I was very happy with mine. Other than a very slight truss rod adjustment out of the box, there is nothing wrong with it. Like yours, my trem was straight and flat. Frets are clean and smooth everywhere. The frets are polished well and no scratchiness on them anywhere. Bends are smooth and silky. It's hard to pick between this and the Alex Lifeson Standard. Side by side, the finish and just overall appearance of the Custom is better. But I think the Custom is my favorite. Like you said, if I need the Piezo, I've got the Standard to use. I've been a Rush fan since 1974 (yeah, I'm old) and getting these two were a no brainer. I waited too long to pick up the Standard and had to pay the used mark up. Which brought it to almost the same price as this one new. But the seller had only taken it out of the box for set-up and pictures and it was mint condition also. I don't think he even played it any. As always, RIP Neil, you are missed.
I was so happy when I found out Epiphone and Alex were getting together for the Standard model. Yeah, the Gibson would be nice, but, what was it $5k+? Now there are a couple of guitars out there for the rest of us that don't have a huge budget (and would like to remain married). They really are fantastic guitars! 👍
Great video! As someone who picked this up a day after launch, I agree with all your points! I think if this came in closer at 1k or 1100, it would be easier to swallow. I must say when I received mine, who ever assembled it needed their eyes checked lol! Everything was perfect except that the Floyd was installed on one stud correctly and the other side was mounted on the stud threads! Thankfully nothing was stripped or destroyed and after I corrected it everything was 100%.
OMG - that would have freaked me out. Glad you were able to get it fixed up. I noted on another post how interesting it is that guitars coming out of the same factory - pretty much at the same time - can have such different setups. For the price, I'd expect Epiphone to have their best setup "artists" working on these. Then again, it's probably just straight-up production line work... faster, faster, faster!!!
From what I've heard about Gibson fairly recently, Epiphone might be just as good or better. I have a review coming up for a Gibson Explorer and as great as it is (and expensive) it has flaws.
The Axcess is the best of old and newer features. You really can't beat the fact that it actually will hold tune thanks to the Floyd, and not having that big neck heel in the way.
I've been using the standard with my live band recently but find I like the "simplicity" of the Custom (no piezo pickups) even more. Then again, we don't play much that needs them, so...
Nice review! Got mine a ~week ago. I wasn't able to get the previous Lifeson Epiphone, so I had to have it. So glad I pulled the trigger on the CCard immediately! Funny you highlighted the white switch cap, I immediately replaced it with a black one. (Kept the white one, of course.) It is beautiful, and Sweetwater had it set up great.
Yeah - I was looking at it fresh out of the box, and that switch cap just looked so out of place. Like a zit! Makes me wonder if it was kind of a wink from Alex, assuming he was that involved with the design. Would be funny to find out that's exactly how he wanted it!
My lefty version just came in today, whaooo. Really digging Epiphone's new inspired by Gibson brand! I have the 60's standard and the custom now the new Alex Lifeson Custom!
One of the first things I noticed when this model was released was that there was a lefty version available. So many times lefties get overlooked - glad to see Epiphone took the time to make it happen for this model. Of course, that probably jacked the price up a bit LOL. Just kidding. Well worth it for everyone to have Axcess (see what I did there). 👍
I hope they keep this one around longer then the previous version. It would be nice if they brought back the previous one at some point too, even if they had to raise the price a bit.
I was hoping to have good news, but I just checked Sweetwater and Epiphone's websites and the guitar is listed as "backordered". If it's the same situation the original standard had then we may not see them widely available again - new, at least :(
Just got mine last week, I do guitar setups on the side and this was the best epiphone out of the box. It needed setup but none of the normal fret issues. It seems for the added price they are spending more time on the fit and finish
After I shot the video I did end up changing the strings and tuning to D standard. All I had to adjust were the springs to compensate for the lower string tension. Everything else was spot-on. Yeah, it's nice to see something so good from Epiphone right out of the box!
Looks fantastic and I'm a massive fan of both Alex and Rush but, for the price being asked for here (Ireland), I'd just rather save another 700 euro and buy myself another real Gibson Les Paul (looking at a Gold Top next) and for all the haters out there, I own five Gibson's (despite being a Strat man at heart) and every one of them is perfect with no faults whatsoever. Can't see how Epiphone can really justify this sort of money with no piezo on this version.
Yeah - the cost was definitely not a +1 for me. I'm a cheap guy and this was right around my limit. Seriously, I could buy 6(!) Squier Sonic series instruments for the cost of this on. I still really like it though LOL! Thanks for the comment 👍
I did wonder about the value for money. A regular LP Custom comes in at nearly half the price but but the time you add the body mod, Floyd Rose, Hard Case, Phase Wiring, extra As in the top part of the price difference is explained. While a Gibson probably won't depreciate as much the Big Al standard seems to resell pretty well so if this is also a limited run maybe that gap won't be as big as you think. The added value for me is that is is the only Lifeson based guitar for lefties so top marks to Epiphone for that
@@dave64k Both my mom and daughter are lefties... so I was SOOO glad to see a lefty model available. No telling how this thing will age on the market. I just didn't want to miss out like I almost did with the original Alex Epi. +1 to Epiphone/Gibson for marketing this thing LOL! I do know, in the end, that I can use this to record with and/or to play live. Pretty sure what my next $1k+ guitar will be - oooh, big secret! Until then, going to stick with getting less expensive guitars. In the mean time, I will enjoy this one!
Hi, I agree the $ is a little high, and I'm a Gibson Les Paul freak and have four LP's that I love like my children. But with the Floyd and electronics on a LP (plus being a huge RUSH Fan), I had to have it. My wife's not as happy as I am with it😜! ....But I Love it!
I have both the standard and ruby custom too. The Ruby is better. (I have that GeddybLee Jazz bass too, lol). Specifically the Floyd Rose is better and the neck feels better. It’s prettier and losing the piezo is no loss to me. Your take and review is spot on I think. Best and most accurate review I’ve seen so far
Thanks for the comment! Yeah, I don't miss the piezo either. All I need is a Neil Peart signature drum kit (cheap, I'm sure LOL) and I'll have the whole Rush set!
It's weird how different the setup can be on the same guitars out of the same factory. Guess I got the person that was paying close attention - that day, at least. Glad you were able to get one; it is a fantastic guitar.
Order two, one for playing and making some mods and the other one will stay like it is for my collection, I had the one with piezo but trade it for a Suhr which I made some mods and it’s my main axe, this will probably be my second axe for all the Floyd rose stuff
I like your thinking! Wish I had the budget for two of everything - I usually get the higher priced stuff and declare that "I will never modify this!" Doesn't always work out that way LOL. A Suhr is definitely on my wish list. At the moment though, my goal is to get the most I can out of the least money I can spend. And yet... I keep spending more LOL! Thanks so much for the comment. I really took it to heart :)
The suhr was a trade for some studio equipment plus the Epiphone, I am paying one of the guitars monthly via AMS easy pay. That’s the only way I could get two, I’m also a giving musician and that also help get the extra income to support the buying gear habits.
@@fabianorodas Love it! I have a habit of donating my old guitars to local school districts. Doesn't help me get anything new, but it does feel good. We get what we can when we can, right? Keep on rocking!
The song at the beginning and the end of the video is something I wrote for the video. I use whatever instrument I am reviewing and throw together a quick, original song so you can hear the instrument in action.
Indeed! It would be nice to have that Gibson logo on the headstock... that's just a wee bit pricey though! Seriously, five times the cost? Could it be five times better? I would't think so.
