Epiphone QC?

[RyanThompsonGuitarist]

What is Epiphone's Quality Control like?

Say for every 1000 Les Pauls they make, roughly how many of them would you say are badly made?

 

[paruwi]

What is Epiphone's Quality Control like?

Say for every 1000 Les Pauls they make, roughly how many of them would you say are badly made?

The return rate at Epi is less than 1%

back in the 90s it was around 5%

 

[sharky007]

I just bought 3 2014's and I did have to send one back, had a problem with the neck. I got a replacement and it's all good..

 

[56GT]

The return rate at Epi is less than 1%

back in the 90s it was around 5%

Pete, did you leave a zero off the end of those quoted numbers?

 

[paruwi]

The return rate at Epi is less than 1,000%

back in the 90s it was around 5,000%

Pete, did you leave a zero off the end of those quoted numbers?

Sorry, how could I miss the zeros

Fixed it for You

 

[LowThudd]

My two Epis, Prophecy Futura and Thunderhorse explorer. are just fantastic quality.

 

[darthphineas]

Pete, did you leave a zero off the end of those quoted numbers?

Haha! No doubt.

Of the 3 Epiphone I bought this Summer, 1 had to go back. The other 1 were workable and have turned out to be keepers. There was no way around the issue with the 1.

I have 4 of the Gibson/Epiphone Kramer line. 2 of those had to go back with issues that could not be handled. 1 was fine. And 1 took quite a bit of attention.

Not saying they are horrible, as I keep buying them, but I don't think that what actually gets returned to Gibson might be an accurate indication.

 

[paruwi]

The return rate at Epi is less than 1%

back in the 90s it was around 5%

Haha! No doubt.

Of the 3 Epiphone I bought this Summer, 1 had to go back. The other 1 were workable and have turned out to be keepers. There was no way around the issue with the 1.

I have 4 of the Gibson/Epiphone Kramer line. 2 of those had to go back with issues that could not be handled. 1 was fine. And 1 took quite a bit of attention.

Not saying they are horrible, as I keep buying them, but I don't think that what actually gets returned to Gibson might be an accurate indication.

Sorry, I was wrong ......

For Epi fans who are unsure where Gibson ends and Epiphone begins, is there a cliché about Epiphone we can debunk once and for all?

I think the most misleading cliché I hear is that Epiphone is a "cheap" Gibson. To me, that's like saying Toyota is a cheap Lexus. First, the word cheap implies inferior quality. Epiphone guitars, like Toyota cars, are some of the best, most reliable products made. And I don't just say that. I know it. We diligently track and review our quality and performance. For example, we are currently at a less than 0.5% return rate. That's incredible. If our quality was not consistently great, how could we offer a lifetime warranty? Also, we interact with retailers, consumers and artists every day. Consistently, the feedback we get from them is that they cannot believe how good our instruments are. And that includes everything from fit and finish to electronics to playability. In reality, if that was not the case there is no way so many professional musicians including Zakk Wylde, Dave Navarro, Jeff Waters, Robb Flynn, Jack Casady and more would put their name on our product and proudly use our instruments. Second, Epiphone has been part of the Gibson family for 56 years now. How can there not be a shared history and similarities? But even so, Epiphone's history of and contribution to guitar design and innovation is unquestionable. And today, we have so many unique Epiphone models and features in our lineup; from our Wildkats, Masterbilts and Swingsters to our acoustic guitar preamps, Ultra-III electronics and LockTone™ hardware. So while we do offer affordable instruments, there's nothing cheap about them. And while we are proud to be part of the Gibson family of brands, we will continue to march to the beat of our own unique 140 year heritage.

http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/epiphone-les-pauls/102951-epiphone-history.html#post4994354

Jim Rosenberg: The Epiphone Interview

 

[darthphineas]

did Rosenberg detail the criteria used for what was considered a "return"? something that was returned to Epiphone? or does that include returns to the store?

I know the Epiphone I returned this summer was put back on sale by the retailer at a discounted cost...so that was a "return" that wouldn't get "returned" to Epiphone.

one of the Gibson/Epiphone Kramers was also returned to the retailer, although I do not know what they did with it. another of the Gibson/Epiphone Kramers from this year went directly to Gibson in Nashville for an exchange.

so of the 7 that I have, only 1 literally went back to Gibson and was exchanged...although the others went back to the retailers. additionally, since the one was exchanged, would they massage the data around to consider it simply as an exchange and not as a return - where it was bought from Epiphone and the customer $ was refunded?

I have no idea, I'm just curious how the data breaks down to reach that 0.5%

 

[paruwi]

did Rosenberg detail the criteria used for what was considered a "return"? something that was returned to Epiphone? or does that include returns to the store?

I know the Epiphone I returned this summer was put back on sale by the retailer at a discounted cost...so that was a "return" that wouldn't get "returned" to Epiphone.

one of the Gibson/Epiphone Kramers was also returned to the retailer, although I do not know what they did with it. another of the Gibson/Epiphone Kramers from this year went directly to Gibson in Nashville for an exchange.

so of the 7 that I have, only 1 literally went back to Gibson and was exchanged...although the others went back to the retailers. additionally, since the one was exchanged, would they massage the data around to consider it simply as an exchange and not as a return - where it was bought from Epiphone and the customer $ was refunded?

I have no idea, I'm just curious how the data breaks down to reach that 0.5%

I'm quite sure Jim Rosenberg meant the ones that return to Epi,
how should he know of the others ?
Could be there is a 'system' installed to let the retailers get the paid refund back from Epi

I think the 'refurbished' models are not counted here, too
though they don't leave the factory at all as a new guitar

 

[darthphineas]

yep. lots of mojo and smoke & mirrors used in the business world to get to stats that companies want to promote.

 

[hrfdez]

The return rate at Epi is less than 1%

back in the 90s it was around 5%

Tell him Reverend!

 

[DesolationBlvd]

The return rate at Epi is less than 1,000%

back in the 90s it was around 5,000%

Sorry, how could I miss the zeros

Fixed it for You

Geez! 1,000%! Does that mean you have to send it back ten times? Or is it that European-style comma-as-decimal-point thing?

 

[paruwi]

Geez! 1,000%! Does that mean you have to send it back ten times? Or is it that European-style comma-as-decimal-point thing?

the zero behind the comma doesn't count....

 

[rem22]

Epiphone can be rather good but it might require a set up when unboxing. Of course the fret job is ok, not great, since a great fret job would cost more than half the price of the guitar. But I believe it is the case on any sub1000$ guitar.
A lot of people recently complain about Gibson QC on the other hand, and given the price of the guitar, there is no excuse for that. Even a lot of pro dealers in France say that Gibson keep the good ones for the US, and we have the leftovers.

 

[DesolationBlvd]

the zero behind the comma doesn't count....

Whew, I was about to say...

As for actual QC - I've noticed the Indonesian Epiphone sunburst finishes tend to be pretty clowny compared to the smooth bursts on Chinese Epiphones (Qingdao plant), but the fretwork tends to be very good.

 

[56GT]

the zero behind the comma doesn't count....

Those zeros indicate precision...

 

[darthphineas]

Epiphone can be rather good but it might require a set up when unboxing. Of course the fret job is ok, not great, since a great fret job would cost more than half the price of the guitar. But I believe it is the case on any sub1000$ guitar.
A lot of people recently complain about Gibson QC on the other hand, and given the price of the guitar, there is no excuse for that. Even a lot of pro dealers in France say that Gibson keep the good ones for the US, and we have the leftovers.

you're saying that France is getting all of that .05%?

 

[paruwi]

you're saying that France is getting all of that .05%?

No, Germany.....

Rem got his from thomann

 

[darthphineas]

I know a British chap that got a Gibson Kramer from there. had so many problems with it that when he took it to an authorized Gibson shop, they had it for quite some time. the findings came back to the poor guy and read like a novel of things to be fixed. it took a bit of going back and forth with Nashville, but once he got in touch with the right guy at Gibson, things went right as rain.