Question:
I currently have a Gibson Les Paul Special 2002 and I was thinking what guitar would be a better upgrade. The Special does not have fret bindings or a maple flamed top and I am interested in a guitar with these features. There is the Gibson Les Paul Standard, but I will not be purchasing one brand new unless it is under $1400. Then there are the ESP Edwards from Japan which look quite nice and I can probably get a new one for the same price of a used Gibson LP Standard. I was wondering if anyone has owned both or have either and can tell me what the main differences are besides the headstock brand name.
I like the look of some of the ESP Edwards LP (such as the finish and detail) and they don't seem to cheap out on material. Obviously, Gibson Les Paul Standard is a nice guitar as well. What do you guys think?

Answer:
Uh... could you show me the website that sells used $2500 LP standards for less than the 900 dollars it would take to order and import an edwards?

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I'm not talking about $900 Standards.
eBay anyways.

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You could probably find a LP standard on the 'Bay for under 14. There's a lot of folks on this board that love the Edwards. But, for $950 + 150 shipping, or whatever it is, I'd spend a little more and go with the real deal. If you could grab one for 5 hundo or something, that would be a different story. But, I've been looking around, and I haven't found any of them cheap.

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My mistake. I can actually get an Edwards LP for around $950 (most expensive LP they have). So technically, a brand new Edwards will cost less than a used Gibson LP Standard. On average, the difference is probably around $400-500. I am just wondering what the major difference is aside from the brand name. For example: playability, wood quality, finish, reliability, etc.
I like the blue E-LP-117CTM Edwards:
Does Gibson have a Standard that looks like that?

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My mistake. I can actually get an Edwards LP for around $950 (most expensive LP they have). So technically, a brand new Edwards will cost less than a used Gibson LP Standard. On average, the difference is probably around $400-500. I am just wondering what the major difference is aside from the brand name. For example: playability, wood quality, finish, reliability, etc.
I like the blue E-LP-117CTM Edwards:
Does Gibson have a Standard that looks like that? Errrr no!
Edwards are unbeatable value, if they have what you want. Even allowing for swapping the pickups out for some you like, and then refitting with CTS pots, they still bow Gibson out of the water for value and the build standard is at worst, comparable construction wise to Custom shop, and finish wise to a Standard

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The ESP Edwards build construction is on par with a custom Gibson?!

Answer:
I currently have a Gibson Les Paul Special 2002 and I was thinking what guitar would be a better upgrade. The Special does not have fret bindings or a maple flamed top and I am interested in a guitar with these features. There is the Gibson Les Paul Standard, but I will not be purchasing one brand new unless it is under $1400. Then there are the ESP Edwards from Japan which look quite nice and I can probably get a new one for the same price of a used Gibson LP Standard. I was wondering if anyone has owned both or have either and can tell me what the main differences are besides the headstock brand name.
I like the look of some of the ESP Edwards LP (such as the finish and detail) and they don't seem to cheap out on material. Obviously, Gibson Les Paul Standard is a nice guitar as well. What do you guys think? I briefly owned an Edwards and have owned 2 Gibsons. I've sold them.
Here's what a fellow forumite had to say about my Edwards:
"The Japanese built Edwards had the thicker '59 like neck profile,a nice see thru red finish on a flamed veneer top with vintage correct tuners.The frets were nicely done and the action and feel was very good.The guitar was fairly light and gave up excellent sustain and punch.I found the higher gain tones to be especially appealing,sounding superb on more complex chord work and power riffs.The fat,spanky clean tones were nothing to sneeze at,as well.Overall I found it to be a great low price alternative to a "real" Gibson Les Paul.
When we got together, we also had a Gibson Les Paul Classic Antique, a Hamer Monaco Elite, and a Washburn WI70 Pilsen XL.
We played each guitar initially, but ended up playing the Hamer and the Washburn for the rest of the evening. Those were the two that we liked best.
It seems that you're interested in cosmetic upgrades. The Edwards looks great and usually they're cheaper than Gibson.
If I were looking for a LP-style guitar right now I would first look for a Hamer. My second choice would be a Wasburn or a Carvin. My third choice would be a Heritage, an Edwards or a "real" Gibson.
Those are my preferences. But keep in mind that to me the name on the headstock does not mean much. To others it may be very important.

Answer:
The ESP Edwards build construction is on par with a custom Gibson?! Gibson Custom shop specs......body is one piece mahogany, about a 5/8" maple cap and long tenon. The only long tenon Gibsons are Gibson CS, apart from any perceived improvement in tone, those necks will never move...if you go to the 130 Edwards, then you're into the same finish as Gibson CS

Answer:
Edwards use poly or a poly undercoat with lacquer on top for the finish. Gibson doesn't use poly, just nitro lacquer. Thus a Gibson purist would say the Gibson finish is better & allows the "wood to breathe." Gibson Burstbuckers probably get you closer to that traditional Les Paul sound. The Seymour Duncan JB & 59 are certainly fine pickups & some may prefer them, they're kind of the generic seymour duncan rock combo. Most ESP's, Schecter's, Jackson's, etc. that come with Seymour Duncans have this exact combo.

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My buddy who posts here had a Jimmy Page LP from Edwards -- its was one nice guitar no doubt and sounded really good, but it wasn't a Gibson and sure wasn't a Standard model by any means. Was like a super nice high end Epiphone perhaps.

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Edwards use poly or a poly undercoat with lacquer on top for the finish. The new Edwards 130 range is thin nitro finish, no poly at all, and fitted with Seymour Duncan Antiquities.

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I briefly owned an Edwards and have owned 2 Gibsons. I've sold them.
Here's what a fellow forumite had to say about my Edwards:
"The Japanese built Edwards had the thicker '59 like neck profile,a nice see thru red finish on a flamed veneer top with vintage correct tuners.The frets were nicely done and the action and feel was very good.The guitar was fairly light and gave up excellent sustain and punch.I found the higher gain tones to be especially appealing,sounding superb on more complex chord work and power riffs.The fat,spanky clean tones were nothing to sneeze at,as well.Overall I found it to be a great low price alternative to a "real" Gibson Les Paul.
When we got together, we also had a Gibson Les Paul Classic Antique, a Hamer Monaco Elite, and a Washburn WI70 Pilsen XL.
We played each guitar initially, but ended up playing the Hamer and the Washburn for the rest of the evening. Those were the two that we liked best.
It seems that you're interested in cosmetic upgrades. The Edwards looks great and usually they're cheaper than Gibson.
If I were looking for a LP-style guitar right now I would first look for a Hamer. My second choice would be a Wasburn or a Carvin. My third choice would be a Heritage, an Edwards or a "real" Gibson.
Those are my preferences. But keep in mind that to me the name on the headstock does not mean much. To others it may be very important. I agree 100%. Also a huge fan of US Hamers and Washburns.
As far as Seymour Duncans not living up to Gibson pickups as was posted elsewhere, I don't buy it. With the right piece of wood and hardware, they sound magnificent.

Answer:
get a used Edwards for half as much as a new one, I have...all my Edwards I got used except the junior that I bought at a closing out sale. I`m not gonna lump all Edwards into one catagory the first LP type I got about 5 years ago has a 2 piece back the second is one piece. The white Edwards/Duncan strat I have is 3 pieces the tone burst is 2. I`m happy with my Edwards but the Japanese are building some much higher end guitars... however used Edwards/Duncans are the best bargain I find in this city right now but prices on used Gibsons are going down, getting close to prices on some new Edwards...saw a used mid 90s Gibson LP Standard in wine red for $1000.oo lsat week...but I`d never buy a new Edwards, actually I don`t buy new guitars at all anymore unless it`s an offer I can`t refuse...used only for me now.

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My buddy who posts here had a Jimmy Page LP from Edwards -- its was one nice guitar no doubt and sounded really good, but it wasn't a Gibson and sure wasn't a Standard model by any means. Was like a super nice high end Epiphone perhaps. Yup, I'm with him..
I had a JP Edwards, was nice.. But not quite up there.
Oh and Edwards and Gibson custom shop.. Not even vaguely in the same ball park.. Maybe on paper, but not in the flesh.

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I guess it's a matter of preference. Problem is, I don't know where to try out an Edwards. If I purchase it, it's 99% off the internet. So basically, buy without try-kind of like how I got my Gibson Special.
Okay, so ESP Edwards have the same wood and construction as a Gibson Custom, etc. Does that mean the wood and construction isn't as good on the Gibson LP Standard? And other question is, how are the electronics on the Edwards-better than Epiphone stock pickups?

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Okay, so ESP Edwards have the same wood and construction as a Gibson Custom, etc. Does that mean the wood and construction isn't as good on the Gibson LP Standard? And other question is, how are the electronics on the Edwards-better than Epiphone stock pickups? There's no way they have the same wood in edwards LP as in a Gibson custom shop LP. If you read on the Gibson CS website all thier LP will read, Non-weight releived back, and this is because they are made with superior mahogany that is lighter than than the wood used in a standard. Hence, unlike the standards which are chambered, all CS LP are a solid chunk of mahogany that will not wiegh much more than a strat.

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Yeah, I'd be surprised if it was the same wood. And those who recommended the Hamer, thanks! I was also looking into that. Alright, so this is the LP I currently have:
From the site: Instead of P-100s, it features a 490R neck pickup and a 498T bridge pickup.
Would an Edwards Les Paul with Seymour Duncan SH-1n and Seymour Duncan SH-4 sound different to the LP I currently have? I'd like a slightly different sound and wondering if the pickups would play a role. I am assuming it does, but chime in!

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Edwards are fine guitars.
But, imho, the mid-hi end Tokai's beats the Gibsons for the price.

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The Les Paul Custom from Edwards can be had for 886 to your door.
That's just over half of the standards that you linked.
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