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never been a fan of epiphones...


S t e v e

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Another great topic by Steve! "I dont like Epiphones, and here is a picture of a guitar that I found online that I think is ugly even though I have not seen or played one in person." Thats what I do, too. I look at the color of a guitar, and if I dont like it, I generally swear off the entire company.

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Another great topic by Steve! "I dont like Epiphones, and here is a picture of a guitar that I found online that I think is ugly even though I have not seen or played one in person." Thats what I do, too. I look at the color of a guitar, and if I dont like it, I generally swear off the entire company.

 

[lol] [lol] [lol] [lol]

 

I had to give you a +1 for that one! [biggrin][thumbup]

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It's one thing for people to say "they" find it' to be ugly or atrocious. It's another when people say it like it's a fact of life, and anybody who thinks differently is on a lower plateau of artistic taste.

 

For instance, I think that the Buckethead signature 'Les Paul' is drop dead f-ugly, while somebody else here is using it as their avatar. It's all subjective.

 

Personally, I can't take Epiphone, Les Paul's seriously. There can only be one Les Paul, and that's a Gibson,......as far as I'm concerned.

 

Anyway, back to the Epiphone pictured above. I don't find this particular color scheme to be bad. What's wrong with creme white, black, and gold? The pick guard should probably be black, but..... all subjective.

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I tend to go with Steven Tari - never cared for the LP; never owned a Fender except a cupla basses and I'm looking at another sometime.

 

I know to some this is heresy, but I don't think I'd be capable of playing a goldtop LP I dislike the look so much. But oddly a lotta folks felt that way about orange Gretsches and any Tele.

 

A nice black or sunburst LP? Yup. I could handle that even though I don't care for the feel. The one LP I should have purchased was a real Gibbie semihollow version of it. Just didn't have the cash at the time to justify it. Nice cherry red and played pretty nicely.

 

I don't like all that much bling on a guitar but on some it looks fine... etc., etc. White and gold? I doubt I'd ever buy one.

 

Now to the nitty gritty of it... Epi is probably in general dollar for dollar the best guitar buy I've seen for playability and "the basics" on any example I've seen the past cupla years, especially in comparison with anything I could find where I've lived from the 60s through the 80s. The exceptions likely would be such as the Ibanez "patent infringement" guitars in the '70s when they were really hungry and Gibson had its head ... somewhere.

 

But nowadays? Compared to almost anything in the '60s, the Epi is a really nice piece. Heck, a Dot vs. a strat for general quality for price paid? Any Dot I've seen wins hands down against most of the more expensive and even more strongly over the standard Strat.

 

Or... are we talking apples and oranges of a set neck semi versus a board painted in various variations and with a neck bolted on? Would that rate a Dot even higher? I would. That's not talking about how many guys like the Strat sound or feel, which is okay by me. But...

 

Then there's the comment about the only LPs being Gibsons. Okay - but which ones? Is an LP junior Gibbie more an LP than a high end Epi LP that costs twice as much? Chambered vs not? Which pups? My baby bro (he's still under 40 and I'm over 60), with no encouragement from me, got a high end Epi LP and swears it's the nicest playing guit he's had his hands on. Me, I'd rather get a Gibbie SG variation for the same bucks, but... that's me.

 

I understand the brand and quality consciousness, but heck, Martin sells imported particleboard instruments with its own brand on 'em. I'll take an Epi Masterbilt at comparable pricing instead, thanks. Gibson doesn't have a Bozeman at that price - or anything else with a Gibbie logo.

 

Then again, you pays your money and takes your choice.

 

Harumph. <grin>

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I'll admit I wouldn't go near an Epiphone in the late 70's and throughout the 80's..... I even put my two Gibson's away throughout most of the 80's in exchange for my Moser, Charvel, Washburn and Kramer guitars [blush].

 

I was given two 69 Les Paul's courtesy of Scotti Bros while recording some demos because the producer at the time wanted all the rhythm tracks done with Les Paul's..... After I was done I left them in the studio ](*,)

 

Right now we have two Epi's in the family and they are loved very much.... I even miss my 72 Epi ET-275 a little bit.... Friggin Damian

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Epi, IMHO, makes some great guitars....I own two Epi Les Pauls, and a handful of others, including a Riviera P-3.......[thumbup]

 

I'm craving an Epi Wildkat as well......I also own a lovely 1972 Epi that used to belong to a well known 80s rock star.......[thumbup]

 

I use the '72 Epi in quite a few recordings......[thumbup] ....Epi LPs do benefit from pickup and hardware upgrades, IMHO.........[thumbup]

 

The guitar posted is, IMHO only, very nice; and only Epi makes the famed Sheraton and Casino models...amazing guitars....[thumbup]

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I tend to go with Steven Tari - never cared for the LP; never owned a Fender except a cupla basses and I'm looking at another sometime.

 

I know to some this is heresy, but I don't think I'd be capable of playing a goldtop LP I dislike the look so much. But oddly a lotta folks felt that way about orange Gretsches and any Tele.

 

A nice black or sunburst LP? Yup. I could handle that even though I don't care for the feel. The one LP I should have purchased was a real Gibbie semihollow version of it. Just didn't have the cash at the time to justify it. Nice cherry red and played pretty nicely.

 

I don't like all that much bling on a guitar but on some it looks fine... etc., etc. White and gold? I doubt I'd ever buy one.

 

Now to the nitty gritty of it... Epi is probably in general dollar for dollar the best guitar buy I've seen for playability and "the basics" on any example I've seen the past cupla years, especially in comparison with anything I could find where I've lived from the 60s through the 80s. The exceptions likely would be such as the Ibanez "patent infringement" guitars in the '70s when they were really hungry and Gibson had its head ... somewhere.

 

But nowadays? Compared to almost anything in the '60s, the Epi is a really nice piece. Heck, a Dot vs. a strat for general quality for price paid? Any Dot I've seen wins hands down against most of the more expensive and even more strongly over the standard Strat.

 

Or... are we talking apples and oranges of a set neck semi versus a board painted in various variations and with a neck bolted on? Would that rate a Dot even higher? I would. That's not talking about how many guys like the Strat sound or feel, which is okay by me. But...

 

Then there's the comment about the only LPs being Gibsons. Okay - but which ones? Is an LP junior Gibbie more an LP than a high end Epi LP that costs twice as much? Chambered vs not? Which pups? My baby bro (he's still under 40 and I'm over 60), with no encouragement from me, got a high end Epi LP and swears it's the nicest playing guit he's had his hands on. Me, I'd rather get a Gibbie SG variation for the same bucks, but... that's me.

 

I understand the brand and quality consciousness, but heck, Martin sells imported particleboard instruments with its own brand on 'em. I'll take an Epi Masterbilt at comparable pricing instead, thanks. Gibson doesn't have a Bozeman at that price - or anything else with a Gibbie logo.

 

Then again, you pays your money and takes your choice.

 

Harumph. <grin>

 

 

I used to feel the same way about Gold top LP's, but they've kind of grown on me over the last few years.

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Epi, IMHO, makes some great guitars....I own two Epi Les Pauls, and a handful of others, including a Riviera P-3.......[thumbup]

 

I'm craving an Epi Wildkat as well......I also own a lovely 1972 Epi that used to belong to a well known 80s rock star.......[thumbup]

 

I use the '72 Epi in quite a few recordings......[thumbup] ....Epi LPs do benefit from pickup and hardware upgrades, IMHO.........[thumbup]

 

The guitar posted is, IMHO only, very nice; and only Epi makes the famed Sheraton and Casino models...amazing guitars....[thumbup]

80's rock star? Did they have rock stars then? Or do you mean rock stars that used to be well known in the 80's?

 

Oh, duh. You mean DUANE V's old SG. He was a rock star in the 80's. Not many know that.

 

Come to think of it, so were you.

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I keep that quiet.........There's a mob mentality here that doesn't need to know about past successes......

 

This is why I don't post any music here.....Or mention who I know and sometimes work with....................

 

As far as any members need to know, I'm just a member who does NOT play guitar at all, ever...............

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I keep that quiet.........There's a mob mentality here that doesn't need to know about past successes......

 

This is why I don't post any music here.....Or mention who I know and sometimes work with....................

 

As far as any members need to know, I'm just a member who does NOT play guitar at all, ever...............

I totally remember the 80's, dude.

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Damian...

 

Okay, we know you play. <grin>

 

Seriously, though, I kinda figure I'm in my third "life" anyway. The middle one was lots of fun, and I'll mention some of the fun times, but most folks who know me have no idea about life #2. Alas, no money, but a blast and a lotta travel. Nothing to be embarrassed about, In fact, some I could probably brag about, but it just was a different ... life.

 

Although I think the funny one is that folks around here who knew my Dad only knew a middle age to elderly clergyman who occasionally wore a police uniform and firearm or taught a philosophy class at the local uni. I remember a Harley dealer riding down Main Street standing up on the seat. <grin>

 

We all deserve a little of that, I think.

 

m

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in general I think the low end Gibby is going to beat Epi's most expensive most of the time. I'd have to try this guitar to know if this follows that usual pattern... cosmetically, I think the gold pick guard is going too far. It makes an otherwise classy Custom with gold hardware look tacky.

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Here we go with the Epi VS. Gibson debate again...

 

Some of you guys really need to look at this subject in the right context. I choose my instruments on a "need" basis when it comes to quality, brand, etc. I'm a hobbiest that doesnt need a Gibson. Sure, they are nice and built to higher standards for the most part, but do I have a need for such an expense? Not really. Do I like them? Yes. The fact is that not everyone needs the type of quality that the Gibson brand offers. I dont. And my daughter certainly does not, which is why she's getting an Epiphone SG Junior instead of a Melody Maker SG. If she follows through with guitar and has a need for a Gibson down the road, I'll make sure that she gets one. But the Junior is rock-solid and an excellent guitar to learn on.

 

I really dont even know how there can be a comparison, really. Epiphone is mostly budget models and Gibson is mostly not. If you want a high quality budget guitar, buy an Epiphone. If you want a high-end guitar, buy the Gibson.

 

Epiphone has upped their quality over the past two decades and keep setting the bar higher and higher for budget models. And now that there is cross-over between Epiphone and Gibson pricing, the gap is getting smaller and smaller. I am happy that there is a brand like Epiphone to offer such great entry and mid-level guitars.

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RTH - I think you nailed it.

 

I think Gibson corporately deserves credit, though, for the two lines; ditto Fender with Squire.

 

Also, some should consider how a lotta good music they may love to listen to may have been made with an Epi.

 

m

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