High end Epiphone's start around the $600 and up range.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/ ... 3000001000

Gibson 57 pickups, Grover machine heads decent hardware some have Switchcraft toggles and jacks. Some models include Burstbuckerpups too.

I never compared the Epi line to Gibson. They aren't, but they're fine guitars. Their limited edition guitars like the Joe Bonamassa Goldtop are really nice.
http://www.epiphone.com/Products/Les-Pa ... ldtop.aspx

No one is right or wrong here. It's all opinion. Like I said, I've never played a really bad one, but that's not to say they don't exist. I've played bad Gibson, Fender, Gretsch you name it.
Also as far as I know the John Lennon Casino and Inspired by John Lennon came in a few versions including made in Korea, China and also made in Japan but assembled in the United States.

What's it matter where it was made as long as the player likes it? Guitars that are made in China exploit the cheap labor factor, not just cheap components. I try to buy USA made instruments whenever possible. I have Fender, Gibson, Martin, Supro, original Danelectro as well as Yamaha and Ibanez in my guitar collection.
If your guitar is so bad, why did you buy it and keep it?

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It was cheap 63, round about £300 so i thought i'd take the risk. I got it mail order over the net so i played it as it came plus i adjusted some things myself.

The guitar is not bad as such. I enjoy messing around on it but you could never rely on it playing with other musicians or recording as the intonation is so hard to adjust and the tuning is always unstable.

It's ok for just banging about in the bedroom at home but no more than that really.

To be fair though, if the hardware on this guitar was better, particularly the machine heads and the bridge, then it would be a real winner for the price. The pickup toggle switch is also a bit dodgy and rough, not nice and smooth when you flick it.

I've left the guitar as it is because, between buying new machine heads then buying a new bridge assembly then the nut needs either replaced or worked on, it would cost a small fortune to put right and as i'm just using it at home i just put up with it's problems

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George Van Eps.

Here...
http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/member- ... ost4198023

Oldguy:

Take a look at the Epiphone Ultra-339. I tried one the other day and it was simply fantastic. Nice price too!

This Epi. has the same pickups as my Sons Gibson (57 classics) that I gave him. The tuners are Klusons. It cost 700.00 eleven years ago. Not cheap back then.

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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

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I've given it some thought, and you model you posted is actually a superb deal, especially with the fitted hardcase in the equation. Nice electronics. For a first LP, I may end up with this one in Vintage Sunburst. Hopefully I'll be able to compare the slim D and C/D profiles at the store.

Using my guitar as an example:

Gibson Lucille
$3,799.00 + tax

Epiphone Lucille
$699.00 + tax
**add 490R Pickup: $129.99 + tax
**add 490T Pickup: $129.99 + tax
**add GraphTech nut: $20 plus installation, let's round that up to $100
total: $1058.98 + tax

That leaves a $2740.02 to replace pots, tuning pegs, bridge, saddles, wiring, etc. That's quite a budget to work with and you can make it exactly the way you want it instead of how Gibson thinks you might want it.


Most of the 'signature' models like Lucille seem to get a little extra attention.

There's also the Elitist line if you can find one. They are every bit as good as a Gibson, perhaps better even.

Epiphone Elitist Dwight Yoakam "Dwight Trash" Casino
$2,199.00

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I say go for it!
Yet I wouldn´t purchase ANY guitar priced under $1,600 US. Just not a good investment.
Most any guitar looks attractive, then reality sets in after a few days.

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FIGHT!

I know what you mean but rather than do that; buy a guitar and then have to rip almost all the components off it and replace them with better one's. Why not just buy a better quality instrument in the first place?

Seems a shame to buy a guitar and then have to rip it to bits.

_________________
Luck won't do it and ignorance can't

George Van Eps.

I love Epiphones and other inexpensive guitar brands for the simple reason that you get to fool around with them without destroying something of great value. Modifying guitars is one of the perks of being a guitarist (or guitar enthusiast, in the case of some people). Trying new pickups and new hardware is fun and interesting and it is always a learning experience for old vets and newbies alike. It makes no sense to some people (me included) to mess with an expensive guitar. Others have no problem with it. However, less expensive guitars like Epiphones or Squiers or MIMs are ideal test beds. Your initial investment is lower. You're not ruining any future value in the instrument because it was never going to have any anyway and you get to play with things and see for yourself what works and what doesn't. You can use KiJiJi or CL or eBay and find used parts to keep costs down and you can also sell your discarded parts to keep costs down even more. When you want a new project you can usually resell the modified guitar for more money than a stock one would sell for on the used market which is normally not the case with an expensive guitar where mods can hurt resale value so that keeps costs down even more yet. It's cheap, fun and educational. Everyone should be buying Epiphones. I like my modded Epi Les Paul even better than my Gibson Les Pauls.

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Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.

Because it won't cost $2740.02 to replace pots, tuning pegs, bridge, saddles, wiring, etc.

You will end up with 'left over' money for a new strap, strings, one of those string-winder thingies, a capo, a harmonica, gas for your car, dinner and a movie, etc.

BMW-KTM know's what I'm talking about. It's also about making the changes youself, and the experience. Choosing exactly which pickups you want, which tuners, which nut. Personally I don't believe modding a cheaper guitar adds resale value, but if you find the right buyer who likes what you've done, they might be willing to pay a little more.

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+1
+1

I consider myself a Tele man, and the opportunity to venture into new territory without selling a kidney is more than appreciated.

hi , i'm with the modders here , an epi lp with the right mods sounds better than a gibby lp , the first thing i did with my gibby studio was to replace the pots caps and wiring harness , it had the stupic pcb setup but sounded a lot better when i was finished the epi lp i have at the moment sounds amazing through the jcm800 and thats with iron gear pickups , vintage 50's wiring harness , pio caps cts pots, and switchcraft switch and jack , my epi sg which has all the mods as above and a set of gibby pups is something to behold
Gary if you fancy coming over to one of our rehersalls you can check out my epi's at a decent volume , just gimme a shout mate , cheers
Alan

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With that logic then why would anyone in the right mind buy a MIM Strat. or Tele.? Seems that Fender keeps that cost down so your saying you have to replace every thing about them! They cost less then a lot of the Epi's.

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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

Well i wouldn't buy a MIM guitar unless it could be shown to me that all the components and workmanship were as good as the US std. If they were not up to that standard then i wouldn't want it.

As far as people buying them because they like modding guitars; that's a different issue entirely. I can see that ok in that you wouldn't mind messing up something that's not very good anyway as compared to wrecking a great Fender or Gibson.

BTW i'm not saying you have to replace everything in them all the time but in a lot of cases you do because of dicky switches, microphonic pickups, crap tuning pegs etc. etc.


The thing is if something looks too good to be true then it usually is. if a guitar is cheap it's cheap because it's crap usually simple as that. To make a top quality guitar with great components well put together costs and guitars slung together quickly usually don't cut the mustard.

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Luck won't do it and ignorance can't

George Van Eps.