of being slightly better made.. the old one was nice and I was gutted when it was stolen :evil: but the "Plus" is the best guitar I have ever played (in my opinion of course!)

Teles are very often a tiny bit buzzy in the lower frets. Frustrating for sure. They're perfect once you find that sweetspot but Teles can be very tricky to find the sweet spot on. I'd let it sit in the environment for a week or two, sometimes when going from moist to dry or vice versa they can really settle in over the first couple weeks. 8-)

Calgary wrote: Teles are very often a tiny bit buzzy in the lower frets. Frustrating for sure. They're perfect once you find that sweetspot but Teles can be very tricky to find the sweet spot on. I'd let it sit in the environment for a week or two, sometimes when going from moist to dry or vice versa they can really settle in over the first couple weeks. 8-)

Thanks, your're right, I'll let it settle in for a while before I jump into anything.

8)