Being a typical Les Paul fan, I did tried out most of the les paul copies available in my area.
There are several brand doing LP copy to gain sales, since Epi sometimes are quite unaffordable for people especially starter who are not willing to spend more for just a beginning.
Being a worker in Music Shop for some time, I am going to note down some impression from me for SX, Spear, Cort, Samick, Tanglewood, Craftsman.
Spear Les Paul RD150
I am pretty unsure whether this model is still available for selling, since in Spear Website they just knock down RD150. I am owning this model now, and I am pretty satisfied with it.
Strengths : Affordable price with SET neck which is important for LP's sustain. Comfortable fretboard, neck thickness which is actually thinner than typical Gibson&Epi LP neck thickness. Thus, suitable for beginner who is new to fretboard.
Weak : Poor pickups, just modify and change the pickup will do. U wont satisfy with the original pickup tone even u're using a superb amp and effector.
Samick Les Paul
Strengths : Very thin neck, almost comparable to a strats. Pickup can support heavy gains and still produces nice tone.
Weak : Too heavy, unique LP shape (pickguard, cutaway) . Frets size are jumbo, but bouching action is poor, factory action was low, but I believe it should be higher, to be better.
However, as compare to Spear LP, I would prefer Samick's tone. But not the shape.
SX Les Paul
Common brand that u can find it everywhere. One of the lowest price LP in market.
Strengths : Cheaper as compare to other LP copies. Some shop will sell in starter pack together with amp and accesories, convenient as for shopping.
Weak : Bolt-on, which is bad for a LP. You'll have to choose it carefully by looking at it's workmanship. Pickup are weak, modify is a must. I am not sure about the headstock stabillity, but I heard it goes out of tune easily, and the fretboard will bend eventually and really often happen.
For a better price, I would recommend u to get either a tanglewood, cort, or spear.
Tanglewood stands a better chance as it's shape is 99% simillar to a real LP, unlike spear and cort which is quite different at it's cuteaway.
Well, tone can be easily adjusted by modifying pickups. Material for them are almost simillar, mahogany and rosewood like usual.
But I see cort also has plenty of good review back from buyer.
But for a even better price, if u're asking whether u should go for epiphone, u can always look at other high quality LP copy. What I mean is Tokai, Edward.
I dont like epiphone's neck, and I dont understand why. But seriously I'm in love with Tokai LP copy, but dude, the price is not tat low yeah. Tokai's LP neck is very comfortable with me, without testing the pickup, I knew it is better than some Epi.
Gibson Les Paul studio is quite afforadable, I would have recommend u to choose by looking at it's year made, material and fretboard. They are handmade, not all are same. I even tested some bad factory made Gibson LP which was selling at really low prices, and I was shocked.
LP copies ranging from rm700-rm1500.
Epi LP at above 2k,
Tokai LP at 4k above,
Gib LP for 10k above.
Regards.
