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OK...So this has really been the year of collecting, getting rid of old family members (guitars of course), spending lots of my kid's college money, etc.
Since last year at this time, I've sold a number of old guitars...and I've replaced them with some pretty impressive instruments. In the process, I've gotten a lot of different types of guitars...which I absolutely love. I love choosing my 'axe of the night'...it's like I get a new guitar every day.
My wife hasn't been thrilled with the fact that I've spent upwards of 10 grand on new guitars...and even worse (according to her, anyway)...I've setup a guitar showcase - in my living room. 6 guitar stands, and two wall hangers. This used to be a nice, normal living room...now it's like a f**king music store
Anyway...of all the guitars I've bought this year, I've always been a bit curious about semi-hollow bodies. Never owned or played one. I posted about it last week and got some really good responses. So based on those responses, countless reviews online and in magazines, etc, I decided to get something new. I walked into Guitar Center last night, picked up a Gibson ES 339 and actually really liked it (surprisingly). The unfortunate thing was that it was a couple grand. Now I could spend a couple grand..but there would probably be some consequences this time...finally.
Then I walked over to the 'lower-end' Gretsch, Epi, Ibanez hollow/semi-hollow body guitars. The Gretsch guitars just didn't feel right...I play classic and hard rock primarily...and those things just didn't suit my taste at all. The Ibanez (forgot the model...but remember it was in the 300 dollar range), was kinda similar...just didn't feel right...and through an amp, it just sounded crappy to me - no offense to anyone who owns one...it just, once again, didn't suit my taste. I finally tried out the Epi that I've been looking at all week (Sheraton 2)...and it was perfect. The neck felt great...the pickups even sounded pretty decent, despite comments to the contrary. So...bing, bop boom...another guitar has made it into my stable.
I've been called a snob before...on this very board...but I don't mind. I'm 37 years old, make a good living, and can afford a lot of nicer stuff than what I used to buy...so when I started rebuilding my collection over the last few years, I've stuck with high-end, American made...high quality instruments..and wouldn't touch anything made in China, Korea, Taiwan, etc. The only exception would be my (Japanese made) J-Custom Ibanez...which might be higher quality than most of my USA-made guitars...but that's another story. In any case, I've been 'criticized' a few times for being a bit on the guitar snob side...Fine...call me that...I have a passion for American-made guitars...and nobody is gonna make me feel bad about it.
In any event...I gave in this time...strictly based on my current budget, that just would suffer terribly if I brought home another three thousand dollar instrument. (not to mention the grief I'd probably get from the fun police).
To justify my purchase, I picked up a Chinese made Epi Sheraton 2...and I can't tell you how much I dig this thing. It sounds really cool...and it looks stunning. No picture can do this thing justice...but I'll give it a try. The 'blond'/'natural' finish is probably even prettier...but I have too many guitars that have that type of finish...I really wanted one ebony/black guitar in my inventory...and I got it. So without driving you all nuts with my seemingly endless post...here are some pics. Once again..the pics weren't taken with a great camera...and they just don't do this guitar justice. I have to say...Epiphone really does make a quality instrument. The finish is impeccable...and the inlays are just phenomenal. The headstock looks so nice...and the gold hardware (while I know will eventually start to tarnish and wear off)....looks killer.
So here are a couple pics. Not a shredder by any means...but a nice playing/sounding guitar that looks great...lots of guitar for the money!!! I do plan on changing the pickups...probably SD Pearly Gates...or maybe just a 59 (in the bridge...don't care about the neck, cause I rarely use it) The only question I have is...I like to leave my guitars looking stock...if I switch pickups, does that mean I'm screwed with the gold covers? This guitar really shines with the gold...I'd hate to have just a standard black pickup on this thing (although zebra p'ups would probably look kinda cool).
Sorry..here's the pics...let me know what you think...and I'd sure love to hear from folks who actually have these (or similar) guitars.
Thanks guys.
Since last year at this time, I've sold a number of old guitars...and I've replaced them with some pretty impressive instruments. In the process, I've gotten a lot of different types of guitars...which I absolutely love. I love choosing my 'axe of the night'...it's like I get a new guitar every day.
My wife hasn't been thrilled with the fact that I've spent upwards of 10 grand on new guitars...and even worse (according to her, anyway)...I've setup a guitar showcase - in my living room. 6 guitar stands, and two wall hangers. This used to be a nice, normal living room...now it's like a f**king music store
Anyway...of all the guitars I've bought this year, I've always been a bit curious about semi-hollow bodies. Never owned or played one. I posted about it last week and got some really good responses. So based on those responses, countless reviews online and in magazines, etc, I decided to get something new. I walked into Guitar Center last night, picked up a Gibson ES 339 and actually really liked it (surprisingly). The unfortunate thing was that it was a couple grand. Now I could spend a couple grand..but there would probably be some consequences this time...finally.
Then I walked over to the 'lower-end' Gretsch, Epi, Ibanez hollow/semi-hollow body guitars. The Gretsch guitars just didn't feel right...I play classic and hard rock primarily...and those things just didn't suit my taste at all. The Ibanez (forgot the model...but remember it was in the 300 dollar range), was kinda similar...just didn't feel right...and through an amp, it just sounded crappy to me - no offense to anyone who owns one...it just, once again, didn't suit my taste. I finally tried out the Epi that I've been looking at all week (Sheraton 2)...and it was perfect. The neck felt great...the pickups even sounded pretty decent, despite comments to the contrary. So...bing, bop boom...another guitar has made it into my stable.
I've been called a snob before...on this very board...but I don't mind. I'm 37 years old, make a good living, and can afford a lot of nicer stuff than what I used to buy...so when I started rebuilding my collection over the last few years, I've stuck with high-end, American made...high quality instruments..and wouldn't touch anything made in China, Korea, Taiwan, etc. The only exception would be my (Japanese made) J-Custom Ibanez...which might be higher quality than most of my USA-made guitars...but that's another story. In any case, I've been 'criticized' a few times for being a bit on the guitar snob side...Fine...call me that...I have a passion for American-made guitars...and nobody is gonna make me feel bad about it.
In any event...I gave in this time...strictly based on my current budget, that just would suffer terribly if I brought home another three thousand dollar instrument. (not to mention the grief I'd probably get from the fun police).
To justify my purchase, I picked up a Chinese made Epi Sheraton 2...and I can't tell you how much I dig this thing. It sounds really cool...and it looks stunning. No picture can do this thing justice...but I'll give it a try. The 'blond'/'natural' finish is probably even prettier...but I have too many guitars that have that type of finish...I really wanted one ebony/black guitar in my inventory...and I got it. So without driving you all nuts with my seemingly endless post...here are some pics. Once again..the pics weren't taken with a great camera...and they just don't do this guitar justice. I have to say...Epiphone really does make a quality instrument. The finish is impeccable...and the inlays are just phenomenal. The headstock looks so nice...and the gold hardware (while I know will eventually start to tarnish and wear off)....looks killer.
So here are a couple pics. Not a shredder by any means...but a nice playing/sounding guitar that looks great...lots of guitar for the money!!! I do plan on changing the pickups...probably SD Pearly Gates...or maybe just a 59 (in the bridge...don't care about the neck, cause I rarely use it) The only question I have is...I like to leave my guitars looking stock...if I switch pickups, does that mean I'm screwed with the gold covers? This guitar really shines with the gold...I'd hate to have just a standard black pickup on this thing (although zebra p'ups would probably look kinda cool).
Sorry..here's the pics...let me know what you think...and I'd sure love to hear from folks who actually have these (or similar) guitars.
Thanks guys.
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