Jump to content

What Do You Guys Think About The Epiphone Les Paul Special II????

Ratbatblues

By Ratbatblues
in Electric Guitars

Recommended Posts

  • Members
Ratbatblues Newbie

Ratbatblues

Posted
  • Members
Posted

Well, to begin i know nothing about these Epi LP Special two's. Other then they are cheap and a entry leval guitar. Its not a bad looking guitar. A pawn shop by my house has a near mint one (white) that i can get for $100.00. I was thinking of getting it to play around with or to use for modding. Anyone here have/played one?

 

Thanks!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • Members
soundcreation Newbie

soundcreation

Posted
  • Members
Posted

My first (of significance) guitar....

 

It's cheap but does the job. Played alright. Sounded pretty good distorted I guess...clean was less than good...but not the worst thing I've ever heard.

 

Thing is, it's like (at least mine was..) some kind of sandwich wood. Layers and layers covered in a thick thick thick poly. It's natural tone is pretty bad. Really prominent highs and lows. Not well rounded at all. And all of that transferred through to when the guitar was plugged in.

 

It just is what it is. A decent first guitar for someone starting out but nothing worth using for anything serious. (unless for some reason it's the only thing you have). Personally, at this point, I wouldn't take one if someone wanted to give me one for free let alone pay a hundred bucks for it. Rather buy a box of strings for my other guitars.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • Members
soundcreation Newbie

soundcreation

Posted
  • Members
Posted

 

Thanks guys.....wonder if the darn thing is made of plywood?

 

 

like i said...mine was. when you opened up the pickup cavity it was some solid pieces and then what I would describe as "flaky" wood sandwiched in between the layers of solid. I might be describing it a little strangely but plywood is what I would call it. Now mine was 5 years old so take that for what it's worth. I don't know if they've changed standards since then...but some how I doubt it.

 

Just see if you can take the pickup out...you'll know as soon as you do.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • Members
kayd_mon Newbie

kayd_mon

Posted
  • Members
Posted

My dad has one. He doesn't really play, but at least there's a guitar there when I visit. I was up there for a week playing it, and I was wondering if anyone actually did fix one up and gig with it, etc. It plays nice, and his has a nice wine red color, so I'm guessing with good pickups it wouldn't suck. The stock pickups aren't the worst things I've heard, either.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • Members
notjonahbutnoah Newbie

notjonahbutnoah

Posted
  • Members
Posted

I mean, it sucks.

 

Not the kind of suckage where every single person just hates it, but it does suck.

 

Good for an entry level guitar, it does work. I think it's a better intro git than a strat type if you wanna use any distortion, but dammit, I just hate em.

 

Crappy tuners, crappy nut, crappy frets, plywood, inch-thick poly, crappy pickups, crappy electronics... it's just crappy.

 

This is 1st guitar only type material, maybe 2nd if you had some unplayable, 30-40 yr old, beat to {censored} thing that just wont work anymore. The Special II will intonate, and play, and sound passable in some instances, but I just don't like em. I've never played one I liked and have played several... most of my guitar buddies had em in HS, probably why I hate them.

 

However, if you must, DEFINITELY listen to Krashpad and haggle. Seriously, maybe even $65, cash, actually take it out of your pocket and literally plunk it down on the counter. DO NOT pay 100 for a used one, even though white is the sweetest color available.

 

Also, I am kinda looking to off-load my epi LP studio w/ duncans (jazz neck, custom custom bridge)... I guess PM me if interested. It's white, has an hsc.

(if someone is {censored}ty about this, i'll delete my last 2 sentences)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • Members
Fireproof777 Newbie

Fireproof777

Posted
  • Members
Posted

I've got an Epi LP Special (before the II's) and yeah, they suck. :lol: I bought mine purely to hang on the wall (it's black with a hot rod flame finish) and figured for how cheap it was, why not? For a beginner, it's not bad at all though; when my nephew comes over, that's the one he loves to play and that's what I teach him on. If they're looking for $100, you should be able to get it for $75 and if it's in decent shape (neck's straight, it's not beat to death, pick ups work, etc.), it might serve you well, especially as one to test out your modding abilities. Just don't expect it to be a "pawn shop prize" though.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • Members
cratz2 Newbie

cratz2

Posted
  • Members
Posted

I... Unless you're chomping at the bit for a white LP with a bolt on neck today, I'd personally get something else.

 

They aren't horrible, but I've seen many used Epi LP Studios for ~$150 and I would say that is a significant step up.

 

Having said that, I had a single HB Epi LP Special. It actually played great. The previous owner was a tech... everything was stock, but it was as well set up as was possible. Fret level, properly cut nut etc... I got it for $35 because it was his first attempt at a refinish and it wasn't terribly pretty. I was going to scuff and paint it flat/matte black, but I ended up trading it for some EV speakers.

 

I had a extra Dimarzio Super Distortion II I put in it, along with a new push pull pot. It was actually pretty rockin' sounding.

 

But yeah... I'd pass at $100. If you're dying for a white one, try to get it for for $75. I'd try to get it for $50 or $60. Try your hand at doing some setup work on it. If it ends up playing well, get a used Duncan or Dimarzio pickup and throw in there.

 

:idk:

 

P1080300a1.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • Members
bsman Newbie

bsman

Posted
  • Members
Posted

My son brought one home, and it just plain sucks. It sounds absolutely dead acoustically, and only marginally better amped. The only good thing I'll say about it is that the neck felt ok and the frets weren't sticking out the sides of the fretboard.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • Members
Crisco Newbie

Crisco

Posted
  • Members
Posted

 

You gents seen the GT special II??? Just saw one at gc.


It's nutty, a special II with a little bolt-on pickguard, a thin satin finish, a kill pot, and a STRAT VIBE??????

 

I would actually buy that for $169 (but haven't and probably won't..). It's better than the others I've played, but those tuners kill it. How hard would it be for them to put some damn Pings on there?

I really like the little explorer GT it's massively cool and could be giggable for a blast.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • Members
cratz2 Newbie

cratz2

Posted
  • Members
Posted

You gents seen the GT special II??? Just saw one at gc.


It's nutty, a special II with a little bolt-on pickguard, a thin satin finish, a kill pot, and a STRAT VIBE??????

 

Is that the black one that came out with the cheapy Explorer?

 

Those are kinda cool... but I'm a sucker for a matte black finish on a no-nonsense guitar. :lol:

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • Members
Brewski Newbie

Brewski

Posted
  • Members
Posted

 

I mean, it sucks.


Good for an entry level guitar, it does work. I think it's a better intro git than a strat type if you wanna use any distortion, but dammit, I just hate em.


Crappy tuners, crappy nut, crappy frets, plywood, inch-thick poly, crappy pickups, crappy electronics... it's just crappy.


 

 

no reason to buy a plywood guitar these days - skip the Epi and look Rondomusic.com or Guitarfetish.com and get yourself a modifyable piece of gear that is made from a tone wood versus construction material.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
×
×
  • Create New...