I picked up a new (rather never sold) Epiphone Les Paul Goldtop (Made in Japan) a couple of weeks ago, I was wondering around in a dodgy area of Osaka in here in Japan and came accross the guitar shop that time forgot. The old guy in there was literally surrounded by piles of New (but never sold) guitars. Anyway I saw this and had to have it! Most of the new epiphones have that hideously large headstock which looks well just hideous! Epiphone Les Paul 1956 Goldtop Electric Guitar, Gold Top
This one looks the part and the color of the gold is delicious too.
I did the pepsi challenge with this and my Gibson Les Paul standard (I got my wife to hand me each one blindfolded) and I have to say I thought this sounded better than the real one. The weight is identical, the action is great and all the hardware is good quality. If I understood the guy correctly he had this in stock since 1998 which makes it at least 10 years old.
The fretboard is really well done as are the inlays, some might complain that the metal parts have oxidised slightly, but actually for me it makes it look vintage evan though it has never been played.Anyway, I always wanted a Goldtop and could never really qualify the expense as I already had a Les Paul, so at $200 this was a bargain. One VERY happy guitar guy here with a new baby! I can't wait to get this down the studio and get it cranked up.
