Epiphone Les Paul Standard Plus Top Review - Better than a Gibson Les Paul?

By R. S. Rasnick

Like the Fender Stratocaster, the Gibson Les Paul has become a guitar icon, treasured by players in such various styles as rock, metal, blues, jazz, and country. From Slash to Jimmy Page, the devotees of the Les Paul are common.

The problem for many of us, though, is that Gibson Les Pauls are a bit on the high-priced side.

The average street price of a new Les Paul is well over $2,000, which is hardly pocket change. What's a Les Paul lover to do?

How about the Epiphone Les Paul Standard Plus?

Even though it reads "Epiphone" on the headstock, the guitar sounds, feels, plays, and looks like a "real" Gibson Les Paul, just several hundred dollars cheaper. This made-in-Korea Les Paul model even sports Les Paul's signature on the headstock. But how does it liken to an American-made Gibson Les Paul?

We reviewed a transparent Blue Les Paul Standard Plus Top, and I have to say the instrument has one of the most gorgeous tops I've viewed in this cost range. The figuring is absolutely exquisite, and is marvelously complimented by its creme-colored binding and chrome hardware.

Suffice it to say, that that the Epiphone Les Paul Standard Plus Top is one very appealing instrument.

I've been blessed to have owned a Gibson Les Paul Standard for quite a while, so I felt like I was in a strong place to compare the two instruments. Honestly, I was very impressed. The neck actually reminded me of a 1960 Gibson Les Paul Standard. It was, in fact, quicker in some ways than my own Les Paul, which has a 50's style neck.

The rosewood fretboard felt wonderful and the frets were well-polished and smooth on the whole, but not quite as flawless as my Gibson Les Paul. Still, the fretwork is very well done, especially given the guitar's price.

The Epiphone Les Paul Standard Plus Top sports alnico classic pickups, which definitely capture the classic Les Paul Sound. All The Same, I prefer changing pickups in most of my stock guitars, and the Epiphone is really no exception.

Let me stress that it emphatically wouldn't be a "must," but I would likely put Duncan JB and Jazz pickups in the guitar, since I'm partial to that set of pickups.

These pickups sound terrific and might be what you're looking for without the need for substitutes. They did tend to squeal somewhat at high volumes, but not annoyingly so.

You have to look long and hard to see where Epiphone cuts corners on this instrument. What's not easily apparent is that the top is a flamed veneer glued to non-flamed maple. Similarly, the body and neck are made of laminated mahogany.

Surprisingly, these cost-cutting measures permit the Epiphone to weigh even less than its Gibson counterparts. For the price, the Epiphone Les Paul Standard Plus is a superb sounding and easily playable Les Paul for a small fraction of the cost of the Gibson equivalent. - 18423

About the Author:

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Looking For A Terrific Film? Check Out These Popular Film Commentaries

By Dale Wilkins

You have come across excellent summaries of some of the most magnificent films that you may pick from here. Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - Small town band hits it big, in an endeavor to relate songs from The Beatles' classic album into some kind of a storyline. As to The Bee Gees performing skill, well let's just say that they are not the Beatles. Cast includes Peter Frampton, The Bee Gees, George Bums, Sandy Farina, and Steve Martin. (111 minutes, 1978)

The Sinister Urge - Loyal cops Duncan and Moore set out to bash the "smut film racket," which is run by a showy blonde. Illustrates with complete certainty how pictures of chubby women clothed in merely their underwear can be a primary cause of adolescent misbehavior. Cast includes Kenne Duncan, Duke Moore, Carl Anthony, Jean Fontaine, Dino Fantini, and Jeanne Willardson. (75 minutes, 1960)

Scam - Ex-con Bracco and egotistic ex-fed Walken form a stormy tie to swindle a bunch in underworld money. This could-be erotic thriller was made for theatrical release however premiered on cable. Cast includes Christopher Walken, Lorraine Bracco, Miguel Ferrer, Martin Donovan, and Danie Von Bargen.

The Hex - Player Keith steps behind the camcorder to direct this down-home terror film. A deadly meteorite lands on a Tennessee farm, indisputably driving the people insane after contaminating their food. Cast includes Will Wheaton, Claude Akins, Cooper Huckabee, John Schneider, and Amy Wheaton.

Lunatics and Lovers - Aristocrat Mastroianni has a fictional spouse; an organ grinder persuades hooker Mori to "impersonate" her. While it is not unintelligent, it's unexciting. Cast includes Marcello Mastroianni, Claudia Mori, Lino Morelli, Flora Carabella, and Adriano Celentano.

Lilies of the Field - A "small" film that made excellent, triumphing Poitier an Oscar as handyman who helps to construct a chapel for Skala and German-talking nuns. Cast includes Sidney Poitier, Lilia Skala, Lisa Mann, Isa Crino, and Stanley Adams.

The Gorgeous Hussy - Megastars fill the cast in this fictionalized historical drama of Peggy O'Neal, President Andrew Jackson's covert lover. The cast is brilliantly costumed in well assigned settings. The movie is based on the book by Samuel Hopkins Joyce. Cast includes Joan Crawford, Robert Taylor, Lionel Barrymore, Franchot Tone, Melvyn Douglas, James Stewart, Alison Skipworth, Beulah Bondi, and Gene Lockhart.

Scam - Ex-con Bracco and egotistical ex-fed Walken form a stormy tie to swindle a bunch in underworld money. This could-be erotic thriller was made for theatrical release however premiered on cable. Cast includes Christopher Walken, Lorraine Bracco, Miguel Ferrer, Martin Donovan, and Danie Von Bargen.

The Ploughman's Lunch - Complex, skeptical condemnation of British behaviors, ethics and affairs of state, focusing on the exercises of completely egotistical journalist (Pryce) and others throughout the Falklands battle. The film is rather perceptive, within the restraints of its outlook. Cast includes Jonathan Pryce, Tim Curry, Rosemary Harris, Blunt Finlay, and Charlie Dore.

Holiday - First interpretation of Philip Barry's play in reference to non-conformity is a enchanting film. Johnny Case finds himself betrothed to a millionaire's daughter and he must choose between a profession in big business or living life as a holiday. 1938 version includes Katherine Hepburn and Cary Grant among others. - 18423

About the Author:

Downloading movies from the web is fairly easy and quickly ready. Movies and download is also easy. The finest approach is to download the movies from the internet initially to the computer.

Look At 6 Impressive Film Opinions For You To Choose From

By Dwain Berry

Movies can actually be a enormous advantage for our lives. When we sit down and relax to enjoy a excellent film it permits us to escape from our daily anxieties, problems and uncertainties. We tend to get caught up in the lives that are happening in the film and it permits us to disregard about our own difficulties for a while. So why not pick from the list below and enjoy?

From Nashville with Music - Some outstanding country and western music, even though one would be better served to purchase one of the actors' albums rather than agonizing through this yarn of a New York couple who go to the Grand Ole Opry by chance. Cast includes Marilyn Maxwell, Leo G. Carroll, Pedro Gonzalez, Marty Robbins, Merle Haggard, and Buck Owens. (87 minutes, 1969)

Jack of Diamonds - Hamilton plays a cat burglar who pillages gems from Baker, Gabor, and Palmer, who are "special guests" in this movie. Sidestep this one and wait for "To Catch a Robber" to be shown. Cast includes George Hamilton, Joseph Cotten, Marie Laforet, Maurice Evans, Carroll Baker, Zsa Zsa Gabor, and Lilli Palmer. (67 minutes, 1967)

Gun the Man Down - Injured outlaw vows reprisal on partners who left him in the middle of a stickup gone badly. Cast includes James Arness, Angie Dickinson, Robert Wilke, and Emile Meyer. (78 minutes, 1956)

Thief of Baghdad - Reeves looks for the elusive blue rose so he could wed the Sultan's baby girl. This is nothing like the Sabu rendition, although this is a fine piece of work. Cast includes Steve Reeves, Giorgia Moll, Arturo Dominici, and Edy Vessel. (90 minutes, 1961)

House of the Black Death - Wizard keeps individuals prisoner in a frightening old dwelling; extremely dragged out, poor grade material. Cast includes Lon Chaney, Jr., John Carradine, Andrea King, and Tom Drake. (80 minutes, 1965)

Scream 3 - As the title implies this is the third movie in the Scream series. Sydney has run away to Northern California, and is in hiding. Back in L.A. they are filming a movie about Sydney's life. When there are a series of killings on the set of the movie, Sydney must return to L.A. and help the cops locate the murderer.

Unwind and benefit from a good motion picture today. You will enjoy some calm downtime while allowing yourself to relax and dream. You can take some time away from your own difficulties while you are learning more about other people and the world we live in. It is not a surprise that almost everybody's most wanted source of entertainment is movies. - 18423

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Do you fancy a great movie to enjoy today? Find out more about watch movies online for fre. Maybe you are looking for more information about game downloading.

Piano Improvisation Lessons - 3 Ways to Master the Techniques

By Jess Kasey

This article discusses piano improvisation lessons and 3 ways to master the techniques of improvisation and how to get the most out of your lessons. No matter what kind of lessons you take or how often, the three ways discussed below will help you learn how to improvise and usually a lot faster than you might think.

1. Practice: It is a given that in order to improve on anything, you need to practice. And yet a lot people think that they can master something without doing the necessary work. Learning to improvise is no different than learning to read or to play a piece of music perfectly. Without plenty of practice, improving is simply not going to happen.

The magic of practice however that most people don't even notice is that if you put forth the effort to do so, improvement and skill happen when you aren't even looking. Each day that you sit down at the piano and practice something new brings you closer and closer to the day that you realize you can suddenly do something that once seemed impossible.

2. Small Sections: If you are going to learn how to speak a new language, you break it into smaller sections, you can't possibly learn to speak French by tackling the entire dictionary. The same applies to learning an instrument, reading or even improvisation. Smaller pieces are easier for your brain and fingers to grasp.

When you want to learn how to improvise, using this same theory will work best for you. Choose a type of improvisation and master that skill before moving on to a different kind of improvisation. Before you know it you will know multiple ways of improvising and you'll always have something you can play at the piano.

3. Repetition: Repetition is one of the best ways to learn something quickly. This will naturally get a skill embedded into your memory and your fingers so that pretty soon you'll be able to do something without even thinking.

Your goal should be having the piece you're playing be as natural as breathing to your fingers. If you repeat something enough times, pretty soon you should be able to play it in your sleep; that is when you know it is time to move on to the next section.

This article discussed piano improvisation lessons and how to master the techniques using these 3 methods. Practice makes perfect, breaking things into smaller sections and repeating, repeating, repeating. If you focus on these three methods you will be improvising pieces of music in no time at all.

Want to learn more? - 18423

About the Author:

Jess Kasey, a piano teacher and music lover, has reviewed one of the best online programs for learning piano improvisation. Visit Professional Piano Improvisation to learn more about piano jazz improvisation.

9 Astonishing Film Commentary For Your Leisure Satisfaction

By Michael Holt

We delight in entertaining ourselves watching a good movie. It does not matter if it is fiction or based on true events, we are hooked on movies that emotionally influence us. Each and every month millions of DVDs are purchased or rented in the USA. However, with high speed internet, you can get access to movies with the click of a mouse.

Across llOth Street - Barry Shear handled the directing for this film. Three black men, disguised as policemen have robbed the mob bank out of over $250,000. Now the cops and the mob are in a contest to capture the thieves, and salvage the cash. The actors include Anthony Quinn, Yaphet Kotto, Anthony Franciosa, Richard Ward, and Paul Benjannin. (1972 Crime-Drama)

All About My Mother - While a woman loses her child, she returns to Barcelona, renews a concealed friendship with a transvestite friend, who inadvertently the child's father. Pedro Almodovar directed this motion picture and it is his most stirring motion picture to date-more intense than most, although not without his trademark humor and differentiated by terrific behaviors all around. Cast includes Cecilia Roth, Marisa Paredes, Penelope Cruz, Antonia San Juan, Candela Pena, and Eloy Azorin. (101 minutes, 1999)

Batman - The comic book T.V. show hits the silver screen. An evil and diabolical criminal, renowned as The Joker, is attempting to take over Gotham City. The police are powerless to stop him. The city is in peril, until a new super hero emerges. An unknown force, so to be called Batman comes on the scene and defeats The Joker and save the city.

Christmas Vacation - The Griswalds have big plans for Christmas this year. Clark has invited a group of the relatives over for the vast festivity. Clark's efforts go foolishly wrong, par for the course for a Griswald vacation.

Big Trouble in Little China - Buddy Blowhard trucker Russell finds himself at large in Chinatown, while a buddy's fiance is kidnapped right in front of his eyes. High tech Indiana Jones fashion adventure has large tongue-in-cheek demeanor, however everything else in reference to it is large, too including Russell's John Wayne strut. Wonderful electric music score. The cast includes Kurt Russell, Kim Cattrall, Dennis Dun, James Hong, Champ Wong, and Kate Burton. (99 minutes, 1986)

Married To The Mob - Angela deMarco is married to hoodlum Frank deMarco. When Frank dies, Angela wishes to escape the mob and start anew. Instead she discovers herself being followed by the FBI.

Young Dr. Benjamin Stone is on his way to Los Angeles. where his fantasy job as a plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills waits for him. Attempting to evade a traffic jam he winds up off the beaten path in the small town of Grady, where he winds up wrecking his vehicle. To make things worse, it was into the town judge's fence that he wrecked. Ben's sentence is 32 hours of community service at the town hospital. Serving his time, he starts to take pleasure in the work, and discovers himself falling in love.

10,000 B.C. - Warlords have attacked a small mountain tribe in ancient times. They have captured the picturesque Evolet. D'Leh, who loves Evolet, leads a small party of men prepared to go the ends of the Earth to rescue Evolet.

Thunderheart - There have been a number of murders on the Sioux Indian Reservation. The FBI goes in to deal with the circumstances. One agent, Ray Levoi, has Sioux blood. As he investigates the case he soon realizes there is much more going on than some haphazard killings.

Did you know that you can download a excellent motion picture to watch right now? Keep it so you can view it whenever. - 18423

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How to select the best motion picture download sites for your entertainment enjoyment and learn the truth's in relation to file share software nowadays. Watch a free movie and find out more about movies and films at my blog.