The Jazz Guitar Chord Dictionary
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  1. #126

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    Sorry, I have not read all of the posts in this thread, it seems to have gotten very repetitious, so I shot right to the end in order to respond in my own "repetitious" way.

    Not only should you PLAY a guitar - in order to find out if it's for you, and that goes for most guitars, inexpensive, middle of the road, or expensive, but, in regards to Epiphones - one must consider the year and the factories that produced the Epiphone.

    Early 50's, late 50's, early 60's, late 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's to 2010, there's a broad spectrum of guitar manufacturing in that history!

    I've had early 60's Epi's, and they are every bit as good as the Gibson counterparts (same factory - less fancy). I refused to try and play the 70's Epi's, same with 80's models. In the 90's, I admired Epi for producing some cool and affordable arch tops, but I thought the tone woods and electronics and hardware were very sub-standard, and not worth the low prices.

    Fast forward to now, I own 3 Chinese Epiphones. They are wonderful guitars. So much better than some Gibsons I have owned, and at huge savings. Have changed pickups on one, only because i wanted more powerful p/ups and not because the tone suffered.
    2 required no set ups!!!!!

    So, one must look at the newest offerings, they are much better than others.

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    The Jazz Guitar Chord Dictionary
     
  3. #127

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    No!

    My 1st Archtop is my 92 Imperial Series Emperor, they were commissioned by Gibson and built in prestigious Fujigen
    factory. They were commissioned to build 100 instruments, but ran out of quality tonewood after 60 or so.
    They may have only built 30-40 Emperors (39 re-issues). Mine is a beauty, big, bold and full of bling.

    My 2nd Epi was a $200 DOT that I got at a Starbucks from craigslist, had holes patched where a RIP Bigsby used
    to be. This guitar (Tito), is butt-ugly, however, it is one of the most playable, finest sounding guitars I have.
    It is used soley for studio recording work.

    My 3rd Epi is a ES-175 (Joao) which I sold to my son when I bought my L5 Studio. He just put flats on it this week
    and reports that his tone "sounds pro".

    So, No, I don't regret ever buying an Epiphone

  4. #128

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    Not at all. I've bought countless current production Epis over the past few years and never regretted a single purchase.

    Some of the old Korean ones from the 90s that I owned were dogs, admittedly. Ironically, alot of people on the second hand market will try and tell you they are without question better guitars (nonsense IMO.. the solid bodys anyways).. with the exception of the Archtops.. Dots.. Sheratons etc, from what I've heard are supposed to be quality instruments.. but no experience of them at first hand. I've been told they're a completely different story though.

    Japanese Elitists and more importantly Orvilles and ObG (their predecessors) on the other hand I have alot of experience with.. and they are fantastic guitars. The Fujigen made ones. Long neck tenons, proper headstock etc. You also get Nitro finishes and '57 Classics in ObGs.. but I swap them out anyways. They all come with the same "meh" electronics.. but again, I swap all that for good pots, caps, switches, wiring etc. (I'd avoid Terada plant K Orvilles completely)

    If you aren't overly impressed with the Gibsons on the market today.. (like myself) Personally, I wouldn't let that put you off Epiphones. I like to keep an open mind. Coincidentally, I just picked up two new Epiphones today (compared one of them with it's Gibson counterparts) and to me the Epi won straight out. Epiphone make some fine guitars IMO. Quite often I'll find myself choosing Epiphone over Gibson. If you find a good one.. you'll be a happy man. Just my opinion though.

    Good luck if you do decide on one.

    Best regards,

    JPF
    Last edited by JoePassFan; 06-26-2017 at 02:51 PM.

  5. #129

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    The sound compromise my epi 339 through my mesa boogie rectoverb is real rich jazz tone. Bizarre combination.

  6. #130

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    not a one. and i've bought a few. all but one say "elitist" on them, though. the other was my very first guitar, so of course i don't regret that one, either. smart shopping, folks. give it a try

  7. #131

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    To answer your question,... No. I have a Casino Coupe I am quite happy with. Did have the pickups rebuilt. Just made a very comfortable and playable guitar sound better.

  8. #132

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    Just an acoustic guy so don't know about electrics. My real 64 Texan is one of the 5 best sounding flatops I've played (that includes a LOT of vintage Martins, Gibsons, etc).

  9. #133

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    Every Asian epiphone I have seen slavishly measures exactly like the Gibsons they are copying in terms of neck size and profile, nut width, *string spacing* at the *bridge*, and scale, but they cut the nut slots so that *string spacing* at the *nut* is 34mm instead of standard Gibson 37mm. It is a cheap fix; they play fine if you replace the nut with one with proper string spacing (I have had it done twice over the years). I have no idea why they do this.

  10. #134

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    Maybe not every Epi. The Casino Coupe that I have came with a nut with slots spaced exactly the same as my ES-390. Very close to a Fender spacing for a 1-11/16" nut.

  11. #135

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    Quote Originally Posted by nopedals
    Every Asian epiphone I have seen slavishly measures exactly like the Gibsons they are copying in terms of neck size and profile, nut width, *string spacing* at the *bridge*, and scale, but they cut the nut slots so that *string spacing* at the *nut* is 34mm instead of standard Gibson 37mm. It is a cheap fix; they play fine if you replace the nut with one with proper string spacing (I have had it done twice over the years). I have no idea why they do this.
    I haven't seen this. I have an Epiphone MiK Broadway, an Elitist Broadway, a Zephyr Regent, and a Premium ES175. The nut slots are exactly the same as the Gibson counterparts I have, namely L5ces, ES175, and ES165. The Epiphones match the Gibsons of which they are copies.

    I also don't find you comment about duplicating neck size and profile. All my Epiphones have a much slimmer, faster neck than their Gibson counterparts.

    Maybe I'm missing something?

  12. #136

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    Based solely on my experience, modern day Epiphones are well made, easy to buy, easy to like, fairly easy to play and hard as hell to sell.

  13. #137

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    I'm going to lean the other way. I've owned scads of Gibsons, but never an Epiphone. I regret all of the Epiphones I never bought. First, I turned down the opportunity 50 years ago to purchase a mint condition Epiphone version of the Gibson Melody Maker. The dealer had both. I liked the Epi more, but bought his Hagstrom I instead. Still have it and love it, but I regret not buying the Epiphone.

    Through the years, I have turned down a couple of Epiphone Texans, a Casino, and a Sheraton--all 60s models--and regret those decisions. GREAT guitars. However, the biggest regret from the 60s guitar turn downs was an excellent condition Epiphone Howard Roberts archtop that I should have picked up. D'oh!

    Highest, however, on my list of Ephiphones not purchased, is a Matsumoku-made Epiphone Emperor S that JVGuitars.com had for sale a few years ago. I already owned a Matsumoku copy of the Gibson L5CES and knew how outstanding the quality of these guitars was. I hesitated and lost on this one. Still wince at not buying this version of the Emperor. Gibson/Epiphone quality may not have been 100%-Gibson high, but it has always been VERY high.
    Do you regret buying an Epiphone?-emperors-jpg

  14. #138

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    Quote Originally Posted by Greentone
    I'm going to lean the other way. I've owned scads of Gibsons, but never an Epiphone. I regret all of the Epiphones I never bought. First, I turned down the opportunity 50 years ago to purchase a mint condition Epiphone version of the Gibson Melody Maker. The dealer had both. I liked the Epi more, but bought his Hagstrom I instead. Still have it and love it, but I regret not buying the Epiphone.

    Through the years, I have turned down a couple of Epiphone Texans, a Casino, and a Sheraton--all 60s models--and regret those decisions. GREAT guitars. However, the biggest regret from the 60s guitar turn downs was an excellent condition Epiphone Howard Roberts archtop that I should have picked up. D'oh!

    Highest, however, on my list of Ephiphones not purchased, is a Matsumoku-made Epiphone Emperor S that JVGuitars.com had for sale a few years ago. I already owned a Matsumoku copy of the Gibson L5CES and knew how outstanding the quality of these guitars was. I hesitated and lost on this one. Still wince at not buying this version of the Emperor. Gibson/Epiphone quality may not have been 100%-Gibson high, but it has always been VERY high.
    My first electric guitar was one of these (Epiphone ET 270)



    I don't regret having bought it (we all have to start somewhere), but I definitely don't regret selling it. They've become sort of collectible because Kurt Cobain played one, but mine was basically a piece of junk.

    I semi-regret not buying one of the 90s MIK Riviera reissues. You can still get them, of course, and they seem to cheap-ish. Which is to say _you_ can get one. I cannot increase the size of the local guitar population without dire familial consequences, alas.

    John

  15. #139

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    I remember those. Here is the early-60s Epiphone Olympic model that I was offered for $90 back in the day:
    Do you regret buying an Epiphone?-epiphone-olympic-double-jpg
    Ha! One of the things that drove me away from the used Epiphone toward the NOS Hagstrom (that the dealer had in inventory for about four or five years, at that point) was that the Hagstrom had the thinnest neck on the market. The Olympic was a flipping LOG.

    Now, I absolutely love the fattest guitar necks I can find. Go figure?
    Last edited by Greentone; 10-15-2018 at 05:08 PM.

  16. #140

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    Quote Originally Posted by Greentone
    I'm going to lean the other way. I've owned scads of Gibsons, but never an Epiphone. I regret all of the Epiphones I never bought. First, I turned down the opportunity 50 years ago to purchase a mint condition Epiphone version of the Gibson Melody Maker. The dealer had both. I liked the Epi more, but bought his Hagstrom I instead. Still have it and love it, but I regret not buying the Epiphone.

    Through the years, I have turned down a couple of Epiphone Texans, a Casino, and a Sheraton--all 60s models--and regret those decisions. GREAT guitars. However, the biggest regret from the 60s guitar turn downs was an excellent condition Epiphone Howard Roberts archtop that I should have picked up. D'oh!

    Highest, however, on my list of Ephiphones not purchased, is a Matsumoku-made Epiphone Emperor S that JVGuitars.com had for sale a few years ago. I already owned a Matsumoku copy of the Gibson L5CES and knew how outstanding the quality of these guitars was. I hesitated and lost on this one. Still wince at not buying this version of the Emperor. Gibson/Epiphone quality may not have been 100%-Gibson high, but it has always been VERY high.
    Do you regret buying an Epiphone?-emperors-jpg
    Dat's damned gawgeous !!

  17. #141

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    In the past, I have owned a Sheraton and a Emperor regent, but neither lasted too long.
    The regent was my first archtop, so I can't knock that. But I moved on. Oh, and I also owned a 175 Premium which was a very nice guitar, but my Gibson 175 is a whole step above. But I don't regret any of those epiphones.

    Recently, there was an Epi Jumbo acoustic at a local pawn shop that I kinda wished I'd snatched up.
    Like I needed another flattop! It played great, looked great, sounded a bit bright so I was able to turn off the gas . . .
    But now that Jumbo is the Epiphone that haunts me.

  18. #142

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    i regret gibson buying epiphone!!

    they were quite the independent nyc guitar company in their day!

    cheers

  19. #143

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    Quote Originally Posted by Greentone
    I'm going to lean the other way. I've owned scads of Gibsons, but never an Epiphone. I regret all of the Epiphones I never bought. First, I turned down the opportunity 50 years ago to purchase a mint condition Epiphone version of the Gibson Melody Maker. The dealer had both. I liked the Epi more, but bought his Hagstrom I instead. Still have it and love it, but I regret not buying the Epiphone.

    Through the years, I have turned down a couple of Epiphone Texans, a Casino, and a Sheraton--all 60s models--and regret those decisions. GREAT guitars. However, the biggest regret from the 60s guitar turn downs was an excellent condition Epiphone Howard Roberts archtop that I should have picked up. D'oh!

    Highest, however, on my list of Ephiphones not purchased, is a Matsumoku-made Epiphone Emperor S that JVGuitars.com had for sale a few years ago. I already owned a Matsumoku copy of the Gibson L5CES and knew how outstanding the quality of these guitars was. I hesitated and lost on this one. Still wince at not buying this version of the Emperor. Gibson/Epiphone quality may not have been 100%-Gibson high, but it has always been VERY high.
    Do you regret buying an Epiphone?-emperors-jpg
    I have the slightly later Emperor "F", mines a blonde from 1983.
    It's the best playing guitar I have. I put some Gabojo Lab HB Sized Dynasonics in mine, but the stock Maxon MMK-75 humbuckers were great, in fact probably the best PAF style pickups I've heard.

    To my ears it sounds more like an L-5 than an ES-175, I think this may be due to it being made with much thinner and resonant laminates than a newer Gibson for example.

  20. #144

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    I used to complain about the quality of the wiring, pots and switches but this is almost universal now with any asian origin electric, and to be honest the only recurring issues I've seen have been a few cold solder joints and some malfunctioning push-pull pots.

    I think the only real negative I can come up with is re-sale value. There are a TON of used Epiphones out there . . .which is a not bad thing if you don't mind buying pre-owned, death if you are trying to sell one.

  21. #145

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    I can’t recall if I’ve replied to this before, but. Through the years, I’ve had five various Epiphones. I still have four of them. The one I no longer have was a 2001 Unsung Korean Dot. It was really nice, but I wanted a Tele more, so it got traded away.

    I still have the 81 Epi Emperor T, 98 Zephyr Regent, a 2006 G1275 doubleneck, and a Chinese Les Paul Junior who’s year eludes me at the moment.

    The only one I’d consider getting rid of is the Junior. It’s plywood. I got it as a husk for $30. Other than the GFS P90 and pickguard I bought for it, I fleshed it out with parts I had on hand. It plays well, sounds well, but it’s still a plywood Junior.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  22. #146

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    Do you regret buying an Epiphone?-clipboard01-jpg

    Here is a picture I took for my luthier before I had the nut fixed on my Epi LP. You can see the difference at each edge; measured 34mm on the epi, 37mm on the Gibson. Both nuts 1 11/16".
    Now the LP measures 37mm, plays much better.

    Had the same exact issue years ago on a 1990s MIK epi archtop.

    Note also that the Tusq and Graphtech sites sell epi and Gibson nuts as *separate items* with *tighter string spacing* for the epis.

    See also: Wide String Spacing on Epi LP Nut?
    Any reason not to put a Gibson sized nut on an Epiphone style guitar? | My Les Paul Forum

  23. #147

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    Regrets? Best item I ever bought in my life !



    Do you regret buying an Epiphone?-epi-jpg

  24. #148

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    Quote Originally Posted by Guitarpete
    The sound compromise my epi 339 through my mesa boogie rectoverb is real rich jazz tone. Bizarre combination.

    The Rectoverb is a killer amp

  25. #149

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    I spent my archtop money on a few Guild guitars, and I couldn’t justify spending much more for an Epiphone. I did, however, buy an Epiphone Les Paul Standard used for $300. It is in mint condition, and it plays great with excellent tone and sustain. It even gets decent jazz tones in both humbucker and single coil mode. Compared to a Gibson the Gibson wins, but just barely. Great guitar and great value.

  26. #150

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    I had an Epiphone Elitist Broadway for a few years before I got a nice Gibson Wesmo L-5C, figuring I would sell the Epi since I didn't want to keep both guitars. Long story short, the Wesmo went away within a few months and I still have the Broadway. It's the best guitar I have ever had.