Epi Limited Edition 1959 Les Paul Standard Reissue

[sunriver]

Hi everyone,

 

I was cruising Ebay this morning and came across this guitar that is for sale called a prototype Limited Edition 1959 Les Paul Standard Reissue for 2010.

 

I tried the search function here and didn't come up with any info on it.

 

The Ebay listing has a link to Epiphone and here it is:

 

http://www.epiphone.com/news.asp?NewsID=1622

 

If anyone knows anything about these I would be grateful. The link says only 1900+ will be made. The specs sound pretty good and the pictures are giving me GAS real bad.

 

Thanks for any info.

 

Rich

[BillyGibson]

It's also stamped used, which means it probably had to go toi MIRC in Tennesee for some fixes of some kind. Of course he give the standard reasons why it's stamped used. BUT, you can buy these new for the same price AND get the case it comes with. Sam Ash on their web-site has a Faded Ice Tea in stock. So they are available now in very limited distribution. I don't know why the GC's/MF's don't have them yet. For one that's stamped USED, and doesn't have the original case, it should sell for close to what that guy paid for it - probably $600.

[smokeydusky]

Actual production models seem to be available at this point.

 

Cherry

http://www.wildwoodguitars.com/electrics/epiphone/f301337/f301337.php

 

Iced Tea

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/closeup/ENL9FTNH--Main

 

There are reports of various local stores having them as well.

[concours]

Sam Ash ordered an Ice Tea for me and it came in a week ago (took about four days). Had several issues but Ash tech fixed it all (supposed to be set-up in Nashville before shipping). Finish looks good but body is made up of several pieces of wood with a veneer on the back (disappointing they could not have grain matched like Fender does in the MIM natural ash bodies). The neck is more a C shape than the ball bat but pups and sustain are good. Still evaluating but if there are not any other problems will be a keeper.

[deflepfan]

You can only preorder from MF. I'm finding they are not getting/carrying everything I would expect them to.

 

Faded Ice Tea and Faded Cherryburst at $899

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Epiphone-Limited-Edition-1959-Les-Paul-Standard-Electric-Guitar?sku=581892

[smokeydusky]

Sam Ash ordered an Ice Tea for me and it came in a week ago (took about four days). Had several issues but Ash tech fixed it all (supposed to be set-up in Nashville before shipping). Finish looks good but body is made up of several pieces of wood with a veneer on the back (disappointing they could not have grain matched like Fender does in the MIM natural ash bodies). The neck is more a C shape than the ball bat but pups and sustain are good. Still evaluating but if there are not any other problems will be a keeper.

 

Thanks for the info. What were the problems with the set up?

 

Also, Gibson claimed the neck was supposed to be like the '59 Gibson reissues, not like the '54-'58 reissues. Do you find the neck is just like a Gibson studio's neck?

 

Are the frets like a Gibson or an Epiphone's?

 

Thanks again

[rpach10115]

I just got mine today. # 143 out of 1959 (Yeah right).

 

Here's my review: The guitar is beautiful. The setup was HORRIBLE. How in the world can they say that this guitar was set up in the USA. :-k The neck pickup was not even screwed into the mounting ring! The bridge was too high. OK that is my only complaint. Get a good setup done by a pro.

 

After setting this guitar up, it is a beauty. It plays great. I lowered the action lower than any other LP I have with absolutly no buzz. The neck was the only thing that was in perfect setup when it arrived. The neck is more a "D" shape than anything else, which I prefer. It is slightly bigger (rounder) than my other LP's, but it feels VERY comfortable. It sounds like my other gibby LP's, and actually plays better than all of them. The burstbuckers 2&3 work well in this instrument.

 

The fit and finish is top notch in the "Iced tea" color.

 

Here's my ??? Why does the serial # start with an "F"?

From everything I've read, none of which came from epiphone, this guitar is supposed to be made in QD. It has a "fujigen" serial prefix. Hmmmmm?

 

Anybody know why? Is this just a special prefix from QD?

The case is cool. The pink lining is VERY bright and the brown Faux leather looks cool too.

[rpach10115]

Here's my ??? Why does the serial # start with an "F"?

From everything I've read, none of which came from epiphone, this guitar is supposed to be made in QD. It has a "fujigen" serial prefix. Hmmmmm?

 

Anybody know why? Is this just a special prefix from QD?

[Manimal]

I just got mine today. # 143 out of 1959 (Yeah right).

 

Here's my review: The guitar is beautiful. The setup was HORRIBLE. How in the world can they say that this guitar was set up in the USA. The neck pickup was not even screwed into the mounting ring! The bridge was too high. OK that is my only complaint. Get a good setup done by a pro.

 

After setting this guitar up' date=' it is a beauty. It plays great. I lowered the action lower than any other LP I have with absolutly no buzz. The neck was the only thing that was in perfect setup when it arrived. The neck is more a "D" shape than anything else, which I prefer. It is slightly bigger (rounder) than my other LP's, but it feels VERY comfortable. It sounds like my other gibby LP's, and actually plays better than all of them. The burstbuckers 2&3 work well in this instrument.

 

The fit and finish is top notch in the "Iced tea" color.

 

Here's my ??? Why does the serial # start with an "F"?

From everything I've read, none of which came from epiphone, this guitar is supposed to be made in QD. It has a "fujigen" serial prefix. Hmmmmm?

 

Anybody know why? Is this just a special prefix from QD?

The case is cool. The pink lining is VERY bright and the brown Faux leather looks cool too.

 

 

 

Whatwhatwhat??????

Where are da pics man???? We gotta see this one! Please!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[EPIDEN]

I wasn't looking for another LP, but my dealer had 2 of these (one on display in Iced Tea Burst and one other in stock still in the box in Faded Cherry). I played both both and found these to be excellent guitars! Filling a void of having to wait for my Elitist Casino to arrive, I purchased the Faded Cherry. When I have time later, I'll do a full review. But I'll just add this now this LP puts a huge smile on my face!

 

Here are the pics of the guitar:

 

[AlanH]

If anyone knows anything about these I would be grateful. The link says only 1900+ will be made. The specs sound pretty good and the pictures are giving me GAS real bad.

 

 

 

I too had serious GAS until I tried one out. My review is here:

 

http://forums.epiphone.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=14655

 

Please make sure you try before you buy.

 

Alan

[carverman]

Ok, I read the reviews on these "59 LPs" and I have a hard time understanding what the nickpicky complaints are

about. These are chinese factory and you can't expect them to spend hours diddlin' with the strings and action

the way you prefer. The strings they put on are just basically for shipping. Pretty near every player has their

own preference when it comes to strings..and pickups. The setup is generally done after the guitar is purchased.

And it's not just Epis..I don't know now, but a lot of Gibsons came out of the factory in the late 60s that required

some setup as well.

[EPIDEN]

I too had serious GAS until I tried one out. My review is here:

 

 

Please make sure you try before you buy.

 

Alan

 

Good advice and that applies to any guitar you may want to buy. Sometimes you need to play a few as I did as even the same models can have duds among them. While I wasn't exactly looking for another LP to replace my Gibson R9 50th (pictured below) this LP far exceeds it's asking price. I think I have a good foundation of comparison to say the 2 EPI 59's I played today are a helluva a value' date=' and I'd take one of these over many LP's I have played over the years. It will certainly see alot of playing time from me...

 

My 2009 R9 Historic Gibson 50th Anniversary

[EPIDEN]

Ok' date=' I read the reviews on these "59 LPs" and I have a hard time understanding what the nickpicky complaints are

about. These are chinese factory and you can't expect them to spend hours diddlin' with the strings and action

the way you prefer. The strings they put on are just basically for shipping. Pretty near every player has their

own preference when it comes to strings..and pickups. The setup is generally done after the guitar is purchased.

And it's not just Epis..I don't know now, but a lot of Gibsons came out of the factory in the late 60s that required

some setup as well. [/quote']

 

Yep, everyone has their own preference on action. I like a semi-low action and this Epi was there with no buzzing anywhere on the fretboard.

[AlanH]

Ok' date=' I read the reviews on these "59 LPs" and I have a hard time understanding what the nickpicky complaints are

about. These are chinese factory and you can't expect them to spend hours diddlin' with the strings and action

the way you prefer. The strings they put on are just basically for shipping. Pretty near every player has their

own preference when it comes to strings..and pickups. The setup is generally done after the guitar is purchased.

And it's not just Epis..I don't know now, but a lot of Gibsons came out of the factory in the late 60s that required

some setup as well. [/quote']

 

 

My evaluation excused the set up issues but not the wood quality/finish shortcomings. Of course, these quality/finish problems may have been 'one offs' for the guitars I tried.

[ken361]

I wasn't looking for another LP' date=' but my dealer had 2 of these (one on display in Iced Tea Burst and one other in stock still in the box in Faded Cherry). I played both both and found these to be excellent guitars! Filling a void of having to wait for my Elitist Casino to arrive, I purchased the Faded Cherry. When I have time later, I'll do a full review. But I'll just add this now this LP puts a huge smile on my face!

 

Here are the pics of the guitar:

 

sweet just like mine!

[ken361]

The guy at the store said they use gibson strings you'll be fine and i did you them for 4 months sounded fine I wiped them off each use.

sound clip with my Marshall JVM I did do some preamp tube changes after so I might have a better tone then this. But this sounds great to me :)

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=1013991&songID=8404789

[EPIDEN]

The guy at the store said they use gibson strings you'll be fine and i did you them for 4 months sounded fine I wiped them off each use.

sound clip with my Marshall JVM I did do some preamp tube changes after so I might have a better tone then this. But this sounds great to me

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=1013991&songID=8404789

 

The one I took home (#15 of 1959) was still in the box and never put out on display. So this was unplayed from the factory and strings seem fine as they are (i.e no gunk, etc). Darn thing was nearly still in perfect tuning out of the case to boot. Strings are a bit more stretched in now.

 

I am going to put it through it's paces for a few weeks and through my different amps and my pedal board so I have a better foundation to do a more comprehensive and meaningful review. I played it for a few hours last night and didn't want to put it down if that is any indication so far...

[Hungrycat]

The guy at the store said they use gibson strings you'll be fine and i did you them for 4 months sounded fine I wiped them off each use.

[EPIDEN]

 

 

I understood what he meant...

[deflepfan]

Cat, I have a teenager so let me translate for you!!

He was told to use Gibson strings. He used the Gibson strings for 4 months without issue. He wiped the strings down after each use.

 

Sheila

[Hungrycat]

Cat' date=' I have a teenager so let me translate for you!!

He was told to use Gibson strings. He used the Gibson strings for 4 months without issue. He wiped the strings down after each use.

 

Sheila[/quote']

 

AHHHHH..... Punctuation always helps with the understanding of a sting of words. Thanks for the translation.

[EPIDEN]

Man, you cats are cruel ! :-

[ken361]

Jesus! help me plz lol He said the 59 epiphone had Gibson strings on it so there's no really need to change them. I been out of school for too long!

[EPIDEN]

LOL! It's all good Ken. I've been using Vintage Reissues for a few years along with Ernie Ball Super Slinkys and D'addarios for my LPs. I'm not really married to one brand or another, but I do seem to prefer the Super Slinkys which I plan on replacing these strings with when the time comes.