Epiphone making a comeback...

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threemounts_1

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Have you all noticed bands nowadays using epiphone les Pauls and les Paul customs? Alot of bands are using them on tours and such now.. Wonder why? Are the builds better now? I thought Korean made was pretty much "crap" or what.. Thoughts?
 
i have a black 89 custom...i love it.

it's served me well and will continue to.
 
threemounts_1":2eecyx58 said:
Have you all noticed bands nowadays using epiphone les Pauls and les Paul customs? Alot of bands are using them on tours and such now.. Wonder why? Are the builds better now? I thought Korean made was pretty much "crap" or what.. Thoughts?
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The new Chinese models are pretty bad. Then again, Gibson USA isn't doing much better. I dunno, I won't buy another Fender or Gibson unless it's a custom shop model.
 
Easier to get endorsed?

I only keep my sparkle top Epi cause the gibbie version cost 10x as much!?

Cork sniffery at Gibson as well I guess too...,

Dead, or in Nickleback.....
 
Just bought a $400 Epi Studio. Took it home changed strings, set it up and love the way it plays. Will probably change the bridge pup but love the ax otherwise.
 
My Epi ZW is my main guitar, love it, wish all LPs' necks were bare.
 
My wife bought me a Epi traditional pro in Ox blood red. After a string change and minor set up, it plays great and stock pickups are not terrible, for the gigging weekend warrior a great choice. I have a 08 Standard, and In my opinion it is a better guitar but not $2000 better. I guess Epi is finally getting smart and realizing by making a little better product they can capitalize on a very bad economy right now. Not many musicians can spring the big bucks for the high end stuff.
 
I've always wanted a "real" Les Paul, but didn't want to spend a fortune on one and then be afraid to gig with it, so I looked at the Epiphone models. Most of the ones I picked up at the local Sam Ash or Guitar Center were terrible. The action was poorly adjusted, they didn't "feel" good, the pickups sounded muddy and I was just not very impressed, even at the price point. I saw an ad for a new Epiphone Les Paul Tribute model and the specs seemed promising, so I ordered one. I was pleasantly surprised. It shares a lot with the Gibson models:
Solid Mahogany Back
Solid Carved Hard Maple Cap
Original, Hand-Fitted, Deep-Set Neck
Gibson '57 Classic and Classic Plus pickups (with coil splitting and Alnico magnets)
Switchcraft Toggle
Mallory Tone Capacitors
Grover 16:1 Locking Tuners
Premium Hard Case

All for ~$700.

It plays well, it's stable, it sounds damn good, it "feels" right and the build quality is more than repectable. Would I rather have a real Les Paul (one of the good ones...)? Hell yes, but this is a great choice for a gigging instrument that I don't have to worry as much about. Now, if I could just re-cut the top of that ugly ass headstock to look more Gibson-ish :D
 
IndyWS6":cch9tu2f said:
I've always wanted a "real" Les Paul, but didn't want to spend a fortune on one and then be afraid to gig with it, so I looked at the Epiphone models. Most of the ones I picked up at the local Sam Ash or Guitar Center were terrible. The action was poorly adjusted, they didn't "feel" good, the pickups sounded muddy and I was just not very impressed, even at the price point. I saw an ad for a new Epiphone Les Paul Tribute model and the specs seemed promising, so I ordered one. I was pleasantly surprised. It shares a lot with the Gibson models:
Solid Mahogany Back
Solid Carved Hard Maple Cap
Original, Hand-Fitted, Deep-Set Neck
Gibson '57 Classic and Classic Plus pickups (with coil splitting and Alnico magnets)
Switchcraft Toggle
Mallory Tone Capacitors
Grover 16:1 Locking Tuners
Premium Hard Case

All for ~$700.

It plays well, it's stable, it sounds damn good, it "feels" right and the build quality is more than repectable. Would I rather have a real Les Paul (one of the good ones...)? Hell yes, but this is a great choice for a gigging instrument that I don't have to worry as much about. Now, if I could just re-cut the top of that ugly ass headstock to look more Gibson-ish :D
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One thing I did to make one of my old epiphones was put clay on the top of the head stock to make it look more gibson-ish and sanded down the bottom wings(?) on the head stock. Made it look way better
 
The elitist Epis were all made in Japan and are excellent, but otherwise you still need to pick through them. Of the Korean models a P serial number is the peerless factory, which are great, an S is the Samick factory which are very solid too.
 
Milo":2p8xfidy said:
kissmyace":2p8xfidy said:
Korean made = not so bad.
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I agree. Korea is the new Japan.
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+1 I had a couple japananese jacksons and they were great. I also have a few korean made guitars and they are pretty good and solid
 
I've played many Epiphones that were superior playing/feel wise to Gibsons. They seem much more consistent.

I remember hanging with Sevendust after a show a long time ago when they were touring for Home, and I asked John Connolly why he didn't play Gibsons and he just laughed and asked me if I tried a new Gibson recently. He almost gave me one of his Epi LPs too, but it was already packed up.

A great Gibson is still the best, but the Epis are way more consistent IMO. And other Korean made instruments are of consistently high quality, such as Schecter. My C1 Classic plays and feels better than most new Gibbys I play. Stays in tune much better too.
 
I've gone through about five Epi's. Every one i had was of great quality and value. The one consistent complaint I hear about them is the use of the Gibson "70's style" neck, which is thinner. Epi is now coming out with some models that have more Gibson-esque necks. Great value for the price if you get a nice one. Same as the Gibson counterparts, I suppose...
 
I just bought an epiphone goth explorer, and have to wait to pick it up from the store, When I played it in the store it sounded and played really well. It was probably 7 or 8 pounds, and the build quality looked really good and felt solid. Korean guitars are becoming much better build quality :thumbsup:
 
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