Very disappointed with my new epi LP silverburst

[matiac]

I never would have known. I don't spend a lot of time up there, but now that you point it out, it does seem like a pretty big sore spot.

[Ron G]

Guitarman3001, where's the MK made and how's the workmanship?

[guitarman3001]

Guitarman3001' date=' where's the MK made and how's the workmanship?[/quote']

 

Korea. Just got it about an hour ago. Man, this thing is beautiful!!!! The workmanship appears to be A-1! I haven't gone over it with a fine tooth comb yet since I'm at work and was only able to mess with it for about 15 minutes but I couldn't see any obvious flaws, it plays like a dream, actually feels nicer and smoother playing than my prize 15 year old epi LP, upper fret access is completely unhindered, the finish is spectacular, etc... I can't wait to plug it in tonight. Will be playing a gig tonight so I'll be able to put it through its paces and see if it sounds as good as I hope it does.

 

The place I got it from does their own QC and inspection before sending it out and it feels very playable right out of the box. It was even in tune if you can believe that! New D'addario strings, the action is nice and low, and did I mention, it just feels so smooth. The ebony fretboard feels amazing.

 

lol...I hope after all of this raving I'm doing about it that it sounds good otherwise I'm gonna be very disappointed.

[Ron G]

Your story, beginning to end, stirs up a lot of thoughts in me. There seems to be a common

naive belief that Epiphone guitars are built to specific Gibson specs. Bulls**t! Your story,

as well as others, proves this is not the case. And the "specifications can change"

disclaimer is but an excuse some Epi loyals can throw at you. The plain fact is, in many

cases, Gibson is buying replicas from multiple overseas manufacturers who also

make identical guitars with minor differences and different names. I'm not knocking

this situation; I just think it needs to be more common knowledge what we are really

buying.

 

I'm also beginning to think that Korean manufacturers are making some of the best

products in the market. I've seen many Korean guitars that are better made than their

Chinese brethren, not to mention USA-made. Many here in this forum have pointed to

some Korean Epi's that they felt were some of the best ever made. Other products, too

- I have 3 LG air conditioners that are well-designed, whisper-quiet, efficient, reliable and

inexpensive. My most recent encounter was with a rented Hyundai Elantra. An excellent

small car - better than my Civic in many ways. I would buy one in a heartbeat. If your MK

reflects any of this, it'll be an excellent piece.

 

My recent encounters with Chinese Epiphones have not been impressive. The Daiwon Dot

(Korean company, China location) that replaced the Qingdao Dot is way better. I'll be keeping

my eye on Korean guitars in the future, especially because I'll soon be buying a replacement

for my aged and ailing Yamaha dreadnought. Most of the Chinese acoustics I've played are dreck.

[Biff]

Your story' date=' beginning to end, stirs up a lot of thoughts in me. There seems to be a common

naive belief that Epiphone guitars are built to specific Gibson specs. Bulls**t![/quote']

 

Yep, that's just the thing - they want people to believe they are buying a Gibson made guitar regardless of the logo in the headstock. When checking out Gibson and Epiphone LPs you expect them to be at least have the same approximate shape, look and feel. IMO they've made a pretty good job this far, though the similarities are mostly only on the outside.

 

Good enough for rock'n'roll, yes. Made to Gibson specs with dedication and faithful to the original? Yeah right!

 

With their new plant in Qingdao, it wouldn't have been a great investment to fix the specs more closer to the originals. That would have been a way to make better selling guitars and that's what people would expect, right? The G400s sounded promising. Now what do they do, change the neck CNC program so that the heel isn't as good as it was before?

 

Since there is (and probably will be) no one commenting the reasons for this from Epiphone, as always, anyone reading the forum will now skip the new LPs from Qingdao.

[guitarman3001]

 

Since there is (and probably will be) no one commenting the reasons for this from Epiphone' date=' as always, anyone reading the forum will now skip the new LPs from Qingdao.

[/quote']

 

I emailed Gibson and pointed them to this thread. The rep replied and said he will pass my email on up the line. Let's see if anyone ever bothers to get back to me.

[Biff]

Let's see if anyone ever bothers to get back to me.

 

I hope they do, and tell us it's something new and revolutionary (like long tenons lol) that they are trying out

which will make the guitars somehow a lot better than we expected ... call me a pessimist, but I still have some doubts of that happening.

[Ron G]

But guys, you're showing some of that naivete I was referring to. Gibson's marketing model obviously works

well for them. To think a couple of emails matters is, well, naive. They're selling enough guitars and they can

absorb warranty claims just fine - easier than trying to strictly control quality. Remember, for every guitar

sent back for warranty work/replacement, there are dozens of equally defective units that aren't. So, again

my point is caveat emptor. There is a plethora of off-brand guitars out there, some junk, some mighty good.

I just want to know what is what and what is worth looking at.

[charlie brown]

Maybe, one more reason, to spend a bit more, and go Elitist.

They, at least, are much closer to "specs" than the others.

One thing I, and many others here, have pointed out, repeatedly,

is that neck joints, body shapes, neck profiles, especially on the

Casino, Riviera (no longer made...unfortunately), and Sheratons

are MUCH closer, to the Pre-Asian, Kalamazoo versions. Only

obvious differences being the Poly finish..and Grover's on the Casino's.

Even the LP and SG's are much closer overall in spec's, save the headstock shapes.

So...??? If "I" was in the market, for another "Epi," it would be, most definitely,

an Elitist!

 

CB

[shartom]

I would send it back for a refund. It is obviously not a defect, just the wrong guitar. I just checked the heel on my 56 Gold Top Reissue, Epi LP Ultra and my Gibson LP Studio. They all have shot heels. Maybe the design has been changed.

[charlie brown]

Also, I am trying to be "optimistic," about the Quing Dao factory, coming around....

and producing the kind of product, that the "tour" article promised. Having a

"dedicated" Epiphone factory SHOULD lend itself to the best possible product

available. Correct spec's, construction, finishes, etc.

Whether or not, that will happen, remains to be seen. But, it's fairly

new, so there's some "bumps" to be expected, so...I'm hopeful they'll get it worked

out, for their sakes, and ours. We'll see...

 

CB

[Biff]

They're selling enough guitars and they can

absorb warranty claims just fine - easier than trying to strictly control quality. Remember' date=' for every guitar

sent back for warranty work/replacement, there are dozens of equally defective units that aren't. So, again

my point is caveat emptor. There is a plethora of off-brand guitars out there, some junk, some mighty good.

I just want to know what is what and what is worth looking at.[/quote']

 

+1

 

I feel like quitting this discussion, it makes me want to get myself a good, used Gibson LP and move on to the LPF already

[charlie brown]

 

+1

 

I feel like quitting this discussion' date=' it makes me want to get myself a good, used Gibson LP and move on to the LPF already [/quote']

 

Yeah, but remember too, WE (on this forum) are a minority, of actual Epiphone owners.

There are, I'm sure, plenty of great products out there, that their owners

are completely satisfied, even elated, with. This group (me included) can

get a bit nit-picky, or even if the concerns are valid, we can get pretty

focused on the BAD, instead of the great ones. It's sort of like the "News Media,"

in that "bad news" get's reported/read more. If it's good, nobody complains,

so there's less interest/traffic, apparently, in touting those facts.

 

It's funny...we can give each other "G.A.S." with our raves,

and totally depress one another, by our "horror" stories. LOL!!

Ah, life on the forum!! ;>)

 

CB

[Kenny Smoke]

After reading this thread a couple of days ago, I checked out my 3 LP's my black Samick made has the short heel, serial#S6109068, my Flamed Maple Sunburst serial#I01081965, and my '56 Gold Top serial#U04033647, both have the larger heel. Also the Samick has the Thin Taper, and the other two have the chunkier(not baseball bat) neck profile. All play superb, sound great but different. I agree access to the higher frets is more dificult but certainly not a deal breaker for me, because I never really noticed the heel until now... but I rarely play that high on the neck anyway...

Peace!

Kenny :)-~~~~