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gibson les paul v.s epi les paul


msuspartansfan

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Oh my GOD!! This has been argued over so many times over and over and over and over!!!!!! ](*,)](*,)](*,)

 

So I shouldn't even respond...... but here's my opinion: The Gibsons are better but not $2000 better.

 

I own 3 Gibson Les Pauls and about 5 Epi Les Pauls. The Gibsons have a cooler feel and a more pure tone..... but the Epiphones have nice low action and play easy, and sound awesome through a well dialed in amp.

 

I enjoy my Epiphones just as much as my Gibsons and I hope to never part with ANY of these guitars!! They're all awesome in my opinion!

 

Here's a Gibson vs. Epiphone video I made.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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No, they are just different.

 

I have a Les Paul. I consider it my lotto guitar because that was the guitar I would buy if I ever won the lotto. No I did not win the lotto but I convinced my wife to use our tax money to purchase it. Guess what? I still don't sound like Duane Allman, Jimmy Page or any other guitarist. I can get a tone that is close to my favorite guitarist with either my epihone or my gibson but I have to use a Digitech pedal caused I can't afford the lotto amp (marshall). Plus, even if I had the lotto amp I could not turn it up to get that tube overdrive.

 

I also passed on a Gibson LP Special DC for the Epiphone 56 LP because it played better. Best decision I ever made.

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<...>Here's a Gibson vs. Epiphone video I made. <...>

 

Thanks for the video. - And nice playing too.

 

And thanks for being kind to the newbie who asked the same old question. It's probably the first time for him/her.

 

I did notice the Gibson had a slightly better tone (as expected) with more bite and edge. But that would be a matter of taste. The Epi could probably sound more like the Gibson with a pickup transplant.

 

I have a Gibson ES-330 and an Epiphone Casino. The previous owner changed the pickups on my Casino to Duncans (I think) and it sounds a little bit brighter and has more edge than my Gibson. The difference is about as much as your Gibson/Epiphone 335/Dot comparison, but in my case, the Casino with the upgraded pickups sounds brighter.

 

Is brighter and edgier better? Not necessarily, but for me it is. Why? You can always turn the tone wheel down, as it filters out the highs. On the other hand, you can't add them if they aren't there.

 

But will the audience know the difference? I seriously doubt it.

 

Personally, I'd rather have 3 or 4 Epis with upgraded pickups than one Gibson.

 

Of course, if I win the lotto, I'll have a collection that will make jerrymac look like a lightweight (jerrymac, I admit, I'm jealous, I covet your Caiola and Trinis <grin>)

 

Insights and incites by Notes

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Oh my GOD!! This has been argued over so many times over and over and over and over!!!!!! ](*' date=') '](*,) ](*,)

 

So I shouldn't even respond...... but here's my opinion: The Gibsons are better but not $2000 better.

 

I own 3 Gibson Les Pauls and about 5 Epi Les Pauls. The Gibsons have a cooler feel and a more pure tone..... but the Epiphones have nice low action and play easy, and sound awesome through a well dialed in amp.

 

I enjoy my Epiphones just as much as my Gibsons and I hope to never part with ANY of these guitars!! They're all awesome in my opinion!

 

Here's a Gibson vs. Epiphone video I made.

 

 

 

 

.

 

I actually found this youtube video before I purchased my dot. I was debating between the two and it helped in my decision. I ended up getting the Epiphone Elitist Dot. I still want a Mr. 335 ES 335 though.

 

Nice pickin'

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I love my Epi LP, I have played almost all of the Gibson LP's and I would love to have one, but I am only a family room rock star. I can not justify spending $2000+ on a Gibson when my Epiphone makes me fall in love with it everytime I pick it up. I will be changing the pickups to a Gibson set to get more of that authentic sound but to me my Epiphone is where it is at.

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I have a lot of Gibson guitars, BUT...they were all purchased prior to the insane "Vintage" craze, so were

reasonably priced (for Gibson), at the time. The only "newer" Gibson I bought, was a "Lucille," when it was

insanely underpriced (for some odd reason), a few years ago. It was actually 500 dollars LESS (new),

than a standard, non-custom shop 335! That has changed, obviously. I've never regretted buying a Gibson!

But, I've never regretting buying the Epi's I have, either...all Semi-hollow body guitars (except the MIJ '61 SG).

With better and better build quality, and QC as well, Epi's are better than ever...IMHO. Aside from the SG...all

my Epi's are "Epi" model originals...that is, Not direct Gibson clones. Quality per Dollar value though, Epiphone is hard to beat.

Investment value...Gibson, obviously.

 

CB

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I will add my own question. If you stick with original Epiphone body and neck but replace everything else with Gibson parts ( nut, tuners, pick ups and so on ) would anybody notice any difference at all? Currently if you do a record with high quality equipment and listen it back with high quality equipment you can hear a difference. But is it all because of these other components or does the body and neck construction play any significance in sound ?

 

By the way currently there are 1000 euro white Gibson Les Paul standards ( or was it studios ) available. Not a bad deal. Does anybody know anyreason why they are so "cheap" compared to other Gibson LPs ?

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Is a gibson 5 times better than an epiphone? Is that 2000 bucks justified?

 

It depends on you.

 

Take you Epi to a local shop, find a Gibson you like, connect to the same amp, and play.

 

Feel different? Sound different?

 

For me, I noticed a difference between the Epi LP+ and the Gib LP Studio. The Studio was 'sweeter' (for lack of a better term) sounding clean, and not quite as "harsh" when distorted.

The difference was even more noticeable at home - obviously, with nowhere near the background noise of GC.

 

Given the Studio I bought had been marked down twice, then put on sale (LH, closeout sale , this weekend only take additional 200 off any studio in stock) it was under 1000.

 

My "tax stimulus" rebate paid part of it, so I ended up with a nice wine/gold Gibson with case for about 400 out of pocket.

 

So yes, to me, the studio was worth the price difference.

 

Given that, perhaps the question should be, LP studio vs lp standard - is binding worth another 1000 on top of the normal price of a Studio?

 

to borrow a line from Dennis Miller - Thats just my opinion, I could be wrong.

 

AJ

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There's been a lot of crap talked on another forum about the whole epi/gibson thing with a few prople saying epis are nowhere near as good because they are made of African Mahogany and Gibsons are made of Honduras mahogany. well I'll tell you what, if you're a professional musician constantly gigging and making your living out of playing music its a no brainer to spend £2000 on a Gibson and actually as professional tools of trade thats not a lot of money (if you happened to be a cellist or violinist you might think £20,000 cheap). And maybe if you was a pro musician you could tell the difference but I'm guessing quite a lot couldn't from a blindfold sound test. So maybe it comes down to feel but i've also heard a lot of professionals say they've encountered rubbish Gibsons and really good Epiphones.

 

I think the very fact that this is an Epiphone forum suggests most posters are like me - hobbyist or part-time guitarists who have a wife/house/kids to pay for and need to get value for money. For the price of a good Gibson Les Paul I've got an Epiphone Standard plus top (on order), a 52 reissue tele, a Mexican 50s Player Strat and an Epiphone Sheratton. To a trained ear a Gibson Les Paul might be five times better than an Epiphone but to an enthusiastic amateur my collection looks a damn sight better

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