Epiphone EILTWRNH1 Electric Guitar: Full Review

The Epiphone Les Paul Studio is an affordable, mass-produced electric guitar originally modeled after Gibson's iconic Les Paul. First introduced in the early 1980s, the Epiphone Les Paul Studio offers players classic Les Paul tone and playability without breaking the bank.

As an import model manufactured overseas, the Epiphone Les Paul Studio makes some concessions to keep costs down. The body is made from multiple pieces of wood rather than a single solid piece, and the hardware and electronics are basic. However, the Studio retains essential Les Paul elements like a mahogany body and set maple neck, giving it the signature thick, warm sound of a Les Paul at a more accessible price point.

With its humbucker pickups, classic body shape, and set neck design, the Epiphone Les Paul Studio captures the vibe and versatility that has made the Les Paul one of the most popular electric guitars over the past 60+ years. This value-priced import aims to put authentic Les Paul sound and feel into the hands of more players.

Specs and Design

The Epiphone Les Paul Studio has a classic solid mahogany body and mahogany neck, which gives it a rich, warm tone. The mahogany body contributes to the guitar's sustain and resonance. It has a sleek and comfortable1960's SlimTaper neck profile that allows for easy playability, even when reaching for those high notes.

The hardware consists of Epiphone LockTone Tune-o-matic bridge and Stopbar tailpiece for easy and precise intonation adjustments. The headstock features Premium Die-cast 14:1 ratio machine heads for stable tuning performance. The guitar comes in an attractive Wine Red finish that looks great on stage.

Overall, the Epiphone Les Paul Studio offers solid construction with its mahogany body and neck, along with smooth playability from its comfortable neck profile. The hardware is designed for tuning stability and intonation accuracy. The mahogany body and neck produce a rich, warm tone with good sustain. The comfortable neck profile allows easy access to higher frets. This is an excellent choice for rock, blues, and metal guitarists looking for the classic Les Paul sound and feel without spending a fortune.

Another option to consider in this price range is the Pyle PEAG99.9 electric guitar. This model has a double cutaway basswood body with a maple neck for bright, punchy tone. It comes loaded with two humbucker pickups, a 3-way pickup selector switch, volume and tone controls. The slim, fast maple neck has a rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays. With its sleek double cutaway body shape, dual humbuckers and fast maple neck, the Pyle PEAG99.9 delivers versatile electric guitar tones across genres like rock, blues, punk and metal. It's a great choice for beginners and intermediate players looking for an affordable, well-made electric guitar.

Hardware

The Epiphone Les Paul Studio makes no compromises when it comes to hardware. It features premium chrome hardware including Epiphone LockTone tuners and a Tune-o-matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece for excellent tuning stability and sustain.

The tuners are Grover 18:1 ratio machines heads which provide ultra-fine tuning and hold the strings firmly in place. Many budget Les Pauls cut corners with cheaper tuners that have more play and don't hold tune as well. The quality tuners on the Studio mean this guitar stays in tune extremely well even during heavy use.

The Tune-o-matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece are both made of solid chrome-plated zinc. They provide exceptional transfer of string vibration for excellent sustain and resonance. The combination is designed specifically for Les Paul style guitars and works flawlessly on the Studio model.

Overall the hardware components on the Epiphone Les Paul Studio are high-end and built to last. They make tuning easy and keep the guitar in tune through anything you can throw at it. The chrome hardware also looks great combined with the classy wine red finish.

When looking for a new electric guitar, it's important to consider the hardware components. The tuners, bridge, and tailpiece all play a role in how well the guitar stays in tune and sustains notes. Brands like Fender are known for using high-quality hardware on their guitars, even at lower price points. The hardware isn't just for looks - it directly impacts playability.

For example, cheap tuners can slip and make it difficult to get your guitar in tune. A solid bridge provides better string vibration transfer and sustain. Upgrading hardware components like tuners, bridges, and tailpieces is one way to improve the playability and sound of an electric guitar. Brands like Grover, Gotoh, and TonePros make drop-in upgrades.

When shopping for an electric guitar, pay attention to the specific hardware components used. Search for product details to learn about the tuners, bridge system, tailpiece, and other parts. High quality hardware ensures tuning stability, great sustain, and reliable performance. It's worth spending a little more to get better hardware that will last.

Premium hardware components like locking tuners make restringing and tuning faster and easier. A quality fixed bridge offers excellent sustain and tone transfer. Upgraded electronic parts also make a difference. Higher end pots, capacitors, switches and jacks improve reliability and reduce noise.

In addition to improved performance, upgraded hardware also enhances the look and feel of a guitar. Shiny chrome, gold, or black finished components add visual appeal. Premium knobs, switches and jacks give a smooth tactile experience. Quality hardware simply makes the guitar more enjoyable to play and own.

When researching electric guitars, read product descriptions carefully to understand what hardware comes stock. Compare different models to see the differences in components used. Searching user reviews can provide valuable insight into how well the hardware performs in real world use.

Pay extra attention to brands and models known for quality hardware. Consider upgrading components on cheaper guitars to improve stability and sound. Proper hardware improves tuning accuracy, resonance, sustain and tone for a better playing experience.

Pickups

The Epiphone Les Paul Studio Wine Red features Epiphone's famous open coil Alnico Classic humbucker pickups. Humbucker pickups use two coils to cancel out background interference and noise, providing a rich, warm tone.

Epiphone's Alnico Classic pickups use Alnico magnets, which are known for providing excellent dynamics and responsiveness. The open coils give these pickups clarity and bite. There's one Alnico Classic humbucker in the neck position and one in the bridge position, which allows for a good range of tones.

The bridge pickup delivers plenty of crunch and bite for lead playing and cutting through a mix. The neck pickup has a smoother, warmer sound that's great for chords and rhythm playing. Together, they offer vintage-voiced tone with exceptional clarity and dynamics. The open coil design prevents muddiness, allowing each note to ring clearly.

Overall, the Alnico Classic humbuckers allow this Les Paul to deliver an authentic Les Paul tone at an affordable price point. The pickups respond well to playing dynamics and produce quality sound comparable to more expensive Gibson models.

Controls Provide Versatility

The Epiphone Les Paul Studio has a straightforward set of controls that allow for a wide range of tones. It features two volume and two tone controls, one for each pickup, giving you independent control over the output of each. The bridge pickup volume and tone controls are closest to the bridge, while the neck pickup controls are closest to the neck.

The volume controls can be used to balance the output between the neck and bridge pickups when soloing or switching between rhythms and leads. Turning down the volume knob for a pickup can also be used to clean up and tame some of the natural bite when needed.

There's also a 3-way pickup selector switch located on the upper bout. This allows you to choose between the bridge pickup, neck pickup, or both pickups together. Having both pickups on creates a fuller, rounder tone that takes advantage of the tonal characteristics of each. The 3-way switch makes it easy to go back and forth between a singing lead tone from the neck pickup and a tighter, punchier tone from the bridge.

Overall, the simple control layout gives you versatility in shaping your tone while still being easy to adjust on the fly. Between the individual pickup volume controls and 3-way selector switch, you have quick access to a variety of sonic flavors that handle both rhythm and lead playing well.

Sound Quality

The Epiphone Les Paul Studio electric guitar delivers a versatile, classic rock and blues tone that players have come to expect from the Les Paul. The mahogany body and maple top provide a balanced, warm sound with good sustain and resonance.

The alnico Classic humbuckers are voiced for vintage PAF tone, with plenty of warmth and articulation when clean, and smooth overdrive when pushed. There's enough output and midrange to get singing lead tones, but still very dynamic and responsive.

The coil-split function activates the single coil sound of each humbucker, resulting in a brighter, twangier tone good for cleaner parts or more complex chord voicings. It expands the tonal palette of the guitar, making it more appropriate for a range of musical genres beyond just rock and blues.

Overall, this guitar nails the fat, singing lead tone that has defined countless rock and blues records, while also offering versatility for players that need a wider range of sounds. The quality is impressive for the price point, rivaling more expensive Gibson models.

Playability

The Epiphone Les Paul Studio has a slim taper neck profile that makes playing fast, intricate solos and riffs a breeze. The slim profile provides comfort and allows easy access to the upper frets. The smooth rosewood fretboard is nicely finished, offering a fast feel that facilitates quick lead playing.

The moderately chunky neck dimensions make chording comfortable without being too bulky or thick. The slim taper offers a nice compromise between the ultra-slim shredder necks and vintage-style baseball bat necks. Players who like to solo and shred will appreciate the slim taper, while those who play a lot of chords and rhythms will find the thicker rounded profile very playable.

Overall the neck feels great and allows for versatility across playing styles. The well-finished frets and rosewood fingerboard offer a fast, fluid feel. The Epiphone Les Paul Studio neck showcases quality construction and thoughtful design geared towards playability.

Pros

Epiphone's Les Paul Studio has all the iconic design elements of the classic Gibson Les Paul at a more affordable price point. The mahogany body and arched maple top provide a great combination of resonance, sustain and tone.

The Studio model still has many high-end features found on more expensive Les Pauls, including a set mahogany neck, rosewood fingerboard, and Grover tuners. Hardware and electronics are high quality for the price.

This is an excellent choice for players looking for the timeless Les Paul tone and feel without breaking the bank. The Epiphone name has a long history of making great budget alternatives to Gibson classics.

Considering the quality materials and hardware, the Les Paul Studio represents fantastic value in solid body electric guitars. It's built to last years of playing while still being accessible for intermediate players or working musicians on a budget.

Cons

Some users have reported issues with tuning stability on the Epiphone Les Paul Studio LT. While tuning stability is a common challenge on guitars at this price point, it seems the stock tuners on the Studio LT may be prone to slipping out of tune more frequently than expected.

This guitar comes equipped with Grover tuners which are decent quality. However, they may need a bit more breaking in or lubrication out of the box. Upgrading to higher quality locking tuners could help alleviate tuning problems if they persist.

The nut on this model is also a potential source of tuning instability. Switching out the nut for a higher grade Graph Tech or bone nut may help notes ring out clearer and tuning stay locked in better.

Setup and intonation on any guitar can also impact tuning stability. Having a professional setup done can optimize string height, neck relief, and intonation to improve sustain and tuning across the fretboard.

While inconsistent tuning can be frustrating, a few strategic upgrades and a professional setup should help minimize issues. The tuning instability problems reported seem to be isolated and not across the board for this particular model. Overall, the Studio LT offers solid specs and quality for the affordable price point.

Conclusion

The Epiphone Les Paul Studio is an overall great Les Paul style electric guitar for the price. It features classic Les Paul design cues like a mahogany body and neck, rosewood fretboard, and humbucker pickups. The Alnico Classic humbuckers provide a warm, rich tone that is versatile for a variety of musical genres from rock to blues.

While it doesn't have all the bells and whistles of a more expensive Gibson Les Paul, the Epiphone Studio offers solid hardware, electronics, and playability at an accessible price point. The tonewoods and construction allow for good sustain and resonance. The guitar feels comfortable to play, both seated and standing.

For intermediate players looking for an affordable Les Paul, the Epiphone Studio represents a solid option. While the pickups and hardware may eventually be worth upgrading, the guitar provides a great foundation. For the money, it's hard to find a better Les Paul style model. The Epiphone Les Paul Studio earns its reputation as a great bargain guitar.