Honestly, what the difference between Gibson and Epiphone?

[john.w.lawson]

What does training have to do with hitting the "Go" button on the CNC machine?

I have a feeling that if the Gibsonophiles on this thread were given a Gibson and Epiphone while blindfolded, they wouldn't be able to tell the difference.

I'll take that "bet" and furthermore will not even need to touch them!
I have a highly sensitive nose and can smell shit from a good distance

[Flatpicker]

i for one will be playing my standard buit by someone who takes pride in the 20+ years that he has been building superior gibsons, over someone who was trained last week in some starving country from across the world.

Now I know you must have never seen the avg American line worker.
Pride and commitment to quality aren't their top thoughts.

Getting through to Friday is.

[Spivonious]

dude you can justify spending less on your inferior guitar all you want, but you wont be changing anyones mind who actually owns and plays a gibson. i for one will be playing my standard buit by someone who takes pride in the 20+ years that he has been building superior gibsons, over someone who was trained last week in some starving country from across the world. and by the way you might think that your epi plays better and sounds better, but when you save up and secretly buy your gibby, you will realise that you fooled noone with all your histrionics.

What does training have to do with hitting the "Go" button on the CNC machine?

I have a feeling that if the Gibsonophiles on this thread were given a Gibson and Epiphone while blindfolded, they wouldn't be able to tell the difference.

[petez0r]

My point I was making is that if you are a good guitarist, you can still make a cheaper guitar work. Conversely, it doesn't matter how much money you throw at your gear if you suck donkey balls.
Additionally, in my old band, both of the other guitarists had actual Gibson Les Pauls: One was a Les Paul Standard, one was a Studio. And at the time, I had just picked up an Epiphone Les Paul Standard, with a flame top. All three of us admitted that that Epi played way nicer than both their Gibsons. They were simply stunned, as was I. Now, does setup make a difference? Hell yeah! But to give all three of these guitars the same setup, the difference in the playability would've been negligable. But, hey, if you are so sold on your higher-priced instruments, and want to turn your nose up to the "cheaper, inferior" guitars, be my guest. More for me, and I'll be smiling with the additional money left over, cause higher price does NOT equate higher quality.

dude you can justify spending less on your inferior guitar all you want, but you wont be changing anyones mind who actually owns and plays a gibson. i for one will be playing my standard buit by someone who takes pride in the 20+ years that he has been building superior gibsons, over someone who was trained last week in some starving country from across the world. and by the way you might think that your epi plays better and sounds better, but when you save up and secretly buy your gibby, you will realise that you fooled noone with all your histrionics.

[Flatpicker]

There was a time (1983-ish) when the Japanese Squier Strats were almost as good (dare I say better?) than the ones coming out of the US at the time. If you look at some of the Maiden photos around that time, there are some of Dave Murray playing and recording with a Squier Strat.

But as for Gibson vs Epiphone, I'm a long-term Gibson LP player, I've played the Epi's (guy in my band has one, upgraded with SD pickups) and they're good, but don't sound/feel the same as a real LP. All IMHO of course...

That may have been because the Fender MIA line restarted in 85. They retooled from the CBS fiasco prior to that.

[john.w.lawson]

My point I was making is that if you are a good guitarist, you can still make a cheaper guitar work. Conversely, it doesn't matter how much money you throw at your gear if you suck donkey balls.
Additionally, in my old band, both of the other guitarists had actual Gibson Les Pauls: One was a Les Paul Standard, one was a Studio. And at the time, I had just picked up an Epiphone Les Paul Standard, with a flame top. All three of us admitted that that Epi played way nicer than both their Gibsons. They were simply stunned, as was I. Now, does setup make a difference? Hell yeah! But to give all three of these guitars the same setup, the difference in the playability would've been negligable. But, hey, if you are so sold on your higher-priced instruments, and want to turn your nose up to the "cheaper, inferior" guitars, be my guest. More for me, and I'll be smiling with the additional money left over, cause higher price does NOT equate higher quality.

You must have bought the epi special, Designed just for a band that needs three guitar players

[Racerx2k]

Whether something is worth it is different from whether or not its better. I love Paul Gilbert but the fact that he played and shredded on a Squier doen't make the Squier a better guitar than a USA Strat! Sorry to burst the non-believer's bubble but a Gibson Les Paul IS a better guitar than an Epi. Doesn't matter if its a pre 70 Les Paul or current issue.

My point I was making is that if you are a good guitarist, you can still make a cheaper guitar work. Conversely, it doesn't matter how much money you throw at your gear if you suck donkey balls.
Additionally, in my old band, both of the other guitarists had actual Gibson Les Pauls: One was a Les Paul Standard, one was a Studio. And at the time, I had just picked up an Epiphone Les Paul Standard, with a flame top. All three of us admitted that that Epi played way nicer than both their Gibsons. They were simply stunned, as was I. Now, does setup make a difference? Hell yeah! But to give all three of these guitars the same setup, the difference in the playability would've been negligable. But, hey, if you are so sold on your higher-priced instruments, and want to turn your nose up to the "cheaper, inferior" guitars, be my guest. More for me, and I'll be smiling with the additional money left over, cause higher price does NOT equate higher quality.

[roodyrocker]

Even at the supposed height of the Squier Strat's quality in the early 80's, I still don't think they approached the USA Strat's quality. I bought a Strat Elite back in those days, still have it to this day. Have also played other early 80's Strats and generally speaking there was no comparison IMHO. This is true of just about every manufacturer whether its Les Paul vs. Epi, Strat vs. Squier, or even Jackson USA vs. DK2. I have a couple DK2s and I like them just fine but would never try to convince anyone they are as good as a USA Soloist or DK1

[darrellm]

Whether something is worth it is different from whether or not its better. I love Paul Gilbert but the fact that he played and shredded on a Squier doen't make the Squier a better guitar than a USA Strat! Sorry to burst the non-believer's bubble but a Gibson Les Paul IS a better guitar than an Epi. Doesn't matter if its a pre 70 Les Paul or current issue.

There was a time (1983-ish) when the Japanese Squier Strats were almost as good (dare I say better?) than the ones coming out of the US at the time. If you look at some of the Maiden photos around that time, there are some of Dave Murray playing and recording with a Squier Strat.

But as for Gibson vs Epiphone, I'm a long-term Gibson LP player, I've played the Epi's (guy in my band has one, upgraded with SD pickups) and they're good, but don't sound/feel the same as a real LP. All IMHO of course...

[roodyrocker]

Whether something is worth it is different from whether or not its better. I love Paul Gilbert but the fact that he played and shredded on a Squier doen't make the Squier a better guitar than a USA Strat! Sorry to burst the non-believer's bubble but a Gibson Les Paul IS a better guitar than an Epi. Doesn't matter if its a pre 70 Les Paul or current issue.

[TommyD]

Honestly, what the difference between Gibson and Epiphone?

> The last time I went into a decent shop,I had a chance to compare the 2. They had a cherry burst real LP and a Epi,both as close feature wise as possible,easy for comparison.
After spending 30 minutes with both,because there were no J/C's present,I couldn't tell any difference in build quality,playability,or tone. The price difference was like 2k too. Tommy D.

[El Chiguete]

And besides, the wood doesn't make quite as much difference on an electric guitar as it does on an acoustic instrument.

Well if THAT would be true then for decades theres been a LOT of BS going around!!! Come on... wood if extremely important for the sound that a guitar makes

[85 San Dimas]

This question has no general answer, because the answer is personal to each buyer. Each potential buyer decides whether the item is "worth it" to him/her, then buys it or not. End of discussion.

Too bad the dealers don't have the choices. If you want to be an "average" Gibson dealer you're forced to carry the Epis whether its "worth it" or not.Same w/FMIC. Fender decides what your product mix will be until you are able to buy beyond a pre set minimum..

[85 San Dimas]

This is a link to an Ebay auction I stumbled across this morning. This is the kind of qiality you can expect when you try to save a couple of bills . check the picture looking down the neck especially. That's what you call Tone Wood.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Fender-Dynamic-Vibrato-Electric-Guitar-6-String-AS-IS_W0QQitemZ160327637584QQihZ006QQcategoryZ33039QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[quiksilver]

This question has no general answer, because the answer is personal to each buyer. Each potential buyer decides whether the item is "worth it" to him/her, then buys it or not. End of discussion.