Epis and gigs

[frisco]

hello
i was wondering how many forum member gig regulary with epiphones?
Have you done it with a guitar stock? please share your experiences.

This thread is motivated after reading a post of a forum member talking about gigging with his les paul 56 goldtop

[Tweaker]

I haven't gigged in a few years, but the last one I played, I had to run my Epi Standard stock through a terrible 15w crate practice amp. Sounded just fine. We got everything plenty loud...doesn't matter what your gear is, you can make it work. Honestly I'm more concerned about the amp in use than the guitar in use. Epi's are just fine stock, especially through a good amp.

But yeah, my experience was that the gig went fine, no hangups or anything. My Epi did just fine...just as good as any other guitar!

[paruwi]

I do gigs regulary with my stock Epiphones for years......

and I still feel fine

[nbeersiii]

I gig all mine regularly and most of mine have been modded. My 56 is stock and my 04 G400 is stock and dont plan on changing a thing on those 2. The 56 was superb man. I love them and most guys that hear them or ask to play them for a song or two are suprised at how good they sound. Epiphones hold their own man. Dont be fooled by their lower price to their gibson brothers.

[Malikon]

I gig my Epiphone.

It's not stock however. Just the body is original.

[River]

Playing out is about feeling confident, not tone. Take whichever guitar seems to want to be played that day. Your fingers and your amp are responsible for the sound.

If your audience cares about your guitar's brand, better play what they like, then find a new audience as soon as possible.

[Thumpalumpacus]

Nor recently, but open-mics with my 89 G400, some fingerstyle jazz, some rock/blues.

[GERRYGTR62]

I played my AFD at a new years' gig ,it went really well, sounded great thru my Blackstar combo-----my Elite and Elitist have only seen rehearsals, but hopefully they will see a gig soon

[captainraven40]

Back when I was gigging I played a stock Ebony Epi Les Paul Custom. It sounded great. I gigged with it about 4 times a week for two years. Only back up I had was a shittastick Fender Squire. Only had to use it a couple of times while the strings were being changed from popping one. So yes they should be played out even if they are stock.

[Malikon]

I'm not 100% sure I'd trust the stock switch for a gig. I need to feel confident my guitar is not going to let me down, and I've heard way too many horror stories about failing toggle switches.

Then again lately they seen to have upgraded their internals a little bit, so who knows.

My Bonamassa seems fine, switch and jack seem sturdy enough.

[AngryHatter]

Originally Posted by river

playing out is about feeling confident, not tone. Take whichever guitar seems to want to be played that day. Your fingers and your amp are responsible for the sound.

If your audience cares about your guitar's brand, better play what they like, then find a new audience as soon as possible.

+ ∞

Nobody gives a shit what you are making music upon as long as you are making music.

[lespaul01]

Originally Posted by River

Playing out is about feeling confident,not tone.

Maybe so, but if you suck..you suck... except,, You are just confident while sucking.

[coachcbg]

Mostly, the only person that knows you’re playing an Epi rather than a Gibson is you!!! They have no idea how it ‘should’ sound or ‘does’ sound. Let’s face it, most folks that go to a gig (that are actually paying money!) just want some music. They really aren’t hip to the nuances of a ’57 original or a 57 re issue... they don’t give a shit!!!! If you’re good they’ll love it, if you’re crap they’ll boo! Doesn’t matter a bit what you’re playing! Sorry to be so simplistic but that’s what it is.

[LuisPaul]

I have gigged with Modded Gibsons and Modded Epiphones recently, they both have everything I want, and sound just as great as I expect. The epiphone is so well made, that the sound matches VERY closelly to my Gibsons sound if not, its better.

[dfarrell]

I have three (Les Paul Standard, G-400 Les Paul Custom and a Dot) that I gig with all the time. None of them are stock now but they all started out that way and I used them then. I did have a switch failure with the dot during a show - but that is why you always have a back up, right?

[tele-bastard]

I used a cheap epi studio for a couple of songs instead of my army of teles........ no problems reported.... except i almost knocked a beer and shot glass of a speaker cab. That would have been a tragedy of me.

[Rhust]

I have played gigs with charvels, MiM tele, an old Kalamazoo and cheap ass pawn shop guitars... and even some cheap acoustics... why would an epiphone not be usable on a gig?


I've heard this several times but they are solid guitars, I've played with some you would call Junk... but if you can get a sound usable at gig volumes, and it not fall apart... it will be fine... hell, in my experience they are probably drunk anyway

I'd rather gig with a $200 guitar than a $2000 guitar any day

[rknrollo]

I regularly gig with my 100% stock Del Rey also with my modded plus top.

[River]

Originally Posted by lespaul01

Maybe so, but if you suck..you suck... except,, You are just confident while sucking.

Tell that to all the rock and pop stars who suck.

I didn't say it was not about performing well, I said it's not about "teh tonz", as in Gibson vs. Epi, HB vs. P-90, PIO vs ceramic, JJ vs NOS tubz.

It's about playing well, and that takes confidence. Or smoking so much dope that you think you're playing well, when in reality you suck.

[IndianScout]

weekly for years,

[charlie chitlins]

I gig my '56 GT and ZBD quite regularly.
I've been playing out for 30 years and know my way around a guitar.
I feel that my Epis are as good as anybody NEEDS.
What you WANT is a different story.
The only totally necessary change is output jacks for a dependable gigger.
When I have the '56 GT cranked up and cooking, I never think I'm making concessions...it plays and sounds as good as ANYTHING I've owned/played.

[Neanderpaul]

Live?

If you have your sound dialed in for the room, it doesn't matter if it's the top-of-the-line super-custom shop, or an Epi LP Jr. It's been said by better guitarists than I..."If it sounds good...it is good." Set your tone with whatever guitar you plan to use, and go.

No live environment will be a true representation of your guitar's real tone. People. Room noise. There are so many factors.

If your guitar is durable, and by most accounts, Epis are. Then play.

Just make sure that toggle is good.

[Dolebludger]

I have played my Epi LP GT P90 in all sizes of venues. It has sounded good and cut through sidemen who were way too loud without overwhelming the crowd. It has been reliable. No failures of any sort. It is a good looking guitar, and if anybody "snobs me" because I am playing and Epi, I just tell them "OK, during the break I'll go home and get my '61 SG LP STD -- it won''t sound as good but at least you will shut up!". But that hasn't happened but once.

If you have a decent sized venue (not outdoors, I hope) all guitars and amps sound better than in smaller venues. They were (after all) designed for medium to large venues. Otherwise, you could just take your acoustic!

[frisco]

thanks guys, very interesting comments to take note

[paniconthenet]

I have just recently become an epi owner, but I've gigged everything I've owned. If it doesn't work on the stage, it won't work any better in the studio, and its sold. We used to pick up beaters we would test drive in a shop that morning, mod that afternoon, and gig it that night. We could salvage the necks and some of the electronics after the show if it didn't all work, but that was the wilder days in punk bands.

The more expensive pieces I own now don't see a crowd as much, but that's because I have a drinking problem and am known to break things, either on purpose, or falling on top of them.

[reSINguitarist]

Funny story...

I bring 4 guitars to gigs.

My Epi, "The Aviator," <backup... my Samick Strat: A little SRV and VH <the only songs I use this guitar for, and the Ibanez... Rush - Trees.

Fun stuff.

Point here is if you can't gig a guitar, why the hell would you own it?

Gonna catch shit for this, but: IF I had a real '59 Burst, I'd gig the hell out of it.
I would also have it on me at all times; if I couldn't, it would be surrounded by ARMED guards... And an armed ME!!!

Eli

[Malikon]

Originally Posted by Neanderpaul

Live?

No live environment will be a true representation of your guitar's real tone. People. Room noise. There are so many factors.

Very true. I was surprised the first time I had a sound check for an empty club, dialed in a sound I like, and then was stupidly surprised that the sound changed once the place was packed with soft 'sound absorbing' people.

[drpietrzak]

I am not sure if any of my guitars are unmodded. I do regularly gig with my 1960 V3.

[Epi 57 classic]

My Epi Les Paul is my Main gigging guitar I love it. It is not stock. I also have some other axes but for some reason when I have to pack for a gig my hand always reaches for my LP.

[AngryHatter]

Originally Posted by lespaul01

Maybe so, but if you suck..you suck... except,, You are just confident while sucking.

Ask Neil Young about his vocal lessons, or Dylan.
Plenty of huge names suck at singing or playing - Springsteen?
But they have an honest passion the audience recognizes and pays to see.