Epi Crosses Threshold of Evil Temptation

Amp Mad Scientist said:
A '59 semi-VOS LP with Burstbucker PUs, Hard Shell Case, $800.
View attachment 51753 View attachment 51755 View attachment 51756
Away evil temptress! Away! See, now we get into "3 easy payments..." :pound-hand: as usual.
:dog::dog::dog: 3 drools.
I think you'll agree that this is not right, and it's not fair either.
Unethical and sneaky, inappropriate.
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The backs don't have that ugly veneer shown in the picture. They are two piece bodies and they are fantastic!

There is a 187 Page thread on the "other" forum about these. Maybe more than one thread.

Consensus is they are the Epiphone of the Century...only 20 years so far though.

$17 a Month for 48 Months at Musicians Friend. 0% Interest.

Two other colors as well...

download (1).pngdownload.png
 
eSGEe said:
but...............................omnly a GIBSON is GOOD ENough--- and for the same or CONSIDERABLY less $
reverb.com

Gibson Les Paul | Reverb

Reverb is a marketplace bringing together a wide-spanning community to buy, sell, and discuss all things music gear.
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Well when I look at the Gibson $7000, and I look at the Epi $800, I sort of got a headache over the disparities in price VS actual play-ability...it's upsetting. It's harder to justify a $6200 difference between the two. I mean "how" is it that such a monumentally vast gap o_O exists? Is one of them really 6200 better?
 
Amp Mad Scientist said:
Well when I look at the Gibson $7000, and I look at the Epi $800, I sort of got a headache over the disparities in price VS actual play-ability...it's upsetting. It's harder to justify a $6200 difference between the two. I mean "how" is it that such a monumentally vast gap o_O exists? Is one of them really 6200 better?
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I didn't see the $7,000 Gibson on the Reverb page that @eSGEe linked (& I'm seeing the prices in AU$).
I do know that new Gibson's are available priced from quite considerably below $7k to over $7k, but in comparing Gibson prices to Epiphone prices there are a number of things to take into account.
Firstly, Gibson guitars are produced in the good ol' US of A, while Epiphone are produced in China (& maybe a few other Asian countries, I'm not sure).
A hell of a lot more man hours go into producing (all but the lowest end) Gibson guitars than goes into producing Epiphone guitars.
Those man hours going into producing Gibson's are at US minimum wage.

Would you accept the hourly pay rate that the guys producing Epiphone guitars in China get while you reside & work in the USA?
The Gibson workers can't be expected to either.

You have to remember, Gibson owns Epiphone. They produce these guitars outside of the US so that people can buy these type guitars at a considerably lesser cost than their Gibson counterparts. Cheers
 
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Amp Mad Scientist said:
Well when I look at the Gibson $7000, and I look at the Epi $800, I sort of got a headache over the disparities in price VS actual play-ability...it's upsetting. It's harder to justify a $6200 difference between the two. I mean "how" is it that such a monumentally vast gap o_O exists? Is one of them really 6200 better?
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Believe me I UNDERSTAND 100% -- 7 k -- is just crazy -- ESPECIALLY for any one with my level of "skill" on a guitar -- frankly 100.00 is a bit spendy for my skill level--
HOWEVER I am a vehement defender of the Epiphonian muse !!!!! I own & adore several -- including my Silverburst lester and Thunderbird that play as good or better than many GIBSONS of same model I have played and compared them directly too......

my point was only that the HIGH END Epis and the "basic" Gibsons are beginning to BLUR the LINES .......(much like Squire/Fender have over the years)
 
ivan H said:
I didn't see the $7,000 Gibson on the Reverb page that @eSGEe linked (& I'm seeing the prices in AU$).
I do know that new Gibson's are available priced from quite considerably below $7k to over $7k, but in comparing Gibson prices to Epiphone prices there are a number of things to take into account.
Firstly, Gibson guitars are produced in the good ol' US of A, while Epiphone are produced in China (& maybe a few other Asian countries, I'm not sure).
A hell of a lot more man hours go into producing (all but the lowest end) Gibson guitars than goes into producing Epiphone guitars.
Those man hours going into producing Gibson's are at US minimum wage.

Would you accept the hourly pay rate that the guys producing Epiphone guitars in China get while you reside & work in the USA?
The Gibson workers can't be expected to either.

You have to remember, Gibson owns Epiphone. They produce these guitars outside of the US so that people can buy these type guitars at a considerably lesser cost than their Gibson counterparts. Cheers
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I was comparing it to Gibson LP 59 VOS, currently at about $6499.00 + Tax
I have seen that guitar go for $6000-$8000 depending on VOS / Non VOS, etc...(the non VOS costs more)
Screenshot_2020-11-04 Gibson Custom 1959 Les Paul Standard Reissue VOS - Dirty Lemon.png 1604530009406.png
 
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ivan H said:
I didn't see the $7,000 Gibson on the Reverb page that @eSGEe linked (& I'm seeing the prices in AU$).
I do know that new Gibson's are available priced from quite considerably below $7k to over $7k, but in comparing Gibson prices to Epiphone prices there are a number of things to take into account.
Firstly, Gibson guitars are produced in the good ol' US of A, while Epiphone are produced in China (& maybe a few other Asian countries, I'm not sure).
A hell of a lot more man hours go into producing (all but the lowest end) Gibson guitars than goes into producing Epiphone guitars.
Those man hours going into producing Gibson's are at US minimum wage.

Would you accept the hourly pay rate that the guys producing Epiphone guitars in China get while you reside & work in the USA?
The Gibson workers can't be expected to either.

You have to remember, Gibson owns Epiphone. They produce these guitars outside of the US so that people can buy these type guitars at a considerably lesser cost than their Gibson counterparts. Cheers
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Exactly. These guitars have always been intended as high-quality, often pro-level instruments that exist as a gateway to the core brand. Sure, some people will be perfectly happy with the Epi and desire no more, but the majority will likely graduate to the Gibson. Either way Gibson makes the sale instead of some other brand.

Fender does the same with Squire, PRS does the same with SE's, but I don't ever seem to see the same kind of cost comparisons being made between the imports and the homegrowns that I see with Gibson and Epiphone - it seems clear that people understand the stratification of the products better somehow.
 
I've played and owned many at every level. While I will never see the justification of a $4,000 to $5000 price difference I do
understand the desire to own the higher end product. Whether it be a Gibson over an Epiphone or a Custom Shop Strat
over a Squire. Sometimes you just want that high end product.

Do I, or will I ever need the Gibson R9 or the Custom Shop Strat? No, but I do enjoy owning them. However after the initial
thrill of ownership they usually cease to inspire and get sold.

I think the mid priced Gibson with a few personal upgrades is the best happy medium. My 2013 Traditional cost me under
$2000 used and fully upgraded to the best of the best parts. It looks, feels and plays great.

I sound the same on my $400 Epiphone SG Special as I do on my $5500 69' SG Standard and I also enjoy playing the about
the same. It's just the cool factor of a Vintage instrument that led me to buy it...and it is very satisfying to hold and play!

Bottom line is...get what makes you happy and enjoy it. Don't worry about what other people are playing...

My current stable starting at a mere $399...

IMG_0057.jpgIMG_0112.jpgIMG_0149.jpgblwha4arm10itojfetsm.jpgIMG_1214.jpg1969 Gibson SG - Cherry - 004.jpg
 
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