Samick Artist Series Early 90s Cherry Sunburst Les Paul copy good wood great player

Up for sale is an great playing, great sounding early 90s Samick Artist Series Les Paul copy. If you're reading this, you probably know that Samick made a lot of Epiphone guitars in their factories. Still, they saved their best for the guitars they put out on under their own name. This has all the qualities you look for in a great sounding Les Paul at a fraction of the cost:

• mahogany back and neck
• maple cap
• long neck tenon (you'll only find this on Historics, not Gibson USA)
• rosewood fretboard

This one doesn't have a 50's style, baseball bat neck. In fact, this neck reminds me more of my Tele: thin, fast playing neck, low action (pro setup). Even thinner than the 60's neck on Traditional Pro. If you want the growl of a Gibson with the playability of a Tele---this could be your axe!
Great sounding guitar. Hold it against your belly and hit an E chord... Very nice and resonant! It also comes with upgrades and extras: Gibson pickups (bought at an auction; my luthier said they register like 490R and 498T), cool Planet Waves locking tuning pegs that clips the excess string off for you. Epiphone hardshell case included. Don't have a digital scale, but this on feels like about 8 lbs 10-12 oz to me (it's lighter than my 8 lbs 14 oz Lester for sure). Schaller straplocks already installed.
I cannot over-emphasize what a badass playing and sounding guitar this is. Is it as good as a real 90s Les Paul? No. BUT a 90s Les Paul Standard costs 6 times as much. Does a Les Paul Standard play and sound 6 times better than this axe? Absolutely not. In fact, my band never noticed when I brought this one into practice.
As you can see from the pictures, this guitar looks very similar to a cherryburst Les Paul Custom (w/o the ebony fretboard), with the black pickguard and pickup rings, gold hardware. This is a poor man's version of Euroboy's (Turbonegro), James Williamson's (Stooges) axe---precisely why I bought it.
This would be a PHENOMENAL first guitar for a beginner. This is a GREAT punk rock guitar. This has been my backup guitar, practice guitar, and with this in mind---it's in great used condition: there is a chip on the back of the headstock, screw holes visible from tuner upgrade. See pictures. Certainly not a museum piece. This baby needs to be taken out.  Only reason I'm selling: a recent impomptu high-end guitar purchase has let me a little light, haha. So I have to part with this sweet, sweet baby. This is an eff-ton of guitar for the money. Sound, playability... I'd play this at any gig with a straight face, no problem. THIS GUITAR BEATS THE PANTS OFF ANY EPIPHONE YOU'LL COME ACROSS AT GC, PROBABLY A LOT OF ENTRY LEVEL GIBSON USA AXES TOO. It was my intent to "trick it out" a bit when I got it (hardware), but it played and sounded so cool I left it alone. Setup and intonation are perfect, with 10-52s.
I'm on Sunset and Fairfax if you want to pick it up. Get a great axe with no shipping! Some more details listed below:
"...These Samick Artist Series guitars are well regarded among players. They were a collaboration between Samick and Valley Arts custom shop.
I have owned some of the finest makes and these models hold their own. Samick makes over 70% of guitars sold; and this is from the Korean plant. The Korean models are gaining in value as manufacturing has shifted to Indonesia and China; especially the Artist Series. These are several cuts above any of the Bennet models in my opinion (Samicks later line). With the Artist Series Samick used their most skilled luthiers. I have not been able to find a bad review from any knowledgeable player.
Samick has been building instruments since the '50s. Today it's one of the worlds largest musical instrument producers in the world... it's a safe bet you've owned a Samick built guitar. The good Epis, Washb@rns, De&n, even Dearm&nd, and others. Samick owns 1/3 of America's premier piano maker, Steinway Musical Instruments.
While building some very good "contract" guitars, Samick saved its best efforts for its own flagship line of "Artist Series".
Google Samick Artist series and you'll see great testimonials. I've NEVER read a bad thing about these axes."