Who REALLY plays Epiphone?

[Doth]

I started noticing epis on the tube.

letterman leno conan and more since..

bands showed up to gig on big time teevee and were often playing rivieras and casinos.. often one guy would be playing a paul or a

335.. and another an epi.

Seems to me if you're going on national television live you'd want your fave guitar if it was there.

and since the other guys all seem to have what they liked' date=' I take it for granted that these guys like their epis just fine.

 

[/quote']

 

I have read several interviews from guitarist that are on TV Late night shows and it seems that the majority of the equipment is rented and they use what they get. If they are out on tour, they rarely ship their own equipment back to LA or NY. So it is hard to say.

[Parabar]

Charlie Brown said:

I'm no "Rock Star," but I love my Epi's, as much as any guitar I own!

Well said! I could have bought a couple of really nice high-end guitars, but instead I've collected a whole variety of Epiphones, Samicks, Dillions and a few other makes that allow me to learn about and have fun with a broader spectrum of construction types, pickups, scale lengths, neck profiles, and tones. Since I'm interested in a pretty wide range of musical styles, I feel I made the right choice for me, and I'm glad that Epiphone provides (actually provided, past tense, since they've discontinued or cut corners on most of the models I own.) such affordable and well-made instruments that allow me to cover more bases --- and indulge in my GAS!

[kevin134]

I think its a interesting topic as to who really uses one. Kurt Cobain is another who used one.

[dbirchett]

Mike Pinera who plays with the Classic Rock All Stars (Formerly of Iron Butterfly and Blues Image) plays a Sheraton in some videos I have seen and supposedly plays a Dot onstage.

 

OK I just checked the website and he's playing a Yamaha there. But I have seen him playing the Sherri in videos.

[charlie brown]

Isn't there a band called "Vampire Weekend," that uses a Sheri?

 

CB

[mote]

Who plays Epi? *I* do! I gig and need a guitar that sounds good, plays good and stays in tune. If I had nothing but money, I'm sure I would have a Gibson Lucille instead of my Epi, but I cannot afford 2-4thousand dollars for a guitar, and I would freak having it on stage in a bar. Man, if I banged it off the drums or something... I've played Gibsons in stores and frankly I don't detect any more playability or quality. Like I said, if I had $$ I would get a Gibby just for the peace of mind about the electronics and hardware.

[The_Sentry]

Who cares? Use your own judgement' date=' if you like them, play them.

 

 

[/quote']

 

x2!!!

[Nic]

 

Well yeah' date=' that's the only reason i asked...Because You never know who REALLY uses

them. I Don't REALLY care, because i love Epiphones. I ask also, because it'd

be nice to maybe see some vids and hear them in action, On Stage, rather than

some kid in his bedroom giving a review of one.[/quote']

 

Didn't mean any disrespect. Actually, the story of endorsement, product placement, an who plays what goes back many years. Every famous guitar we use today exists only because some guitar god played it. Les Pauls had been out of production for a few years until Rock start discovered them. Without Carlos Santana Paul Reed Smith may have never made it.

[dubstar]

vampire weekend definitely plays epiphones...

 

singer-songwriter-guitarist jackie greene plays a number of recent-vintage epiphones, including some non-elitist models...he's

currently a member of Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh's touring band and when I saw him during the band's sold-out 10 (more?)

show run at the Nokia in NYC last fall, he played several casinos and rivieras...my man is a mean guitarist and vocalist...also

plays an SG custom, a telecaster, several gibson acoustic and keys / hammond...

 

http://www.jackiegreene.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackie_Greene

[Steven Lister]

Why does someone famous need to validate your choice of musical instrument? Nothing personal or cruel intended.

 

Seems that far too many Epiphone players accept the “inferiority complex” of a supposed-to-be some low caliber inbred ugly cousin to Gibson. Those who think about it that way, will play it that way.

 

Someone hand me my Epiphone Elite LP please…, and now here I go to play it like it’s a Jimi/Jimmy thing.

 

Hit every BLUE NOTE baaaby..., I'm going to play on:-"

[Dave]

 

I have read several interviews from guitarist that are on TV Late night shows and it seems that the majority of the equipment is rented and they use what they get. If they are out on tour' date=' they rarely ship their own equipment back to LA or NY. So it is hard to say.[/quote']

 

I can understand the backline and PA being rented, as well as a Grand Piano, but a guitar or sax is a really personal instrument. We are all ticky about setups, string height, and pickups.

[Bender 4 Life]

Count me in with the "I DO" gang.

Concidering that my G400CF truly has a more "soulful" tone, straight out of the box than my

R8 GLP, my V Factor, and my Hot Rodded Tele, any future purchases

will definitely be Epi's.

Its also a lot less heart stopping to notice a new ding on a $700 guitar than on a $3000 one.

[SlagJones]

Why does someone famous need to validate your choice of musical instrument? Nothing personal or cruel intended.

 

Seems that far too many Epiphone players accept the “inferiority complex” of a supposed-to-be some low caliber inbred ugly cousin to Gibson. Those who think about it that way' date=' will play it that way.

 

Someone hand me my Epiphone Elite LP please…, and now here I go to play it like it’s a Jimi/Jimmy thing.

 

Hit every BLUE NOTE baaaby..., I'm going to play on:-"

 

I didn't perceive anything about the OP that said that he needed any validation for anything. He just asked a simple question and one I find interesting too. In a world of professional Gibson players, who bucks the trend and plays Epiphone, not for status, but simply because they prefer the good old Epi? Who are the non-conformists out there? I think that's all that was meant by the OP.

 

Frankly, it is the deluge of "who cares?" "why?' type responses that scream some kind of inferiority complex. Nothing personal or cruel intended.

 

I play my Epiphone proudly. It doesn't matter much to me if someone famous plays one or not but I do find it interesting when someone does. Not any need of validation but just recognition of another fellow Epi playing brother or sister.

 

For the OP, I did see the lead singer of the band Louis XIV (they opened for the Sex Pistols in Vegas) playing live with an Epi semi-hollow. I think it was a Casino. The crowd didn't think much of him, as they grew restless for the main act and hit him with a cup of beer. :-

[Notes_Norton]

Like most people on the list, I play Epiphone.

 

I am a full-time professional musician and have been for many years.

 

My story is a little different. I'm a multi-instrumentalist (sax, flute wind synth, keyboard, guitar, bass, and drums). I played bass professionally for a couple of years and often doubled on guitar in bands (rhythm - bar and other movable chords).

 

In the 1980s I bought a used Gibson ES-330 thinking it was a 335. I've had it for years and I love it. It has turned into a collectors item and is worth much more than I paid for it. (BTW, I like the P90 sound better than the humbuckers so it was a happy accident).

 

About a year ago I decided to get serious on the guitar and not wanting to bring my collectors item on stage (a multi-instrumentalist invariably dings his/her instruments) I decided to get another guitar. After a few tries in music stores and a purchase I didn't like, I ended up with a Casino which is for all practical purposes an ES-330.

 

In the old forum we made a thread of guitarists who use 330s and Casinos and it was large, but nowhere near a list of LPs or SGs would be.

 

From my limited experience with guitars, the Epiphone guitar while not the guitar that the corresponding Gibson is, represents the point of diminishing returns - in other words - if you put twice the money into the construction, you won't get twice the guitar.

 

So it is a little like the Camry that has the same body as the corresponding Lexus. Good, solid, workable, but not the high end model.

 

My ES-330 has real MOP inlays, better wood, nitro finish, and sounds better unplugged. Through the amp the Casino and 330 sound for all practical purposes alike. The build on both are excellent and I play my Gibson at home and my Epiphone on stage.

 

I find my Epiphone an excellent gigging guitar.

 

Who else plays one? I was curious at one time just so I could hear what the Casino could sound like in the hands of different musicians with different amps and pedals. But in the long run, that didn't teach me nearly as much as buying an FX/Amp-Modeling/Direct pedal and playing with it.

 

So now I am in the "Who Cares" camp, as I am happy with my purchase and I love the way it sounds.

 

Insights and incites by Notes

[Ricochet]

the Epiphone guitar while not the guitar that the corresponding Gibson is' date=' represents the point of diminishing returns - in other words - if you put twice the money into the construction, you won't get twice the guitar.

[/quote']

 

'the point of diminishing returns'

I like it! Well put and very true...

[dubstar]

jorma and jack casady (jefferson airplane, hot tuna) both play recent-vintage epiphone signature models...ryan adams plays

a vintage fontier live and several 40s / 50s vintage archtops in the studio...

 

for me it has little to do with validation and much to do with interest...I like epiphone guitars and I like certain musicians,

so when the two come together, I dig it...

[kevin134]

Dubstar, I agree with what you are saying

[bloozeguy]

What model is Jorma using? My impression is that he's mostly playing acoustic these days. Which box(es) he's using would be of great interest to me, as I play a lot of acoustic blues.

[bloozeguy]

Ah, just found the answer. Googled Jorma's website. DUH! Riviera. Jorma signature model. OK, makes sense.

Just FYI: his acoustics are Gibbie's. But you knew that.

[tulsaslim]

Who plays Epi? *I* do! I gig and need a guitar that sounds good' date=' plays good and stays in tune. If I had nothing but money, I'm sure I would have a Gibson Lucille instead of my Epi, but I cannot afford 2-4thousand dollars for a guitar, and I would freak having it on stage in a bar. Man, if I banged it off the drums or something... I've played Gibsons in stores and frankly I don't detect any more playability or quality. Like I said, if I had $$ I would get a Gibby just for the peace of mind about the electronics and hardware. [/quote']

 

I'm old enough that when I gigged for a living I HAD to play my Gibbys on stage since, in those days, there were no good-quality 'cheaper' guitars that were gig-worthy. I watched 3 different (expensive) Gibson Les Pauls die slow deaths out on the road.

 

I've said it before: If I were gigging today I would play modded Epis absolutely & leave my Gibbys at home. With better pickups (and a better switch) you've got a guitar that will more than handle any gig situation just fine. I have no problem using my modified Epis for the 'once in a blue moon' gigs I do anymore. Nor do I have any qualms about using them for recording (which I'm doing right now). To me, this is the most sensible way to go. I don't hear anything 'inferior' sound-wise from any of my modded Epis. They play great & sound great. And look great, too!

[Sean.BB]

Some Videos

The Who - Pete

The Who's bass player seems to be playing a Epi to.

[dubstar]

"My impression is that he's mostly playing acoustic these days."

 

I saw tuna with barry mitteroff last year and it was a mix of acoustic and electrified acoustic type blues...however, in november

I have a ticket for the show at town hall, which is being billed as "50 years of jorma and jack" and is supposed have a full electric set...

[arobatto]

Woody Harrelson played an Epiphone on "A Prairie Home Companion" movie! Go Woody!

 

[Ricochet]

PC-guy in the Apple 'Getamac' Sad Song-ad plays an Epiphone. http://www.apple.com/getamac/ads/

[gvdv]

Why does someone famous need to validate your choice of musical instrument? Nothing personal or cruel intended.

 

Seems that far too many Epiphone players accept the “inferiority complex” of a supposed-to-be some low caliber inbred ugly cousin to Gibson. Those who think about it that way' date=' will play it that way.

 

Someone hand me my Epiphone Elite LP please…, and now here I go to play it like it’s a Jimi/Jimmy thing.

 

Hit every BLUE NOTE baaaby..., I'm going to play on:-"

 

Hi Steven,

I'm not sure if people here are saying that hearing about someone famous who plays Epis validates their choice of guitar, but we're more likely to be aware of somebody famous who plays Epi's, than we are, say, to know that our neighbour does so.

 

Having said that, I'm sure that it would have taken me a lot longer to try an Epi than it did if I didn't love The Beatles. And I'm really impressed with the guitar because of the range of sounds it produces (not because it makes me look or sound like The Fabs).

 

Also, all of this provides us with yet another reason/excuse to talk about Epi's :-({|=/

 

Quick non-related question. I tried to insert a smiley at the end of my message above, but regardless of whether I click on the smiley, or click on the image link and then put the smiley between the two parts of the link, it just displays as text. I know that my video card is O.K. because the smiley box is displaying fine on my screen, as is the smiley in Steven's message. Any ideas what's going on?