Anyone else think Epiphone should adopt the Elitist headstock for all their models?

[Mind Riot]

I personally have never cared for the standard Epiphone 3x3 headstock. The Elitist headstock, while not as cool looking as a Gibson, is a step in the right direction. Anybody else think Epiphone should ditch their old headstock design and start using the Elitist headstock on all their 3x3 tunered guitars?

[_pete_]

[No Soul]

I think they'd move a lot more product.

 

That headstock shape actually has even been used on Gibsons.

The Gibson Invader used it.

[Edward]

There are so many folks out there who care so much about the headstock shape, that the real way for Gibson to make a lot of money would be to do what Fender did for years - use the same headstock as on the Gibson range. Of course they'll never do that, same as they would never make the Elitist series with a Gibby headstock or call it Gibson Japan (c/f MIM / CIJ Fender). Too big a danger of it hitting sales of the parent product.

[Milkman1]

Someone post a pic please.

 

I would say that the weird headstock shape on most EPIs highlights the reality that it's not a real Gibson.

 

 

That's probably comforting to many Gibson owners.

[joecool1963]

I like the Elite headstock.

 

I also think that Jim "Epi" and the boys need to remove their heads from their butts and not discontinue the Elite line. What a wonderful guitar. I love my Elite LP. Quality, tone, playability all there. I'd buy another one in a heartbeat

[HRM]

They're discontinuing the Elitists? When? Why? {censored}, I better hurry up...

[Wedgie]

I didn't know that they were discontinuing them... I own an Elitist SG (actually, it's from before they changed the line's name to Elitist so it's really an Elite SG) and was thinking about getting and Elitist LP Standard Plus. Guess I better hurry up!

[zuzuman]

I think they should adopt the Masterbilt headstock shape. The Elitist is OK, but is too wide at the bottom.

[23miles]

Probably one of the reasons why they keep them is that Epiphone was a respected quality guitar maker before Gibson acquired them. Retention of the classic Epi head stock keeps the historical integrity of the brand.

By the way, I just can't help thinking that if John, Paul, and George could work around the headstock design most of us could too.

[Alchemist]

 

Originally posted by HRM They're discontinuing the Elitists? When? Why? {censored}, I better hurry up...

 

 

I cant verify this (its just based on my observations), but it would make sense... since few people even bothered to buy one until they were being blown out for $500 less than what they usualy sell for. If thats what you need to do in order to move a product, then its pretty much a commercial failure. Now thats not at all a reflection of the quality or worth of the product, its just that the idea never flew.

[Ebsy]

Originally posted by Edward ....they would never make the Elitist series with a Gibby headstock or call it Gibson Japan (c/f MIM / CIJ Fender). Too big a danger of it hitting sales of the parent product.

 

Edward, the new Epiphone Japan Limited line does just that.

 

 

Originally posted by 23miles Probably one of the reasons why they keep them is that Epiphone was a respected quality guitar maker before Gibson acquired them. Retention of the classic Epi head stock keeps the historical integrity of the brand. By the way, I just can't help thinking that if John, Paul, and George could work around the headstock design most of us could too.

 

Actually when Macca got his Casino in '64 the headstock shape was that of a Gibson. By the time John and George got their's the Casino sported the Epiphone headstock.

 

I personally prefer the Casino headstock to the regular epi headstock, it's sort of a half-way house between epi and Gibson.

 

 

[powderfinger]

No, they should not adapt that headstock across the line. It separates their top of the line product from the lesser stuff.

 

Keeping them different eliminates or minimizes fraudulent sales and shows you have the superior guitar, and lets face it, we all want to say "Mine's better!":cool:

[GAS Man]

Originally posted by Mind Riot I personally have never cared for the standard Epiphone 3x3 headstock. The Elitist headstock, while not as cool looking as a Gibson, is a step in the right direction. Anybody else think Epiphone should ditch their old headstock design and start using the Elitist headstock on all their 3x3 tunered guitars?

 

Abso-{censored}ing-lutely!!

 

I've had that thought several times and just about every time I look at an Epiphone that I might otherwise want to buy.

 

I've bought three Epiphones so far. An Explorer, an Elite LP and an Elitist SG. None have that goofy headstock.

 

The Epi headstock was just fine on their original flowery looking jazz guitars, but they look out of place (even though toned down in design) on their LPs, SGs etc.

 

Yeah, just go with the Elititst headstock and state the brand name as Elitist or Epiphone. I'm sure they'd increase their sales if they did that, but maybe they don't want to. Maybe it would cut into their Gibson sales a bit too much if they made that obviously simple improvement.

 

No offense to the Epi owners.

[Josh S]

I've always been a big fan of the Casino headstock as shown above - it's a really tasty design. Smooth and sleek, yet still rockin.

[Burningleaves]

If they made the Eppi headstock very cool looking or like a Gibby then their sales would drop for "real" Gibsons.

[GAS Man]

 

Originally posted by joecool1963 I like the Elite headstock. I also think that Jim "Epi" and the boys need to remove their heads from their butts and not discontinue the Elite line. What a wonderful guitar. I love my Elite LP. Quality, tone, playability all there. I'd buy another one in a heartbeat

 

 

Yes, but would you have bought one at the usual $1,169 price? Or just at the blowout $700 deals.

 

I like mine to, but it was "the deal" that got me off the dime.

[zenbu]

the Gibson headstock is not new for the MIJ Epis...they`ve been doing it for years, thats how we tell em apart. Plus, the Elites have the Gibson headstock over here. There aren`t many in this city...only a couple of Elite SGs that I know of...and they`ve been at 50%off for almost a year now... no takers. Now...if they drop em even more at the new year sales I just might be tempted.

[F-holes]

Originally posted by Josh S I've always been a big fan of the Casino headstock as shown above - it's a really tasty design. Smooth and sleek, yet still rockin.

 

I like that one, too.

Although, it looks a bit like a mandolin headstock with a couple of tuners missing.

 

 

[joecool1963]

Part of this is Jim's failure to properly market the line. Gibson has jacked up prices so high on the Standard and Classic, the Epiphone Elitist LP line is a perfect fit, in my opinion in the product mix. Gibson doesnt make a damn cent on the used market. Used Gibsons are very expensive these days too. Thats really what the Epiphone Elites were competing against.

 

A guitarist hell bent on having the headstock is going to buy the Gibson anyway.

 

I had a Gibson Standard, and I'm perfectly happy now with my Elite. Call me crazy, but I would NOT swap my Elite for a 04 - 06 Standard or Classic straight up, same condition.

 

It just plays and sounds that good.

[markaf19]

Originally posted by Ebsy

 

Edward, the new Epiphone Japan Limited line does just that.

 

 

Where can you buy these? What website?

[markaf19]

 

Originally posted by zenbu the Gibson headstock is not new for the MIJ Epis...they`ve been doing it for years, thats how we tell em apart. Plus, the Elites have the Gibson headstock over here. There aren`t many in this city...only a couple of Elite SGs that I know of...and they`ve been at 50%off for almost a year now... no takers. Now...if they drop em even more at the new year sales I just might be tempted.

 

 

Does the place that is offering these do they have a website? do you know of any websites that sell the japanese epiphones with the gibson headstock?

[Ebsy]

Originally posted by markaf19 Does the place that is offering these do they have a website? do you know of any websites that sell the japanese epiphones with the gibson headstock?

 

 

:love:

 

try ikebe-gakki for a general idea on prices, they have the Japan Limited Lacquer line on there. http://www.ikebe-gakki.com/shopping_20.php?state=1&cate=1&s_cate=1&brand=65

 

then shoot ishibashi an email and they'll let you know if they have them/how much.

 

http://www.ishibashi-music.com/

[markaf19]

thanks i emailed ishibashi about ordering one i think the conversion rate is $1=118 yen if thats right the guitar should be 603.81 without adding shipping and possibly customs. Which isn't to bad i hope the whole thing doesn't cost more then $675 including customs, which isn't bad considering they have a laquer finish gibson style headstock and they are made in japan, gibson doesn't even offer a white one that is not vos, the vos cost $2,999 way more than i want to spend. Hopefully i will be ording one of these in a few weeks.

[hondro]

 

Originally posted by markaf19 thanks i emailed ishibashi about ordering one i think the conversion rate is $1=118 yen if thats right the guitar should be 603.81 without adding shipping and possibly customs. Which isn't to bad i hope the whole thing doesn't cost more then $675 including customs, which isn't bad considering they have a laquer finish gibson style headstock and they are made in japan, gibson doesn't even offer a white one that is not vos, the vos cost $2,999 way more than i want to spend. Hopefully i will be ording one of these in a few weeks.

 

 

 

I think it'd be more like $200 to ship