Why Did You Choose Epiphone, And...Would You Again?

[charlie brown]

Why did you buy your first Epiphone, and would you

do so again? And Why, or Why Not?

 

I bought my first Epiphone, a Casino, because The Beatles

had them. That's all I really knew about the Casino, at the

time, other than it was a less expensive "Gibson" product,

and that was in 1966. I'd buy it again, but probably in the

"Elitist" or Lennon version, for the quality, and accuracy to

the originals. The other Epi's I have are all semi's, save the

one solid body MIJ '61 SG. I'd gladly buy them all again,

providing the quality remained the same or better.

 

How about you all?

 

CB

[JefferySmith]

I bought a Texan in '67 because I had a bit of cash in my pocket and I liked the way it smelled. I soon discovered that it sounded and played better than my Martin D-35. That was enough for me. I sold the Martin.

[SomeIdiotDreamer]

CB, to this day I couldn't tell you what made me even want a guitar, let alone chunk down the cash on it that I chunked down. I'd read reviews of the guitar, and I just liked it. I liked it a lot.

 

An impulse buy? Yeah probably, but it was a hell of an expensive one, and I'm currently straining and stretching my hand trying to conjure a bar-chord that doesn't buzz louder then a hive of bees, so it's lasted a while.

 

I have no idea where it's gonna go. But I hope it goes somewhere interesting.

[Guitar Chico]

Well, quite honestly, I couldn't afford a Gibson SG. I love my epi but, if price weren't an issue, I would have gotten a gibson. I'd buy another one if (and when) I decide to get another guitar.

 

GC

[BlueLesPaul2006]

I was in a motorcycle accident and was in a wheelchair for about 4 months after that. during my rehab I could not walk much and sat on the couch watching tv. I got so bored of tv I was going out of my mind. so I got on eBay and bought a cheap electric beginners pack containing a fake strat knock off. well once I started taking lessons I would go to the music store every week. I asked why some of the guitars were so expensive. after I saw a Gibson LP i fell for it head over heals. Since I could not afford a Gibson and they did not have a blue LP I looked at Epiphone. Since Epiphone makes a blue LP I went to the store and looked for one. they had a wine red Epi LP I played it and liked it very much. I almost bought it, but deiced to wait until i could see a blue one. to my surprise I walked in to the shop the next week for my lesson and what did i see? two blue Epi LP's hanging on the wall. after my lesson I walked up to them both. the one on the left (the one i own now) had a nicer flame top than the one on the right. I asked to take it down and plugged it in. the guy who sold it to me threw in the case and gave me a discount on the guitar. once he told me the price I could not get my wallet out fast enough. I know this is an Epi and many look down on them as not real les pauls and cheap import Gibsons. but I will never sell this guitar. this was the first real electric guitar that i ever bought. if i had to go back and do it all over again i would in a heart beat. I have been happy with this guitar ever since the first time I picked it up.

[Ron G]

I wanted a semi-hollow and the Dot Studio appeared, at the time, to be

the best bang for the buck. For the most part, it was and is, especially

when it comes to semi-hollows. I did have to replace the horrible pickups,

however, detracting from the "bargain" aspect. I probably won't buy

another Epi, as there are other Asian guitars which I believe offer better

value than the Epi line.

[maniak]

I always wanted a flying V ,,the REAL V though not the kind that Gibson makes nowadays,,i wanted Korina with strings through the body,arrowhead tailpiece and all. Walked into my local guitar shop in 2000 and there it was,,a 98 Epiphone Korina V. Took it off the wall ,,,sat and down and played it for a bit and ,,,,Yahtzee!!! couldnt believehow great it played,,,whatta neck!!!Walked out with it the same afternoon,,,didnt really even need a set up. Later that same year when i had a couple of $$ again i bought the Explorer to match. By then i was hooked!!!,,last year found a beautiful Korina SG on ebay,,followed this Christmas by an SG Prophecy Custom GX. All i can say about that one is ,,if Gibson had made it,,it probably would have cost $5000.Next stop i think will be an Epiphone Les Paul of some type,,You just cant beat these guitars in terms of quaity for the $$. Just hope it stays that way as they are becoming quite "popular" these days.

 

My Guitarsenal : 1968 Gibson Les Paul Custom,,1976 Ibanez Stratocaster,1981 handmade BC Rich Mockingbird,1998 Epiphone "58 Korina flying V,1998 Epiphone "58 korina explorer,2003 Epiphone Korina G-400 SG,2008 Epiphone SG Prophecy Custom GX

[timandbob]

I actually had a Gibson Les Paul Signature Hollowbody guitar in college (in the 70s). After college I sold that guitar. When we formed our band about 3 years ago, we played only amplified acoustics, but after a while I wanted to do edgier solos. So, I did my research and played many guitars. I have always loved the sound, feel and look of the hollow body. So, I found a great deal on the Dot Deluxe and now I own it.

 

Would I buy another? Maybe, but it all depends on the price and the guitar.

 

(actually I would love to have my Gibson Les Paul Signature hollowbody back)

[jcwillow777]

I bought an Epi years ago, in the 70s, cause I couldn't afford a Gibson. I have picked up a Gibson LP since then. A few years ago I started buying Epis, first of which was a G-400 with Maestro, followed by 5 others, one of which I sold. It was a '57 JR RI. I tired to like P-90s, but it just didn't happen. I am very happy with the Epis that I have now, but I don't expect to be buying any more.

 

Why?

 

1. The price of Epis have sky rocketed, but the quality has not.

2. I have found another Asian guitar company, that I won't mention here, that are of a higher quality than Epis for a much lower price.

[BluezOldy]

I started to learn the guitar at an advanced age because I was addicted to the blues. An Epi Dot seemed to be the perfect choice for a beginner. Since that Dot I've bought another one and an Ultra.

 

I had planned to buy two more Epis - one last month and another in March - but the recent hefty prices in Australia (around 50-60%) have put paid to that. Not because I can't afford to buy at those prices but because I just do not believe Epis are worth what's now being asked for them (and my Epi dealer agrees!).

[TWANG]

I was looking for an acoustic. I found a great deal on sheratons and took a shot.

Based on looks, features, reputation I thought it might be ok.

I was surprised. It's been with me ever since.

 

Since then I've bought an epi lp.

and I know eventually I'll wind up with a Wildkat or the p93 if they make some more.

 

An Epiphone Valve Junior is my main go to amp.

And I beleive Epiphone has made a believer out of me. I always check them out.

 

 

TWANG

[duane v]

Honestly

 

Epiphones were looked down upon in the late 1970's and all through the1980's and early 1990's during Sunset Strip era. Everyone was playing Charvels/Jackson or some custom strat. Gibsons were being used as well during that time.

 

I never gave Epihone a chance until 2007 when I ran into a musician (now a friend) that had a JL REV, and I just fell in love with the guitar. I never even associated the Beatles with Epihone, it was more Rickenbacker (a guitar I just couldn't adjust to).

 

After playing my pals JL REV I just had to have one. I have yet to play a guitar that has a neck that feels the way the Casino feels, it's just absolutely perfect. And the sound is just so eerie and gloomy that it has a vibe no other guitar can touch.

 

I would love to purchase a new Epiphone, but as I've stated previously it would have to be of American or Japanese build. I've purchased three new Gibsons in the last three months, I sure would like to add a new American made Epi to the stable......... Let's hope Epi comes out with a moderately priced Epi built in the USA that will MSRP for $1500.... I'll be all over it.

[captmidnight]

I bought an Epi years ago' date=' in the 70s, cause I couldn't afford a Gibson. I have picked up a Gibson LP since then. A few years ago I started buying Epis, first of which was a G-400 with Maestro, followed by 5 others, one of which I sold. It was a '57 JR RI. I tired to like P-90s, but it just didn't happen. I am very happy with the Epis that I have now, but I don't expect to be buying any more.

 

Why?

 

1. The price of Epis have sky rocketed, but the quality has not.

2. I have found another Asian guitar company, that I won't mention here, that are of a higher quality than Epis for a much lower price.[/quote']

 

JC....know you didn't like the P-90s in your goldtop...what did you do with them after swapping them out for the mini HBs?

Capt

[AyushPresley]

Always wanted a Les Paul but being a student I couldn't afford the Gibson..I tried several Les Paul model Guitars but Epiphone stood out than others..It is cheap and you actually get more than what you've paid for..it's amazing ... I am a vocalist / Guitarist if someday I become a Star ..Epiphone would surely be my Brand..I just hope they were made in the US than in China !!

[midiman56]

After something like a 25 year haitus from the electric guitar (my 1974 Ovation acoutic has always been around) I started to get this gnawing feeling that I had to get back into playing on strings again instead of just keys. My darling wife, who always seems to be aware of what's ailing me, surprised me by taking me to our local GC to pick out a Father's Day gift.

 

I went in there looking to drop $399 on a MIM Fender Strat ... and I must have played every one in the place without so much as a faint tingle. The salesman must have know he had a fish n the hook, because he kept putting different guitars in my hands. Gretsch ... PRS ... Ibanez ... Jackson ... some pointy looking BC Rich's ... nothing. Finally he pulled a cherry burst Ultra off the wall ... and MAGIC! It was $200 more than I wanted to spend but I had to have it!

 

The only other Epiphone I had ever owned was some candy-apple red solid body thing back in the 70's that I never liked. I have to see if I can find a picture of it to show you guys. Now I own four of them and I'm gassing for at least two more ... so I guess you could say I was hooked. They just do something for me. That and this forum!

 

MIDI

[Swoop]

I bought an Epiphone SG as my first electric guitar, because I didn't want something as typical as a Strat. I liked the SG and an Epiphone one was reasonably priced. Had I known then what I now know about guitars, I probably wouldn't have bought one. A short while ago, I bought a Squier California Series Stratocaster, and I have found the overall finish of it to be better than my Epi SG G-310, and it was $100 cheaper. It's easy to draw comparisons between the two, because they are both authourised repro versions of their more expensive sister brand, they're both similarly priced, they're both double cutaway and bolt neck I do like the SG, there are few necks better to play than that of the SG. But I prefer the sound of the single coils of the Strat over the humbuckers of the SG. As I said, the finish of the Strat is better. The paint is a lot shinier and it has better quality tuners. The eectronics and wiring a pretty much equal on both of them. I'm actually very impressed with the Squier, especially since I have heard so many bad things about them. I really didn't expect it to be this good. I'm so impressed that I bought a California Series Telecaster today (albeit a used one)

 

Don't get me wrong, I love the SG, but if I were to have the chance to buy a 'first guitar' again on the same budget, I'd buy the Strat and be satisfied with the extra hundred bucks in my pocket. There are a lot of other guitars I'd sooner have than a Strat, simply because a Strat is so typical. But there's a reason they're so popular, and it's because for the money, they are an absolute steal. At least the lower end ones are in my opinion. I couldn't really justify spending over $1000 on a real high end, genuine Fender, which doesn't offer me personally much more than my Squier, or offer me anything I have any real use for.

 

Anyhow, I'm going to put some P90s in the SG sometime, and make it sound how it should!

[Epiman]

Interesting story...

 

I had come into the store to buy a strat(-really- wanted a HSS pickup configuration). My budget was around 400 dollars and after I had played almost every strat in the store, I wasn't really satisfied. The guitarist in my band uses a les paul and I've always thought it had a certain 'cool' factor hehe. I saw a black les paul studio hanging from the wall and decided to give it a try. I wasn't expecting much, but from the first power chord I hit I was sold. I couldn't believe how solid the guitar felt in my hands. The thing was resonating as much as an acoustic guitar! I played with it for a good 30-45 minutes. Finally I took it up to the desk and made a down-payment with every bill in my wallet.

 

Quality-wise I can't imagine it being any better except for the pickup switch and the input jack feeling kind of loose. Playability I would put it as the most comfortably playing guitar I've ever played except for the rare chance I got to play a used suhr guitar. The pickups are lacking somewhat when I play through amps, but not even my Ibanez prestige RGA121 sounds as good as the epi does through my PodX3.

 

As far as would I buy again...

 

Well I just put another epi les paul on layaway at guitar center(translucent amber I believe) and I can't wait until I finish paying it off so I guess that answers that question partly :).

 

But aside from that, I wish I could go back and skip over all the gear I bought before I considered epiphones. Would have saved a lot of money for sure -and- ended up with better playing and sounding guitars.

[davidg3333]

I wanted a semi-hollow body guitar. I wanted a Gibson but couldn't afford it. Still do for that matter. I played an Ibanez semi-hollow body that was promising. Eventually I decided I wanted a 335 style after which it became a matter of deciding on a Dot or a Sheraton. The Dot Deluxe was being pushed out by MF at a good price so I bought it.

 

Before I buy any other electric I would definitely want to spend some time in a shop trying it out. I think I did pretty well on my Dot, however, there are a lot of guitars out there just waiting to be tried - there may be one that has my name on it and I just have to find it.

 

I still want to get a nice quality steel string acoustic. A Gibson or Martin would be great.

 

Let's see, if I did this right I would have a classical guitar, a semi-hollow electric, a solid body electric, and a steel string acoustic. That should cover just about anything I would want to play.

[bluelake07]

Was interested in getting another electric guitar after many years. The last was a MIJ Strat that I didn't bond with (kinda wish I still had it, though). Having back problems on and off so light weight was important. Being left-handed narrowed my choices considerably. Read a lot online and found out about the Epiphone Casino. Grew up with The Beatles and decided if it was good enough for John (and George and Paul as I later found out) it would be good enough for me. My MIK Casino is not the same as an original, but to my knowledge there were no lefty Kalamazoo-built guitars and probably wouldn't have spent the big bucks for one even if I could find one. Was fortunate to find a new 2003 lefty Casino a few years ago and bought it. Just got a bone nut, new wiring assembly (CTS pots and higher-quality switch) and setup done by luthier and it is better than before. The other Epi I would be interested in is a Sheraton.

[Bender 4 Life]

I was taking my GLP into the repair shop for a rewiring job, volume pot,& 3 way replacement

(didn't know what was wrong w/it, my reverb coils had fried & my guitar wouldn't play)

and when the tech. told me how long it would take to finish, I realized that I was going to

need another electric to play.(I had sold & traded m'self down to just the LP @ that time).

 

He had the full Gibson/Epi lineup on the wall & in racks & stands, so I started test driving

what I had the cash in my pocket to walk out with.

 

As far as tone, it came down to a GV-Factor with a severely blemished neck, or a sizzling G400

Custom Flametop.

 

That day I walked out with the Flametop 400, although i've since bought an unblemished ebony V-Factor.

 

My only other Epi is my Sheraton II, that I got a $100 break on, I was looking for a semi hollow or hollowbody

and I liked its tone best, the Gibsons hanging there didn't sound $1000-$2000 worth better.

 

Would I buy another? sure, if I find one that I REALLY like the tone of, and has good build quality

for the price.

[larkin38]

My first Epi was my Olympic. Bought for 100 bucks around 1970 at We Buy Guitars in Manhattan.

They had a ton of Mustangs, Dou Sonics, all for a hundred bucks. But this was the only one that could be converted to a lefty and be playable.

If I ever get money again. I would only buy an older Kalamazoo Epiphone. As a child of the 60`s, I am still predjudiced against guitars made in the Far East. Quality doesn`t seem to be there for me.

Specially if you`re changing tuning machines, electronics, pickups. Though I will say my MIK Tony Iommi is a high quality guitar. And doesn`t need anything changed.

[Thermionik]

GASsing for a semi-hollow sound for the blues.

A/B'd a shedload of 335's and a coupla Sheratons.

Didn't want to pay 10x the price for that 10% increase in quality.

Hunted down a used Sherry with SD 59's for vaguely PAF-like sound that played sweetly.

 

Sure - I would have preferred to walk out with a Gibson, but money was tight, is tight.

 

And I knew it would hack Nelson and MarxBros off - bang-for-buck rather than investment.

 

Now I just can't stop playing her, and not just blues either.....

[Dave]

I already had a Gibson and wanted something flashier than the Wine Red Studio. I saw the custom LP Flametop and had to have one in Heritage Cherry. I modified it into a real player by changing to SD Pearly Gates and Gotoh Bridge. Yes, I'd rather have another Gibby, but at the 3 for 1 pricing, Epiphone is a really good deal. If you are looking for resale value and collector investment. Buy a Gibby and keep it for 40 years. If you want a working man's guitar that you can leave on a stand and not have to watch it every minute in a club, buy Epi.

[Ricochet]

After a 10 year hiatus wanted to pick up a guitar again. Always wanted a Gibby LP, but was sure my level would not justify buying one. Stumbled across an add for a used Epi LP. Bought it. Loved it. Since then bought 2 Gibbys but keep going back to the Epi.

 

Not sure I would buy an Epi again. in a couple of years the market has seen some interesting changes. There are many brands that proof you can buy a much nicer guitar in current-production-Epiphone's price-segment.

Admittedly this is not a accomplishment in itself. The hardest part is maintaining a steady level in quality. Epiphone has allready proven itself, but we have yet to see if the Kellies, Agiles, Xavieres and what not are still around 5 years from now.

[sexygibson]

I bought my first Epi about 10 years ago. MF had a killer deal on a blem L.P. Standard so I orderd it and never regreted it. It has still been one of the best playing guitars that I have ever owned.