Entry Gibby or higher end Epi?

[phil_104]

Re: Entry Gibby or higher end Epi?

To me, it's the PU's that make a guitar, and since I don't hesitate to swap them, I'm more flexible on what guitars I like.

See to me that logic is upside down. It's a thousand times easier to change the pickups than it is to change the finish. So I choose a guitar with a body, finish and feel I like, and then swap pickups. To me, when buying a guitar, the pickups are one of the easy fixes. What I look for in an instrument is features I want that I can't change.

 

[guitarrob]

Re: Entry Gibby or higher end Epi?

..yes that is what I said, it is nice to have a good base to work with.
If you have a poor quality base, it is hard to improve it with modifications.

If you have a quality base, modifications can improve the guitar greatly.

 

[Khriss Bliss]

Re: Entry Gibby or higher end Epi?

If u go with Gibson, Do NOT get the faded cherry one in the above pictures: im almost positive its all mahogany. Ive tried three, they all kinda sucked. Get something with a maple cap, be it Epiphone or Schecter, or Gibson. But dont pretend to get a LesPaul unless it has a maple cap on top to get that high end bite,( otherwise get an SG.)
Someone debunk me if Im wrong.

Also, definitely add about $150-250 for aftermarket pickups- not that Gibson doesnt make okay pickups, but dont commit to them to save money. Check out demos of Epis with Ants or Seths. Schecters sound great with 59s. Dont get Gibson and not upgrade the pickups unless you LOVE THEM, & Marry THEM & would never sweat if somebody with a cheaper guitar sounded better than you because they used Duncans. Id select the pickups you want first, then decide on tbe best guitar to go with them

 

[phil_104]

Re: Entry Gibby or higher end Epi?

Get something with a maple cap, be it Epiphone or Schecter, or Gibson. But dont pretend to get a LesPaul unless it has a maple cap on top to get that high end bite,( otherwise get an SG.) Someone debunk me if Im wrong.

Certain Gibson Les Paul Customs have an all mahogany body. The one's I've played sound awesome. Some people actually prefer the darker tone, combined with the pop of an ebony neck.

I'm not sure I'd call a 3 pickup black beauty a pretend LP, lol....

 

[guitarrob]

Re: Entry Gibby or higher end Epi?

. Id select the pickups you want first, then decide on tbe best guitar to go with them

Buying a guitar to suit the aftermarket pickup seems backwards to me.

 

[Jessie's ghost]

Re: Entry Gibby or higher end Epi?

Buying a guitar to suit the aftermarket pickup seems backwards to me.

Me too.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Entry Gibby or higher end Epi?

Yeah, good point with that warning.

If you want a Les Paulish Les Paul you will (most of the time) need the maple top. The faded mahogany series, which I think is the only faded Studio ever made, has a mahogany top (as does the historic 1957 Les Paul Custom reissue).

Of course all this goes out the window if you can play them in person in a comfortable environment.

 

[The Dali]

Re: Entry Gibby or higher end Epi?

I second the Carvin comment!

 

[verbotenco]

Re: Entry Gibby or higher end Epi?

Exactly. Some people will have a different view of a guitar once they see the brand name; that goes for any consumer goods, which has been proven in many studies.

That's what is exploited by guitar companies when marketing signature series models.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Entry Gibby or higher end Epi?

For me, I'd go for the Gibson every time. IME/IMO, the craftsmanship, feel and playability of the Gibson is better to me than higher end Epi's any day. Epi's are not bad for what they are, but after a while they start to feel cheap. I've owned a Epi LP Standard Plus and a Gibson LP Studio. I don't have either but I miss that Studio more. And for me, I prefer the wider 1 11/16" nut width on the Gibsons. Most Epi's have a 1 5/8" nut width, which is too narrow for me.

 

[guitarrob]

Re: Entry Gibby or higher end Epi?

So is it the consensus that if I am looking for the Gibson sound, I need the maple top?

It is better to get the normal studio model over the faded models?

 

[ErikH]

Re: Entry Gibby or higher end Epi?

To the tone snobs, yes a maple cap is necessary. To those that don't care, it is not.

The Faded Studios are nice, but I like the regular models better. Gloss black with nickel hardware....yeah, that does it for me, and is exactly what the Studio that I had was.

 

[guitarrob]

Re: Entry Gibby or higher end Epi?

To the tone snobs, yes a maple cap is necessary. To those that don't care, it is not.

The Faded Studios are nice, but I like the regular models better. Gloss black with nickel hardware....yeah, that does it for me, and is exactly what the Studio that I had was.

I agree with you there, I like the black with the nickel hardware. I am not so much of a tone snob though, I will try out both and if the guitar with the cap has a better tone, then it will speak for itself.
I really like both styles based on looks though.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Entry Gibby or higher end Epi?

So is it the consensus that if I am looking for the Gibson sound, I need the maple top?

It is better to get the normal studio model over the faded models?

The regular one has a higher chance to work out.

What is "the Gibson sound"? The majority of Gibson models don't have a maple cap.

 

[guitarrob]

Re: Entry Gibby or higher end Epi?

I wasn't sure if they did, that is why I asked.

Why do the maple capped guitars have a better chance to work out, do you mean provide a better tone?

 

[blueman335]

Re: Entry Gibby or higher end Epi?

I wasn't sure if they did, that is why I asked.

Why do the maple capped guitars have a better chance to work out, do you mean provide a better tone?

You get a bigger EQ spectrum, the maple enhancing highs, the mahogany beefing up lows and mids. Great combination. I think Ted McCarty said they spent a year trying all kind of wood and grain orientation combinations before settling on that.

 

[guitarrob]

Re: Entry Gibby or higher end Epi?

You get a bigger EQ spectrum, the maple enhancing highs, the mahogany beefing up lows and mids. Great combination. I think Ted McCarty said they spent a year trying all kind of wood and grain orientation combinations before settling on that.

It is your opinion also that a maple top offers more tonal possibilities then the simple faded models?

 

[Khriss Bliss]

Re: Entry Gibby or higher end Epi?

The winecherry Gibson pictured a few times above, if im not mistaken, DOES NOT HAVE A MAPLE CAP, so it would NOT give you the high end LesPaul type bite that you could get from an Epi or Schecter. Ive tried them and wasnt impressed in the least. So i highly suggest you dont get a LesPaul looking axe without a maple cap- it wont be Les-like- you might as well get an SG instead.
Also, seriously consider aftermarket pickups, like Seymour Duncans. I would suggest you choose the pickup, then the guitar. Gibson pickups are okay, but dont get one to save money on upgrading. It might still be worth getting new pickups even if you get a Gibson, but if you want to sell the Gibson pickups thatll give you some bread toward new pickups, although you might wanna keep them for resale.
But my point is, someone you know with an Epi with Seym Duncans may someday sound better than your stock Gibson. So dont go for a stock Gibson to save money: you want the best sound, and may spend $79-$250 more upgrading pickups.

As far as resale value goes: if you get a $200 guitar, youll always get at least $50 for it. Thats a difference of $150. In other words, youll never lose more than $150 for it. A new $800 gtr often loses $200 just walking out the door. Unless you know theres absolutely nothing fishy about the value of the guitar, and that you can trust it will be worth MORE, then the alternative is it will be worth less. And that depends on the circumstances of the sale. If you sell it cuz you need the money fast, you may lose alot. If in twenty years, the Pete Townsend model means nothing to younger buyers, youll have less bidders. If it gets stolen or destroyed... Etc. Depends on your savvy and wallet. But a $200 gtr, or a $170 or $120 gtr will always get you $50 toward another guitar, or pedal, or electric bill, or bag of dope. So theres some financial security in getting an underpriced or moderately priced guitar. Theres more risk involved in an expensive guitar.

And dont forget, the million dollar EVH frankenstein was just $80 neck, $50 body plus parts- maybe it was a beater to him, but it became a cadillac to most. But its just an electric guitar- its a simple machine that can sound great... Cheaply.

 

[guitarrob]

Re: Entry Gibby or higher end Epi?

Thanks for the advice but I am not going to buy a pickup and then buy a guitar to fit the pup, that seems back asswards. Unless I am missing your point here?

IMO, choose the guitar you like the sound of and feel, then go with certain pup to help bring out a certain tone you are after.

I always consider aftermarket pups but I have to hear the guitars voice first.
Afterall, I am on a aftermarket pickup forum

 

[formula73]

Re: Entry Gibby or higher end Epi?

The winecherry Gibson pictured a few times above, if im not mistaken, DOES NOT HAVE A MAPLE CAP, so it would NOT give you the high end LesPaul type bite that you could get from an Epi or Schecter. Ive tried them and wasnt impressed in the least. So i highly suggest you dont get a LesPaul looking axe without a maple cap- it wont be Les-like- you might as well get an SG instead.
Also, seriously consider aftermarket pickups, like Seymour Duncans. I would suggest you choose the pickup, then the guitar. Gibson pickups are okay, but dont get one to save money on upgrading. It might still be worth getting new pickups even if you get a Gibson, but if you want to sell the Gibson pickups thatll give you some bread toward new pickups, although you might wanna keep them for resale.
But my point is, someone you know with an Epi with Seym Duncans may someday sound better than your stock Gibson. So dont go for a stock Gibson to save money: you want the best sound, and may spend $79-$250 more upgrading pickups.

As far as resale value goes: if you get a $200 guitar, youll always get at least $50 for it. Thats a difference of $150. In other words, youll never lose more than $150 for it. A new $800 gtr often loses $200 just walking out the door. Unless you know theres absolutely nothing fishy about the value of the guitar, and that you can trust it will be worth MORE, then the alternative is it will be worth less. And that depends on the circumstances of the sale. If you sell it cuz you need the money fast, you may lose alot. If in twenty years, the Pete Townsend model means nothing to younger buyers, youll have less bidders. If it gets stolen or destroyed... Etc. Depends on your savvy and wallet. But a $200 gtr, or a $170 or $120 gtr will always get you $50 toward another guitar, or pedal, or electric bill, or bag of dope. So theres some financial security in getting an underpriced or moderately priced guitar. Theres more risk involved in an expensive guitar.

And dont forget, the million dollar EVH frankenstein was just $80 neck, $50 body plus parts- maybe it was a beater to him, but it became a cadillac to most. But its just an electric guitar- its a simple machine that can sound great... Cheaply.

Dude, in what way does that LP not have a maple cap? Are you blind? Also, I see no need to sell the guy on a set of aftermarket pups right out of the gate. 57s, BBs, and most of the numbered pups are perfectly good. There are thousands of players out there that wring every last ounce of sweet, sweet tone out of them. If he gets it and then later finds something lacking, THEN go for pups. As a matter of fact, I'd go with 500k pots before I went to pups. I had a set of 57 Classics in a 93 Classic Plus that really opened up when I went to 500ks. Same with the BB3/57 Classic in my Traditional Pro. Granted, I went to some more 'metal' type pups, eventually, but that doesn't mean I wasn't able to wrangle some damned fine tones out of the stockers.

Gibson invented the humbucker. They still know how to make em, man.