how bad are epiphones really?

[drew_half_empty]

Re: how bad are epiphones really?

http://gc.guitarcenter.com/guitars/slash/content.cfm?page=epiphone&sub=overview

wow, long tennon, "highly figured maple", duncans

seems like not the worst idea in the world

 

[J Moose]

Re: how bad are epiphones really?

I've picked up 3 or 4 of the Epi Slash guitars...

All of 'em 4-6 piece bodies with veneer on the top & back.

They all played "ok".

None of them sounded very good unplugged.

A good Les Paul is thick & mellow... with a round edge on the attack.

The Epi's were all bright & plinky... like a Tele but not as cool or usable.

Certainly sounded nothing like a Les Paul and none of them lasted longer then a minute or two in my hands.

Probably not "real" mahogany either... weren't they using alder for a while?

The $2400 slash guitar though, the two I played were good instruments. Even without some setup work I could take one to a gig, no problems.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: how bad are epiphones really?

drew you know as well as i do that any non-Elitist epiphone is gonna be a big step back from your Tempest.

 

[Onslow]

Re: how bad are epiphones really?

How do I tell if my Epi Standard is a "dog" or not? I bought it about five years ago when I was first starting out. Back then I just new I wanted a Les Paul that I could afford. The only things I've put into it are Sperzels and a SH55 in the neck.

All I know is that my Epi was bright and not very thick at all. I've got that Seth in (rarely ever use the bridge p'up) there and it still sounds plinky, thin and kind of bright. I got a real dog, huh?

 

[shawnr]

Re: how bad are epiphones really?

Well, if you play an Epiphone and the frets buzz from about 14th fret on up, you'll know it's your average Epiphone--I've spent so much time fixing them I hate to think about it.

 

[heymcz]

Re: how bad are epiphones really?

I've picked up 3 or 4 of the Epi Slash guitars...

All of 'em 4-6 piece bodies with veneer on the top & back.

They all played "ok".

None of them sounded very good unplugged.

A good Les Paul is thick & mellow... with a round edge on the attack.

The Epi's were all bright & plinky... like a Tele but not as cool or usable.

Certainly sounded nothing like a Les Paul and none of them lasted longer then a minute or two in my hands.

Probably not "real" mahogany either... weren't they using alder for a while?

The $2400 slash guitar though, the two I played were good instruments. Even without some setup work I could take one to a gig, no problems.

Dunno about the woods on the Epi Slashes, but the ones I tried were a lot better than the "standard" Epis. Plinky, yup, but warm. Maybe not a true LP sound, and definately nothing close to my Gibson. But a heck of a lot better sounding than my Ibanez, maybe I just found a decent one? Had A2Ps in it, that helped....

 

[BFahz]

Re: how bad are epiphones really?

The Epi Slash model rocks.....

 

[JeffB]

Re: how bad are epiphones really?

Bottom line-

1) MIC/MIK Epis are not mahogany- except for the veneers and some but not all necks(African) EDIt: new slash model appears to be ALL african- prolly why they jacked the price way up

2) They can be suprisingly good

3) They can be surprisingly bad

With the price increase this year, I dont think they are such good values anymore- Michael Kellys, some of the MIK Deans and other Les Paul-ish axes are built better (and are less $) more often than not.

As stated, I think your Tempest is most likely a step up-especially when considering hardware and electronics- Schecter still uses Mystery Mahogany like the rest of the MIK/MIC importers.

 

[J Moose]

Re: how bad are epiphones really?

Dunno about the woods on the Epi Slashes, but the ones I tried were a lot better than the "standard" Epis. Plinky, yup, but warm. Maybe not a true LP sound, and definately nothing close to my Gibson. But a heck of a lot better sounding than my Ibanez, maybe I just found a decent one? Had A2Ps in it, that helped....

I dunno man.

I've been amp shopping for the last several weeks... two months maybe. I've probably played close to 30 different amps among at least a dozen stores... sometimes bringing one of my guitars... sometimes not.

If I didn't have a plank with me I'd grab something off the wall... a few dealers would have 2-3 Epi Slashs in stock...

I love Lesters... my "main" guitar is a flametop that I bought used for $1k... always hunting for others...

None of the Epi Slashs I picked up got plugged in. Didn't pass the acoustic test...

If it doesn't pass that, then I really don't care what it sounds like plugged in, because the "core" tone isn't there.

I've owned a LOT of guitars over the years... even some Epis... some of them have been with me for over a decade.

Currently I don't own a Epiphony and haven't for many years... haven't played one that makes me sweat... blows my skirt up. They always feel & sound like crap to me...

I was hoping & expecting to like the Slash... but when you play a handful and they're all about the same... well, I guess that's good for quality control...

There are A LOT of other things I'd spend $1k or less on first... and end up with a better instrument. Like a used Hamer or a Heritage...

 

[KeeperOS]

Re: how bad are epiphones really?

Dunno man, I've found the quality of both Epiphone AND Gibson to be all over the place.
I actually were in a situation where there were 2 Epis and 2 Gibsons, one Gibson was better than one Epi, the other Gibson was worst than that Epi and the 2nd Epi was FAR better than all three.

My advice, if it HAS to be a "real" Les Paul and you can't afford an Edwards (or don't want to buy sight unseen) then try as many Epis as you possibly can, find the one that stands out, give a down payment on the spot to close the deal and work it off.

On the other hand if it DOESN'T HAVE to be a "real" Les Paul but only have the Les Paul sound then (always IMO) NOTHING in that price range beats Michael Kelly Patriots.
Their unique shape, their deeper cutaways and their neck joints are so far superior to ANY Les Paul that there's not comparison.
This is the one I'm getting:

although I'm thinking maybe you'd appreciate this one more:

In any case, that's one guitar I could actually play up to the 22 fret no prob and enjoy playing it

 

[McLaughysSN]

Re: how bad are epiphones really?

Picked mine up at a local shop as soon as they got it in. It's a limited edition epi custom shop with a natural flame top and gold hardware. Not only does the thing look ridiculously sexy, but it plays better than most guitars I've played and sounds to boot.

Its pick of the litter really, I've played some really bad epi's too.

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: how bad are epiphones really?

How do I tell if my Epi Standard is a "dog" or not? I bought it about five years ago when I was first starting out. Back then I just new I wanted a Les Paul that I could afford. The only things I've put into it are Sperzels and a SH55 in the neck.

All I know is that my Epi was bright and not very thick at all. I've got that Seth in (rarely ever use the bridge p'up) there and it still sounds plinky, thin and kind of bright. I got a real dog, huh?

This is not meant as a snarky comment: if you've been playing it for 5 years, you know if it's a dog.

 

[guitarded]

Re: how bad are epiphones really?

I had both of mine setup by a friend's tech. I had sporadic buzz issues on certain frets. The tech installed a new nut and did a fret level job, and now the action on both is ridiculously low and no buzzing that is a problem to speak of. I think this kind of issue is not specific to Epiphones.

Well, if you play an Epiphone and the frets buzz from about 14th fret on up, you'll know it's your average Epiphone--I've spent so much time fixing them I hate to think about it.

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: how bad are epiphones really?

Their unique shape, their deeper cutaways and their neck joints are so far superior to ANY Les Paul that there's not comparison. This is the one I'm getting:

Nice piece of spalted maple. I dig it.

 

[blueman335]

Re: how bad are epiphones really?

I had both of mine setup by a friend's tech. I had sporadic buzz issues on certain frets. The tech installed a new nut and did a fret level job, and now the action on both is ridiculously low and no buzzing that is a problem to speak of. I think this kind of issue is not specific to Epiphones.

Lots of guitars can have string buzz, maybe needing a quick truss rod adjustment. I like a fairly high action so I can do Peter Green string bends, so fret buzz is rarely an issue with me. Besides the strings resonate better when they're raised.

I don't know. Would Arnold think that super low actions are a "girly man" thing?

 

[blueman335]

Re: how bad are epiphones really?

None of the Epi Slashs I picked up got plugged in. Didn't pass the acoustic test. If it doesn't pass that, then I really don't care what it sounds like plugged in, because the "core" tone isn't there.

There's lots of posts on this forum about acoustic sound only having a random relationship to plugged-in tone. At that miniscule volume, the human ear isn't going to hear all the low end & middle EQ that balances the tone on a solid body, without it being amplified. I think it' going to be pretty hard to hear much of the "core" tone in a music store, with all the noise & commotion in those places. I usually leave with a headache after anytime in a music store, with the metal kids playing too loud and all in different keys.

My solid body with the best acoustic sound has been the hardest to get PU's to sound good in; I've had 4 different sets in it (various SD's & Gibsons). To me, what matters in an electric guitar is the plugged-in sound with a good set of PU's, which even on a several thousand dollar guitar may not match the wood all that well. High quality materials doesn't guarantee that they'll all pull in the right direction together. Seems like unless you play an electric unplugged a lot at home and on stage, the acoustic tone is going to be secondary to the amplifed sound.

 

[KeeperOS]

Re: how bad are epiphones really?

Nice piece of spalted maple. I dig it.

Heh, it also has a twin brother:


Burled Bubinga top!
Actually, it's a full thickness plain maple top with a thin laminated spalted maple or bubinga veneer but for 550€, these looks and THIS AMAZING ballsy tone with a roar I can't think of anything Epiphone has to offer to rouse my interest (unless my interest was having a "real" Les Paul regardless of who made it or how...).

Don't get me wrong, MANY Epis can be great, however these babies will be consistently better

 

[drew_half_empty]

Re: how bad are epiphones really?

yeah man i dig the burgundy one more, it'd look better with gold, but at least it has all 4 knobs

and yeah i should probabyl just buy an edwards or a late 70's loverock

i mean for real, has ANYONE on here been dissatisfied with any edwards they've played? i mean i know you basically take what you get but i can't find anything negative about them, other than carrot & he was comparing it to his R8

 

[KeeperOS]

Re: how bad are epiphones really?

My guess, if you can afford and are willing to pay for it then it'd be pretty hard to beat an Edwards, if you want something more for the cost conscious then take a LONG, HARD look on those Michael Kelly Patriots.
These guitars are the one SINGLE reason I stopped hating LPs, because everything I hated on the LP they didn't have and everything that was missing from the Strat they did!
Plus, for 2008 they added new ones in their line up and basically now there's one for everyone

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: how bad are epiphones really?

Urban Myth. Even the wood isnt as good.

I've heard highend guitars made with the best wood sound terrible, so the grade of wood isn't even all that important. Everything with guitars is hit or miss and Epiphone certainly isn't an exception. I've played many that sounded dead unplugged and I've played a few that could really turn your head, some just sound "that good".