differences between MIC and MIK?

[Jimmy74]

I'm just wondering what the differences are in quality of woods and parts used on MIK and MIC Les Pauls. I've been told my 94 MIK LP is 100% maple and that MIK les pauls were almost always made with the same woods. What woods are used to make MIC les pauls, and what about hardware, electronics and pickups? In other words is it true that MIK lp's are of higher quality than MIC production LP's?

thanks

 

[scozz]

My personal experience with this subject is that the Korean made Epiphone LPs are much better feeling guitars to me than the Chinese ones. Also, imo the build quality is much higher on the Korean made ones. As far as sound, I never really A/B them, so I can't comment on that.

 

[River]

There are a lot of variables, including multiple, separate factories. If you do some searching here, you'll find many facts that corroborate the statement that it just doesn't work to make any blanket statements or assumptions.

I've got a 2007 MIC from the "DW" factory. It's built like a brick shit house, and flawless.

 

[Eggy]

My 96 MIK has a fair bit of a thicker body than my recent MIC. The neck is much thicker and it's an all round heavier guitar. The stock switch and pots are better, there appears to have been more attention paid to the cutting of the nut as well.
Is it a better guitar? I don't know yet. Is it different? Definately!

 

[standard man]

I have an MIC Epi paul and an MIK Agile Paul (Agiles are made at the same factory some MIK Epis are) and the Agile is a much better all around guitar.

 

[snaredrum]

my '96 MIK les paul is nice, but has a certain look to it that only the guitars of that period have. my '07 MIC LP looks incredible.

they both play and sound pretty much the same, however.

 

[snaredrum]

although i just sold the '07 and am rebuilding the other one to sell so maybe don't listen to me

 

[guitwank]

My 96 MIK has a fair bit of a thicker body than my recent MIC. The neck is much thicker[/B] and it's an all round heavier guitar. The stock switch and pots are better, there appears to have been more attention paid to the cutting of the nut as well.
Is it a better guitar? I don't know yet. Is it different? Definately!

Didn't they increase the body thickness to match the Gibson on 2004, or is this just marketing hype?

I only have the MIC LP Studio, so I can't do a comparison, but the guitar I have seems pretty well built. I know the electronics could be better, but the guitar itself doesn't seem to have any noticeable flaws.

Of course, I only paid $187 for it, so I might be holding it to less scrutiny than a higher priced guitar. In any case, I like it.

 

[Robo67]

There are a lot of variables, including multiple, separate factories. If you do some searching here, you'll find many facts that corroborate the statement that it just doesn't work to make any blanket statements or assumptions.

I've got a 2007 MIC from the "DW" factory. It's built like a brick shit house, and flawless.

Same...2007 MIC that is tight build and no flaws...also, have 2003 MIK that is amazing build and sound, without flaws....So, to me its just going to be the individual guitars....now that being said the pickups have been changed out on both to Seymour Duncan, but no issues with the build quality of either guitar.

 

[DrBGood]

All Epi contoured top LPs have a mahogany body, a multiple piece maple cap and a nice veneer over it. No such thing as a 100% maple LP.

Quality ?

MIK are a coin toss. Some are great some less great. There were multiple factories and quality control wasn't the forte of some of them. One thing they most all have in common, is that their tops are usually striking with well saturated colors.

In 2002 Epiphone opened the Gibson Chinese Qingdao plant dedicated to making only Epiphone instruments. Quality became constant from then on. In 2019, with the new Inspired by Gibson production, quality has grown, getting pretty close to what run of the mill Gibsons are.

 

[efstop]

The difference between MIK and MIC may have been more relevant when this thread was started 13 years ago

 

[noodlingguitars]

They really ought to add next to "Similar threads" "(NOTE THE DATE)".

 

[Steve T 667]

before 2020 Id be inclined to agree with MIK>MIC. Love my 02 and all, as someone mentioned the top pulled me in at first, I never really wanted a cherry burst before but this one looked really nice, and the guitar felt great in my hands. Just needed new electronics/wiring. Thinking now while writing this, my 2018 MIC es 339 is built really nice too, that too just needed some better p/u's and wiring. Altho those p/u's were a bit btter than the 02's, who has the 2018s these days. That guitar doenst really get played anymore, it has "legacy" value now heh

 

[rbraad68]

I have never played or held a MIK Epiphone. But i have / had a 2007 Cream custom and a 2016 Pelham Blue standard. The 2007 was poorly built the binding wasn't flush with the body all the way around and up the neck. In the pickup cavities to me it was a mess and had like 3 layers of what to me did not look like mahogany at all. Mystery wood i used to call it. So yeah that one got traded away. The pelham Blue one on the other hand is a rock-solid guitar prob right around 10 pounds and has one of the thinnest neck profiles I have ever played on a LP period!! Thing is solid inside and out. I kept that one prob never get rid of it... So, like all the Epiphone's out there it is hit and miss no matter where it was made. Now with my 2019's and up out of the 13 14 i bought only one i didn't like so that is pretty good odds i would say...

 

[syco]

Ya'll realize that you are responding to a almost 13 year old thread .

 

[Steve T 667]

Ya'll realize that you are responding to a almost 13 year old thread .

yeah, but i only jumped in after it rose from the grave

 

[noodlingguitars]

Ya'll realize that you are responding to a almost 13 year old thread .

I guess there's some value in reviving this thread since things have definitely changed since Cesar & Co. took over.

 

[rbraad68]

Hey syco is right. Since it's back from the grave it's worth posting in. Good thread and lots have changed since then with the new 2020 inspired by models...

 

[LtDave32]

They really ought to add next to "Similar threads" "(NOTE THE DATE)".

Yes. Yes they should.

Carrying on a conversation that's 13 years old with a guy who hasn't been here in years, well that can get a bit one-sided.

 

[Steve T 667]

Yes. Yes they should.

Carrying on a conversation that's 13 years old with a guy who hasn't been here in years, well that can get a bit one-sided.

hell, we dont need the OP to talk about our guitars to ourselves