Epiphone vs Gibson - Opinions and Polls

Re: Epiphone vs Gibson

Nuno — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 19:59:44 +0000

BTW, my wife bought a Parker PM10 Hornet at Sam Ash a few years ago. Parkers are very special guitars, I like them very much. If someday I buy a new guitar, I'll consider Parker.

Re: Epiphone vs Gibson

TRGuitar — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 09:25:33 +0000

Gnease, I actually like my Special more than my Studio and that instrument is in the price range of the Gibson Faded guitars. The Standards and Customs and such are very pretty, but I can't have that much cash leave my wallett at this time. Truth be known, I referred to the Studio as a $1200 guitar because thats what they go for now but mine was $750 back in 1992 when I bought it. $2000 - $3000 is a lot of money for a guitar ......... even with as much as I love them.

Re: Epiphone vs Gibson

gnease — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 07:49:51 +0000

gnease, what about the "cheap" models, like the $600-ish single-cuts LP types that PRS has? I'm tempted, but haven't played one yet -- plus I'd probably go for a soapbar (P90) instead of a 'bucker. Been looking at LP Juniors, Melody makers, Hamer's Korina version of LP Jr. and the various PRS SE guitars. Might bite on the Melody Maker, as the Hamer is a bit too much $$ for an occasional play. But that PRS SE One looks delicious for 3 or 4 bills. Can't say 'til I try, Roy. I'll let you know.

TR -- I think you are on the right track. Gibby's worn finish and studio versions seem to be far better values than the fancier fare, and less prone to out-of-the-box defects. Some people hate the worn cherry, mahogany and TV (colors)) look and feel, but Gibby seems to have done some better work on these more simply appointed guitars.

Re: Epiphone vs Gibson

TRGuitar — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 04:07:01 +0000

Time for TR to chime in. I own two Gibsons of mid to low end pricing, a Les Paul Studio ($1200) and a Les Paul Special ($750) and I own a Epiphone SG (G400 one of the higher end ones, $400). The Les Pauls are not 2 or 3 times better than the SG despite costing 2 and 3 times more. Nothing wrong with an Epiphone if it fits your buget. The Gibsons do sound better but the Epiphone had exellent attention paid to detail when it was manufactured and is one of my favorite guitars to play.

Re: Epiphone vs Gibson

notes_norton — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 02:36:58 +0000

BTW, my wife bought a Parker PM10 Hornet at Sam Ash a few years ago.

The guitar was priced at $485 (before negotiating and trade-in). The workmanship is superb. You have to look really hard to see the seam between the neck and the body (we thought it was carved out of one piece of wood until we put it under a bright light, the grain matches almost perfectly), it's shape is rather LP-ish, it has dual tap pickups (either single coil or humbucker) so it has a variety of sounds, it has a graphite nut, an ebony fretboard, Grover tuners, and the neck is every bit as nice as the slim-taper my Gibson ES-330 and my Epiphone Casino. It does have a longer scale than the Gibson/Epi (similar to Fender).

Hers looks like this but the wood is darker.

Plus it only weighs about 7 pounds.

It certainly is a good alternative to a Gibson.

We went to Sam Ash in Margate Florida, plus the Guitar Center in West Palm Beach and George's Music is West Palm Beach trying out guitars including Epi, Gibson, Fender and others and simply thought this had the best tone, feel and style for the money. The Gibsons we looked at were all very well built, the finish was nice, but she liked the shape, sound and the weight of the Parker the best (I preferred the SG, but it's her guitar ).

She's had it a few years now and is still very happy with it.

Insights and incites by Notes.

Re: Epiphone vs Gibson

Mahal — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 00:49:23 +0000

That may be true, but I'm not going to let it go that easily.

Gibson delivers many sub-par guitars for the prices charged. Those of us who know better can and will find a good one -- except maybe the ES-137, every one with quality problems. But why should it take so much effort and so many played to find a good Gibson -- not "the one for me," but a good quality Gibson instrument? PRS does not have this issue. One might not like the specific tonal palette or design/feel of a PRS, but the construction and workmanship on every speciman is brilliant, as well as consistent. This is not just my opinion, but a common view found in industry reviews of PRS. It is actually possible to order a PRS on-line and -- save damage during warehouse or transit handling -- be reasonably assured of getting a well assembled, adjusted, quality instrument. ......
It's not as if building a lot of good ones at a high success rate is some magical skill.

. Why is a cheap house built in 1930 and in need of a total "Extreme Makeover: Home Edtion" rebuild and next door to the local Crips crack house in South Los Angeles cost $300,000? Because that is what someone is willing to pay for it. Gibson's cost what they do because that is what people are willing to pay for them

Re: Epiphone vs Gibson

rparker — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 23:57:50 +0000

gnease, what about the "cheap" models, like the $600-ish single-cuts LP types that PRS has?

Re: Epiphone vs Gibson

gnease — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 23:53:22 +0000

That may be true, but I'm not going to let it go that easily.

Gibson delivers many sub-par guitars for the prices charged. Those of us who know better can and will find a good one -- except maybe the ES-137, every one with quality problems. But why should it take so much effort and so many played to find a good Gibson -- not "the one for me," but a good quality Gibson instrument? PRS does not have this issue. One might not like the specific tonal palette or design/feel of a PRS, but the construction and workmanship on every speciman is brilliant, as well as consistent. This is not just my opinion, but a common view found in industry reviews of PRS. It is actually possible to order a PRS on-line and -- save damage during warehouse or transit handling -- be reasonably assured of getting a well assembled, adjusted, quality instrument. With Gibson, there is invariably going to be some "settling" in one or more of: finish quality, botched binding, fill-in around inlays, set-up, loose hardware ... all these being aspects of design, build and workmanship already mastered by other, newer companies. It's really a shame that one has to know so much about a guitar, and try out so many to pick a good Gibson. It's not as if building a lot of good ones at a high success rate is some magical skill.

Fortunately, my local store -- not even a superchain -- sells at below web prices, so I rarely resort to the web except for unusual guitars or deals.

Re: Epiphone vs Gibson

notes_norton — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 22:05:50 +0000

<...snip...> I would never consider buying a pricier Gibson on-line. I would only buy one after an in-person examination/audition, and then only from a store that will make sure everything about the guitar is as it should be, or is corrected for me at no additional charge. <...> I would do that for ANY guitar, Gibson or otherwise.

The only way I would buy a guitar from an on-line dealer is if I had a reasonable inspection/rejection period and that the seller would pay shipping both ways if I didn't like the guitar.

It may cost a little more at a local music store (although they do compete with on-line merchants fairly well), but what you get in service is more than worth the price. Consider, any guitar that is shipped to you will probably need proper set-up by a guitar technician. This will cost you money, but is usually a free service from the local music store.

And then, no two guitars are really alike, until you hold it in your hands, and plug it in, you really don't know if it is the one for you anyway.

Insights and incites by Notes

Re: Epiphone vs Gibson

gnease — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 08:02:25 +0000

The Gibson pricing premium over many other brands far exceeds the increased quality of materials, and certainly does not correlate to a significantly higher level of quality of workmanship as compared to the rest of the guitar making industry and products. Because of the prices of Gibsons and the company's recent period (20+ years) of less than consistent quality, I would never consider buying a pricier Gibson on-line. I would only buy one after an in-person examination/audition, and then only from a store that will make sure everything about the guitar is as it should be, or is corrected for me at no additional charge. Also consider that at Gibson prices (and less), one should check similar models from PRS (e.g., the Singlecut models, nearly flawless), Hamer's Monaco line (several, in many of the LP variations), Taylor's new solid electrics and Guild's Bluesbird (probably used). The Epi Elitist line is a pretty good bet, as well. Most of these guitars will not sound exactly like a Gibby Les Paul; all sound good, but at least somewhat different, and in some cases may even be preferred to LP.