Opinions needed on some cheap guitars

GAWA

GAWA

New member
All right I've been looking around a website at two guitars I've always wanted - an SG and a Les Paul. But I don't have the money to get Gibson ones so I would like some opinions on these Epiphone guitars of the same style:

SG style:
SG 1
SG 2
SG 3

Les Paul style:
Les Paul


Obviously I'll only get one of the SGs, so which would be best? And would these guitars actually be worth the money? I know they won't be as good as a Gibson but would they be good enough guitars to play or are they just cheap copies that aren't any good?

Thanks for any help :)
 
Re: Opinions needed on some cheap guitars

definately get the g400 out of those choices. It is going to feel and sound the most like a true SG, because of its bolt on neck. You should definately play them before buying if possible, and the pickups will need to be replaced eventually, but the G400 is a real SG. When I say real SG, I mean that it has a set neck, and is constructed like its Gibson coutnerpart.

Good luck, and I'm sure that you'll end up with a nice guitar.
 
Re: Opinions needed on some cheap guitars

if you want a gibson sg or a gibson les paul then only a gibson will do. I'm not saying that epiphone doesn't make good guitars, i'm saying that buying an epiphone will not satisfy your gas for a gibson. If you wont be able to afford a gibson any time soon then epiphone is the best way to go. Of those guitars you are thinking about i would choose the sg #2 b/c i personally like a set neck better than bolt on (and real gibsons are set).
 
Re: Opinions needed on some cheap guitars

Yeah I think the g400 looks the best out of those 3 options as well, the fingerboard especially. It probably won't even be a while until I'll get one of these but I think the g400 would be great. Thanks for both those opinions. Any other thoughts?
 
Re: Opinions needed on some cheap guitars

Omni9X said:
definately get the g400 out of those choices. It is going to feel and sound the most like a true SG, because of its bolt on neck. You should definately play them before buying if possible, and the pickups will need to be replaced eventually, but the G400 is a real SG. When I say real SG, I mean that it has a set neck, and is constructed like its Gibson coutnerpart.

Good luck, and I'm sure that you'll end up with a nice guitar.
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I would say the only thing the Epi has in common with a Gibson SG is it's shape. The Epiphone SGs will likely have a maple neck, and possibly an alder body. I know the 400 says mahogany neck and body, but I can tell you many people have found this to be untrue. The finish is poly, nitro on a Gibson. The neck tenon is also different. Gibson SGs have a long teneon that extends into the neck pickup route (nessesary for long term stability), I beleive Epiphones have a short tenon that stops where the neck pickup route begins. The G400 is a decent guitar for the price, but it will not sound like a
Gibson. I would not go any lower in models than the 400 though.
 
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Re: Opinions needed on some cheap guitars

G400... the others aren't really worth it.

However, you might look into a used Gibson Faded SG. It probably wouldn't be too much more than the Epi new.
 
Re: Opinions needed on some cheap guitars

In terms of general tone, Epiphone variants are fairly good, from my experience. Of course it's not a Gibson, but it's adequate. I can't speak as to the tone of the 100, but I have a Standard, and it's fairly good. If I were you, I'd also consider checking into a Standard/Custom, but it should go without saying that you have a better understanding of the situation.

Now... for the downside to it all; REPLACEMENT PARTS!

I recently had the misfortune of having a cracked pearloid button on my LP Standard, and it was a total pain to find some replacement machine heads. I know Epiphone made replacement parts at one time, but they're scare today, no doubt. I realize the situation will vary from place to place, but I rarely hear of anyone coming across genuine Epiphone replacement parts. A lot of it probably had to do with my location, in that most stores around here don't work on Les Pauls, but I couldn't find any parts on eBay, Musician's Friend, etc. Fortunately, I found a place across town that hooked me up with some off brand machine heads for $20.00.

Luckily (and at the same time, unluckily) for you, three of the four guitars had metal buttons. Many seem to think your best bet is the G-400, which is the only one with pearloid buttons.

If someone would suggest where you can find replacement parts, I'd highly suggest the G-400, but otherwise, you should probably think a bit more about it before you buy.

Good luck
 
Re: Opinions needed on some cheap guitars

big_black said:
I would say the only thing the Epi has in common with a Gibson SG is it's shape. The Epiphone SGs will likely have a maple neck, and possibly an alder body. I know the 400 says mahogany neck and body, but I can tell you many people have found this to be untrue. The finish is poly, nitro on a Gibson. The neck tenon is also different. Gibson SGs have a long teneon that extends into the neck pickup route (nessesary for long term stability), I beleive Epiphones have a short tenon that stops where the neck pickup route begins. The G400 is a decent guitar for the price, but it will not sound like a
Gibson. I would not go any lower in models than the 400 though.
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Yeah I know if won't sound like a Gibson. I basically just want a guitar that looks like a Gibson SG for a good price, but also a good guitar, not just a cheap copy that sounds terrible. I know it won't sound as good as a Gibson, but is the G400 still a good guitar or is there no real point in getting it?
 
Re: Opinions needed on some cheap guitars

No, it's a decent guitar, don't get me wrong. You may also want to look into used a used Faded like JB said. I've seen them on Ebay for as low as $300USD. The G400s do vary greatly in quality, so I'd find a bunch and play a bunch- don't buy online.
 
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Re: Opinions needed on some cheap guitars

Dr. Strangelove said:
In terms of general tone, Epiphone variants are fairly good, from my experience. Of course it's not a Gibson, but it's adequate. I can't speak as to the tone of the 100, but I have a Standard, and it's fairly good. If I were you, I'd also consider checking into a Standard/Custom, but it should go without saying that you have a better understanding of the situation.

Now... for the downside to it all; REPLACEMENT PARTS!

I recently had the misfortune of having a cracked pearloid button on my LP Standard, and it was a total pain to find some replacement machine heads. I know Epiphone made replacement parts at one time, but they're scare today, no doubt. I realize the situation will vary from place to place, but I rarely hear of anyone coming across genuine Epiphone replacement parts. A lot of it probably had to do with my location, in that most stores around here don't work on Les Pauls, but I couldn't find any parts on eBay, Musician's Friend, etc. Fortunately, I found a place across town that hooked me up with some off brand machine heads for $20.00.

Luckily (and at the same time, unluckily) for you, three of the four guitars had metal buttons. Many seem to think your best bet is the G-400, which is the only one with pearloid buttons.

If someone would suggest where you can find replacement parts, I'd highly suggest the G-400, but otherwise, you should probably think a bit more about it before you buy.

Good luck
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Interesting. I think I'll take JB_from_hell's advice and have a look around for some used Gibson SGs before going for an Epiphone. Like I said it will be a while before I buy anything but I think I'll look at some used Gibsons. You know that you're getting quality with them and if I can get a good price then I think I'll go for that before the g400. Sound like a good idea?
 
Re: Opinions needed on some cheap guitars

the only one that isn't junk is the G400. the others have plywood bodies or similiar. lol
 
Re: Opinions needed on some cheap guitars

If you're gonna look at used Gibsons you may as well look at used Burnys, Tokais, and Orvilles. Burny and Tokai are Japanese companies Gibson eventually sued into extinction because their copies were so accurate, and I think Orville was the same story but they just got bought-out instead. I haven't played any first hand but everybody around here who has one says it's as good as Gibson...

oh and as far as the assumption that Gibson = Quality, there's several posts around here to argue against that too. I cut my finger on a Faded Flying V's frets once. Not to mention Gibson being a big evil megacorp but I guess I'll stop talking now.

OH and of those guitars try the G400. I AB'd a G400 and an SG standard and MY amateur self couldn't really tell a difference.

-X

-X
 
Re: Opinions needed on some cheap guitars

Empty Pockets said:
If you're gonna look at used Gibsons you may as well look at used Burnys, Tokais, and Orvilles. Burny and Tokai are Japanese companies Gibson eventually sued into extinction because their copies were so accurate, and I think Orville was the same story but they just got bought-out instead. I haven't played any first hand but everybody around here who has one says it's as good as Gibson...

oh and as far as the assumption that Gibson = Quality, there's several posts around here to argue against that too. I cut my finger on a Faded Flying V's frets once. Not to mention Gibson being a big evil megacorp but I guess I'll stop talking now.

OH and of those guitars try the G400. I AB'd a G400 and an SG standard and MY amateur self couldn't really tell a difference.

-X

-X
Click to expand...

Yeah screw gibson. I'll never own one again. Even though I do, right now, it's probably getting sold soon.

Check out what he listed above and Edwards guitars. Look on ebay.
 
Re: Opinions needed on some cheap guitars

Empty Pockets said:
Not to mention Gibson being a big evil megacorp
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So you want to find a guitar under $400 that is NOT made by a huge corporation? Good luck! I don't think you will find a good Edwards or Orville for that price either. Tokai makes an '61 RI clone currently, but they are generally not available locally so it would be hard to know if the quality is there. They go for $300+ (?), so it's kind of sketchy IMO. Gibson certainly has it faults, but you at least know several things about it's construction up front. The flaws are generally the same, so it's pretty easy to spot a lemon.
 
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Re: Opinions needed on some cheap guitars

I've played a g400 in person.. it looked beautiful.. and has potential with aftermarket pickups (maybe the SD hot rod set).. don't buy it online though.. find one in person because epiphone doesn't have near the quality control as their american counterpart does.. you could be lucky and find a g400 with great playability and little setup needed.. good luck
 
Re: Opinions needed on some cheap guitars

ive played the g400 and i really wanted my dad to get it instead of the ibanez he got. now he regrets it. the g400 is agreat guitar for the price. but it is a good idea to look for a used gibson online. my friend got a faded sg for 350, it didnt have a neck p'up, but hes replacing that with a dimarzio humbucker from hell pretty soon.
 
Re: Opinions needed on some cheap guitars

The SG SPecial is like my friend's old LP special, POS, my JS1 was like 3x better and a girl I know had the G310 and said it sounded like ****.

The G400 is nice, but when I played the G400 Vintage it was just WAY better, I dunno, maybe it was just placebo but it was a lot better feeling and looked sweeter so I'd get that, a pimp guitar it is indeed.
 
Re: Opinions needed on some cheap guitars

Haunt pawn shops until you find a real Gibson. I'm not impressed with Epiphones with the exception of the jazz models. I've seen used SGs going for about $350. If I wasn't so heavily into Teles and Pauls I'd have a cellar full of SGs!
 
Re: Opinions needed on some cheap guitars

Hellion said:
Haunt pawn shops until you find a real Gibson. I'm not impressed with Epiphones with the exception of the jazz models. I've seen used SGs going for about $350. If I wasn't so heavily into Teles and Pauls I'd have a cellar full of SGs!
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I found a late 60's Gibson SG for $400 not too long ago, so yeah, they're out there.

If you're going to go with a Les Paul clone (including epiphone), I'd have to suggest Heritage. They're made in the old Gibson factory by some of the old Gibson employees. You can find them used for under $1000 all day, and I'd put them up against most Gibson LPs anytime.

Whatever you decide on, be sure you play the crap out of it before you buy it. Make sure that there's nothing wrong with it if its new. Luke Duke bought a brand new Gibson LP Custom a couple of years ago and even after a fret job it didn't play well. That's not to say they can't make good guitars, though. Just be careful. The Gibson corporation's quality control is inconsistant.
 
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