BigKahune

Quite the SaWEET project. Turned out great! 😎

Oh man … SaWEET! Gorgeous. Congrats! 😎

Welp, after seeing the condition of your guitar - glue it yourself. It’ll fit right in with the pick scrapes. If, in the future, you have someone deal with those pick scrapes, they can also fill your DIY chip repair with nitro and make it look seamless.

Glue it in, yourself or a shop/luthier.

I have a 2008 J-200 Modern Classic. It has a modern thin white edged TRC, a flubber pickguard, a 2 ribbon bridge, and a compensated saddle. Your pics show a vintage style wide white edged TRC, a vintage style pickguard, a 4 ribbon bridge, and an uncompensated saddle. Conclusion: Looks like you've got a TV. Congrats: Very nice! My 2008 J-200 MC (changed pins)

Ouch

Epiphone cases are sold by the big box guitar/music retailers. I’ve purchased one for an LP a few years ago. Not sure if this particular case is available - would be worth a coupla phone calls to find out.

When you’ve dealt with Gibson long enough you know the old saying is true: The only thing consistent with Gibson is inconsistency. Yep - probably used a neck that was stamped for another guitar. Makes it an interesting example of Gibson cost cutting. 😎

Nitro. Either the case or a sweaty red clothes.

Very nice performances. Thanks! 😎

Sold off a couple. Currently: 65 Melody Maker SG LP ES-359 J-200 Southern Jumbo TV AJ (adi top) Songwriter Deluxe 12 J-100 Xtra 12 And an Epiphone LP

A bit of buffing and I’m thinking it would go very nicely on your 339 case. 😎

Don’t much care for long talks about glue squeeze out and craftsmanship. No need for the over dramatic guitar surgery and construction critique. Play it. The sound is my top concern. Playability next. If it looks good that’s a bonus. If the guy isn’t hitting on these topics he isn’t worth my time. Over the years I’ve had a coupla “low end” guitars - because their sound and playability were so good, way beyond expectations. On the other hand, over the years I’ve played a coupla gorgeous, well crafted, expensive guitars that I passed on because they definitely didn’t please my ear.

That’s a gorgeous natural finish on a beauty!

Actually the square inlays appear on Customs like: LPC, SGC, ES Customs, even some acoutic customs. Customs usually have the split diamond inlay on the headstock. Here's my ES-359 Custom - square inlays - definitely genuine.

Pics are too small, but the bridge posts look like they have screw driver slots which would mean it’s not genuine. Others reasons have been pointed out in previous comments.

From the pics you’ve provided, the guitar looks okay. But, two things seem off to me. 1) That COA looks different than ones I’ve seen which have two blank white fields filled in by hand with the model number and the serial number. 2) No Custom Shop decal on the base of the back side of the headstock. Now the way Gibson does COAs might have changed since I last saw a new one, and maybe the CS decal wore off.

Very nice! Congrats. 😎 ESSREBNH1 - I've seen that "SR" before and in that case it was Standard Reissue. Not sure if it applies here.

I like a good guitar, any good guitar. Of course, good is very subjective & personal. Some folks are loyal to one brand, and some like to play the field. 😎 Martin acoustics: D-45, 000-15M, J12-15 Gibson electrics: MM, SG, LP, ES-359 Gibson acoustics: J-200, SJ, AJ, SW12, J-100 12

Not sure of the "Style" meaning, but in the past, AT was a finish code: AT Antique Walnut (Natural finished top, Dark walnut stained back & sides) AN Antique Natural (light toner added) VS Vintage Sunburst ( Tobacco Burst) The new marketer has renamed this one the "sunset burst". Sigh.... CH Cherry (Dove red) VCS Vintage Cherry Sunburst HB = Heritage chery Burst HCS Heritage Cherry Sunburst (real hummingbird) AE Antique Ebony (Black)Light toner for gold looking binding EB Black (No Toner) (ebony) TB Triburst

Two things from the 70s - Volute headstock-neck Maple necks, some in 3 pieces. Not sure of the run dates.

I’m liked the look of it. Too bad it dried hazy. Is there higher quality waterslide paper? I ask because I’ve used commercially made small waterslide decals before and they came out perfectly clear - only upon close inspection could you make out an edge.

Ah … the Blue Bird of happiness! Very nice!! 😎

This guy John - his original question was, paraphrased: Why is the Gibson Company putting out [Epiphone brand] guitars to compete with their own [Gibson brand] guitars? It should be obvious to John, as he mentions the huge price difference in these brands numerous times. The Gibson company is hitting all the price points they can to attract a wider range of customers so they can increase sales. They’ve even hit somewhat lower price points inside the Gibson brand with their studio models, G series, etc. Certainly there are gems to be found in either brand’s lines, and it’s great that there are good sounding, nicely built instruments at the lower price points. But to be clear, the materials, construction methods, and construction cost of a value based instrument are very rarely similar to those of a high end instrument, and therein lies the difference in price.

Curious. Interesting. Can’t help following. 😎