Do Epiphones make the grade?

[Dr Don]

I've heard that the Epi's can't compete with the 'real thing' Gibsons, that's why they cost thousands more. I don't know how I can answer that, except I own a few Epiphones at present and some more in the past. My advice would be to not compare them blindfolded. LOL

 

[Charles Carter]

Epis are better guitars than I am a guitarist!
I've turned down opportunities to own Gibsons coz at my skill level and no longer gigging or recording it's unjustifiable.
Buying four or five Epis for the price of a single Gibson is brilliant.

 

[BGood]

My advice would be to not compare them blindfolded. LOL

They might try to sniff the nitro. Should also be nose plugged ... with cork ?

 

[Darkness]

My advice would be to not compare them blindfolded. LOL

My advice would be to get some P90s in your life Dr! Great collection but you're missing out!

I've had a few friends who thought badly about Epiphones until they played one or two of mine. I haven't played long enough to know, but I get the impression that Epiphone may have earned a bad reputation in the past and just hasn't shaken it off yet.

 

[Dr Don]

My advice would be to get some P90s in your life Dr! Great collection but you're missing out!

I've had a few friends who thought badly about Epiphones until they played one or two of mine. I haven't played long enough to know, but I get the impression that Epiphone may have earned a bad reputation in the past and just hasn't shaken it off yet.

I've thought about the P-90's I keep an eye for that player out there upgrading and wants to unload a set for a song. You wouldn't have an old pair laying around by chance? I had an SG Standard Gibson I sold a few years back, I could compare it on the spot to my Epi G400.I didn't notice anything that would justify the price difference.

 

[3bolt79]

I've thought about the P-90's I keep an eye for that player out there upgrading and wants to unload a set for a song. You wouldn't have an old pair laying around by chance? I had an SG Standard Gibson I sold a few years back, I could compare it on the spot to my Epi G400.I didn't notice anything that would justify the price difference.View attachment 23478View attachment 23479

I have 8 IBG EPI also have a Gibson LP Tribute and SG Standard. So yeah, they make the grade for me.

 

[3bolt79]

@Dr Don there is a comparison video in another thread, on the Epi vs. Gibson Les Paul Greeny. There are some differences between the two.

Turns out I like what the Epiphone version has to offer better than the Gibson. So I will be buying the Epi version sometime next year.

The fact that the Epi version is one half the price is just a bonus to me.

 

[Mike Hickey]

Im obsessed with my tone and recently took a chance on an Epi Modern and I think it's great. I don't keep guitars I don't play and this thing gets as much playing time as my U.S.A. guitars. I'll betcha side by side in a band situation nobody could hear a difference.

 

[AJ Richetti]

I've heard that the Epi's can't compete with the 'real thing' Gibsons, that's why they cost thousands more. I don't know how I can answer that, except I own a few Epiphones at present and some more in the past. My advice would be to not compare them blindfolded. LOLView attachment 23474View attachment 23475View attachment 23476View attachment 23477

Well concidering Gibson stopped using the inspired by when it comes to the Les Paul solid body guitar because actually Gibson didn't inspire Epiphone it's was Les Paul in the Epiphone facility in New York 1939 into 41 is where and who actually began the les Paul solid body guitar the guitar was the log so your epiphone Les Pauls are the real deal..and it was in 2019 that JC Curliegh Restored Epiphone back to where they should have always been in the first place epiphone was never meant to be a budget brand Norlin ruined epiphone when they took over Gibson and it was JC Curliegh who restored epiphone in 2019

 

[Brian Krashpad]

I have a couple Epiphone Les Pauls (see forum default pic), and a couple f-hole Epiphones (true hollowbody Casino and chambered solidbody WildKat). I also own 5 Gibson solid body guitars (4 Pauls and an SG). I play and gig with all of them. Here are the Epiphones being gigged.

 

[Epison]

First thing i would say is i feel you can't just ask "do epiphones.....". You have to designate whether you are asking about epiphones that are pre or post 2020 because the 2020 Insired by Gibson line is a different animal and much better then most previous epiphones. If speaking post 2020 my answer would be yes they make the grade if by that you mean close to gibson and even as good or better then some lower line gibsons. Luck of the draw of course can vary how the comparison goes. But they are great aside from some small things that are easily changed cheaply or even free to do. I find almost no lower end clones are 100% without some hardware or pickup upgrades. One exception is my 2020 LP special. It beat out my upper end gibson i previously owned both tone wise and payabiity.

Pre 2020 epi....well, you will see a lot of people saying opposite, but IMO they for the most part do not make the grade. The ones i had or played were cheap guitars that performed like cheap guitars, not to mention they did not have gibson specs such as maple caps (just veneer on top of carved mahogany) or ebony boards on customs. The IBL does use laurel for the boards on the standards and specials, but it's good quality laurel that looks and feels great and IMO sounds no different than rosewood. Plus the RW on older epis was low quality and i'd much prefer laurel, at least as long as it's of the quality they ARE using.

 

[AJ Richetti]

I've heard that the Epi's can't compete with the 'real thing' Gibsons, that's why they cost thousands more. I don't know how I can answer that, except I own a few Epiphones at present and some more in the past. My advice would be to not compare them blindfolded. LOLView attachment 23474View attachment 23475View attachment 23476View attachment 23477

n

 

[AJ Richetti]

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No Les Paul and Epiphone the Gibson Les Paul wouldn't exist today a fact full articles on line.. Gibson and fanboys BS ended long ago with the Gibson lawsuit disaster

 

[AJ Richetti]

Gibson is not under any circumstances epiphones big brother or anything thing epiphone is GIBSON big brother in every way

 

[AJ Richetti]

Epiphone was restored back to a high end brand in 2019 by JC curliegh.. also Gibby boys Gibson does and continues to use Veneer on their guitars.. Google it

 

[AJ Richetti]

This little gem I found last year on Reverb it's a 2019 epiphone exclusive deluxe limited run Sg Pro..the very last year for the clipped ear headstock and the g400 models but the first year that JC Curliegh Restored Epiphone back to where they should have always been.. unique it was crafted the same exact way as the original Kalamazoo 61 Sgs the same techniques were used on this Sg..hard to find in honey burst color even though one popped up somewhere I don't remember..I paid $650.00 dollars it depends on the seller I've seen one for $500.00 and another for $675.00 either price well worth it..I want my headstock to say Epiphone not Gibson..

 

[bobalu]

I've picked my Epiphones to gig over my Gibsons on many, many occasions. They are in my regular rotation of guitars and I consider them equal to my (over priced) Gibsons, and in some particular instances, much better.

 

[3bolt79]

I just ordered an Epiphone Greeny today. I was tempted to wait a few months to get enough scratch for the Gibson. Then I saw the shootout video between the Epi and Gibson versions.

Turns out that I liked the Epiphone version better. Spec wise, it had more of what I wanted than the Gibson, which just seems to be a Gibson LP Standard with Greeny pickups and a satin finish.

AMS/Zounds has 50 of them in their shared wharehouse ready to ship. I even got a small discount. The fact that it was less than half the price of the Gibson wasn’t the deciding factor, just a bonus.

 

[TheKat]

I think the main difference between Epiphones and Gibsons is the laquer. Which IMHO is a feel thing and not a sound thing.
If you want an indestructible guitar that can take a beating (without any damage if it is not too severe), get an Epi.
If you want a guitar that ages and shows it, get a Gibson.

 

[Darkness]

If you want a guitar that ages and shows it, get a Gibson.

A friend of mine learned this the bad way. He has had a Gibson LP since the 80s that has held up well. He recently forked out the money for one of those satin finish ones in cherry and he loves it, but it already flaked off where he anchors his pinky while playing. He has only played it a few times per month since August. It will only get worse. He has asked around and luthiers say no repairing, it would need a full refinish.