silvershred Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 I am late in taking up the guitar (60) and am on a budget. Is there much difference in playability and quality between The Epiphone guitars and the more expensive similar Gibson versions? My main interest is the Epiphone G400 and the Les Paul Standard models. I take my guitar playing seriously but have left it too late to ever become very good and still consider myself a beginner. Main musical preferences the heavy side of Rock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AS90 Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 Welcome to the forum! Be prepared for a kicking with this opening gambit! IMO Epis are good but no where near as good as Gibsons. Epi hollow bodies are excellent and the Elitist line is just as good as a Gibson but bog standard Les Pauls and SGs are way off. Googling epi vs Gibson will give you an answer, this question drives evryone mad on guitar forums! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvershred Posted October 17, 2009 Author Share Posted October 17, 2009 Many thanks for those responses. Although I doubt that I will ever be a good guitarist I still appreciate good kit and the pleasure from playing a quality guitar. Your reply was what I expected if I were to be honest with myself so it looks like I will wait until I have saved a few more pennies and get as good as I can afford. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvershred Posted October 17, 2009 Author Share Posted October 17, 2009 Paruwi6172 - fantastic photo, real attitude. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matiac Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 Welcome aboard! I'd get the Epiphone simply because if I didn't stick with it, I only dropped a couple hundred as opposed to several hundred (depending on what you get) to over a thousand dollars for the Gibson. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Summerisle Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 I am late in taking up the guitar (60) and am on a budget. Is there much difference in playability and quality between The Epiphone guitars and the more expensive similar Gibson versions?My main interest is the Epiphone G400 and the Les Paul Standard models. I take my guitar playing seriously but have left it too late to ever become very good and still consider myself a beginner. Main musical preferences the heavy side of Rock You may catch some flack for asking this question' date=' but in your case that would be unfair as you are asking a legitimate question (whereas some people ask "Epiphone or Gibson" just to start needless argument, quite frankly!) A fair question merits a fair answer: the G-400 or Epi Les Paul Standard will be ideal for your needs as a beginner, intermediate player, or advanced player. They are good instruments. Any 'upgrade' to Gibson is only ever an optional upgrade, not an [i']essential[/i] one. There is something in the Epiphone range for everyone (up to and including professional musicians - of whom we have one or two at this forum). Concentrate on getting an Epi you like at a good price, and then spend the little extra to have it properly set-up by someone in a music shop who knows what he's doing - and you will have a great instrument for hundreds of £s less than the equivalent Gibson...money to buy a nice amp with! Personally, I would favor the G-400 but that's really just personal taste. Below is a picture of a guitar I used to own and a link to an extract from a recording I once made with it. I sold it a while back to finance another purchase and, quite frankly, wish I could have it back! Link to blues track---------> http://download309.mediafire.com/uq0kshygo19g/zcgthqqkn2b/blues_snippet.mp3 I would say go ahead and buy an Epiphone, I don't think you'll be disappointed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvershred Posted October 17, 2009 Author Share Posted October 17, 2009 Concentrate on getting an Epi you like at a good price' date=' and then spend the little extra to have it properly set-up by someone in a music shop who knows what he's doing [/quote'] That sounds like very good advice, Thank you. If I were to wait for a Gibson it would be the cheapest in the range but the Epi G400 sounds ideal. Thanks to all for the help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvershred Posted October 17, 2009 Author Share Posted October 17, 2009 You may catch some flack for asking this question Sorry, I am not trying to cause arguments. Perhaps the subject line should have been "Epi now or Gibson a lot later" Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianh Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 A good affordable guitar in hand today is worth far more than an expensive guitar in the future, especially for a beginner. Plenty of pros play all kinds of Epiphones, and millions of hacks play Gibsons, PRS, and far more exotic brands. A nice semi-hollow Epiphone with a pro set up will keep you happy for years to come, and even if you get something better, you should keep it around so's you don't ding up the case queen. Many people also like the $200-400 Rondo Music Agile guitars - a lot of guitar for the money, very popular (cult status even) and pretty easy to sell later for near your investment. Unless you're looking at an Elitist, most new Epis lose half their value when you walk out of the music store. Same with most new guitars by other manufacturers, including Gibson. That's why I prefer good condition used musical equipment. Just my $0.02. Cheers, Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bender 4 Life Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 Although I doubt that I will ever be a good guitarist I still appreciate good kit and the pleasure from playing a quality guitar. Don't doubt yourself, or you might live DOWN to your expectations...........the BEST guitarists are the ones that know they don't know everything, and want to learn something new every day. Welcome to the forum........Love the screen name !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Bob Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 Yes Gibsons are good - or can be, they can also be overpriced and suffer from quality control problems. I am in a similar position, having taken up jazz guitar (or trying to) as a retirement projec. There is absolutely nothing wrong with Epiphone - especially for a beginner, which is what I regard myself as. If you decide to take up the sax do you have to spend 3000 on a Selmer before you are even allowed to play a note - no, 'cause you don't. You do a bit of research and choose as good an instrument as you can afford and enjoy playing it. Epiphones are a good place to start - in fact I'm going through a bad tempered phase at the moment where I've just become fed up with all the Gibson hype. Do as Lord S suggests - get a good Epi and a good amp - and start enjoying yourself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vomer Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 Welcome Silvershred. I can only add to the above, try before you buy. There can unfortunately be some variable quality with Epiphones, and if you've been browsing the forum you will also have come across threads about fakes. If you do find an Epiphone you like then you won't regret not spending the extra thousand quid for a Gibson. I bought my Sheraton while I was looking for another strat, it impressed me that much, and it is, as they say, "a keeper". PS you ain't that old if you want an SG! :- PPS +1 on getting a good amp as well as the right axe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EpiphonePlayer Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 I own an Epiphone Les Paul Standard Plus Top, and I got it for $550 it's an all around great guitar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueyonder Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 Epiphones are a good place to start - in fact I'm going through a bad tempered phase at the moment where I've just become fed up with all the Gibson hype. I've felt that way myself for some time now. I think the older you get' date=' the more those jaw-dropping prices seem like so much malarkey, especially if you're only playing for your own pleasure and have no ambitions of becoming a "superstar" some day. Personally, I'd rather put that extra money into a better amp and a few effects. Not saying I wouldn't like to have a few really nice guitars someday (I'd love to have a Casino and a Vintage Tele just for the intrinsic and sentimental value, if nothing else), but I also don't harbor an illusions beyond just being a hack hobby player. I don't play to entertain anyone else but me, and maybe a few friends on occasion, and I could give a rat's rump what it says on the headstock as long as it isn't an absolute piece of junk and sounds decent. As others have already stated, get whatever [i']you[/i] like and can afford. The joy is in the playing, not the sticker on the guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Bob Posted October 18, 2009 Share Posted October 18, 2009 I think the older you get' date=' the more those jaw-dropping prices seem like so much malarkey, especially if you're only playing for your own pleasure and have no ambitions of becoming a "superstar" some day. Personally, I'd rather put that extra money into a better amp and a few effects. Not saying I wouldn't like to have a few really nice guitars someday (I'd love to have a Casino and a Vintage Tele just for the intrinsic and sentimental value, if nothing else), but I also don't harbor an illusions beyond just being a hack hobby player. I don't play to entertain anyone else but me, and maybe a few friends on occasion, and I could give a rat's rump what it says on the headstock as long as it isn't an absolute piece of junk and sounds decent. As others have already stated, get whatever [i']you[/i] like and can afford. The joy is in the playing, not the sticker on the guitar. I agree with every word of this (naturally) - except maybe for the 'hack' part. I don't see that we have to apologise to Gibson for being interested in music. I'm beginning to think of music (and especially jazz) as a form of conversation, and having a couple of friends round to swap ideas. Gibson's are OK (I treated myself to the ES137 - lovely guitar, but with QC issues), but who's to say you can only join in the discussion if you have the right name on the headstock. In fact didn't Barney Kessel go through a period (when he was in dispute with Gibson) where he played a Gibson, but covered the name up. I might put an Epiphone sticker across the 'Gibson' on the 137 - although I suppose we do have Gibson to thank for making their designs available under the Epi banner. I've been tempted lately to swap my Epi LP for a Gibby, but (with one or two exceptions) Les Pauls are now mostly in the £2000 - 3000 range; there's a couple around the £1500 mark, but restricting your choice to those two is just a way of getting the name on the headstock for the cheapest price. Forget the name a get rocking - you're never too old to rock'n'roll ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonzoboy Posted October 18, 2009 Share Posted October 18, 2009 I have an Epiphone G400 Custom (3 pickups) it's antique white with gold-plated hardware,it wasn't very expensive,yet it sounds like a million bucks.It's a versatile guitar suited to many genres of music,it would be a great guitar to learn on and enjoy for years to come.Mine cost around $500 Cdn. _____________________________ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueyonder Posted October 18, 2009 Share Posted October 18, 2009 I agree with every word of this (naturally) - except maybe for the 'hack' part. LOL, naturally I was referring to myself. I'm just now "re-teaching" myself how to play, so until I have things like pentatonic scales down by heart again, I will continue to consider myself a "hack hobbyist" rather than simply a "hobbyist". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordy01 Posted October 18, 2009 Share Posted October 18, 2009 If you are just starting, and on a budget, Epiphone is the way to go. I for one can not justify the money Gibson wants. They are a better guitar, but not that much better, in my opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted October 18, 2009 Share Posted October 18, 2009 Welcome "Silvershred," to the "Nuthouse!" Good folks, here, with good information and a decent attitudes, to boot! I refuse to do the Gibson Vs Epi, in part because I own both....and, it's a "tailchase," really. Gibson's are wonderful guitars, and priced accordingly, I suppose. Epiphone's are wonderful too, in spite of their relatively inexpensive price structure, compared to their Gibson counterparts. The "Elitist" line (now discontinued, except for the Elitist Casino), are the cream of the Epiphone crop, except for the USA Custom Shop Editions...which are at "Gibson" prices. So, if you can find a decent "used" "Elitist," LP or '61 SG, that would be what "I" would do. Premium woods, and USA electronics and hardware. But, a lot of the Korean and Chinese guitars are quite nice, as well. The Qingdao factory made Chinese versions, especially. And, they're getting better, all the time! So... Try as many as you can, of all the different offerings, and see which one you fancy the most. It's really, the only way to truly decide, you know? Cheers, CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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