the "why did you buy an Epiphone instead of...?" thread

[Rewddawg1]

I haven't read all the posts here and I may duplicate someone's answer but IMO The mid to upper range Epi's offer Gibson Quality at 1/2 to 1/3 the cost of a Gibby. Now my experience is limited with Epi's. The local guitar shop just started offering Gibsons about a year ago. I live in a small town with only 2 guitar shops. Anyway my opinion is solely Based on the Prophecy Series which doesn't float everyone's boat but the quality, sound and playablilty of my Epi Prophecies Say Gibson all over them at 1/3 or even 1/4 the price of a Gibson.

[Gasman]

I am not a young Player - With that said the one guitar I always wanted to own was a 64/65 Gibson SG/Maestro. Well at this part of my life to have the funds to own a Vintage one is totally out of the Question. And Gibson really has not reissued these guitars until the last few years. Gibson makes very fine guitars - Period - But to shell out 2 to 3k is never going to happen for me.

That brings me to my Epiphone 65' SG Maestro reissue. This guitar is everything I would want in a well built SG - Maestro and all. Hey its not a Gibson - But its as close as your going to get without having the real Mcoy. Oh and the most important factor is the Gibson SG/VOS/Maestro's are close to ten times the price. That pricing just seems insane to me. So if only a Gibson will do -I understand. But my Epiphone is one of my all time favorite guitars - It just makes me smile.

Gasee

[JefferySmith]

I got a Gibson ES-335 TD-SC in 1965 for $349 (with hardshell case). But those days a new VW Beetle cost $1500. Times have changed.

 

I was delighted with it, and later had the opportunity to see and play an Epiphone Sheraton, also made in Kalamazoo (and cost the fellow about $260), and it was prettier than my Gibson. A year later, I bought a 1966 Epiphone Texan, and that did it. It sounded far better than my Martin D-35, and the action was better. Cost was $169.

 

From that time on, I saw Epiphone as a brand that could compete with the best, and could sometimes do even better, but always for less money. When I decided to start playing again 5 years ago, I got an Alleykat. Loved it. My next Epiphone was a Elitist Byrdland that same year. Holy crap, what a great guitar! It was that moment that led me down the path of Epiphone-mania, an out of control disease that causes you to buy every Epiphone you ever wanted while they are still available. I have finally paid off my Visa and MasterCard, but my house is now too small....for all of those Epiphones.

 

Great looks, great value, great playing, and for a price that won't break the bank (unless you go nuts like I did).

[markerdown]

To me it was simple: the company had been around for a long time, many chain stores carry the line, the warranty, excellent building platforms, they have what I'm looking for, value for the buck, and for the most part MIJ, MIK. MIC, the quality is there. And the main reason........, I like em,' and that's all that matters ......................markerdown

[meanstreak1281734111]

Epi Masterbilt AJ-500M versus Gibson J-45 standard...

 

80% of the sound for 20% of the price. Simple as that.

[Gazoo]

Well,

 

I went looking for an electric guitar after playing acoustic for years. I knew I liked blues and rock but I wasn't sure what else I might be into so it was hard to narrow down exactly what I should get. So I just started looking and went to a few stores and started trying out guitars. I went in with a Gretsch in mind but after playing a few I didn't really find one I liked, and I tried several, everything from the Electromatics to a beautiful old Tiger Maple Gretsch but I just couldn't find one that sang. I tried out a pile of guitars old and new, including several Gibson ES335's, Fender Tele's and Strat's, Mexican, Japanese and US but nothing really grabbed me.

 

Now in one store over in the used guitar room way at the back hiding in the corner, completely ignored was a Tobacco sunburst Sheraton II. I noticed it and thought ahh what the hell...I'm here I might as well try it not expecting much. I picked it up and played it clean into an Orange amp and was just absolutely blown away. The neck fit me like a glove and was so comfortable, and it had this great blues tone off the bridge even played clean but it had gold hardware and I just didn't care for the look of it so I left the store and went on the road thinking I'll just keep looking until I find something that sounds and plays and looks the way I want.

 

I ended up travelling a total of 6200 km (or 3852.5 Miles) and after trying what I can only describe as a lot of guitars in a lot of cities I still couldn't find one I liked as much as the one Epiphone Sheraton II that I walked away from. I tried a few Paul Reed Smith guitars that were nice and even found a PRS HB II that I did like a lot, as well as a new Hagstrom I liked but nothing really grabbed me the way that Epi Sheraton II did. So I finally decided no matter how it looked I would buy it and went back to the store only to find it was gone. Needless to say I was crushed. I went home and was in a really bad funk for a while.

 

About a month or two later a friend of mine called me at work and said, "Hey you know that guitar you loved? Well its back." (he was with me when I played it the first time) I called the store and asked what was going on? Turns out someone came in a played it and liked it so much he wanted to add it to his collection right away and he went on a payment plan to try and buy it because they didn't have the cash up front. After a month it became clear to this guy he couldn't afford yet another guitar at this time and brought it back because he couldn't bear to look at it anymore. The best part being while he was "renting" it, the price came down by hundreds of dollars I drove 350 km's (about 210 miles) the following day and bought it. Its been in my office ever since and I play it almost every day.

 

When people ask me how I picked it I say.....I didn't it picked me and that's the advice I give to anyone looking for a guitar. Don't pick it....let it pick you a little corny I suppose but very true.

[Swoop]

I've continued to buy Epiphone guitars because I've always been impressed with every single one I've owned. And they always fit my needs perfectly, without breaking the bank. They really do embody all the good things about their more expensive counterparts, for a fraction of the cost. I've been going on about this a lot lately, but I think it's true. If Epiphone continues to improve on their guitar manufacturing, as they have been, and I'm confident they will given the QingDao plant is a dedicated Epi facility, Gibson had better watch out!

 

I started out with a humble G-310 SG, and as my playing progressed, so did my guitar addiction, and my Epiphone addiction. It really was a case of a good first impression. That G-310 did everything I wanted it to at the time, and when it came time to upgrade, I naturally looked to Epiphone first, and still do, because they just work for me. I now have 3 Epiphones, my G400 SG, my Les Paul, and of course my Casino. And I would not hesitate to buy more and, in fact, I would very much like to own more. Perhaps a Dot, or a Riviera with mini humbuckers. A Les Paul Jr, with a P90 and a set neck. An ES135 in Blueburst, like they made a few years back, would be very nice too. I'd like to have a nice acoustic too, and the Hummingbird is probably the first one I'll look at. I'm confident that Epiphone will deliver.

[AS90]

I had a few Gibson Les Pauls and SGs and wanted a hollow body. The ES335 seemed the logical answer, however, I played a Sheraton II and couldn't really justify spending all that money on the Gibson as the Epi played really well. I then spotted an Elitist Sheraton going for a song on ebay in the US and snapped it up. Due to the good exchange rate at the time I even had money left over to buy myself a new canoe!

 

Everyone who plays the Elitist Sheri is blown away by the quality and tone and I am always turning down offers for it. But, I am an SG man at heart and I have been gassing a lot lately so maybe if the right offer came in I would have to say goodbye

 

[bohemian]

I wanted a Byrdland

I looked at the Gibsons and then the Elitist.

It was very clear that the fit, finish, quality and value of the Elitist exceeded that of the Gibson

The Elitist Byrdland was a clear choice.

I got mine after the discontinuation of the Elitist line.

I lucked out.

I am on the hunt for an Elitist Sheraton and a Broadway.

[altair]

For me, it was pure luck and coincedence (sp?). I went out to a guitar shop to get some information and try out a couple of beginner guitars. I was handed all sorts of brands and models. They played them for me so I could hear what they could sound like, and I plunked on them myself to feel the difference. Then I noticed this guitar somewhere in the back that the salesperson had ignored, and it started calling to me.

I tried it and instantly loved it.

Its the one in my avatar and sig

 

And now I'm heavily gassing for a Swingster but I haven't seen any, heard any or know anyone who tried one.

[irishdazzler]

I only started playing guitar when I was 18 and at University. Definitely Maybe by Oasis had been released and (having lived a sheltered life before this point) it was the first time I REALLY got into music.

 

Obviously my abiding image of Oasis at that time was of Noel on stage stroking away at his Epiphone Riveria - but knowing nothing about guitar makes I wasn't sure what guitar it was, but I knew I liked IT. Unfortunately I was broke and could only afford my cheapo no brand acoustic to learn on

 

So here I am 15 years later, the proud owner of a family of 6 Epi's (and I still cant play guitar that well) and I think the reason I choose Epiphone is a mixture of things. I'm lucky enough to be in a very well paid job now and could afford a collection of Gibsons if I wanted to, so its not just cost for me.

 

...but it is about Value - Plain and Simple a good Epiphone is phenomenal value for money when you compare it to Gibson!

 

but mostly its about the fact that in my head I'm still 18, and when I think of me being 18 and playing guitar I see me standing there (like Noel) with an Epiphone strapped on and knocking out old Oasis tunes. Its that association between Epiphone and the most exciting period of my life that just makes the brand seem something special to me.

 

As time goes by I'm sure I'll give in and buy some "prestige" guitars - but I'll always keep my EJ-200 and my Sherri's and they will always be my "comfort" guitars

[AS90]

I only started playing guitar when I was 18 and at University. Definitely Maybe by Oasis had been released and (having lived a sheltered life before this point) it was the first time I REALLY got into music.

 

Obviously my abiding image of Oasis at that time was of Noel on stage stroking away at his Epiphone Riveria - but knowing nothing about guitar makes I wasn't sure what guitar it was' date=' but I knew I liked IT. Unfortunately I was broke and could only afford my cheapo no brand acoustic to learn on

 

So here I am 15 years later, the proud owner of a family of 6 Epi's (and I still cant play guitar that well) and I think the reason I [i']choose[/i] Epiphone is a mixture of things. I'm lucky enough to be in a very well paid job now and could afford a collection of Gibsons if I wanted to, so its not just cost for me.

 

...but it is about Value - Plain and Simple a good Epiphone is phenomenal value for money when you compare it to Gibson!

 

but mostly its about the fact that in my head I'm still 18, and when I think of me being 18 and playing guitar I see me standing there (like Noel) with an Epiphone strapped on and knocking out old Oasis tunes. Its that association between Epiphone and the most exciting period of my life that just makes the brand seem something special to me.

 

As time goes by I'm sure I'll give in and buy some "prestige" guitars - but I'll always keep my EJ-200 and my Sherri's and they will always be my "comfort" guitars

 

 

Should of said, Noel Gallagher playing a Sheraton at Knebworth was also a major factor in choosing my Elitist...

 

[Nuevededos]

Even before knowing the first thing about guitars, brands, etc, I always liked that pointy guitar the guy from AC/DC used.

 

When recently I decided to get an SG I discarded Gibson. My reasons are it seems that Gibsons aren't as good value as they used to be. I think they are becoming the Colt 1911 of guitars, overpriced and good only after some hundred in parts and setup. Wich destroys the 'vintage, mint condition, original' value they will supposedly get in the future.

 

And a personal pet peeve: Gibson insists on using nitrocellulose lacquer, whose only merit seems to be it was the cheapest way to paint and polish guitars sixty years ago. Never mind that after a time it goes gummy, yellow and crackled under normal use conditions.

After 60 years of worldwide R&D on all manners of space age coats for any material and application, I think the only reason Gibson sticks to nitro is marketing. If I wanted True Resonant Natural Unfiltered Almost Magical Wood Tone, i'd go for tung oil, thanks.

 

I found three versions of the SG I liked:

Gibson SG Supreme (from evil Gibson, yes, but reeally nice looking)

Tokai SG175

MIJ Epiphone SG Elitist

 

Of course, both the Supreme and the Elitist have been discontinued, and Tokai are very expensive imports here in Europe.

 

So looking for alternatives I discovered the Epiphone SG Prophecy GX, wich is like a SG Supreme but with weird knobs and a fourth of the price.

 

I love it. 24 frets, ebony fretboard, maple top veneer, somewhat classic pickups.

 

Sure, the body is a three asimmetrical pieces affair, same for the multipiece headstock and neck. Eight pieces in total. But good gluing and chinese CNC routers make very nice guitars even out of firewood. Also, the top and back veneer, combined with the dark finish, hide the construction from view.

It has the correct SG body bevel, and I got lucky with the neck; I can get it a hair below perfectly straight, and it stays there. Perfect fretwork and no buzz with an intermediate to low action.

 

I'm modding it into a Prophecy Supreme™. It will (hopefully) look like this:

 

 

It already looks like this:

 

 

So I have an Epi because is good looking, unexpensive, and I get to use a drill on a guitar