Epiphone Les Pauls! Are they worth it?

I currently have an Westfield cheapy acoustic guitar, and am now thinking about purchasing an electric guitar. I only need a practise amp so I am gonna go for one of the cheaper marshall ones. I have a £350 limit (enough to buy a standard fender strat or tele) but am really interested in the les pauls from epiphone. I was have seen one at exactly £350 called the Black Beauty. It has 3 pick ups (which I don't know what they are, cos I am new and sorta a dumbass). Does anyone know what they play like? Is it worth overlooking a fender for one? What effects do you get with them? And I know this sounds dumb but, hey I'm a beginner, what are pickups and what are all the buttons on the les pauls for????

Any advice would be greatly appreciated :)

Hmm... I have two Epis and two Gibsons! and I can honestly say that epis with new pickups (seymour duncans) are as good as gibsons! So get an Epi!

Thanks!!

What epis do you have????

If you wanna save a little cash you can always check out the Kramer Les Paul (now a Gibson company also) at http://www.musicyo.com
Not only that but right now they are also giving away a free tube amp with every LP/SG purchase. Check out the Custom. It's gorgeous.

[Edited by hairbndrckr on 05-03-2003 at 02:50 PM]

that would be great but i think it's USA only. :(

I got an epi. Sure its not exactly the same as the real les paul. It wieghs less, the fret board is a little more 'plastically feel' which doesnt mean it is worse, the turners tend to stay less in tune more then the real les paul (no big deal), but the worse difference is the pick ups. The are awful! Go with the Epi and with the money left over get some real humbuckers, i prefer seymour duncan alnico 2 pros. The guitar is a solid axe and is worth the $499 canadian i payed for it.

I know this sounds foolish but what do pick up do?? And if I dont know that then I really dont bother if they're good or not do I?

they have a musicyo in Europe also.
Whoops I lied, they closed it, but they still ship internationally.

[Edited by hairbndrckr on 05-03-2003 at 08:48 PM]

"pick up" pickups are the microphones that pick the sound of the strings, they are under the strings on the main body of the guitar. The gibson are slightly heavier on average but you do get some real heavey epis. I have two epi standards, cherry and honeyburst, with Alnico 2s and 59s. I also have a les Paul Classic and Special.
Id recomend you buy off ebay tho! Far cheaper. Make sure your buying off a reputable seller with many previous sales tho.
Kriss

There really magnets, which allow currents to flow into the amp from the guitar. The greater the vibration the greater the sound. There the shiney parts of guitar if there covered. Fenders have 3 of them traditional, les pauls and arch tops have 2 of them and they all sound different from each brand and type so be selective. Fenders are single coils and have a higher, less beefy scream to them, while humbuckers (les paul type pickups) provide a "fatter" beefy tone that sounds thicker then the fender. One isnt better then the other, just preference. Name some artist and i will tell you if they use single coils or humbuckers. Dont rule out Fenders dude cuz thier mexican strats are compedititve to the les pauls. The pick ups should be upgraded on them two. There are a bazillion pick ups out there so try before you buy, if not pick a artist who sounds you like and choose like that, if there not distorting thier sound to much. Or go to websites and listen to thier demos, but thier misleading as they are pumped through good guitars and recording machines that make them sound pretty good.

How about these guitarists: Slash, Edge and John Squire.

Slash, now your talkin! He uses Seymour Duncan Alnico 2 humbuckers. Kick ass guitar player! Im not familiar with the other 2 but I am sure there are a few players on this board who are, repost your message with a new heading and they will tell you.

I got 2 Epi Les Pauls a Slash signature model and a Classic, both have Epi made alnico V magnets which sound ok. If you have a good look around you can pick an Epi up for £300. I wouldnt think about replacing the pick-ups til your more familar with the sounds and quality of different pick-ups. But for a pair of Seymore Duncan Alnico pro 2 your lookin at about £40.
But an Epi is well worth buyin mine have been very good.

Thanks for the advice.

SLasher u from the UK? I am and my alnico 2 pros were 90 pounds each!

I am from the UK. Sorry bout that peeps. It was just a guess, a really bad 1 by the looks of things.

Just looked it it on net, they cost around £50-£100 each, depending where you get them and whether they are 2nd hand. Sorry bout the mistake. I was extremely tired at the time.

Its cool! The 59s are around 65 each but alnico 2 pros are 89, although you get awesome bargains on ebay!!