I bought both the Koa Top and the Black Beauty versions and I'll have to say these are some of the best guitars I've ever play and I've been playing Gibson's ever since 1977. Keep it up Epiphone.
I have this guitar and I didn't realize at first that the koa top is actually solid koa, not just a veneer. I pulled the pickups out of the pickup cavities for some cleaning, and sure enough, there was a solid piece of koa on the top. There might still be a veneer of higher-grade koa, but there's more beyond the surface.
Sorry but Epiphone specifically admitted to me that the top is maple with a koa veneer. The veneer is so thin that it probably looks like it’s a solid koa top but it’s not. 100% maple top with a koa veneer.
I’m in love with it to this day my only gripe would be the weight it’s very heavy guitar with the solid mahogany! But it sounds beautiful and can be a nice dark sound
@@Amerixaisbetterthanyou Nice. As far as weight, this one is in line with classic LPs which are known to be heavy (8+lbs). The dense mahogany does sound a little bit darker, which is compensated by the full-range humbuckers. I think due to the wood and hardware the guitar would certainly wear in nicely over a much longer time played.
I bought one of these in 2021 and it came with high frets in the upper part of the neck. Could not set it up. I set it aside for 2 years until I finally got around to taking it to my luthier for a fret level. Look foreward to getting it back and playing it finally.
Do you have the push/pull possibility to get a single coil sound from the humbuckers? To my knowledge, this guitar should have this, why isn't it mentioned in the review then?
Hey- this guitar does not have push/pull knobs. The nice Pro Bucker pickups talked about at @4:40 sound amazing, there is no need for coil tap/splitting on these. This guitar is more about the classic Gibson vibe. The four full sized CTS potentiometers (for the volume and tone knobs) are a plus. They will have a smooth, consistent feeling rotation and long life without degrading which causes pots to develop a crackly sound.
There was another version of this guitar that did have push/pull knobs, but it is no longer made. @mikedradio recently commented about it. Thanks for mentioning it!
Happy birthday Les Paul and thank you for inventing the solid body guitar in the Epiphone factory 1939 - 41..if not for you and Epiphone there would be No Gibson Les Paul today period!..Also I would Add that Les Paul played Epiphones especially recoding from the early 1940s to the end of the 1950's..when he was under contract with Gibson..Gibson eventually to him to stop and when his contract ended with Gibson he started playing both epiphone and Gibson Live I should know saw him in March of 2009..
It's actually an original piece by Shane (who is in the video) 🙂. He said he's going to try and get some of his stuff online and released, so hopefully soon you can learn it!
From my research it looks like the “koa custom PRO” is the early version which phased out after 2019 and that features a rosewood fretboard and push-pull pots. After there was a “koa custom” and models by 2020 had ebony fretboard and 250cts pots (not push-pull) I believe… don’t quote me but from what I see that seems to be the case.
Epiphone just told me on the phone that these are maple caps with a koa veneer. All the marketing states it’s a koa cap, and it’s not true. Maple cap with koa veneer only. I won’t buy it knowing they intentionally lied about the top. Looks nice, but I don’t like a company that lies and misleads the public about something important and material to why I’m buying it in the first place. They should’ve just wrote in the description that it’s a maple cap with a koa veneer. SMH
and it's still holding up! Honestly it's still one of our office favorites and our customers who have bought the Fret Zealot / Koa combo pack from us have loved it!
I could hear that foreign sound fom the first few notes he played...tell me I'm wrong..💯....Junk!! Gibson vibe?? Stop it.. it's good for beginners..not us pros..Never skimp on your gear..buy the the best you can...you will never regret it.. Probuckers..ha ha!😂
I agree the amp setup and eq were squashed here, but, tell you what. Since I am one of those "pros" you speak of, and have to earn my living with fly gigs and studio work, come on over to my house and compare this exact guitar, which I own, with my 73 Black Beauty through my SLO 30. I dare you to hear the difference. My address is 9250 Soundview ave in Southold NY, so come over anytime.
@@maryanneread5821He's telling the truth. Epiphones are not that good. You have to spend hundreds on them to get them just decent. P.S. I have been a professional musician since 1976. What about it?
I bought both the Koa Top and the Black Beauty versions and I'll have to say these are some of the best guitars I've ever play and I've been playing Gibson's ever since 1977. Keep it up Epiphone.
Lol. Yeah ok.
I have this guitar and I didn't realize at first that the koa top is actually solid koa, not just a veneer. I pulled the pickups out of the pickup cavities for some cleaning, and sure enough, there was a solid piece of koa on the top. There might still be a veneer of higher-grade koa, but there's more beyond the surface.
Sorry but Epiphone specifically admitted to me that the top is maple with a koa veneer. The veneer is so thin that it probably looks like it’s a solid koa top but it’s not. 100% maple top with a koa veneer.
Just ordered mine never owned an electric going from acoustic to this going to be sweet excited to feel the easy fretting
I’m in love with it to this day my only gripe would be the weight it’s very heavy guitar with the solid mahogany! But it sounds beautiful and can be a nice dark sound
@@Amerixaisbetterthanyou Nice. As far as weight, this one is in line with classic LPs which are known to be heavy (8+lbs). The dense mahogany does sound a little bit darker, which is compensated by the full-range humbuckers. I think due to the wood and hardware the guitar would certainly wear in nicely over a much longer time played.
Great video. I have one myself, going to grab a Vibramate/Bigsby for it. I couldnt see myself drilling the actual Bigsby holes on the Koa
Great video review and appreciate your genuine enthusiasm. I think you just cost me $950
I bought one of these in 2021 and it came with high frets in the upper part of the neck. Could not set it up. I set it aside for 2 years until I finally got around to taking it to my luthier for a fret level. Look foreward to getting it back and playing it finally.
A lot of Epiphones are like this new. Poor QC.
Do you have the push/pull possibility to get a single coil sound from the humbuckers? To my knowledge, this guitar should have this, why isn't it mentioned in the review then?
Hey- this guitar does not have push/pull knobs. The nice Pro Bucker pickups talked about at @4:40 sound amazing, there is no need for coil tap/splitting on these. This guitar is more about the classic Gibson vibe. The four full sized CTS potentiometers (for the volume and tone knobs) are a plus. They will have a smooth, consistent feeling rotation and long life without degrading which causes pots to develop a crackly sound.
There was another version of this guitar that did have push/pull knobs, but it is no longer made. @mikedradio recently commented about it. Thanks for mentioning it!
Did i miss something, or does everyone ocerlook the split coil feature on this?
Happy birthday Les Paul and thank you for inventing the solid body guitar in the Epiphone factory 1939 - 41..if not for you and Epiphone there would be No Gibson Les Paul today period!..Also I would Add that Les Paul played Epiphones especially recoding from the early 1940s to the end of the 1950's..when he was under contract with Gibson..Gibson eventually to him to stop and when his contract ended with Gibson he started playing both epiphone and Gibson Live I should know saw him in March of 2009..
Stop the cap 😅
Not the same guitars. Epiphone in name only. What you're trying to talk up is the cheap Chinese knock-offs. Your attempt is a huge FAIL.
what was the first song you played in the pickup demo?? I want to learn it!!
It's actually an original piece by Shane (who is in the video) 🙂. He said he's going to try and get some of his stuff online and released, so hopefully soon you can learn it!
I have seen these with different finger boards......anyone know why?
From my research it looks like the “koa custom PRO” is the early version which phased out after 2019 and that features a rosewood fretboard and push-pull pots. After there was a “koa custom” and models by 2020 had ebony fretboard and 250cts pots (not push-pull) I believe… don’t quote me but from what I see that seems to be the case.
Epiphone just told me on the phone that these are maple caps with a koa veneer. All the marketing states it’s a koa cap, and it’s not true. Maple cap with koa veneer only. I won’t buy it knowing they intentionally lied about the top. Looks nice, but I don’t like a company that lies and misleads the public about something important and material to why I’m buying it in the first place. They should’ve just wrote in the description that it’s a maple cap with a koa veneer. SMH
Up until 2021 they were solid koa tops. They switched to a veneer after 2021
2021 many said the epiphone custom koa was the very best les Paul
and it's still holding up! Honestly it's still one of our office favorites and our customers who have bought the Fret Zealot / Koa combo pack from us have loved it!
ho said it. You and your multiple user accounts ?😅
You're delusional.
La pena es que casi ninguna marca de guitarras se acuerde de verdad de los zurdos !!!!!
Please, "tonewood" is NOT a thing when it comes to solid body guitars 😤
ok....then why isnt my 3000 dollar LesPaul made out of balsawood ? I smell an acoustic guitar snob here....snif..snif
The reason guitars are made out of expensive wood types is the same reason exclusive furniture are made out of expensive wood types.
I could hear that foreign sound fom the first few notes he played...tell me I'm wrong..💯....Junk!! Gibson vibe?? Stop it.. it's good for beginners..not us pros..Never skimp on your gear..buy the the best you can...you will never regret it.. Probuckers..ha ha!😂
Great job of marveling at how great you think you are. 👍🏽
I agree the amp setup and eq were squashed here, but, tell you what. Since I am one of those "pros" you speak of, and have to earn my living with fly gigs and studio work, come on over to my house and compare this exact guitar, which I own, with my 73 Black Beauty through my SLO 30. I dare you to hear the difference. My address is 9250 Soundview ave in Southold NY, so come over anytime.
@@maryanneread5821He's telling the truth. Epiphones are not that good. You have to spend hundreds on them to get them just decent. P.S. I have been a professional musician since 1976. What about it?
Why are you here if all you want to do is hate?
You sound like an arrogant 13 year old chump!