I’m usually a Fender and Squier player, but I’m really starting to G.A.S. For some of the Epi Les Pauls. I’m having a tough time deciding between the Florentine, and the Special II tho.😉
Epiphone is older than Gibson. They were a big competitor until Gibson bought them out in the 1950s. The mini humbucker was an epiphone original.. After the buy out they were at first made in a factory next to gibson but then out sourced to Japan which later went to Korea and now its almost exclusively China.. (Samick and Aria were at times contracted to build Epis) Chinese quality has improved so, so has the Epis. The newest juniors aren't bolt ons so Id assume even higher quality than the ones in this video.. I had a double cut epi 20 years ago.. it was crap.. but hey $150 CDN brand new wasn't too bad. I have had a few DOTs since and currently have a Wilshire, (had a j200 which was nice but was no sj 200) Been lately on a 1970s/80s Burny kick, but plan to try out these new Classic gibson epis. some look pretty cool
I agree, this is truly a golden era for low buck/high performance guitars. I bought a Squier Bullet Tele on impulse, couldn’t resist. I just loved the way it plays and sounds. I didn’t really need it, because I already have an American Professional Tele, but honestly I like them both equally now.
Just got a P90 version for $59. Played it for an hour in the guitar store before pulling the trigger on the deal. My buddy was with me, he couldn't believe how well it stayed in tune. Even more unplugged it killed the Mexican strat he was playing with. Great lil guitar and looks killer. Thanks for the video bro....keep the passion.
Your honest review and approach made this the best review-I watched others review this and you covered things none of them caught or spoke of, like pricing, build locations, how to spot neck issues and so on. Great Review! Subscribed :)
I found one of these yesterday on CL and picked it up today. It's one that has the trans blue finish made in Indonesia, and it is gorgeous. They were asking $60 and I couldn't shove that money in their hands fast enough. Thanks for the video and the recommendation. Because of you I now have a kick ass LP Jr.
ok i had two identical Epiphone Hummingbird acoustics, 2011 models, and on was made in Malaysia and the other Indonesia....i sold one because i was only playing one of them, and im hoping the quality is about the same....anybody know?
thanks for the information on ski jumping. I bought one without really looking at the neck. After watching your video I discovered that my Junior China had this problem. In the future, I will really analyze the neck more before buying on emotion
Got one a month ago... watch for the bridge posts pulling forward or right out. I had to pull mine, glue in some wood shavings and reset them. Also, the tuners are ok, especially after getting some grease or lube into the gears. Completely transforms them. Then... take the nut out and clean up all the factory glue gunk in there, and get the nut set in really low, and get the slots ramped down properly. Once that’s done, and you adjust the bridge, it will intonate perfectly all the way up the neck.
I doubt it. 30 yo Gibsons are only fetching double what they cost new. The days of wildly appreciating guitar values is over thanks to mass production.
Great Idea and Site..you are so right ...I have been playing..buying and selling guitars for over 50 years and we are in the Golden Age of Cheap Guitars ..thanks for posting.
I bought one for 20$ out of a homeless guys shopping cart. The next day I bought a fender frontman 20 for 20$. The next time I saw him he had been beat up. So I went home and picked up my Dean baby Z and took it to him as a gift, the guy started crying because he always wanted an explorer type guitar. He gave me in trade a nearly new affinity strat with a gig bag. I am supporting the quality work of Indonesians. All of it is great gear.
My first guitar as an adult, 40 years after my first "guitar" if that was what it really was. Formed firewood, but that Epi LPJ, what a find! Indonesian built too. Now, I'm a straight up guitar junkie thanks to that $100 beauty, ebony but that 3 ply pick guard and trc had to go, as well as those cream plastics. They looked like crap together but it's all black now and the fret board even got blacked by Fiebing's Leather stain, now the chrome really pops. I'll be looking for more, the Indonesian built guitars are becoming hard to find, I should have bought one in each color back in 2015, but I didn't know what I was discovering at the time. Btw, new subscriber. Digging your channel.
I have two of these from 2014 & 2015 both made in Indonesia..modified both with Grover tuners and Seymour Dunkin "Pearly Gates" pickups...I have much more expensive Les Paul's in my inventory however ..The juniors are my stage guitars #1 & 2 ..great guitars ,great value ..always still on the look out for them at pawn shops ..great video sir
Thanks so much for this video. I just got a 2011 Indonesian Les Paul for $40. To my surprise, the stock pickup is fine. Only issue I have is that the sound cuts out a little bit while adjusting the tone knob.
Whip, You're doing a great service to people, helping us sift they all the cheap gear out there for the really worthwhile stuff. I have an expensive guitar that got outplayed by a 60$ Chinese guitar. I have never been able to adjust the expensive one to play as well as the cheap one did off the rack. Thanks for all you're doing.
Dave: followed your advice and got an amazing one just like yours in the video, except it was the Indonesian version: great playability, intonation, pickups, mahogany. Thanks a bunch, man!!! You NAILED it with this video.
Hey there Whip, I enjoyed your first Video, I bought a Indo Epi Junior $40 Canadian, and I have guitars that cost me 100 times literaly and my Junior is something I cant put down. best of luck with your channel Man.
Just spent an afternoon playing a “chance it” junior bought from a car boot sale. New strings & an hour setting up (no wonder it was being sold) and then plugged in for a great discovery. Wow, I totally get your enthusiasm for this guitar. Fits like a familiar old glove, fun to play, no nonsense guitar. Love it. Getting another ASAP.
I've been playing guitar for 30 years plus...and i love these cheap guitars...a mate of mine spent almost a 1000 quid on a guitar , thinking it would make him play better...that was a total waste of money...nah , i love my cheap pawn shop guitars :)...great vid :)
hi there i just stumbled in your page by accident and i am liking it i love cheep guitars i usually buy cheep ones and do some fixer up and i donate them to kids with disability or to kids who are in a low income bracket .i do this out from the heart because it gives kids some to do and keep out of trouble and to my kids with a disability it makes there faces light up with a smile and it makes a good challenge so they see can do something and it takes there attention away from there physical handicap. i look forward to watching more .
Thanks so much for these videos Whip. I play an Indonesian Junior. Cherry red and completely stock. It’s an amazing axe. The tuners actually stay in tune, the neck is just right, there are no sharp fret ends and it sounds killer.
Just got one too, playing with Headphones until I get an amp, really great sound, got a Mahogany body and neck, 700T Humbucker, modern tuners, steel strings, 22 frets, JUST GREAT!!
I've got an Indonesian-made SG Junior and it's an amazing guitar. I bought it for $93 brand new at Guitar Center (it was on sale). You really can't go wrong with any Indonesian guitar. I've played Squiers, Epiphones and Ibanezes from Indonesia and they've all been great, much better than Chinese equivalents.
Totally agree. I look for the made in Indonesia label on all cheap guitars now. OH, Iplayed a g&l the other day that was an INDO and it was great, BTW.
Some of those gio' s have really good necks, i use the necks for my own builds. My number 7 i finished 5 years ago its about the only one i play. The rest ive sold for 4- 600 im working on # 18 now.
I bought two of these for about $60 each. I had a 54-ish Gibson LP Jr back in the '70s so I know a lot about Juniors. One of mine was already painted white. The other was that horrific sunburst. I'm in the process of re-finishing it in pseudo-TV yellow. I put cheapie P90s on both. When I started out playing cheap guitars were garbage. I have Franken-Strat that I put together for $20. It plays very well.
A man who loves cheap guitars is a man after my own heart. Last Spring I went to a guitar show. They were having a raffle. At the last moment I entered my name and won an Epiphone Les Paul Special II. I have a 2004 Epi Les Paul Standard Plus Top. I swear I have more fun with the Special II. Switched out the crappy tuners for some better Gotoh knock offs. Made some cosmetic changes. Love playing this thing. Last month I walked into Guitar Center and walked out with a 2003 Squier Affinity Strat for $49. I have three other strats. This one's become my favorite. Put a GFS full sized steel bloc in it. Now you've got me hankering for a Junior...with a P90.
Second comment...I also have one of the Indonesian P90 Juniors. Got it new for $125 in 1999 or so. They had two black ones and a sunburst at the store for that price. I played all three and the sunburst just had that little bit of extra magic to it, so it went home with me. Eighteen years later and it still has a home.
Thats awesome! A good junior is a great guitar isn't it! Ive got used to rolling down the tone and picking up on the neck and I can get a pretty usable neck pickup sound. Love my juniors! Thanks for the comment.
Update! It's three stinking years since my last mad rambling comment!!! In those years my Epiphone LP JR has become tied for my favorite guitar!! I have NINE guitars right now, not counting the ones I gave my sosn because I thought I was about to get in my grave!!! My Epiphone Casino and this Junior are tops!!! Mine has the humbucker as opposed to the P90 which of course, my Casino has a pair! Final update - Although Reaper has done an excellent job for all my home recording needs and they are HANDS DOWN one of the very best companies for customer service with awesome product, I have made a switch!! I bought a PreSonus Audiobox 96 which was bundled with thousands of dollars of free effects and plugins!! I bought it this past December and have just basically busted it out after some illness, but so far I am entirely impressed!!! Start a Recording Software topic Whip and I'll update smore! As for these Epiphone Juniors - You right Whip!!! Take care my brother and say howdy to the little lady! Jack ~'()'~ Canada Manly!
I recently picked up an Epiphone Les Paul Special from 1997 and it's the best Special I've ever played! It was made at the Chinese factory but man is it nice! The wood grain and figuring on the top is what caught my eye first. I'm sure it's probably a veneer but still. No one else has to know that ;) I was trying out the new "Inspired by Gibson" SG Standard model but then I picked up the Les Paul Special. I was more impressed by the Special honestly. I just kept ripping on it. It felt and played so nice. The tuners were actually smooth and it stayed in tune. Maybe they made the older ones better or I just got lucky. Don't knock the cheap stuff! It's actually pretty decent these days.
Well...that was awesome rabbit...I see why so popular now. You are passionate about what your speaking about, and it reflects directly in this video. winner, winner...fried pike dinner! Sweet riffs too D...u gotz the skills!
I just bought an Epiphone Les Paul Studio and it sounds excellent! I am very impressed with the workmanship of this guitar and the beauty of this guitar. Mine is a glossy jet black. Really shines when cleaned up. Plus it was very affordable. In fact brand new it was just $249.00. It is well worth the money! So I agree with this guy. The amount you pay isn't always an indication of how good the guitar plays. Granted maybe my ear isnt good enough to distinguish a difference between my Les Paul and a $3k+ Les Paul. But if I cant hear the difference why pay for the difference???
Sir you have yourself another subscriber. My two main axe's are an epi lp standard which i picked up from a pawnshop and a japanese early 90s squire strat which is absolutely perfect.
First time seeing your channel. I love it. I have a les paul jr from Rondo music by Agile that i freaking love. Im gonna get a mini humbucker to replace the p90 and a wraparound tuneomatic bridge. That would be a great video. Nudge nudge.
I like cheap guitars myself. I got a vintage 1980s Cort Les Paul copy (silverburst) at a local pawnshop for about $130; (which plays awesome!); and shortly thereafter I bought a Chinese Bullet Strat (sunburst) for about $70. I still have my Strat (which plays awesome btw) but I lost my Cort ,unfortunately. But I DO have an Epiphone Les Paul Standard Pro on layaway that I'm paying for! I believe that the retail for one of these brand new is around $600 but I'm getting it for $299! Not as cheap as the Junior but not a bad deal either. I like the LP Juniors as well. I've seen one on another channel that was transformed into an awesome surf guitar! Modding cheap guitars has become quite a phenomenon and I would like to see more done with the Epiphone Les Paul Jr's. Great video!
I'm with you on the inexpensive guitars . Especially the Epi's . Electric , Acoustic. , doesn't matter . Quality improving year by year . Squier stepping up their game as well .
rock and roll life style maybe the electrics, but man some of the cheap Epi acoustics are just horrible. Not that you can't get a decent acoustic Epi for cheap, but you have to look around a bit and avoid a lot of junk.
Im very Happy to have a Epiphone junior "Limited edition 57 reissue " has a fat neck ( set - not Bolted ) and I replaced the P100 ( Stacked magnet pickup that i hated ) with a Original Gibson P90 dogear pickup . The Ultimate Rock machine - Sounds Amazing ! I Highly recommend It !
I picked up an all black Epiphone LP Jr. exactly like the one you're reviewing. I got it used from Guitar Center for $89. It's got a few nicks, but so do I and I'm pretty happy with it. Like you said, we don't have to spend a fortune to get a guitar that looks and sounds great.
Found an old abused Maestro by Gibson LPj ..... Swapped out the bridge for an adjustable wraparound around, put locking tuners on it, popped a bone nut on there ..... after some polishing of the fretwires ...plays like a high end Gibson. Total cost, 150 quid.
Whip- Thank you for posting this video. After watching your video, I found a LPJ on eBay for $50. Installed a phat cat P90 (my first try at installing a new pickup). I totally love playing this guitar!
Bought one as a project..Its all torn down now. Owner before me was really bad with a solder gun and (joy) he glued on the tone and volume knobs. I've started to strip off the finish and now you have me scared that this might bea plywood guitar.. Anyway I'll deal with it.Did play with the stock bridge. G string unable to intonate. Adjustable bridge on the way. Along with DiMarzio PAF Master..Didn't like the tuners. Some Hipshot locking tuners in mystockpile will be just right.Love my LP Special.. Hope this turn out good..Does have a thick neck. Fattest of all my present collection.
I don't have the Junior assembled as yet.. I ordered the wrong bridge when what I really wanted was the Tone Pro's adjustable wrap around.I should have that in the next day or so.. Have the DiMarzio PAF 36 Anniversary set in my LP Special and it sounds as great as any high $$$ top shelf Junior could!!MY former black Junior is not ply wood!! 3 piece body a real nice "large" knot right behind the bridge. I like charcter woods!! Another nice knot where a belly cut would go.Took everything down to natural wood., Just a touch of yellow dyeand Minwax honey stain rubbed and buffed it all ..Then 2 coat of amber shellac.. The neck has a light coat of the diluted Minwax #272and a couple coatings of Butcher Block Conditioner (Mineral oil and waxes). Georgous!!!!Will be making up the new wiring harness tonite.
Whip, just found your channel. Love it! As a bass player just moving to guitar, I found your videos informative, honest and just plain fun. Keep up the great work. I have owned expensive basses and cheap ones. I made more money with a cheap Jackson than I did with all the rest. If you play well enough, you can make ANY guitar sound good.
these things are so ace for the price! I got a pro setup done on mine, frets filed, new nut and a Kent Armstrong P90 to replace the humbucker. It was pretty good anyhow, but now it feels great and sounds SO mean. Would recommend, fun thing to have around and you don't have to stress about anything happening to it at a gig.
Man I love Junior's. I have an original Gibson single cutaway from 1958- with the original price tag! I have an Epiphone 3/4 body with a humbucker that I got brand new for 77 bucks with a strap & gigbag in 97 at Guitar Center. The tag said 200 bucks! I'm headed to Music Go Round to see another one. Bad Habit. Anyway, Love your video, love inexpensive gear. When you get ready to play 'em you gotta say "Time to Whip it - Whip it Good!" Take Care.
You bet! I would love to do a whole bunch of cool "cheap amp vids" .......however.......during the summer I live "off grid in interior Alaska, and I have ZERO place to plug an amp into. I can still do videos, but they will be acoustic videos until I head south in the fall. Thanks for watching!
whip's cheap guitars. I can play for hours on my little Roland Micro Cube (or whatever it's called) using 6 rechargeable AA batteries. You off-the-grid types have all sorts of solar panels and battery chargers, don't you? Don't deprive yourself-- just think of it as another way to scare away grizzly bears...
You should go on a full baked bean diet, install a composting toilet, then use the gas to power a generator for the amps! Depending on how big your cabin is it would also be prudent to install a heavy duty exhaust fan or two :-0 LOL Great Video :-)
i've got two of those i play through a stereo chorus pedal and they are awesome....great for recording too.i also have a Blackstar Fly amp, and its just as good.all run on 'AA' batteries
Yep, picked up a Maestro LP JR. Plywood body, frets could saw down a tree. Ratio of tuners terrible. Someone swapped out the pickup and pots for Fender pots and a burstbucker. ??? No idea why. Did the setup and swapped the pickup for a 700T. Nice little guitar now but man, is it heavy. Pretty birdseye neck on it. Sounds like my Special II so I don't play it that much.
Awesome Whip, just found Your channel 《☆》Going back to a Value pawn today to see if the sunburst LP jr is still there with the anticipated $20 drop bringing it down to $40. They also had a Peavey rockmaster 5w batt amp which should be going for $20 now. I did notice the battery cavity had been gutted but I'm bringing an ac adapter with ☻
Great video! Straight to the point, NO bullshit! I just picked up a Jr. for $25 on letgo and I'm psyched I grabbed it, especially after hearing your input on these badboys! Thanks!!
I love the neck on it!! it plays really comfortably, and sounds great! I had to adjust the neck and saddle height, after that it was good to go! thanks for the video, I look forward to more reviews from your channel!
I'll take another one as long as it's qc on the money! I've one and I love this jr. No my first was a Kent Sg Back in 77. Then my second was a epi f250. Both were motsu. But this epi lpjr is a real good guitar. I took out an Armstrong and put in a humbucker.
Great video! Thanks for letting us know what to look for. I dig the cheap Epiphone Les Paul's too. I picked up a used epi les Paul special 2 for $70 and it rocks! Now I'll be on the lookout for a cheap jr. Good job Whip!
The special II is one of my all time favorite guitars. I used to really hope that Gibson would make the same guitar with a set neck ...because I love the single volume and tone.....but then I came to the conclusion .....Why not just play the Epi version. You find a good one ( with a good neck) and its a great rig! And, some of the ceramic hum buckers in those sound great!
My Man!!! just what I need to bring me down to earth. I love Cheap Guitars. Two of my favorite guitars are a 2000 Squier Tele Affintity I bought new for $179 and a Goldtop w/ P90's for $199 from Austin. Every time I buy an "Expensive" axe I compare it to those two, believe or not. I'm tired of paying big bucks past year for some top dollar axes (Gretsch, Deans)....like you said..dont need expensive gear to sound great and rock out.
Brother I think these videos are great!!! Never even considered a Junior - like just about everyone else- always lusted after the Les Paul and thought that only the top end stuff had great sound. I play a Squier CV tele myself - great guitar, relatively cheap but not FORTY BUCKS CHEAP!!! Gotta get me one of these!!! Keep on truckin'!!!
Also...a good les paul special II is a fantastic guitar for about the same money. Some of them are "firewood quality" and some are GREAT guitars. You have to pick one thats right for you. They can sound really really good stock. Ive had a coupe that had stock pickups so good I would keep them when I sold the guitar and put them in the next one.
Thanks for your video, I bought a black from China last week for 45 € ! I have a Duesenberg Domino P90 and Tele potknobs installed. wow what a sound and a custom look...greetings from Germany 💥🎸🎼😎
I think I've come to the conclusion that most guitars will sound good going through a descent amp, 30 watts or more. Where the difference from the cheap and expensive really shows is over the years how well the electronics hold up. My $125 Washburn is snap crackle and pop all over the place until you run the knobs and switch up and down a few times. It's about 25 years old now but the pickups still sound the same. Someday I'll change out the pots and switch and the jack.
Your totally right. I think even dirt cheap guitars nowadays have decent fretwork and usable tuners...but the electronics are better in more expensive gear. That said, there are some great sounding stock pickups in some really cheap guitars. Thanks for the comment.
Dave, I ran across your video last week. I have seen at least half a dozen of these in Pawn Shops but was never impressed with them at all. They would have fret ends that would shred a hand, very high action, or they were way too heavy for me. However, after watching your video I found one in mint condition save a small scrape on the headstock on Craigslist for $40.00 listed as a "Rocksmith" guitar that apparently came in a Players Pack. All I can say is I'm completely shocked. I usually have to do a lengthy setup on a guitar when I get it, very often with a fret leveling, regardless of name or price. All I've had to do to this one is a truss rod adjustment, then play the crap out of it. A couple of days later I remembered I had a GFS P90 Dog Ear that I bought at least 10 years ago but never installed. The Dog Ear has a wider cover that hides the wider rout from the Humbucker. I did have to take out a little bit of wood at each end of the rout. Now it's a Tone Monster, especially through a good tube amp. Plugged straight in, no effects, it sounds great, but it plays Fantastic. I have 2 of the Special I with P90s and they're great players too, but I put 10 times as much time in them setting them up since both needed a fret leveling. I just picked up another one yesterday for $50.00 (6 lbs. featherweight) and it plays just as good as my first one. Even after some Copies of Vintage Tuning keys (don't require any tuner hole reaming but much better quality than the original keys plus more efficient 15 to 1) I still wont have a Hundred bucks in the first one I got. A Kick ass Les Paul Junior with a P90 for less than a hundred bucks aint bad at all. I never would have considered it had I not seen your video. Thanks for the info.
The Korean-made Austin brand were from the company that makes Alvarez. I snagged a barely used LP Junior for $125 to my door and it easily beats any Epiphone I ever saw. Look for the Korean built guitars of the recent past...
I like those Epi Special Juniors, and the Special IIs too. Great guitars. Fret level on them will fix any issues there. As long as you 'tune up' like you should then those tuners are more than fine. Find a set of the ebay import red/black zebra humbuckers that sell around $15 a pair that are 14-16kohm bridge and put that in your Special (there are similar black/cream and silver covered too, compare construction/backs to match them up). I've pulled Duncans to put these in. I also dismantle them for splits, my most played Epi Jr has a red/black split with push/pull tone pot for single coil; fun fun guitar.
You hit the nail on the head - there's a million cheap ace sounding guitars out there! Move away from the 'vintage' snobbery and get on with it! Great video man!
Besides plywood there are also some press board guitars worth having. I have a '68 Silvertone (made by Danelectro and sold by Sears & Roebuck, with built in 2 tube amp in the case). The rosewood neck is beautiful, the original Dano Liptick Tube single coil pickup is awesome. The rest is garbage; press board body, pressed tin hardware. But it just screams, and resonates forever. -- I see an electric bass in the arsenal. The very first video I saw of Brooke's I saw a bass on the wall and asked her about it.
Good question. I would say for used instruments ( guitars) $40-200 and for new gear anything from under about $350 anything higher than that is getting rich for my blood!
think part of the reason it's such a common pawnshop guitar is that they did a bundle deal for the black juniors with the Rocksmith game; just bought mine for £50 with the game, which I'll just resell, and some cords, off a mum who was cleaning out her son's bedroom. A price i couldn't pass up, especially after buying a relatively expensive acoustic as my "main guitar".
Had the white one a few years back,sold it back to guitar center for $50. Wish I would have kept it. Looking for another one! Hard to find for under $200-$150.
Hey Whip! I just came across Harley Benton guitars from a German company called Thomman they are made in China and QC'd set up and sold by Thomman, they cut out the distribution costs and pass this on to the consumer, I'm really impressed with these guitars going by the reviews I have seen, you can get these from other shops but I don't think they are QC'd by these retailers, check them out unless you are already aware of them.
Thanks Andrew. Yes , Im aware of them, but have yet to play one. They have a very highly-thought-of Telecaster knockoff that looks good......and if I remember right..they even have a Prince Tele. Cool stuff.
Just recently scored an 05 Korean Junior for 50 bucks and it came with a stand! It needs some work, but I got it playable chord wise, man does it sustain. Once I can get the action/neck pocket situation resolved I'll be modding the hell out of it.
Own a couple of these. Prefer the Korean made. Great neck and electronics. Been playing for 52 years and owned vintage Gibson LP JRs. These are as good. Thanks for sharing. You got great tone.
Good video I enjoyed that, I have looking at epiphones for years and have noticed the inconsistency and have stayed away from them. Lately, I have been looking for a hollow body and have thought about the epiphones. I haven't had a chance to see if you have done any reveiws or have any experience with hollow bodies and what your reccomend. I was spoiled, I had a 1950's gibson years ago but had to sell it when the first baby showed up. Now that it is grandkid time I am think a hollow body might be a good motivator to get back playing more.
Hey Kevin. Just like all brands, Epiphone guitars are unique one to the next...some are pretty bad, and some are really great. Ive had ONE epiphany semi hallow. It was a Cherry ES 335 DOT. Great guitar. Sounded and played awesome...but track one down and play it before you buy it because you never know what the guitar you buy online will be like in person....because of all the places these guitars have been made over the years...Some good Some bad.
he's right....don't pay for a name. Epiphone has stepped up and put out much better guitars. Epiphone is Gibsons child
Stratoblues yes they have I’ll take epiphone over Gibson any day
I’m usually a Fender and Squier player, but I’m really starting to G.A.S. For some of the Epi Les Pauls. I’m having a tough time deciding between the Florentine, and the Special II tho.😉
true dat
Epiphone is older than Gibson. They were a big competitor until Gibson bought them out in the 1950s.
The mini humbucker was an epiphone original.. After the buy out they were at first made in a factory next to gibson but then out sourced to Japan which later went to Korea and now its almost exclusively China.. (Samick and Aria were at times contracted to build Epis) Chinese quality has improved so, so has the Epis.
The newest juniors aren't bolt ons so Id assume even higher quality than the ones in this video..
I had a double cut epi 20 years ago.. it was crap.. but hey $150 CDN brand new wasn't too bad. I have had a few DOTs since and currently have a Wilshire, (had a j200 which was nice but was no sj 200)
Been lately on a 1970s/80s Burny kick, but plan to try out these new Classic gibson epis. some look pretty cool
@@RonaldLeggettJr Then you are an idiot!
I agree, this is truly a golden era for low buck/high performance guitars. I bought a Squier Bullet Tele on impulse, couldn’t resist. I just loved the way it plays and sounds. I didn’t really need it, because I already have an American Professional Tele, but honestly I like them both equally now.
Wow, thats quite an endorsement! Thanks
I’m 64 years old, playing guitar for 50 years. I LOVE cheap and this guy is right on!
Thanks Dr. Skull!
I subbed because you sound so happy about everything
Also could you review the epiphone les paul sl when it comes out.
Thanks . I appreciate that!
I would LOVE to review that guitar! Consider it done...it just may take a month before i can get it out.
whip's cheap guitars cool
Getting great guitars at a super cheap price makes me happy too! 😁👍
my faith is restored by finding your channel. I hear a Southern Rock influence. Sir you Rock.
Just got a P90 version for $59. Played it for an hour in the guitar store before pulling the trigger on the deal. My buddy was with me, he couldn't believe how well it stayed in tune. Even more unplugged it killed the Mexican strat he was playing with. Great lil guitar and looks killer. Thanks for the video bro....keep the passion.
Your honest review and approach made this the best review-I watched others review this and you covered things none of them caught or spoke of, like pricing, build locations, how to spot neck issues and so on. Great Review! Subscribed :)
I found one of these yesterday on CL and picked it up today. It's one that has the trans blue finish made in Indonesia, and it is gorgeous. They were asking $60 and I couldn't shove that money in their hands fast enough. Thanks for the video and the recommendation. Because of you I now have a kick ass LP Jr.
Awesome! Some of my favorite Epi's are indonisian. Good score!
Indonesian-built models seem to be much more consistent, whether Epiphone or Squier.
ok i had two identical Epiphone Hummingbird acoustics, 2011 models, and on was made in Malaysia and the other Indonesia....i sold one because i was only playing one of them, and im hoping the quality is about the same....anybody know?
Sweet Home Indonesia.
Indonesia is like the new Japan , for guitar making LOL
I have a Squier Strat made in Indonesia that probably gets more playing time than my more exspensive guitars.
Why it's neck stays so true
Ha ha, yea that’s where my Bullet Tele was made - Amazing build quality on that Axe!
... where the guitars are so cooool ... c'mon y'all sing along...
Learning that bushradical is a guitar enthusiast as well made my day
thanks for the information on ski jumping. I bought one without really looking at the neck. After watching your video I discovered that my Junior China had this problem. In the future, I will really analyze the neck more before buying on emotion
Got one a month ago... watch for the bridge posts pulling forward or right out. I had to pull mine, glue in some wood shavings and reset them. Also, the tuners are ok, especially after getting some grease or lube into the gears. Completely transforms them. Then... take the nut out and clean up all the factory glue gunk in there, and get the nut set in really low, and get the slots ramped down properly. Once that’s done, and you adjust the bridge, it will intonate perfectly all the way up the neck.
These guitars will sell at Norman's rare for triple the price in 40 years.
I bet you're right !
by then it will be Norman the 4th greeting you at the door.
I doubt it. 30 yo Gibsons are only fetching double what they cost new. The days of wildly appreciating guitar values is over thanks to mass production.
Finkardop Nope!!
plfdjack you never know. Norman might wheel himself out to you
It is refreshing to see someone on here who is not a guitar snob, a lot of youtubers have all the gear and no idea
Thanks Andrew! I really love budget ( quality ) gear....so I hope these vids help people see through some of that snobbery.
Cool chanel...I'm also a huge "cheap gear" fan
Thanks MB!
Great Idea and Site..you are so right ...I have been playing..buying and selling guitars for over 50 years and we are in the Golden Age of Cheap Guitars ..thanks for posting.
Thanks John P! Appreciate the comment.
just bought an epiphone les paul jr. for 60 bones of craigslist and its the shit... but wait theres more. it has a p freakin90
Thats awesome! $60 is a good price for a LP jr. The p90 version can get $130 on eBay pretty easy..and that is like a new price !
whip's cheap guitars nice i should sell it. great channnel btw.
I bought one for 20$ out of a homeless guys shopping cart. The next day I bought a fender frontman 20 for 20$. The next time I saw him he had been beat up. So I went home and picked up my Dean baby Z and took it to him as a gift, the guy started crying because he always wanted an explorer type guitar. He gave me in trade a nearly new affinity strat with a gig bag. I am supporting the quality work of Indonesians. All of it is great gear.
Its so good to know there's still good folks like you paul...total respect to you :)
My first guitar as an adult, 40 years after my first "guitar" if that was what it really was. Formed firewood, but that Epi LPJ, what a find! Indonesian built too. Now, I'm a straight up guitar junkie thanks to that $100 beauty, ebony but that 3 ply pick guard and trc had to go, as well as those cream plastics. They looked like crap together but it's all black now and the fret board even got blacked by Fiebing's Leather stain, now the chrome really pops. I'll be looking for more, the Indonesian built guitars are becoming hard to find, I should have bought one in each color back in 2015, but I didn't know what I was discovering at the time. Btw, new subscriber. Digging your channel.
I have two of these from 2014 & 2015 both made in Indonesia..modified both with Grover tuners and Seymour Dunkin "Pearly Gates" pickups...I have much more expensive Les Paul's in my inventory however ..The juniors are my stage guitars #1 & 2 ..great guitars ,great value ..always still on the look out for them at pawn shops ..great video sir
Thanks so much for this video. I just got a 2011 Indonesian Les Paul for $40. To my surprise, the stock pickup is fine.
Only issue I have is that the sound cuts out a little bit while adjusting the tone knob.
It shouldn't cut out. Get it sprayed with cleaner
It’s just dirty. Some electronics cleaner will fix that.
Epiphone Juniors (and Special II's) along with Squier Affinity strats, are like the backbone of the affordable used guitar market!
Whip,
You're doing a great service to people, helping us sift they all the cheap gear out there for the really worthwhile stuff. I have an expensive guitar that got outplayed by a 60$ Chinese guitar. I have never been able to adjust the expensive one to play as well as the cheap one did off the rack. Thanks for all you're doing.
Thanks Randy. I appreciate that. There sure is a lot of great gear out there right now.
Dave: followed your advice and got an amazing one just like yours in the video, except it was the Indonesian version: great playability, intonation, pickups, mahogany. Thanks a bunch, man!!! You NAILED it with this video.
Glad you like your guitar!!!!
Hey there Whip, I enjoyed your first Video, I bought a Indo Epi Junior $40 Canadian, and I have guitars that cost me 100 times literaly and my Junior is something I cant put down. best of luck with your channel Man.
Thanks MrBritjoe! Glad you enjoyed the vid and congrats on a $40 Guitar!!!
Just spent an afternoon playing a “chance it” junior bought from a car boot sale. New strings & an hour setting up (no wonder it was being sold) and then plugged in for a great discovery. Wow, I totally get your enthusiasm for this guitar. Fits like a familiar old glove, fun to play, no nonsense guitar. Love it. Getting another ASAP.
I've been playing guitar for 30 years plus...and i love these cheap guitars...a mate of mine spent almost a 1000 quid on a guitar , thinking it would make him play better...that was a total waste of money...nah , i love my cheap pawn shop guitars :)...great vid :)
hi there i just stumbled in your page by accident and i am liking it i love cheep guitars i usually buy cheep ones and do some fixer up and i donate them to kids with disability or to kids who are in a low income bracket .i do this out from the heart because it gives kids some to do and keep out of trouble and to my kids with a disability it makes there faces light up with a smile and it makes a good challenge so they see can do something and it takes there attention away from there physical handicap. i look forward to watching more .
Thanks June. And good on ya' for your passing on guitars to kids who need them.
Thanks so much for these videos Whip. I play an Indonesian Junior. Cherry red and completely stock. It’s an amazing axe. The tuners actually stay in tune, the neck is just right, there are no sharp fret ends and it sounds killer.
Man, I love the Indonesian Epis. They are great guitars
Haven't changed my strings in years
Just got one too, playing with Headphones until I get an amp, really great sound, got a Mahogany body and neck, 700T Humbucker, modern tuners, steel strings, 22 frets, JUST GREAT!!
I've got an Indonesian-made SG Junior and it's an amazing guitar. I bought it for $93 brand new at Guitar Center (it was on sale). You really can't go wrong with any Indonesian guitar. I've played Squiers, Epiphones and Ibanezes from Indonesia and they've all been great, much better than Chinese equivalents.
Totally agree. I look for the made in Indonesia label on all cheap guitars now. OH, Iplayed a g&l the other day that was an INDO and it was great, BTW.
You should look into Ibanez Gio, its a little on the more expensive end of "cheap" but has an amazing package for the price , 100-200
I see them, I'll try to do a review.
Maybe some are okay but I had the 7 string gio and it really was terrible and I have some cheap guitars I love
Ibanez are good guitars. But they all have an thin neck, so they lost lows. So you need a expensive amp for a cheap guitar....
Some of those gio' s have really good necks, i use the necks for my own builds. My number 7 i finished 5 years ago its about the only one i play. The rest ive sold for 4- 600 im working on # 18 now.
I subbed in the first 30 seconds. You’re my kind of channel my brother
I bought two of these for about $60 each. I had a 54-ish Gibson LP Jr back in the '70s so I know a lot about Juniors. One of mine was already painted white. The other was that horrific sunburst. I'm in the process of re-finishing it in pseudo-TV yellow. I put cheapie P90s on both. When I started out playing cheap guitars were garbage. I have Franken-Strat that I put together for $20. It plays very well.
I bought a Jr at my local pawn shop and modded/replaced nearly everything on it. That was fun and now it sounds and looks great!
Awesome.
Great video. I have a $60 plywood jr that I redid and tibia my favorite guitar.
A man who loves cheap guitars is a man after my own heart. Last Spring I went to a guitar show. They were having a raffle. At the last moment I entered my name and won an Epiphone Les Paul Special II. I have a 2004 Epi Les Paul Standard Plus Top. I swear I have more fun with the Special II. Switched out the crappy tuners for some better Gotoh knock offs. Made some cosmetic changes. Love playing this thing. Last month I walked into Guitar Center and walked out with a 2003 Squier Affinity Strat for $49. I have three other strats. This one's become my favorite. Put a GFS full sized steel bloc in it. Now you've got me hankering for a Junior...with a P90.
I love the special II guitars, they are so much fun and some of them sound fantastic.
Truth spoken with fervour! Have to add, one of my all time favourite guitars was a Kramer plywood body!!
Second comment...I also have one of the Indonesian P90 Juniors. Got it new for $125 in 1999 or so. They had two black ones and a sunburst at the store for that price. I played all three and the sunburst just had that little bit of extra magic to it, so it went home with me. Eighteen years later and it still has a home.
Thats awesome! A good junior is a great guitar isn't it! Ive got used to rolling down the tone and picking up on the neck and I can get a pretty usable neck pickup sound. Love my juniors! Thanks for the comment.
Update! It's three stinking years since my last mad rambling comment!!!
In those years my Epiphone LP JR has become tied for my favorite guitar!! I have NINE guitars right now, not counting the ones I gave my sosn because I thought I was about to get in my grave!!!
My Epiphone Casino and this Junior are tops!!!
Mine has the humbucker as opposed to the P90 which of course, my Casino has a pair!
Final update - Although Reaper has done an excellent job for all my home recording needs and they are HANDS DOWN one of the very best companies for customer service with awesome product, I have made a switch!!
I bought a PreSonus Audiobox 96 which was bundled with thousands of dollars of free effects and plugins!!
I bought it this past December and have just basically busted it out after some illness, but so far I am entirely impressed!!!
Start a Recording Software topic Whip and I'll update smore!
As for these Epiphone Juniors - You right Whip!!!
Take care my brother and say howdy to the little lady!
Jack ~'()'~
Canada Manly!
I recently picked up an Epiphone Les Paul Special from 1997 and it's the best Special I've ever played! It was made at the Chinese factory but man is it nice! The wood grain and figuring on the top is what caught my eye first. I'm sure it's probably a veneer but still. No one else has to know that ;) I was trying out the new "Inspired by Gibson" SG Standard model but then I picked up the Les Paul Special. I was more impressed by the Special honestly. I just kept ripping on it. It felt and played so nice. The tuners were actually smooth and it stayed in tune. Maybe they made the older ones better or I just got lucky. Don't knock the cheap stuff! It's actually pretty decent these days.
Well...that was awesome rabbit...I see why so popular now. You are passionate about what your speaking about, and it
reflects directly in this video. winner, winner...fried pike dinner! Sweet riffs too D...u gotz the skills!
I just bought an Epiphone Les Paul Studio and it sounds excellent! I am very impressed with the workmanship of this guitar and the beauty of this guitar. Mine is a glossy jet black. Really shines when cleaned up. Plus it was very affordable. In fact brand new it was just $249.00. It is well worth the money! So I agree with this guy. The amount you pay isn't always an indication of how good the guitar plays. Granted maybe my ear isnt good enough to distinguish a difference between my Les Paul and a $3k+ Les Paul. But if I cant hear the difference why pay for the difference???
you are the most coolest guy i have ever seen.keep on going man! thank you for telling the truths of cheap guitars.
Man, totally dig this cat's energy and enthusiasm. Nice playing dude. Passed one up today, going back after it tomorrow!
Oh, and gained a sub for sure
I have two Emperador plywood Tele Deluxe clones from the late 70's. They play and sound awesome! Plywood rocks.
Well said
Sir you have yourself another subscriber. My two main axe's are an epi lp standard which i picked up from a pawnshop and a japanese early 90s squire strat which is absolutely perfect.
Japanese suites are serious guitars> I had a MIJ tele custom Squire and it was as good of a guitar as you could buy!
First time seeing your channel. I love it. I have a les paul jr from Rondo music by Agile that i freaking love. Im gonna get a mini humbucker to replace the p90 and a wraparound tuneomatic bridge. That would be a great video. Nudge nudge.
I like cheap guitars myself. I got a vintage 1980s Cort Les Paul copy (silverburst) at a local pawnshop for about $130; (which plays awesome!); and shortly thereafter I bought a Chinese Bullet Strat (sunburst) for about $70. I still have my Strat (which plays awesome btw) but I lost my Cort ,unfortunately. But I DO have an Epiphone Les Paul Standard Pro on layaway that I'm paying for! I believe that the retail for one of these brand new is around $600 but I'm getting it for $299! Not as cheap as the Junior but not a bad deal either. I like the LP Juniors as well. I've seen one on another channel that was transformed into an awesome surf guitar! Modding cheap guitars has become quite a phenomenon and I would like to see more done with the Epiphone Les Paul Jr's. Great video!
Squires are probably slightly more pawn shop prevalent, but that's mostly because most people buy up the lp jrs
They have thinned out a bit
I'm with you on the inexpensive guitars . Especially the Epi's . Electric , Acoustic. , doesn't matter . Quality improving year by year . Squier stepping up their game as well .
Totally. Some of the new Squires are great. Wish their neck were wider though.
rock and roll life style maybe the electrics, but man some of the cheap Epi acoustics are just horrible. Not that you can't get a decent acoustic Epi for cheap, but you have to look around a bit and avoid a lot of junk.
Im very Happy to have a Epiphone junior "Limited edition 57 reissue " has a fat neck ( set - not Bolted ) and I replaced the P100 ( Stacked magnet pickup that i hated ) with a Original Gibson P90 dogear pickup . The Ultimate Rock machine - Sounds Amazing ! I Highly recommend It !
I've never got to play one of those but I would love to. I love juniors and the gibson versions have problems, so I would love a set neck Epi!
I picked up an all black Epiphone LP Jr. exactly like the one you're reviewing. I got it used from Guitar Center for $89. It's got a few nicks, but so do I and I'm pretty happy with it. Like you said, we don't have to spend a fortune to get a guitar that looks and sounds great.
Found an old abused Maestro by Gibson LPj ..... Swapped out the bridge for an adjustable wraparound around, put locking tuners on it, popped a bone nut on there ..... after some polishing of the fretwires ...plays like a high end Gibson.
Total cost, 150 quid.
Whip- Thank you for posting this video. After watching your video, I found a LPJ on eBay for $50. Installed a phat cat P90 (my first try at installing a new pickup). I totally love playing this guitar!
Thanks CS!! Glad you got such a smoking deal!
Bought one as a project..Its all torn down now. Owner before me was really bad with a solder gun and (joy) he glued on the tone and volume knobs. I've started to strip off the finish and now you have me scared that this might bea plywood guitar.. Anyway I'll deal with it.Did play with the stock bridge. G string unable to intonate. Adjustable bridge on the way. Along with DiMarzio PAF Master..Didn't like the tuners. Some Hipshot locking tuners in mystockpile will be just right.Love my LP Special.. Hope this turn out good..Does have a thick neck. Fattest of all my present collection.
Awesome. Let me know what you think of the Dimarzios. I'm looking for a good PAF.
I don't have the Junior assembled as yet.. I ordered the wrong bridge when what I really wanted was the Tone Pro's adjustable wrap around.I should have that in the next day or so.. Have the DiMarzio PAF 36 Anniversary set in my LP Special and it sounds as great as any high $$$ top shelf Junior could!!MY former black Junior is not ply wood!! 3 piece body a real nice "large" knot right behind the bridge. I like charcter woods!! Another nice knot where a belly cut would go.Took everything down to natural wood., Just a touch of yellow dyeand Minwax honey stain rubbed and buffed it all ..Then 2 coat of amber shellac.. The neck has a light coat of the diluted Minwax #272and a couple coatings of Butcher Block Conditioner (Mineral oil and waxes). Georgous!!!!Will be making up the new wiring harness tonite.
Ment LP Special that the PAF set is installed in
I'll try the dimario on your recommendation.
My favorite guitar!
For your first video, right away, I can tell you would make great content. I know this is from like two years ago, but you have a new sub, dude.
Thanks Puppyy780. I have another channel called "Bushradical" thats outdoor related material. I have 21k subs over there if you want to check it out.
I agree with you. I have a Korean double cut junior. Plywood body, but it has tons of mojo. Excellent platform for cheap mods
Whip, just found your channel. Love it! As a bass player just moving to guitar, I found your videos informative, honest and just plain fun. Keep up the great work.
I have owned expensive basses and cheap ones. I made more money with a cheap Jackson than I did with all the rest. If you play well enough, you can make ANY guitar sound good.
Thanks Mike. I'm glad you like the channel. Funny......I have never owned a Jackson. Why is that?
The Indo Epiphone J-45 is killer and dirt cheap. You rock dude!!!
Thanks 1969!!
Super video Whip! Hot damn. This is the quickest that I've subscribed to a UA-cam channel. Looking forward to seeing more dude.
Thanks LS!
these things are so ace for the price! I got a pro setup done on mine, frets filed, new nut and a Kent Armstrong P90 to replace the humbucker. It was pretty good anyhow, but now it feels great and sounds SO mean. Would recommend, fun thing to have around and you don't have to stress about anything happening to it at a gig.
Absolutely. For the money they are solid gold.
Man I love Junior's. I have an original Gibson single cutaway from 1958- with the original price tag!
I have an Epiphone 3/4 body with a humbucker that I got brand new for 77 bucks with a strap & gigbag in 97 at Guitar Center. The tag said 200 bucks! I'm headed to Music Go Round to see another one. Bad Habit. Anyway, Love your video, love inexpensive gear.
When you get ready to play 'em you gotta say "Time to Whip it - Whip it Good!" Take Care.
Just bought an Epiphone Jr for $30, I'm a Gibson guy and I must say I am shockingly impressed by it.
awesome
Cool channel and a great idea. How 'bout "cheap amps" also?
You bet! I would love to do a whole bunch of cool "cheap amp vids" .......however.......during the summer I live "off grid in interior Alaska, and I have ZERO place to plug an amp into. I can still do videos, but they will be acoustic videos until I head south in the fall. Thanks for watching!
I'll look forward to your return to civilization ;-)
whip's cheap guitars. I can play for hours on my little Roland Micro Cube (or whatever it's called) using 6 rechargeable AA batteries. You off-the-grid types have all sorts of solar panels and battery chargers, don't you? Don't deprive yourself-- just think of it as another way to scare away grizzly bears...
You should go on a full baked bean diet, install a composting toilet, then use the gas to power a generator for the amps! Depending on how big your cabin is it would also be prudent to install a heavy duty exhaust fan or two :-0 LOL Great Video :-)
i've got two of those i play through a stereo chorus pedal and they are awesome....great for recording too.i also have a Blackstar Fly amp, and its just as good.all run on 'AA' batteries
Yep, picked up a Maestro LP JR. Plywood body, frets could saw down a tree. Ratio of tuners terrible. Someone swapped out the pickup and pots for Fender pots and a burstbucker. ??? No idea why. Did the setup and swapped the pickup for a 700T. Nice little guitar now but man, is it heavy. Pretty birdseye neck on it. Sounds like my Special II so I don't play it that much.
I have one made in China. Had to move the bridge way back to get intonation correct. Once there it was good across all six strings. This guys good.
Awesome Whip, just found Your channel 《☆》Going back to a Value pawn today to see if the sunburst LP jr is still there with the anticipated $20 drop bringing it down to $40. They also had a Peavey rockmaster 5w batt amp which should be going for $20 now. I did notice the battery cavity had been gutted but I'm bringing an ac adapter with ☻
Awesome video. This is not only a good advise for people looking for a guitar, it's teaching pretentious guitar players to not be so judgemental
I'm 26 seconds in and already I know we could be friends. Subscribed!
Right on Jared! Glad you like the channel.
Great video! Straight to the point, NO bullshit! I just picked up a Jr. for $25 on letgo and I'm psyched I grabbed it, especially after hearing your input on these badboys! Thanks!!
Let me know how you like it !!! Those are great guitars and you scored on price!!
I love the neck on it!! it plays really comfortably, and sounds great! I had to adjust the neck and saddle height, after that it was good to go! thanks for the video, I look forward to more reviews from your channel!
I'll take another one as long as it's qc on the money! I've one and I love this jr. No my first was a Kent Sg Back in 77. Then my second was a epi f250. Both were motsu. But this epi lpjr is a real good guitar. I took out an Armstrong and put in a humbucker.
Great video! Thanks for letting us know what to look for. I dig the cheap Epiphone Les Paul's too. I picked up a used epi les Paul special 2 for $70 and it rocks! Now I'll be on the lookout for a cheap jr. Good job Whip!
The special II is one of my all time favorite guitars. I used to really hope that Gibson would make the same guitar with a set neck ...because I love the single volume and tone.....but then I came to the conclusion .....Why not just play the Epi version. You find a good one ( with a good neck) and its a great rig! And, some of the ceramic hum buckers in those sound great!
You can always give it a maple veneer like the finish on your kinives Bush Radical.
Nice work! I think I’ll have to go guitar hunting soon.
I'm not sure how to do a veneer but you could
Great review ! That riff at 6:06 was cool, very Skynyrd-esque !
thanks
My Man!!! just what I need to bring me down to earth. I love Cheap Guitars. Two of my favorite guitars are a 2000 Squier Tele Affintity I bought new for $179 and a Goldtop w/ P90's for $199 from Austin. Every time I buy an "Expensive" axe I compare it to those two, believe or not. I'm tired of paying big bucks past year for some top dollar axes (Gretsch, Deans)....like you said..dont need expensive gear to sound great and rock out.
Absolutely!
Brother I think these videos are great!!! Never even considered a Junior - like just about everyone else- always lusted after the Les Paul and thought that only the top end stuff had great sound. I play a Squier CV tele myself - great guitar, relatively cheap but not FORTY BUCKS CHEAP!!! Gotta get me one of these!!! Keep on truckin'!!!
Also...a good les paul special II is a fantastic guitar for about the same money. Some of them are "firewood quality" and some are GREAT guitars. You have to pick one thats right for you. They can sound really really good stock. Ive had a coupe that had stock pickups so good I would keep them when I sold the guitar and put them in the next one.
Thanks for your video, I bought a black from China last week for 45 € ! I have a Duesenberg Domino P90 and Tele potknobs installed. wow what a sound and a custom look...greetings from Germany 💥🎸🎼😎
Thanks Uli!
I need a 2. one! But the price for an old Junior is so high🙈 and the 2020 are 380€ 😮
Great sound,great guitar,an great fraseos y ruffs Les Paul Junior of Ehiphone
I think I've come to the conclusion that most guitars will sound good going through a descent amp, 30 watts or more. Where the difference from the cheap and expensive really shows is over the years how well the electronics hold up. My $125 Washburn is snap crackle and pop all over the place until you run the knobs and switch up and down a few times. It's about 25 years old now but the pickups still sound the same. Someday I'll change out the pots and switch and the jack.
Your totally right. I think even dirt cheap guitars nowadays have decent fretwork and usable tuners...but the electronics are better in more expensive gear. That said, there are some great sounding stock pickups in some really cheap guitars. Thanks for the comment.
Dave, I ran across your video last week. I have seen at least half a dozen of these in Pawn Shops but was never impressed with them at all. They would have fret ends that would shred a hand, very high action, or they were way too heavy for me. However, after watching your video I found one in mint condition save a small scrape on the headstock on Craigslist for $40.00 listed as a "Rocksmith" guitar that apparently came in a Players Pack. All I can say is I'm completely shocked. I usually have to do a lengthy setup on a guitar when I get it, very often with a fret leveling, regardless of name or price. All I've had to do to this one is a truss rod adjustment, then play the crap out of it. A couple of days later I remembered I had a GFS P90 Dog Ear that I bought at least 10 years ago but never installed. The Dog Ear has a wider cover that hides the wider rout from the Humbucker. I did have to take out a little bit of wood at each end of the rout. Now it's a Tone Monster, especially through a good tube amp. Plugged straight in, no effects, it sounds great, but it plays Fantastic. I have 2 of the Special I with P90s and they're great players too, but I put 10 times as much time in them setting them up since both needed a fret leveling. I just picked up another one yesterday for $50.00 (6 lbs. featherweight) and it plays just as good as my first one. Even after some Copies of Vintage Tuning keys (don't require any tuner hole reaming but much better quality than the original keys plus more efficient 15 to 1) I still wont have a Hundred bucks in the first one I got. A Kick ass Les Paul Junior with a P90 for less than a hundred bucks aint bad at all. I never would have considered it had I not seen your video. Thanks for the info.
About time someone agrees with me
Right on !
The Korean-made Austin brand were from the company that makes Alvarez. I snagged a barely used LP Junior for $125 to my door and it easily beats any Epiphone I ever saw. Look for the Korean built guitars of the recent past...
Is it junior because it’s smaller?
Been following Dave on Bush Radical for a few years now and somehow never stumbled across this channel until now.
Awesome and sensible info my friend. You're doing the lords work here for us poor mofos. :)
LOL, thanks for the support!
I like those Epi Special Juniors, and the Special IIs too. Great guitars. Fret level on them will fix any issues there. As long as you 'tune up' like you should then those tuners are more than fine. Find a set of the ebay import red/black zebra humbuckers that sell around $15 a pair that are 14-16kohm bridge and put that in your Special (there are similar black/cream and silver covered too, compare construction/backs to match them up). I've pulled Duncans to put these in. I also dismantle them for splits, my most played Epi Jr has a red/black split with push/pull tone pot for single coil; fun fun guitar.
Do you have a brand I can reference or are they just generic chinese hum buckers? Im all about checking out those pickups if you endorse them.
You hit the nail on the head - there's a million cheap ace sounding guitars out there! Move away from the 'vintage' snobbery and get on with it! Great video man!
Thanks Jim.
Besides plywood there are also some press board guitars worth having. I have a '68 Silvertone (made by Danelectro and sold by Sears & Roebuck, with built in 2 tube amp in the case). The rosewood neck is beautiful, the original Dano Liptick Tube single coil pickup is awesome. The rest is garbage; press board body, pressed tin hardware. But it just screams, and resonates forever. -- I see an electric bass in the arsenal. The very first video I saw of Brooke's I saw a bass on the wall and asked her about it.
Great, looking forward to learning heaps from you vids.... Thanks
Thanks!
*Whip, well done. What's you "cheap" range for new and what's your "cheap" range for used?*
Good question. I would say for used instruments ( guitars) $40-200 and for new gear anything from under about $350 anything higher than that is getting rich for my blood!
Omg, a fellow "cheap guitar" enthusiast! Great idea for a channel. This is why I love UA-cam.
Welcome Brother!
Great video! Love those Epiphone Les Paul Jr.! Got mine for $100. made in Indonesia! Great guitar!
Right on. Thanks
How do you find where they’re made?
think part of the reason it's such a common pawnshop guitar is that they did a bundle deal for the black juniors with the Rocksmith game; just bought mine for £50 with the game, which I'll just resell, and some cords, off a mum who was cleaning out her son's bedroom. A price i couldn't pass up, especially after buying a relatively expensive acoustic as my "main guitar".
Had the white one a few years back,sold it back to guitar center for $50. Wish I would have kept it. Looking for another one! Hard to find for under $200-$150.
Hey Whip! I just came across Harley Benton guitars from a German company called Thomman they are made in China and QC'd set up and sold by Thomman, they cut out the distribution costs and pass this on to the consumer, I'm really impressed with these guitars going by the reviews I have seen, you can get these from other shops but I don't think they are QC'd by these retailers, check them out unless you are already aware of them.
Thanks Andrew. Yes , Im aware of them, but have yet to play one. They have a very highly-thought-of Telecaster knockoff that looks good......and if I remember right..they even have a Prince Tele. Cool stuff.
I have the lp vintage I didn't like it for over a year...now it's my favorite
Thanks for the info. My buddy gave me one it needs an overhaul I'm super excited to fix it up.
good luck
Just recently scored an 05 Korean Junior for 50 bucks and it came with a stand! It needs some work, but I got it playable chord wise, man does it sustain. Once I can get the action/neck pocket situation resolved I'll be modding the hell out of it.
Own a couple of these. Prefer the Korean made. Great neck and electronics. Been playing for 52 years and owned vintage Gibson LP JRs. These are as good. Thanks for sharing. You got great tone.
Thanks Michael!
Good video I enjoyed that, I have looking at epiphones for years and have noticed the inconsistency and have stayed away from them. Lately, I have been looking for a hollow body and have thought about the epiphones. I haven't had a chance to see if you have done any reveiws or have any experience with hollow bodies and what your reccomend. I was spoiled, I had a 1950's gibson years ago but had to sell it when the first baby showed up. Now that it is grandkid time I am think a hollow body might be a good motivator to get back playing more.
Hey Kevin. Just like all brands, Epiphone guitars are unique one to the next...some are pretty bad, and some are really great. Ive had ONE epiphany semi hallow. It was a Cherry ES 335 DOT. Great guitar. Sounded and played awesome...but track one down and play it before you buy it because you never know what the guitar you buy online will be like in person....because of all the places these guitars have been made over the years...Some good Some bad.
0:44 is the one i bought & plays & sounds great , when i was fitting a plain pick up cover i noticed it was fitted with a gibson 10.5k humbucker.
Nice!!