Re: Epiphone VS Gibson (give me your insights plz!)
Glad this thread isn;t over at the Les Paul Forum!!! Some members can get a little, 'agitated' about such topics, shall we say
The arguments have all been good ones, so I'll just sum them up and add one final bit of info I read somewhere, that I thought sumed up the situation perfectly (incidently, I have three Gibson Les Pauls..).
Epi
-Electronic are crap and will need upgrading, as will tuners, switch, pups etc
-low resale value
-more affordable
-not as high quality woods or craftsmenship
-no nitrocellulose laquer finish
Gibson
-electronics are better, but pots and caps are usualyl upgraded anyway
-hardware is high quality, but often replaced (eg pups...)
-woods are better quality as is craftsmenship
-better resale value
-more expensive to buy.
-nitro finish
However, the other factor is the psychological factor. Ask yourself how you would honestly feel looking at your new Epi Les Paul, and then imagine yourself if that was a Gibson Les Paul Standard in your hands. Different isn't it? Names have psychological connotations for us, and draw affective (emotional) responses. That is something you cant measure...
Finally, the quote I read was
'The Epiphone is a good guitar for the money, but is something you will one day want to upgrade. The Gibson you will cherish for life...'
That, in my opinion, sums the difference up....