[martinr]

Hi,
I used to play semi-professionally when I was 19-21 years old in bars.  Went to GIT in Hollywood then gave up playing because a real job did not afford me the time I needed to practice....I played a custom Les Paul from age 17 to 21...am wanting to get back into practicing but don't want to spend the $$ on a Les Paul (or any Gibson).  I'm considering a Epiphone Les Paul or possibly semi-hollow body, or a Fender Modern Player Tele plus.  Does anyone have advice on an Epiphone guitar, I've read some good reviews but the prices and guitar styles have quite a price range.....thanks for your help. - Martin

[FullRangeMan]

Epiphone Les Paul is a copy.
I would go to a real Epiphone, as Casino.
Many notable musicians used Casino,
inclusive John, Paul and George.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epiphone_Casino
Or a cheap Telecaster if you want a Fender.
John's Casino is nice:
http://www.epiphone.com/Products/Archtop/Inspired-by-John-Lennon-Casino.aspx
I would avoid small body models:
http://www.epiphone.com/Products/Archtop/Ltd-Ed-ES-339-P90-PRO.aspx

Some Casino at Ebay:
http://www.ebay.com/bhp/epiphone-casino
As you know buy an musical instrument without
testing may result in a bad purchase.

[EdRo]

In the mid 90s I played in a band in the Detroit area and I didn't like the direction our music was going. I was playing bass in this band, and I had to sell all my guitar gear to get the prerequisite Ampeg bass equipment. I couldn't create music with with a bass, since guitar was my main instrument,  so off to my buddy's music store I went. After hours of looking at Jacksons, Gibson and Fenders, my friend pointed out the "best playing guitar in the store". It was an old used Epiphone Les Paul model. And my friend (who was the best guitarist I know) was right. That Epi played great! Lesson learned was guitars are different. Every single one rolling off a line somewhere will play dicferent, and you may or may not like it. That's part of the fun of finding your own instrument. Another friend brought over his $5800.00 completely custom Taylor acoustic. It took months for him to get it. When he brought it over I was afraid to touch it! We played it for awhile, and then he asked me about my Taylor 610ce that I'd just bought. I got it out, and it played so much better than his over the top guitar he just put it away and went home! I looked at HUNDREDS of acoustics to find that one special guitar that spoke to me. Look at used Epiphones and you can find a nice one. Oh, and the guitar next to my Epi is a copy, too. I built it from 75 year old mahogany, with a 24 fret neck and Gibson Les Paul pickups. It's 2" thick at the tailpiece /bridge to maximize tone. It weighs a ton but it's a tone MONSTER!!! But it's still "just a copy".

 

[Steven Stone]

I bought an Epiphone Les Paul Special II from Amazon for $100 new, delivered. Normally $160. It's a very nice guitar. The Basswood body is lighter than most pauls and very resonant. Good intonation, nice comfortable neck and good set-up. Amazing value IMHO.

[SteveFord]

Look around for a used Gibson Les Paul Studio.  It's basically a stripped down Standard and they're excellent guitars.
I'd pass on the Epiphones, get the real thing.

[HAL]

The biggest part to me is finding a neck on a guitar that feels comfortable to play.  The typical Gibson neck to me is a bit narrower and deeper than an Epiphone of the same model.  The Gibson neck profile normally feels more comfortable to me.  That changed in 2015 with Gibson going to a wider neck profile. 

I like SG's and have both Gibson and Epiphone models that I found that were comfortable to play.  Still not a fan of a Fender Strat neck as a comparison.

Try them before buying if at all possible.

[martinr]

Thanks for all of the good advice.....my search starts tomorrow at guitar center........pretty excited about it, there are a lot of instructional resources for playing and practice on the web I'm finding.  Guitar playing has changed a lot over the past 30 years it seems........

[martinr]

Purchased an Epiphone "Wildkat"  Semi hollow body......with a VoX VT 40 amp....pretty excited, the Wildkat felt the best between the ES 335 and epiphone les paul models I tried in the store.  Guitar Center had a Fender Tele Pro that felt good but I just don't like the sound of a tele as much as a humbucking style pickup....Im going to take the guitar back in a few days and have heavier strings installed and have them set up a little higher....then the practice will begin.   Thanks again for the advice....this one felt the best.  Here's a pic

- Martin

[SteveFord]

Here's a site you might enjoy:
http://forum.gibson.com/index.php?/forum/47-epiphone/

[doorman]

You simply have to play them. Each instrument is different, but don't dismiss something just because it's a
"copy". You just never know.

[martinr]

Here's a site you might enjoy:
http://forum.gibson.com/index.php?/forum/47-epiphone/

Thanks Steve!

[Odal3]

This thread inspired me to go to the guitar store today and look at some epiphone and gibson eye candy. Of course disquised as xmas shopping for the kids. Don't exactly need one but .. .so tempting!

[Russell Dawkins]

Between 1957 and 1969 Epihone guitars "were effectively identical to the relevant Gibson versions, made with same timber, materials and components, and by the same people as the contemporary equivalent Gibson guitars", according to the Wikipedia entry:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epiphone
Previous to and after that, things were more complicated.
In the 60s I was told that Epiphones were Gibson factory seconds - just as good, but with some small flaw somewhere.

[martinr]

Finally decided on a Gibson Les Pall Studio Pro FX....2014 model.  Its nice and lightweight, and came with the Gibson Les Paul Case for a few hundred dollars more than an Epiphone Les Paul.   The pickups can be switched to single coil at the volume nobs which ads versatility.   The burstbuster pickups sound great.  Essentially this plays and sounds like a Les Paul Standard but lighter and more sound switching options due to the single/dual coil pickup capability.  Hoping I wont loose circulation in my old assed leg when practicing cause its so lightweight.....here'

s a pic and Merry Christmas!  - Martin

[FullRangeMan]

Congrats its a great guitar.

[drphoto]

I honestly think with modern manufacturing, the 'copy' guitars are excellent. I adore my Squire 51. It sounds great, it plays great. I have a $1500+ american strat (my sig pic) but I play the Squire daily. Mostly because I'm afraid of damaging the delicate nitro finish on the strat, but honestly I like the feel of the neck on the Squire better. Plus it has a sound that fits with what I'm writing these days.

I'd have no problem trying an Epi, if & when I want a 'gibson' sound. But I'd probably get a Squire Classic Vibe Tele first. (but the 51 can do a decent tele sound) But always wanted a white tele w/ black pick guard and tinted neck. 

That said, I did buy an Epi Valve Std. tube amp and it was a cheap piece of shit. Either too much bass or none (the knob seemed to be an off/on switch) Then one day it just stopped working. A little net search revealed they have all sorts of cold solder issues and trannies that crap out. Not even gonna bother to fix. Gonna get a fender or vox head and use the epi as speaker cab.

[jonbee]

I have two recent Epiphones- the Genesis Pro solid body and the Joe Pass Pro arch top. Both are beautifully made and play like a dream. Different necks, though, a  fatter "C" for the jazzy Joe Pass and a thinner "D" for the solid body. I can't decide which neck I like more. They stay in tune, sound great and the new split coil pickups are a great innovation, IMO.
I'd say it is a hard sell to pay up for a Gibson over these, but considering what I spend on stereo cables alone that probably rings hollow to a real guitar pro.

[drphoto]

I have a friend who is a professional musician and a damn fine guitar player (though he plays keys, bass and sings too) And he loves Samick made in Korea guitars. Yeah, he's got real Fenders, and Gibsons, but he has several Samicks & gigs with them.

I had a couple of Samcik acoustics. Sold one and gave one to my nephew. They were very nice.

I think I stated this in another post. If you get a cheaper guitar, it may require you do do some work to bring it up to speed. I had to spend and hour or two with a file to finish out the frets on my Squire. But to me that's not a deal breaker on a $150 guitar, that is my daily player now.

Until I can play as well as my friend, which is likely never......I'll stick with my 'knockoff' guitars.

I'll probably sell that Fender, but I'm waiting to see if it goes up in price as it was a limited run.

[Odal3]

This thread inspired me to go to the guitar store today and look at some epiphone and gibson eye candy. Of course disquised as xmas shopping for the kids. Don't exactly need one but .. .so tempting!

It took me more than a while, but got this one today. It's an epiphone standard plus top pro in honey burst that I got used in excellent condition. I know it is not a Gibson, but this will be perfect for a beginner like me to play it without having to worry about messing it up. I'm really excited. Thanks again for the inspiration that you all gave me back in 2015