Any thoughts on this SG?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Nakatira
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Nakatira

Nakatira

That Norwegian Bastard
http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--EPIG400V

I`m thinking about adding a SG to my guitar collection.

Allthough I know that the Gibson SG Series would be the way to go, its out of my financial reach at the moment.

So the Epi Vintage 400 Sg is what I can afford at the moment, mind you it costs 700$ over here (Norway).

So the Gibson would run for around 2800 $.

I havent tried it I`ve tried the Epi Sg Standard and thought it was poor, I`ve also have tried the Epi SG 61 reissue, And I wasent further impressed.

So I might have to wait and shell out for the real thing?

But as all gear freaks I want it now!!!! Damnit :D


So what do ya say would the Epi Vintage 400 be a good choice? :confused:
 
My band's guitarist has one. I like it. It feels like my Gibson SG; however, you'll want to replace the pickups right away. Stock Epi pickups tend to be extremely weak.
 
Nakatira, I can't read your mind, but I get the impression that you want the Gibson. You may as well save up for it and get what you really want.

I regret letting mine go, years and years back. It had the fastest neck and flattest action of any guitar I've ever played.
 
If you didn't like the standard epi, you are gonna hate this one. They just don't stack up, and why should they at that price. You want a cheap guitar, grab it. You want a nice guitar, save up. And don't forget to play 'em, all SG's are not created equal.
 
Does that thing really come with a '57 pickup? Those are usually more high end. I can't imagine them being the same as what comes with a Gibson 335 and others.

That said, why pay so much to experiment with a new guitar? It'll just make you have to start saving for a real one if you like it. Better to save up and find a nice Gibson SG that you can resell if you need to.

There is nothing like upgradiong something, spending $1000 and selling your old whatever for $900 and feeling like you got a top of the line whatever for $100 investment.

Daav
 
IMO, the G400 is a worse/lower-end guitar than the Epi SG. i've played several of them and not a one of them was worth a damn, IMO.

the fretwork is shoddy, the intonation's pretty bad, the balance is all off (very neck-heavy like some SGs tend to be), and they just don't have very good acoustic resonance (which IMO says cheap wood). i didn't even bother plugging it in, but i have no reason to suspect the pickups are worth a damn. sure you can fix the fretwork, intonation and pickups, but why bother if the guitar doesn't have it acoustically?

if you didn't like the Epi SG, you won't like this one either.

save up for the "real" gibson that you want.......or maybe get one of the Gibson "faded" SGs (musician's friend sells them for like $799). they're not as good as the 61 reissues, but they're definitely better than the G400 and Epis are.

YMMV

cheers,
wade
 
Right before Christmas last year, the wife gave me the ok to buy a Gibson SG. I went to a few shops and played 10 or so different ones, and was about ready to pull the trigger on a '61 RI when the sales person showed me a used Japanese made Epi Elitist SG in Cherry. This little Epi played better than the 61 RI I was about to purchase, and that was saying a lot.

http://www.epiphone.com/elitist/sgstandard.htm

I stole it for $450 out the door with the OHSC.

The Elitist SG has since been discontinued to my understanding, but used ones (especially in black) can be found easily in the $500 - $600 range.
 
ELITIST '61 SG STANDARD

Tuners: Grover
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Neck: 1-pc Mahogany, 22 fret
Neck Joint: Set, 16th fret
Nut: 1-11/16", Bone
Scale: 24-3/4"
Top: Book-Matched African Mahogany
Back: n/a
Sides: n/a
Rhythm PU: 50SR (USA Humbucker)
Treble PU: 60ST (USA Humbucker)
Controls: 2-V, 2-T; 3-Way Pickup Selector
Hardware: Nickel

FYI: http://search.ebay.com/elitist-sg_W0QQfromZR41

Red - http://cgi.ebay.com/Epiphone-by-Gib...ryZ33037QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Black - http://cgi.ebay.com/Epiphone-Elitis...ryZ33037QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
 
G400

I had the Goth Epi G-400 and it was sick. I swapped the pups for some 57's. The neck and frets on the one I had were perfect. Actually the stock pups weren't bad, Alnico magnets and a very nice vintage rock sound.

FWIW - I have owned 12 or more SG's and that Goth was still one of my favorites. I had the Gibson 61 SG re-issue a while back, that's an $1,800 SG. I actually liked the $350 Epi better.

It's all a matter of personal preference....
 
Thanks for the replies guys.

There`s a lot of great info here.


I think I might have to go with the Gibson SG, as I mentioned I have been less than satisfied with most of the EPI`s I`ve tried.

There might be a few winners in the EPI line, one of the best I`ve tried was the Sheeraton II.

I Thought the g400 vintage could be a gem, but as I`m proven time after time you get what you pay for most of the time.

Thanks for the help guys I think I have to go with a gibson, and Save up some cash.


Thanks a bunch for the help guys
 
A question for you

Have you played any Gibson SGs?

If not, you may not be happy with them, either.

And if you did play one and you loved it, maybe you just loved that one. Unfortunately, even with 'real' Gibsons, they are not all the same.

I personally believe in the decidedly unscientific theory of mojo. Some guitars got it, some don't, and what has it for one person, won't for another.

I played in a band 30 years ago where the guitar player had a Gibson 335. Very un-rock'n'roll, but I absolutely loved everything about that thing (except the way it looked). Didn't matter, couldn't afford one, still can't really. Anyway, about a year ago I decided to start looking at them again, and every single one I've played since then (probably a couple dozen) I have hated. I mean the way they play and feel (I don't bother plugging them in). I've also played lots of the Epis, as well as Ibanez and Washburns versions. I hated them all. (OK there was one Epi Dot Studio that wasn't too bad.) A few weeks ago, I bought a dirt-cheap 335 copy from a guy on another board, knowing that I was going to dislike it, but I thought it was freaking beautiful, so I figured it would just hang on the wall and look pretty. (I figured 250 for a piece of art that I will still enjoy looking at the rest of my life wasn't too bad.) Well, to make a long story longer, it feels great, plays pretty good (nothing that a good setup won't fix). I love it.

What I'm trying to say here, is if you know that a Gibson is the only thing you'll be happy with, then by all means save up for one. But, if you're OK with an Epi, then go play a bunch because just because you didn't like one, it doesn't mean you won't like another. But most importantly, go play as many Gibsons as you can, because you may find out that you don't really like them either, and life is too short to be unhappy about not having something that you really wouldn't like if you had it.

I don't know if any of that made sense, but I tried.
 
Good advice, notCardio.

I'd also add that when you go into music stores to demo guitars, come prepared. Bring a cloth that you can use to wipe down the neck and strings. Bring your own picks. Maybe bring a chromatic tuner. Spend as much time as you think is necessary to get the thing cleaned up and in tune, because you might end up hating an otherwise good guitar because it's been demo'd too many times without being kept clean.

Maybe this is all too elementary. If so, I apologize. :o
 
notCardio said:
Have you played any Gibson SGs?

If not, you may not be happy with them, either.

And if you did play one and you loved it, maybe you just loved that one. Unfortunately, even with 'real' Gibsons, they are not all the same.

I personally believe in the decidedly unscientific theory of mojo. Some guitars got it, some don't, and what has it for one person, won't for another.

I played in a band 30 years ago where the guitar player had a Gibson 335. Very un-rock'n'roll, but I absolutely loved everything about that thing (except the way it looked). Didn't matter, couldn't afford one, still can't really. Anyway, about a year ago I decided to start looking at them again, and every single one I've played since then (probably a couple dozen) I have hated. I mean the way they play and feel (I don't bother plugging them in). I've also played lots of the Epis, as well as Ibanez and Washburns versions. I hated them all. (OK there was one Epi Dot Studio that wasn't too bad.) A few weeks ago, I bought a dirt-cheap 335 copy from a guy on another board, knowing that I was going to dislike it, but I thought it was freaking beautiful, so I figured it would just hang on the wall and look pretty. (I figured 250 for a piece of art that I will still enjoy looking at the rest of my life wasn't too bad.) Well, to make a long story longer, it feels great, plays pretty good (nothing that a good setup won't fix). I love it.

What I'm trying to say here, is if you know that a Gibson is the only thing you'll be happy with, then by all means save up for one. But, if you're OK with an Epi, then go play a bunch because just because you didn't like one, it doesn't mean you won't like another. But most importantly, go play as many Gibsons as you can, because you may find out that you don't really like them either, and life is too short to be unhappy about not having something that you really wouldn't like if you had it.

I don't know if any of that made sense, but I tried.
Click to expand...


I hear you man, good point.

Your right about me not loving Gibson yet, I have only tried one Gibson SG and it was ok.
The Epiphones I`ve tried SG standard and 61 reissue, were not much to talk about the neck was poorly constructed, the fingerboard was a mess and the whole guitar just feels cheap in my hands.

By all means I`m no expert I learn every day.
I failed to mention that this is my line of work as well, I work at a guitar store.
So I have had accsess to a few SG`s.

The reason I was kinda hoping for the SG 400 vintage to be a find, was that it costs a bit more than the other Epi SG`s and our Gibson\Epi dealer said it was better than the rest of the EPI`s.

And it dosent look that bad either with the Naturall finish.

One more thing; This would be my reserve guitar I wouldent be betting all my money on on horse.

I normally play a Fender Strat US model, and I`m lovin it.

Just felt it was time to try another tool.

My thought was to buy the cheapo version and see if I liked it, and then maybe go hunting for the real deal.

Kinda like I did with Fender, when I first bought one I went for the Mexican make, loved it Then later after a few other models as well, I got the US strat and married it. :)


Ok I`m rambelin like a mad man, I`m confused again. :o :confused:


Thanks notCardio :D :D :D :D
 
Zaphod B said:
Good advice, notCardio.

I'd also add that when you go into music stores to demo guitars, come prepared. Bring a cloth that you can use to wipe down the neck and strings. Bring your own picks. Maybe bring a chromatic tuner. Spend as much time as you think is necessary to get the thing cleaned up and in tune, because you might end up hating an otherwise good guitar because it's been demo'd too many times without being kept clean.

Maybe this is all too elementary. If so, I apologize. :o
Click to expand...


No, this is so very true.

There`s so many times when I overhaul a guitar at my shop, the strings are dull as hell, theire black from fatty and oily hands.

I allways wash my hands before playing my strat as well as Giving it a shine with Ghs Fast fret when needed.

Thisn wasent the probelm with the SG`s I`ve tried but its a good point anyway.
 
OK, never mind

You know what you're doing. I just hate to see people waste their time wanting something that they wouldn't like if they had it.

I know what you mean about the strings, ZB. Many is the time that i now I've not liked what was probably a great guitar simply because the strings are old and gunked up or even rusty. But then you can't go around putting new strings on all the guitars you play in stores. I guess you have tolearn how to look beyond that, and then just get 'em to change them if you're really serious and ready to buy it if that makes it OK. I haven't learned how to do that yet (look past it). If one's got rusty strings, that just puts me off of it right away, and I don't bother with it any further.

Related to my story above, I've always wanted an ES-175. When Epi came out with theirs, I thought I'd try it now that it was financially in reach. Hated it. I still need to try a few more, I guess, but I even hated the feel of the body type. I think it's because of my body type. This gut has got to go.
 
Ot

Hey, Zaphod B, did you get my pics I sent this weekend?
 
My next-door neighbor in my former house had a 175, and I just didn't like it - the access to the upper frets was impossible. And as you say, the body just didn't feel very friendly, and I don't have a gut to contend with. ;) :p

I know they sound great as jazz guitars but I have zero desire to own one.
 
notCardio said:
Hey, Zaphod B, did you get my pics I sent this weekend?
Click to expand...
I don't know - I haven't checked my email! :D

I will do so tonight and let you know. :o :o
 
Zaphod B said:
I don't know - I haven't checked my email! :D

I will do so tonight and let you know. :o :o
Click to expand...

OK, well I think I sent a bunch, so if the size causes a problem, let me know and I can sent them one at a time.

And don't think I didn't catch that gut remark. ;)
 
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