The EART EGLP-620 brings some high end specs to the table versus the more traditional, affordable Les Pauls.
Les Pauls have always sort of stumped me. I tried a bunch back in 2020, but none of them really stuck. I loved the Howl the most on a personal level, but the Epiphone was a better guitar pound for pound. The Knaggs was killer, but too pricey. And my thoughts on the Gibson Studio were clear enough.
So now in 2023, I’m going to slowly work my way through some Les Pauls again to see what I will connect with. The Howl Sirena 3 served me beautifully, and I still have it at the time of writing (almost 2.5 years later), but it isn’t really a traditional Les Paul. It’s basically a Junior, which is why I like it so much.
So how does EART factor into this? Well, I got an EART EGLP-620 in for review and demo this winter so it is the first LP-style guitar I’ll be considering for long term housing.
Grab your own EART on Amazon.com
For a more objective and less opinionated review, check out my Ultimate-Guitar article!
Remember, This Site Is More Subjective Than Ultimate-Guitar….
Part of me reviewing guitars on both UG and this website is that I can look at them through different lenses. Objectively, I care about how the guitar compares to others in its price range, what the spec sheet looks like, and if it stays in tune. Here, it’s a bit more about if I connect with the instrument.
The specs are impressive enough, with stainless steel frets, locking tuners, and a roasted Okoume neck make it feel and play quite nicely. Definitely a bit above the $600 or price tag. You’ll notice it is an almost Fender-like control section. With the 3-way selector down on bottom of the body, near two controls (volume, tone). Without the four control knobs, those Gibson switch stutter options are out the door. You’re also limited in the middle pickup selection i.e. no blending volumes. It does somewhat make up for it by including the coil tap feature that I’m always fond of.
So Did I Connect With It?
Honestly, I don’t really know the answer even after over a month with it. Objectively, it’s a good buy, great value, and checks a lot of boxes. The humbuckers are smooth and definitely nail that Les Paul sound more than I expected. With a fair amount of sustain and a thickness that really fills out the room, I was playing some of my favorite punk standards with ease. But the coil splits really were a let down, and basically past the point of use for me. I’d rather just the coil splits on my Morifone or pickup an HSS Strat.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s fun as hell and I could see myself connecting with it a bit more. But there’s definitely something missing for me. I think it might be the four knob control layout? I know that sounds shallow, but one thing I loved about Gibson-style builds is blending the pickup volumes AND stuttering with the switch. Those are legitimate reasons why me (a Fender fanboy) sometimes pickup Gibson-style builds to play.
But the features this guitar does have are awesome for the most part, and I look forward to putting it through the paces at band practice to see if it sticks. That’s why we have these end of the year articles after all, to revisit and revise original feelings!
So What’s The Deal?
For $600, the EART EGLP-620 provides a lot of guitar. There’s clear areas of improvement, but it feels great, sounds great (not the single coils), and looks awesome. That’s hard to beat or be overly negative about. If you’re someone who wants a LP-style with more modern appointments, the EGLP-620 is a strong option. By modern, I mean a faster, slightly thinner neck than most Les Pauls, with stainless steel frets, a bit more brightness from the pickups, and a more weight relieved body. Things that improve upon the comfortability and playability, by sacrificing tradition. I’m going to stick with it for a bit, maybe even upgrade the pickups and see what happens. Stay tuned, but even if this doesn’t end up as my trusted Les Paul, it is a great guitar that is certainly worth your time and money, even if unspectacular.
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