EVH Wolfgang USA Custom vs Gibson Les Paul

[Ventura]

Big question with waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too many subjective answers

You may have to find this out for yourself, as no one else has your ears or fingers m'man.

 

[romanianreaper]

I used to own a Gibson Les Paul Standard and currently own a Wolfgang Special so although I can't accurately compare, I can get in the ballpark with the EVH Wolfgang USA Custom.

As far as playability, I'd go with the Wolfgang. The fretboard and neck are just so easy to play on. Smooth and comfortable right out of the box. The pickups are outstanding as well.

I loved my Les Paul but didn't care for the tuners that much. There is something iconic about the Les Paul that can't be replicated and it just has a certain sound but I really love my Wolfgang. If I had the money, I'd get a USA version in a second.

 

[exbest182]

I have a Wolfgang Custom and I love it!

I came from 15 years of Les Paul usage, and recently found a home with the EVH brand, and now use their equipment across the board (amps, guitars, cables)

Before I picked up the Wolfgang Custom, I actually had a 76'' Les Paul Custom that I modded to be similar to a Wolfgang Custom, I installed Wolfgang pickups (bridge pickup mounted to the body), EVH pots, and even a old Gibson TP6 bridge on it... and it sounded insane...

I sold my LP custom to pick up a Wolfgang Custom.. and this is what I've noticed..

The neck to me (personal preference) is smoother, and more comfortable as mentioned, frets are smaller, and stainless steel... but the thing sings..
Obviously the body style is different, the Wolfgang pickups in the Wolfgang custom, are the same that are in the standard wolfgangs, but they are not mounted to the body, and obviously are covered... it still sounds like a Wolfgang, but it's warmer, def. not as bright as a standard wolfgang due to the woods used. I have no tuning issues with my Wolfgang Custom, and always for some reason had issues with the G string on my LP.. (on all my LP's for that matter) .. but I think end of the day it's going to be personal choice... if you prefer a Les Paul style neck, the LP is probably the choice you want... outside of the neck/frets, I think they're very similar... You could easily put the covered EVH wolfgang pickups into an LP custom, and you'd probably hit pretty damn close to the sounds of a Wolfgang Custom... but the neck, and overall feel isn't going to change, and to me, that's just personal preference... Price is even similar, the LP custom is a little more and retain value a little better... there are wolfgang customs in brand new condition floating around on ebay from $2300-2500... The EVH build quality is great though on those guitars...

I love my Wolfgang Custom, it's probably my favorite (and heaviest!) guitar I've ever owned.

 

[romanianreaper]

Thank you romanian reaper and exbest182. It sounds like it is quite a nice guitar from your descriptions especially because of the playbility and the pickups. I like gibson pickups too but I guess the wolfgangs offer something different which might be very enticing. But the LP has the tone of the gods so it will be interesting to see what type of tone the EVH custom has. They also do look thick. Are they thicker than LP's?

Like exbest182, I find myself diving into the EVH brand headfirst. In fact, I just purchased two EVH G12 speakers and they arrived today. I put them in my Marshall 4x12 (replacing two V30s) and it really added warmth and definition to my overall tone.

There is a video on Youtube where EVH is describing how they created the EVH Wolfgangs and the amount of detail, etc. they spent on creating a great guitar. I saw Van Halen in concert this year and Eddie's tone was unreal. I knew that for the most part, his tone was coming from that EVH guitar and the EVH amp and cabs. His company is making quality instruments and keeping it really basic. That is what I really like about the EVH brand. Sure, you have the USA, Japanese, and soon to be China Wolfgang models but there is one guitar and all of them utilize the same pots, frets, etc., etc. The USA Wolfgangs add the top but that is basically it.

I had issues with the G string on my Les Paul as well. With the Wolfgangs (even the hardtail), they have added ways of keeping the guitar in tune and stabalized.

 

[exbest182]

Rumor has it the wolfgang custom has been discontinued. Get them while you can!

 

[romanianreaper]

Rumor has it the wolfgang custom has been discontinued. Get them while you can!

Hey not to hijack the thread but how do your two EVH cabs (4x12 and 2x12) compare? I was thinking of picking up an EVH 2x12 but someone told me the speakers are different than what is in the 4x12. I just bought two EVH G12s and put them in my Marshall cab in an x-pattern with V30s. I love it!

 

[Philo Beddoe]

Rumor has it the wolfgang custom has been discontinued. Get them while you can!

Hey not to hijack the thread but how do your two EVH cabs (4x12 and 2x12) compare? I was thinking of picking up an EVH 2x12 but someone told me the speakers are different than what is in the 4x12. I just bought two EVH G12s and put them in my Marshall cab in an x-pattern with V30s. I love it!

The EVH 2x12 uses the Celestion G12H 30W 70th Anniversary Speakers and the EVH 4x12 uses the Celestion G12EVH Speakers which are just relabeled Celestion Heritage G12M's. Its all right here--->http://www.evhgear.com/gear/?section=amplifiers under Spec Sheets..