milod Posted June 9, 2014 Share Posted June 9, 2014 Yeah... I half suggested I'd buy the thing if they shaved the neck to a more typical Epi/Gibson shape. I think they figured I was kidding and were suggesting the Taylors since I'd be willing to pay for a neck job. Sometimes I do figure that it'd be almost worth it to put an Epi 24 3/4 scale AE guitar neck on a 25 1/2 scale guitar even if it'd mean buying double and paying for the work! m Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BaZie Posted June 9, 2014 Share Posted June 9, 2014 After 12 years of playing Ibanez RG270 I understood I needed another guitar with more classic feel. I could not afford Gibson, so I chose Epiphone. I thought it would be closer to the original LP than any other clone. Then I started reading more about Epi guitars and I bought Nighthawk, and later Explorer TV Silver. The latest guitar I bought is not Epiphone, but its close cousin - Kramer. Possibly I'll buy another Epi some day, and it'll be a semi-hollow. But now I tend to experiment with something more Strat-ish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted June 9, 2014 Share Posted June 9, 2014 I hadda go to a "big city" meeting Friday and stopped in a guitar store. The owner said he'd dropped Gibsons because they would hang on the wall. He sells Epis like hotcakes and Fenders and Squiers and Eastmans and... Now he's convinced Taylors are perfect for this part of the country because they're easier to set up and even to reset the neck after major "climate" variations than non-bolt-on necks. I tried a couple. Couldn't see they sounded any better or played any better than a nice Epi of the same variety although I definitely see his point on the necks. m Can he still carry Epi's, if he's dropped Gibson's? Fender, and Gibson both are pretty specific, about what the dealers are required to purchase, to obtain and/or keep their dealership status. (See below...dated 2004, but..acording to my Gibson/Fender dealer is still in effect) http://www.guitarattack.com/opinion/fenderletter.htm CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wrvond Posted June 9, 2014 Share Posted June 9, 2014 because no one else could make a '62 Sheraton Re-issue....... I don't CARE if y'all are tired of seeing it, it's a work of art ! You're right. It is! I didn't know Epi's from shinola. Fender Strats for me. MIA at that. Life was simple then... But, a long-time acquaintance was selling a bunch of equipment - PA's, monitors, mics, etc. and he had this White Sherry for sale. Knowing nothing about them, but trusting his word, I bought it. As usual, I started doing my research AFTER money had changed hands. I learned that the serial number sticker was meaningless, and that it had the actual stamped serial number gouged out with the word "used" stamped into the headstock. They damaged the inlay on the front when they stamped the back, too. I did learn that they only made White for a limited time, so his story that it is a 2000 model could be true. The gold was all worn, and the switches and pots were all scratchy, too. But, it feels really good in my hands. I really like how the neck fits and it really is a darned pretty guitar! I am always amazed by the attention to detail in the inlay and headstock. That kind of work seems to be normally reserved for much more expensive guitars. Now that I've replaced all the electrics, I'm very pleased with this Epi, and might start looking for a pristine case queen like it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milod Posted June 9, 2014 Share Posted June 9, 2014 CB... All I can say is what he told me... he dropped Gibson because they sat in the showroom. He said he sells Taylors much faster. He still has a batch of Epis and Fenders. Even Lunas. (????) m Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GDTRFB Posted June 9, 2014 Share Posted June 9, 2014 Can he still carry Epi's, if he's dropped Gibson's? Fender, and Gibson both are pretty specific, about what the dealers are required to purchase, to obtain and/or keep their dealership status. (See below...dated 2004, but..acording to my Gibson/Fender dealer is still in effect) http://www.guitarattack.com/opinion/fenderletter.htm CB There are a few stores around me that carry only Epiphones, but no Gibsons. I'm pretty sure this is the story in most places. Many more Epiphone dealers. I think Gibson allows this because they know it works as a feeder for many, leading them up to a Gibson later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted June 9, 2014 Share Posted June 9, 2014 There are a few stores around me that carry only Epiphones, but no Gibsons. I'm pretty sure this is the story in most places. Many more Epiphone dealers. I think Gibson allows this because they know it works as a feeder for many, leading them up to a Gibson later. I see...so, in other words, if they started out with JUST Epiphone (with the idea they might go Gibson, later, as well) then Gibson allows that. Fender is driving my dealer "crazy," lately, with their demands, on product placement, in their store, and "how" to sell their product, etc. My dealer never had any trouble selling Fender guitars, previously, so trying to treat a small, family owned store, the same as a big box retailer, shows they don't know, or care about, the small dealer's knowledge of their own clientel. Gibson requires a pretty steep dollar amount, in merchandise, but (as of yet) has not tried to tell them where in their own store, they can place the products, or how to sell them. They're pretty easy to see/find, and always have been. And, they do a good amount of Gibson business, as well. Both "in store," as well as Mail-order & Internet. So... CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milod Posted June 9, 2014 Share Posted June 9, 2014 We used to joke about the "feather merchants" who roved the countryside handling such dealers, with or without a specific franchise. Nowadays we don't need them, of course. We have telephones and emails and ... no human contact and nobody knows the stores or the operators except for the annual dealer meeting if at all. Ah, progress... m Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonzoboy Posted June 11, 2014 Share Posted June 11, 2014 I chose Epiphone over Gibson for the simple fact that for 1/4 to 1/5 the price of a Gibson I could buy the Epi counterpart that was in most cases nearly as good in all respects as the Gibson and in many cases,even superior.To buy a guitar for a fraction of the cost that's at least 90% as good as the original it is patterned after,is a no-brainer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Not-Too-Late Posted June 11, 2014 Share Posted June 11, 2014 I chose Epiphone over Gibson for the simple fact that for 1/4 to 1/5 the price of a Gibson I could buy the Epi counterpart that was in most cases nearly as good in all respects as the Gibson and in many cases,even superior.To buy a guitar for a fraction of the cost that's at least 90% as good as the original it is patterned after,is a no-brainer. For me, I can't say that there is a 90% difference or an 80% difference etc., because I have never played a Gibson. I'm only familiar with the Epiphone. But I have to ask, why is there such a huge difference in price? Of course labor is higher here and the cost of the better materials are going to be more, but THAT much more which raises the price to what the Gibson sells for - I don't think so. IMHO, what you are paying more for, much more for, is having that prestigious name "Gibson" on the headstock. What else can it be? The only other thing that I can perhaps come up with is the fact that it's made in America. Case in point; About a month ago, my wife and I were in a music store, and was taken back by a special edition, made in China, Fender Strat. This thing was beautiful. I remember this guy admiring it and I heard him mention to the sales clerk that he would not buy it because its not made here. As beautiful as this guitar was, which he admitted to, he wouldn't buy it unless, like I said, it was made in America. So then, for many, not all, who purchase a Gibson, or Fender for that matter, will buy it because its made in America. I won't argue with their decision, because for them it's a matter of pride, and there's nothing at all wrong with that. For me, and for many others, its a matter of wallet size . If you ask me if I would rather have the Gibson, my answer would be yes, if I had a significant budget to justify the difference in cost. But all in all, I'm very happy with the Epiphone, and will continue purchasing an Epiphone product. Just my take on the subject. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crust Posted June 11, 2014 Author Share Posted June 11, 2014 I thank the Gibson company for making great guitars in everyones price range. Maybe some day I'll have the Gibson 58 and 59 lp reissues, a Gibson SG or 2 and a Gibson ES 335, and maybe an American Standard Strat and Tele. Until that day, I'm happy with the affordable lines like Epiphone, Squier . Cool guitars that are affordable. I have a few more guitars I'd like to obtain ( Emperor Swingster and White Riviera P93) in the not too far future. Maybe a Sheraton also, and a Casino...lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Not-Too-Late Posted June 11, 2014 Share Posted June 11, 2014 I thank the Gibson company for making great guitars in everyones price range. Maybe some day I'll have the Gibson 58 and 59 lp reissues, a Gibson SG or 2 and a Gibson ES 335, and maybe an American Standard Strat and Tele. Until that day, I'm happy with the affordable lines like Epiphone, Squier . Cool guitars that are affordable. I have a few more guitars I'd like to obtain ( Emperor Swingster and White Riviera P93) in the not too far future. Maybe a Sheraton also, and a Casino...lol . . . and the list goes on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidblast Posted June 11, 2014 Share Posted June 11, 2014 I dig a big ol archtops, Epiphones are great bangs for the buck in this category. (I have 4 of them) Would I love an L5? sure, who wouldn't? but who's got 10 grand to sink on one. but the Broadway at 1/10th of the cost, for me, is a winner all day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vinlander Posted June 12, 2014 Share Posted June 12, 2014 Because I am a huge fan of Gibson Archtop guitars but don't have the money to afford them. Epiphone makes a great platform for customization and learning how to setup a guitar... Had a blast modding my Epi Regent into a single classic 57 pickup Broadway Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted June 12, 2014 Share Posted June 12, 2014 To answer the original question...I bought my first Epiphone (in 1966, a Casino) because The Beatles used them. I figured (rightly) that if they were good enough for them, they were certainly good enough, for me! LOL CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crust Posted June 13, 2014 Author Share Posted June 13, 2014 To answer the original question...I bought my first Epiphone (in 1966, a Casino) because The Beatles used them. I figured (rightly) that if they were good enough for them, they were certainly good enough, for me! LOL CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'Scales Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 sage CB... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr.OneTwo Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 I believe my Epiphone Genesis Deluxe Pro chose me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crust Posted June 13, 2014 Author Share Posted June 13, 2014 I believe my Epiphone Genesis Deluxe Pro chose me. nice guitar there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Zeplin Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 My first Epi was this 2000 LP Classic quilt-top. I played a Strat for years and I wanted to add a Les Paul. I couldn't afford the luxury of a Gibson at the time and bought the Epi and loved it so much that before long I had three Epi LPs. So as others have said cost was definitely a factor. Well I still couldn't afford a Gibson but I got one anyway and have no regrets. I no longer own any of the LPs but my brother has one and my nephew has another. The only Epi guitar I currently own is an ebony Casino and it is a great guitar. Since I set it up to my preferences it is better than I expected. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
studiotoffa Posted July 12, 2014 Share Posted July 12, 2014 They're a cheap "Gibson". I don't like stock guitars, as most don't come with Seymour Duncans. I chose Epiphone because buying an expensive Gibson is in my mind a waste of money if you know you're going to mod the guitar anyway. Epiphone sound good acousticly and makes a great startingpoint to get a great guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meaux Posted July 12, 2014 Share Posted July 12, 2014 Because Lennon played one and I wanted to see what he saw in the thing... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffery Smith Posted July 14, 2014 Share Posted July 14, 2014 I bought a Texan in 1967 because it was a fraction of the cost of a Martin ($169), and it smelled wonderful. I had no idea the Beatles were using them at the time. It was also much more resonant than my cousin's Martin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bender 4 Life Posted July 14, 2014 Share Posted July 14, 2014 I bought a Texan in 1967 because it was a fraction of the cost of a Martin ($169), and it smelled wonderful. I had no idea the Beatles were using them at the time. It was also much more resonant than my cousin's Martin. Jeffery Smith !! haven't seen that name here in 100 yrs or so !! how you be? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffery Smith Posted July 14, 2014 Share Posted July 14, 2014 Hey Bend', Well, it's been a while for sure. I kind of got away when we went from an Epiphone Forum to a subforum of Gibson (I guess that was about 6 years ago). The look and feel just didn't seem like home. I strayed back last night after seeing someone using an Epiphone on TV (Wilshire?). When I saw your name, Charlie Brown's name, and Duane's name, I felt right at home again. Oh, and Vomer too. I'll try to hang around for a while again! Jeffery Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.