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Epiphone Les Paul Jr Special
List: $350
It is rather clear from this guitar's distinct outline that it is a variation of Gibson's most famous electric to date; the Les Paul. In fact, it made no attempts to individualize its replication as the name suggests. Gibson did indeed conceive a Jr model of its own but it was never humbucking which leaves this guitar to be a unique offering by Epiphone.
Construction/ fit/ finish
We get too many run of the mill products within this price bracket & the initial handling of the Jr, with its thick lacquer overcoat, would suggest a typical budget compromise but such wariness has no applications here. Despite its tactile exterior, the Jr is a well made, well finished instrument. There is nothing amiss with the fit & finish less the paint build-up under the overhanging fretboard, suggesting insufficient drying time before the neck joined its body. This guitar possesses a sleek feel & one would note that even the fretboard edges are lacquered flush to the neck giving it a deserving one piece feel. Other areas of concern would be the stiff tuners & dry fretboard parchments. These aren't outright defects but the tuner issue should be a consideration as these do not come with tension adjustment screws. These in-house units are also rather broad; the handling of one might lead to a contact with another.
Playability/ tone
Is it true that lower rung Epis are virtual descants not worthy of your investment? Not this Jr. However, do approach this guitar devoid of Gibson expectations. Forgive the Jr for its extensive synthetics, the lacquer concoction would be largely to blame for it but all in all, it's a very playable instrument. Do not expect acute picking nuances coming out of from this one, it's simply not forged from pristine tone woods in the first place. Traditional Epi fans should take note of the neck's rather wide dimensions (feels like a Jackson at some points but the depth of which resembles Gibson’s slim taper make) but the assurance still stands; it remains playable on all accounts. The stop tail here would prove to be the legato proponents' displeasure not because it impedes picking but it simply can't facilitate super low action.
What kind of varied tone can we expect from a solitary bridge humbucker? Do not bother if you are bent on acquiring warm PAFesque voicings, it's the wrong selection to begin with. The Jr's singular tone is preferably played overdriven, clean tones are at best mediocre but nothing repulsive. However, the surprise package is heard when one rolls the volume off a tad in pursuit of blues crunch- this Jr has it. Despite featuring an inconclusive body material (tone wood, anyone?) the sustain achieved by this Jr is nothing short of impressive; thanks to the high output humbucker in part.
Bass note chuggers would find the hard tail bridge a hit/ miss but there's no harm adapting. Still on bridge issues, the lack of individual string saddles here entails intonation restraint but Epi has included preset ridges as well as 2 intonation rectification screws (located at both the treble & bass ends) should the need arises. If you play with a set of .009/ .010s, this should not be an issue. The technology adopted here is nothing refreshing, the LP Jr of the ‘50s (1955-1957) featured a similar bridge contraption but in its then crude incarnation, it was devoid of intonation ridges. We are thankful that Epi chooses to include a revised edition in this Jr.
Conclusion
If you are eyeing this guitar with genuine enthusiasm, do try it out before making that crucial decision (the asking price is indeed tempting). Players opting for a solitary pickup guitar are often resigned to a singular accomplishment; this Jr will help achieve just that. Tonal versatility isn't the junior's forte but that's not your primary concern upon choosing this guitar, yes?
Rating: 7.5/ 10
Likes:
• Price
• Construction
• Playability
• Useable default tones
Dislikes:
• Stiff tuners
• Dry fretboard
haha but , neverthless, its just like wat sub's reviews. a good axe i say.