RL> Not as much as you'd think.  It is true that the Epiphone is only a 
 RL> thin veneer, but the LP Custom has no maple cap at 
 RL> all (but does have an ebony fingerboard).  The 
 RL> early Studios also had no maple cap (and only dot 
 RL> inlays). The difference in tone between the 
 RL> Epiphone and Gibson comes from the Epiphone's 
 RL> mahogany being not as dense... they are noticeably 
 RL> lighter than a Gibson (but still heavier than the 
 RL> Studio Lite).
Well I want as close a standard as I can get so the present studio is the way 
to go since it has the carved maple top that the standards always have. I am 
surprised that the epi's have little maple top but I don't plan to get one 
anyway. However I wish Gibson would try expanding the range of finishes they 
have the way they do with the epi's. I saw a green Epiphone les paul the 
other day and it looked good. 
 RL> A year?  Wow.  Hard to imagine they can afford to 
 RL> hold the inventory that long. I think it's 60 or 90 
 RL> days here.
Well they are susposed to hold it that long to make sure it isn't stolen. 
That way you can check pawnbrokers to see if your goods are there. 
--- Maximus 3.01
---------------