epi elitist question

[MikeT]

Does anyone know if they're finished with poly or nitro?
(I'm not a*nal about Nitro, but in the past the finish on Jap/Asian copies always was the weak point for me, to shiny/thick for my taste).

[GuitslingerTim]

Poly.

[Gasp100]

Poly, pretty well done imho. Seems like each Elitist I have purchased has been very high quality and a very solid guitar. Sometimes something weird goes on with the bridge, but I think that can be replaced. I might actually be in the market for another one.

[serviviente7]

i have a 335 epi and several gibsons....the finish in the epi tops any of my gibsons. finish should be the last of your worries.

[GuitslingerTim]

Originally Posted by Gasp100

Poly, pretty well done imho. Seems like each Elitist I have purchased has been very high quality and a very solid guitar. Sometimes something weird goes on with the bridge, but I think that can be replaced. I might actually be in the market for another one.

On my plaintop I replaced the defective bridge (a real piece of junk) with a Gotoh drop in replacement, replaced the noisy selector switch, tweaked and polished the nut slots, replaced the ceramic caps with mylar ones, rewired it with 50's wiring, and installed a set of covered 36th Anniversary Dimarzio pickups, and now its one of the finest Les Pauls I've had the pleasure of playing.

[Gasp100]

Originally Posted by GuitslingerTim

On my plaintop I replaced the defective bridge (a real piece of junk) with a Gotoh drop in replacement, replaced the noisy selector switch, tweaked and polished the nut slots, replaced the ceramic caps with mylar ones, rewired it with 50's wiring, and installed a set of covered 36th Anniversary Dimarzio pickups, and now its one of the finest Les Pauls I've had the pleasure of playing.

Sweet, some nice changes there. I didn't realize there was a readily available Gotoh replacement (not sure why the Elitist's skimp on the bridge?). Yeah, I've had like five of them and they were all really nice wood, finish, action/intonation, etc... nice bang for the buck for sure.

[Dr Git]

I must own your guitar's sister, as mine too has had the wiring/pots/switches replaced with RS Guitarworks premium vintage set and 36th Ann DiMarzio PAF's...Hangs easily with any Custom Shop Les Paul I owned in the past. I actually like it even more so, but the Custom Shops are good too. My Bridge has been good to me. I don't play her much maybe that's why..Mine is a flametop though

Originally Posted by GuitslingerTim

On my plaintop I replaced the defective bridge (a real piece of junk) with a Gotoh drop in replacement, replaced the noisy selector switch, tweaked and polished the nut slots, replaced the ceramic caps with mylar ones, rewired it with 50's wiring, and installed a set of covered 36th Anniversary Dimarzio pickups, and now its one of the finest Les Pauls I've had the pleasure of playing.

[GuitslingerTim]

Originally Posted by Dr Git

I must own your guitar's sister, as mine too has had the wiring/pots/switches replaced with RS Guitarworks premium vintage set and 36th Ann DiMarzio PAF's...Hangs easily with any Custom Shop Les Paul I owned in the past. I actually like it even more so, but the Custom Shops are good too. My Bridge has been good to me. I don't play her much maybe that's why..Mine is a flametop though

Beautiful--I'm still kicking myself for not picking up one of the vintage bursts like yours when MF was closing them out, could've had it for $800.

[Fifthstone]

Poly. I've had no issues with the bridge or otherwise. I love my Elitist LP.

[Gasp100]

Originally Posted by GuitslingerTim

Beautiful--I'm still kicking myself for not picking up one of the vintage bursts like yours when MF was closing them out, could've had it for $800.

I've been watching them on ebay... I wouldn't pay more than ~$750 shipped/paypald, but most people are asking more. You should have seen the prices I was selling them for

[redroos]

I've owned 2 of them, a white Custom and a honey burst. I sold the Custom to a friend who had to have it, and I kept the honey burst. Yeah, they are poly, but I am a brave soul and I really wanted to play this gtr more. ...So I sanded off the poly on the neck and refinished it in tung oil. (Also, having done this, I am here to tell you that the finish is very thick, and if you elect to do this, be prepard for some sanding time.) One thing that comes with bravery sometimes is a good change and this is the case here. I realize some of you like a bigger neck, '58 LP style, for example, but I like the smaller '60 style, and now I have that.

Doing this has made the gtr my main LP now, (I also have a Gibson LP Standard, '96). From day one it was clear that the Epi had better tone acoustically, now it just plays as good as it sounds.

The bridge thing mentioned here is interesting. I left it stock. What I instead changed was the TP, going to the Gotoh aluminum version, and some hardened steel studs from Steve at Pigtail Music. (And yes, I sadly heard the he passed away recently.) I think changing the bridge and ignoring the TP and studs kinda misses the real problem but that's your call. I also purchased and installed the RS volume pots, changed the caps, and went with the 50's tone control hookup. The pot change was huge for this gtr, BTW, and I am still hearing that I don't know jack until I find and install the real Centrelab pots. Eh, maybe someday.

OK, this is my first post here and may I add that I dig that there are folks here who like the Epi Elitist. These are very well made gtrs, IMO.