Davis Sharp
Well-Known Member
Only two Epis. Although the recent talk about ES-339s has me thinking......
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How many of you collect Epiphones and how many do you own?
- Thread starter Bobbydazzler
- Start date
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Bobbydazzler
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Hi,I am on the lookout for a new epi and have been considering a tribute plus and was wondering how you like yours and how close would you rate it to a gibby lp standard?
Bobbydazzler
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That's a gorgeous strat in the last pic,nice collection!
RedRovingGrunt11b
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I've had a buying addiction for the last year or so.
The quality of the Epiphone instruments I've received has been great
and I honestly think that buying online has brought me better guitars.
I have a problem with local stores and their stock
They don't take good care of items and never have the latest stuff
I've had a thing for Custom's lately. Super cool guitars
The only one that's really had anything changed about it is the '55. New wiring and stuff. The Artisan got a TRC
The Bourbon burst is one great guitar. Pure tone in my hands. It sings
Epiphone's are no longer just 'pretty from a distance'. You can get up close and not be disappointed
I have the 100 year... I want the Malia and the black custom pro. We have similar tastes. How do the latter two I mentioned play? Give me a no-sh#t review. I love the 100 year LP.
RedRovingGrunt11b
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I currently have an Epiphone Sheraton II, 100 year anniversary LP, a masterbilt flat top and a masterbilt archtop.
MerrChan
Active Member
The Lee Malia/Artisan is One Fine Les Paul. This is the heavier of the bunch around 9.4 lbs, hangs low-sounds deadly. I could go for solid gold covers on the pickups, but the only changes I did were a 5 ply pickguard and source an old style TRC, This guitar is Great out of the box. Set it up for yourself and go. You might find yourself quacking that bridge pickup ala EVH if dialed in just so, It has that edge and is Killer for rock.
The 1955 'Inspired by' is an inspiring guitar. It's the man of the house, however, this one needed new wiring, pots, cap and jack+toggle. Mainly by choice except the toggle came broken, I did a simple source of Bourn's pots, Sprague orange caps, wiring and a switchcraft mini toggle and jack, brass jackplate. (new pointer washers needed as well) I subsequently ordered a nickel switch by mistake but went with it in the end, even though we ordered a gold nut/ring for it...it sits in the bag. I love the plain, old feel of this guitar, One of my favorites for sure.. Fat neck just feels right.
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Bobbydazzler
Active Member
Had to go look at my other post to check out the photo of your collection again.
You have some gorgeous guitars,the natural anniversary lp you got is a real beauty aswell.
Davis Sharp
Well-Known Member
@Bobbydazzler
I like the LP Trib+ very much and play it often. The neck is smooth and the action is fine. It's a bit on the heavy side. I haven't played a Gibson in decades, so I can't compare.
I like the LP Trib+ very much and play it often. The neck is smooth and the action is fine. It's a bit on the heavy side. I haven't played a Gibson in decades, so I can't compare.
Steven Howes
Active Member
I've got 4 at the moment.
339 (with P90s)
335
LP Plus top pro
Special I (with P90s)
I don't really collect them. I just like the bang for the buck, even if the prices are creeping up to where I'll start looking elsewhere. There will always be room in my house for another 335 type. I'm really gassing for a sheraton, though the price compared to a dot is making me hesitate.
I haven't modded any of the epis. There are some things that could be changed to make them better. The Nut on the dot was really cheap(Changed that). The switches could be better but they all work and don't crackle when I change so good enough for me. My squiers need more work than the eips (IMHO). The tuners on the special are pretty cheap but that guitar was $159 so I'm not going to complain to loudly.
339 (with P90s)
335
LP Plus top pro
Special I (with P90s)
I don't really collect them. I just like the bang for the buck, even if the prices are creeping up to where I'll start looking elsewhere. There will always be room in my house for another 335 type. I'm really gassing for a sheraton, though the price compared to a dot is making me hesitate.
I haven't modded any of the epis. There are some things that could be changed to make them better. The Nut on the dot was really cheap(Changed that). The switches could be better but they all work and don't crackle when I change so good enough for me. My squiers need more work than the eips (IMHO). The tuners on the special are pretty cheap but that guitar was $159 so I'm not going to complain to loudly.
Bobbydazzler
Active Member
Thanks for your opinion,much appreciated.
Bobbydazzler
Active Member
I don't usually try and upgrade them with better parts either until they develop faults etc.
If I played professionally though I would just skip the epi and pay the extra for a gibby lp standard rather than try and improve a stock epi as while they are great quality for the price it will never be the same as a good quality USA built gibson lp IMO.
I do think gibbys are slightly over priced though and have read lots of reviews of poor quality control but I still dream of getting one....if I could just win the lottery.
BTW great collection!
Steven Howes
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TXepi
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My biggest gripe is hardware and electrics. I wish Epiphone would charge a little more for these and save us the headache trying to find parts that work. The price gap is huge between Epiphone and Gibson. I would gladly pay $200-300 more for a guitar with lesser quality woods/laminates but with Top grade tuners,pots,switches, and wiring. The Epi pickups can stay the way it is now with only special or signature models getting Gibson and Seymour Duncan etc.
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Bobbydazzler
Active Member
Totally agree.
I'm sure the majority would pay the extra to save on the hassle.
I noticed that on a couple of their higher end models they have added better electronics so maybe they are testing the market to see if they sell well enough.
this one has some better hardware>>
Epiphone Les Paul Tribute Plus Outfit
http://www.epiphone.com/Products/Les-Paul/Les-Paul-Tribute-Plus-Outfit.aspx
RegularJim
Active Member
Where did you get that 3D truss rod cover? That's amazing!
TXepi
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They try but it seems they only give you so much.
My Gary Clark Jr. Casino has Gibson P90s , Grover’s, Switchcraft switch and jack but Epiphone pots. That one extra step would have been the total package for me. Well I’m gonna stop nagging. I just got an email showing the new Epi Slash Anaconda LP, I like. Lol
Raiyn
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Links in signature...
There's a chrome switch tip running around here somewhere that'll go on it too.I thought I updated the thread about replacing the TRC. I guess I didn't!
The original was a decoupage on MDF I got on eBay that self destructed.
The new one is from Hell Guitars out of Japan
Brass and enamel virtually guaranteed not to self-destruct.
It's a better picture than I've been able to manage.
I've got another project cooking, but when it's done I'll install the @Dave J modded Bigsby B5 & Vibramate combo to which I've added a Reverend Guitars soft touch spring and the Hell Guitars toggle ring to go with it.
Edit: Might as well throw in the latest picture.
Blakk
Active Member
I have 4.
2 acoustic-electrics, a SG Special and a G400
2 acoustic-electrics, a SG Special and a G400
Shadow Explorer
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Currently I have no Epis, probably I will never own one again, simply because I aim to build my own guitars
To be honest I cannot understand why anyone would want to have a large number of guitars.
To me it's more things to worry about.
1. Gibson (USA, Custom, Memphis etc) are no longer hand built, everything is made by a cnc, just like Epis.
2. Change the wiring loom and electronics. If your guitar doesn't come with grovers, change the tuners as well and call it day.
3. Will a comparison of a 7String Gibson Standard to a 7 String Epi Custom do?
If the answer is yes, you might find the rest interesting.
Necks:
Gibson has a teardrop shaped - compound radious neck that is fatter at 1st frets and gets more shredder friendly
as you move down. it's also very wide, 5cm at nut.
Construction is a 3 piece mahogany neck, no scarf joint, with rosewood fretboard, Mother of Pearl inlays and medium tall frets.
It took me a bit to get used to the gibson neck, but now it's my favorite one, of all the ones I have played on.
It's easier to play chords on it and do slight bends because of the string spacing.
It's tall frets make sliding a bit more difficult than the Epi.
Epiphone is as close to a 6 string neck as possible, the profile is a bit fatter than 60s.
It has medium jumbo frets, shredder friendly, strings are closer to each other, pretty straight forward.
It's the first 7-string I ever played and got used to it after 10 minutes.
Neck is 3 piece but not in the same way as above, it has a scarf joint and the headstock is also glued on as a seprate piece. Fretboard is a nice piece of Ebony
It also has the HP heel cutaway which should be considered as a plus
Epi's playability ca be considered better than the gibby.
Gibson has better construction, with higher quality materials.
Bodies:
Gibson is 2 piece mahogany, 2 piece thick maple top and has the traditional box heel.
Epi is unknown number of body pieces, and most likely a 3 piece top with maple veneer, both are made from one of those woods.
Meranti-lauan mahogany (it's not a true mahogany as it doesn't belong to the Meliaceae family)
Toona (Chinese Mahogany, this belongs to the Meliaceae family, so it is mahogany alright)
Most likely it's meranti.
Pickups:
Gibby has passives: Duncan JB & 59.
Epi is active EMG707 and EMG 81-7, Apples and oranges just like the necks.
Apples and oranges
Hardware:
Gibson came with a minor nut issue due to the string gauge she was equipped with.
Holds tune nicely, has a PCB board, regular 2 tone 2 vol controls. Everything works as it should.
Epi had garbage tuners that needed to be swapped. Electronics are of lesser quality but they get the job done.
The rest of the hardware is fine. With the upgraded tuners epi is as good.
Feel:
Gibson has nitro based lacquer (with plastisizers most likely.)
Epiphone has poly finish.
My hands don't sweat at all, so I prefer the Gibson, it feels softer and more "organic" when I'm just cuddling the guitar.
Epi has a glassy feel but when I'm playing, finish makes no difference really.
Sound:
Gibson sustains more (plugged and unplugged) in most (not all) places of the fretboard. It has a nice mellow sound.
Epi is in the same league, it has a more trebbly sound which is not bad at all but not as sweet as the Gibby.
4. Currently I find that both Gibsons and Epis are overpriced.
With that being sad, I would buy my Gibson again and again and again, but I'm reffering to that specific guitar.
For anything else...
Before the prices went to hell and stayed there, Epi Tributes (and many others) were very good value for money.
I'm probably repeating myself. If I wanted a 6 string guitar, I would search for a used Japanese or Chech Epi first, then Gibson, then FGN. In that order
Nothing wrong with Indonesian,Korean or Chinese Epis, it's just that the odds to get a good guitar from the above choices are much higher.
And a Photo of the Epi.
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IronSchef
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I love my four Epi's - 3 of them are bone-stock, 1 modded:
- SG400
- LP Studio - Rose Black Velvets (HB sized p90s)
- LP Tribute Plus
- ES-339 P90 Pro
