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Hello... I have a Sheraton and have installed 57 classics and had the frets polished, added flatwounds and I really like the guitar and it's one I still take out to mess around with at home. With that said, I had thought about getting into a 335 but figured I might be wasting my money since i basically had the same thing already. With the Epiphone, you will notice that the gold hardware will lose it's luster after awhile and I also noticed one of the screws that holds one of the pickups fell out... To make a long story short, I invested in an L5. The quality and sound you can't even compare. I still love my Sheraton, it looks great and it's my buddy because it was my first jazz guitar but again... doesn't compare to a Gibson once you have it set up to your liking and in the long run will retain a better value.
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07-19-2011 01:03 AM
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A little off your original post, but keep in mind something Gibson is doing here: namely the Bridesmaid Syndrome. There's this thing brides do. They pick their perfect gown and then they pick their bridesmaids' gowns... to make themselves look good. To make their bridesmaids look ...well, not so good.
Gibson will never intentionally make a product that will outshine their own namesake-out of the box. But quality of overseas product is getting better all the time. Chinese factories CAN make better guitars, but they're not paid to. Still, they do make them better than the last, all the time. Be informed and mindful, you can get/make the guitar that will play the music you hear.
But here's a question. As long as you're looking at Gibsons vs. Asian versions of Gibsons, how about Guild x-500 vs Gibson L-5 at consistently fractional price? Guild Starfire vs 335? Ibanez as-200 vs. 335? Artist award vs. Johnny Smith or Citation? Samick or Jay Turser vs. 175? Yamaha?You get the idea. Gibson has made amazing designs in their history and they continue to use top materials. Elsewhere in the world, people are working on making the proverbial mousetrap better. You can too. And even find something better by your own standards.
John Scofield began with a Gibson 335. Jim Hall began with a 175. Lots of players have found reason to leave their Gibsons behind. Lots of companies have gone on to make really fine professional guitars without the handicap of being a bridesmaid. And then, who's to say the bridesmaid can't wind up being the better choice for something you'd really want to find yourself living with?
David
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On my Gibson ES-175 from 2006 they put the pickup, that was wired for the bridge position into the neck position, and vice versa - wire stretched to maximum. So, up-position of the toggle switch activated the bridge pickup etc. Gibson should reword their counterfeit warning: "Check your new instrument. If everything is o.k. then it propably isn't a real Gibson."
Originally Posted by SamBooka
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Thanks for all the insight guy it helped allot. The only epiphone I am thinking about is the Joe pass emperor. It seems to souls pretty good when I played it in the store however I may just play the guitars I have right now and once I get better we will see how much of a difference I can make between that and a Gibson 333 or 335.
Thanks again
CM
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I love my Joe Pass and probably will never part with it.
It is a Samick plant made from 1995; however I upgraded the neck pickup with a 490R at the time to get closer to my teacher's ES165.
Good tone and for under a grand for both the guitar and the Gibson pickup I could not complain.
I own 1 Gibson and 3 Epis and to me they serve all their purpose.
None of the Epi have their original pups however; electronic are the weakest part on these but so easy to upgrade ...
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I currently own an 07 Epi Alleykat and a 2011 Gibson LP Junior with a humbucker. Two guitars at opposite ends of the spectrum.
The Epi is a blinged out semihollow with all the pretties while the Gibson is a complete stripper.
The Epi has had half a dozen different pickups and as many wiring schemes in it trying to bring it to life. That little slab of Gibson mahogant with a single bridge pickup plays rings round the Epi and sounds sooooo much better.
The only fair comparison between thw two is price. For $600, you get a stripped down Gibson that sounds and plays beautifully. For $500, the Epi tries, but it just isn't there.
I've had a love/hate thing with the Kat since I got it. I WANT to love that guitar. The size, the shape, the weight, the finish are all what I'm after, but the intonation has always been off and I cannot find a bridge pickup that sounds good.
For my money, I'll take the stripped Gibson over the blingy Epi any day.
EG
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VS
EG
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I don't believe you are speaking for the semi-acoustics (DOT, Sheraton II) which are miserable to rewire. All the parts and wires have to come out and go into the treble f-hole, which, on my Samick Sheraton II, was only .75" across at the widest. This required using mini-pots of lesser quality, and will discourage any but the most determined pickup swapper. I wrote up a piece about rewiring that guitar which I will send to anyone interested, and I strongly recommend you read it before you start snipping wires. How hard is it? I did it myself after the local tech refused to do it, and said so in front of his boss. Other models are generally easier; the hollow bodies have lots of room inside and big f-holes, and the Lucille has an access plate in the back. By the way, the old trick of using telephone hook-up wire will NOT work with a semi-hollow: the first time you have to twist something to get it in place, the wire will snap and you'll be back at square one. Originally Posted by vinlander
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Good clarification then. Originally Posted by lpdeluxe
I don't believe you are speaking for the semi-acoustics (DOT, Sheraton II) which are miserable to rewire. All the parts and wires have to come out and go into the treble f-hole, which, on my Samick Sheraton II, was only .75" across at the widest. This required using mini-pots of lesser quality, and will discourage any but the most determined pickup swapper. I wrote up a piece about rewiring that guitar which I will send to anyone interested, and I strongly recommend you read it before you start snipping wires. How hard is it? I did it myself after the local tech refused to do it, and said so in front of his boss. Other models are generally easier; the hollow bodies have lots of room inside and big f-holes, and the Lucille has an access plate in the back. By the way, the old trick of using telephone hook-up wire will NOT work with a semi-hollow: the first time you have to twist something to get it in place, the wire will snap and you'll be back at square one.
In my case it consists of an Epi Joe Pass and a Regent both plenty of room (pickguard in the latter).
For my Lespaul Custom the pups were already upgraded to classic 57 on when I bought it used but I guess these were not much of an issue to change.
I had plans on getting a Sheraton II in the future and to upgrade...I guess I will think twice
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Funny thing.. (I still love your EmpReg vinlander.. )
The mini pots on the EmpReg are actually Alpha and not bad at that.
Good point LP about making sure they fit through the F hole before you get in too deep.
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Originally Posted by Hammertone
I've come across a Japan made Epiphone Emperor dating from the early '80s. Does anyone have any experience with these? It's a bit of drive for me to go see this particular guitar, so i'd love to have some insights, if available. Dimensions would be helpful (depth particularly). Thanks!
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I'm bringing two guitars to my gigs this weekend: a 2008 Gibson LP Studio Faded Maple Top and a 2005 Epiphone '56 Gold Top.
I have not changed any of the electronics in the Gibson, although one day I will replace the circuit board with standard pots and caps. Everything in the Epi with the exception of the tailpiece, nut, switch, and jack has been changed: Fralin P-90s, CTS pots, Orange Drop caps, Gotoh bridge, Kluson Vintage Deluxe tuners.
I would give the Gibson the edge in fit and finish. The Epi was made in China, and the Gibson is considered a cheaper (some would say lesser) LP model. I don't care. They sound and play great. They do everything I want and I find them inspiring. I could spend a lot more money (both guitars combined set me back less than $1,200), but I don't think that automatically guarantees I would get something better.
Last edited by Funkwire; 07-22-2011 at 11:10 AM.
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bmw2002-
I just recently bought a 1981 (maybe, maybe not) Emperor Thinline that was made in Japan- it is as good as any Gibson I've ever played (I've been playing since 1979). I got my first Gibson in 1981- and I still have and love it. I've been buying up late 70s/early 80s Epiphones for the last 5 years or so- none have disappointed. If the Emperor you're interested in is from that period-made in Japan- you're probably going to like it-unless it has suffered abuse at someone's hand.
PS- love your screen name - my first car was a 1972 BMW 2002 with a Ti transmission!
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Thanks, voxwerx. I'll definitely look hard at this Epi. As to the screen name, I too had a BMW2002, a 1973 (not a tii, though) that I'm always sad I sold. (I sold it a friend, who promptly totaled it!) Would love to get another one, but discretionary funds lately have been going into guitars. Need to win the lottery.
Anyway, I digress. Thanks for the helpful reply.
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Well, since someone else mentioned it, I figured by your screen name that you have or had a 2002. I bought one new in San Diego in December of 1970, a 1971 model with a sunroof. Stupidly sold it in 1974. During the years, I had it color-changed from dark green to a unique silver blue (actually a Cadillac paint called "Ice Blue Firemist"), after market alloy wheels and exhaust system. A couple of years later I bought a beater of the same year to get me around for a bit but that first one is one I would buy back in a heart beat. I traded it for a new Porsche and heard that the guy who bought it from the Porsche-Audi dealership totalled it a week or two after he got it. I drove mine coast to coast (CA to PA) six times, five of them by myself and twice straight through. If I win a good size lottery, I will get the best one I can find, probably find it in Hemmings. (If the lottery is big enough, I'd also like a '71 to ''73 3.0 CSI and an M-1.) I'd buy some guitars and amps afterwards. Originally Posted by bmw2002
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I absolutely love that kind of simplicity. And having only a bridge pickup - especially for jazz - is badass. That's the kind of guitar that keeps getting sexier the more worn out it is. Originally Posted by Elias Graves
I can't deny though that the Alleykat is a stunner.
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bmw2002- did you ever get by to check out the Emperor? Kinda curious to see how it went...
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Not yet. The Emperor is north of me up in Massachusetts and my recent trip took me south to NYC, where I was able to try out a couple of new Gibson ES-175's. I may get up there in the next few weeks.
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I say, if you find a good playing Epi, then you got a good playing Epi. Sure, it is all in your fingers, but we all have an idea in our mind about what a good guitar sound is. Regardless of how nice a guitar we have in our hands, if that sound isn't being produced, then we probably won't be too hot on the guitar. Take my choice of guitar, for instance: the Heritage H575. Did I try a 175? Yes. It was nice. Sounded very nice. But... it didn't move me. Tried an Epi 175 and, again, it was nice... but it didn't move me.
The H575.... moved... and bought. It just had that sound to it that inspired me to want to play.
I just had to find the right sound that came from a mixture of my fingers and equipment. So far, I am very happy with my Heritage and Cube.
I see it as a conversation: I can say sweet nothings to the guitar all day... but if it doesn't say something pleasing back... then I am just talking at it. Left unfulfilled.Last edited by barrymclark; 07-28-2011 at 06:02 AM.
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Hello Conman!
First of all I have to tell You, im absolutely an Epi fan. I have 4 Epiphone jazz guitars. Sheraton II, Joe PAss, Broadway, and Broadway Elite.
I had the opportunity to compare my Broadway Elite to a Gibson 335, and a Gibson L5 and look what i got: the Gibson owners wanted to change their instrument to mine 1 to 1 ! And why? Just because the japanese guys made this baby more than a cool axe, better sounding than those Gibbies, and the feel of these instruments are just outstanding.
Its not worth throwing out of the window plenty of bucks "just because" you need a Gibson logo on the head I think.
Check the Epiphone Elitist models, you cant go wrong with them
cheers,
laci
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Quite right. Buy with your ears and hands. Originally Posted by mrblues
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I owned a 1960 Gib 335 for 35 years. Then I bought an Epi Sheraton. The body work was every bit as good as the 335 and after putting the same pickups (Classic 57s) on the Epi as I had on the 335, the Sheraton SOUNDED just as good, except for one thing- the Gibson was warmer and maybe a bit fuller. Originally Posted by Conman
A guitar workman told me that he thought it was because of the very expensive finish that Gibson uses, which is responsible for a large part of Gibson's extra cost. He said this more expensive finish could "breathe" and sounded warmer than the much, much cheaper and much thicker coating of plastic finish that Epiphone uses. I don't know.
But I did sell the Sheraton after about 6 years and went back to a 335. There is quite a difference for ME, don't know about anyone else.
I've owned some Gib and Epi Les Pauls since then though, and on a solid body, I'm not sure the finish makes so much of a diff.
If I had to perform professionally from here on out with an Epiphone though, I'd be perfectly alright with the sound and quality though. They probably have some bad-build guitars slip through, but they definitely have some great ones.
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