Low and Behold! TG Gets Down WIth The Epiphone Baritone...

Epiphone? Isn't that Gibson's firewood division?
Stop right there, ye of deep pockets and narrow mind. See, there's a misconception amongst the axe-ristocracy that Epiphones are like Kwiksave Loyalty cards - you only use 'em when you're down on your luck. "Poor man's Gibson," the grizzled gearhead will sneer as he buffs his 335, "why not just remortgage your grandparents and get the real thing?" He'll then spit bile at Korean work ethics, bemoan the lack of Far Eastern tonewoods, and disappear into his own rectum amidst a volley of Walter Trout blues licks,. Which is impressive - considering that's also what he's talking out of...

It's true, since becoming a division of the company back in 1957, Epiphone has been associated with entry-level versions of Gibson's classic models - typically constructed in the Far East, and with prices that suggest the back of a lorry. But don't imagine this company consists of ten Koreans drawing round the outline of a Les Paul and stealing circuitry from a sandwich toaster. Epiphone is a hugely respected luthier in its own right - established in 1873, and now based in Nashville - while the official involvement of Gibson means these guitars get much closer to the originals than anything else for the money.

Still not convinced? Well, Noel Gallagher swears (profusely) by his Epiphone Suprernova - and we're quite sure his kids aren't going hungry...

So this is a Les Paul model then?
DAmn right. The Tele might have got there first and the Strat might appear on more novelty keyrings - but when you're indulging your inner rock pig, Gibson's Les Paul is the one. Since the Standards introduction in 1958, this solid-bodied plank has been spanked by more guitarists than than Marianne Faithful - and its unmistakable tone is all over rock's back catalogue like crabs on a tourbus. Page had a whole lotta love for the massive sustain provided by it's deep mahogany body; Clapton's Bluesbreaker period hinged on its raunchy swagger; Slash's Sweet Child 'O Mine would have turned sour without the bloated humbucker punch. And Epiphone seems to have stuck pretty close to the classic Gibson blueprint here.

Is this guitar in mourning or something?
Bit funeral, isn't it? In fact, based on the Baritone's hue, the uninitiated might be forgiven for thinking Les Paul is the leader of a tribe of goths, as opposed to a rather sweet old man. Don't sweat it - Epiphone have also provided Iron Cross and Red Oval finishes, along with Alpine White for virgin brides and Worn Brown for shrinking violets. So take yer pick.

What the hell's a baritone anyway?
If you're middle class, it's a lardy Italian opera singer. Otherwise, it's probably best described as a guitar whose balls have dropped. See, a standard Les Paul has a scale length (the distance from the nut to the bridge) of 24 inches - whereas the Epiphone Baritone is a full three inches longer at 27 inches. Tape measures aside, this increased scale actually has an impact on how the guitar is played, as you'll need to tune it down two steps until the pitch of the lowest string is B, and consequently use heavier gauge strings. If that all sounds a bit of a pain in the arse, then consider the pay back. With three inches more length and thicker strings, you'll have access to the kind of beefy bottom end mayhem that'll make Slipknot's People-Shit sound like it's played on a mandolin - and you won't have to learn new chord shapes either.

It looks a bit simple though...
You're not wrong. We don't know if it's some kind of minimalist feeling shui over at Epiphone HQ but in terms of trimmings, the Baritone is right down there with the Telecaster. We weren't exactly spoiled by the Les Paul's twin volume and tone dials to start with but here Epiphone have cut the knob count in half - with the Baritone featuring a single control for each. If that hints at this guitar's no-nonsense ideology then a cursory scan over the spec list confirms it. Tuning is held by a sturdy set of black Grover tuners, the rosewood fingerboard doesn't even feature fret inlays and bridge duties are taken care of by the classic tune-o-matic and stop bar combination. Floyd Rose trem and monkey grips needless to say - are not on the agenda.

Electronics-wise, you're looking at a pair of open-coil Alnico V humbuckers (with a hot pickup in the bridge) and a three-way selector to take you between - deep breath either or both. In these days of coil splits and superstrats, that might seem a bit rudimentary - but TG's attitude has always benn that if a guitar's got a cracking basic tone, you shouldn't need to endlessly tweak it.

I've heard these things are heavy...
Christ yes - it's like giving a Sumo wrestler a piggyback. Unfortunately, until some bright spark starts knocking out guitars from a cotton-wool composite, we're stuck with it. See, the Les Paul's famous level of sustain doesn't come out of thin air and if you're set on that tone, you'll just have to shoulder the load. Or, y'know, get a stool.

Weight aside, the Baritone was a comfortable player The set maple neck feels rugged, the fretboard runs smooth and easy and the positioning of the selector avoids the age-old problem of selecting the bridge pickup when you're windmilling through a chord section. That said, the profile does sometimes feel a little big in the palm - not necessarily a problem but something for pint-sized strummers to be wary of.

Come on then - give me filth...
As you'd expect from the dropped tuning, the Baritone has one of the beefiest tones TG has come across, lending brutal aggression to the most limp-wristed of licks and causing previously benign power chords to sprout chest hair and testicles. That's not at the expense of clean tone either, which is warm and authoritative up and down the neck. Sustain is as impressive as you'd hope too - and there's great low-end chuggery to be had here, with churning overdriven riffs a particular specialty of this toothsome beast. By implication though, the Baritone isn't quite as convincing when you ask it to squeal or bite - and with a slight lack of sonic options, this isn't something you'll really be able to adjust. But that's not the point of this axe anyway: it's designed to loosen the bowels of your audience, and it will.

So I should try it out first?
Yes, you should. Call us shallow, but as much as we love the sound and feel of this scary beast, we love the way it looks even more. Considering that the Les Paul design dates back to the '50's, we're amazed at how mean and modern it can look. It's super-cool...Of course, you'll want to make sure the basic baritone sound is up your street before swiping the Visa. But if you're up for lowering the tone then pick up the phone

FOR: Good value, great build, individual tone...

AGAINST: ...that may be an acquired taste.

--Henry Yates
Total Guitar
August 2004.