Please help me choose...

[rob999]

I am debating between the following:

Gibson Vintage Mahogany Studio

Epiphone Elitist

 

I have tried to search but all I found were epi vs. Gibson threads...which is not what I am looking for.

 

I am looking for something with more 'body' than my strat. I play mainly blues, classic-ish rock, type stuff. I have played the Gibson and did like the sound but was unsure of the feel of the neck - kinda rough... (and that was the only good one in the store, the others were just unplayable.)

 

My conclusions so far:

1. I like the sound of the gibson

2. the QC of the gibson sucks, but good ones do exist

3. the QC of the epi is top knotch

 

The problem is that no one seems to carry the epi, so I would have to purchase online, sight unseen. The reviews suggest that that is not totally stupid, but ....

 

Assuming that I have to purchase the epi sight unseen, and that I can be picky and spend a few days at guitar center finding a decent Gibson.. . what do you all think between the two.

[samuraiBSD]

Do you need it to be one of those two? For a similar price, you could pick up an Edwards which I wouldn't hesitate to buy sight unseen. If it were up to me, I'd waltz into a GC and pick up a VM, then try to haggle the price down.

 

If it's between the two, I'd ask if you really need the extra looks of the Epi elitist. They're both top notch guitars if you can find good ones.

[kdp86]

I personally would get an Epiphone elitist because I believe in the instance of solid body electric guitars that the wood used is more important that the finish applied. Meaning that to me, Les Pauls should have maple tops, and the VM doesn't. I also think that part of the appeal of the Les Paul is that they are pretty guitars, and I find the VM ugly.

[Dewysoss]

The LPVMs tend to get a lot of love here, but a lot of them are complete POSes as well. I'd rather not take that chance. If you find one you like, then go for it, but the Elitists are some of the best quality guitars out there under $4000 custom jobs. Plus its less than a real Gibson, and probably better quality than some of the things Gibson has been throwing out.

[BadCompany89]

I don't know about you guys but I'd be embarassed to gig with an epiphone, even if it is the Elitist.

[Dewysoss]

I don't know about you guys but I'd be embarassed to gig with an epiphone.

[samuraiBSD]

I don't know about you guys but I'd be embarassed to gig with an epiphone, even if it is the Elitist.

I sincerely hope this is a joke

[songsforbears]

I've never heard of bad quality on an Epi Elitist, so that would be my recommendation. Pictures would be nice, even though they look similar.

[songsforbears]

 

I don't know about you guys but I'd be embarassed to gig with an epiphone, even if it is the Elitist.

 

 

Before this becomes a huge flame thread, let me just say that this guy has a valid point. Everybody at shows should let a guitarist's playing do the talking, but unfortunately, that's not usually the case. We all know (or I hope we do) that Epiphone's quality is just as good, if not better, than Gibson's. An audience at a show usually doesn't. If it's a Les Paul and it doesn't say Gibson on the headstock, they can form a preconceived notion that the guitarist himself is cheap and not worth listening to. I seriously hear all the time at shows of bands who have record contracts, "Wow, is he really playing __________?" It's sick, but it does happen. Actually, the last show I went to, the dicks next to me were making negative comments about an Epiphone Elitist Casino. Even though the guitarist played a great show, I think they didn't notice because they were too concerned with his guitar. And it just shows how stupid people can be because Gibson doesn't even make a Casino. Don't expect the audience at gigs to be smart.

[rob999]

Do you need it to be one of those two? For a similar price, you could pick up an Edwards which I wouldn't hesitate to buy sight unseen. If it were up to me, I'd waltz into a GC and pick up a VM, then try to haggle the price down. If it's between the two, I'd ask if you really need the extra looks of the Epi elitist. They're both top notch guitars if you can find good ones.

 

 

I did consider the Edwards, but did not find any 'reputable' dealers (meaning I can easily return it if I have issues) so I dismissed it. If you can recommend reseller I might reconsider.

 

As for the 'extras' of the epi.. can't deny I like the nicer finish, and the smother neck. But your question is pretty much my debate....

[Hoddy]

Have you considered a MIJ Epiphone...they're the same guitar as OBG but the name has been changed to Epiphone...pretty much the same as the Elitists but with the correct Gibson style headstock...here's a few.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Epiphone-Japan-Orville-Les-Paul-STD-2001-Tea-Burst_W0QQitemZ330226007795QQihZ014QQcategoryZ33037QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD2VQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1638Q2em122

http://cgi.ebay.com/Epiphone-Japan-Orville-Les-Paul-STD-CHERRY-BURST-2001_W0QQitemZ330227444982QQihZ014QQcategoryZ33037QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD2VQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1638Q2em122

http://cgi.ebay.com/Epiphone-Japan-Orville-Les-Paul-STD-Goldtop-1998_W0QQitemZ330227152268QQihZ014QQcategoryZ33037QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD2VQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1638Q2em122

[samuraiBSD]

I did consider the Edwards, but did not find any 'reputable' dealers (meaning I can easily return it if I have issues) so I dismissed it. If you can recommend reseller I might reconsider. As for the 'extras' of the epi.. can't deny I like the nicer finish, and the smother neck. But your question is pretty much my debate....

 

 

Well first off, I actually like the rougher neck, but again, I'm a weirdo, so that's just me, probably.

 

I've heard absolutely zero negative feedback on Ishibashi, so if you're to believe most of the Edwards-playing population of HCEG, you'd probably be fine ordering from there.

[rob999]

I am leaning more and more towards the epi elitist....

so one more question: Would the Custom sound any different than the Standard plus top?? Spec wise the seem the same but I assume there may be other differences....

if anyone has had the chance to compare I appreciate your input.

[32-20-Blues]

I don't know about you guys but I'd be embarassed to gig with an epiphone, even if it is the Elitist.

 

 

You must be joking.

[rob999]

Well,
I ordered the Epiphone Elitist.

I spent another day trying guitars yesterday, I played a few of the Vintage Mahogany and just didn't love it... liked it... but not enough, and had trouble finding a decent one....

My GC had both the Gibby and Epi Slash models, so I tried them, and I liked the Epiphone better... The quality of the epi was better than the 'normal' epis, and it convinced me to order the Elitist.

[_pete_]

Before this becomes a huge flame thread, let me just say that this guy has a valid point. Everybody at shows should let a guitarist's playing do the talking, but unfortunately, that's not usually the case. We all know (or I hope we do) that Epiphone's quality is just as good, if not better, than Gibson's. An audience at a show usually doesn't. If it's a Les Paul and it doesn't say Gibson on the headstock, they can form a preconceived notion that the guitarist himself is cheap and not worth listening to. I seriously hear all the time at shows of bands who have record contracts, "Wow, is he really playing __________?" It's sick, but it does happen. Actually, the last show I went to, the dicks next to me were making negative comments about an Epiphone Elitist Casino. Even though the guitarist played a great show, I think they didn't notice because they were too concerned with his guitar. And it just shows how stupid people can be because Gibson doesn't even make a Casino. Don't expect the audience at gigs to be smart.

 

 

I've been playing and gigging for a very long time and in hundreds of gigs nobody has ever cared what brand guitar I was playing. They care about how you sound and how you play (or what you look like).

Right now I gig with 3 Epi's, an Edwards, and a couple frankenstrats. Playing in the musician filled city of Nashville I get nothing but good comments from the guitar players in the crowd. The non-musicians in the crowd just say that it sounds good.

 

The bottom line is just play what you like, The only ego to satisfy is your own.