ChasFred
Ambassador of Smooth Operations
OLD VS NEW not wiring
- Thread starter ChasFred
- Start date
BFT Gibson
Ambassador of Originality
Saw that...am cool with Epiphone tho...i still feel their semi's are incredible & the Korean stuff was crazy good..,,all the EE serials i had were right on...the new pickups are great...
eSGEe
Ferengi Ambassador of Trade
Right off the bat
UNDERSTATEMENT OF THE YEAR -- right here:
Despite a PR misfire or two,
frankly the Epiphone prices are creeping up to and in some cases WAY OVER used Gibsons....(especially the unwashed un wanted ODD balls from the 70's-80's and 90's)
you can score GIBSONS from 350-500.00 all day long
NEw Epiphones are taht much or double that much dependnign on the model--
I like my Epis I have 3 that will never leave --but-- come on-- the whole DRAW of the Epiphone was it wasnt the SAME price as a Gibson---
UNDERSTATEMENT OF THE YEAR -- right here:
Despite a PR misfire or two,
frankly the Epiphone prices are creeping up to and in some cases WAY OVER used Gibsons....(especially the unwashed un wanted ODD balls from the 70's-80's and 90's)
you can score GIBSONS from 350-500.00 all day long
NEw Epiphones are taht much or double that much dependnign on the model--
I like my Epis I have 3 that will never leave --but-- come on-- the whole DRAW of the Epiphone was it wasnt the SAME price as a Gibson---
eSGEe
Ferengi Ambassador of Trade
so if Im reading the article correctly -- Googenbooger says "its coming" meaning the Gibson open book headstock on Epiphones?
AWESOME-- it will be EVEN EASIER TO COUNTERFEIT THEM! -- and cheaper--for a larger PROFIT of fakes -- -hhmmmm
I too this DAY am convinced my Chibson (now Roberts) came OFF the EPIPHONE FACTORY LINE -- it feels-- plays and HAD full blown EPI ELECTRONICS AND PUPS IN IT -- out of the box.......it was (except for headstock shape) an EPIPHONE ----and I have mused that GIBSON was "testing" the waters SELLING its own fakes OUT THE BACK DOOR so to speak of the Epi plant -----IF they are that smart -- WHY did they allow Agnesi to make the video of idiocy?
its all perplexing ---
AWESOME-- it will be EVEN EASIER TO COUNTERFEIT THEM! -- and cheaper--for a larger PROFIT of fakes -- -hhmmmm
I too this DAY am convinced my Chibson (now Roberts) came OFF the EPIPHONE FACTORY LINE -- it feels-- plays and HAD full blown EPI ELECTRONICS AND PUPS IN IT -- out of the box.......it was (except for headstock shape) an EPIPHONE ----and I have mused that GIBSON was "testing" the waters SELLING its own fakes OUT THE BACK DOOR so to speak of the Epi plant -----IF they are that smart -- WHY did they allow Agnesi to make the video of idiocy?
its all perplexing ---
eclecticsynergy
Ambassador of Electric Synergy
I guess it's part of the general Gibson shake-up. And I'd love to see more Epis coming with the open book headstock, which only the Japanese ones made for the local market there have had. But I do hope they won't totally revamp the Epi line and try to bring them more in line with Gibson's inflated pricing.
While Gibson's been having all of its various troubles and angering its public with tone-deaf moves in recent years, Epiphone has been making thousands happy with consistently well-made guitars selling at fair prices.
Unfortunately, to the corporate mind that could make it a ripe target for "revenue maximization." I'd hate to see Epiphone's days as a great value come to an end in the name of squeezing more money from buyers wherever it can be taken.
Here's hoping Gibson management has enough sense to see that if they alienate their market, other high quality/low price Asian guitars like the PRS import line will look far more attractive.
I'm a bit skeptical about their good judgement though. Given their problems in recent years I'm afraid they may be trying to foster a modernized "fast & hungry" corporate paradigm.
I bet the folks in the PRS SE branch are watching with great interest.
While Gibson's been having all of its various troubles and angering its public with tone-deaf moves in recent years, Epiphone has been making thousands happy with consistently well-made guitars selling at fair prices.
Unfortunately, to the corporate mind that could make it a ripe target for "revenue maximization." I'd hate to see Epiphone's days as a great value come to an end in the name of squeezing more money from buyers wherever it can be taken.
Here's hoping Gibson management has enough sense to see that if they alienate their market, other high quality/low price Asian guitars like the PRS import line will look far more attractive.
I'm a bit skeptical about their good judgement though. Given their problems in recent years I'm afraid they may be trying to foster a modernized "fast & hungry" corporate paradigm.
I bet the folks in the PRS SE branch are watching with great interest.
eSGEe
Ferengi Ambassador of Trade
well Epi has things like this
You can still score for under 200.00 BRAND SPANKING NEW----Ive played them--- they dont "suck" and with a little tweak here and there can be damn functional instruments
Then they bring the "Signature" lines--- like "Peter Frampton" humingbird for 900.00
to the table several Joe B models at a grand or more----and the "TOP" Les Paul non sig model is 850.00 ---- EIGHT HUNDRED AND FIFTY AMERICAN FINANCIAL CREDITS---really???
but folks are buying them-----or are they --- Musicians friend STUPID DEAL OF THE DAY yesterday was the SLASH Firebird for 599.00 marked down from 900.00
on the Gibbo side you can score Firebird Zeros --- SG's and Single pup Jr.s for 500.00 or less all day long ---(yes used)
but the Gibson Standard SG and the DC Tribute Jr --- are 800.00 or less the CM they sold last year was around 499.00 for a time and the Les Paul Jr w/Robotuners and HSC was 500.00
So--- in a logical world --- why would you pay 900.00 for an Epiphone (that historically do NOT hold their value---wait a year get it for 350 used) when you can score say a Les Paul Jr ---mines APPRECIATED all ready I see them regularly (google it right now I bet) there are at least 3 used out there for 650-800.00 ---cha ching
2015 Epiphoen Les Paul Customs???? 450 new in 2015.....300-350 now.............
Maybe Gibson is looking to CHANGE that devaluation?
Certainly Epis are GREAT guitars--I have 4 that I love--and play regularly --Hopefully they continue offering the GOOD entry level guitars Like the SG above --- they NEED to bring these back---Ive owned 2 and would have another tomorrow--Arch top "studio" vibe--- bolt neck --great solid good playing Lesters for 120.00
You can still score for under 200.00 BRAND SPANKING NEW----Ive played them--- they dont "suck" and with a little tweak here and there can be damn functional instruments
Then they bring the "Signature" lines--- like "Peter Frampton" humingbird for 900.00
to the table several Joe B models at a grand or more----and the "TOP" Les Paul non sig model is 850.00 ---- EIGHT HUNDRED AND FIFTY AMERICAN FINANCIAL CREDITS---really???but folks are buying them-----or are they --- Musicians friend STUPID DEAL OF THE DAY yesterday was the SLASH Firebird for 599.00 marked down from 900.00
on the Gibbo side you can score Firebird Zeros --- SG's and Single pup Jr.s for 500.00 or less all day long ---(yes used)
but the Gibson Standard SG and the DC Tribute Jr --- are 800.00 or less the CM they sold last year was around 499.00 for a time and the Les Paul Jr w/Robotuners and HSC was 500.00
So--- in a logical world --- why would you pay 900.00 for an Epiphone (that historically do NOT hold their value---wait a year get it for 350 used) when you can score say a Les Paul Jr ---mines APPRECIATED all ready I see them regularly (google it right now I bet) there are at least 3 used out there for 650-800.00 ---cha ching
2015 Epiphoen Les Paul Customs???? 450 new in 2015.....300-350 now.............
Maybe Gibson is looking to CHANGE that devaluation?
Certainly Epis are GREAT guitars--I have 4 that I love--and play regularly --Hopefully they continue offering the GOOD entry level guitars Like the SG above --- they NEED to bring these back---Ive owned 2 and would have another tomorrow--Arch top "studio" vibe--- bolt neck --great solid good playing Lesters for 120.00
Col Mustard
Ambassador of Perseverance
all the corporate shenanigans (foreign or domestic) are incomprehensible to me.
I do understand a good guitar at an affordable price. I own three Gibsons which were
all excellent buys at the prices I paid, and I own one remaining Epiphone which I will
not sell because I have bonded with this instrument... in spite of its Chinese origin.
I have no idea why Gibson was allowed to go bankrupt by its management.
I do understand a well built guitar, which is what the guys in the factory made
for me. When I read about all this corporate shell game, it makes me think that our
Gibsons from the good years will become more valuable, and the new ones will
be less for it.
But as long as I've been aware of it, people have always praised the
Gibsons of the past, and denigrated the Gibsons of the present, whenever it was.
In the Sixties, when I was learning, people said that sixties Gibsons were
no good because the earlier guitars were so much better.
In the Seventies, they said the new Gibsons were no good because the
Sixties Gibsons were so much better.
In the Eighties, they said the new Gibsons were no good because they
didn't resemble the earlier guitars closely enough...
In the Nineties, they said that the new Gibsons were no good because
they didn't sound like the old ones... and so on and so on...
It was all doo doo. There were good ones and bad ones during all those
eras. AND a lot of excellent music was made with guitars from all those
eras... Gibson bashing has always been here, and it has always been tiresome,
and it has mostly been bull sh*te. The fact is, Gibson makes fine guitars, just
like Fender does.
I'm keeping my Gibsons, as long as I can still play.
At my age, my fingers get stiff and cranky easily, so that's no joke.
So I appreciate my guitars more than some other players do perhaps.
Or maybe I just got lucky, and got three good ones in a row. *shrugs
I never minded getting lucky...
I do understand a good guitar at an affordable price. I own three Gibsons which were
all excellent buys at the prices I paid, and I own one remaining Epiphone which I will
not sell because I have bonded with this instrument... in spite of its Chinese origin.
I have no idea why Gibson was allowed to go bankrupt by its management.
I do understand a well built guitar, which is what the guys in the factory made
for me. When I read about all this corporate shell game, it makes me think that our
Gibsons from the good years will become more valuable, and the new ones will
be less for it.
But as long as I've been aware of it, people have always praised the
Gibsons of the past, and denigrated the Gibsons of the present, whenever it was.
In the Sixties, when I was learning, people said that sixties Gibsons were
no good because the earlier guitars were so much better.
In the Seventies, they said the new Gibsons were no good because the
Sixties Gibsons were so much better.
In the Eighties, they said the new Gibsons were no good because they
didn't resemble the earlier guitars closely enough...
In the Nineties, they said that the new Gibsons were no good because
they didn't sound like the old ones... and so on and so on...
It was all doo doo. There were good ones and bad ones during all those
eras. AND a lot of excellent music was made with guitars from all those
eras... Gibson bashing has always been here, and it has always been tiresome,
and it has mostly been bull sh*te. The fact is, Gibson makes fine guitars, just
like Fender does.
I'm keeping my Gibsons, as long as I can still play.
At my age, my fingers get stiff and cranky easily, so that's no joke.
So I appreciate my guitars more than some other players do perhaps.
Or maybe I just got lucky, and got three good ones in a row. *shrugs
I never minded getting lucky...
Mr Grumpy
Ambassador of Comings and Goings
The Epi 335/339 style guitars stand out to me as the best value in their lineup - your one is perfect, a lovely guitar. I'd love meself an Epi 339.
As eESGe said, there's a lot of pricey Epis now, $800 is a lot of money for a guitar which is competing against a secondhand Gibson SG faded, Gibson LP studio, etc. No doubt some of the pricier Epis are exceptional, but you can get the PRS like the one below for $700:
This Epi is $150 more (I know the Gibson PUs are a nice feature), and that's a big price for an Epi, imho.
SG John
Ambassador of Cool Guitars and Amps.
The purpose of any business is to maximize profits for itself and/or it's investors.
That being said, Gibson was, and still is very top heavy, and have their hands in too many other business ventures (shell games).
In order for those at the top to maintain a culture they are accustomed to, and reciprocal paycheck, others will have to suffer.
Those others are the quality of materials used to make the product, their other product lines, the pay and benefits of the employees, and the end user's paycheck to purchase said product.
Even if Gibson is paying it‘s rank and file employees a barely livable wage, the cost of living in Nashville is still higher than China. So is it's overall operating expenses. That's why they moved from Kalamazoo to Nashville in the first place. It was a union busting move at the time, to keep money at the top.
I could go on about this for hours, but you get the gist. No matter what Gibson does to restructure, their Chinese made products will always be at least 1/5 the price. And even though they are in direct competition with themselves with Epiphone, they will also soon be facing higher tariffs. Which of course, will be paid by the consumer (never the producer). And never ask a CEO (or other management) to take a (gasp!) pay cut.
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