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Looking to get another Epiphone


StreakyPete

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Hi everyone, this is my first post here (hopefully of many)

I've got a severe case of GAS, which only getting my mitts on a luvverly Epiphone will alleviate.

I used to have a smashing Riviera a couple of years back (well, now that I think about it - probably about 8-10 years back - ho-hum, time flies and all that...)

Anyway, I loved the feel of that guitar, and I'd quite fancy replacing it with another Epiphone.

Here's my point: I'm not sure what to go for :(

I think it'll be between an SG and a Les Paul. However, I'ts been so long since I was anywhere near up to speed on what models to look out for, I thought it might be a good idea to pick your collective brains. [crying]

Financial restrictions (and, more importantly, "SHE WHO MUST BE OBEYED") dictate that I'll probably have to get my GAS medicine from good ol' eBay. Only problem here is you don't get to sit down and get the feel of the guitar. Hmmm.

 

Just missed out on a nice looking sparkly red Les Paul w/case by only £8.50. My budget is around £150 (ish)

At present I use a L6 Variax 500 - which is actually pretty good - but I fancy getting back to a guitar with REAL pickups again.

 

That's it - if this question has been asked many times before I apologise in advance.

Look forward to being nudged in the right direction :-({|=

Regards to all

Pete

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:(

 

Welcome here Pete.

 

Did a quick web check, your 150=roughly $225.00 (I think) :-({|=

 

Regarding your comment about e-bay and the lack of ability to lay hands on it, in my opinion is a no no.

 

You could check our "Trading Post", some of our forumites from that side of the pond may be able to steer you in the right direction. There's gotta be something like our Craigslist over there, [crying] , I'm hoping.

 

Happy Hunting.

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Oh Man!!!!!

 

Now I feel worse than ever after looking at the beautiful range of Epiphones that you guys have in the 'Post my Epiphone' thread!

I think I'd better lie down for a bit before I have another 'impulse buy'.

These guys are terrible like that!

 

Good Luck in whatever you decide to acquire!

Sheila

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I cannot implore enough that you do not buy form ebay.

There is a reason people don't sell those guitars in person. And it isn't cause they're on house arrest.

Try craigslist instead, then you can check the guitar out and make a FTF transaction. A MUCH better idea than ebay. ebay is for beanie babies, not guitars.

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hi there ' date=' just to say i have an epi lp and sg and i live just outside motherwell if you want to try them out , just gimme a shout :)[/quote']

 

Hey thanks Alan!

I'm actually just over at the next hill in Sunny East Kilbride (...more snow forecast for Tues & Wed :-({|= ) - well, what can I say? British summertime started today, right?

 

Maybe I could take you up on that sometime soon. I'm not a great guitarist tho, so don't be expecting any manic shredder. I'm more into doing relatively easy stuff, without making too many obvious mistakes :)

Speak to you later

Pete

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I cannot implore enough that you do not buy form ebay.

There is a reason people don't sell those guitars in person. And it isn't cause they're on house arrest.

Try craigslist instead' date=' then you can check the guitar out and make a FTF transaction. A MUCH better idea than ebay. ebay is for beanie babies, not guitars.[/quote']

 

I don't get it...

My main concern buying from eBay would be the 'Pig in a poke' aspect - maybe the neck's screwed up or any amount of things. I've bought maybe a couple of dozen music related items (not any guitars as yet) from the dreaded fleaBay without any problems whatsoever.

You appear to be hinting that there may be other, possibly darker, reasons for avoiding eBay. I'm probably a bit niave on that side of things, but the listings I've been looking at 'appear' to be above board.

Anyway, thanks for the heads-up on that - I'll be careful (should I go in that direction)

Shows you how little I know dept - I hadn't even heard of Craigslist before today!

I did a search on it in my area, but the results were pretty disappointing.

I'll keep looking tho - thanks to others who mentioned this to me.

Kind regards

Pete

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People sell things on ebay because they could not get a fair price for it if on was allowed to inspect the instrument first. You get fakes, damages guitars, and plain out junk. I have only seen a couple good ebay instruments. At least twice a month I get a guitar in that someone just bought off ebay, and then they junk it after I quote them $600 for a repair they were unaware it needed. The ebay seller will just claim ignorance about the issue.

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FTF transaction is the best I use a service in Sweden called Blocket and a thing called Hoodboard it tells me what is in my vicinity and I can go and give the item a good look over before I buy. Today I sold my Joe Pass using Blocket...

 

The guy phoned he came around I set up the guitar with my Peavey Valveking and left him to have a nice play while me and my wife prepared to go to Stockholm. My wife remarked "That's nice elevator music" as some nice Jazz chords wafted around house. The guy had recently tried out a stock JP and got a feel of the one I was selling with mojotone harness and a set of Duncans and he fell in love....

 

I went in and said "what do you think" and he said "I'll have it" that is the best way to do the buying and selling of a second hand guitar I feel.

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Hi everyone' date=' this is my first post here (hopefully of many)

I've got a severe case of GAS, which only getting my mitts on a luvverly Epiphone will alleviate.

I used to have a smashing Riviera a couple of years back (well, now that I think about it - probably about 8-10 years back - ho-hum, time flies and all that...)

Anyway, I loved the feel of that guitar, and I'd quite fancy replacing it with another Epiphone.

Here's my point: I'm not sure what to go for #-o

I think it'll be between an SG and a Les Paul. However, I'ts been so long since I was anywhere near up to speed on what models to look out for, I thought it might be a good idea to pick your collective brains. ;)

Financial restrictions (and, more importantly, "SHE WHO MUST BE OBEYED") dictate that I'll probably have to get my GAS medicine from good ol' eBay. Only problem here is you don't get to sit down and get the feel of the guitar. Hmmm.

 

Just missed out on a nice looking sparkly red Les Paul w/case by only £8.50. My budget is around £150 (ish)

At present I use a L6 Variax 500 - which is actually pretty good - but I fancy getting back to a guitar with REAL pickups again.

 

That's it - if this question has been asked many times before I apologise in advance.

Look forward to being nudged in the right direction [cool

Regards to all

Pete

 

At that figure you should easily get a used G400 which is a great Epi SG to go for because it has a set neck and good stock pickups. For the same figure I think you would only be looking at the Epi Les Paul Studio and you may have to pay a little bit more to get one. The studio is the cheapest of their set-necked LPs and, if you don't mind not having fancy binding, is also a great guitar.

 

I really like LPs but I have to say that, if money was tight, I'd rather have a nice SG over a LP studio.

 

Alan

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Hi everyone' date=' this is my first post here (hopefully of many)

I've got a severe case of GAS, which only getting my mitts on a luvverly Epiphone will alleviate.

I used to have a smashing Riviera a couple of years back (well, now that I think about it - probably about 8-10 years back - ho-hum, time flies and all that...)

Anyway, I loved the feel of that guitar, and I'd quite fancy replacing it with another Epiphone.

Here's my point: I'm not sure what to go for [blush

I think it'll be between an SG and a Les Paul. However, I'ts been so long since I was anywhere near up to speed on what models to look out for, I thought it might be a good idea to pick your collective brains. [biggrin]

Financial restrictions (and, more importantly, "SHE WHO MUST BE OBEYED") dictate that I'll probably have to get my GAS medicine from good ol' eBay. Only problem here is you don't get to sit down and get the feel of the guitar. Hmmm.

 

Just missed out on a nice looking sparkly red Les Paul w/case by only £8.50. My budget is around £150 (ish)

At present I use a L6 Variax 500 - which is actually pretty good - but I fancy getting back to a guitar with REAL pickups again.

 

That's it - if this question has been asked many times before I apologise in advance.

Look forward to being nudged in the right direction [biggrin]

Regards to all

Pete

 

Tell us a bit about what sort of music you play/want to play, and then I can recommend you an Epi.

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Tell us a bit about what sort of music you play/want to play' date=' and then I can recommend you an Epi.

[/quote']

 

 

Well, nothing challenging, that's for sure.

There are only two of us in what we fondly describe as our 'Band' We use backing tracks and midi-files for bass & drums and various other bits & pieces which help us sound 'reasonable'

I also use midi files to trigger patch changes in my TC-Helicon vocal harmoniser; my Line6 XTLive and my mates Digitech Vocalist.

We play mostly 60's music ('cos we like it [cool] ) We may only play 3 or 4 times a year to an audience - they rest of the time we just have fun hanging out and playing the music of our youth.

We also chuck in some late 50's rock, a smidgeon of country (we're not proud[blush] ) and the occassional sorte into some very modern music! (ahem, 'modern music' to us is anything recorded in the last decade)

 

So, the sounds I'm looking for is what I would descibe as 'full & warm' for most of the time. I can get all kinds of great tones from my Variax when at home, but have always struggled to replicate that when we have the full rig set up.

Hopefully, I can get a nice Epi (I like the idea of an SG 400 as was previously mentioned)

The breaks I do are never ever soaring, free and experimental. A more accurate description would be "He does his best to copy the recorded solo, which isn't too bad for a guy with sausages instead of fingers".

 

So there you have it - I've tried to be honest and forthright, I hope it helps you to assess what Epi I should go for.

Pete

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Well' date=' nothing challenging, that's for sure.

There are only two of us in what we fondly describe as our 'Band' We use backing tracks and midi-files for bass & drums and various other bits & pieces which help us sound 'reasonable'

I also use midi files to trigger patch changes in my TC-Helicon vocal harmoniser; my Line6 XTLive and my mates Digitech Vocalist.

We play mostly 60's music ('cos we like it [cool ) We may only play 3 or 4 times a year to an audience - they rest of the time we just have fun hanging out and playing the music of our youth.

We also chuck in some late 50's rock, a smidgeon of country (we're not proud[blush] ) and the occassional sorte into some very modern music! (ahem, 'modern music' to us is anything recorded in the last decade)

 

So, the sounds I'm looking for is what I would descibe as 'full & warm' for most of the time. I can get all kinds of great tones from my Variax when at home, but have always struggled to replicate that when we have the full rig set up.

Hopefully, I can get a nice Epi (I like the idea of an SG 400 as was previously mentioned)

The breaks I do are never ever soaring, free and experimental. A more accurate description would be "He does his best to copy the recorded solo, which isn't too bad for a guy with sausages instead of fingers".

 

So there you have it - I've tried to be honest and forthright, I hope it helps you to assess what Epi I should go for.

Pete

 

Hmmm yeah G-400 used might fit the budget. Or G-310. They're not that different but G-400 is better if you can get it.

 

If you had more money I'd say go a Casino for that authentic 60's look and sound, or a Wildkat or Swingster for that not-quite-authentic-but-close-enough-that-nobody-cares 50's look and sound.

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People sell things on ebay because they could not get a fair price for it if on was allowed to inspect the instrument first. You get fakes' date=' damages guitars, and plain out junk. I have only seen a couple good ebay instruments. At least twice a month I get a guitar in that someone just bought off ebay, and then they junk it after I quote them $600 for a repair they were unaware it needed. The ebay seller will just claim ignorance about the issue.[/quote']

 

OK! I'm converted [cool] ...

 

... with one proviso, which is:

I have noticed some sellers inviting potential buyers to try their guitar out before placing a bid.

I've keyed in a nominal '50 miles from my address' on eBay, and over the past week or so, there have been two or three possibilities.

So, then I'm back to a FTF situation which hopefully should put me back in a strong position again.

However, before I do that, I'll check out Allanssaab's suggestion of 'Gumtree'. That's another site I knew nothing about - I'm certainly learning loads since I joined this (excellent) forum.

 

Many thanks to all who have responded - it's appreciated.

Pete

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Hmmm yeah G-400 used might fit the budget. Or G-310. They're not that different but G-400 is better if you can get it.

 

If you had more money I'd say go a Casino for that authentic 60's look and sound' date=' or a Wildkat or Swingster for that not-quite-authentic-but-close-enough-that-nobody-cares 50's look and sound.[/quote']

 

Aha! Now we're getting somewhere!

I might be able to stretch the budget a bit for the right guitar. The SG 400 is a terrific looking axe, I must say.

This thing with the set neck... I've been used to guitars with bolt-on necks, and in my ignorance, I haven't really considered a set neck. (I've always assumed that if the neck gets damaged, or whatever, then the whole guitar is screwed)

I prepared to admit that I'm probably wrong on this assumption since most of you guys who seem to know their stuff have no reservations on getting a set neck.

 

Hmmm, I wonder how much a decent Casino is these days? I'll check that out along with your other suggestions.

Thanks

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My own experience with Ebay has been pretty positive. As a lefty lving in Aberdeen my choice of guitars is horrendously limited and finding them on the local second hand market is virtually impossible. I bought a cherry sunburst Les Paul standard as my first Epi from Ebay and followed it up about a year later with a Sheraton II - both of them are Korean made Samick models and have given me years of trouble free service. They cost me about £250 each.

 

I've sold two guitars on ebay as well both of which were in perfect condition after an ad in the local paper got zero response. I personally drove about 50 miles to meet the buyer and give him a chance to look both guitars over before concluding the sale. Yes there are many dodgy characters on ebay but also many people who find it an easy way of selling stuff they don't need/want or have to sell. Common sense can get you a long way - the old adage "if it seems too good to be true then it probably is" still holds true - there was a spate of "genuine Gibson Les Paul's" that seemed to be flooding in from China a while back for example. Check the seller's feedback, ask for lots of pictures. If you can go see the guitar in person then do it.

 

Best of luck finding the guitar you want.

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I've had a look at the 'Gumtree' site, and I'm never going to mention that stinky eBay again!

There are loads of really tasty looking axes for sale there in reasonably local areas.

Here's a tiny selection, given in $ and £'s (approx)

Casino + case £400/$600

Dot 335 + case £250/$375

Wildkat + case £250/$375

SG 400 £180/$270

Dot Sunburst + case £200/$300

Les Paul. £170/$255

 

Also, there are a whole host of badly described SG's & LP's at really cheap money.

You see what I've done here, don't you?

In the space of one visit I appear to have upped my budget to the mid £250's .

This is what 'New Guitar Fever' will do to me. I'll have to rein myself in a bit.

I might hold off buying for a month so that I can get some more money in the pot - man! that 335 and the Wilkat looked VERY tempting, but I might concentrate on a really good SG400.

...or LP

or...

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I've had a look at the 'Gumtree' site' date=' and I'm never going to mention that stinky eBay again!

There are loads of really tasty looking axes for sale there in reasonably local areas.

Here's a tiny selection, given in $ and £'s (approx)

Casino + case £400/$600

Dot 335 + case £250/$375

Wildkat + case £250/$375

SG 400 £180/$270

Dot Sunburst + case £200/$300

Les Paul. £170/$255

 

Also, there are a whole host of badly described SG's & LP's at really cheap money.

You see what I've done here, don't you?

In the space of one visit I appear to have upped my budget to the mid £250's .

This is what 'New Guitar Fever' will do to me. I'll have to rein myself in a bit.

I might hold off buying for a month so that I can get some more money in the pot - man! that 335 and the Wilkat looked VERY tempting, but I might concentrate on a really good SG400.

...or LP

or... [/quote']

 

Depends what sound you want. The Wildkat is amazing (I have one) but doesn't do really crunchy distortion well. Neither does the Casino. This is because of the P90 pickups combined with the hollowness. Both guitars are the sexxx clean though. Get one if you favour clean or only slightly overdriven sounds (i.e 50s-60s rock style). The G-400 is the ticket if you like heavier overdrive, the Dot and Paul will also do this well and still sound decent clean too, they are more versatile instruments. However that comes at the expense of not looking as cool and arguably losing some sparkle off the clean tone. Highly subjective of course.

 

A SG G-310 is like a 400 but with a bolt-on neck, plus tuners and pickups aren't as nice. Generally, set necks are the way to go if you can afford it, the guitar stays in tune better and feels a bit nicer to play higher up because you're not running into the bolt with your thumb. Also with bolt on necks it's not as simple as just bolting on a new neck if the old one gets replaced anyway... the wrong neck on the wrong body is bad news.

 

The cheapest instruments in SG/Paul shape are probably the Special IIs, Jrs and 100s. These are good instruments actually. Not as good features as the more expensive stuff, you compromise on tuners, electronics, fancy stuff like fretboard binding is absent and once again you get bolt-on necks, but they get the job done. Several of my friends in punk bands like them because they are cheap instruments that look decent, are easy to travel with (i.e light and durable) and agree with distortion pedals.

 

E-Bay can be dodgy. It's often okay if you're getting an obviously used instrument which is advertised honestly but never buy anything "new" or "direct from factory" over EBay, no matter how good it looks on paper. Ever.

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I cannot implore enough that you do not buy form ebay.

There is a reason people don't sell those guitars in person. And it isn't cause they're on house arrest.

Try craigslist instead' date=' then you can check the guitar out and make a FTF transaction. A MUCH better idea than ebay. ebay is for beanie babies, not guitars.[/quote']

 

I buy and sell all my guitars on ebay! Never sold or bought a bad one, and I DONT dishonestly sell duds to people! You people really do spout some crap sometimes.

 

Ask lots of questions, ask for lots more pics, get them to confirm the neck is straight, the pickups work etc, and use paypal, if the guitar is not right, send it back and you are covered, or just search for locally listed items.

 

Dont let yourself miss out on brilliant guitars because of scare stories.

 

 

I just checked out some new Epiphones in a chain store and found the quality was terrible! Even the John Lennon Casino was junk. I'll stick with my £500 ebay bought Elitist Sheraton thanks!

 

 

PS; and the ebay bought £50 Japanese made 1973 '69 Strat clone that smokes the american standard I also tried today!

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I too have bought a few guitars from Ebay, they include, three Matsumoku Casino`s, a Levin Goliath, an Aria Pro II TA-60, a Classic player 60`s Strat, plus my Lennon 65 reissue Casino, all were fine! The Aria and one of the Matsumoku Casino`s, I got on US ebay, and they arrived very well packaged. So I would have to agree with AS90`s comments regarding ebay, ask lots of questions, see lots of photo`s, deal only with people who have a very good feedback record, and most of all, use your common sense, there are dodgy people out there, but by and large, I have found most people I have dealt with, to be genuine.

 

Steve.

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I buy and sell all my guitars on ebay! Never sold or bought a bad one' date=' and I [u']DONT[/u] dishonestly sell duds to people! You people really do spout some crap sometimes.

 

Ask lots of questions, ask for lots more pics, get them to confirm the neck is straight, the pickups work etc, and use paypal, if the guitar is not right, send it back and you are covered, or just search for locally listed items.

 

Dont let yourself miss out on brilliant guitars because of scare stories.

 

 

I just checked out some new Epiphones in a chain store and found the quality was terrible! Even the John Lennon Casino was junk. I'll stick with my £500 ebay bought Elitist Sheraton thanks!

 

 

PS; and the ebay bought £50 Japanese made 1973 '69 Strat clone that smokes the american standard I also tried today!

 

AS90 I think it is all down to the amount of risk one is willing to take. I have bought tons of stuff on e-bay and cannot say I have ever been displeased with what I have bought. But when it comes to guitars, usually a quite expensive item lets say anything from £200 to £2000 then there is all the palaver over what is usually amateur guitar shipping. I saw a Epiphone Zephyr thinline that I wanted go for $2500 I would have had my heart in my mouth shipping that from the States. It is just my preference I like the face to face hands on before handing over the cash approach, but it is just my preference and I know it will limit my options.

 

My brother back in Liverpool has a beautiful Peerless Epiphone Casino that I think he bought on e-bay different strokes for differnet folks. As in many things we all have different ways of getting what we want.....a nice guitar and a nice price...

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