Epiphone PPGS-ENA2AANH3-US Electric Guitar: Full Review

The Epiphone Electric Guitar Performance Package provides everything a beginner needs to start playing electric guitar. This affordable bundle includes a Les Paul Special-II guitar, Electar-10 amp, gig bag, clip-on tuner, strap, picks, and an instructional DVD.

Epiphone is known for making quality instruments inspired by Gibson's legendary designs but at more reasonable prices. The Les Paul Special-II guitar in this package features a slim taper mahogany neck and dual open-coil humbucker pickups for that classic rock tone.

With 10 watts of power, the Electar-10 amp offers plenty of volume for practice and jam sessions. The included gig bag provides protection while transporting the guitar. The tuner, strap, picks, and DVD complete this all-in-one starter kit for new guitarists.

Overall, this Epiphone bundle has all the essentials for beginners to start learning and playing electric guitar right out of the box. The affordable price point makes it easy for budding musicians to get started on a trusted brand.

Specs

The Epiphone Electric Guitar PPGS-ENA2AANH3-US has an iconic Les Paul body shape with a mahogany body and slim-taper D-profile maple neck. The neck has a rosewood fretboard with 22 medium jumbo frets and a 12" radius for smooth playability. It's equipped with Epiphone 700T open-coil Alnico Classic humbucker pickups that deliver a warm, vintage tone perfect for rock and blues. The pickups are controlled by individual volume and tones knobs with 3-way pickup switching for a range of sonic possibilities.

The hardware includes Epiphone Deluxe tuners, a LockTone Tune-O-Matic bridge, and a Stopbar tailpiece for stable tuning and intonation. The controls, pickup covers, and hardware sport a classy chrome finish. This classic design has been used by countless legendary guitarists over the decades and provides a versatile platform for everything from rock and blues to jazz and country playing. Many players appreciate the comfortable neck profile, quality hardware, and great value offered by Epiphone's Les Paul models.

For guitarists looking for a more modern and aggressive sound, the Ibanez PC15VS is another great option to consider. With its carved poplar body, thin Wizard III maple neck, and dual Powersound humbuckers, this guitar delivers the fast playability and heavy tone that many metal and hard rock guitarists desire. The basswood body offers tight lows and articulate mids and highs, while the HSH pickup configuration provides tonal flexibility. The Edge-Zero II tremolo bridge allows for diving bombs and other expressive techniques as well.

When shopping for an electric guitar, it's important to consider the body shape, wood materials, neck profile, electronics, and hardware to find the right match for your playing style and musical needs. Solidbody guitars like the Les Paul and Ibanez models offer increased sustain and reduced feedback versus hollowbody designs. The type of pickups, pickup switching options, controls, and bridges all significantly impact the overall tone and functionality. Testing different guitars in person is the best way to determine which one feels and sounds best for your personal preferences.

Sound Quality

The Epiphone Les Paul Special II has excellent sound quality for a guitar in its price range. The two open-coil humbucker pickups provide a thick, warm tone well-suited to rock and blues. The pickups have decent output and dynamics, allowing for a range of tones from clean to distorted.

The maple top contributes to the guitar's bright, articulate tone. The mahogany body provides a balanced sound with tight low end and singing highs. Together, they produce the classic Les Paul tone - thick mids, singing treble, and rich lows.

The hardware also impacts the sound quality. The tune-o-matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece give the guitar good sustain and resonance. Overall, the pickups and hardware allow the Les Paul Special II to produce fat, singing lead tones as well as crunchy rhythm sounds. It's a versatile guitar tonally despite its affordable price point.

The Epiphone Les Paul Special II's sound quality stands up well against competitors in a similar price range, such as the Washburn WCG55CE-O. The Washburn features a solid mahogany body with a carved maple top, resulting in a balanced tone suited for various genres. It comes equipped with two Washburn-designed humbuckers that provide thick distortion and singing leads. Overall, the Washburn offers comparable sound quality to the Epiphone Les Paul Special II at a similar affordable price point. Both guitars deliver professional rock and blues tones despite their budget-friendly pricing.

When shopping for an electric guitar on a budget, sound quality should be a top priority. Features like body wood, pickups, and hardware have a big impact on an affordable guitar's tone. The Epiphone Les Paul Special II and Washburn WCG55CE-O both offer excellent sound for the price thanks to their quality components. Players looking for versatile rock and blues tones would be happy with either of these guitars.

Playability

The Epiphone Les Paul Special II has a slim taper maple neck that is very playable and comfortable. The neck profile is a 1960s SlimTaperTM "D" Profile that provides a nice rounded feel in your hand. The neck width at the nut is 1.695" which gives ample room for chords and lead playing without feeling too wide.

The rosewood fretboard has a 12" radius which contours nicely to your hand, making chords and bends very comfortable. The medium jumbo frets are nicely finished providing a smooth feel along the neck. The fretwork is consistently done with no sharp edges. Overall the neck and fretboard allow for very smooth and fast playing across the entire fretboard.

The hardware is good quality for an affordable guitar. The tuners keep the guitar in tune well. The tone and volume knobs have a smooth feel. The pickup selector switch clicks firmly between positions.

Hardware

The Epiphone Les Paul electric guitar comes equipped with quality hardware that enhances playability and sound. The headstock features reliable sealed tuners that keep the guitar in tune through extended playing sessions and gigs. The hardware on the Les Paul Special II is a significant step up from other budget electric guitars.

The tune-o-matic bridge with stopbar tailpiece provides solid intonation, allowing notes across the fretboard to ring true. The bridge also features adjustable saddles to dial in string height and action to personal preference. Overall, the hardware components on this Epiphone electric guitar offer stability and durability for many years of playing. Guitarists report changing tunings frequently without slipping out of tune.

Aesthetics

The Epiphone Les Paul Standard PlusTop PRO electric guitar has an attractive aesthetic that stays true to the iconic Les Paul design. It comes in a variety of elegant finish options including Heritage Cherry Sunburst, Mojave Fade, Blueberry Burst, and Classic Ebony.

The body has a carved AAA flame maple veneer top with a mahogany back and sides for a stunning figured look. The binding along the top helps accentuate the beautiful flame maple patterns. The headstock features a 60s style Les Paul motif and the chrome hardware such as the tuners, bridge, and stopbar tailpiece give it a sleek, polished look.

The multi-ply body and fingerboard binding along with the trapezoid inlays on the rosewood fingerboard provide an ornate yet classic style. Overall, the guitar's aesthetics allow it to look fantastic on stage or in the studio while paying homage to the legendary guitar it is modeled after.

Accessories

The Epiphone Electric Guitar Player Package comes with several helpful accessories for a beginning guitarist.

It includes a padded gigbag made of durable nylon that provides protection during storage and transportation of the guitar. The bag features backpack straps, making it easy to carry.

The package also contains 5 premium picks featuring a grippy print pattern. The picks are made of medium thickness celluloid and come in assorted colors. They are designed to provide comfort, grip, and flexibility while strumming.

An instrument cable is included for connecting the guitar to an amplifier. The 10 foot cable is a 24K gold-plated wired cable that provides a clear, crisp signal.

Additionally, an easy-to-use chromatic clip-on tuner helps keep the guitar properly tuned before playing. The tuner clips onto the headstock and detects the pitch of each string.

These useful accessories complement the guitar and offer convenience to new players just starting out on the instrument. The gigbag, picks, cable, and tuner provide essential tools right out of the box.

Pros

• Great starter electric guitar for beginners: The Epiphone Les Paul Electric Guitar Player Pack provides everything a beginning guitarist needs to start playing right out of the box. The quality guitar, amp, accessories, and low price point make this a perfect choice for new players.

• Iconic Les Paul design: This Epiphone guitar features the classic single cutaway Les Paul body shape with a mahogany body and maple top. The familiar design looks great and provides tried-and-true Les Paul tones.

• Quality hardware: The Epiphone Les Paul Electric Guitar Player Pack includes 650R humbucker pickups, chrome hardware, and a Tune-o-matic bridge with stopbar tailpiece. These high-quality components allow the guitar to produce Les Paul style tones.

Cons

• The amp included in the package is fairly low quality and may need to be upgraded soon for better sound.

• The guitar picks included are quite thin and can break easily. Replacing them with better quality picks is recommended.

• The tremolo bridge isn't the sturdiest and can go out of tune easily if used aggressively. This may frustrate some players who rely on heavy tremolo techniques.

Conclusion

The Epiphone Electric Guitar Performance Package provides solid value for beginner and intermediate guitarists looking for an affordable, quality electric guitar option.

This set includes all the essentials like a Les Paul-style Epiphone guitar, small practice amp, strap, picks, cable, and gig bag to get started playing right out of the box. While not a professional-grade instrument, the hardware, electronics, and build quality are very good for the price.

The guitar sounds full and resonant unplugged and can achieve a nice classic rock crunch or cleaner tone when amplified. Playability is also smooth and comfortable thanks to the slim taper neck, light weight, and low action. Plus, the cherry sunburst finish gives it some stylish visual flair.

For those seeking an electric guitar package that doesn't break the bank but still provides quality components to learn on, the Epiphone Electric Guitar Performance Package hits all the right notes. While it may eventually make sense to upgrade, this is an excellent choice for beginners that delivers beyond expectations.