So, Epiphone...

rsm

rsm

Well-known member
... these inspired by Gibson models are looking very good.




For example,

1963 SG Custom - Epiphone $1,499

https://www.musiciansfriend.com/gui...estro-vibrola-electric-guitar/m08937000001000

vs

1963 SG Custom - Gibson - $6,699

https://www.musiciansfriend.com/gui...w-maestro-vos-electric-guitar/l78274000001000


seriously. The Epi has Gibson custombuckers, ebony fretboard and real MOP inlays,... I can see around $4K for a Gibson Custom '63 SG, maybe $5K max.

The Epi '63 is $500 less than the Gibson '61 SG Standard, at $1,999.
 
Dang right they look good. The ES355 comes with $600 worth of Gibson Custom buckers for a grand total of $1299. I think after doing a side by side comparison of my Edwards 355 copy to a genuine Gibson I would just get another Edwards before I bought an Epi or a Gibson either. It just keeps getting better. I think I'm becoming an ESP fanboy.
 
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JackBootedThug said:
Lot of money for an epiphone. But they look sweet.
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If you do the math on the 355.....$1299. The Custom buckers are $500 alone (I was thinking they were 600 in my first post). Add another $250-300 for CTS pots, quality selector switch, good wiring, and tech fee for installation cause it's a monster pain in the ass. Now we're at $750-800. Most of their cheaper ES' are 400-700 bucks. Actually not a bad deal when you look at it like that.
 
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VonBonfire said:
If you do the math on the 355.....$1299. The Custom buckers are $500 alone (I was thinking they were 600 in my first post). Add another $250-300 for CTS pots, quality selector switch, good wiring, and tech fee for installation cause it's a monster pain in the ass. Now we're at $750-800. Most of their cheaper ES' are 400-700 bucks. Actually not a bad deal when you look at it like that.
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exactly; and that's three Gibson custombuckers on the '63 SG, the pots, switch, etc., locking tuners and the vibrola; all these are probably close to half the price of the guitar.

Given Gibson QC it's not a real value-add, but the Epis are inspected in the US which has a cost too.
 
rsm said:
exactly; and that's three Gibson custombuckers on the '63 SG, the pots, switch, etc., locking tuners and the vibrola; all these are probably close to half the price of the guitar.

Given Gibson QC it's not a real value-add, but the Epis are inspected in the US which has a cost too.
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A nice Gibson is a thing of beauty but the name on the headstock really don't mean jack. It's all about tone, easy playability, and comfort on the strap IMO. I honestly don't even care much about fit and finish as long as the guitar is a great player. I've had Gibsons and Fenders and I've had Epiphones and Edwards and Warmoth builds. There have been some pretty sweet guitars from all of those brands. Hope you are good tonight rsm.
 
VonBonfire said:
A nice Gibson is a thing of beauty but the name on the headstock really don't mean jack. It's all about tone, easy playability, and comfort on the strap IMO. I honestly don't even care much about fit and finish as long as the guitar is a great player. I've had Gibsons and Fenders and I've had Epiphones and Edwards and Warmoth builds. There have been some pretty sweet guitars from all of those brands. Hope you are good tonight rsm.
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agreed, but I also expect better fit and finish as the price of the guitar goes up. It's pretty bad when my $1K Ibanez has better fit and finish than a $3K+ Gibson. Doing well thanks, I hope you are as well!, VB. Cheers!
 
rsm said:
agreed, but I also expect better fit and finish as the price of the guitar goes up. It's pretty bad when my $1K Ibanez has better fit and finish than a $3K+ Gibson. Doing well thanks, I hope you are as well!, VB. Cheers!
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I come from the "nothing is perfect" camp. If I had a perfect guitar I'd probably put a huge gash in it by accident the first day. :LOL: I'm pretty hard on my stuff but it's not for collecting or obsessing, it's just tools for making money, so I try to think of all gear in that light so I don't get obsessive. Hanging on rig-talk doesn't really help that though haha. I don't have any complaints but truthfully I have been trying to live that orthodox life, so I have been enduring some spiritual assaults i.e just wanna gas my truck up and never come back and never stop moving. It's hard to explain but it's like massive restlessness. Maybe Ill hit up the divine liturgy this weekend and take communion. Glad you are well though, always enjoy your posts and company here on the forum.
 
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VonBonfire said:
I come from the "nothing is perfect" camp. If I had a perfect guitar I'd probably put a huge gash in it by accident the first day. :LOL: I'm pretty hard on my stuff but it's not for collecting or obsessing, it's just tools for making money, so I try to think of all gear in that light so I don't get obsessive. Hanging on rig-talk doesn't really help that though haha. I don't have any complaints but truthfully I have been trying to live that orthodox life, so I have been enduring some spiritual assaults i.e just wanna gas my truck up and never come back and never stop moving. It's hard to explain but it's like massive restlessness. Maybe Ill hit up the divine liturgy this weekend and take communion. Glad you are well though, always enjoy your posts and company here on the forum.
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:cheers:
 
Gave in to the GAS and 15% off, so ordered the Epi 1963 SG / Les Paul Custom. Still expensive for an Epi, but I've had good luck with Epiphones in the past.
 
rsm said:
agreed, but I also expect better fit and finish as the price of the guitar goes up. It's pretty bad when my $1K Ibanez has better fit and finish than a $3K+ Gibson. Doing well thanks, I hope you are as well!, VB. Cheers!
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Epiphone should go back to making Elites in Japan. But, they'd likely sell better than the USA's, and likely built better.

But, I agree with you. Ibanez Prestige especially are consistently built to pretty high standards. My Jackson MJ in the Classifieds was built in that factory, and it's flawless.
 
napalmdeath said:
Epiphone should go back to making Elites in Japan. But, they'd likely sell better than the USA's, and likely built better.

But, I agree with you. Ibanez Prestige especially are consistently built to pretty high standards. My Jackson MJ in the Classifieds was built in that factory, and it's flawless.
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I have two Ibanez PS10 (Prestige MIJ) and they are by far the best made, flawless guitars I've ever owned followed closely by EBMM.

I have three Jackson X series Rhoads, I think made in Indonesia, with Duncan pickups, the weakest part is the FR Special but so far I've had only one issue on one where the G-string insert block wasn't holding; I plan to replace these with steel or titanium blocks eventually.
 
I cna honestly say, as someon who has been using the Epi Adam Jones 1979 since it was released as my primary guitar....it's an excellent instrument.

Literally zero issues with mine. Fit and finish are great. Obviously neck profile is subjective but I really love the neck on the guitar. When compring to other guitars with a DD6 in the bridge, I often find myself preferring the tone of the Epi. ould be the individual pickups, electronics, etc, but it just seems to have a little bit of a top end clarity that the others lack.

I have been a Gibson guy for years, only buying Epis when I get them as fun projects for next to nothing (I have 4 other epis in my stable, paid less than $250 for all of them, with cases) but this new model really has me looking a lot harder at their new relases.

If they redo the Jerry Cantrell Wino model with the new treatments, I will snag that in a heartbeat
 
dcburn mk.ii said:
So here we have an overpriced Epiphone with too many pups and a shitty vibrola.
Next...
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ouch, seems I hit a nerve? :poke:




1730999713945.jpeg
 
dcburn mk.ii said:
Epiphone has never hurt me, Ive owned two. One was really nice actually, historic '57 reissue Firebird. '97 Dot.

I said what I said really in jest.
I do stand by my pickup comment though...
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too many? what is this concept?

More is More! Unseen Clips from the Yngwie Malmsteen ...


It has the correct number of pickups I require, not more, not less....
 
They look really good. Local GC has a Gibson LPC and the Epiphone 1979 AJ sig, and the Epiphone just looks better on the wall IMHO. Not sure how well it plays. New Gibsons are nice but the frets have gotten pretty small and the prices went the other way.
 
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