Just Strum Posted July 25, 2008 Share Posted July 25, 2008 I would play what ever gave me the best sound/tone and I felt was the best to play (not money, but action/feel). As much as I would like an ES335, it would all come down to how I liked it. Chances are I would end up with an ES335, but I am open to an Epi that I liked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Firebrand Posted July 25, 2008 Share Posted July 25, 2008 Hmmm..........What colour are my socks today? If I was playing professionally and I already had a guitar that I loved, I wouldn't give it up for something else just because it has a different brand name on the headstock. (Well, okay, if it was a Squ**r I might, for some reason they annoy the crap out of me, it deoesn't make sense but there is is). If I had to do a couple of minor upgrades for a beasty to withstand travelling and such I would, if it is the guitar that gives me the mojo I need to feel like I can take on the world.. If I was worried about taking taking a treasured guitar on the road (damage, theft, etc) than I would get a different guitar to do gigs with and keep the other beasty at home wether it said Gibson, Epiphone. etc. Thought this could prove to be annoying as you now have to find something comparable on all those fiddly things like tone and feel. I have an 81 Gibson Firebrand Deluxe that I have had since 83 and I would not take it on out of the house for the life of me. These are not particularly well regarded instruments among the Gibson clan, but it doesn't matter, I think mine is awesome and that is all that's important. Whatever might happen, everything else can go but that guitar has to stay, it is part of the family. I acquired a used Gib LP Studio about a year ago, though I had to take it back after a couple of days as it had an undisclosed headstock problem that became apparent after I cleaned it. I wasn't hearbroken as I found the 490/498combo in the studio to be bland at best. I picked up a new BFG about 6 months ago and it is killer, although not what you could call a pretty guitar. The Burstbucker III and P90 combination rocks. The Epi P90 is one of their better pickups, they should really consider issuing a model with this combo, preferably in a nice burst with some gold hardware, drool. Anyway, I thought that my Epi Black Beauty would become redundant when I got the BFG. Well, no. The Epi gets a great tone and if I want to crank up the dirt and play something heavy, it actually works better. I have been considering a few upgrades for the Epi BB anyway. The BFG is more of a workhorse and it works just fine, my Black Beauty looks really cool as well as sounding good so I think it is worth the investment. In the end the amount invested in the two will be about the same but only one will have the much vaunted brand name. So, it comes down to what works and whether the instrument connects with me. That doesn't have anything to do with what it says on the headstock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PP_CS336 Posted July 25, 2008 Share Posted July 25, 2008 I hadn't thought of this earlier' date=' but it is an interesting question. If you are mostly an Epiphone person now, if you decided to play professionally, would you move up to a comparable Gibson model? While the idea is completely hypothetical to me, I cannot imagine plunking down $3,000 for a Gibby when I'm as happy as I currently am with the Sheratons. What say you?[/quote'] If I was making good money playing professionally and had the money the spend, I'd say I'd probably go out and buy a Gibson, but only because I could afford it. I had Gibsons before and liked them very much. For economic reasons I had to part with them. Being in the market a few years ago for a decent electric guitar because I began playing in a garage band with some friends of mine, I started off buying a used MIM Telecaster. I paid $250.00 for it with the case. Shortly thereafter I bought an new MIM Fender Stratocaster or the same reason. It was inexpensive, compared to the American made Fender Stratocaster and still did the trick. Our lead guitarist has an MIM Fender Stratocaster and through his gear it sounds great. One of our bass players (the 2nd, we're on our 3rd now) had an Epiphone Allen Woody Rumblekat Bass whose sound and workmanship really impressed me. I asked him how much he paid for it. He said $500.00. I thought, darn, if someone can get a guitar that nicely made for $500.00 I ought to start looking at Epiphones. When I went out looking that's when I came across my Epiphone Sheraton II NA in one of my local music shops (Alto Music in Wappinger Falls,NY). It was $529.99. This guitar plays like a dream and everything on it is flawless. The playability and sound are there, just like the Gibson ES-335 I once had (which when I bought it I paid $835.00 for it with the case=p~ ). Today the same guitar cost 3 times as much. . So I think it has just as much to do with my playing ability, too. Not to take anything away from Epiphone vs the Gibson in the craftmanship department, but I've seen some shotty Gibsons that I wouldn't pay what they're asking when I can get an Epiphone made in Korea or China that's made just as well if not better sometimes. Like anything else I buy though, if I had the money to buy a Gibson today, I'd give it a very thorough going over checking first the craftsmanship (who's going to buy a new guitar worth that much money if it's flawed) and then it's playability, first without an amp to see how it sounds and what kind of sustain it has without amplification. (hey if it doesn't have a nice ring acoustically, the amp isn't going to make it any better), then run it through an amplifier. I play it straight, because any guitar can sound decent if you start throwing all kinds of effects on it. That said, I'd still keep the two Epiphones I have (and possibly buy more) because they are well made guitars, they play great and I love them=d> . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snookelputz Posted July 25, 2008 Share Posted July 25, 2008 There are guitars I buy, professional or not, because I want them for a particular reason. Then, there are guitars that I buy...well, because I want them! I hope that answers your question! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JefferySmith Posted July 25, 2008 Author Share Posted July 25, 2008 There are guitars I buy' date=' professional or not, because I want them for a particular reason. Then, there are guitars that I buy...well, because I want them! I hope that answers your question![/quote'] Wait! Huh? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JefferySmith Posted July 25, 2008 Author Share Posted July 25, 2008 Well' date=' okay, if it was a Squ**r I might, [/quote'] Readin' my mind. That's why I went for the Mexican Jaguar instead of the Jag-Stang. I DO have some standards! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carverman Posted July 25, 2008 Share Posted July 25, 2008 So' date=' it comes down to what works and whether the instrument connects with me. That doesn't have anything to do with what it says on the headstock. [/quote'] Makes sense to me..however...some Gibson fetch an awful inflated price these days and for that reason are a target for thieves. If you take it with you on stage, you better keep your eyes on it or hire some kind of security so it doesn't walk off. Epis are "not as prone" to being stolen, so you can put it down on a stand and go out for a smoke after or during sets, (if that is still allowed in your area and still be assured that it will be there to take home. Epis once upgraded are pretty good workhorses and you can get some decent sound out of most of them with the right set of p_ups. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JefferySmith Posted July 25, 2008 Author Share Posted July 25, 2008 Makes sense to me..however...some Gibson fetch an awful inflated price these days and for that reason are a target for thieves. If you take it with you on stage' date=' you better keep your eyes on it or hire some kind of security so it doesn't walk off. Epis are "not as prone" to being stolen, so you can put it down on a stand and go out for a smoke after or during sets, (if that is still allowed in your area and still be assured that it will be there to take home. Epis once upgraded are pretty good workhorses and you can get some decent sound out of most of them with the right set of p_ups. [/quote'] Back in my "band" days, I never left my guitar out of my sight. Those were the days when there was no such thing as a "backup" guitar, but I never even considered having a guitar fail on me. but on the topic of inflated Gibsons, Guitar World recently compared the Gibson Les Paul reissue with the PRS Singlecut. And the Gibson was like $8,500. I don't think John Lennon would have paid $8,500 for a guitar. The PRS was less than half that. I thought the Gretsch Penguin was the most overpriced guitar, but I was wrong. I can't afford a Rickenbacker 325 as much as I covet the extremely short scale. And we're talkin' $3,000 for that. And now that you have me ranting, is there a really short scale electric guitar out there other than the Rickenbacker 325? The raison-d'etre of that guitar is its preposterously short scale (like 20"). Why doesn't Epiphone make one for 1/3 the price? They could make one in Korea for 1/6 the price. Okay Epiphone, please make a 20" scale Wilshire for me. I promise to buy several of them! There are people out there who would love preposterous ease of playing. Fill that niche and beat Rickenbacker (who only sells them at $3K because John Lennon played one...back when he was making peanuts as a Quarryman). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricochet Posted July 25, 2008 Share Posted July 25, 2008 If I decided to play professionally I'd pick the guitar I'm most comfortable with. At the moment that's my modded Epiphone LP Standard. And I pick it over my Gibson LP. I don't give a flying V what it says on the Epi-headstock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Firebrand Posted July 25, 2008 Share Posted July 25, 2008 Makes sense to me..however...some Gibson fetch an awful inflated price these days and for that reason are a target for thieves. If you take it with you on stage' date=' you better keep your eyes on it or hire some kind of security so it doesn't walk off. Epis are "not as prone" to being stolen, so you can put it down on a stand and go out for a smoke after or during sets, (if that is still allowed in your area and still be assured that it will be there to take home. Epis once upgraded are pretty good workhorses and you can get some decent sound out of most of them with the right set of p_ups. [/quote'] I agreed with that 100% right up front. While it's not necessarily valuable in a resale value sense, my Firebrand (hence the username BTW) would not leave the house. If I was worried about taking taking a treasured guitar on the road (damage' date=' theft, etc) than I would get a different guitar to do gigs with and keep the other beasty at home wether it said Gibson, Epiphone. etc. Thought this could prove to be annoying as you now have to find something comparable on all those fiddly things like tone and feel. [/quote'] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Firebrand Posted July 25, 2008 Share Posted July 25, 2008 I agreed with that 100% right up front. While it's not necessarily valuable in a resale value sense' date=' my Firebrand (hence the username BTW) would not leave the house.[/quote'] Hmm, that sounded a little cranky. Sorry about that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JefferySmith Posted July 25, 2008 Author Share Posted July 25, 2008 Got it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pohatu771 Posted July 25, 2008 Share Posted July 25, 2008 I would. For the Casino "upgrade," it might get a bit tricky, because I'd have to wait for an ES-330 reissue, or order a Custom Shop, or go vintage. If I were going vintage, and price wasn't an option, I'd buy a vintage Casino - they cost more than the Gibson anyway (thank you John, George, and Paul...) I would buy the best feeling guitar I could. It doesn't necessarily mean it would be a Gibson, or a US-made guitar. To this date, I still haven't found a Strat I like better than mine, a MIM Deluxe. But I've also never played a Les Paul I liked better than the '74 in Guitar Center. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy1281734003 Posted July 25, 2008 Share Posted July 25, 2008 I would most likely still play my Elitist LP if I was playing professionally, it sounds and plays the way I like at a fraction of the the cost of a Gibson. I have nothing against Gibson, but if stolen or damaged the loss is not as great. I do play semi-pro and one of the bands I play in I use a PRS McCarty because it's a little more versatile, but I am still more comfortable with a LP style guitar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted July 25, 2008 Share Posted July 25, 2008 Well, it sounds to me, like we've ALL got nice, professional grade, guitars...whatever the brand! I know I love all mine, and play them all, too. Not all the time, of course, but..enough! I sometimes wonder, if I need all these guitars (I'm quite sure I don't)..BUT, which would I sell?? Can't think of one, right of hand! So, in answer to the original question...I'd just play what I have, as well as I possibly could! CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoobiepatrol Posted July 25, 2008 Share Posted July 25, 2008 Hmm...This thread has been mulling in the back of my head for a little while now, and I'm still not sure. I'm definately in the camp here where I'd be more likely to trust an upgraded Epi on the road than put a Gibson at risk. My fascination with Gibson has waned as I've learned more about the company, and I'm really not gassing for much of anything from their catalog. That may very well change, though. I'm destined to add at least one more SG to my stable, though that will probably end up being an Epiphone. I guess you might say that I'm blissful in my ignorance about the finer points of guitar making, as I have a hard time justifying the price difference based on material quality that doesn't make enough of a practical impact to sway my fancy. I have a random LP copy that I'm pretty sure is made of plywood and appears to have a chunk of wood missing from one of the headstock corners that was filled with some form of translucent material (hard to explain) but I'm pleased as punch with it cause it plays realy nice and sounds right good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom nair Posted July 25, 2008 Share Posted July 25, 2008 I would get a Gibson 335 in a flash If I had the bucks. My modded Shari still lacks the warmth and umf of the real deal. I can here the difference. I bought my shari because it was the next best thing to the real deal. And it really is. The 20% that the Epi lacks is the best part of a Gibson. Some day I will have the 3000.00 335 that I dream about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron G Posted July 25, 2008 Share Posted July 25, 2008 This "I'll take the beaters to a gig and leave the good stuff at home" stuff seems ludicrous to me, assuming we're talking about guitars to play (i.e. a tool) vs. vintage/collector's items. If playing professionally, I would want my best stuff with me, not second best. If I wanted the best of both worlds, and wanted to keep a pristine, expensive guitar, I'd simply buy two - one for the road, one for posterity. If I couldn't buy two, I'd still have my best on stage. And in this hypothetical situation, it would be the Gibson. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glenn1281733995 Posted July 25, 2008 Share Posted July 25, 2008 Absolutely. If not a Gibson, then another high end instrument. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted July 25, 2008 Share Posted July 25, 2008 Yeah, Ron...I take my Rickenbacker 12-string to gigs (Have you seen what they want for THEM, nowadays??!), but... it has THE sound, I want/need, and playability, too. I don't take the Vintage Casino, very often..."to prescious" to me...but, I do take the Riviera! Again, not because it's less expensive, but because I love it! Love playing it, love it's sound, etc. So, I take what works, really. In roudy "bars" and such, I may consider taking the least expensive Gibby or Epi, but...even in those cases, there's no taking a cheaper "Ric!" So...;>b I DO "watch them like a hawk," though! Can't afford not to! CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fingers hurt Posted July 25, 2008 Share Posted July 25, 2008 But what I would give for a Gibson "Johnny A " Damn... you gotta understand that some maker's make some of the most prestine guitars. Damn ..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lpdeluxe Posted July 25, 2008 Share Posted July 25, 2008 As a matter of fact, I have gigged with my Gibson Les Paul (and a '63 Gretsch Chet Atkins Country Gent that the LP replaced). I just bought my Epi Sheraton II because the old road warrior looked a little funky in church. If I went back to gigging, it'd be the LP for sure. It has a dependable tone that kills me, and it's all about the sound. The Epi has upgraded Seymour Duncan pickups, but it doesn't have THE SOUND that Lester does. The material I do in church is less critical, and I generally run through a Floor Pod Plus which minimizes the influence of the git. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bug music Posted July 25, 2008 Share Posted July 25, 2008 If I was looking for the best tools to put money on the table, and feed my kids, I would pick the best sounding and playing instrument I could find. Having said that, I would have to say it would probably be a Gretsch, unless of course I played a Gibson that really "spoke to me". In the past couple of years I haven't played a new Gibson (or Fender for that matter) that I've instantly bonded with (not for lack of trying ), but I've picked up 3 or 4 new Gretsches that really left me with severe GAS after only a few minutes playing them. The new Gretsch/FMIC deal is doing something right, their quality control is some of the best I've seen in a long time, and they're turning out some really nice stuff. Not slagging Gibson, just speaking from my own personal experiences, I've noticed that sometimes the QC seems to be better on the Epiphone stuff than on their higher priced cousins. Go figure. It's not just Gibson though, I was mostly a Tele player for years, and have noticed the same thing with Fender's instruments. The nicest Telecaster I've played in a long long time is a Chinese made "Squier" Classic Vibe Tele, it rivals my American made Tele in sound and playability. The quality is amazing and it only costs $300 ! Guess what's next on my list. Bottom line : Big brand name ? quality. Just my $.02, YMMV. - Jay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Funkwire Posted July 25, 2008 Share Posted July 25, 2008 If I was making a living playing music - a good living - I'd pick up a Gibson Larry Carlton Mr. 335 model so fast it would make your head spin. But with the level of 'professionalism' that I am at - playing local clubs on the weekend, making moderate money - I can't justify spending that kind of money. I can afford Gibsons...I'd have to salt money away, and it would take awhile, just like most of us. But I'd feel silly playing a dive bar with a $2,000 - $3,000 guitar. Kind of like the way I react when I see some middle-aged guy driving his Corvette convertible: "What are you trying to compensate for?" I don't feel in any way that I'm 'settling' by playing Epis...My Gold Top is an awesome guitar that I love. Ditto for my G-1275. My Washburn HB-35 that has been re-wired with Tonerider pickups is a 1984 Japanese-made guitar that has gone head to head with ES-335s and Heritage H-535s and more than held its own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ef_in_fla Posted July 25, 2008 Share Posted July 25, 2008 Most of us, if we're being honest, would probably admit we play Epiphone because we don't want to pay Gibson prices. If I could afford Gibson, yeah I imagine I could find one I'd be happier with than my Epi's. I'd keep them as backups, for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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