Opinions on Epiphone?

[shredhed]

I just bought 2 at GC. There are LP Standards. One Is Chinese - Black and cream - and the other is Korean, it's a Cherry Sunburst.

They sound amazing. Very fat. The pots will need changed eventually, they don't roll down evenly. But hey, I play turned up to ten anyway so they don't get adjusted much.

A lotta bang for the buck IMO.

[markD]

i had a 335 DOT that was killer. it sounded HUGE!!!! i recorded a VERY heavy CD with that guitar. it was SO funny in the studio playing all the tracks on a natural 335!!! as you said, the sound was VERY fat.

[skorb]

I was this ][ close to buying an Epi 335 model at GC this Monday, it was sunburst with some flame maple, and gold hardware. it was nice, and I was ready to pay $300, but he didn't want to meet my price and that means I don't buy. It was marked at $399, no sale price indicated (and Every other guitar had a yellow sale price marked, not this one), and then after the talk to the mgr bullshit he says the best they can do on it during their biggest sale of the year is $357. I said see ya. I'm not a big Epi fan so that made it easier to walk, but this was a pretty guitar and I've always wanted a 335 but no way can afford one of those with 5 guitars at home already. so an Epi is my only choice there right now.

anyway, too much expense would need to go into it to make it playable and reliable. set up, pickups, pots, nut replacement, etc. I'd be into it for another $200+ easy and that makes it less of a good deal.

and it was set up like a monkey did it with the typical Gibson one wind on the tuner posts. how can you evaluate a guitar like that?

[markD]

i changed NOTHING on my 335 DOT. it smoked as is. now, i could NEVER play it live because it would howl like a beast, but man did it record well. i should have never sold it. but at the time my band was playing out a lot and i have a rule that if i can't use a guitar live, it goes.

[StukaJU87]

Several years ago I had 2 Epi LP's. A white Custom and a honey burst Standard. I replaced bridge pickups on both guitars and the machines on the Standard. Both guitars played, sounded and looked the part. Both were gigged regulary.

I only ditched them when I got my 92 Gibson LPC.

[khabibissell]

I have a sunburst Elitist Les Paul that is great. I replaced the pickups (TZ and Air Zone), but otherwise it is stock. I can get the action super low with no buzzing. As a matter of fact, it will hold action that is TOO low for me. Great sustain too. The only real issue was that the nut was too high, but that was an easy fix.

I chose it over a real Gibson too (I played about 5 or 6 Standards and Classics).

[danastas]

Someone is selling an Epi Les paul in New Haven, CT for sub $50.

Epi has been told to lower build quality because they have been eating Gibsons alive for the past few years. I would definitely by an Epi pre-2005, but I'm suspicious of the new ones.

I just sold my 2002 Joe Pass, a fantastic guitar for the price, because I realized I didn't have the time to mess with Jazz. But the build quality of that Japanese Epi was great. The neck epecially, binding, great fretwork, no buzz, solid mahogany.

My local dealer, and my luthier, said that for 5 years, the Epis were keeping the whole company afloat.

Personally, I think the Casinos are much better guitars than the Dots, and if you're going for a Jazz sound, a Joe Pass is better than both.

[GodOfRhythm]

Played an Epi Explorer and an Epi Gothic LP, absolutely terrible experience. Never again...

[shredhed]

I'd gotten burned on imports before (except for Japanese - they're great) And swore I'd never buy a Korean or Chinese. But these 2 are awesome.

[pro-fusion]

I've never played a single Epi LP that I liked, but I really love the Joe Pass model and want to get one in the near future.