mihcmac

I used a 4-channel VHT with 2X12's then went to a VHT full stack, I used these in an attempt to reduce noise by excluding as many pedals as possible. I was using humbuckers at the time but transitioned to P90's and migrated to combo Marshalls while using a ME-50. I went to a Deluxe 900 with 6 sampled amp models that could be assigned to any of the 3 channels and started using external pedals again, a TS5 and a DS-1 mostly. Through these I carried a Roland Cube in my car so I could get more practice time in, in remote areas. Then I found that 2 cubes sounded better than 1 and now I have 6. But back to the Deluxe, currently I only use the 1st overdrive channel with the gain on 0 (the clean channel is too brittle) and increase the volume to what ever level I need, using a simple RK5 multi pedal. Wanting to get back to Tube sound I am looking at a Blues Jr, Blues Deluxe or a Rivera Sedona Acoustic app. I have tried these with my RK5 and they sound great. I use my OD's in stages each individually set to the same level as clean, the RK5 has 2 OD's and an OMG button that just gives you more.

Freddie Mercury

Strange Days - Doors

Blue Jean Blues - ZZ Top

Full walk through...

Leon Russell

Epiphones new product line...

Venus In Blue Jeans - Jimmy Clanton

Got to be careful with the Green Fairy. I hope you are able to find you way back. It was a favorite of many of the early modern artists...

I really regret letting go of my black 58 Epiphone Coronet that was a basket case I bought $100 in 72, that had been modified with 2 PAF humbuckings.. Anyway I spent many hours rebuilding and refinishing. Gibsons first fast thin neck with a relatively flat fingerboard, I think.. An original 58 below what mine looked like before being modified.

My last outdoor gig in 2008 was pretty dangerous. We were setup in a pavilion on the Hilo Bay Front pulling lots of juice as I was using a Marshall AVT full stack going through a very large Mackie system, when a storm hit. The rain started coming down sideways on my side of the stage, in shock we kept playing and our audience was still standing there with no cover from the storm. Fortunately our engineer wasn't suffering the endorphins that we were and shut down the main power boxes.. Sometimes we go to extremes to play. The rain stopped we dried out, checked everything and about an hour later started playing again..

Gibson has thinned out the Epiphone product line quite a bit. Surviving Epiphone product line...

I have learned that there is life after 60, I try to play for at least an hour everyday and attend an open jam session every Saturday, where all comers are welcome. We attract players of all levels an teach newbies what its like to fit in. In the end its a great learning experience for all of us. This takes place in a remote area called Eden Roc and the only requirement the host has is that we play loud enough for the neighborhood to hear. Living on an Island the cover bands are considered professionals and that is their job. There is a group of maybe 25 or 30 regular musicians forming the core of about 5 bands that rotate players depending on who needs work. Of course there many other bands here that startup finding there are just not that many places to play on the Big Island and if successful usually migrate to Oahu. My last working cover band was in the early 90's, since then I have focused on my own music, improv and playing anything that come to mind.

Well... I looks Gibson cleaned house on quite a few Epiphone models, the Blueshawk, Nighthawk, Bolt-on Neck guitars and Elitist didn't seem to make the cut, to name a few.. After watching a NAMM video I noticed a few guitars not listed on the web site, like the USA built Casino.

Looks like Epiphone has updated their web site...

Consecrating the Island makes you Kama Aina, a child of the land.. Shipping average cost for me, for a solid body, using USPS is about $70.

Santana has quite a few that are fun to play and will make people dance..

Kyoji Yamamoto

I agree with Notes, I was just adding another condition. If you play Mustang Sally the for the millionth time, the audience will respond to how enthusiastic you are.

Play what you love and your audience will find you.

No bad, they are very similar. Other observations, is Epiphones headstocks on the V, Firebird and Explorer have always looked the same as the Gibson versions. So just up grading the build?

Living on an Island I have to be patient, USPS is about the only reliable way to get anything here.

Welcome to the Gibson forum.. I also have a 97 Gibson BluesHawk and a 2015 Epiphone Blueshawk. The Blues 90 pickups are a little different from regular P90's, the Poles are magnets where the P90 has 2 large opposing magnets inside with adjustable poles. The Blues 90 is designed to react more like a Jazzmaster's pickup, for a bluesy jazzy sound. One of the most common upgrades is to put standard P90's which can really turn the BluesHawk into a monster. But be aware that the bridge and neck pickups are in opposite polarities, which is part of how the hum-canceling works. Most aftermarket P90's have sets that are in opposite polarity. You can check the polarity by simply placing a compass nest to the pickups. There are a lot more posts on BluesHawks in the Gibson USA forum.... Below is my modified Epiphone Blueshawk that comes stock with standard P90's. Enjoy......

There are a few Epiphone Firebird VII's on eBay starting at about $700

Gibson Can do anything they want with it and maybe if we put enough pressure on to convince them to build a DC Pro with the new Headstock and a Goldtop. It would be enough to push me off the fence. The DC Pro is a bit different from Les Paul Standard DC, the body shape is different and the neck is joined at the 23 fret, the LP DC at 22nd fret. Its Sire the "Epiphone Del Rey", that the DC Pro is upgraded from, was introduced in 96 and the Del Rey most likely served as the inspiration for the Gibson Tak Matsumoto DC.