GIBBO VS EPI

Getting a Gibson and an epi in the same price range. The questions come to this.
Do you get more for your money with either brand?
And
Is that little bit better worth the money for what you get?
 
Well.... (SHOCKER) -- I like the LPJ better -- the Epi is good its damn good and I Like it (549.00 new no case)
the LPJ (used W/ very nice Gibbo case) 8 bills --i LOVE IT!--
so roughly 250 difference
Epi GLOSS finish hard as a rock
Gibbo --satin finish (already wearing by my right forearm area)

the TONES ----

Gibbo richer -- warmer -- beefier
Epi brighter -- more "options" in tone

COULD I change pups and pots and LOSE the coil split and MAKE the EPI sound like the Gibbo .... yes....I could
will the Gibbo finish hold up as well as the Epi (no .... no it wont -- I have 2008 Epi Silverburst and that finish is PRISTINE and like new-- this gibbo LPJ 14 years from now will be ROAD WORN for sure.....)

all the other stuff .. Grover tuners... tusq nuts etc etc are comparable

so there ya go .
 
As a side note and afterthought.

I own a Gibson SG 61 Standard. I spent that money for the logo on the headstock and the belief that the Gibson is a superior guitar.
For what I spent on my SG I could have bought a monster Epi and it would probably have been great. But in the end, to own a “Gibson” with that pearl inlay logo won out and that was my final deciding purchasing factor.
 
After nearly 40 years of playing, I finally got my first Gibson in 2017. Glad I did! If it is within budget and it means something to you, then do ot. Ya only live once. I now own 7 Gibbys, 2 are more vintage the rest were new. All a little different and I am happy with all of them.
Lots of sports cars have way more performance than one can actually use but if you like Mustangs then get one.
Same thing, to me....
 
Well.... (SHOCKER) -- I like the LPJ better -- the Epi is good its damn good and I Like it (549.00 new no case)
the LPJ (used W/ very nice Gibbo case) 8 bills --i LOVE IT!--
so roughly 250 difference
Epi GLOSS finish hard as a rock
Gibbo --satin finish (already wearing by my right forearm area)

the TONES ----

Gibbo richer -- warmer -- beefier
Epi brighter -- more "options" in tone

COULD I change pups and pots and LOSE the coil split and MAKE the EPI sound like the Gibbo .... yes....I could
will the Gibbo finish hold up as well as the Epi (no .... no it wont -- I have 2008 Epi Silverburst and that finish is PRISTINE and like new-- this gibbo LPJ 14 years from now will be ROAD WORN for sure.....)

all the other stuff .. Grover tuners... tusq nuts etc etc are comparable

so there ya go .
Basically the Epiphone pickups cost about $1.89
The hardware especially tuners is much cheaper on the Epiphones.

But lately you will see new China Epi sold with actual Gibson PUs and Grover tuners etc. which makes it a more tempting bargain.

China is making a lot of guitars with pretty finish / pretty paint job.
But there is not a lot of substance to the way it plays. It just looks pretty.
 
Basically the Epiphone pickups cost about $1.89
The hardware especially tuners is much cheaper on the Epiphones.

But lately you will see new China Epi sold with actual Gibson PUs and Grover tuners etc. which makes it a more tempting bargain.

China is making a lot of guitars with pretty finish / pretty paint job.
But there is not a lot of substance to the way it plays. It just looks pretty.
Depends on brand etc. I have a few very good China and Korea guitars.
 
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