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Post by modbus on Nov 27, 2020 11:20:14 GMT -5
This is very intriguing. I've always wanted an R9, but the Gibsons are well outside what I'd want to pay for a guitar. $800, though...
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Post by Leftee on Nov 27, 2020 11:42:35 GMT -5
These are pretty nice guitars. I doubt you’d be disappointed, even at $800.
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Post by Mikeyguitar on Nov 27, 2020 15:18:43 GMT -5
You know, I have some sort of disrespect and snobbery when it comes to Epiphone...not sure why. I've even made my peace with Squire - ordered the cheapest one earlier in the year as a project, and I still haven't made any changes to it. It's actually a decent/good guitar.
I think it boils down to my perception that Fenders are more "work horse" guitars that actually look cool when they're beat to crap. So whether it's a custom shop Strat or a Squire - beat to crap equals "cool".
But I look at Gibsons as more of a "work of art" guitar, like PRS. So I guess I see Epiphone as "cheap work of art" lol. I don't know. Some of it probably also has to do with the fact that I already have a LP. But that doesn't stop me from having multiple Strat-type guitars. Ha!
I think Epiphone makes some good acoustic guitars.
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Post by budg on Nov 27, 2020 17:04:31 GMT -5
You know I have been tempted as well, but I have had several epis and been disappointed. On the other hand, finding an affordable Gibson that isn’t 10 plus lbs is almost impossible. I have a Tribute that needed some work at 1100 dollars . These Epis are supposed to be solid guitars. Might be worth checking out though.
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Post by guildx700 on Nov 27, 2020 19:26:10 GMT -5
At that price I'd rather toss a bit more money at it and get a used Gibson Studio. There are many nice variants out there. I scored a killer used 2013 Deluxe II Les Paul for $885 a few years back. I do have some Samick Gregg Bennett branded LP's (who made many of the older Epi's) and a few older Korean Epi LP's which are nice for their price, I paid well under $450 for those. But knocking at $800 for a Chinese Epi...I'll pass.
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Post by modbus on Nov 28, 2020 11:31:06 GMT -5
At that price I'd rather toss a bit more money at it and get a used Gibson Studio. There are many nice variants out there. I scored a killer used 2013 Deluxe II Les Paul for $885 a few years back. I do have some Samick Gregg Bennett branded LP's (who made many of the older Epi's) and a few older Korean Epi LP's which are nice for their price, I paid well under $450 for those. But knocking at $800 for a Chinese Epi...I'll pass.
I've got a Wine Red Studio Gibson from 1995. I like it (the 498T is a bit too hot for my tastes, maybe I'll replace it someday), but it doesn't have the looks of an R9 reissue. The think I really like about this Epi, other than the faded cherry sunburst finish, is that it has Gibson BurstBuckers, and it looks like from the photos it has a USA style ABR-1, not a metric copy. I may be looking at it wrong, though.
I always hoped I'd find a nice 70s or 80s Japanese Lawsuit LP, like a Tokai, Greco, or Burny, but I've never seen one that wasn't in Japan or priced at the same level as a used Gibson Standard.
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Post by modbus on Nov 28, 2020 11:35:50 GMT -5
...and oddly enough, I was actually looking over one of these when I noticed the Epi:
which is going in a totally different direction.
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Post by guildx700 on Nov 28, 2020 12:50:14 GMT -5
At that price I'd rather toss a bit more money at it and get a used Gibson Studio. There are many nice variants out there. I scored a killer used 2013 Deluxe II Les Paul for $885 a few years back. I do have some Samick Gregg Bennett branded LP's (who made many of the older Epi's) and a few older Korean Epi LP's which are nice for their price, I paid well under $450 for those. But knocking at $800 for a Chinese Epi...I'll pass.
I've got a Wine Red Studio Gibson from 1995. I like it (the 498T is a bit too hot for my tastes, maybe I'll replace it someday), but it doesn't have the looks of an R9 reissue. The think I really like about this Epi, other than the faded cherry sunburst finish, is that it has Gibson BurstBuckers, and it looks like from the photos it has a USA style ABR-1, not a metric copy. I may be looking at it wrong, though.
I always hoped I'd find a nice 70s or 80s Japanese Lawsuit LP, like a Tokai, Greco, or Burny, but I've never seen one that wasn't in Japan or priced at the same level as a used Gibson Standard.
I would think the Epiphone lock-tone hardware it comes with would be metric. You're also stuck with the Epiphone headstock and cheap flame veneer along with the "mahogany" the Chinese guitars use.. Not so sure one would look very R9ish in person. Seems the only real good stuff is the electronics upgrade. YMMV.
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Post by modbus on Nov 28, 2020 12:59:07 GMT -5
I hear what you're saying. I probably won't preorder it, as I'd like to see some online reviews once people get them into their hands.
From the pictures, though, it doesn't look like the posts on the bridge have the screw slots that the Chinese bridges usually have. The pictures are not very high resolution, though, so who knows.
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Post by langford on Nov 30, 2020 22:01:08 GMT -5
My first good guitar was an Epiphone dreadnought with a super-slim neck. My dad bought it for me when I was 12, after I'd spend a couple of years plugging away on a cheap 3/4 size nylon stringed instrument. I have no idea what happened to that guitar, but I have very fond memories of it through my teen years. Even today, I gravitate to guitars will a similar neck profile. But even with all that positive early experience, I can't warm up to Epiphones as a grown-up. It's total prejudice/snobbery on my part. Wish I could figure out where it came from. I can think of lots less expensive guitars by other brands that I love.
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Post by reverendrob on Dec 1, 2020 13:46:08 GMT -5
As noted, I'd probably just get a studio or something else with Burstbuckers if those are the pickups you want.
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, the 490R/498T pickup combo and would insist on it - but....as noted, this is veering into "get a real Gibson" pricing fast.
I love cheapies and all, but...
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Post by modbus on Dec 1, 2020 14:10:30 GMT -5
I've got a Studio. It's a nice guitar, but it's a plain jane. I've always thought the Sunburst Standards and Alpine White Customs were some of the prettiest guitars ever made. The Sunburst Tributes are nice, but I'd like them better if they had binding.
I'm not a collector or a particular gifted player, so spending $2400 (or more) on a guitar isn't something I'd ever do. Besides, I'd rather have three $800 guitars or six $400 guitars to mess around with. That would be more fun.
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Post by budg on Dec 1, 2020 14:34:15 GMT -5
Modbus, guitars are getting so expensive . I have a 335 I paid 1700 new as part of the CME sale before they closed the Memphis plant . I was looking at adding another, but they have gotten pricey. I’m actually quite happy with my guitars right now , but may consider an epiphone if gas starts rearing it’s ugly head.
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Post by reverendrob on Dec 2, 2020 1:39:08 GMT -5
I scratched my Custom jones with the high-end aluminum-case-from-hell HP Studios from a few years back - same electronics, and was available in alpine white with a factory Plek.
Don't care about the binding on a good Plek/finishing job, and real MOP inlays are preferred for me over block ones.
Sound is 99% of it, and well, I have my slowly yellowing monster too.
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Post by HenryJ on Dec 2, 2020 8:00:03 GMT -5
Modbus's two links sort of raise the question: Which is better, an Epiphone Gibson copy, or a real Fender Stratocaster in the same price range?
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Post by Leftee on Dec 2, 2020 8:27:38 GMT -5
Modbus's two links sort of raise the question: Which is better, an Epiphone Gibson copy, or a real Fender Stratocaster in the same price range? To me, it’s apples and oranges. Also, it’s not hard for me to build the Strat and Tele I want. I favor Gibsons any ways. And these new Epiphones are a step up from the previous versions - probably going back to the MIK Epiphones. Those were probably the best of them all, electronics notwithstanding.
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