Phil O'Keefe Posted August 18, 2013 Share Posted August 18, 2013 This thread about Squiers caught my attention... and got me thinking about Gibson's budget brand - Epiphone. So in the interest of equal time, what is the best Epiphone guitar you've ever played? For me, I think the prize would have to go to my 2001 MIK Epiphone Casino. It was made in the Peerless factory in Korea, and man if they didn't get everything "right" with that guitar. The neck is fantastic - it's thin, fast, and comfortable, but not too narrow - it's exceptionally easy to play. And it sounds fantastic too. It's definitely a keeper! How about you? What's the best Epi you've ever played? Pics are always welcome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members kayd_mon Posted August 18, 2013 Members Share Posted August 18, 2013 I have four Epiphones, but one of them is an archtop acoustic from 1951 (a Devon), when they were Gibson's competition rather than their budget brand. That one is best, but I don't think it counts for this thread. So, I'd say my Dot. I think it's a '97, and it's MIK. The pickups are Duncan Alnico Pro IIs, and they sound really fantastic. I also have an Epi Les Paul from either '96 or '97 that plays very well. My SG needs a new nut, but is otherwise pretty good. Epiphone makes solid stuff. I have liked a lot of the models that I've tried at shops, and I come back to them a lot - the Riviera P93, the Wildkat, and the Nighthawk, to name a few. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Rich4Once Posted August 18, 2013 Members Share Posted August 18, 2013 I have had two Epi LPs, a Classic and a '56 reissue. The Classic I sold to a guy in my band almost 10 years ago. The '56 I still have, and will never part with. My wife got it for me in 2007 for Father's Day. Here is a pic. http://s127.photobucket.com/user/one4rich/media/Gear\%20Pics/LP2.jpg.html?sort=3&o=47 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil O'Keefe Posted August 18, 2013 Author Share Posted August 18, 2013 kayd\_mon wrote: I have four Epiphones, but one of them is an archtop acoustic from 1951 (a Devon), when they were Gibson's competition rather than their budget brand. That one is best, but I don't think it counts for this thread. So, I'd say my Dot. I think it's a '97, and it's MIK. The pickups are Duncan Alnico Pro IIs, and they sound really fantastic. I also have an Epi Les Paul from either '96 or '97 that plays very well. My SG needs a new nut, but is otherwise pretty good. Epiphone makes solid stuff. I have liked a lot of the models that I've tried at shops, and I come back to them a lot - the Riviera P93, the Wildkat, and the Nighthawk, to name a few. Nice looking Dot. My Les Paul is also an MIK Epi, and from that same general time period ('96) - it's not quite as special as the Casino, but it's also a very solid guitar that plays and sounds great. It's a limited edition in Trans Red... here's a picture of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Roy Brooks Posted August 18, 2013 Members Share Posted August 18, 2013 The best import Epiphone I ever played was probably a Broadway that would be six or seven years old now. But the best Epiphone I ever played is my mid-1960s Riviera. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members LikeMoths2Flames Posted August 18, 2013 Members Share Posted August 18, 2013 Best Epiphone that I've ever played? The one that hasn't come out yet... Not a fan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Lonnie99 Posted August 18, 2013 Members Share Posted August 18, 2013 Very helpful. I've owned a couple of the old Genesis models and will own another one day. On the left is the last one I owned. http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z30/Guitarlon/3238e7d7fcb573ba26f99d0217a9173a.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members stormin1155 Posted August 18, 2013 Members Share Posted August 18, 2013 The best Epiphone I've ever played is from an era where Epiphone was not Gibson's budget brand (although they already owned Epi). A friend of mine has a 1967 Emperor. What a fantastic guitar! Not only the the best Epiphone I've ever played but one of the best guitars period. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BeanoBoy Posted August 18, 2013 Members Share Posted August 18, 2013 stormin1155 wrote: The best Epiphone I've ever played is from an era where Epiphone was not Gibson's budget brand (although they already owned Epi). A friend of mine has a 1967 Emperor. What a fantastic guitar! Not only the the best Epiphone I've ever played but one of the best guitars period. I have had the same experience. I played a 60s Casino that more than held up it's reputation. I keep trying Epis every so often......... I'm still looking........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MephitBlue Posted August 18, 2013 Members Share Posted August 18, 2013 I only have experience with one Epi, but it is one of my favorite guitars to play, and that is out of a PRS, Heritage and an Eclipse LTD. My Epi is their Korina Flying V reissue. I picked it up used and while it looks a bit beat up, it plays and sounds great. Plus, it's just a really cool looking guitar! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Darkstorm Posted August 18, 2013 Members Share Posted August 18, 2013 Their G300 set neck SG's and the doublenck SG 6/12 when they made them with solid mahogany wood body instead of plywood. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members PurpleTrails Posted August 18, 2013 Members Share Posted August 18, 2013 Tough call. I played a 1992 MIK Sheraton a couple of months ago that was sweet; just played and sounded great. Debated buying it but was feeling broke, and by the time I decided to feed my GAS someone had already bought it. The other contender was one of the 56 LPs that a couple of other people mentioned. Again, played it in store and it was a dream, but I had ordered one of the gibson 50's tributes, which was also a p90 LP, and was waiting for it to come in. Turned out the epi was a better guitar in every way, especially as the gibson ended up going back to the factory a month later with a neck that went back-bowed. By the time I figured that out the epi was gone, and others of the same model I tried just weren't in its league. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Rich4Once Posted August 18, 2013 Members Share Posted August 18, 2013 I'm glad I have the Epi...I have heard some grousing about Epi's P-90s, though. I like 'em, except for they're too noisy. I'd change them if I found a silent replacement that still sounded like a P-90. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members burton4snow Posted August 18, 2013 Members Share Posted August 18, 2013 " target="\_blank" rel="nofollow">http://s85.photobucket.com/user/option4snow/media/GuitarCollection008.jpg.html][/url] (Here - let me fix that for you. Edited by Phil) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members plasticscouse Posted August 18, 2013 Members Share Posted August 18, 2013 Still has to be my 2004 LP Std I've recently replace the pups to Toneriders AC2 (after me ruining the stock ones after me experimenting and ruining a pot in the process all fixed now after this pic was taken). It wont be parted with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members gardo Posted August 19, 2013 Members Share Posted August 19, 2013 My pre-Gibson, American made Epiphone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Buttcrust Posted August 19, 2013 Members Share Posted August 19, 2013 My Broadway (after a few small mods). dig it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Special J Posted August 19, 2013 Members Share Posted August 19, 2013 My buddy had an older Sheraton which was probably the nicest I've played. I have a more recent LP Custom which plays great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members xStonr Posted August 19, 2013 Members Share Posted August 19, 2013 The Sheraton I got last year is a fantastic guitar. The way the neck feels is just incredible. I usually mod my guitars but this one sounds great so I left it stock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BydoEmpire Posted August 19, 2013 Members Share Posted August 19, 2013 I haven't played too many, to be honest, but a dozen years ago I played a Wildcat in a music shop and really dug it. Every time I'd go in I'd noodle around on that guitar. Almost bought it, and in hindsight I probably should have. Reaoly cool for money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil O'Keefe Posted August 19, 2013 Author Share Posted August 19, 2013 plasticscouse wrote: Still has to be my 2004 LP Std I've recently replace the pups to Toneriders AC2 (after me ruining the stock ones after me experimenting and ruining a pot in the process all fixed now after this pic was taken). It wont be parted with. Wow... that looks stunning! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Karma1 Posted August 20, 2013 Members Share Posted August 20, 2013 My ES-295 "Scotty Moore" model Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guitarcapo Posted August 22, 2013 Members Share Posted August 22, 2013 Epihone Elite Broadway. Bought it 10 years ago. Really a honey of an archtop electric. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members VagueSubscription Posted August 23, 2013 Members Share Posted August 23, 2013 Phil O'Keefe wrote: This thread about Squiers caught my attention... and got me thinking about Gibson's budget brand - Epiphone. So in the interest of equal time, what is the best Epiphone guitar you've ever played? For me, I think the prize would have to go to my 2001 MIK Epiphone Casino. It was made in the Peerless factory in Korea, and man if they didn't get everything "right" with that guitar. The neck is fantastic - it's thin, fast, and comfortable, but not too narrow - it's exceptionally easy to play. And it sounds fantastic too. It's definitely a keeper! How about you? What's the best Epi you've ever played? Pics are always welcome! Great question Phil. I think the quality varies from factory to factory that Epiphone contracts with. I'm a very long time Gibson/Fender/PRS guy, aka "Asian guitar snob". That being said, I couldn't resist a blonde ES339, $415 WITH the case! It looks great, like all my Gibsons, and a blonde to boot, like all my Gibsons and PRS. Nicely balanced, great neck shape-somewhere between "59" and "60" LP. I like this particular headstock shape too, sort of like a Buscarino from behind. The Classic '57 style pickups suite me just fine on this guitar, I probably wouldn't want to swap pickups or pots on this. The push-pull pots are very deep. This guitar sounds great with the Chinese made Marshall SL5. Sounds great through an (American) Ethos as well. I can honestly say, after nearly 35 years of playing, I'm no longer an Asian guitar basher. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Gitter Posted August 23, 2013 Members Share Posted August 23, 2013 VagueSubscription wrote: I can honestly say, after nearly 35 years of playing, I'm no longer an Asian guitar basher. If you've been playing for 35 years, you're old enough to remember the era when Asian guitars were 'knockoffs' by default. Hell, it wasn't until shred and metal came along in the 80s when Japanese guitars finally found an opportunity to create their own identity in the instrument world, rather than just being 'the cheaper, knock-off alternative to the American version". With global economics being what they are these days, with CNC being what it is, with established manufacturing best practices being what they are and the genius of WE Deming taking Asia by storm, 'Industry" can make some scarily good products for very little money, relative to what similar products used to sell for in the past.Doesn't matter if its a guitar, a crescent wrench or a toaster oven. You can buy American on principle, but in so many cases, you can pay a lot more for an American made instrument and get literally no added value in return. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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