Epiphone Paul-100 ENB-VSCH1 Electric Guitar: Full Review

The Epiphone Les Paul 100 is an affordable electric guitar modeled after the iconic Gibson Les Paul. As part of Epiphone's Les Paul series, the Epiphone Les Paul 100 offers players a chance to get the classic Les Paul tone and feel without spending a fortune.

This guitar features a mahogany body with a maple top and a bolt-on mahogany neck with a rosewood fretboard. It has two open-coil humbucker pickups, a 3-way pickup selector switch, two volume and two tone knobs, and a tune-o-matic bridge with stopbar tailpiece. The Epiphone Les Paul 100 comes in a variety of color finishes like Vintage Sunburst, Heritage Cherry Sunburst, Ebony, and Vintage White.

Overall, the Epiphone Les Paul 100 provides an affordable option for beginners and budget-conscious players looking for the iconic Les Paul design and sound. While it lacks some of the refinements and attention to detail of more expensive Les Paul models, it captures the essence of the Les Paul experience at a very attractive price point.

Body Style and Design

The Epiphone Les Paul 100 has the classic double cutaway Les Paul body shape with some great looking curves and contours. The body is made from mahogany which gives the guitar a nice balanced tone.

The double cutaway design allows easy access to the upper frets, making it comfortable to play solos and intricate lead lines all over the neck. Compared to a single cutaway, the double cutaway offers much better accessibility.

The mahogany body contributes to a warm, rounded tone with good sustain and resonance. Mahogany is a popular tonewood for electric guitars, known for its versatility when playing different styles of music. It provides a balanced sound across the frequency spectrum.

Overall, the Les Paul 100 has an iconic body style and design, with the coveted mahogany construction that Les Paul guitars are known for. The double cutaway shape also enhances playability for lead guitarists. The smooth contours and curves of the body make it comfortable to play while standing up. The weight is light enough for extended playing sessions without causing fatigue or strain.

When comparing the Les Paul 100 to other models like the Fender FA-125 971210706, you'll notice some key differences in body design. Fender guitars often have a slimmer, more contoured body shape optimized for comfort during long performances. The Les Paul has more of the classic, vintage feel and look. Overall they are both great options, just depending on your preferences and playing style.

The hardware and electronics are well-chosen for an entry-level Les Paul model. You get a set of decent humbuckers for that thick, warm tone Les Pauls are known for. The tune-o-matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece provide solid intonation and sustain. The control knobs are easy to reach while playing.

Considering its affordable price point, the Les Paul 100 doesn't cut corners on build quality. Fit and finish are quite good with no sharp frets or rough edges. The neck joints and body seams are cleanly cut and joined. Overall it's a well-made guitar, especially for the cost.

The Les Paul 100 is offered in several great looking finishes. The vintage sunburst and heritage cherry sunburst finishes have that classic Les Paul vibe. The ebony finish gives it a more modern, sleek look. They all use a smooth gloss polyurethane finish that brings out the beauty of the mahogany.

If you're looking for your very first Les Paul or a great beater guitar for gigs, the Epiphone Les Paul 100 is tough to beat. You get the iconic sound, feel, and looks of a Les Paul without breaking the bank. It's a perfect choice for new players or working musicians on a budget.

Neck and Fretboard

The Epiphone Les Paul-100 features a classic maple neck and rosewood fretboard that many guitarists prefer for the warm, round tone and smooth playability. The maple neck offers great stability and sustain while feeling comfortable and familiar. The rosewood fingerboard has a lovely look and supplies definition and presence to the Les Paul's tone. The fretwork from Epiphone is very good, with medium sized frets that promote comfortable chording and fast soloing. Many users comment on how enjoyable the Les Paul-100 is to play, thanks in large part to the quality fretboard that facilitates both rhythm and lead playing.

The neck shape will be equally familiar to both vintage Les Paul fans and modern shredders. It has a 1960's SlimTaper "D" profile that provides a great balance of thickness and contour. Overall, the neck and rosewood fretboard make this an exceptionally playable and gig-worthy guitar. The neck and fretboard are some of the most important elements of an electric guitar. They determine the feel, playability and to some degree the tone. Epiphone has designed the Les Paul-100 to have a comfortable, fast neck that sounds great.

If you're looking for an affordable electric guitar with premium neck and fretboard specs, be sure to also check out the Yamaha SLG200NW. This nylon-string guitar has a rosewood fretboard and mahogany neck that many players find comfortable. The slim neck profile combined with smooth rosewood make it very easy to play. While it doesn't have the iconic look and tone of a Les Paul, the Yamaha SLG200NW provides fantastic quality and playability for the price. Most guitarists would be thrilled to own either of these instruments. When shopping for an electric guitar, be sure to try out the neck and make sure it feels good in your hands. This simple test can help you choose a guitar you'll enjoy playing for many years.

Electronics and Pickups

The Epiphone Les Paul 100 features a pair of Epiphone 700T/650R open-coil humbucker pickups that provide a warm, rich tone. The bridge pickup has a bit more bite and treble, while the neck pickup has a smooth, rounded sound.

The pickups are responsive and articulate, able to handle everything from sparkling clean tones to thick overdrive. There's enough output and warmth to get a nice singing sustain. The open coils give the pickups an airy presence and dimensionality.

The pickups capture the classic Les Paul tone, with enough clarity and definition for chords and single-note runs. They have decent dynamic range and react well to both a light touch and more aggressive picking. Overall, the pickups offer very good performance for this price range.

The volume and tone controls allow for a variety of tonal shades. You can roll back the volume for cleaner sounds or dial in just the right amount of treble bite with the tone knobs. This allows both pickups to be tailored to suit different playing styles and genres.

The electronics package provides flexibility while staying true to the classic Les Paul sound. The Epiphone humbuckers have warmth and character that punches above their weight.

Hardware

The Epiphone Les Paul 100 comes equipped with quality hardware that matches the classic Les Paul design and feel. It has chrome hardware including chrome tuners, knobs, and other appointments.

One of the standout hardware features is the tune-o-matic bridge with stopbar tailpiece. This is the classic Les Paul bridge that provides stable tuning and intonation. The combination of the tune-o-matic bridge with the tailpiece gives the Les Paul 100 excellent sustain and resonance.

The chrome hardware has a bright shimmer that pairs nicely with the gloss finish. Players who want the true Les Paul experience will appreciate the attention to detail with the hardware. Everything from the control knobs to the pickup selector feels solid and road-worthy.

The hardware works seamlessly with the rest of the components to deliver classic rock tones. Whether you're playing blues, rock, or metal, the hardware provides a solid foundation.

Sound and Tone

The Epiphone Les Paul-100 guitar produces a versatile array of classic rock and blues tones that players have come to expect from the Les Paul design. The two open-coil humbucker pickups provide a warm, rounded tone that works well for chords and rhythm playing. There's enough output and midrange punch to cut through a mix when soloing or playing lead lines.

The bridge pickup has plenty of bite and brightness for solos and heavier rock riffs. The neck pickup smooths out the top end for bluesier leads and fatter chords. Having separate volume and tone controls for each pickup allows shaping the EQ and output even further.

From clean warm jazz tones to snarling distorted rock, this guitar covers all the sonic bases. The mahogany body and set mahogany neck add resonance and sustain to the core tone. Overall, players looking for classic rock and blues voices will feel right at home with the Les Paul-100.

Playability

The Epiphone LP-100 electric guitar features a slim taper neck and low action that make it very comfortable and playable, especially for beginners. The slim profile neck has a fast feel that allows for easy fingering and smooth transitions up and down the fretboard. This is aided by the shorter 24.75" scale length, compared to Gibson's typical 25.5", which reduces the spacing between frets.

The low action, referring to the string height above the frets, requires less pressing force and allows for easier fretting and bending. This also facilitates complex chording and makes it easier to play barre chords. Many reviewers mention this guitar is very playable right out of the box without the need for a setup. The shorter scale and low action combine to make this an excellent choice for new players who are building skills and hand strength.

Quality and Durability

The Paul-100 is known for having solid build quality, especially considering its affordable price point. The all-mahogany body and neck feel sturdy and durable. The hardware also feels solid and built to last.

Customers report the Paul-100 holding up well over years of use and practice sessions. The neck joint and electronics continue working smoothly over time. The finish resists fading, cracks, and peeling. While not as premium feeling as more expensive Epiphones and Gibsons, the Paul-100 exceeds expectations for its low cost.

Players say the guitar stays in tune nicely, demonstrating quality machine heads and a well-cut nut. The neck and frets show good craftsmanship too, with even fret edges that don't buzz or cause injuries. Overall, the Paul-100 delivers reliably on quality and durability for beginner to intermediate guitarists.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• The Epiphone Les Paul 100 has the iconic singlecutaway Les Paul body shape that's become synonymous with rock and roll. The double humbucker design delivers that thick, warm Les Paul tone.

• As one of Epiphone's more affordable Les Paul models, the Les Paul 100 provides an entry point into the Les Paul experience. The quality is impressive for the low price point.

Cons

• The Epiphone Les Paul 100 uses open-coil humbuckers rather than closed-coil versions. While they still sound good, some players feel open-coil pickups are more prone to picking up interference.

• As an budget model, there are some compromises in electronics and hardware compared to pricier Epiphones and Gibsons. The tuning stability and sustain may not match more expensive models.

Conclusion

The Epiphone Les Paul 100 is an excellent choice for beginners looking to learn classic rock and blues on electric guitar. Despite the budget price, it offers solid construction with a basswood body, mahogany neck, rosewood fretboard, and bolt-on neck joint. The two open-coil humbuckers provide a thick, warm tone perfect for those genres. While the hardware and electronics are basic, they perform well for the price.

Overall, the Les Paul 100 packs a lot of value into an affordable package. The classic Les Paul styling is ideal for new players who aspire to one day own a Gibson model. While the guitar may need a professional setup out of the box, it provides a great platform for learning skills and developing tone. As long as your expectations match the budget price, the Les Paul 100 is a great way to start your classic rock and blues electric guitar journey.