Epiphone Les Pauls should cost more, here's why.....

[SJM]

what about...whatever many pieces this is?

Wow! That bad boy looks like it popped right out of the 60's!

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

Wow! That bad boy looks like it popped right out of the 60's!

Complete with plywood!

 

[foreveryoung]

The only way it will ever happen is if Epiphone change the headstock to a Gibson headstock and put a made in china sticker on the back. The rub is when the overseas versions start to encroach on the US sales. This happened to Fender when Stratocasters made in Japan were far superior. These were the JV version Strats. I remember a time where it was hard to find a made in USA strat in the music store, they were all made in Japan. Kind of how it is now with a lot of guitars. One could bitch about outsourcing back then to Japan. Well, now that is happening with China. They all have slanted eyes and great craftsmen.

 

[RavenMadd]

shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

 

[foreveryoung]

Well, it is possible to get an Epiphone Les Paul that could go toe to toe with a good Gibson Les Paul. Granted upgrades have to happen, but as far as playability, there are good and bad players with any brand. I know I have a Les Paul Junior in TV yellow that plays fantastic, and still scratching my head why the thing plays so damn easy. I actually prefer playing it over my R7 Historic! And I do the wrap-around tailpiece ala Jimmy Page, yet the Junior plays easier and with 10 gauge strings! Maybe it is the fact there is only one stop bar piece and at a straight angle, therefore putting less tension on the strings. At any rate, it is a great playing guitar.

 

[lunchbox]

As an owner of six Epiphones and one Gibson, I can surely say that the Gibson is a better guitar. People who say different have not played on a Gibson, or have not developed enough expertise to understand tone, and what REALLY goes into making a life-long guitar. Very very very very few professional musicians play on an Epiphone for a reason. It isn't necessarily the pickups/electronics, and it isn't necessarily the wood. It's the combination of all of those things together. That doesn't mean that every Gibson is "king," but a nice playing Gibson vs a nice playing Epiphone, the Gibson will always win. Just pick up a custom shop Gibson and hold/feel it. You'll see what I mean.

You're stating this as if we're all beginners here. You also must have never picked up an Epi Elitist, which have arguably better quality than US made Gibby's.

There seems to be a cork stuck in your nostril.

Epiphone does make good guitars for the money though. I have no problem recommending one (with a setup) to any beginner or early intermediate player. Advanced players will not be as happy with them, and will need to replace the tuners (the grovers are a nice touch...many of my Epiphones pre-date this) and the piss-poor electronics. Because Epiphone is now basically solely Chinese, I probably would actually refer to the used market for MIK/MIJ Epiphones.

I'm an advanced player and I play one. And it makes me happy.

It also doesn't help that Epiphone is now fully a commodity-based guitar company. Guitars should be a work of art, dedication, and craftsmanship. When you play on a guitar, you should envision and feel the experienced luthier who has worked on it vicariously. I get the feeling with my Gibson.

Your 'luthier':

With my Epiphone, I think of a dirt-cheap process guitar made by people of less talent, less optimal materials, and it turned out to play ok in the end. Personally, I will either build my guitars or buy a USA instrument. Maybe Japan. Never China, and not even Korea anymore. I'm past that stage.

While my ancestors were just coming out of the caves of Europe, the ancestors of the guy that made my guitar in Qingdao probably helped to build one of the great wonders of the world.

Not to mention that the compass, gunpowder, paper and paper printing (including the first paper money), and literally hundreds of other inventions that affect our daily lives came from China.

List of Chinese inventions - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

If you're into playing guitar for the long haul, the best recommendation is to save up your pennies, and find a USA-made instrument for the right price. Until then, Epiphones are great for building dreams with young players, and they make good studio-playing guitars.

My guess is that you don't know much about studio recording. Let me help you then.

A studio is where you would want the absolutely best sounding guitar you can get your hands on, more so than playing live.

Six years ago, I would have quoted this exact post with disagreement and I would have talked up my Epiphones. Young grasshoppers, remember that through time, your search for tone will leave you to the right spot. What you "thought" sounded good in the past may in-fact be "crap" or suboptimal to your ears in the present. I've owned 25 electrics throughout 16 years, and now I'm faithfully down to two. These two are the best electrics that I have ever played. One of them happens to be a Gibson, and the other, a parts guitar with parts from all over the globe.

Enjoy your Epiphone. But keep your ears fresh.

How condescending of you. The last thing I need is advice from someone that would post what you did. You really seem to have your head up your ass.

BTW: Fenders suck. Nothing cheaper and 'Chinese like' than to have a bolt on neck.

 

[RavenMadd]

this is heading for a sticky

 

[Luka_Luka!]

Btw, are fender and squier headstocks different?

 

[paruwi]

As an owner of six Epiphones and one Gibson, I can surely say that the Gibson is a better guitar. People who say different have not played on a Gibson, or have not developed enough expertise to understand tone, and what REALLY goes into making a life-long guitar. Very very very very few professional musicians play on an Epiphone for a reason. It isn't necessarily the pickups/electronics, and it isn't necessarily the wood. It's the combination of all of those things together. That doesn't mean that every Gibson is "king," but a nice playing Gibson vs a nice playing Epiphone, the Gibson will always win. Just pick up a custom shop Gibson and hold/feel it. You'll see what I mean.

Epiphone does make good guitars for the money though. I have no problem recommending one (with a setup) to any beginner or early intermediate player. Advanced players will not be as happy with them, and will need to replace the tuners (the grovers are a nice touch...many of my Epiphones pre-date this) and the piss-poor electronics. Because Epiphone is now basically solely Chinese, I probably would actually refer to the used market for MIK/MIJ Epiphones.

It also doesn't help that Epiphone is now fully a commodity-based guitar company. Guitars should be a work of art, dedication, and craftsmanship. When you play on a guitar, you should envision and feel the experienced luthier who has worked on it vicariously. I get the feeling with my Gibson. With my Epiphone, I think of a dirt-cheap process guitar made by people of less talent, less optimal materials, and it turned out to play ok in the end. Personally, I will either build my guitars or buy a USA instrument. Maybe Japan. Never China, and not even Korea anymore. I'm past that stage.

If you're into playing guitar for the long haul, the best recommendation is to save up your pennies, and find a USA-made instrument for the right price. Until then, Epiphones are great for building dreams with young players, and they make good studio-playing guitars.

Six years ago, I would have quoted this exact post with disagreement and I would have talked up my Epiphones. Young grasshoppers, remember that through time, your search for tone will leave you to the right spot. What you "thought" sounded good in the past may in-fact be "crap" or suboptimal to your ears in the present. I've owned 25 electrics throughout 16 years, and now I'm faithfully down to two. These two are the best electrics that I have ever played. One of them happens to be a Gibson, and the other, a parts guitar with parts from all over the globe.

Enjoy your Epiphone. But keep your ears fresh.

 

[JH1]

As an owner of six Epiphones and one Gibson, I can surely say that the Gibson is a better guitar. People who say different have not played on a Gibson, or have not developed enough expertise to understand tone, and what REALLY goes into making a life-long guitar. Very very very very few professional musicians play on an Epiphone for a reason. It isn't necessarily the pickups/electronics, and it isn't necessarily the wood. It's the combination of all of those things together. That doesn't mean that every Gibson is "king," but a nice playing Gibson vs a nice playing Epiphone, the Gibson will always win. Just pick up a custom shop Gibson and hold/feel it. You'll see what I mean.

Epiphone does make good guitars for the money though. I have no problem recommending one (with a setup) to any beginner or early intermediate player. Advanced players will not be as happy with them, and will need to replace the tuners (the grovers are a nice touch...many of my Epiphones pre-date this) and the piss-poor electronics. Because Epiphone is now basically solely Chinese, I probably would actually refer to the used market for MIK/MIJ Epiphones.

It also doesn't help that Epiphone is now fully a commodity-based guitar company. Guitars should be a work of art, dedication, and craftsmanship. When you play on a guitar, you should envision and feel the experienced luthier who has worked on it vicariously. I get the feeling with my Gibson. With my Epiphone, I think of a dirt-cheap process guitar made by people of less talent, less optimal materials, and it turned out to play ok in the end. Personally, I will either build my guitars or buy a USA instrument. Maybe Japan. Never China, and not even Korea anymore. I'm past that stage.

If you're into playing guitar for the long haul, the best recommendation is to save up your pennies, and find a USA-made instrument for the right price. Until then, Epiphones are great for building dreams with young players, and they make good studio-playing guitars.

Six years ago, I would have quoted this exact post with disagreement and I would have talked up my Epiphones. Young grasshoppers, remember that through time, your search for tone will leave you to the right spot. What you "thought" sounded good in the past may in-fact be "crap" or suboptimal to your ears in the present. I've owned 25 electrics throughout 16 years, and now I'm faithfully down to two. These two are the best electrics that I have ever played. One of them happens to be a Gibson, and the other, a parts guitar with parts from all over the globe.

Enjoy your Epiphone. But keep your ears fresh.

That's funny, cause in the now 17 years I've been playing, I've owned over 50+ guitars ranging from a lowly(and my first) Cruise by VMI guitar and a Blade guitar, to a Fender YJM, Ibanez Universe, several Jems, a JS1000 and just about everything else in between. Everything from $100 to $2000+ and all a mix of New and Used.

And you know what the crazy thing is?? My favorite axe of them all, is my 1991 Fender Stratocaster MIM. Not even my YJM could replicate the tone I can get from that guitar. None of my high end Ibanez's could either. You know what the guitar costs me??

Paid $140 at a Pawn Store, when I was 17. It's the one guitar I've kept through all these years. Like I say, I've gone through them all. Only upgrades I ever did to my 91 strat, are that I scalloped the fretboard, installed Dimarzio HS3's and installed a brass nut.

Funny how my little $140 guitar, which is basically a YJM replica blew my real YJM out of the water when it came to exacting the tone I was looking for. My only regret is I've since retired my 91 Strat as she's in pretty bad shape. Needs a new neck bad, but I hate to change that. Because the neck is what helped produce the tone she gave off. So she's retired and will stay retired. I pull her off the wall from time to time and noodle with it a bit. Just to show the old gal some attention.

It ain't in the amount of serious coin you drop on your axe that makes it unique. It's how it speaks to you when you hold it. I've yet to find that same mojo(save for three of them) with any of my other guitars that I currently have. The reason I don't have the rest of the other 50+ guitars, is because they didn't have it either, so they were sent packing.

The three (of the 11 that I currently own) that speak to me, as close as possible to the Strat. Are my Ibanez JS1000, my Epiphone Les Paul Standard Ebony and my Epiphone Alpine White Studio.

Oddly enough, it's the little Studio that speaks the most volume to me. I got it on sale at Guitar Center for $300, installed a set of GFS Fat Pat's and have never looked back. The guitar is loaded with mojo, and I love it.

And for you to say that people who don't get Gibson's have never played them. Yep, I've jammed on many man. Very nice guitars, nothing to write home about though. They may fire your rockets, but to me they're just another nice expensive guitar. And I've played way more expensive stuff than a Gibson.

I managed to get to jam for several days on a Taylor 800(816 if I remember right, it's been years) series acoustic/electric. The guitar store at the time, was selling it for $7999(which at the time was high, I know that today's models run around $5k). Very very nice guitar, but the little Taylor 414 I played right next to it, spoke more to me than did the 800 series. Just liked the tone out of the 414 better. Sure the 816 was a superior built guitar. It was sterile though.

I've always looked at it is this: It ain't what you play, but the fact that you do play, is all that matters.

 

[foreveryoung]

Yeah, well I have played for 25 years and a pretty accomplished player, which means I am an "advanced player" but I don't let that get in the way of the fact that this particular guitar plays fantastic.

 

[drpietrzak]

I have or have had a number of nice guitars ...

The only thing about my Epi 1960 that is not what I like perfectly is I am a tall fret guy. Otherwise it kills.

 

[FendersRule]

How condescending of you. The last thing I need is advice from someone that would post what you did. You really seem to have your head up your ass.

BTW: Fenders suck. Nothing cheaper and 'Chinese like' than to have a bolt on neck.

It sounds like you don't need advice at all. You seem to know everything already.

btw, I didn't read any of your condescending and brutally dishonest post. People make stuff in China because it's cheaper. Not because China invented things. Way to spin things your direction. Your electronics (pickups, wiring), wood (multiple piece bodies, laminate, and poorer quality grains), craftsmanship (poorer quality frets, non-perfect binding), tuning machines (poorer quality), and setup will all be of CHEAPER quality. If you are claiming that Epiphone is "superior" to Gibson, or just "as good", then you're a tool, plain and simple.

Incase you missed what I've said, let me state again: I HAVE 6 EPIPHONE GUITARS. I HAVE USED THEM FOR 14 YEARS. Did that ring in clearer? I've played on their "Masterbuilt" series acoustics. What they are, is they are $600-sounding acoustics. They are not enough for me. They don't have the tone of a Martin, Taylor, or a good USA Guild (before Guild turned to shit). But I have no intention on playing on their "Elite" lineup.

Sorry, but I'll continue to sway everyone away from Chinese commodity-based guitars. This is my opinion, and I have the right to have it. I've never stated that Epiphones cannot sound good. My MIK Epiphone Les Paul Custom plays and sounds very nice (if only it would stay in tune). My Custom shop Gibson though? It's a whole 'nother level. It unlocked more of my playing potential, as well.

And what you said about Fender. My Fender will outplay any Epiphone out there today, sorry for breaking this news. You won't be able to buy my fender, either

 

[paruwi]

It sounds like you don't need advice at all. You seem to know everything already.

btw, I didn't read any of your condescending and brutally dishonest post. People make stuff in China because it's cheaper. Not because China invented things. Way to spin things your direction. Your electronics (pickups, wiring), wood (multiple piece bodies, laminate, and poorer quality grains), craftsmanship (poorer quality frets, non-perfect binding), tuning machines (poorer quality), and setup will all be of CHEAPER quality. If you are claiming that Epiphone is "superior" to Gibson, or just "as good", then you're a tool, plain and simple.

Incase you missed what I've said, let me state again: I HAVE 6 EPIPHONE GUITARS. I HAVE USED THEM FOR 14 YEARS. Did that ring in clearer? I've played on their "Masterbuilt" series acoustics. What they are, is they are $600-sounding acoustics. They are not enough for me. They don't have the tone of a Martin, Taylor, or a good USA Guild (before Guild turned to shit). But I have no intention on playing on their "Elite" lineup.

Sorry, but I'll continue to sway everyone away from Chinese commodity-based guitars. This is my opinion, and I have the right to have it. I've never stated that Epiphones cannot sound good. My MIK Epiphone Les Paul Custom plays and sounds very nice (if only it would stay in tune). My Custom shop Gibson though? It's a whole 'nother level. It unlocked more of my playing potential, as well.

And what you said about Fender. My Fender will outplay any Epiphone out there today, sorry for breaking this news. You won't be able to buy my fender, either

Two weeks ago you .............

Hello folks. I'm new here, and I've been playing more and more on my faithful and trusted Epiphone Les Paul Custom when I'm not hammering away on my Fralin equipped P-90 Telecaster. I've been playing for about 14 years now (jeeze...time flies).

Honestly, I really like my Epiphone. It's getting near 10 years old, and it really sounds good. It's got DiMarzio Super Distortions and a Jazz ' 57 pickup.

Because I now make a decent amount of money, I can now afford a Gibson. However, after strumming around on a few at Guitar Center, I haven't been impressed with their "Standard Premium Plus" and whatever else models they have there around the $2,000 range.

So I was told that the '59 and '60 VOS reissues are easily the best Les Pauls you can possibly buy from Gibson for the money. On the TDPRI forum, there was a pretty solid agreement with that statement, and they are supposedly miles and miles ahead of Gibson's standard models. In-fact, I think one member even said that every '59 and '60 reissue that he's played on blew his mind, as there really isn't a bad batch to be found. One other member even said that the reissues sound no different than even the best Les Paul Gibson has ever made. I think my sights are truly set on the reissues...

Are these easy to find? I currently live in Boise, ID, and we don't have any Gibson dealers near this area unless you go to Guitar Center, which I just dislike. Is it correct that I should set my sights on the '59 or the '60 Reissue to replace the Epiphone? Can these be had for around $2,000?

Thanks for the help.

http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/gibson-les-pauls/148927-buying-les-paul-what-best-2000-a.html

 

[SJM]

Did TSA50 sneak back in here?

 

[FendersRule]

You kids have too much time on your hands. You're really that bored to mow through my posts and pick out detail like that? Sorry that I left out a tense. I have "had" six Epiphones. Now I'm down to two guitars. Still trying to sell a few more. Those few being Epiphones. Amazing?

And sorry for being a guitar lover, and wondering the value of one of my axes in another thread.

Seems like this is very a'holish forum. Sorry for contributing. I'll try another place, thanks.

 

[sg13]

Dude, don't care what your deal is. Please stop derailing the thread. Thanks.

 

[JH1]

It sounds like you don't need advice at all. You seem to know everything already.

btw, I didn't read any of your condescending and brutally dishonest post. People make stuff in China because it's cheaper. Not because China invented things. Way to spin things your direction. Your electronics (pickups, wiring), wood (multiple piece bodies, laminate, and poorer quality grains), craftsmanship (poorer quality frets, non-perfect binding), tuning machines (poorer quality), and setup will all be of CHEAPER quality. If you are claiming that Epiphone is "superior" to Gibson, or just "as good", then you're a tool, plain and simple.

Incase you missed what I've said, let me state again: I HAVE 6 EPIPHONE GUITARS. I HAVE USED THEM FOR 14 YEARS. Did that ring in clearer? I've played on their "Masterbuilt" series acoustics. What they are, is they are $600-sounding acoustics. They are not enough for me. They don't have the tone of a Martin, Taylor, or a good USA Guild (before Guild turned to shit). But I have no intention on playing on their "Elite" lineup.

Sorry, but I'll continue to sway everyone away from Chinese commodity-based guitars. This is my opinion, and I have the right to have it. I've never stated that Epiphones cannot sound good. My MIK Epiphone Les Paul Custom plays and sounds very nice (if only it would stay in tune). My Custom shop Gibson though? It's a whole 'nother level. It unlocked more of my playing potential, as well.

And what you said about Fender. My Fender will outplay any Epiphone out there today, sorry for breaking this news. You won't be able to buy my fender, either

Geezus dude!! you're acting like it's unlocked the secrets of the Matrix or something..

 

[SJM]

You kids have too much time on your hands. You're really that bored to mow through my posts and pick out detail like that? Sorry that I left out a tense. I have "had" six Epiphones. Now I'm down to two guitars. Still trying to sell a few more. Those few being Epiphones. Amazing?

And sorry for being a guitar lover, and wondering the value of one of my axes in another thread.

Seems like this is very a'holish forum. Sorry for contributing. I'll try another place, thanks.

Bye!

 

[The_Sentry]

This is true. You can buy a used Gibson Les Paul Studio or SG at a cheaper price as opposed to that of a reworked Epiphone.