rholloman Posted January 15, 2009 Posted January 15, 2009 As the subject says; I was going to get a "Lucille", but am now disappointed, because .... First, some background -- I play mostly 'Blues' music these days, and that's what I have on my SoundClick page. A friend, in another part of the world (isn't that a nice thing about the internet =D>/ ), plays a black Epiphone dot guitar, and we swap our music back and forth (originals only - before somebody gets upset). I have grown to really like the sound he is getting from that Epi. So, I've been thinking more and more about getting an Epi for myself - and after doing a little checking into the Epiphone line - I got the "wants" for an Epi Lucille. Then the problems started. First, the reviews weren't that great - especially considering the high price of the guitar. Then I find out Epiphone no longer comes with a case - What's up with that? Then I see that the guitar makers are doing price fixing (which I thought was illegal years ago) with the online stores I checked, and that includes Epiphone. So I start looking at the real stores I have bought from in the past. Every last one of them does not deal with Gibson or Epiphone any more. And there were some comments like "I won't even allow those people in MY store any longer". Why, I asked. It seems excessively high minimum orders were required (only an online store could sell that much - not in just one city), and some indicated that the Gibson/Epi reps tried to tell them what they could handle and what the couldn't handle. I can FULLY understand their points. After all - IT IS THEIR STORE! - not Gibson's or Epiphone's store. So, ... I have found --- some bad reviews of the guitar I was interested in (you don't get what you pay for in this case) , and HIGH prices online, no case comes with it, no reputable store will handle them. And no one that I have found yet is willing to budge, or deal, off of that artificially, fixed, high price. Another thing - I have come here frequently in the last month or so looking for information. The bickering, and the derogatory posts - some attacking a user called "twang" - have been a real turn off. All that adds up to - NO SALE! NO DEAL! I signed up here to post the reasons why a musician that was in a positive frame of mind about Epiphone, is now not going to buy any of the Gibson/Epiphone products. Low quality and high prices have been a recipe for bankruptcy for many companies that no longer exist. While high quality with low prices have been the foundation of some good business's. Hey Gibson and Epiphone - In case you haven't noticed - we are in a recession, and a depression for many. What you do with your business is up to you - but I would say - WAKE UP! Before it's too late! (pride goes before a fall)
Bad Juju Posted January 15, 2009 Posted January 15, 2009 The first thing that occurs to me is that I wouldn't let ANY individuals' behavior in an online forum sway me from making a purchase. That is silly. Next, the Epiphone Dot is an incredible guitar for the price. However, if the price of a Lucille is too high for the quality you get, you might want to either a) buy the Gibson version or B) get a black standard Epi Dot and upgrade the pickups for just a little more. Though the "real" stores you have dealt with in the past don't carry Gibson/Epiphone, there are plenty of other places to purchase online. If you don't want to or can't purchase online and you can't fine a brick and mortar store that carries Gibson/Epiphone then I can't help you. Also, if you can't support a company that treats your favorite stores in a way that you find distasteful you might want to make a stand and go with a different brand. Lastly, I love my modded cherry Epi Dot! Hope you find what you are looking for. - Shaun p.s. This should probably be in the Electrics forum.
BluezOldy Posted January 15, 2009 Posted January 15, 2009 Interesting. I had planned on purchasing an Epiphone (my fourth) Goldtop early last month and the street price was AU$799. Due to an injury, I delayed my purchase until this week only to find the price had jumped to AU$1199. When I said to the authorised dealer that there is no way I would pay that for an Epiphone he agreed and said he felt that no Epi was worth that amount of money. So I've ordered a Tokai LP fitted with Australian-made hand-wound pickups for AU$800. Now that is value for money.
Stig Posted January 15, 2009 Posted January 15, 2009 Without getting too much into other stuff, it DOES seem like in the last year or so Epi has really jacked up their prices. When I first started thinking about a casino, they were $599. Not much later, they were $699 without a case. I'm sure other models have had similar price jumps. Anybody else notice this?
wiggy Posted January 17, 2009 Posted January 17, 2009 Unfortunately over here in the UK we've seen some major price hikes but that's been down to the £/$ exchange rates. Back in June/July I picked up my Dot Studio for £149.00 now, thanks to the fact that the £ is down to $1.40ish from $2.00+, the same guitar is over £200 which is a real pain as I'd promised my daughter one for her 13th birthday in March (somebody tell me where the smiley sobbing his heart out can be found!!) Frankly, with the state of the £,$. Euro and other major world currencies at the moment and knowing how that effects the whole of the supply chain, I'm not at all surprised at the price hikes of 30% plus. Monumentally p****d off by them but not surprised.
jonnyg Posted January 23, 2009 Posted January 23, 2009 Wiggy Have you tried Peter Cooks Guitar World in Hanwell London. If anyone's gonna give a low price it'll be them.
Bender 4 Life Posted January 27, 2009 Posted January 27, 2009 Low quality and high prices...........I guess you think somebodys going to GIVE you a Stradavarios? More like, decent quality, decent prices, Epi. makes Gibson clones and some origional models in a price range for "the working dog". Bickering? i guess he's never had an unkind word for anybody in his life either. but who am I to tell you that i've seen any reason why you should stay... maybe we'd be better off without you any way............W.A.R.
generation zero Posted January 29, 2009 Posted January 29, 2009 Hmmm ..... - you might want to make use of a spell checker - they're free on the web. Miss spelled words' date=' improper punctuation and poor phrasing reflect badly on the company one works for. By-The-Way --- A Stradivarius (please note the spelling) is a violin. I don't play a violin. I play electric guitar. (FYI a note about Stradivarius; A Stradivarius is a stringed instrument built by members of the Stradivari family, particularly Antonio Stradivari ..... The name "Stradivarius" has also become a superlative applied to designate excellence. To be called "the Stradivari" of any field is to be deemed the finest there is. - Epiphones are [b']concidered[/b] good, (in general terms) but would anyone call them the "the Stradivari" of guitars??) And your last statement - I find offensive. And I think it was intended to be offensive to me. Your last word "W.A.R." appears to be what you would like to start - or at least cause problems - judging by the whole tone of your post. (an example of what I was referring to with the phrase "bickering, and the derogatory posts") And I don't want any part of that. So you can go argue with yourself.:- To the others that where nice enough to post constructive comments - THANK YOU! :D/ Good Day Perhaps you should heed your own advice... "misspelled" is one word, and the proper spelling of "concidered", as you put it, is "considered." [FYI, it is also improper punctuation to use parentheses inside another set of parentheses. In a case where double use is needed, the outer set should be brackets, not parentheses. (It is also improper to start a new sentence in parentheses without capitalizing the first letter, as you have done.)] Beginning a sentence with the word "and" is also generally unacceptable... in fact, you have two sentence fragments in a row there. The proper grammatical execution of what you intended to say would have been: "I don't want any part of that; therefore, you can go argue with yourself." Good day to you as well. By the way, if we're counting, you lose another point for capitalizing "Day" in your closing.
generation zero Posted January 29, 2009 Posted January 29, 2009 Maybe it depends on your spell checker. Mine showed my post to be correct. At any rate - you and your buddy above that want to start a flame war can have the place. People like you two are what keep many others away. Think of what you are defending here. And the 13 year olds now have it! If there is a moderator at this place - please remove my account. You came into our house throwing stones... Sorry if I didn't give you the warm welcome you wanted. What did you think was going to happen?
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