0tj Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 I am looking to buy another guitar and really like SG's. I wanted one that had the batwing pickguard, with a heritage cherry finish, and that wasn't $1650. So because the Gibson SG standard was too much, I looked into this guitar which is reasonably inexpensive and in the style I wanted. My questions are for anyone who owns/has owned this guitar. 1. How is the quality of the stock pickups(although I will probably replace them)? 2. How is the quality of the finish? 3. Any other miscellaneous comments (hardware, tone, etc.)? Thanks, TJ EDIT: I would also like to know how it sounds in comparison to it's Gibson counterpart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duffy Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 I have a cherry transparent glossy finish Epi SG '66 copy, with the full pickguard and love it. I have had it for over a year and it is a "SOR" Epiphone Custom Shop '66 Gibson copy. SOR stands for Sounds of Rock and commemorates that great movie as well as the great guitar. It has a set mahogany neck. The stock pickups on mine are so good that I will not replace them any time soon. I frequently play it, played it last night for a few hours thru a Peavey Delta Blues, really nice sounding at all tone settings and definitel not a one trick pony. It chimes like a strat with plenty of treble and roars like an LP with heavy bottom end. The three switch positions give a wide range of tone as well. Mine is a great guitar. I compared it at the store to five other SG's, four Epi's and a faded Gibson. I felt it sounded way way better than the closest other SG, including the Gibson. It felt and looked great and obviously was not the most expensive one. One of the Epi's was that Ltd Ed blue metallic one and its tone wasn't close to this '66 copy. Since then I have wanted a black one. The finish on my cherry transparent is flawless, probably poly. The neck is awesome and the playability is outstanding, the feel is great to me. F*** the ogre that comes in and S***s on my review. He only likes antique gibsons anyway and I can't understand why he gets on the Epi forum and trashes our equipment. Maybe he is a corporate plant or just a bully. I did not play a high end Gibson SG standard because it wasn't something I was interested in. I only played the inexpensive Gibson faded or whatever it is; it was the least expensive one they had on the rack. I really really wanted this certain white SG that I had in mind but when I played it and the others I knew hat the Epi '66 copy was the one for me, so I guess it picked me; just sounded way better than the others and felt and looked awesome. The hardware has been excellent. Holds tune really really well. I have a few guitars that hold their tune really well but some that I have to tune up each time I play if it sits for a while. The tone is super great. Like I said, the tone is super great and the pickups must be hotter than the regular G400 Epi's, because the tone and power was not close to this Epi '66 copy. It's a really really good guitar for the price paid, probably outstanding regardless of the amount paid. Duffy Winfield, Pa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majikalex32 Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 can u really trust Epiphone these days when they release a guitar as a 'Limited Edition'? Especially if that blows the price out... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0tj Posted January 31, 2009 Author Share Posted January 31, 2009 can u really trust Epiphone these days when they release a guitar as a 'Limited Edition'? Especially if that blows the price out... I guess they think "Limited Edition" will sell more units... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majikalex32 Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 Yep. And don't i feel 'bent over' check my thread about my 65 casino and how its a 'Limited Edition' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duffy Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 My Epi '66 copy SG is really well built and sounds way great. At least one of the ones I compared it to was a limitted edition, the blue metallic one specifically, which was way more expensive and didn't sound anywhere near as good. My SG didn't cost much either, I believe it was the same price as the G-400 teardrop pickguard model but sounded way better. It could be just the result of comparing the guitars side by side with the Fender HRDx on the same settings and the guitars on the same settings, but the '66 copy sounded way better. This could be attributed to several factors of course, like the strings on the guitars, but my conclusion was that the much better sound had a lot more to do with other things than a string change. I always try to play a few of the same type guitars and pick the one I think sounds and feels best. I picked my semi hollow body that way; played a Sheraton II which I was went in the store wanting to buy. Then I played a Dot and a Casino. Suddenly a cherry red Ibanez semi hollow hanging on the wall way over by the corner caught my eye, similar style, so I got it down and it sounded way better than the others. I got the AS73 trans cherry for 299, a great deal, it was one of those sale days; that's 100 dollars off, brand new. It's one of my best guitars and doesn't sound like a cowboy guitar whatsoever. I was quite surprised that it sounded better than the Epiphones. I still want an Epi semi hollow body. I think that it comes down to the fact that there is a lot of difference between any two guitars of the exact same model, in some cases, and you have to go by your ear and feel. Duffy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.