Epiphone Guitars

[Nelskie]

I was curious to know if there were any other forum members who play an Epiphone guitar? They really have a diverse line of instruments, many of which are based off of classic Gibson designs (Les Paul, Explorer, Junior, etc.) For players who can't afford to take out a second mortgage to get a "real" Gibson guitar, they're a quality alternative that offers a lot of bang for the buck.

[Tone2TheBone]

Agiles, Tokai Love Rocks are also another alternative. I still think the Epiphones are a lot closer to actual Les Pauls than the Agile though. A Tokai is supposed to be better than the Epiphones. Still you'll end up saving a lot of money if you get one. Not sure how they're made but they look pretty good to me. Haven't tried one yet though but was considering one someday. Then I thought...why...I've already got a Gibson LP? Still would like to get a pretty sunburst one though.

PS- The Black ones with creme pickguard and rings and washer are pretty cool!

[6STRINGS 9LIVES]

I played a epi 62 sg ri and it was very cool , quality is where you find it and not neccessarily in a name, i see that Nelskie and tone2thebone both use pearly gates , i have always dug the rev 's tone , and those sd's are very close ... hey guys it would be nice to see some pics.... 6S9L

[Nelskie]

69SL - Tone has already posted a nice pic of his very tasty Les Paul on the Gibson guitars thread. Check it out.

[tehuti]

I wouldn't mind getting an Epiphone Elitist Les Paul. My first electric guitar was an Epiphone LP100. After playing for a little while I realized that I didn't like its sound so much and I sold it. However, Epis are a reasonable alternative for those of us too budget conscious for real Gibsons. It would be nice to have a Les Paul in the collection though.

[Christian]

I do play an epiphone

Elitist Les Paul are not worth it for the tag price......unless...you buy it at the same tag price of an standard epiphone because you are half way to buy an Gibson.

[Robert****]

My vocalist Myra won an LP 100 in a vocal competition. I tried and thought it felt pretty good. Never played it through a good amp though so I don't know how it sounds.

Epiphones are interesting. I was impressed by the Casino until I tried with overdrive - it just squealed due to feedback problems. It sounded really nice clean though.

[Christian]

LP 100 is like a telecaster with humbuckers and a stop tail piece(bolt-on neck)

any guitars with good wood are okay.....take care of the electronics and it'll working well.

I seen thoses Stagg (copy of a epiphone....yes epiphone) they're good but you alder/maple instead of mahogagny. the tag price is half price of the epiphone. Wood is the reason why it's cheaper. the stratocaster and telecaster is really good for below 200.00$can.

[Katastrophe]

I was really interested in Epiphones, and played one a few months ago, while my guitars were in the shop... I probably picked up a lemon that slipped through the QC guys at the factory... Fit and finish of the guitar was terrible, the paint job looked like it had been applied by a drunk, and it sounded really bad, even though I was playing through a pretty good tube amp (don't remember what the brand was, though). By way of contrast, I picked up a Fender Strat (swamp ash body, clear finish), and was amazed at how well it played right out of the box. Finish was smooth and even, the knobs and switches were tight (and worked). Electronics were well sorted and sounded great. A good setup and she'd have been perfect, IMHO.

I'm not against Epis, but if I ever buy one, its gonna have to be from a store where I can check it out and play it first. I guess that's true with any sort of "value" guitar (and more than a few of the more expensive ones as well).

[Tone2TheBone]

Trying to revive Nelski's Epiphone thread here. Anyone have more thoughts since your original posts?

Yesterday I was searching Ebay for Epis and Gibsons. I found some really gorgeous flame top Epi Les Pauls at several Ebay stores online. All were at around $400 or so underpricing Guitar Center. I told Nelski yesterday that I wasn't impressed with the Epis they sell at GC. They're too "generic" looking...they don't sell any of the real good looking flame tops you find online. I'm still considering buying an Epiphone only because I'd really like a beautiful flame top Les Paul to compliment my white Gibson. I also figure...I already have a Gibson so an Epiphone wouldn't be bad. They again if I won $2000.00 or more at the casino then it would be a no brainer. hahahaha I love thinking about my next purchases. Ok lets hear some more research findings from you guys.

[MagicBaller21]

yeah, i really think epiphones are great guitars. i played an epiphone g-400 (sg type) at the music store, and i didnt notice much, if any difference between it and the gibson faded sg. although i wouldnt get an sg (wayyy too neck heavy), but id like to get a LP sometime. i wish i could tout a gibson, but unfortunately, between saving up for college and a car, that far out of my budget. ive definately been thinking about an epiphone or agile LP. im only a little aprehensive about buying used on ebay (not necessarily ebay stores) and on online stores. do they ship them specially so they have less of a chance to break? id be worried that when i opened up the box, id find a 2 piece guitar . but that's a long ways off, but like tone said, it doesnt hurt to plan a half a year in advance for your next purchase!!

[Spudman***]

I have an Epiphone Les Paul. I have no idea what year it is. Can any of you guys tell from the serial number U510****? I got it on Ebay a couple years ago for $290 used. I'll post a photo as soon as I figure out how.

It is a cherry sunburst with trapazoid fretboard markers, Gibson truss rod cover and vintage tulip type tuners. I pulled out the original microphonic pickups and put in a set of Ibanez AH1 and AH2. Those pickups come in the older Ibanez S470 which also has a mahogany body. They sound OK. The guitar plays better than any new Gibson Les Paul that I have ever tried except for the 1980 Black LP Deluxe at the going out of business music store in the mall somewhere in the middle of America in 1980. Can you believe I passed it up because I didn't have $400? $400!!! Was I nuts? I should have robbed a mini mart or something.

Back to business: The Epi plays awesome. I think the Gibsons might have a better body tone than this one and maybe even some other Epi's do too. This isn't bad just not as good but it's still good.

My friend had a Sheraton he'd let me play once in a while. Perfect tone just didn't play as well as my LP. I also have an Agile LP with P90's that plays killer but the neck is a little chunkier than the Epi. Agiles are in my opinion better than a lot of the new Epi's. Probably made in the same factory though.
That's it for my Epi experiences.

[Tone2TheBone]

MB21, Yeah I feel the same way about buying stuff and then having it shipped to my home. I'm REAL paranoid about broken stuff and or stolen stuff. Maybe I could get GC to order the specific one I want when the time comes or something who knows.

Spudman, try this link.

http://42nd.net/explorer/forum/viewt...serial+numbers

[Tone2TheBone]

Newsflash. Guitar Center has a beeeeyouuteeful Flame Maple Top Epi Les Paul Standard Plus in stock. I snapped a pic of it with my cameraphone. Same price as the LP Standard. Has Grover tuners and a sinfully delicious Heritage Cherry Sunburst finish. Ssssssssssssssss

[Tim]

Yo! Like where is the picture?

[Tone2TheBone]

Well I don't pay for image sharing/transfer service on my cellphone. But right now it's used as my wallpaper on the cellphone.

However it does look like this...

[Tim]

Sweeeeeeeeet!

[Tone2TheBone]

I know. I can just SEE me playing that.

I went to GC for lunch today (again) and picked it up (again) and got to talk shop with a store employee and an old musician friend I used to know a long time ago. He was gassing for an Epi Les Paul Custom (the Black Beauty Custom). We caught up on where we were at musically and talked about the Epiphones. He's got a Gibson also like I do and we both discussed our dismay at the way Gibson has been run over the years and how much they want for their guitars. Between ourselves and the store employee we had discovered that at some point in our lives we all had picked up and played Gibsons that were just marvelous...and some that were lacking in quality and just mediocre and or REALLY BAD. We came to the same conclusion that the Epis nowadays are made very well...like some Gibsons are made very well. I'm sure there are awfully made Epis too. All in all it's great to stand around and chat with fellow musicians about the things you love. Even in this forum I have enjoyed spending my time here talking about all the topics we've come up with.

The wheels are in motion and soon, oh yes very soon, I shall receive my loovely new Flame Maple LP.

[MagicBaller21]

that's awesome man! that's such a sweet color! ive also been gassing for a LP (most likely a gibson copy) you'll have to write a review and stuff! if only i had enough money for an LP...

edit: your avatar is HILARIOUS!!