I WAS WRONG ABOUT EPIPHONE

I was wrong about Epiphone, or maybe not? Watch the whole video to find out!
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[@ERiCtheBuLL]

Ever since the current Gibson ownership and leadership took over from Henry J, they have been doing a lot of great things. One of which is treating Epiphone as a more important brand than previous ownership. The "inspired by" series has been a positive thing and now with the inclusion of the Gibson open book headstock, that tells me they are really serious about elevating the brand in the minds of the market. Sure, they will continue making entry level instruments, but now the premium instruments from Epiphone won't be limited to just acoustics and jazz guitars. The specs on this recent Adam Jones addition are insane. There is some sticker shock, but the more you peel back the layers of the spec sheet, the more it makes sense. Its really being built as though it was made in the Gibson custom shop, except its made in China at a different plant. Has a long neck tenon, real mother of pearl inlays, Gibson and Seymour Duncan brand pickups, hand wired electronics, and so on. I couldn't resist it once I read more about it. And I own two Gibson Les Paul Customs (an '89 and a current era fixed bridge Axcess model).

[@TheMetalFoundry]

Great comment! I have never really understood why the previous management treated Epiphone that way. Especially the whole headstock. Hell, They had Japanese Epi's with the open book headstock, so why not the rest. Look at Fender with Squier, Ibanez with GIO, ESP with LTD and PRS with their SE models. Gibson were the only that treated a subbrand as a shitbrand. imho.

[@ERiCtheBuLL]

@@TheMetalFoundry totally agree with you. Nearly EVERY big brand that has a "sub brand" has the same headstock designs for all. It never made much sense. I think the newer Epiphone headstock they use on the Matt Heafy models is cool in its own way but it's great to see the open book on two current models. Hopefully this will continue. Offering a variety of design choices is always a win for the player. Most of the recent Epiphones I've played in local shops have been solid playing and sounding guitars. This change was long overdue.

[@TheMetalFoundry]

@@ERiCtheBuLL I have to admit that I have only played the Jerry Cantrell Signature, the Wino so far. Oh and a Matt Heafy model, but that latter one was not so to my personal tast because of the Fishman pickups. I'm very much an EMG player. But yeah. I'll definitely keep an eye out for Epiphone in the future. This Adam Jones just looks so damn great.

[@BlueberryStinkFinger62]

​@@TheMetalFoundrybecause back in the day epiphone destroyed Gibson research epiphone it's all there

[@BigMateo24]

Personal opinion, I think Gibson is on the verge of getting rid of the Tribute series all together. I think they'll still keep the Classics and the Studio, as those have roots for Gibson in the past and that seems to be what they are more focused on at the moment is the nostalgia factor, but I can see them scrapping the Tribute line in favor of upselling the more expensive Epiphones. They are at that price point anyways, and I'm not upset about it. I think for 1499 that new Adam Jones sig is about as close as you can come to a vintage spec Norlin era Les Paul as you can get without spending upwards of 5k, and I think it's a fair price for that guitar.

[@ro307805]

It would be a huge mistake because epi's in the same price range just don't have it

[@jayzeebeezee7442]

I was lucky enough to purchase a 2008 Epiphone 59 Les Paul Standard 50th anniversary recently. Quite rare as only 1959 were made. It has Gibson hardware and the long-tenon neck. Great sustain and absolutely love the sound and feel of it. In my opinion, it is every bit as good as its overpriced counterpart. I think Epiphone really nailed it with this model and all for a quarter of the price.

[@tbx2011]

I own two Epiphones and I love them - a Standard 1960 V3 from 2010 and a Classic Heritage Cherry Sunburst inspired by Gibson from 2020. I added a bone nut, finished the frets - phantastic instruments. I´ve tried several Gibson Studios but none of them let made me sell my Epiphones. Maybe they are worth a quarter of a Gibson Les Paul Standard or less, but not a quarter of sound and quality! I use them in studio and for live gigs. Epiphone rulez! 😎🤘

[@Houston123ABC]

I had the PLEK fret work done on a Epiphone Les Paul Custom and it is amazingly smooth! It added $299, but the frets felt 10x better than the one I played in the store.

[@BB-ft6nd]

That Adam Jones Les Paul is a fair price. I like the fact they've finally started using the Gibson headstock...

[@johndaugherty4127]

I got a Slash goldtop, not because I am a big Slash fan, but, because it is the best Les Paul I ever played. Killer guitar. Period.

[@Zoso981]

I own the Epiphone Adam Jones, Veil of Bees and the new Epiphone '59 Les Paul. Both are seriously good quality, pro grade instruments.

[@ayeapprove]

1800 EUR for a chinese epiphone is insane. I'd rather have 2 Fujigen made Epiphones with the correct headstock. LTD prices are going through the roof too, but at least they are korean made by a factory that has put out great quality instruments. Still not going to buy them though, I'll have to wait for a used one then.

[@TheMetalFoundry]

I can understand where you come from, but LTD has been moving production to Indonesia and Vietnam as well, I think it all comes down to labor cost I guess. Chinese guitars are not necessarily a bad thing. If I'm mistaken the Edwards guitar bodies are made and painted in China, and further setup in Japan.

[@ayeapprove]

@@TheMetalFoundry yep but sigs are still predominantly made by world music. I have 2 Edwards (one really early one from the navigator workshop and the other one is a nitro top finished one) and they are far superior to all of the epiphones I've ever tried. The Gibsons I have seem to be good ones, I can always feel the difference when I pick them up even to a good Edwards.

[@bcastletx]

I will say, LTD (at least the “deluxe” or “1000” models) have made absolutely premium guitars for the money for a very long time. And, a lot of if not most of them have been manufactured in one of the finest guitar facilities in the world, in South Korea. South Korea is a higher wage, developed country with first-world employees and higher standards, whereas Epiphone has been and still is, made in China. I think that you’re going to get higher quality more consistently out of Korean craftsmanship than you would out of China, due to the elevated standards and higher wages. I recently got an LTD Phoenix 1000. It was $1,300 USD, and came with locking tuners, TonePros locking TOM, Ebony fretboard, Fishman Fluence Moderns, all gold hardware, and it’s just simply a well-built guitar, made in Korea. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with Epiphone, especially some of these new guitars they’re sending out. But I do think that the money usually goes further for an LTD in general than it does for an Epiphone.

[@RockyH.]

All I know is this: Epiphone is about to drop the Les Paul Custom with the open book headstock for 1,500 or 1,600 hundred bucks!!! I cannot freaking wait are you kidding me?

[@TheMetalFoundry]

If that would be true, hell yeah, count me in!

[@mr3klax]

It’s true. It’s April 2024 and they’re out. I just got mine - Les Paul Custom in Alpine White. Never thought that I would see the day when Epiphone would get the treatment it deserves.

[@petedetraglia4776]

I owned 2 Gibson Les Paul Studios back in the 1990s when you could buy them for $699.99 a piece along with a Marshall Super Triple Lead 100 watt amp. One was stock and the other I had installed active EMG 81 & 85 setup for the Zakk Wylde sound. I still to this day have the stock gold pick ups from the one I converted to EMGs. I'm now playing on a Epiphone Les Paul Custom Pro in KOA the has split pick-ups on 2 of the knobs and a phase shift on another knob. It came stock with Grover locking tuners, 5 way binding, CTS pots, and Pro Bucker pick-ups. Solid 1 piece neck. The Epiphone sounds and plays better than the stock Les Paul Studio I had back then but the one I had the active EMGs installed was just an ass kicker!!! Epiphone has come a long way with their newer custom and custom pro lines. From what I've heard some of the Epiphone Customs and Custom Pros are actually made in the Gibson Custom shop in China...Great video...

[@gregperkins7723]

Just bought the Epiphone Greeny, '59 Les Paul, and he 355 Custom. Of all the 50+ guitars I have owned (including PRS core, Fender Custom Shop and Gibson Custom Shop) these are the BEST 3 guitars in value that I have owned yet. Keeping all 3 and looking for another one!

[@TheMetalFoundry]

Awesome! Thanks for sharing this, man! Very happy for you. Rock on!

[@revolead]

I bought an Epiphone Les Paul Custom in silver burst and modded it myself to be a metal machine a la Adam Jones, Randy Rhoades, Zakk Wylde, Matt Heafy, Björn Gelotte, and many other metal guys who have used Les Pauls. Stock, it was a great instrument (honestly it just needed new pickups, I went the extra mile because I'm obsessive like that), but to be fair to everyone's thoughts here, I did have to try 5 different versions of the same model before I found a killer playing, resonant one I love.

[@albertmarkethinkpr1325]

They should make more variations for their flying V and explorer shapes. I mean the Ebony V and Explorer are nice, but maybe they should offer a white or cream version, maybe a silverburst, that does not cost an arm and a leg. I think the current offering for the V and Explorer in Ebony is just right but they should diversify a bit. I was not really sold on the Korina models. The Burstbuckers are not that convincing compared to the Probuckers. Maybe Epiphoe should come with a new pickup that is hotter for the shapes that are more "extreme". What do you think?

[@cromBumny]

It's strange Gibson hasn't done any V variants. The LP has alot of them.

[@albertmarkethinkpr1325]

@@cromBumny It can also be a marketing strategy, since they already have the Korina inspired by Gibson and Kirk Hammett Flying V. Both of these cost serios money, so maybe Epiphone will fear lack of sales for these models if they start offering an affordable version of the let's say 70's flying V and Explorer. This is why the 1958 inspired V and Explorer are a constant in their catalog. Hope this makes sense. I mean boththe Explorer and V Ebony inspired from the 1958 line are not bad, but we could use a little more variery. Hopefully if they make different models it won't cost what they are asking for the Korina version.

[@TheMetalFoundry]

Oh, I absolutely agree! I was super bummed that the Thunderhorse was so limited. A silverburst Explorer would be the dream!

[@GothicXlightning]

if something is true about EPI Guitars is that we all learn how to have a level of appreciation for them is just a matter of time of finding the RIGHT Epiphone One in my case me owning both Custom versions for the Les Paul Black Beauty and the SG Black Beauty they are great for my Doommetal tones

[@NWTMasterWolf]

I have 5 Epiphones including a TV yellow special and an SG Muse. I love them. I have B.C.R. Jackson. Squire. Schecter. Ibanez. and My Epiphones are among my favorites. Awesome for the money to either just play or to mod.

[@TheMetalFoundry]

Nice collection! For live I mainly grab my LTD's and ESP's. I haven't tried a recent Epiphone yet, but I hear great things about them.

[@KonicaHexanon]

I got the TV Yellow not so long ago, my love for it is just growing by each and every day, such a classic cool guitar 🎸

[@user-bb7te4yo3y]

The mirror in it?

[@TheMetalFoundry]

Yes. the same kind of mirror that Adam has on his Gibson is also delivered with the Epiphone version.

[@markbarnaart2381]

I love my 59 2022 les Paul limited edition 🎉

[@tortminator3675]

I have a Gibson sg standard it’s a fabulous guitar one of my favs. I played a Epiphone les Paul custom at Guitar Center in LA California and I was really disappointed. It played nothing like the people described on YT. Pickups were dull and the overall feel of the guitar was not that great. If you’re not going for Gibson I’d choose PRS SE or S2 lineups over Epiphone for the same price.

[@markwilliamsmusic2987]

Probably just needed a setup 😅

[@markwilliamsmusic2987]

Since 2020 Epiphone lines are now pro quality you can't compare them to the old ones...

[@sinakaedwards2009]

I've always liked Epiphone. I agree that in the 90s Epiphone was seen as a want to be Gibson. However, with their Prophecy series and other guitars released as of late they are making it seem as though Epiphone has become serious.

[@sephistum]

I went the whole route from Epiphone to an actual eighties Tokai LP Custom and then a Gibson only to find it didn't fit the sound I want. Also they are heavy AF so I much prefer more modern brands even though I am a sucker for that official Les Paul shape... epecially when it dons that headstock

[@TheMetalFoundry]

Yeah, I totally follow you on that one. The thing that puts me off on modern Gibson, or actually any non Norlin-era Gibson is the lack of a volute near the headstock. The Adam Jones sig, being based on a Norlin-era guitar has one, so this might be the first Epiphone headstock I would have confidence in.

[@adamfindlay7091]

No, apoligizing is a sign of wisdom 🦉

[@SpaceJockey805]

Epiphone has been making quality instruments over half a century, I feel like most educated guitarists know this. But metal heads are notoriously close minded

[@chaosandorderstudio]

No, that's not true At a shop I tried a modern Les Paul and it was terrible. The setup nonexistent, the finish not so great. While the Epiphone custom shops are definitely better, Epiphone has quality problems with lower spec'ed guitars and they should sort them out.

[@TheMetalFoundry]

I would not go as far as saying that metalheads are close minded, maybe we are a bit more demanding of our instruments.

[@michaelmillican5592]

They aren't pointy looking. The neck radius isn't flat and the pickups aren't 15dc resistance. Epiphone wasn't made for metal and neither was Gibson. The main difference between the two is the logo and price of the instruments. I kept my Epiphone and sold my Gibson. The quality varies from each guitar with both companies. So you can find a good one from either one. Just not for metal music.

[@BigMateo24]

@@chaosandorderstudio Very rarely is a shop actually going to spend time and labor to set up a guitar to hang it on the wall for you to try out.

[@harryadam7679]

@@chaosandorderstudioWith a take this bad, how could anyone trust your opinion on what is or isn’t a good guitar?

[@prodantech]

I’m super prejudiced against Epiphone. Not gonna lie. Not sure if I’ll get past that. Oh well.

[@monmixer]

There can't be that much difference in the solid mahogany or korina guitars with no maple cap aside of maybe one or two piece neck and bodies. The SG, V and Explorer are all perfect examples of this. Of course the hard ware is better on the Gibson or Fender both are to their Squire and Epiphone mid level budget instruments. That can be upgraded with out much financial damage.

[@markwilliamsmusic2987]

The new ones don't need any upgrades whatsoever.

[@ewanbyrne]

I'm not paying 1800 euros for a fucking adam jones made in china...........

[@TheMetalFoundry]

That's your choice and therefore completely legitimate! Personally I think it's not a bad thing for a fan who cannot afford spending 10K on a new one and now maybe even more on the second hand market.

[@ymelfilm]

Epiphone is still an outdated old style stuff whatever they try to do. You have much better options nowadays why still bother ourselves with this brand if just not for snobbery and laziness to step out of the got used to boring track?

[@TheMetalFoundry]

Interesting observation that you make here. I can only speak for myself, but for me personally, Epiphone is pure nostalgia, it was my very first electric guitar. Over the years, my taste has evolved a lot, more towards ESP. For me it's good to see that Epi is still around and gets redemption in a way, because if not for Epiphone, Gibson, or Fender, what would today's hot brands be doing?

[@ro307805]

No. Only the elitist MIJ models have shown consistent quality

[@JaimeCerrada]

Stop normalizing a 1800€ chinese guitar with USA pickups. They will rise the prices more and more!!

[@TheMetalFoundry]

I guess it all comes down to the finishing and the QC. I cannot give a decent judgement about the current lines, since I haven't tried one yet. Some friends of mine are happy with their recent Epi's, to each his own. Rock on, dude!

[@martinclayton7260]

For the money that Gibson, and now Epiphone are charging, the quality should be perfect, and it never is. Gibson has been sitting on it's laurels for far too long, and hasn't gotten any better, and Epiphone guitars are becoming over priced for what they are. I will never buy one. I have four Gibson's, but the prices of them now is ridiculous. The only Epiphone I like is very hard to get hold of, the waiting times for Gibson, and Epiphone is far too long! And trying to get some parts can be very hard?

[@TheMetalFoundry]

I never played or owned a Gibson, so I would not be able to judge. And that is by choice. I would be too worried about headstock break and I'm just more fond of the thinner ESP and LTD necks, those have a volute to compensate that.

[@thunderfootpower]

guitar cost like 300 bucks to make