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This guitar is now called my "trump guitar"--it trumps the other 3 electrics I have in my collection.

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This is an AWESOME buy. With the quality, sound, and look you get for the price this is, there's no reason why you shouldn't buy this. Definitly worth the expense(even if you're like me and don't need another guitar). You'd have to be crazy not to like it.

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...the F****** pau ferro fretboard. You just can't build an ebony/gold guitar and then add on a fretboard that looks like dried out rosewood. Sure, it feels nice and sounds fine, but 99% of the selling point behind the "tuxedo" guitar was aesthetic beauty...and that light colored fretboard just ruins the whole package. I bought this as a replacement to an older (dark, rosewood fretboard) model that was unfortunately stolen, and due to my own over excitement and lack of thorough reading, I skimmed over the whole pau ferro thing or I probably wouldn't have bought it. But now it's mine so I'll deal with my literary negligence. Features...The middle pickup on these is pure mojo, but the factory wiring scheme lacks imagination. The Frampton wiring where you can blend it in is my personal preference in a three pickup LP, but the factory setup is still doable by all means and you can find some great tone with a little manipulation. The build quality is top notch, as was my last. Epiphone, in my opinion, has always truly produced mid range Gibson's at an affordable price, minus that specific headstock. This one came (from China) perfectly intonated, frets were smooth and level, neck was straight, and other than swapping strings and slightly lowering the bridge to my preference, it was good to go right from the box.The sound...the tone of the AlNiCo Pro's is quite good. Cleans are well defined and quite clear, crunch has a bold clarity and vintage, slightly mid-laden push, and despite what I read in an earlier review, this particular guitar dishes out both country and metal in spades. I'm fortunate enough to own a nice stash of amps, and I can hit the Jesus tone through all of them with this guitar, as it came from the factory. Ease of use...it's a bit on the heavy side (12 +/- lbs) like any non-chambered LP, so if you're typically a strat player it'll break your shoulder and back after a few songs. Epi uses decent pots, jacks and switches, and they are all easily accessible while playing. As far as value goes, I buy Epiphone guitars because I can. I can't drop $4000 on a guitar just because I'd look and feel so much cooler with a Gibson, but I can and always have done my thing with an Epiphone. A badge is a badge, and I'd love an actual Gibson Black Beauty, but I'd still gig with my Epiphones. Epiphone guitars have always been a great value, in my opinion. You get what you pay for when it comes to instruments, but you also get what you think your paying for when it comes to name tags, so always use your ears first, wallet second ;)Wow factor? Yeah, if it weren't for the pau ferro, I'd be ecstatic. But again, that just kills it for me. Thankfully Mine has a patricularly nicely grained fretboard, although much too light in color for an ebony guitar. Epiphone is probably going to sink this model unless they go back to rosewood. Beyond that, the "wow" will never fade.

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I've been playing guitar for most of my life. I haven't worked with electric much in the last 10 years though. When My favorite Strat was stolen around 6 years ago I didn't see at the time the need to replace it with another quality instrument. I primarily make my living as an acoustic player. I have a bunch of high quality acoustic guitars so I am a total freak when it comes to intonation, consistent action and especially staying in tune. The knew band I'm working with requires that I play more electric. I was looking towards an HSS Strat or a PRS.I saw this on the web page and the reviews were great. I checked out the reviews on every page I could and they were all outstanding so I decided to order one and see if I liked it.The looks and finish when I opened it were outstanding. The action was excellent. The intonation on the G string was a little off by it I had it adjusted within a few minutes. After that the intonation was dead on.Everything about this guitar is great. The other guitar player in this band has a Gibson Les Paul Custom and we both agree this plays at least as good quite possibly better.The only thing is I wish is that it came with a 5 way toggle instead of a 3 way. With 3 pickups the 3 way toggle only lets you choose one of the 3 pickups. They all sound great and have their own tone, but a 5 way will let you choose 2 at a time. I'll probably have that changed in the next couple of weeks.All in all, I am amazed at the value and price point of this guitar. I've always been a U.S. made guitar snob. I still prefer to buy American made products, but this guitar is a hell of a deal.

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I'll keep this thing forever and if i lost it I'd buy another one.

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I really have nothing to complain about the guitar except that, for you to really enjoy playing on this guitar, you must have the guitar setup properly (like trust rod adjustment, bridge adjustment, action and intonation). When I received mine the intonation was not properly set.

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I recommend getting a setup on this guitar as soon as you receive it. Mine didn't need that much, but it really didn't live up to it's potential until a proper setup was done. I love everything about it, the tone color weight and overall "feel" of it. I tend to play just plugged straight into an amp and nothing else. Great sounds just messing with clean/overdrive channels, pickup selections and your volume and tone knobs on the guitar. The build quality is actually very good, it does not have a single thing about it that feels cheap or budget. My truss rod was just a little off, and my local Luthier said that is common in new guitars that have shipped from overseas. In any case it plays so smooth and easily after a setup so I can't really take that away from the overall impression of this beauty. Get one.

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This instrument had long been a 'dream instrument' of both my spouse and myself, so we decided to get it for ourselves this Christmas season. It is far more desirable to me now after having played it for a few weeks than it was before when I merely coveted it. The sustain is amazing. The electronics sound great and having the middle pickup gives you access to a whole new range of tones. A genuine pleasure to play.

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I am the lead guitarist for the Spiritual Hi Lites Of Cleveland, Ohio. This is the best playing, best sounding Les Paul, I have ever owned. I have had numerous Standard, a Junior, and SG versions as well, this is the best value of all of them. I just did a concert with this guitar last Sunday, and received many comments about the sound of this guitar. Buy it, and Rock- Period.

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Excellent quality and sounds awesome (what do you expect...it's an Epiphone!) I've been a bass player for 45 years and only played guitar to write. I am now spending time really learning about playing guitar and always wanted a Les Paul. This was an excellent choice. Easy to play and makes me want to really learn the shred, just like I've done on the bass!!

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I have had a number of higher end guitars over the last several years, but I got tired of paying for a name. Most of the guitars I had were similar to the BB except that this one is very flexible in its sounds and it is also very reliable, just like the higher end guitars. The PU's are not as good as you get on the American versions, but the guitar is 3000 bucks less than the others as well. For that difference, you can put your own PU's in it! I am totally satisfied with this product and I encourage those who do not have the resources or the desire to spend big bucks on an axe to take a look at this fine product.

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I have les pauls for years all Gibson standards and one custom, never had a three pickup and won't pay 4 grand for one, was surprised to open the box and find a perfect example of the three pickup LP,under the light can not find the smallest of flaws, I read many reviews on this before buying and some say the neck is thin taper, mine has the same fifty's neck as my 80's standard, I buy the off shore guitars with the expectation of maybe changing pickups and controls, these are all good and sound as good as my Gibson's, a really great guitar even if it had cost a little more.

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I've had Epi Les Pauls in the past, as well as many other guitars/brands, and have always wanted a Black Beauty. I finally decided to just get one (because of zZounds "Play as You Pay" deal, I figured, why not?) The only thing I'm angry about is that I put it off for so long...

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This guitar sounds incredible under the right amps. I currently use it with a Fender Blues Deluxe and get some amazing tone out of it. Just like the description mentions that it is a rich and warm sound. The beauty and quality of this guitar is outstanding! I do plan to add a Bigsby and change the bridge and neck pickups later on, but this is the best for the price!

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This guitar is great and at a fraction of what it would cost if it had a Gibson name on the neck. that's the only difference.

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This instrument will alway's reach my appetight for succsess.If anything was to happen to her. I would be gladly to buy the same one at the same price. As an extension through me...it really makes me horny

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First off, I want to say this is the 2ND MOST BEAUTIFUL guitar I've ever owned (I own Gibsons, Epiphones, Fenders, Squiers, Jacksons and Ibanez - my flame top cherry sunburst Ibanez Destroyer is the only one more beautiful than the Epi Black Beauty.)The build quality is superb. Epiphone is producing some excellent guitars as of late. The finish was flawless, the intonation was almost perfect, the neck played wonderfully and the Grover tuners are rock solid.But, sadly, all this fine craftsmanship and exquisite beauty is saddled with pickups that are dull and lifeless when played clean without any overdrive or distortion.The other "complaint" I have is with the wiring configuration; the bridge and middle pickups share the same volume and tone controls so in the "middle position" the bridge and middle pups are both "on" but you can't adjust them individually.Why not have the middle pup controlled by the neck pup controls?! I considered changing the pups and wiring configuration but instead I sold the guitar and bought the Peter Frampton model Les Paul Custom. That guitar is, as they say at Harvard; "more better".

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Good finish and overall quality... my only criticism is that it doesn't come standard with a push pull control to select middle pick up in or out. That "nit" is easily overcome by replacing the bridge tone pot with a push pull pot with minor re-wiring to connect middle PU to it. The result is a much more versatile tone machine.. allowing a wider range of tone options... selecting middle Pu in or out with each 3-way toggle position. seems like an obvious feature when 3 PUs are used. Again, it was an easy upgrade to make using a Bourne Push-Pull CTS pot.. re-using capacitor installed on existing tone pot. The Middle PU is rewired to connect directly to the Push-pull control pot. (use the standard 3-PU LP wiring diagram which is readily available from several websites). Only one jumper is required on 3-way toggle where middle PU wiring was attached. It now sounds great for a variety of tones I use playing blues. Such a mod is so obvious to make full use of 3 PU capability.... original LP wiring diagram features push pull control of middle PU. It's a "no brainer" for me.

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I decided to buy the Epiphone Les Paul Custom Black Beaty 3 because of great reviews I read. I wanted a Gibson Black Beaty 3 but cant justify paying over 4000.00 !!! The guitar needed set up when it arrived. After set up was done, I played it for hours. I am very impressed with the sound quality. The Bridge and neck pick up sounds as good as a Gibson. The middle pickup surprised me, it sounds fender stratish to me. I’ve played guitar 30 years+, I'm really amazed it doesn’t cost hundreds more. The neck is slim and fast, it stays in tune really well. Doesn’t look cheap ether, It’s Gorgeous. If your thinking about getting one of these guitars, DO IT. You’ll be glad you did.

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I expect this guitar to last forever unless it accidently breaks somehow. I would recommend hooking it up with a Marshall amp for the best sound. I have a little 15 watt fender practice amp and I know it could sound alot better on another amp. This guitar has helped me improve ALOT on my guitar skills. If it was stolen I would get it again if I had the chance. I like the look, feel, playability, and the sound variety you can get out of this guitar the most. The thing I like the least is probly the pickups it comes with. (can be easily replaced)

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excellent

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This guitar somehow disappointed me but amazed me completely.

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I expect it to last me forever. I had a Very nice Fender stolen from me when I was younger and you bet I will never let that happen again without someone paying big time .

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Received my Epi Black Beauty new and in "perfect" condition. It is more beautiful in person than in the pics. I pulled it out of the box, tuned it and played, almost perfectly set up for me. New strings, lowered the action a touch and It has become my daily driver on and off stage. My Bass player's wife saw it and exclaimed..."It's so pretty....It looks like a Cadillac!" I was concerned about how it was wired, and did extensive research only to find that they are wired different according to what year purchased...so, I just purchased mine June 2014, It was wired "Rythym position/Neck, Middle position/Middle, Bridge, Bridge position/Bridge. The Epiphone pickups actually sound great on this guitar. My only regret is that I didn't choose THIS guitar sooner. I own 3 Epiphone Les Pauls; Standard, L/E Custom Pro and now the Custom/Black Beauty 3. All 3 IMO are as nice as any player could want... and my new Black Beauty takes front seat due to the Strat AND Les Paul tones it can deliver. I have not needed Manufacturer Support, but I have dealt with zZounds Customer Service and they were terrific. I feel I would receive the same quality of service from Gibson/Epiphone if ever required.

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This is my 2nd New Epiphone from ZZounds, I recently purchased an Epi LP Custom Pro (Pelham Blue), and now the Epi LP Black Beauty 3, I can honestly say that the addition of the 3rd pickup makes a big difference in the guitar's overall attitude. It's the perfect "Everything" guitar. Metal, Rock, Blues, Country, Jazz. My new guitar arrived in pristine condition, I replaced the strings immediately, lowered the action a hair, and it has been spot on since. Before I purchased this guitar, I searched and searched for info on how the pickups were wired.....For all who would like to know.....Mine arrived wired "rythym position/Neck PU, Treble position/Bridge PU, Middle position/Bridge and Middle together. (Bridge Vol. and Tone work for the middle position as well as Bridge Position.) This guitar plays smooth as silk, Great Sustain, Beautiful finish, Set up good from the factory/Not perfect, but definitely playable. It stays in tune, It seems very reliable, and sounds great on every style I play. My new EPI LP Black Beauty might just wind up being my overall go to guitar, That says a lot, because I've played the same Fender Strat for 22 years. Manufacturer Support....Haven't needed it. WOW Factor ...... 10 of 10 Quality ...... First Rate, Perfect fit on every part, Sound ..... Sweet, Strong, Predictable I am extremely pleased with my Epiphone Guitars, and with Zzounds Customer service and support.

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Wow! What a disappointment. Guys don't discard packing on faith that you got what you expected. Stuck with Black Beauty Brick which buzzes frets 1-5 on every string.I am left with 12 monthly payments of $95.00 for this dud something I never would have expected considering my purchase history with zZounds. zZounds is dead to me much like the first five frets of this less than beautiful black I am stuck with.

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Yes i satisfied with this guitar but i don't like the fret board inlays quality and finish its rather gives a cheap look when watched closely.

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I shall keep it for good. I am quite satisfied with it but still its highly priced range pinches me. Yes if I get a better resale price for this guitar I may think to sell it. Yes I searched for another guitar similar to this one but price wise and quality wise it seems quite superior. Yes almost it meet my goals. No if this guitar is lost i shall perfer to buy another brand with less price and without gold plated hardware like Yamaha AES series.

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THis is a guitar I will keep.If I somehow lost it I would get another one. There isn't anything I don't like about it.

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Like I said, great features, great sound, great looks, it is the best! I would recommend it to any musician looking for a Les Paul!

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one of the best guitars u can buy for the price, if u have a chance go for it

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