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Help identifying Epiphone Les Paul Goldtop? Any experts?


spanky

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My 13 year old son just sold his beautiful Larriveé L09 and is now looking for his first electric guitar and amp. I think that he's fairly proficient with the fundamentals, having studied classical and acoustic guitar at the local music academy for the past six years. He'd like to start playing the electric and is thinking about purchasing a used Epiphone Goldtop (Classic model?) from his buddy for $300, or possibly a new Epiphone 56 Goldtop for $500. I don't know anything about this used guitar other than that it's equipped with two black framed humbuckers (not the single coil P90's like on the new models) and has a serial number starting with EE which indicates made in China?

 

Does anyone know what model is this guitar? Is this a good guitar for a young teenager? Is it worth $300? My son is decent player and seems to be into a wide range of styles from Djanjo Reinhardt, Joe Pass, Pat Metheny, Chet Atkins, Tommy Emmanuel, Eric Clapton, Eric Johnson, and Stevie Ray Vaughan. He plays a lot of bluesy and jazzy stuff. He's not into metal, ska, or punk (at least, not yet). One of his teachers advises an archtop but the body of these guitars are way too large and uncomfortable for him. Thus, he was thinking a smaller body with humbuckers.

 

Any thoughts, advice, or answers you can provide greatly appreciated!

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there is a recent thread in which I posted links to every version of epiphone goldtop I could find...a search should find it...most people seem to like them (both HB and P90 versions) and the LP is certainly versatile enough for a wide range of music...just remember that they can be heavy...also, the Joe Pass Emperor II hollow body archtop has a slightly smaller body than other archtops...lots of threads here on that particular guitar

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well, I really meant the full size archtops, as he mentioned a number of jazz players, but my Joe Pass measures at

16.25" at the widest point, while my Casino measure at about 16.45"...don't have a dot, so I don't know about that...

of course, the joe pass is much thicker...

 

anyway, the gold top thread will be helpful for that part of your question...

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Does anyone know what model is this guitar? Is this a good guitar for a young teenager? Is it worth $300?

 

Any thoughts' date=' advice, or answers you can provide greatly appreciated![/quote']

Sounds like a Les Paul Classic. They are identified by the uncovered pickups as opposed to the Standard which has the chrome covers. It's a great guitar for a young teenager and $300 is a good price. IMO he'll be better off with humbuckers than P-90s and the $200 saved will go great towards a good amp.

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