Review of the Epiphone Les Paul Jr. Special.
This is the pic in Musicians Friend:
This is what was bought:
I was surprised at the cost (U$99) of this guitar. I expected an EL CHEAPO but output of this baby defies the price.
Looks:Its got the LP single cutway. All black. The difference with the actual and the store pic is the PUP ring. The Epi logo is clearly seen. Simple dot inlays. Wrap around bridge
Playability:Very light compared to my borrowed 95 EPI Standard. Fast neck and low action on the strings. No bones volume and tone knobs. No selector switch to worry about. The tuners are crappy. Going to change them with locking tuners once available. Nut looks flimsy but its holding up. If I knew how to shred, my yard would have shorter grass.
Tone: Sustain longer than a drunken nights sleep. Did an A/B/C/D with my other guitars and Junior passed the sustain taste test. The PUP is claimed as high output and I believe it. Tone is earthly and a little bright compared to the Standard but definitely darker than the HS-3 in my Squier.
ConclusionGuitar is a great starter upper. For the price you pay, you won't feel guitly when it gets scratched or gets a ding. I would gig with this guitar if ever I did get a gig. It has its own character and it won't feel neglected because it's my only humbucker guitar.
To the more refined ears, buy it for a temporary spare during unexpected string breaks and/or a practice guitar to spare the zipper in the gig bag of your main axe.
This guitar is a keeper for me.