Thundergod Posted October 24, 2008 Share Posted October 24, 2008 Hi guys... I went to some stores today (out of boredom, not really looking for anything)... and played some guitars... nothing really caught my interest but an epi and a chinese PRS SE soapbar (the cheap ones)... go figure. The epi played nice and sounded ok-ish (I would buy it to do tons of mods anyway so I didnt mind the pickups, but for the price they sounded good)... I think "Ill buy this thing and some pickups, tuners, knobs, electronic components and work on her the whole weekend (I have this weekend off), and so end up with a guitar I can take wherever I need to take her without worries... I take a good look, everything looks fine, they really broke the mold with this one (brown faded SG)... and then there is that 3 screw thing in the headstock ;) ... I hate that thing, it looks horrible... so I didnt buy it, I know I could just have bought a gibson blank and exchange it (with some minor mods to the headstock) but that thing just put me off... is this "normal" or am I becoming a weird mix of AXE (**** ;)) and Tim (gibson snob! there I said it!). AXE and Tim... you know I am just kidding right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolff Posted October 24, 2008 Share Posted October 24, 2008 For what it's worth, I still occasionally play my Epi G-400 with a Tony Iommi pup in the bridge. I think Epiphone provides a nice option for guys who can't afford Gibsons. However, once you have a Gibson, I see no point in buying further Epis really. No comment on the Axe/Tim issue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modoc_333 Posted October 24, 2008 Share Posted October 24, 2008 I have finally come to grips with the fact that i am a gear snob. it took me a while, but i am very comfortable with it these days. lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murph Posted October 24, 2008 Share Posted October 24, 2008 Ya know Thunder, I'm torn...... I've been gigging since the 70's, 40/50 weekends a year. Bars. I'll be in Mayfield Ky at the Moose (dry County so the Moose Lodge is the ONLY bar!) tomorrow night, and it's a rowdy crowd of Skynyrd lovin', corn fed, Ky beer drinkers and I love it. I'm taking my near new ES-339 just like I will the following week to Paducah. I've always taken my favorite guitar to perform. That's why I bought it. Nobody is gonna hurt my guitar. I'm a pretty healthy, well armed over 200 pound SOB myself, and I'm surrounded by friends. It'll pay for itself in a few months and I'm writting it off my taxes. I'll pass on the $299.00 Epiphone 2nd, flame top, Les Paul MADE IN CHINA......... Fine to help get a kid started. These guitars have their place. (You went through a divorce and are broke and need to get back to work. ect.) It's just not for me. Murph. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GuitarJunkie Posted October 24, 2008 Share Posted October 24, 2008 Hey TG, if you're looking for a twin for your faded LP, mine's on the market. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRV-Zeppelin Posted October 24, 2008 Share Posted October 24, 2008 I have a lot of respect for Epiphone. They're great beginner guitars, and now that they've got the Elitist and Prophecy series, you can get a real good quality guitar without shelling out 2 grand for a Gibson. I agree wholeheartedly with Wolff, however- once you own a Gibson, there's no point in buying them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Plains Posted October 24, 2008 Share Posted October 24, 2008 Bite me on the Gibson snob comment. Hey, maybe Axe is rubbing off on me... For me it's quality over quantity. Nothing against Epi supporters here. Thunder, what's that Epi going to cost you with upgrades...$500? Save that money and wait for that SG Standard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRV-Zeppelin Posted October 24, 2008 Share Posted October 24, 2008 +1 Tim, I'd rather own the guitars I already have than 30 Epis.... God knows my guitars are probably worth more second-hand than 30 epis would be... Nothing against Epiphone of course, they just don't hold their value nearly as well as Gibson. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Plains Posted October 24, 2008 Share Posted October 24, 2008 Nothing against Epiphone of course' date=' they just don't hold their value nearly as well as Gibson.[/quote']Yikes!! I wouldn't say that... Money wise...sure, a Gibson will sell for more than an Epi. Percent wise, the Epi's hold their value more, I think. American prices...a new Gibson LP Standard sells for $2,500. What do you think that same Standard would go for used...$1,500? R9s list for $6,000 and sell used for thousands less. No way they hold their value. Short term, anyways. Long term, who knows? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRV-Zeppelin Posted October 24, 2008 Share Posted October 24, 2008 okay, Tim... but what about long-term? and i don't mean the "holy grail" original guitars either. I'm sure an 80s Gibson Les Paul would fetch much more percentage-wise than an 80s Epi. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spook Posted October 24, 2008 Share Posted October 24, 2008 Sometimes when I read some of these posts I think the guys who buy Gibson guitars and Harley Davidson are the same people who keep the male enhancment industry going. lol I've owned Harleys and Gibsons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djroge1 Posted October 24, 2008 Share Posted October 24, 2008 I have a lot of respect for Epiphone. They're great beginner guitars' date=' and now that they've got the Elitist and Prophecy series, you can get a real good quality guitar without shelling out 2 grand for a Gibson. I agree wholeheartedly with Wolff, however- once you own a Gibson, there's no point in buying them.[/quote'] Unfortunately, Epiphone stopped making all the Elitist series except the Casino. That's too bad too because the Elitist are good playing and sounding guitars. I think they were the perfect bridge between Epi and Gibby. I have an Elitist dot and it is really has a sweet yet growling sound when needed. Only time will tell if they hold their value. Also, I've not checked in a while, but does Gibson make a semi-hollow body with P-90's like the Casino? I'll have to go check out the products page. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GuitarJunkie Posted October 24, 2008 Share Posted October 24, 2008 Also' date=' I've not checked in a while, but does Gibson make a semi-hollow body with P-90's like the Casino? I'll have to go check out the products page.[/quote'] You won't find it on the Gibson site (I think it's currently a musiciansfriend exclusive) but they've just released the ES-330. http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Gibson-Custom-ES330-Long-Neck-Electric-Guitar?sku=527894 Although the 330 and the Casino are full hollow bodies, not semi-hollow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AXE® Posted October 24, 2008 Share Posted October 24, 2008 I'm a d*ck and know nothing abot Epi's... I wan't to be a snob, but the pressure would be more than I could bear. That is all... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djroge1 Posted October 24, 2008 Share Posted October 24, 2008 Although the 330 and the Casino are full hollow bodies' date=' not semi-hollow. [/quote'] Oops! You're right, my bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Plains Posted October 25, 2008 Share Posted October 25, 2008 okay' date=' Tim... but what about long-term? and i don't mean the "holy grail" original guitars either. I'm sure an 80s Gibson Les Paul would fetch much more percentage-wise than an 80s Epi.[/quote']Anything long term would just be a guess. So, having said that my guess is they should eventually go up in price...but there are a few factors, like the economy, condition & Gibson production numbers. These will obviously have an affect. I go by the current value of local 70s and 80s Gibsons. Sure, you can argue that those were Norlins, but the truth is not everybody knows what a Norlin is, they are Gibson guitars, and they're old. Take LP Customs for example. Locally, I see asking prices on used/old Customs in the $2,200 - $3,500 range. That's about 2/3 the price of a new one up and including the price of a new one. New ones list for $3,600 at L&M. Anybody that bought a brand new Custom back in 1980 didn't pay that much for it, of course; so, in that sense yes, they have appreciated in value. I think it's only because of two reasons: 1. The price of a new Custom keeps going up and as it does it also increases the price in the used market. 2. Money grows every year. Maybe I'm wrong on this one, but I think that new prices on Gibson guitars are reaching their peak. I can eventually see Standard prices going as high as $3,500 and Custom prices going as high as $4,500, but no higher. To say Gibson guitars hold their value does not apply to new Gibsons, in my opinion. One thing is for sure...if I were to sell my R9 today, I would probably lose $2,000. I can buy three Epi LP Standards for that much money. As for Epiphones, I don't know anything about the. I'm too much of a Gibson snob... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homz Posted October 25, 2008 Share Posted October 25, 2008 I'm a snob. I wouldn't buy an Epi. It just seems to scream out "I really wanted a Gibson". If I was to buy a mid priced electric I would get a Schecter C1 classic. well mad (probably better then the Epi) and with great Seymor Duncan pic-ups. Also It's a beautiful guitar and has a through body neck which does help on the sustain. http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Schecter-C1-Classic-Electric-Guitar?sku=513072 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Notes_Norton Posted October 25, 2008 Share Posted October 25, 2008 Nobody cares what kind of a guitar you are playing, except other guitar players. I own a classic ES-330 (Made in Kalamazoo) and a 2001 Casino (Made in Korea - Peerless plant). The ES-330 is worth about $4,500 and I bought the Casino for $425. Is the Gibson 10 times the guitar that the Casino is? Definitely not. In fact, I would say the Casino is 95% the guitar the Gibson is. I do admit, that the tuners, pots and toggle swith were changed by the original owner, I changed the pick guard and vol/tone knobs myself. So before the mods, it was 90% the guitar that the Gibson is. The Gibson sounds a bit better unplugged (the 330 is an acoustic guitar, no center block). Probably because of the wood, age, nitro finish (as opposed to poly) and nylon or plastic saddles. Plugged in the Epiphone sounds a little brighter and a little hotter. Could be pup adjustment, I'm not sure. I bring the Epi on stage and play the Gibson at home. I'm not on stage to impress other musicians. I'm on stage to make music to the audience. In my duo The Sophisticats I play sax, guitar, wind synth, flute, drum controller, sometimes keyboards and I sing. This is a sure way to get dings on a guitar that has become a collector's item (the Kalamazoo 330), so why should I ruin the investment when the Casino sounds better anyway? The build on the Casino is great, fit and finish every bit as good as the Gibson, the poly finish looks nice on stage and cleans up easily, the neck is almost identical to the Gibson's (it is a hair wider, probably due to the difference between metric and US measurements), and it sounds a little hotter and brighter. What's not to love about the Epiphone. OK, I admit the Gibson headstock looks better to me. I think the smaller Epi LP or Wildkat headstock would have balanced the guitar better, or the Sheraton with the big vine inlay would have given it a reason to be that big. But that is a very minor issue. When it is in my hands, I'm certainly not thinking about what the headstock looks like. Oh and the fingerboard inlays are MOP (mother of plastic) and not MOP (mother of pearl). Again, something only another guitar player would notice. Hopefully I'm playing guitar well enough to have the respect of my peers for my artistic interpretation and creative improvisations. If the only respect they have for me is the name on the headstock, either I'm not a worthy guitar player or they are not a worthy critic. Insights and incites by Notes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thundergod Posted October 25, 2008 Author Share Posted October 25, 2008 For what it's worth' date=' I still occasionally play my Epi G-400 with a Tony Iommi pup in the bridge. I think Epiphone provides a nice option for guys who can't afford Gibsons. However, once you have a Gibson, I see no point in buying further Epis really.[/quote'] You are right... those were exactly my feelings... "why buy an epi if you have a gibson?" That said, I have seen members of the forum that own gibsons buy epis and be happy with them... IDK it was just a thing of the moment... I felt like I had to get out of the store with something in my hands... Now that I have given it a little thought, I think I aint buying anything till my SG and strat arrive... after them I can start thinking in new things again... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thundergod Posted October 25, 2008 Author Share Posted October 25, 2008 I've always taken my favorite guitar to perform. That's why I bought it. Nobody is gonna hurt my guitar. I'm a pretty healthy' date=' well armed over 200 pound SOB myself, and I'm surrounded by friends.[/quote'] Hey ... me too! No matter how many times I say to myself (and my girl says it too!) "you are not taking those guitars to gigs..." I always end up taking the ones I like most and the newest. Always. So, you are right... buying a cheap one so I have a guitar "I can take everywere" is kind of a lame excuse for uncontrolable GAS... you know what's worst? I already have a cheap guitar with extensive mods, and I never take her to gigs or rehearsals... damn I never even take her home!:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thundergod Posted October 25, 2008 Author Share Posted October 25, 2008 Hey TG' date=' if you're looking for a twin for your faded LP, mine's on the market. :) [/quote'] Cool! Are you willing to ship (free) to ecuador? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thundergod Posted October 25, 2008 Author Share Posted October 25, 2008 Bite me on the Gibson snob comment. :)Hey' date=' maybe Axe is rubbing off on me... For me it's quality over quantity. Nothing against Epi supporters here. Thunder, what's that Epi going to cost you with upgrades...$500? Save that money and wait for that SG Standard.[/quote'] Sorry man... didnt mean to ofend you with that "gibson snob" comment... what I meant was "gibson custom shop snob" hehehehehe Maye more than 500 so it is better to wait for the SG (I just cant wait anymore... Im going crazy... hehehe) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flight959 Posted October 25, 2008 Share Posted October 25, 2008 I had an EPI before I bought my first Gibson. After getting the Gibson the EPI never felt the same again. Like Tim said I'd wait and get an SG Standard... Flight959 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRV-Zeppelin Posted October 25, 2008 Share Posted October 25, 2008 I had an EPI before I bought my first Gibson. After getting the Gibson the EPI never felt the same again. Like Tim said I'd wait and get an SG Standard... Flight959 I know exactly what you mean. I have an Epi that I've played faithfully for quite some time and always thought it was a rather decent guitar (stuck in Gibson PUs and tuners) and loved it... until I got my (Gibson) LP. Don't get me wrong, I still like the Epi, but I've realized how much more AMAZING the LP is in every respect. I've played Gibson lots before, the LP isn't my first, but being able to go back and forth between the two really made the difference stick out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retrosurfer1959 Posted October 25, 2008 Share Posted October 25, 2008 I think if your trying to imitate or god forbid fake a Gibby then Epi's come up short, as a stand alone brand they are not a bad playing guitar I have a Ultra II that plays and sounds really good and has a really good acoustic sound from the NanoMag. If I could get the NanoMag in a Gibson I would have purchased that instead purely out of Gibson Snobbery and since I can afford it I guess since there's nothing wrong with the Epi. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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