Jump to content

Only An Epiphone Is Good Enough


HeatherAnnePeel

Recommended Posts

  • Members

 

You know...I've hung out on other forums where there is quite the pecking order when it comes to Les Paul owners. {censored}...even someone who owns a $2000 Classic is on the bottom of the totem pole compared to those dudes with R7, R8 and R9 Les Pauls.


I've had a few Epiphones in my life and they're all fantastic guitars that play very well. They've taken care of that squealing, microphonic feedback the pickups used to have and the Grover tuners work great. Some of the best guitars for the money.

 

 

I own an R9 and two Epi LPs (both a bit on the higher end of Epi though) but I like the different voices and also like that I don't feel the need to baby an Epi like I do a $4500 guitar.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 81
  • Created
  • Last Reply
  • Members

I had an MIK Explorer in my arsenal for about ten minutes. It was OK, but I decided the Explorer body just wasn't for an old fart like me. My son, OTOH, had a Les Paul Special II that was one of the worst POS I've ever plugged in. The fretwork was OK, but it was acoustically dead, and the pickups and electronics had all the tonal quality of a 1910 victrola...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

 

I own an R9 and two Epi LPs (both a bit on the higher end of Epi though) but I like the different voices and also like that I don't feel the need to baby an Epi like I do a $4500 guitar.

 

 

Very true. As much as I love the Les Paul Classic Antique I play, it scares me to death when I hit it or drop it. Can't concentrate so much on just wailing with a guitar that has to be babied

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

Did you customize that Peter Green one yourself? Very sweet guitar!

 

Thank you! Yes, I modded it myself. I got it used at a guitar center a couple of years back. I had Bryan Gunsher wind custom pickups for it with the Peter Green mod in the neck pickup. http://www.bg-pups.com

 

I rewired it, replaced the stop tail with an aluminum one and the bridge with a nice, Gotoh bridge.

 

IMG_4375.jpg

 

This was my muse:

 

rattlesnakeguitar.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

The basic epi is a great guitar but if you fit Gotoh bridge and stop tail and some new pickups its a real Gibbo beater at a very low price .its only the cheap hardware that really makes it a cheap guitar ,the wood work is fine ,the finish is a bit thick but who cares on a Dot ,for instance ,but the hardware is junk .Once new parts are fitted that rattly dead acoustic tone goes and it all comes alive ,solid and resonant.The stock pickups sound good until you fit better ones (toneriders for instance) and then you realise just how bad the stock ones are .I will try to get a 339 when they come out and do a similar exercise.I sold my Upgraded Dot as its a bit heavy but miss it .

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

I think I probably view Epiphone a little differently than most folks here. I started playing in the late '60's. Back then, Epi didn't have the "low end" brand identity they have now. They were built in Kalamazoo, right alongside of Gibson guitars, and were killer instruments. I can remember a time when Casino's, Sheraton's, and Riviera's were more desireable than 335's. Emperors were the jazz box to have.

 

Things changed in the '70's. Norlin decided to stop US production of Epi's and have them built in Japan........ That's when the Epi reputation really went downhill. Remember, this was before the Japanese really learned how to build great guitars. So the Epi brand kind of "languished", until the mid 80's, when the started building some decent product again.

 

Anyway, I have two "modern" Epi's - a Joe Pass (my main gig guitar), and a Dot. I think that both guitars are exceptional given their price point. Yes, the hardware is a little lacking, but that's a really easy fix. Yes, I have a real 335, but in all honesty, I tend to gig the Dot more frequently. It sounds good and plays great. I'm much less apprehensive about taking my $300 Dot to a bar gig, instead of my $3,000 335.

 

True, an Epi Les Paul will never have the "snob appeal" that a Gibson '59 reissue will, but who really cares. It's a good, hardworking instrument that doesn't require a second mortgage on your house.......

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

Dont own any Epis right now, but Il ike them for the most part.

Most come set up pretty well and have few QC issues.

Sure the pickups could be better on a lot of models, but they are pretty consistant with any other brand's pups in the same price range.

Had a Korean LP Custom as my main gigging axe for several yrs.

In the LP models, Id love to get the Gold Top with the P90s, thats a fine guitar.

Just about every G400 SG I've played was a decent guitar as well.

I really like Sheratons, and the Emperors Joe Pass and the new Swingsters.

Dots, seem problematic. They seem to have QC issues, some are great, some need a lot of work. But get good one and its great.

But the lower priced Dot studios seem pretty darn consistant. I just hate the black hardware or Id most likely have one.

Havnt played the Wilshires, but they look like a great deal.

Ive wanted a Jack Cassidy bass since they came out. Just cant justify the purchase since I dont have an elec bass gig and unlikely to have one in hte future.

 

I think Epi does just as good as Squire does in the Fender line.

Decent guitars for a decent price.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

 

Dont own any Epis right now, but Il ike them for the most part.

Most come set up pretty well and have few QC issues.

Sure the pickups could be better on a lot of models, but they are pretty consistant with any other brand's pups in the same price range.

Had a Korean LP Custom as my main gigging axe for several yrs.

In the LP models, Id love to get the Gold Top with the P90s, thats a fine guitar.

Just about every G400 SG I've played was a decent guitar as well.

I really like Sheratons, and the Emperors Joe Pass and the new Swingsters.

Dots, seem problematic. They seem to have QC issues, some are great, some need a lot of work. But get good one and its great.

But the lower priced Dot studios seem pretty darn consistant. I just hate the black hardware or Id most likely have one.

Havnt played the Wilshires, but they look like a great deal.

Ive wanted a Jack Cassidy bass since they came out. Just cant justify the purchase since I dont have an elec bass gig and unlikely to have one in hte future.


I think Epi does just as good as Squire does in the Fender line.
Decent guitars for a decent price.

 

 

Honestly, I think Epi does better than Squier, especially as of late. I picked an Epi up last weekend, and it was probably the best Epi I've ever held. They've really stepped it up a notch.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

I've got an Epi Pro II and an Epi 935i.

Not sure what to think of 'em.

They play well, have excellent tone.

They are also fairly rare.

Can't say they don't get the respect they deserve, though, because they don't seem to be on anyone's RADAR enough to register as lack of respect.

 

Anyone have an opinion of or experience with Epi shredders like those?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

 

Honestly, I think Epi does better than Squier, especially as of late. I picked an Epi up last weekend, and it was probably the best Epi I've ever held. They've really stepped it up a notch.

 

 

Maybe they have. I havnt picked up one in the store for a couple of yrs except for a Swingmaster I spent some time with at the Gibson store in Memphis last summer.

Ive been on a single coil kick, and Ive been really impressed with most Squiers, even the Affinitys.

Of course I thinks its probably easier to make a good economy Fender style guitar than a Gibson set neck type.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

I was playing an epi dot at a gig one time and the club soundman comes up to me and said "nice epiphany". I said thanks...then had a small chuckle to myself that a soundguy didn't know how to pronounce Epiphone!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.


×
×
  • Create New...