New Epiphone 'Inspired by Gibson' Lineup
- Thread starter Supersonic
- Start date
-
- Tags
- namm 2020
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links like Ebay, Amazon, and others.
Raiyn
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jun 16, 2017
- Messages
- 11,482
- Reaction score
- 9,653
I bet it's got a wraptail bridge that didn't require reinventing the wheel!
Davis Sharp
Well-Known Member
Yep, the main reason why I got that particular one.
Biddlin
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jan 27, 2015
- Messages
- 937
- Reaction score
- 1,020
I like the big ones OK. Like dancing with my wife, I know I'm holding on to something.
Oakman29
Member
- Joined
- Jun 26, 2020
- Messages
- 49
- Reaction score
- 47
Last edited:
bluesfordan
Member
- Joined
- Mar 25, 2016
- Messages
- 23
- Reaction score
- 37
I ordered and received a Epiphone Les Paul Custom in ebony this week. It is actually lighter than my 2 Custom Shop Historics and my first ebony fingerboard guitar. I've been very impressed with the quality and feel of the guitar. The neck is a lot like my SG the guitar is very lively and loud acoustically. I've recorded with it in my DAW and it worked quite well. I'm still waiting to unpack my amps (from the move, long story) so I've yet to hear the pickups through a guitar speaker.
Yeah! Today, my Epiphone SG Standard Ebony arrived. It is my second guitar from the Inspired by Gibson line-up (see my review of the 50s Les Paul Goldtop on page 7 of this thread). Two years ago, I already purchased the G400 Pro with the purpose to swap the electronics, pickups and nut, but that is now not necessary anymore with the better specs of this one (will need to consider whether I will put the G400 Pro on sale or whether I will keep it. It plays really nice though). Plus, I am a huge fan of the larger batwing pickguard, compared to the smaller pickguard. Will probably only swap the jack input and toggle switch with switchcrafts, plus witch hat knobs and a white rhythm / treble ring (just as I did with my worn vintage G400).
The first impression is really good! See some pictures, also one together with my IbG 50s LP and one with my other SG’s).
The first impression is really good! See some pictures, also one together with my IbG 50s LP and one with my other SG’s).
So, the new inspired by Gibson Epiphone line has been out for a few years now. Those of you who have them - what is your impression of the quality of pickups, internal components , finish. And - how are the frets holding up? Is this an improvement from past guitars made in other countries or is it about the same as previous versions?
Pickups- they're good. THey've been really good since they introduced the PRO-buckers.
Pots etc - good. good tapers good qc on the Ohm ranges. Not the most robust push pull pots IF you plan on doing a shit ton of wiring mods. If you plan on using them? totally solid.
Finish- same as it ever was.
Frets - better installs than the Juskowicz team ever did. Real frets, that wear like any other non stainless steel frets.
Quality - have you ever read so many positive reviews or seen so many positive endorsements from big name pro players??
They all say the same thing... "wow. these are really good guitars." and "!!! this sounds great!"
it's not hype. Gibson upped the QC benchmarks for epiphone and they're meeting those marks.
guitar.com
Pots etc - good. good tapers good qc on the Ohm ranges. Not the most robust push pull pots IF you plan on doing a shit ton of wiring mods. If you plan on using them? totally solid.
Finish- same as it ever was.
Frets - better installs than the Juskowicz team ever did. Real frets, that wear like any other non stainless steel frets.
Quality - have you ever read so many positive reviews or seen so many positive endorsements from big name pro players??
They all say the same thing... "wow. these are really good guitars." and "!!! this sounds great!"
it's not hype. Gibson upped the QC benchmarks for epiphone and they're meeting those marks.
“I'm pulling these bitches right off the assembly line and I'm touring with it!” Jared James Nichols on why he’s proud to use affordable gear every night
Jared James Nichols talks how he revived a destroyed Goldtop , and the one major guitar brand he’s never tried, and his self-titled record.
guitar.com
Last edited:
CanuckLP
Active Member
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2021
- Messages
- 49
- Reaction score
- 207
No real issues with the 6 I’ve purchased.
Some neck work needed on two (truss Rod adjustment). No fret work required on any of mine. Have two with the OEM Epiphone Pro-bucker neck and bridge pickups, they sound good. The ‘59 came with Gibson pickups which sounds different than the probuckers but not necessarily better. I replaced one of the guitars oem pups with Gibson 490/498 pickups from an gibson I upgraded to Pearly Gates and it does sound different with the 490/498 pickups. Has a different tone, more clarity on the neck pup. But again different does not mean better to me. One of the Epiphones I purchased came with fluence pickups which is really “gainy” and suitable for drop tuning as it keeps great clarity with distortion.
None of them have had any electrical issues. Volume, tone and switches have performed great. Keep in mind 2 things. I’m not rough on my equipment no do I use these 6-8h a day.
I like the new headstock look personally. And I generally stick with ebony fingerboards except for the ‘59. Ymmv
In short, I recommend these 100%.
Some neck work needed on two (truss Rod adjustment). No fret work required on any of mine. Have two with the OEM Epiphone Pro-bucker neck and bridge pickups, they sound good. The ‘59 came with Gibson pickups which sounds different than the probuckers but not necessarily better. I replaced one of the guitars oem pups with Gibson 490/498 pickups from an gibson I upgraded to Pearly Gates and it does sound different with the 490/498 pickups. Has a different tone, more clarity on the neck pup. But again different does not mean better to me. One of the Epiphones I purchased came with fluence pickups which is really “gainy” and suitable for drop tuning as it keeps great clarity with distortion.
None of them have had any electrical issues. Volume, tone and switches have performed great. Keep in mind 2 things. I’m not rough on my equipment no do I use these 6-8h a day.
I like the new headstock look personally. And I generally stick with ebony fingerboards except for the ‘59. Ymmv
In short, I recommend these 100%.
pontaeri
Member
I got a ES and its well made,, personal set up, stays in tune, humbuckers sound good, no need to replace h/w or electronics.. Also the lead guitarist in my band has epi j-45 and humming bird, while they don't match the gibson tone, tbut they have their own tone and its great, good balance, no muddiness, hey are really well made and yes cliche they punch above their weight, in fact if one pulls the extra thicc pickguard off and gets a thinner one, tone is better (soundboard can resonate more).
Epiphone is really hitting these out of the park both in electric and acoustic, their masterbilt acoustics like frontier / tex / excellent are getting rave reviews on the youtube front.
Epiphone is really hitting these out of the park both in electric and acoustic, their masterbilt acoustics like frontier / tex / excellent are getting rave reviews on the youtube front.
Can't say much more other than to say that over the years from 2015 forward my last ES 339 was the best of the three I've owned. But it's kind of like splitting hairs because it's not as if the others and those I've owned ever since a late 90s Sheraton sucked. Epi is building very good guitars these days.
59ersMyYear
Member
28 Flathead
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Dec 6, 2021
- Messages
- 522
- Reaction score
- 720
Haven't most Epiphones been inspired by Gibson?
Thank you for your answer, I might want to do some mods to one if I get one but I am really hoping that the frets are up to standards- this has not always been the case with past versionsPickups- they're good. THey've been really good since they introduced the PRO-buckers.
Pots etc - good. good tapers good qc on the Ohm ranges. Not the most robust push pull pots IF you plan on doing a shit ton of wiring mods. If you plan on using them? totally solid.
Finish- same as it ever was.
Frets - better installs than the Juskowicz team ever did. Real frets, that wear like any other non stainless steel frets.
Quality - have you ever read so many positive reviews or seen so many positive endorsements from big name pro players??
They all say the same thing... "wow. these are really good guitars." and "!!! this sounds great!"
it's not hype. Gibson upped the QC benchmarks for epiphone and they're meeting those marks.
“I'm pulling these bitches right off the assembly line and I'm touring with it!” Jared James Nichols on why he’s proud to use affordable gear every night
Jared James Nichols talks how he revived a destroyed Goldtop , and the one major guitar brand he’s never tried, and his self-titled record.
Thank you for the very informative and helpfu answer-
yeah there's a lot more attention to the fretwork on the current line.
I ordered a worn casino from the epiphone/gibson website direct and that guitar came setup pretty decent. The frets appear to be glued in, which is smart on a guitar that spends a month in a box on a boat crossing the ocean.
You're going to need to polish the frets but they should be pretty good.
I ordered a worn casino from the epiphone/gibson website direct and that guitar came setup pretty decent. The frets appear to be glued in, which is smart on a guitar that spends a month in a box on a boat crossing the ocean.
You're going to need to polish the frets but they should be pretty good.
