So I was at Sam Ash and the guy ask me if I want to play a Gibson Les Paul

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arcadeko

arcadeko

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instead of the epiphone les paul standard I was testing amps on.

I was like, well I have this guitar at home so I wanted to hear how the amps sound with my ($400) guitar. He's like - dude somebody offers to let you play a real expensive guitar you should do it.

So I'm like Ok, you talked me into it, let me check out the $3000 Gibson Les Paul.

So, I played it.

Sounded about the same to me.

I guess I haven't developed enough sensitivity to the force yet. i have only been playing guitar for about 8 months. The sales guy said in 2 years I would be wanting a Gibson.

Is there really $2500 more worth of tone or sound or whatever in a Gibson compared to the Epiphone?

Can you tell the difference? :confused:
 
arcadeko said:
Is there really $2500 more worth of tone or sound or whatever in a Gibson compared to the Epiphone?
Click to expand...

Gibson prices are insultingly bloated, but I'm sure the Gibson is going to be better than an Epi, though not $2500 worth.

Of that extra $2500...$2000 is just for having the name Gibson on the headstock, but they do retain most of those crazy prices on resale.
 
Gibson pricing has gone insane, at the same time their quality has slipped as well. A friend of mine had a wonderful collection of L. P. guitars many years ago (late 70's/early 80's) and I was able to play them regularly-these were a 1970's 'fretless wonder' Les Paul Custom, a 1955 GoldTop Les Paul with P-90 p'ups, a 1961 Les Paul Special and a 70's Les Paul Deluxe. I totally preferred the Deluxe to the collector Les Pauls, the mini humbuckers were really cool.

I have played guitar about 40 years and play my Epi Les Paul plus top more than my Gibson Les Paul-it feels and sounds great to me-and the Gibson I play the most is my 2004 Les Paul Melody Maker with a single P-90, that Melody Maker ROCKS!
Here is the Melody Maker-
2004MelodyMaker-crop.jpg
 
This is good news because I was hoping I wouldn't start wanting $3000 guitars
 
There are tons of really great condition LP's out there in the used market. Just watch out for the Chinese fakes on Craigslist and Ebay.

The biggest difference in the Gibson and Epi lines is in the woods used and the finish. When you get into the higher-end Gibsons many are made from one-piece bodies, with the exception being the 335's which have laminate tops and backs. Gibsons have nitro finishes while the Epi are polyurethane. And of course all the Gibsons are made in the US of A by fellow Americans and not a bunch of commies in diapers.

Les Paul Buying Guide | Musician's Friend

Gibson and Epiphone SG Electric Guitar Buyer's Guide | Musician's Friend
 
I thought any guitar that had a fixed neck (not bolt one) was considered a one-piece? Or is the neck and body actually a single piece of wood! I like the guitar to look good but I don't play out or anything so I don't really care too much about finish or paint job.

Those links didn't work for me - both said article not found.
 
One-piece bodies are a big honkin' slab o' mahagony. Or ash or alder for high-end Fenders. Gibson uses set-necks, some are one piece some 3-piece laminates. Nitro is a much more labor intense finish than poly, and is how most guitars were finished up to a couple decades ago. A lot of folks think that nitro imparts a different tone than poly too.

If those links don't work go to MF and search for the Buyers' Guides.
 
arcadeko said:
instead of the epiphone les paul standard I was testing amps on.

I was like, well I have this guitar at home so I wanted to hear how the amps sound with my ($400) guitar. He's like - dude somebody offers to let you play a real expensive guitar you should do it.

So I'm like Ok, you talked me into it, let me check out the $3000 Gibson Les Paul.

So, I played it.

Sounded about the same to me.

I guess I haven't developed enough sensitivity to the force yet. i have only been playing guitar for about 8 months. The sales guy said in 2 years I would be wanting a Gibson.

Is there really $2500 more worth of tone or sound or whatever in a Gibson compared to the Epiphone?

Can you tell the difference? :confused:
Click to expand...

Look at the Gibson Smartwoods. They have a lot of the same charm as a "real Les Paul" but at a fraction of the price. I paid $1200 for mine. It's made of specially selected wood and it has the "name", it's light weight (which i really like), and sounds very much as good as most of the Standards and Customs I've played. It's pretty much like a Gibson Studio but a little more exotic and a little thinner. Also stays in tune well and plays great. You can find em if you look for em. I don't think they make em anymore.

Happy shopping.
 
The LP Studios are nice too. I probably spring for one of those before I went with a higher-end LP.
 
If you want to check out some high-quality guitars that almost warrant their high prices --- Duesenberg.

I have a honey colored 49er that I bought used for $1200 with the original Duesenberg HSC (their cases are some of the best HSC I've ever seen and sell for over $300).
The 49er sells new for about $2200 w/OHSC, but I think it's worth that price.
I'm jazzin for one of their Starplayer TV models, but they run from $2800 to $3500, depending on model specifics...but that's a little too rich for my blood, for a guitar...and used Duesenberg guitars don't come up as often as other brands. I got lucky with the 49er.

I just wish they would do some 24.75" scale guitars...rather than all of their models being 25.5".

My 49er is such a joy to play...I can't find anything I dislike about it.
 
I just got my Epiphone Les Paul Standard ($245 on Craigslist in mint condition) about a week ago, and I am pretty happy with it. Solid Mahogony with a set neck - I get sustain for days compared to my ibanez rgt42dx (also set neck) - and I get a real nice deep tone - it's heavy as hell but worth it for that low end.

I couldn't tell much difference in the Gibson but a lot of that is probably my playing style (and limited experience) - but I love playing it so it's all good :)


44_04.jpg



Epiphone Musical Instruments - Les Paul Collection
 
My main guitar is a 79 Les Paul Custom. I didn't pay 3 grand for it but I would. I have owned a lot of different guitars and it just seems like I always come back to this one. I can't vouch for the new ones.
 
arcadeko said:
I just got my Epiphone Les Paul Standard ($245 on Craigslist in mint condition) about a week ago, and I am pretty happy with it. Solid Mahogony with a set neck - I get sustain for days compared to my ibanez rgt42dx (also set neck) - and I get a real nice deep tone - it's heavy as hell but worth it for that low end.

I couldn't tell much difference in the Gibson but a lot of that is probably my playing style (and limited experience) - but I love playing it so it's all good :)


44_04.jpg



Epiphone Musical Instruments - Les Paul Collection
Click to expand...

You gotta sticker-bomb it.

:D
 
I have an Epi LP Classic, as nice as ant Gibby I've played, and I've played a few.
 
My lefty Epi LP has Gibson Alnico 5 Burstbucker Pro pickups (whew!) and bell-shaped Gibson tuners- I upgraded both and noticed a diff with the pups, the tuners are just a cosmetic upgrade. I am very pleased with the guitar.

American made? Well, I suppose. I had occasion to call and ask Gibson if ALL the parts that went into a Gibson were made in the US, and they hedged more than those little furry animals in that animated film from a few years back! So, I can't say for sure, but I am thinkin' Gibsons are assembled in the US...
 
The folks higher up at Gibson will flat tell you that they're not building current Les Pauls to be player's guitars, but rather more as trophies for doctors/lawyers/other people with big bucks...
 
I do think that the Gibsons are, in general, of a much higher quality in terms of wood, pickups, electronics, and fit and finish. All of those things cost money. True, a lot of the price is determined by the name, but it is also a lot more expensive to build a guitar in the USA, especially considering the lengthy, labor-intensive process involved in a nitro, or just laquer in general, finish.

And yes, you can find a crappy Gibson, and a super-sweet Epiphone, but in general, I do think there's a huge difference. $2K worth? That's up to you.

That being said, my personal preference in what feels good to me seems to run towards the Studio line, especially the 'worn' finishes. Don't know why, really.

But then again, I've got a thing for cheap guitars. I've got a Vantage LP that I like better than 99% of the LPs, Gibson, Epi and otherwise. It can be had for a little over a hundred bucks on ebay, when you can find one. 80's Japanese. Now there's quality.
 
Oh, also, I've got a 'Limited Edition' Epi LP that I like, but I think I'm getting over it. I just like playing the Vantage way more. The Epi is pretty though.
 
Whatever. I am simply reporting on what I was or was not told, first-hand, when I called Gibson and asked some direct questions. You, however, are simply regurgitating what Gibson's PR department wants you to "know," and making a personal attack of it. I am sure Gibson is paying you exactly what you are worth, as a company parrot.

Csus7, your opinion is of no significance to me, whatsoever. I had occasion to verify the origins of a particular guitar, and a conversation with Gibson USA was part of that research. I reported it here for the edification of anyone who might care to know the facts. That you choose to, again, try to turn something to a personal attack says much more about your character then either me, Gibson Guitars or Epiphone Guitars. I don't know how much time you dedicated to rounding up, watching and then posting three videos, just to justify your pathological need to attack me, but the fact that you did so shows pretty clearly that you have some pretty deep-seated issues. Rather a shame, too, as you have shown the ability to be a reasonable person in several instances, but you seem to hold grudges. When you slip into your "personal attack" personality mode, you are not at your best.
 
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