Les pauls.

[Sancho]

I've never owned an ESP or an LTD but what I've seen from them has been pretty good.
The two Edwardses I own are both excellent. No production flaws I've noticed so far.

[Alex]

i've had 1 ESP and 3 ltd's through the years.
All of them had their own problems. Horrible workmanship imho. What you get for the money is alot of expensive hardware, but minimal workmanship/quality control.

I will never buy a esp again.

Sorry, I cannot agree with the comment. My ESP's construction is immaculate. The binding, paintjob fretjob and everything else is perfect. All cavities - including the pickup ones - are painted with that special paint and grounded.  I've had the guitar for 6 years now and it is holding up great.
My LTD's neck has rounded fretboard edges. Rounded! On an LTD! The feel is awesome, like a well plaid in guitar. Yes, the inlays aren't perfect like on the ESP.

Both my Gibsons on the other hand are fine guitars as well, but you see the little things. Like you can feel where the fretboard has been glued one, or the binding is a bit rough here and there.

My guess is that you have been sold some Lemons. Every manufacturer has them. You were probably just unlucky.

[oncesolemn]

So what do we know of the actual construction of Burnys, Edwards and the like?  Are they all solid mahogany bodies or similarly weight relieved?  If they are solid, where are they getting they're mahogany from that Gibson can't!-or they can, and is simply Gibson's method of extacting more money for a custom shop model that is solid?

 

[Philly Q]

Edwards, Tokai, Orville and Japanese Epiphones are, as far as I know, all solid bodied.  In my experience Edwards tend to be quite light, Tokai a bit heavier. 

I suspect it's not that they have access to "better" mahogany, more that they use different woods from different sources and different branches ( :roll: ) of the mahogany "family".

Going back further to the late '70s and '80s, I know some of the Greco models were chambered/weight relieved - although they still tend to be pretty heavy.  The same is probably true of Burny, but I don't know for sure (can't be bothered to research it again now!  :lol: )

The new Chinese Burnys are probably solid, but I'd guess they're made of nato or something along those lines.

[Sancho]

Speaking from personal experience, my two Tokais are indeed on the heavy side.
The Edwards LP 125 I have is quite light, but also smaller than a regular Les Paul. A bit thinner, a bit shorter... It's weird.
The Tokais are deadringers for my Gibsons except for the poly finish and frets that run to the edge of the neck rather than the binding.

[kellar]

Man I have to say I disagree as well. I have had several ESP's, all very well built. Have not had a single issue with any of them.Any ESP I have ever played has been built very well. I find their worksmanship top-notch and would certainly give constructive criticism if I had any to give.
Regarding the neck, its definitely thinner and plays very fast. I had no trouble getting used to it though. Matter of taste I guess.
The hardware is second to none and better than the hardware you get on some guitars twice the price. Locking tuners, locking TOM bridge and tailpiece, Earvana nut, SH-59/JB pickups.