Gibson or Epiphone...any owners of these out there?

[flyingbanana]

I'm trying to decide between a Gibson Les Paul Studio Faded model and an Epiphone 1960 Tribute Les Paul Standard.

I realize that they are two different guitars...the way they are made and the pickups, but they are both within my price range, and I've always wanted a Les Paul.

I'm looking for any input...advice as to what you guys think. I have played both, but still remain undecided at this point.

Thanks..

[StratDal]

I've got an Epi Korina Explorer. It's a fun guitar and is as well constructed as a Gibson. The pups aren't the greatest but they work for what I do. I can always replace them. I paid $500 for it. The Gibson Explorer was $1,100.

A friend of mine has an Epi LP and it kicks ass. He saved a ton of money by getting the Epi.

Since it sounds like cost isn't an issue, buy the guitar that you enjoy playing and gives you the most mojo. If it's the Epi, great! If it's the Gibson, great!

Then again, forget them both and get a Strat!

[rcole_sooner]

I'd go with the Faded. I own an LP Std Trad Pro, Vintage Mahogany (pretty much a Faded), and an Epi LP Std. I have changed everything I can on the Epi to Gibson stuff, and the Epi is a great guitar (was pretty good to begin with), but the VM (Faded) is still a better guitar (stock, heck the case is worth half of the cost of the Epi used).

The Faded/Studios are pretty much Std/Classics without the binding and maple caps. There could be differences in weight relief/chambering, but there are on all of the models, and I am not sure which is which.

To me Epi is to Gibson, what MIM is to MIA for Fenders. Epis will be thin veneers with multiple piece bodies, vs thick caps and one or 2 piece bodies. Oh, and the necks may be multiple piece on some Epis, but not on most Gibsons ('cept the wings). If the prices were in my range, I'd always go with Gibson over Epi, just as I'd always go with Fender MIA over MIM or Squier.

[spayne99]

I used to have an Epi Les Paul, and really it was a nice guitar but I could never quite embrace that it was Chinese made. For me, that just ruined the mojo. But in reality, yes, Epi's are perfectly good guitars but I'm not sure I'd spend more than $500 on one.

[Racer5]

Faded! I've owned the faded flying V and it was great, only reason I sold it was to fund my AVRI52. As long as the satin finish doesn't bother you--some people hate them, I think it looked/felt fine.

[Colo Springs E]

If it was me, I'd get the Gibson, but I'm sort of a snob toward Epiphones. If you like the Epi fine, you have the added bonus that it "looks" more like a traditional Les Paul. Play/listen to the both... maybe one will 'grab' you.

[flyingbanana]

Originally Posted by rcole_sooner

The Faded/Studios are pretty much Std/Classics without the binding and maple caps. There could be differences in weight relief/chambering, but there are on all of the models, and I am not sure which is which.

To me Epi is to Gibson, what MIM is to MIA for Fenders. Epis will be thin veneers with multiple piece bodies, vs thick caps and one or 2 piece bodies. Oh, and the necks may be multiple piece on some Epis, but not on most Gibsons ('cept the wings). If the prices were in my range, I'd always go with Gibson over Epi, just as I'd always go with Fender MIA over MIM or Squier.

On the AM site, it says that the Epiphone Les Paul has this,

•Body Material: Mahogany
•Top Material: Carved Hard Maple

Does this mean that it's not a veneer top, or just lingo?

[rcole_sooner]

Originally Posted by flyingbanana

On the AM site, it says that the Epiphone Les Paul has this,

•Body Material: Mahogany
•Top Material: Carved Hard Maple

Does this mean that it's not a veneer top, or just lingo?

To me that implies thick maple cap and not veneer.

Yeah, models do change, and it is hard to nail the jello to the tree, for sure.

Of course, the GC site has a lot of bad info the description of the LP Std Trad Pro too. Also the Fender site states bad info about the description of various guitars.

Honestly, I have never stripped an Epi, to know for sure, but I am pretty sure I've heard they are veneer.

We got into this about Fenders over on Strat-Talk, and some people were saying that MIA Fenders had veneers and not caps. I quickly realized that I have no real knowledge of how all the different guitars are made. The same is true here, my view is through a very limited key hole. I probably really don't have a clue what I am saying.

Did that inspire confidence?

[Jakedog]

Epi can be a good guitar for the dough. I have a Faded Studio, and wouldn't take ten Epi's for it. It's that much better.

The Epi feels like a cheap plastic toy when you pick it up (albeit a heavy one) the Faded feels like a real guitar. I've heard some people get some great sounds out of Epi's, but after trying a ton of them and working on a few of them, I'll never own one. These are not constructed "as good as a Gibson" as some would have you believe. Maybe some people can't tell the difference, although I have no idea why not. It makes me shake my head, same as when I hear somebody say that Squier or MIM is "Just as good as" American Fender.

If Epi were just as good as Gibson, there would be no price difference. trust me on this one. Doesn't matter how much cheaper Epi is to produce in China, if Gibson thought they could get $2K for one they'd damn sure be doing that. That company would NEVER leave potential profit un-tapped. Compared to MIA Gibson, the Epi uses inferior woods (all maples and mahoganys are NOT created equal) inferior electronics, fake looking plastic inlays and nut, cheaper hardware, multi piece bodies covered by a back veneer (I love it when sombody tells me their Epi has a one piece body), and multi-piece necks, the list goes on. Not a bad guitar for the price by any means, most of the time. But no where near the league of a USA Gibson.

[Birdmankustomz]

My experience with epiphone is limited, stay away from the LP100, unless you get it for next to nothing like I did (I saw a guy drop 400 on one with all sorts of crap at guitar center and just laughed). The more expensive epis I've had a hard time telling the difference between them and the gibsons. I think its funny that people are talking about epis not having the same quality regardless of materials because of the price but then there are all these raves about Squier CV's on here being better than fenders

Edit: to the OP, how about one of these?

http://www.rondomusic.com/product3215.html

[trev333]

I've got a set of Epi 2010 LP pickups with the plastic still on them...

got them off a thrash metal guy for $50.. had other PU's to swap into it when he got it..

I'm not sure where they will end up .. a HH tele maybe?...

how would they go?.. what are the stock Epi PU's like these days?..

[cntry666]

I play all Epiphone models and I think they sound great. I've owned and played some of the exact Gibson models and I did not notice a huge difference. I will tell you the upper range Epiphones over $400 are built better than the lower end Gibsons. I played a Gibson Faded SG and it was complete garbage. Sloppy fret job and tuners were crap. My Epiphone Firebird is the bomb as well as my Casino and all the Junior models. What you are paying for with Gibson is the name and binding. The Epi used market is great too, just pop in some pickups for GFS and you can hold up to any Gibson at a fraction of the price. I think Epiphone gets a bad rap like Squire but I've played Squire Teles that sound and play great so....

[Jakedog]

Originally Posted by Birdmankustomz

My experience with epiphone is limited, stay away from the LP100, unless you get it for next to nothing like I did (I saw a guy drop 400 on one with all sorts of crap at guitar center and just laughed). The more expensive epis I've had a hard time telling the difference between them and the gibsons. I think its funny that people are talking about epis not having the same quality regardless of materials because of the price but then there are all these raves about Squier CV's on here being better than fenders

Edit: to the OP, how about one of these?

http://www.rondomusic.com/product3215.html

Yeah, those CV people are crazy bunch as well. I own a CV 60's P-bass, and I've played many of the Teles and Strats, as everybody and their brother has one and they all bring them to the Jam I host weekly.

I gotta tell you, they are fantastic guitars for the money. Some of the best I've ever put my hands on for under $800-$1000, but better than the MIA stuff? I ain't lining up to trade my MIA's for CV's. I think they are probably one of the best values out there. They are wonderful, but not on par with the real thing.


You have to understand, these aren't small, private builders. These are big busniesses. If the cheaper guitars were really on par with the more expensive models, they wouldn't be so much cheaper. Aside form the rather obvious differences you can feel and see, they just wouldn't leave that potential profit out in the cold. That's not how these companies work. If Fender and Gibson seriously believed for a second that CV and Epi could compete with $1K-$2K guitars, they would price them accordingly, believe me they would. No way would they leave that much profit out in the cold if they thought they could get it.

[jglenn]

I think on the EPI LP,for the most part,there is a carved maple cap,under the thin figured laminate.I have an EPI LP ultra,pretty ax,added Seymours,and I like the hollowed out body.But man the resale on epi stuff sucks,so you better wanna keep it if you get one.

[JohnK24]

Here, enjoy this video from my local shop....this should help you decide:



I've owned a few Epis in the past (335 Dots) and now own a Gibson Antique Classic Les Paul - there is NO comparison in quality and feel, it's Gibson for me...and that name on the headstock will make you feel great each time you look at it...

[Justinvs]

I don't have an LP, but I do have an Epi SG. Is it as good as a Gibson? I have no idea, having never owned a Gibby, but I do know given what i paid for it the Epi is a great guitar. It's well made, stays in tune and the pickups are hot. So hot at times that I wonder if they put the wrong ones in it.

Edited to add the only thing really subpar on the ax is toggle switch. It will cut out on occassion. But that's a $5.00 change out. I just need to get ambitious one of these days and fix it.

Justin

[Racer5]

Originally Posted by Birdmankustomz

I think its funny that people are talking about epis not having the same quality regardless of materials because of the price but then there are all these raves about Squier CV's on here being better than fenders

In their defense, there's a lot more that goes into a Gibson style guitar. You have a carved top, large inlays, set neck, angled headstock, glued in nut, I believe the body wood quality is more important... teles were made to be assembled cheap and easy.

[Rasmuth]

Love my Epi LP classic....it is a great guitar...get 90% of a Gibson for 1/4 of the price....a no brainer really.

[rsclosson]

Maybe my ear is not as refined or I just got a hold of a good one, but my Epi LP Custom, to me, is outstanding in every way. My Epi Les Paul 7 string is also an unbelievably great axe. This thread makes me really afraid to try a Gibson Studio Faded. The last thing I need now is another case of GAS.

[stantheman]

I've got BOTH currently and have had 4 of each simultaneously back before the depression that we call a recession happened.
I disagree with a lot of what I've read from both sides of the aisle.

Jake, I'd put my Emperor Regent against any 17" Archtop except perhaps an L5 Premier or a Campellone and that's only because I haven't played a Premier. The fact that my spruce top is pressed and not carved is actually a plus in an amplified situation.
Having played an actual REAL Flying V - I mean from The 1950's - that's REAL - I concede the point, but there's not a 150,000 dollar difference between "The Real Deal" and a Korina Strings Through The Body Epiphone, if there was I'd hollar about it from the rooftops.

On the Gibson side of the coin my Les Paul Standard is what I bring when I need to be sure that nobody will forget I was there.
Would I buy a "56 Goldtop?" In a heartbeat - cashola is the only issue - not pedigree.

The Pros & Cons in my honest opinion are simply Expensive Instruments play well with light gauge strings BUT once You've got 11's or 12's or 13's on there the playing field levels dramatically.
Being a finger player 11's are as light as I'd prefer to go anyways.

Regarding Electric Hollowbody Archtops and Semi's, Asia is kicking some serious bootie, the best 16" electric being produced is FMIC's Gretsch 6120, it's so good it's scary.
Gibson pulled the Elitist Broadway because prospective buyers of L5's began having serious doubts about dropping an additional 4k on something because the headstock had a "G" on it.

But back to "Cheapos", the one I really really like a lot - to the point where I think someday it'll be considered a classic (in my mind it already is) The Epiphone Studio Dot (no dots) in Brown.
Just a beautiful Zero BS playing Guitar.