Members ebidis Posted July 23, 2008 Members Share Posted July 23, 2008 Opinions seem to be split about Epiphone quality (especially when compared to Gibsons). Are there some dogs out there? Yes, but this is the same with EVERY MANUFACTURER! I for one think that Epi's are great instruments on there own merrit. Why compare them with anything else? Take them for what they are. A good quality instrument with much upgrade potential, or even just fine bone stock. I have been playing 22+ years and owned many instruments of many types, including several Gibsons and Epiphones. So for what its worth I can say that Iv'e had some Epi's that were better Than some Gibsons and vice versa. I currently have a Dot that sounds AWSOME! and I love it and would put it up against ANY guitar In any price range. So what I'm saying is get over the brand name/stigma thing and just appreciate a good instrument when you play one. Discuss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members hazydaz13 Posted July 23, 2008 Members Share Posted July 23, 2008 I have an Epi 96 classic flame top, tobacco burst...with duncan 59's in it... sounds amazing..plays great, I myself love it. might be the period it was made, but I can't find a thing wrong with it, as soon as it arrived it became my #1. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Funkwire Posted July 23, 2008 Members Share Posted July 23, 2008 I have 2 Epis: a '56 Gold Top and a G-1275. I spent less on the two combined than I would have on a Gibson Gold Top RI or an EDS-1275. I feel good about my guitars because I bought a reasonable repro of a Gibson model made by a Gibson subsidiary. I didn't buy a guitar that illegally uses Gibson trademarks and essential design elements. But beyond that, they're damn good guitars. My Gold Top plays great and sounds wonderful (full disclosure: the original owner dropped a pair of Fralin P-90s in it). The day I got it shipped to me, I brought it to my local music store to have the owners look it over. By coincidence, they had a used Gibson '56 Gold Top in stock. I did a head to head comparison of the two. I liked my Epi much more than this particular Gibson. Now, it's entirely within the realm of reason that another Gibby would have blown my socks off. But this one was super-heavy, didn't have much natural resonance, and the stock P-90s sounded honky next to the Fralins. I also didn't care for the chunky 50s neck. Sure, there are plenty of POS Epis out there. But anyone who rejects all of them because of some preconceived notion is missing out on some well-made, reasonably priced axes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mercer Posted July 23, 2008 Members Share Posted July 23, 2008 I have 0. But they're pretty good guitars for the money in general Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Electric Blues Posted July 23, 2008 Members Share Posted July 23, 2008 Opinions seem to be split about Epiphone quality (especially when compared to Gibsons).Are there some dogs out there? Yes, but this is the same with EVERY MANUFACTURER! Agreed. I've found Epiphones (and ever other company) can vary in feel and sound from one to another. I played a bunch of Dots and Sheratons until I found the perfect one for me. No doubt they are a great value. General culture...Did you know the first Les Paul guitar was built in the Epiphone factory? Did you know the investigators think the guitar was invented somewere around Asia and India? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members EMG_GUY Posted July 23, 2008 Members Share Posted July 23, 2008 Agreed. I've found Epiphones (and ever other company) can vary in feel and sound from one to another. I played a bunch of Dots and Sheratons until I found the perfect one for me. No doubt they are a great value.General culture...Did you know the first Les Paul guitar was built in the Epiphone factory?Did you know the investigators think the guitar was invented somewere around Asia and India? IN KOREA!!! j/k Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members pedalboard Posted July 23, 2008 Members Share Posted July 23, 2008 The only epi dot I ever picked up was awful. It just played terribly. Like you said, could be the individual guitar. I like my LP a lot. My acoustic sounds pretty darn good for a sub 400 dollar job. Both look amazing. The wood on the back of the acoustic is wonderful. The top has darkened to a nice amber over the years that I've had it. Looks beautiful! Certainly a great value. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members pedalboard Posted July 23, 2008 Members Share Posted July 23, 2008 One of the posts up there reflared a little gas for an LP goldtop. I love gooooooold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dimmypage Posted July 23, 2008 Members Share Posted July 23, 2008 Epis suck:eek: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Electric Blues Posted July 23, 2008 Members Share Posted July 23, 2008 IN KOREA!!! j/k http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members docjeffrey Posted July 23, 2008 Members Share Posted July 23, 2008 Thank you for this thread. Epi gets bashed too much and they make cool, affordable stuff. You get more than you should for your guitar dollar when you buy an Epiphone--which seems strange because they have been owned by Gibson since the mid 50's. Here's my Elitist 12 stringer. I love it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Electric Blues Posted July 23, 2008 Members Share Posted July 23, 2008 The only epi dot I ever picked up was awful. It just played terribly. Like you said, could be the individual guitar. I like my LP a lot. My acoustic sounds pretty darn good for a sub 400 dollar job. Both look amazing. The wood on the back of the acoustic is wonderful. The top has darkened to a nice amber over the years that I've had it. Looks beautiful! Certainly a great value. Yeah, the semihollows in particular vary a lot. A lot of guys order online and have gotten Epi semihollows that sucked. Nothing like trying them in person. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Electric Blues Posted July 23, 2008 Members Share Posted July 23, 2008 Here's my Elitist 12 stringer. I love it. :love::love: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members myway Posted July 23, 2008 Members Share Posted July 23, 2008 I like Epiphones, but like many guitars you have to look for that "Special one". I play a lpt of Epiphone LPs. However out of all of them I found two that really had that something special. My fav is still the Epi standard, (tobacco burst;), I playe done for three hours straight at GC one day. It was just sooooo cool. But I played about 10 of them that day. I have been spending some time playing they're 335 dots as well. YOu just have to find "That one", the one that sings to you, the one that says "Lets party". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Funkwire Posted July 23, 2008 Members Share Posted July 23, 2008 Did you know the first Les Paul guitar was built in the Epiphone factory? Let's not get this particular flame war started again... Les Paul made his 'Log' guitar from Epiphone components, and worked on it in Epiphone's New York facility. The guitar he built WAS NOT the 'Les Paul Model' we all know of. It was one of many experiments that Les put together. The Gibson Les Paul guitar was designed largely by Gibson president Ted McCarty. They wanted Les to endorse it because he was one of the top names in guitar playing in the early 1950s...if not THE top name. Not to take anything away from 'The Wizard of Waukesha'. There is a lot of conflicting information out there, but the documented facts are found easily enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members HeatherAnnePeel Posted July 23, 2008 Members Share Posted July 23, 2008 Me likey mine: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ebidis Posted July 23, 2008 Author Members Share Posted July 23, 2008 I like Epiphones, but like many guitars you have to look for that "Special one". I play a lpt of Epiphone LPs. However out of all of them I found two that really had that something special. My fav is still the Epi standard, (tobacco burst;), I playe done for three hours straight at GC one day. It was just sooooo cool. But I played about 10 of them that day. I have been spending some time playing they're 335 dots as well. YOu just have to find "That one", the one that sings to you, the one that says "Lets party". The same could be said for fender, Gibson, etc. I have owned a couple of les pauls that had serious finish issues, and a couple of mia strats that were less than stellar. I don't think that brand or country of origin is the only issue with quality. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ebidis Posted July 23, 2008 Author Members Share Posted July 23, 2008 Me likey mine: you rock! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members EMG_GUY Posted July 23, 2008 Members Share Posted July 23, 2008 Epi FTW! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members epi56ebony Posted July 23, 2008 Members Share Posted July 23, 2008 i've got some epi's and they play well. the first one i got was a goldtop 56 which had a loose truss rod so i returned it and was turned off to the brand. but i then got the john lennon sunburst casino epi which i loved and decided to buy a korean one in natural. lennon plays great, the korean casino good, some rattle but not bad. recently ordered from MF when they had their epi closeouts the ebony 56 goldtop and the antique ivory custom. the 56 played great out of the box and is super light. the custom had string buzz so i had it set up and now plays as great as the 56. both are real players in my opinion. also got the epi dove which are now made in indonesia. played well and got it cheap cause i liked the color - red back and sides natural top. thin high end sounding but a nice contrast to my martins. also got the honeyburst sg g-400 pretty decent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members HeatherAnnePeel Posted July 23, 2008 Members Share Posted July 23, 2008 you rock! Thanks! I agree with you, Epis are great on their own merit. I, too, have owned and do own many guitars (29 at present) of all kinds and brands. A good Epi is a good guitar, period. Not to mention a great value. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mikew Posted July 23, 2008 Members Share Posted July 23, 2008 I wanted an Epi Les Paul Ultra II after seeing that fantastic cherry sunburst on the photos and ads, then I saw one in the store and was horrified. I then later saw the midnight ebony one and it was fantastic looking. I played it and found it to be a great player so I picked it up. First Epi I've owned, finish wasn't perfect, but who really cares as I didn't pay a fortune for it and more importantly it plays and sounds good. Any brand of guitar is like getting any brand of car....there are always some lemons in the bunch..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dcooper830 Posted July 23, 2008 Members Share Posted July 23, 2008 My name is dcooper830 and I approved this thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members samuraiBSD Posted July 23, 2008 Members Share Posted July 23, 2008 I be's a fan She's hot, heavy and ready to mother{censored}ing ROCK! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mikew Posted July 23, 2008 Members Share Posted July 23, 2008 I be's a fan She's hot, heavy and ready to mother{censored}ing ROCK! That's a beaut! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.