Opinions for Epiphone please.

[Retribution]

Hi, I was wondering if Epiphone SGs are worth it? I've been playing guitar for a year now and I do have my own electric, it's a cheap strat copy and I'm getting over it already. My dream guitar is an SG but I'll be a working man by the time I can afford one. So I want to know if the G-400 is faithful to the SG. If not then I was also thinking about Ibanez's AWD83 or should I just stick with the Epiphone. I'd appreciate your thoughts on these two brands.

[fnmpm]

I bought the 200$ Epiphone SG special edition as my first guitar about 4-5 months ago, and I have to say, its pretty nice. Now, I may not be the best judge due to my relative inexperience, but its working out well for me, no repair problems just yet. My only complaint (I dunno if this is valid) is about the pickups. I played a friend's strat before I bought my own guitar, and I got used to the 3 pickups, now I find myself strumming over the back pickup as if I was in the middle of the strat. Maybe I'm just crazy? I dunno...

[Bounty]

Okay I've owned a few epiphones. I've gotta say they make crap and they make some good stuff. (just like most manufacturers) You can buy one for 200 or 2000. Its up to you. When looking at the SG you really want to listen to the pickups. If you wan to sound like Angus then you really need to find one with the 57' humbuckers. This will rais the price of the guitar. You can buy a less expensive SG and add the 57's they are about $107 to $110 all over the net. If you look around in the tech portion of this forum you will see that it isn't that hard to put new pick ups in a guitar. I love that SG and the 57' hummbucker sound. Rock on. I guess to answer the question epiphone is a respectible guitar by any means. Anybody who tells you differant is just a loyalist to a Gibson. This is okay but for some of us who cant afford the name on the guitar epiphone is acceptible. It isn't like telling somebody you have a strat and you really have a squire. ;)

[kclyons]

I have never had any experience with Epiphones except from playing them at Guitar Center...but if you get a mid-range model...$400-600 they are just as good as the Gibson for what most normal people need. I really like the styling, price, and sound of Epiphone guitars, and most likely will pick up a Les Paul whenever I run across some money.

[jack the groove]

I think, when you are considering moderately priced guitars, you are at the mercy of quality control. If it was a good day at the factory, you'll get a great instrument. After you decide on a particular model, you really should inspect individual guitars.

I have a 90's :confused: Epiphone Sheraton (Korean). It's a beautiful guitar, sunburst/gold hardware, very sharp. It has a tone and personality all its own. I love it.

And... :rolleyes:

I picked up this 'Epiphone by Gibson' bass, last night. It has been around the block a few times, but it's held up well. Sounds fine. I don't even know what model it is, but I bought it just because it was an Epiphone for $50.

http://www.myfishpix.com/gallery/data/500/epiphone_bass.jpg

[Lythos]

I've always had good luck with Epiphone. My first bass was an Epi, I had a G400 for a couple years (wish I still had it), and an Epi Les Paul is on my wish list. I just played a hot LP quilt top at Guitar Center this week and my wife had to drag me out of there before I bought it.

[SpaceTrucker]

I prefer the American made goodies (for those of you who don't know, that would be Gibson). Epiphone sounds nice for your dollar, but I played the gibson LP jr. (that means the bare-bone model) at one store through a REALLY nice tube amp, and compared it with the epiphone studio model, and I liked the gibson jr model more. It might be that I'm a patriot and can't let the american work force crumble, or they really do sound better. The gibson I was playing I know I can't afford, but if you go to a local business, the prices are better.

[Lythos]

I could play a crappy squire through a REALLY nice tube amp and I bet it would sound good too. When testing out guitars its generally better to avoid the temptation to mess with boutique amps and see if the store has the same model you have at home. Otherwise you're fooling yourself because you wont be able to replicate that tone once you buy the guitar and bring her home.

[SpaceTrucker]

True, true . . . .
Gibsons might mantian retail value better because it's made in the US. Not sure though,
sorry, too much of a gibson fan I guess.

[Bounty]

True, true . . . .
Gibsons might mantian retail value better because it's made in the US. Not sure though,
sorry, too much of a gibson fan I guess.

Dollars are dollars. I agree with buying american. Sometimes the budget just cant take it. The amp this is soooo true. Its hard to go into the toystore and only play the stuff you'v got. :)