My EPI LP Custom came used with the Gibson 490/480 pickups and all Gibson electronics too. I use a modified Fender HR deluxe or a Mesa Boogie Maverick. This guitar is a R&R Demon! Sustains forever! Screams or weeps pure cream with a flip of switch. I had a 1968 Gibson version of the same model and I cant think of a differance that is worth the price variation...

I had this guitar for a year now, and it is still the sound that I love, and not a bad guitar if you can't afford the real Gibson Les Paul. I've been a guitarist/musician for almost 19 years, and out of all the electrics I've owned, this one is decent.

This is my 2nd Epiphone Les Paul Custom. I am not a professional but have been playing for almost 20 years, and I would definitely buy this guitar again. I would love to have the $3000 version but that much out of my pocket would just eat at me for the amount of playing I am able to do. I did change out the bridge pick up for a Burstbucker #3 which did improve the sound, but in all honesty the new Epiphone pick ups are pretty good. I do not plan on changing the neck pick up out because of their improvement in pick ups. I had also switched out my 1990s model for a DiMarzio Evolution which made a world of difference back then. Epiphone has definitely upgraded their pick ups since the 90s. The tuners have also improved being that my new one comes with Grovers. The finish is beautiful. I've had the guitar for over a year and the gold plating is still flawless. I had considered changing the gold plated parts out as well since my 1990s Custom did not hold on to the gold plating that well, but so far so good. I do understand that some of the specs may be metric as it was made overseas which may make swapping out for Gibson parts challenging. The only area in which I am more comfortable with my 1990s model is the fretboard. The fretboard on my 1990 model has more of an arch down the fretboard; which, for me, makes a more comfortable finger placement. I have owned a few very nice guitars from Yamaha to Charvel to Fender, but my Epiphones are still my preferred guitars.

This is my 2nd Epiphone Les Paul Custom. I am not a professional but have been playing for almost 20 years, and I would definitely buy this guitar again. I would love to have the $3000 version but that much out of my pocket would just eat at me for the amount of playing I am able to do. I did change out the bridge pick up for a Burstbucker #3 which did improve the sound, but in all honesty the new Epiphone pick ups are pretty good. I do not plan on changing the neck pick up out because of their improvement in pick ups. I had also switched out my 1990s model for a DiMarzio Evolution which made a world of difference back then. Epiphone has definitely upgraded their pick ups since the 90s. The tuners have also improved being that my new one comes with Grovers. The finish is beautiful. I've had the guitar for over a year and the gold plating is still flawless. I had considered changing the gold plated parts out as well since my 1990s Custom did not hold on to the gold plating that well, but so far so good. I do understand that some of the specs may be metric as it was made overseas which may make swapping out for Gibson parts challenging. The only area in which I am more comfortable with my 1990s model is the fretboard. The fretboard on my 1990 model has more of an arch down the fretboard; which, for me, makes a more comfortable finger placement. I have owned a few very nice guitars from Yamaha to Charvel to Fender, but my Epiphones are still my preferred guitars.

This guitar is absolutely amazing! The finish is amazing. The sustain lasts for years. The neck so smooth and fast. The only bad thing about the guitar is the stock pickups which don't have great enough tonal range but its nothing shelling out a couple more bucks and some elbow grease won't fix. I have played Gibsons before and the first thing I said was why waste the money on a Gibson Les Paul Custom when you can get pretty much the same thing through Epiphone at the a way lower price! To sum it all up this guitar is just about perfect!