What's the story with Epiphone?

Hey Rami - A bit late here, but...

I've never played an Epi, but have played many Gibson and I own an older SG Special with 2 P90's...love it. I tried to dig up a picture but couldn't find one. I think you'd be happy with one as well, although I agree the headstock dipping can be mildly annoying at times.

The P90's offer a lot of flexibility with tones. I think they reissued this older design as the "Classic" or something? Not sure if those newer versions are any good though.

I would recommend holding out for a Gibson SG if possible, especially if it's going to be your only (or your primary) guitar.
 
Greg_L said:
I think the modern Epis are pretty nice. They've come a long way. I think if you bought either one of those and swapped in some good pickups, you'd have a killer guitar.
Click to expand...

I agree. I've owned the Epi Dot as my "beater" guitar for about a year and a half now. I was going to replace the stock pups, but I adjusted the overall heights and then tweaked the pole pieces and am fine with them now.

If you watch a few seconds of this clip, it is the stock Epi through an Ibanez UE300 (tubescreamer) to an Ampeg G212 ss amp. Not anywhere as loved my LP-Marshall duo, but not bad for a used $289 guitar.




 
Last edited:
Epi was Gibson's historical rival until Gibson bought them. Epis (like the Sheraton, Casino, etc.) are good guitars in their own right and not just Gibson copies. As was stated Epiphone is now basically to Gibson what Squier is to Fender; however, there are a few things that I've noticed that seem to run independently of each other. For example, Gibson started chambering their Les Pauls before Epiphone did. I have the Epi copy of the Jeff Beck '54 Oxblood LP and it is simply an amazing guitar.

As another poster stated: Try before you buy, you might find a less expensive SG you like better than the $1300 Standard.
 
Here is my input on the Gibson vs Epiphone SG. I had a 1970 era Gibson back in the late 1970s, it had a bound neck and the vibrola trem bar on it. It had a nice tone but it would not stay in tune for a couple of songs-I needed it to be dependable with the hard rock band I was in and it had to go! I got a Fender Strat and a Gibson 'The Paul which is a walnut Les Paul and I had the guitars that suited my needs for many years.

Several years ago I was trying out an amp and decided to try out an Epi G-400-and it was everything that the Gibson wasn't! Comfortable, great tone, amazing fret access-and especially it stays in tune better than any of my guitars. It is my go-to guitar for hard rock, and really just about any type of music.

As with any guitar, try as many SG style guitars you can and go with the guitar you can bond with. As for me, the Epi is worlds better that the Gibby that I had...
Tony
 
Ok, here's my two cents on this.
I have owned both Gibsons and Epiphones. From hand made Ren Ferguson Gibson custom shop acoustics and vintage Les Pauls to Epiphone Les Paul Custom Black Beauty to my current absolute favorite guitar the Epiphone B.B. King "Lucille".

I have been playing since 1955. Both as a touring musician and recording session guitarist and studio owner.

Let me say that for the most part, Any Epiphone model usually needs attention to the frets, action,intonation and electronics. Untill recently with the higher priced ones, they need new pots and switching. The newest alnico pickups are fairly decent but should still be replaced with whatever quality pickups your personal "ear" and amp require.

Example...Jason Lollar Imperials, Gibson 57 Classic's,Tom Holmes humbuckers..ect.

My Lucille when I bought it new was sent to the Legendary Mike Forrester of Forrester Kustom Guitars and had all the pots replaced with N.O.S. CTS audio taper ones, Switchcraft switching and jacks and the frets leveled,dressed and polished.

After this was done I would put it shoulder to shoulder with any Gibson I have ever owned.

Yes, the poly finish on the Epiphone does not compare to the highly labor intensive and costly hand rubbed and pains taking Nitro-Cellious finish on it's Gibson counterpart which is a huge reason for the price difference. Also the Epiphone uses metric sized hardware compared to the standard grade & sized used on the Gibson.

But the Gibson and the Epi are both made from laminated Maple back,sides and top, maple neck. Both are completely bound on the body,neck and headstock. The inlay work appears to be of the same quality. The Gibson has an ebony fretboard where the Epiphone has a rosewood one. Both have a bone nut and the Gibby has Gold Keystone tuners verses the Epi's Gold Grover kidney button ones.

I have had a Fender Squier Pro Tone Strat that was second to none of the American models I've owned. That was made in Korea and was just a great Strat by the way. Once again the comparison of the "lesser" headstock name verses the "accepted" headstock name.

At the end of the day, a small investment in upgraded electronics, pickups(possibly) and some fret work and the Epiphone will provide any good working musican with a great guitar for about 2000.00 less money unless one has "Headstock Insecurity" and has to have a certain manufactures name inlaid in it.

If you have that God given gift of the talent,hands,ears and musical soul then any decent well set up guitar will give you the avenue to pour your talent out to those that wish to hear it.

Below are pictures of my "Lucille" and my Epiphone Black Beauty LP.
 
Last edited:
Have to agree 100%. My brother's collection is amazing. But some of his best guitars are "knock-offs". He spends a lot of time when he makes an initial purchase on playing, tweaking, filing frets, then re-playing, retweaking and refiling. His SG is black though, so I guess it doesn't make the grade for you, RAMI... If you know a good guitar tech then just having the right materials and a well-played guitar will go a long way. My Yamaha acoustic gets a lot of comments on how beautiful it sounds. Cause I play it a lot, and whoever had it before me obviously did, too. Best of luck on your decision!
 
Nice Lucille, tascam4ever. My Sheraton is very similar, I also have a Epi L. P. Standard, the G-400, and a Firebird Studio.

All of them are great instruments, and fine sounding as well. See them below.
 
Anfontan, that is a very very nice collection of Epiphones.

At one time my working collection of guitars was 27 in all. Since I retired from active performing I thinned the heard all the way down to 3. My Lucille which I find very universal an instrument with the varitone and stereo outputs, my Custom Martin OMC acoustic and my last Stratocaster that I kept.

Other than those, all of the others were bought up by fellow guitarists I have worked with or road crew members that wanted one or another of the bunch.

Either way, it kind of amazes me that in the end, my most favorite electric guitar is my Lucille.
I just love the neck on it, how perfect the neck plays top to bottom, how versatile it is tone wise and how comfortable it is hung over my shoulder.
 
My epi SG 400 came with loose electronics and a loose neck....I tightened up all the electronics but, I'll be damned if I know what to do about the neck.....
 
The epi is a cheaper non usa made guitar. If it is all you can afford so be it. You do get what you pay for. The US stuff can hold value better. It would also be decent if you are a beginner. I would never be taken seriously showing up with a Gibson knock off in a pro band or gig. Just like slammer, ltd, squier.
 
I have a couple of Epiphone guitars and like a lot of individual models made by the vast array of top dollar makers they do vary and it's certainly worth doing the rounds playing every one which is found of the type required. It's one of those things, having found an Epi with really good neck alignment and finding it just feels right, I'd be more inclined to swap out some of the parts on an Epi and make a real individually tailored tool, than I would taking stuff off a Gibson because that isn't quite where I'd like it. The last Epi I got performs every bit as good as other instruments I own costing many times more. All I've done is replaced the electrics, fitted vintage zebra pickups, profiled the fret ends and made very fine alterations the edges of the fret-board binding and adjusted the truss rod. The Grover tuners it came with are fine and aside from the usual up and down with the tuning that occurs through temperature change and effects all my guitars, it stays perfectly in tune with its self although there is the few cents up or down due to the ambient.

All down to personal experiences at the end of the day I guess.

Tim
 
RAMI said:
OK, you fuckers are killing me. I don't know what to do. :D
Click to expand...

If the price difference between the epi and the gibson was $500 and you kept the guitar for 10 years...
That's only $50 a year....
Which breaks down to just 14 cents a day.
Is it worth 14 cents a day to have the guitar of your dreams instead of the guitar you have to settle for?
Just sayin
 
I would wait until you can afford a Gibson. If you get the epiphone, you'll still want the Gibson and will loose some money when you eventually sell it for the Gibson. Good things come to those who wait.
 
xcracer said:
The epi is a cheaper non usa made guitar. If it is all you can afford so be it. You do get what you pay for. The US stuff can hold value better. It would also be decent if you are a beginner. I would never be taken seriously showing up with a Gibson knock off in a pro band or gig. Just like slammer, ltd, squier.
Click to expand...

:facepalm:
 
xcracer said:
I would never be taken seriously showing up with a Gibson knock off in a pro band or gig. .
Click to expand...
if you played well enough you would.
I do this full time as a living and have for decades and no one would ever even think to wonder what i was using on a gig.
 
jimistone said:
If the price difference between the epi and the gibson was $500 and you kept the guitar for 10 years...
That's only $50 a year....
Which breaks down to just 14 cents a day.
Is it worth 14 cents a day to have the guitar of your dreams instead of the guitar you have to settle for?
Just sayin
Click to expand...
I really agree with jimi and it's simply because we're talking dream guitar here.
personally I find Epis just fine and can do anything on one of them I can with a Gibson.

But this is your dream guitar and so getting an Epi will NOT be getting your dream guitar.
If you just wanted another guitar then fine but your dream guitar has to be what you've been dreaming of.
 
Lt. Bob said:
if you played well enough you would.
I do this full time as a living and have for decades and no one would ever even think to wonder what i was using on a gig.
Click to expand...

Funnily enough you sprang to mind immediately I read that post. Lt boob will play nothing else than a [insert big brand name here] because he is a "real" pro and needs that label or no one will take him seriously... I only do about 150 paid gigs a year and only done it for about 30 years so I still need the brand name on my gear..:D
 
muttley600 said:
Funnily enough you sprang to mind immediately I read that post. Lt boob will play nothing else than a [insert big brand name here] because he is a "real" pro and needs that label or no one will take him seriously... I only do about 150 paid gigs a year and only done it for about 30 years so I still need the brand name on my gear..:D
Click to expand...
yeah ..... the more I gig the more I need a big brand name git!

:laughings:
 
I have 9 Epi's of the 15 guitars I own, 3 LP's, a G-400, a '58 Korina V, a Firebird Studio, a Dot, an EJ 200 Artist and a ''74 FT 570SB... all great guitars... high quality, great looks, sound and playability...
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top