Jump to content
Gibson Brands Forums

Are Epiphones Under Rated?

IanHenry

By IanHenry
in The Gibson Lounge

Recommended Posts

SmokeyGhost

SmokeyGhost

Posted
Posted

Yes, I believe Epi's are underrated and on occasions unfairly compared with Gibsons due to that company's association with Epiphone (Wanna do the same with Tokai anyone?)

 

I have two Epi's; a Dot and LP PlusTop Pro. Both play very well and, indeed, when I took the LP to a guitar shop to try out an amp I was considering purchasing, the muso who worked there went "Wow. Nice tone on this one." I also have a Gibson LP Studio 2014 yet when a mate of mine comes around to have some relax time, he is likely to grab hold of the Epi simply because it feels "right" at the time.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
quapman

quapman

Posted
Posted

The problem comes from that they get compared to their Gibson relatives.

 

Bence

 

While I belive that is true particularly on this forum, I don't think that's the norm out and about. I know plenty of people happy to own an Epi and not pay the fortune to buy a Gibson.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
btoth76

btoth76

Posted
Posted

While I belive that is true particularly on this forum, I don't think that's the norm out and about. I know plenty of people happy to own an Epi and not pay the fortune to buy a Gibson.

 

Hello Quapman.

 

I agree, if You put it this way. There are lot of Epiphones I would be glad to own: ES-175 Pro, some Les Pauls and thinlines. But then again, it is because I cannot afford their Gibson variants.

 

Bence.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
merciful-evans

merciful-evans

Posted
Posted

You cant win either way.

 

If you turn up to a gig with an Epi. There are those that will sneer & assume you couldn't afford a proper Gibson.

 

 

If you turn up to a gig with a Gibson. There are those who will sneer & consider you a poser, who just have a Gibson for the name on the headstock.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
kidblast

kidblast

Posted
Posted

You cant win either way.

 

If you turn up to a gig with an Epi. There are those that will sneer & assume you couldn't afford a proper Gibson.

 

 

If you turn up to a gig with a Gibson. There are those who will sneer & consider you a poser, who just have a Gibson for the name on the headstock.

 

That's strange, is it that way across the pond in the local club secen?

 

I've been playing in bands out in clubs since the 70. I don't know if I've ever defended or had to explain, or had any one at all comment on the brand of guitar I'm using.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
pippy

pippy

Posted
Posted
That's strange, is it that way across the pond in the local club scene?

I've been playing in bands out in clubs since the 70. I don't know if I've ever defended or had to explain, or had any one at all comment on the brand of guitar I'm using.

Seems to be. It's happened to me, too.

 

First time was when I had just started to go out gigging. I had a '64 Strat. This was before Fender went all historical in the looks dept. in the early '80s

I overheard someone say;

"It's not a real Strat; The peghead's the wrong shape..."

 

Pip.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
merciful-evans

merciful-evans

Posted
Posted

That's strange, is it that way across the pond in the local club secen?

 

I've been playing in bands out in clubs since the 70. I don't know if I've ever defended or had to explain, or had any one at all comment on the brand of guitar I'm using.

 

No one will challenge the band that way, but I've been hearing it at the bar & tables etc. for years. Also just in general conversation with guitarists.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
rct

rct

Posted
Posted

You cant win either way.

 

If you turn up to a gig with an Epi. There are those that will sneer & assume you couldn't afford a proper Gibson.

 

 

If you turn up to a gig with a Gibson. There are those who will sneer & consider you a poser, who just have a Gibson for the name on the headstock.

 

Yer doin it wrong. The women only mention how good I am, never what I use.

 

rct

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Digger

Digger

Posted
Posted

The Casino I'd guess. [thumbup]

 

I don't think I ever realised you actually are a guitarist Dig, and even in that one post it suggests you have at least twice as many guitars as me - I guess I hadn't paid attention. What sort of music do you play mate?

 

Two of my 3 guitars cost under $1000 AU (the Aria and the Gibson) and I like them both though they are quite different. The Epi cost $1300 AU but it was made in the USA - the Chinese version of the same would probably only be $500. Probably under rated a bit but so are plenty of decent Far East made guitars of recent years I suppose - maybe anything that isn't considered the best of its breed could be under rated though.

 

 

Calling me a guitarist is a bit of a stretch Scalesie, I did have lessons for years but developed a vitamin B12 shortage due, according to my Doc. to the chemicals in Vietnam. I found that after lessons during the 15 minute drive home I'd forgotten what I had just learned. Not much point at that stage. I now give myself a vit. B12 shot every 3 weeks because you can't function without it, but the long period where I had insufficient oxygen to my brain has extracted a toll. You can't get back what you have lost unfortunately.

 

I currently have the Casino, an EJ300SCE, a G400, the two Fender copies the Agile AL2900, and my first guitar a Yamaha C70 nylon acoustic. They look nice and I can still play and remember most of the chords I learned but just can't play anything complicated.

 

So you see that I'm an imposter, can't play guitar to save my life, and no GIbson.

 

It's just that I've been around these places for 8 or 9 years and have many friends here.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
merciful-evans

merciful-evans

Posted
Posted

Calling me a guitarist is a bit of a stretch Scalesie, I did have lessons for years but developed a vitamin B12 shortage due, according to my Doc. to the chemicals in Vietnam. I found that after lessons during the 15 minute drive home I'd forgotten what I had just learned. Not much point at that stage. I now give myself a vit. B12 shot every 3 weeks because you can't function without it, but the long period where I had insufficient oxygen to my brain has extracted a toll. You can't get back what you have lost unfortunately.

 

I currently have the Casino, an EJ300SCE, a G400, the two Fender copies the Agile AL2900, and my first guitar a Yamaha C70 nylon acoustic. They look nice and I can still play and remember most of the chords I learned but just can't play anything complicated.

 

So you see that I'm an imposter, can't play guitar to save my life, and no GIbson.

 

It's just that I've been around these places for 8 or 9 years and have many friends here.

 

Ability varies for all of us. Its not a prerequisite that you have a standard of playing. Enthusiasm is more important IMO anyway.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
kidblast

kidblast

Posted
Posted

No one will challenge the band that way, but I've been hearing it at the bar & tables etc. for years. Also just in general conversation with guitarists.

 

well that's kinda funky.. maybe I've live a sheltered live, but I've never heard it even on the grape vine while other musicians are playing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
vangoghsear

vangoghsear

Posted
Posted

To answer the title question, are Epiphones underrated, I have to say some are, some aren't. The worst hardware I've found on any of my guitars over the years was on an Epiphone LP Junior (to be fair it was also one of the cheapest). The tuners were crappy covered things that couldn't hold tune against string tension. I am aware that many tuning issues are related to the nut and general setup issues, but these tuners were terrible; I switched them out for Grovers and that fixed the tuning problems.

 

The ones that I find very underrated are their slim hollowbodies like the Casino and rockabilly style guitars such as the Allykat, Wildkat, and Flamekat. I've never owned one, but every one I've tried has been an awesome guitar, consistently easy to play, great unique tones. I've almost bought one of these several times, but wasn't really looking to buy at the time.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Digger

Digger

Posted
Posted

Seeing as we're talking about Casinos and such, here's mine getting back to it's roots!

 

 

CassieInTheWild_zps1fe56100.jpg

 

I might as well show off the AL2900 as it's as flash as a rat with a gold tooth too.

100_3774.jpg

 

Here's my Tele:

CopyofIMG_0002RadialBlurLarge_zps6e3a2e76.jpg

 

Back on topic, here's my EJ300SCE...well I don't often talk about my guitars~

IMG_0404.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites
BigKahune

BigKahune

Posted
Posted

.

Underrated? . No.

 

These days most know Epi is Gibson's value based line with some really good values - that is great guitars for the price. There are certain models Epi puts effort into making a great get for the price, and rest are more toward what you would expect for the price. And then there's the Epi Masterbuilts - they are definitely worth the price, and a lot of people know that.

 

 

.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Digger

Digger

Posted
Posted

Those are some nice looking players Dig....

 

When are we going to hear....hmmm...."Ballad For Bella" or "Paddock-Slashin' Boogie" or "Digger's Slow Internet Connection Blues"?

 

[thumbup] [thumbup]

 

 

Thanks JDGM, you've got me thinking now about lyrics for some of those titles...all except the slow internet blues, NBN is up and perhaps the "Too fast for Digger blues" might be a substitute...Grin~

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

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

Go to topic listing
×
×
  • Create New...