Honestly, what the difference between Gibson and Epiphone?

[Accept2]

The difference is one says Gibson and one says epiphone. Gibsons you pay for the name, epiphone you pay for the playability.

Wrong. With Gibson you pay for a guitar. With Epiphone you pay to become a member of a cult that brain washes you into posting useless messages on forums about how Gibson is the devil.............

[blitz]

The difference is one says Gibson and one says epiphone. Gibsons you pay for the name, epiphone you pay for the playability.

[roodyrocker]

I have a Les Paul Studio that I bought off E-Bay a few years ago. For all the ribbing Gibson gets about its quality control, the Studio played and sounded fantastic and thats a guitar I bought without playing first. If you have a hard time justifying spending a lot more on a Les Paul Custom as compared to an Epi, try comparing the Epi to a Studio. Now ask yourself, is the price difference worth going with the cheaper Epi? For me the answer is no, I'll take a Les Paul Studio every time.

[Flatpicker]

I wouldn't say it's debatable, just a very long time ago. More 1930 ish. They competed in the hollow and semihollow segments.

You can look at the history at http://epiphone.com/history.asp
Or Wikipedia.

Gibson Just reissued a Wilshire in the 4k range just to answer your other question.


And the Coronet comes out every once awhile.
You can have good product but bad management. Just ask GM.

[Grandturk]

There were family issues back in the 60's with the Epi Brothers that forced the sale.
Epi was a good name back in the day.

I think that's probably debatable - they were a 2nd tier company. If they made classic stuff - where is it? Where are the reissues? Why are they just low end Gibsons now?

[PowerTube]

2100?

See? That's even worse. I was taking it easy on them by giving them a $1000.00 buffer.

[clifffclaven]

but you're missing my point. I'm not saying that the gibsons aren't better at all. I'm asking if you guys believe that the price difference is warranted. In other words, is a gibson les paul custom worth $3800.00 while the epiphone version of the same guitar is selling for $699.00?

Yes, i can tell the difference. I just don't think i can tell a difference of $2100.00.

2100?

[Flatpicker]

Well, you know what they say, if they were that good, they'd still be making them.

There were family issues back in the 60's with the Epi Brothers that forced the sale.
Epi was a good name back in the day.

[PowerTube]

Well, you know what they say, if they were that good, they'd still be making them.

Plenty of companies have made outstanding products but still went under or sold out. Look at ADA, for example. The MP-1 preamp is still in demand to this day but getting tougher to find.

I'm sure Epiphone had its reasons for selling out to Gibson at the time, but that doesn't mean that their products were inferior.

[Grandturk]

That was a different era. I would venture to say that the Epiphones were every bit as good back then.

Well, you know what they say, if they were that good, they'd still be making them.

[PowerTube]

So, I guess Epiphone is going with "When 'good enough' is much too good."

That was a different era. I would venture to say that the Epiphones were every bit as good back then.

[Grandturk]

Yes. In fact, back in the 30's or 40's, whenever it was, Gibson started the slogan, "Only a Gibson is Good Enough."

Epiphone started an ad campaign with the phrase, "When 'good enough' isn't good enough." They were fierce competitors back then.

So, I guess Epiphone is going with "When 'good enough' is much too good."

[PowerTube]

Just so there's no confusion (Because I think I'm confused) wasn't Epiphone an American company that Gibson bought? I know a lot of old Epiphones are highly valued. I know this has little to do with the current product, I'm just curious.

Yes. In fact, back in the 30's or 40's, whenever it was, Gibson started the slogan, "Only a Gibson is Good Enough."

Epiphone started an ad campaign with the phrase, "When 'good enough' isn't good enough." They were fierce competitors back then.

[PowerTube]

If you can't notice the difference between a Gibson Les Paul and an Epi Les Paul, then you're definitely better off with an Epi.

But you're missing my point. I'm not saying that the Gibsons aren't better at all. I'm asking if you guys believe that the price difference is warranted. In other words, is a Gibson Les Paul Custom worth $3800.00 while the Epiphone version of the same guitar is selling for $699.00?

Yes, I can tell the difference. I just don't think I can tell a difference of $2100.00.

[Grandturk]

Just so there's no confusion (Because I think I'm confused) wasn't Epiphone an American company that Gibson bought? I know a lot of old Epiphones are highly valued. I know this has little to do with the current product, I'm just curious.

Yes - a long long long time ago.