Do i need a Gibson..
Discussion
Guys for the last 10 years I've been regretting selling my Epiphone Les Paul.
Its now time to sort that itch out, and get a Les Paul.
However my heart is saying it needs Gibson written on it, however my head says at £800+ for the cheapest Gibson, i may not notice the difference to a decent Epiphone....
Im only a home user, nor am i a Slash, just like to make some noise to anoy the neighbours
So are the modern Epiphone's (would be brand new) good enough? or do i need a Gibson?
My Current Arsenal is a:
Fender Telecaster
Ibanez RG350DX with invader pickups
Fat stratocaster copy (bought 13 years ago for £10!, but amazingly decent)
And a Marshal DSL15C for the noise making
Cheers
Its now time to sort that itch out, and get a Les Paul.
However my heart is saying it needs Gibson written on it, however my head says at £800+ for the cheapest Gibson, i may not notice the difference to a decent Epiphone....
Im only a home user, nor am i a Slash, just like to make some noise to anoy the neighbours
So are the modern Epiphone's (would be brand new) good enough? or do i need a Gibson?
My Current Arsenal is a:
Fender Telecaster
Ibanez RG350DX with invader pickups
Fat stratocaster copy (bought 13 years ago for £10!, but amazingly decent)
And a Marshal DSL15C for the noise making
Cheers
If that's what you fancy, then don't f
k around; buy one!
Many years ago, I got a nice bonus through work and I fancied a PRS. Tried one, very much liked it, and still have it 15 years later. Before that, I walked into my local music emporium to get some new strings, and saw an Ibanez SA360 on sale. I fancied it, tried it, and - surprisingly - loved it. Sold it a couple of years later, which I regretted almost immediately, but bought another last year and it's as good as I remember.
k around; buy one!Many years ago, I got a nice bonus through work and I fancied a PRS. Tried one, very much liked it, and still have it 15 years later. Before that, I walked into my local music emporium to get some new strings, and saw an Ibanez SA360 on sale. I fancied it, tried it, and - surprisingly - loved it. Sold it a couple of years later, which I regretted almost immediately, but bought another last year and it's as good as I remember.
I too wanted a Les Paul earlier this year. I went down to Andertons with no real budget in mind at all, although I'd have struggled to go past £3K tbh. I must've played 15 or 20 sodding LPs, right from the cheapest Epi to a proper Gibson Custom job. I ended up buying an Epi LP Tribute Plus, although from Amazon 'cos it was significantly cheaper.
There was a clear difference between the cheaper Epis and the more expensive ones, but what ultimately surprised me more was just how damn close to the Gibsons the Tribute Plus actually is. I actually found it a much nicer guitar to play: Something about the GLPs just wasn't as comfy as the Epi, and the Epi sounded 98% as good on the amp I ran them through (Victory V30 and matching 1x12 cab, which is what I use at home but with the 2x12). The Tribute Plus does have genuine Gibson 57 pups which massively helps the tone, but honestly I preferred the Epi to the Gibsons.
Maybe I'm not a good enough player to appreciate the subtleties. Maybe the Epis were better setup. Maybe part of me just mentally wanted the cheaper one to be better. All I know is that I'm very happy with my purchase, and whilst I do still gaze fondly at GLPs I'm also in no rush to go and buy one as I know I preferred the feel of the Epi.
What I'm getting at here I guess is that you really need to try as many as possible, but seriously do not write off the Epis as inferior because I'm not convinced they are these days. Ultimately if you want that classic headstock then only a Gibson will do, but I adore my Epi Tribute Plus.
There was a clear difference between the cheaper Epis and the more expensive ones, but what ultimately surprised me more was just how damn close to the Gibsons the Tribute Plus actually is. I actually found it a much nicer guitar to play: Something about the GLPs just wasn't as comfy as the Epi, and the Epi sounded 98% as good on the amp I ran them through (Victory V30 and matching 1x12 cab, which is what I use at home but with the 2x12). The Tribute Plus does have genuine Gibson 57 pups which massively helps the tone, but honestly I preferred the Epi to the Gibsons.
Maybe I'm not a good enough player to appreciate the subtleties. Maybe the Epis were better setup. Maybe part of me just mentally wanted the cheaper one to be better. All I know is that I'm very happy with my purchase, and whilst I do still gaze fondly at GLPs I'm also in no rush to go and buy one as I know I preferred the feel of the Epi.
What I'm getting at here I guess is that you really need to try as many as possible, but seriously do not write off the Epis as inferior because I'm not convinced they are these days. Ultimately if you want that classic headstock then only a Gibson will do, but I adore my Epi Tribute Plus.
I've only recently added a Gibson LP to my collection after years of having (and still have) Fenders, US and MIM versions. I scratched the itch partly because of the 'guitar porn on the wall' but I was amazed, for my style of play, it is so much a better all rounder than any of the Fenders.
Like you, I listened to the Gibsons vs the Epis, and then the Studios vs the Standard, and ended up deciding on a Gibson LP Studio which I thought, for the money, was the best option. Now thinking about adding more Gibsons to the fold!
Cheers
Bristol spark said:
My current thoughts are that a top Epiphone may be better than the cheapest Gibson.
Do you have a good idea of the sound you're after? There's such a range of Epis that it took me a while to get my head around the options.If it's a classic Les Paul sound you want, I'll add my vote for the Epi Tribute Plus; got mine shortly before Ekona... and it sounds soooo good... long tenon neck and Gibson Classic 57 pickup combination lets it sing for days.
I like it so much it left me curious about other Epi LPs, and I, er, accidentally "reinvested" the proceeds of flogging the garden furniture (we don't need to replace it until next summer, do we? the money was just resting in my account...) with some mid-week eBay sniping ...
Of the two nearly-new ones; the Tribute is the stand-out winner on tone and is a keeper for sure, the Prophecy is very different (24-frets, active EMGs and very slinky, satin finish neck) but beautifully built. The Tribute's staying (forever!), but it's going to be a tough choice between the others when it's garden furniture season...
I'd not owned any Epiphones before this year but on the basis of these I think their high end models are terrific value.
Bristol spark said:
Will buy the one i like the most
And one can't say fairer than that!As for comparing the most expensive Epi vs the cheapest Gibson:-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsL6X8uG9-U
I have three Gibson LPs and (used to be four but sold one last year, needed some cash).
But my main guitar in the covers band I play in is a custom shop Nocaster.
The LPs are great guitars but I hardly use them as I find the Fenders more adaptable to the various types of music I play in the band without having to switch all the time.
I'm doing up the house a bit at the moment and need cash so this ones on EBay. 1977. Great guitar but mostly sits in its case under the bed
But my main guitar in the covers band I play in is a custom shop Nocaster.
The LPs are great guitars but I hardly use them as I find the Fenders more adaptable to the various types of music I play in the band without having to switch all the time.
I'm doing up the house a bit at the moment and need cash so this ones on EBay. 1977. Great guitar but mostly sits in its case under the bed
If headstock badge snobbery isn't a consideration then you could do worse than checking out Vintage's V100 line. They changed the shape slightly a couple (or few) years back, particularly the heel to make high fret access a bit more comfortable.
I have a 2007 lefty V100 Icon, the pseudo-relic'd Peter Green/Gary Moore version, which I bought second hand for under £200. As with a lot of far-east built guitars at the lower price ranges it's the electronics that tend to let things down, so I rewired mine to 50's spec with CTS pots and paper-in-oil caps, and put Seymour pups in (though the Trev Wilkinson-designed originals, built to authentic PAF specs, are pretty decent). It's a cracking guitar now with astonishing value for money.
I have a 2007 lefty V100 Icon, the pseudo-relic'd Peter Green/Gary Moore version, which I bought second hand for under £200. As with a lot of far-east built guitars at the lower price ranges it's the electronics that tend to let things down, so I rewired mine to 50's spec with CTS pots and paper-in-oil caps, and put Seymour pups in (though the Trev Wilkinson-designed originals, built to authentic PAF specs, are pretty decent). It's a cracking guitar now with astonishing value for money.
Well after a play i a shop, i had a decision between a Gibson Studio for £950 and a Epiphone Standard Pro for £520, both is cherry burst.
Yes the quality of the Gibson was ever so slightly better, odd tiny imperfection on the Epiphone.
However could hardly tell the difference playing them both.
In fact the Epiphone sounded slightly better, possibly better pickups?
So went for the Epiphone, same as this:
https://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/product/12051212522...
Its certainly a fair bit heavier than my Fender, but the sound is completely different, much more powerful sound, and much more sustain!
Will certainly do until i can justify £2K on a proper Gibson.
Yes the quality of the Gibson was ever so slightly better, odd tiny imperfection on the Epiphone.
However could hardly tell the difference playing them both.
In fact the Epiphone sounded slightly better, possibly better pickups?
So went for the Epiphone, same as this:
https://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/product/12051212522...
Its certainly a fair bit heavier than my Fender, but the sound is completely different, much more powerful sound, and much more sustain!
Will certainly do until i can justify £2K on a proper Gibson.
Thing about Gibsons and their like, the need for a proper guitar stand is even more pressing, that headstock is so wanting to snap off, it's even got steel strings pulling it in the snapping off direction. One little slip, back of the headstock hits the ground first,
I find PVA works best unless the fibres are so ripped apart that some chunks needs to be removed before the headstock will return to its correct shape, in which case Araldite original is the stuff to use.
Yes, get a proper stand for it. Even just gently knocking a Les Paul headstock against a door frame can knock the headstock off because the join is very weak. It keeps luthiers and technicians in work, but it's bad news for an owner so take care with it. It's not an inherently strong design like a Telecaster or a Strat.
Loyly said:
Yes, get a proper stand for it. Even just gently knocking a Les Paul headstock against a door frame can knock the headstock off because the join is very weak. It keeps luthiers and technicians in work, but it's bad news for an owner so take care with it. It's not an inherently strong design like a Telecaster or a Strat.
Is this a huge worry?, I lean my guitars against the wall by the headstock!, although to be fair they are a Telecaster and a Strat.OP nice guitar hope you’re enjoying it.
Walter Sobchak said:
Loyly said:
Yes, get a proper stand for it. Even just gently knocking a Les Paul headstock against a door frame can knock the headstock off because the join is very weak. It keeps luthiers and technicians in work, but it's bad news for an owner so take care with it. It's not an inherently strong design like a Telecaster or a Strat.
Is this a huge worry?, I lean my guitars against the wall by the headstock!, although to be fair they are a Telecaster and a Strat.OP nice guitar hope you’re enjoying it.
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