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Epi or Gibson


Sproggie

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Posted

Here we go again.........I own both, I love both...................................Get a Gibson...It will match your collection.

Posted

Epi's are great guitars, especially...for the money.

 

If it was me, though...I'd go for this one, or the same,

in another color (Honeyburst, Cherryburst, White, or Black).

 

'60's Tribute LP Studio "Gold Top!"

 

DSC_0044-1.jpg

 

Awesome guitars, at a real reasonable price! And, resale value, down the line, would (most likely be better).

 

CB

Posted

But I know someone who's been spending a lot of time with a certain Gibson flying V:)

 

Very true! My V is my metal guitar and my Tele is for...well, not metal!! :)

Posted

Depends on your budget and what you want to do with it.

 

Epis are nice guitars, and probably 80-90% of what the Gibson is. With some upgrades like pots, switches, and possibly pickups (depending on the model) it can be for all practical purposes as good as a Gibson. (However, it will never have the Gibson headstock.)

 

I have a Kalamazoo Gibson ES-330 and a Korea/Peerless Epiphone Casino. The Casino has had the tuners, pickups, switch and pots replaced with Grovers, Duncans and Switchcraft (or equivalent). Plugged in it sounds better than the Gibson. Unplugged the Gibson sounds better.

 

However the Gibson has nitro finish, real MOP inlays, and the Gibson Headstock.

 

I bought the Casino before Gibson re-issued the 330, and the Casino was the only choice. I bought the Casino to gig with, so that I wouldn't damage the Gibson (which is now a collector's item). And it served me well.

 

If there was a choice, I would have purchased the Gibson. I generally wouldn't want the "budget" model of a Gibson Classic -- I admit, it's purely a mental thing. (But Nighthawk, Wilshire and Kat all generate GAS.) But I'm actually glad I got the Casino. It ended up better for me.

 

And if another musician evaluates my guitar playing by the name on the headstock instead of what comes out of the speakers, his/her opinion is of no value to me.

 

But I don't gig with either any more. I use my Parker DragonFly to gig with. It will probably be my gigging guitar for many years to come.

 

So again, it depends. No one can make that decision for you.

Posted

Can anyone tell me what the Les Paul Studio 50's Tribute is all about. The studio wasn't out in the 50's was it ?

Posted

I think Bob "Notes" pretty well hit it.

 

But I'd also add that some would depend on what you plan to do with it. Either should work well. The new pots/switch on the Epi work well on a Dot I got last summer. I don't know about longevity but at this point I see no reason whatsoever to change anything about it beyond strings. Grovers are on mine...

 

The Epi is pretty nice but as has been said, it doesn't have "Gibson" on the headstock.

 

Again, to me it depends on your checking account and what you plan to do with the guitar.

 

A Gibson LP studio looks like a pretty decent instrument. If you were talking 335 vs. Epi Dot to play "out" in a northern US winter, I'd say go Dot now and save up for the 335 with money you make with the Dot. Weather can be nasty on nicer guitars.

 

m

Posted

.

It's easier to make suggestions when an actual price is specified (what you're willing to spend), instead of saying "cheap". What's that? $4oo? $6oo? $8oo?

Posted

Can anyone tell me what the Les Paul Studio 50's Tribute is all about. The studio wasn't out in the 50's was it ?

 

"Marketing!" Like most "Tribute" or "Artist" models. In this case,

taking a "Studio" LP, equipping it with P-90's, and Satin Finish,

and, every so slightly, "relic'd." They're not R-6's, but for what

they are, they're Nice guitars, at an affordable price. The "Gold Top,"

of course, is the most "accurate" of the color choices, for a '50's vibe.

But, the other's are nice, for a variety, should one not care for the

Gold Top. The very earliest LP's did have body binding, but not neck

binding. So, it harkens back, to that model, somewhat. The newer '60's

Tributes are identical, to the '50's versions, except in neck profile.

 

CB

Posted

There is a lot of commotion about the Epi Nighthawk... I'm just sayin'

 

I believe that if you can find an Epi Elitist LP it will play better and sound better than a Gibson studio. I back that belief up by my Elitist Dot. I played numerous Gibson ES-335's around town; less expensive models and expensive ones. When I found my Elitist dot it was amazing. The quality and sound are out of this world.

 

Look for an Ephiphone Elitist Les Paul.

Posted

 

'60's Tribute LP Studio "Gold Top!"

 

DSC_0044-1.jpg

 

Awesome guitars, at a real reasonable price! And, resale value, down the line, would (most likely be better).

 

CB

 

CB, Is that a 50's or 60's Tribute Gold-Top you got there? I heard the 60's had just come out and if I recollect I thought when the 50's came out

you had said you had gotten one of those. I think the only difference is the neck-style; the 50's is chunkier and the 60's is the slim-tappered.

Whichever that is CB, it's gorgeous. [drool] And yes, the Gold-Top is much better than the other colors, and fits the period. (Paul)

Posted

CB, Is that a 50's or 60's Tribute Gold-Top you got there? I heard the 60's had just come out and if I recollect I thought when the 50's came out

you had said you had gotten one of those. I think the only difference is the neck-style; the 50's is chunkier and the 60's is the slim-tappered.

Whichever that is CB, it's gorgeous. [drool] And yes, the Gold-Top is much better than the other colors, and fits the period. (Paul)

 

Yeah, Paul...I do have a '50's Tibute "Gold Top," as well. That (above) is my (newly acquired) '60's

Tribute. I wasn't planning on getting another one...but, when I saw it, played it, and saw the

rare 2-piece back, with center seam...I just "Had" to have it. LOL "Crazy," no doubt, but I love 'em

Both! (Below) ;>)

 

The "Twins!"

DSC_0049.jpg

 

Back shots, of the '60's version:

DSC_0048.jpg

 

DSC_0047.jpg

 

DSC_0046.jpg

CB

Posted

Yeah, Paul...I do have a '50's Tibute "Gold Top," as well. That (above) is my (newly acquired) '60's

Tribute. I wasn't planning on getting another one...but, when I saw it, played it, and saw the

rare 2-piece back, with center seam...I just "Had" to have it. LOL "Crazy," no doubt, but I love 'em

Both! (Below) ;>)

 

The "Twins!"

DSC_0049.jpg

 

Back shots, of the '60's version:

DSC_0048.jpg

 

DSC_0047.jpg

 

DSC_0046.jpg

CB

 

Thanks, CB. They look beautiful. Alto Music in Wappinger Falls, NY told me they just got some 60's Studio Tributes in. I'll have to go check and see.

If they have a Gold Top, I may just put it on Lay Away until I get my tax return.

Posted

Epi's are great guitars, especially...for the money.

 

If it was me, though...I'd go for this one, or the same,

in another color (Honeyburst, Cherryburst, White, or Black).

 

'60's Tribute LP Studio "Gold Top!"

 

DSC_0044-1.jpg

 

Awesome guitars, at a real reasonable price! And, resale value, down the line, would (most likely be better).

 

CB

 

Great looking Epi goldtop. Bought a Gibson LP Traditional Pro goldtop yesterday which sounded better than my Epi LP Ultra II until I heard the neck pickup which apparently Gibson did not wire correctly from the factory...half the output it should have had which means someone forgot to connect a wire or the pickup is bad. Seems the Epi's do have better quality control than the Gibsons nowadays from what I keep hearing...

Posted

Great looking Epi goldtop. Bought a Gibson LP Traditional Pro goldtop yesterday which sounded better than my Epi LP Ultra II until I heard the neck pickup which apparently Gibson did not wire correctly from the factory...half the output it should have had which means someone forgot to connect a wire or the pickup is bad. Seems the Epi's do have better quality control than the Gibsons nowadays from what I keep hearing...

 

 

Yup.........and I don't know why...My last three Gibsons had Q.C. issues......My last three Epi guitars were and are FLAWLESS............[confused] ......

Posted

Great looking Epi goldtop. Bought a Gibson LP Traditional Pro goldtop yesterday which sounded better than my Epi LP Ultra II until I heard the neck pickup which apparently Gibson did not wire correctly from the factory...half the output it should have had which means someone forgot to connect a wire or the pickup is bad. Seems the Epi's do have better quality control than the Gibsons nowadays from what I keep hearing...

 

"Epi" Gold Top? Where??? ;>)

 

CB

Posted

"Epi" Gold Top? Where??? ;>)

 

CB

 

Charlie

 

where you have added the Gibson decal to your EpiGoldtop has made it look just like one of the Gibson studio Tribute models :)

 

Matt

 

 

 

 

 

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