The Week in Gear 32 | Epiphone are INSANE | Ed Sheeran Releases a Pedal?

[@clivesmith5240]

I've just bought an Epiphone Firebird vintage sunburst for £549,the only difference to those you reviewed is it has mini grover machine heads, the rest are the same . This is from Bax Music. Great show, keep it going.

[@andrewhouse3246]

Does it have the same electronics?

[@bkmeahan]

got a Firebird for $649 last year. Great guitar. I can't imagine these firebirds are $1000 better than mine.

[@tostrmofo6686]

@@andrewhouse3246I think the Gibson pickups are inflating the price. The rest of the electronics will make a difference of less than 20 bucks. I bet the pickups are manufactured in the same factory and just getting different stamps.

[@clivesmith5240]

@@andrewhouse3246 All I can tell you is it has ProBucker FB720 pickups, as for the other electronics I can't tell you I haven't opened it up.

[@claesvanoldenphatt9972]

I bought an Epiphone Firebird in flat red finish, with concentric tuners similar in concept to the original banjo tuners, used for $250, just to see what it was like, about 8 years ago. It was pretty nice but the pickups were these insanely high output things and of course it was set-neck instead of neck-through. I sold it on soon as I decided I didn’t want to waste money upgrading the electronics. No regrets. New Epiphone prices are just stupid. Have they identified a market of guitarists who will pay the price of much better manufactured and appointed guitars for these nice-looking but totally ordinary axes? For Epiphone prices you can get an Eastman which is higher quality in all regards to a Gobsin.

[@allanjcarpenter]

Andy…you’re spot on about that Epi Firebird. I can’t for the life of me figure out the marketing strategy.

[@briandevitt6903]

Paying those prices for an Epiphone, with those specs, madness...................not a chance.

[@I.am_Groot]

Why is it madness? Gibson wants $5500-9000 for theirs now I am not buying any of these guitars but the since when is $1500-1800 for the Epi version of a $5000 guitar out of line?

[@Artymofo13]

Madness + madness doesn't equal value. The only real upgraded specs from the $649 version are USA pickups and a crappy trem. The specs are certainly not worth $1,000 more than the basic epi firebird.

[@oldzerhuman555]

For that price they should already have the gibson logo on the headstock! It would certainly help the resell value. I wish they were cheaper

[@I.am_Groot]

@@Artymofo13 I agree but if any of us were trying to get $5000 for a Gibson but letting Epi price theirs for $1099 what sense would that make?

[@nunestunes]

Gibson is dying brand especially the last few years

[@sihall1975]

Fair play to you for calling out Gibson on the Epi Firebird pricing. It's just blatant profiteering. Even if it had a rosewood board and nitro finish in addition to the USA pickups and even if they've found the best Chinese factory with the best QC, it still wouldn't justify the prices. They do look cool AF though 😂. I blame Uncle Larry for making Firebirds cool again. He made me buy one! But I got a really well made Chinese Tokai second hand for €450 and changed the pickups and electronics. It's at least as good as one of the Epiphones, if not far better and it cost me one third of the price

[@richeyweinstein7706]

Thanks!

[@TheGuitarGeek]

Glad you enjoyed it! Your appreciation is priceless!

[@clivesmith5240]

Thanks!

[@TheGuitarGeek]

Thank you Clive!

[@LeonCabal]

It's obvious that after that video you were explaining that you feel you do something else than what you want to, the quality and honesty in your videos is one of the best out there. Keep up. We need people like you. We don't buy paid demos and marketing content from youtubers any more.

[@mimetype]

If you reviewed a plectrum for an hour, your non patronising, non ad -revenue courting, human, approach would still have people engrossed. There's an honesty about your approach. Exvellent job!

[@TheGuitarGeek]

Thank you very much. ❤️

[@spearchuckerbear2817]

Firebird Muse for x3 the price. Innovation at its finest.

[@7171jay]

@mime Apparently you miss the regular mentions of affiliate links, giant prices flashing on screen, and that what passes for content on this channel is simply reading the specs directly from the manufacturers info rather than any sort of actual reviewing of these guitars. Human

[@spearchuckerbear2817]

@@7171jay of course it’s called the week in gear similar to a news show. I believe that’s why he names these episodes as such.

[@mimetype]

@@7171jay Nobody expects him to work for nothing. Do you work for free?

[@taylor12elementvb]

Here in Canada the Epi FB 1 goes for $1860 (all in with tax is $2105). I bought a FB1 (not Gib or Epi) on line for $350. It's a burst ala Eric Clapton. I put Kluson FB tuners on ($200 cdn), Seymour Duncan Antiquity FB bridge pickup with CTS pots, Bumble Bee cap, and Switchcraft jack along with a custom bone nut for another $300 cdn. I now have a smoking FB1 that can keep up to any Epi or Gib FB1 (stock). I do all my own luthier work so the labour was free. Always wanted a Gib FB1 but made no sense to drop $5000 on one. The one I have does the job nicely.

[@Madmax-rz5hz]

Gretsch designed some of the most gorgeous looking guitars ever, I bought a white falcon on looks alone

[@AutismRocksOfficial]

We are going to see Rancid live this coming August! They are touring this summer in the US with the Linda Lindas, Smashing Pumpkins, and Green Day 🔥🤗🤘

[@TheGuitarGeek]

That’s gonna be an amazing gig. Have fun.

[@eilrahc__]

I wish we were getting those supports on this side of the Atlantic, the Linda Lindas are a great little guitar pop group.

[@jimslattery3400]

First time watching. Thoroughly enjoyed it. You're a joy to watch and listen to. I'll be looking forward to seeing more.

[@jfturner67]

So, 2-3 years ago I bought the Epi inspired by Gibson 59 LP, which to be fair, is a great guitar. I’d say it’s the LP equivalent of these Firebirds. And it was $850 new. How in the hell are these Firebirds twice the price?

[@TheGuitarGeek]

That’s the pricing I thought it was. Double the price makes no sense

[@I.am_Groot]

@@TheGuitarGeek I think it makes perfect sense. Not to me I am not going to buy the Gibson OR Epi version but a 90's Gibson Firebird on the used market is $3500+ and their new version of these Epi models are closer to $6000 and up so the issue is Gibson as their price points have been getting silly high for a while now. I say under $2000 for an Epi that costs 3x-4x to get the Gibson version is fair and accurate

[@johncollins5552]

Dont think you can criticize a guitar if you have never actually played it first, regardless of price. Thats a factor in overall rating but not the be all and end all.

[@jfturner67]

@@johncollins5552 I’m not sure I’d call what I said a criticism, but rather a comparison. A guitar made two years earlier, roughly in the same fashion, in the same shop, in the same series “inspired by Gibson,” with the same pickups and components costs half the price as the guitar coming out now. Justifying the price by comparing it to a 90’s era Gibson Firebird is a complete apples to oranges comparison. There you’re comparing Gibson vs. Epiphone, built in different eras, built in America vs. China. The only thing they have in common is the body shape. I’m not saying the Epiphone FB is a bad value in comparison to a 90s era Gibson. I’m sure the new Firebirds are really good guitars. But when you compare them to other guitars from the same era, of similar specs and build quality, and in this case, in the same shop, the only explanation for the price difference is gouging.

[@patrickfitzgerald2861]

2025 UPDATE: That guitar you bought is now MAP/US $1299, and there are about two dozen of them used on the Guitar Center web site for under US $600. Those Epi Firebirds will drop to under a grand in value on the day after they're delivered to the customer. My advice? Wait a while and pick one up used.

[@saarangnarayan123]

Loved the jingles in the end :D Never thought my pick of the week would be a Gretsch! But that's mainly down to the looks because I've never actually played one IRL.

[@weets69]

That Harmony and Gretch look slick. Hope to see you do an in depth playability review in the future. $2k for an Epiphone, really ? Come on man!!!🤘

[@barcham]

If I was going to pay even close to those prices for an Epiphone, I would be looking for a used Japanese made Elite or Elitist, which are actually worth that kind of money. If you can find one. Or a Japanese domestic market Epiphone lacquer series Les Paul with the Gibson headstock. I sure as hell would never pay that money for a regular Epiphone guitar.

[@donbishop6994]

The shape of the Viper, and strap button placement, helps stop neck dive. Its actually a fantastic and well thought out design change.

[@gerryh61]

I recently bought a great Epiphone Firebird for £549 and it is a superb guitar- probably as good as these crazy priced new models.

[@nunestunes]

Epiphone just tried this with the anniversary Wilshire. The price on those dropped already so imagine when no one drops 1300 on a firebird it will get more reasonable. I can probably get a Pontiac Firebird for a similar price

[@Gordanovich02]

At current exchange rates (March 2nd, £1 = $1.27), £1699 for the Firebird V is c.$2150. That's insane for a made in China guitar with a laurel fretboard that's probably going to need the frets levelled, crowned and polished. I'd love to have a true neck-through Firebird with a stepped headstock and banjo tuners but not at that price.

[@flock9615]

Inspired by Gibson Epiphone FireBird only 699 :)

[@jeromewagschal9485]

"Inspired by Greed" 😄😄😄 Excellent... Personally I paid $795 for my 2017 Firebird-I even though the Joe Bonamassa name was on it but apparently Epiphone didn't try to rip me off because of that... It had and still has everything you could hope for and even though the stock mini-humbucker was not a Gibson pickup it still sounded amazing... Mine came with a hardshell case too... There are some really nice signature and non-signature models in the current Epiphone catalog and I'm probably going to get the Dave Grohl model but paying anything more than that ? Sorry... As ever your videos are excellent 👍👍

[@adcharz7105]

Insane pricing on these Firebirds. The older inspired by Gibson FireBird V is an absolutely phenomenal instrument and it's currently retailing at £550. You could buy that, plus two after market Gibson Firebird pick-ups, and you're still at only 50 percent of that price. The recent inspired by Epiphones (partiuclarly the burst-bucker editions) are absolutely outstanding and well worth their price tag, but not sure how these FBs are justified at all versus models that Epiphone themselves have produded over the past few years

[@michaelgriffin5304]

That Harmony looks like a steal! Really neat specs for the price. Even used Bakelite.... Man, the extra effort is apparent.

[@Bucksucc]

Setting aside that a $1400+ Epiphone is insane...putting a laurel fretboard on any $1400+ instrument is some cheap ass shit

[@victorcavazos5012]

Geez that’s getting close to what I paid for my used Gibson firebird V. Those prices are outrageous!

[@_-_Michael_-_]

Interresting to see you have Lovalet guitar back there in red. They are from my town and know the guys since around 2017.

[@arustydodge2111]

Dig your channel, ANDY.👍👍 Informative and Entertaining ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Agree with you with Epiphone. Really getting ridiculous with their pricing.

[@chancemiller9340]

It’s one of my favorite weekly videos! I’m letting the Fender Play ad run all the way through so that you rake in as much money as possible from my 🇺🇸 based viewership. Make that €€€€€!!!!

[@TheGuitarGeek]

Thank you chance!!!

[@chancemiller9340]

@@TheGuitarGeek - Got a TrueFire ad in the middle. Each ad break had two ads. I have a Canadian food/travel blogger who explained how the game works, so I understand that allows ads while I’m in 🇺🇸 helps more than just about any other country, so I let them roll for the creators I support. 👍

[@jacobblumenthal2545]

What is that axe on the far right behind you? That color looks amazing!

[@TheGuitarGeek]

That’s a Lovalet Nomad Junior!

[@tostrmofo6686]

Wow... those Firebirds... I love them, but they must be out of their minds. 14/1800? you can get Ibanez Prestiges for that kind of money. I would pay half the price at most. I fear the Epi DG-335 will also be 1200+. It feels like pricewise Epiphone is to replace Gibson (while maintaining some 500ish models) and Gibson ist to replace Gibson Custom Shop, while the Custom Shop just doesn't even lift a finger under 7k. All the Epiphones I owned over the last few years were fairly priced and at least what you would expect for the money, but this is utter madness.

[@RobertSaxy]

I have a headrush looperboard which I love but that’s a few annoying things about it, the looper x seems to fix that all that very nicely but I’m going to have to wait to get it because of poor

[@metalpuppet5798]

I dont care what people are saying about gear prices. Its only logical that they are shooting way up and it has nothing to do with greedy companies. It has everything to do with prices for parts shooting up the exact same amount. If you are expecting your favourite manufacturers of gear to just "eat that up" and offer you their stuff for the same price as before you are completely insane and totally removed from reality

[@edryba4867]

I’m a Gretsch guy. I wanted a Country Gentleman in 1965 when I was 10 and the Gent went for $500 USD, had Original Filter-Tron pickups and all gold hardware, and was American-made. I was given mine (identical to George Harrison’s Original Country Gentleman) by my lovely wife 45 years later, when they sold for $4500 USD, Fred Gretsch III owned the company, and they were, as now, built by Fender Japan (every bit as good as the ones I played in ‘65, and more consistently GREAT from guitar to guitar) with Original Filter-Trons and all gold hardware. Now they’re $5000 USD (I think) and the same as mine, with Original Filter-Trons and all gold hardware (read: Still Great!). So that spiffy white Gretsch you show today has plenty of appeal for a Gretsch Freak like myself, with Original Filter-Tron pickups and the same gold hardware found on the Gent (okay, the Bigsby is a little different). So I would imagine the tone is just about as GORGEOUS!!! Very Nice!

[@Eric_01]

I have a number of Epiphones, and I'm not saying I won't buy another, but it certainly will never be for nearly $2K. The good news is that there are hundreds of brands that still live well under the $1K mark and they are as good if not better than Epi. There's just too much to pick from these days to get super worked up about one brand.

[@I.am_Groot]

I get it and we agree on not buying one of these 'premium' Epi models but these are not at those off-the-rack $500 Epiphones that were more knockoffs than budget models of years past. Not knocking Epi I have owned an SG and a 333 with the Dirty Fingers pup great stuff but so long as GIbson gets to charge their big prices why should Epi not have options at 1/3 those price points?

[@victorthomsen]

Great episode!

[@TheGuitarGeek]

Ahh here you are!!! Thank you for editing this. You make every week a joy for me

[@jogmas12]

You’re humble, I like that, unlike some KZbinrs who show off their silver 100k subs plaque

[@paulhendershott667]

Comparing this Epiphone Firebird V guitar with Epiphone's Slash LP Standard in Appetite burst that sells for less than half the price at $800, the Slash LP with it's beautiful flame maple veneer top, has a truckload more value for money compared to the Firebird V. Epiphone's getting Nutty!

[@Purple_cactus_17]

Honestly, you can get a used Gibson Firebird for the same price. It’s so beyond unreasonable to be paying that much for an Epiphone but also that much for an Indian Laurel. In addition, there are all the recent epiphone quality issues I would rather buy like two or more Harley Benton’s ill at least get a decent mod project

[@joybuzzer]

11:23 Indial Laural 😂

[@stevecassidyguitar]

Loved the Epi Pricing Rant 😂👍 Well deserved imo. So glad you're using your new 100k Clout for Good.... and not Evil 😜👌

[@1687rlopez]

I would definitely buy the Firebird V if it came in the Heather Poly finish

[@DeanBaco]

I managed to get a Jerry Cantrell Epiphone Prophecy Les Paul Custom for under 800 euro (brand new!), that's a lot of bang for the buck! Very happy with it! A 2K Epiphone is just crazy, same with LTD as far as I'm concerned...

[@tbirdpunk]

Some of the pricing on the market has gone bonkers. As a long time Fender player... I'm quite disgusted with the high price point on their import models. I've been looking to other brands for the first time in many years.

[@I.am_Groot]

I feel you the MIM offerings are now more expensive than I want to pay but to be fair Fender brings a lot of value there and my MIM San Dimas is a BEAST now I got it for 1/2 new price as on the used market but to me if the BRAND model is XXX and the Squier/Epi version is less than half that the pricing is fair. That said I find Gibson and Epi new prices out of line for what you get.

[@Robstafarian]

I very much like Schecter as, primarily for me, an alternative to Ibanez with 42mm nuts instead of 43mm nuts (e.g. Schecter Omen Elite-6 versus Ibanez RG421), and the PRS SE DGT is that company's only budget model other than the SE Silver Sky to have a nut width which is nearly identical to the 42mm nuts common to Fender and Squier (1.656" rather than 1.650"). At the higher end of their budget production, the Ibanez AZ guitars have 42mm nuts and features which may appeal to Fender players. I can offer other suggestions, depending on what interests you. (I got tired of Fender years ago.)

[@ItsVictoriaG]

There’s no better color for a Firebird than frost blue metallic. The Epiphone Firebird in frost blue looks so pretty. But for half the price I have a BMG Arielle in light blue metallic with an Ebony fretboard. Similar vibe but a much smaller and lighter body, which I prefer.

[@LukeGJPotter]

Regarding Epiphone upcharging for the Firebird, is there a sub-€1499 guitar of that shape? Baum and LTD's similar shapes are near €1499.

[@Robstafarian]

Have you considered the Schecter Ultra and the Ibanez Iceman?

[@Forest_Fifer]

Epiphone do a Firebird for £650 if you can live without the Gibson pickups and banjo tuners.

[@rogermoore2798]

Weren't the Bonamassa Epiphone Firebird I Ltd around US$800 brand new a few years ago?

[@davidriley4895]

That Harmony jazz box is exactly what I was looking for. And I have to agree with you on Apple phones 😢pecially on that damn Firebird V

[@KelticKabukiGirl]

I like the look of the new set...

[@Alan-zf2tt]

Is there any real wood in Epiphone Firebird? It seems all ply on the noise dynamics side of things with "mahagony" on decorative surplus side of things. I mean all that glue might help with sound dynamics but I am not right sure

[@eilrahc__]

The new Firebirds look really cool, *but* the sticker price is £500 more than I paid for a second-hand Gibson six months ago. It's even more ridiculous considering it's a grand more than the standard Epiphone Firebird, which is a lot of guitar for the money. I'd rather they'd maybe done a non-reverse at the price of the standard Firebird, I bet that would fly off the shelves.

[@jordantaylor1988]

I love what Epiphone's been doing. But, yeah...this Firebird pricing is idiotic

[@trev_mcnaughton]

That looper looks crazy.. the bigger one might be the new competition to the EHX 95000 looper that's been top of my list for awhile now. Looks super intriguing and I'm surprised companies like Headrush, Boss, and Line6 haven't done like this til now. Heck, with modern SoC and cpu/silicon, why there aren't mini-laptop/chromebooks thrown into a stomp format to do it with a DSP or multiple DSP.... it's the future.. catch up already, companies!

[@tubasco504]

Google "headrush looperboard." This Ed Sheeran looper x is essentially a mkII of that one.

[@ZoltantheSecond]

What’s the guitar all the way to the right??

[@bluzzjazz]

I paid less for my 2011 Gibson Firebird in Tobacco Sunburst with a nitro finish, than these Epis are priced at. In fact, it still has that sweet smell when you open the case.....intoxicating!

[@diodesDankessAndDives]

Wow, that epi price is bonkers. They should be making low/mid priced guitars and leave the big boi prices to their masterbuilt series ( which were amazing electrics and acoustics )

[@maomao180]

The Firebirds are a pretty intensive build compared to a normal bolt-on or set neck but it's still way too much. Perhaps if they were nitro finished they'd be almost justifiable.

[@TheGuitarGeek]

I agree but other epi firebirds are around 600 bucks. It’s not that hard to make a firebird

[@nieko3038]

Go build a Firebird and a Les Paul in your shed. See wich one is less work.

[@SG710]

@@nieko3038Jaysus man, stop simping. If Epiphone can make a profit on top of retailer cut and international shipping and make a neck-through Firebird for $650, that should tell you enough about how overpriced these new ones are.

[@nieko3038]

@@SG710 Tofu say Firebird is more work. Simply false. Go cry about simping somewhere else.

[@JonnySoundSounds]

i have a 1960 nd a 1064 harmony hollow bodys both have truss rods

[@bobbydill6388]

Any built before 1956 did not have truss rods.

[@catalinagoose]

I have the inspired by Gibson Custom Shop Korina Explorer. Its a great sounding, very well made guitar. Definitely worth the $1299 price, considering it came with Gibson pickups, Switchcraft pickup selector and jack and CTS pots. If it sucked, I would be the first one screaming about it.

[@ottomattix86]

I had an epiphone Firebird in worn cherry. Got stolen. It was so nice tbh.

[@beaumas]

I love epiphone, however at that price you can buy some seriously good guitars that walk all over them.

[@EldonNormandy]

I have become a fan of this guy ....He always seems to have a honest take.

[@WithCarePlz]

People have some self respect. No intelligent guitar player is going to pay $2000 after tax for a chinese made epiphone with indian laurel. “Inspired by Gibson custom shop” So they called Gibson custom shop on the phone from china and got inspired to make a guitar with poly finish and indian laurel for 2k? You can get a real firebird used for 2k I’m inspired by Jimmy Page, does that make me worth half as much as him? I wish.

[@shawnogg8208]

Back then there were Japanese Epiphone Les Pauls called "Elitist". Those I tried were superior to many Gibson at that time(!), not cheap but a way better deal. If it was like that again I could tolerate high Epiphone prices. But then you clearly would react different to the new Epis.

[@burbonax7500]

What’s that semi-hollow over your right shoulder, Andy? Sire H7V? I’m tryna buy a semihollow this week.

[@TheGuitarGeek]

That’s a stanford crossroads 30 🫡

[@burbonax7500]

@@TheGuitarGeek Ooooh, nice. I'll add that to my list to research!

[@Robstafarian]

Please, let me know if you find anything interesting in an ES-339 size.

[@burbonax7500]

The D’Angelico DC Tour Mini is $600 off and plays great. I went with the full body size but the mini is 339-esque. The pickups are incredible. You may not like the look and I’d get it, but I think they are sweet.

[@Robstafarian]

@@burbonax7500Thanks, I forgot to mention that I cannot use Tune-O-Matic or tall wraparound bridges (due to the resulting neck pitch) and nuts wider than 42mm/1.650".

[@markferguson3745]

Epi need to jump when the demand kicks in, and Firebirds seem to be enjoying a small moment.Long one of my favourites of their designs, the existing models already covered the best of possible features.Eventually, I'm going to put some mandolin tuners on one of the Sweetwater ltd ed in olive green.I'll not be paying Korean or Japanese money for anything made in China until the Forum hold a gun directly to my head.( 2 grand for a Indian Laurel fretboard? These will sit and rot) If you haven't put in time with standard ( Gretsch) Filtertrons, they very possibly are the pickup you need, whatever the genre; and semi hollow bodies do optimize their best qualities.

[@SimoJames1]

Good job man, first time watcher, calling out Gibson / Epiphone....SUBSCRIBED instantly, keep doing what your doing! What until Joe B endorses this Epi he looked at once.....£$2,300.....with gig-bag......haha

[@akwamarsunzal]

I watched a video in the wek of some guy buying a Chinese copy of a Firebird. He loved it but he bought it for modding. Before modding he played the guitar and it was immense! He paid $250 for it! So, we now have an Epiphone "made in the east" copy of a Gibson for $1800? You see where this is going right 🤣

[@ulfsvensson9710]

Any link, maybe?

[@Releasethebats123]

@@ulfsvensson9710look up “scar my guitar firebird”

[@bassmandudge]

Love love love your content. I would like to thank Epiphone for stupidly pricing their Firebird 1 @ £1400 because my limited edition JOe B Firebird 1 has just doubled its value and as it it considerably better than other epi Firebirds must now be worth over £2k used...ace..😂😂😂😂...bloody crazy

[@Amish_Trivedi]

I honestly never care about the things you're talking about- I just come to hear you talk at me excitedly for 20 minutes.

[@legoarmo]

When Epiphone released the 59, with Gibson USA pickups, CTS pots, Switchcraft jack and a nice case, I paid £699 for it and it felt justified, if you just price up those parts they'd cost about £400 on their own, so about £299 for an Epiphone body shipped to your door. Now they're getting way over a grand it's starting to make a lot less sense.

[@metalpuppet5798]

Parts prices also have shot up in the last few years. That plus the fact that they are using these high quality parts justifies it to me

[@gringogreen4719]

A Viper is really a Les Paul meets an Offset design. Everyone focuses on the Devil Horns but that's a bit of misdirection. The body is really an Offset and the heft is in the Les Paul territory and more than an SG. I know because I have a 2006 prototype which I upgraded and weight wise it's more of an old heavy P Bass. So the new model may be lighter but I am pretty sure that it will feel more substantial than a Gibson or Epiphone SG.

[@AxeGaijin]

The last segment of this video is enough to make you go loopy.

[@Gr8FriknApe]

The new LS Epiphone LT/E1 with a good set up can match the sound of a 1500 dollar Gibson LP. The only negative I can come up with is the 1 lb extra weight. So unless you're playing on stage for 3 hours or more, piss on the extra pound and buy this great sounding instrument. It's a great addition for home use and recording studios.

[@stevegardiner8473]

Those Epiphone prices are ridiculous. I play Gibson and Epiphone guitars, and love them, but the pricing is becoming silly. Gibson have discontinued their Tribute range because of the overlap/blurring of price points between Gibson and Epiphone. I'd love an Epiphone Alex Lifeson, but they're just too expensive.

[@sergiourdanetabluesman]

Firebird pickups are not mini humbuckers. The where manufactured and disigned for the firebird. Minihumbuckers where created before firebird pickups

[@TheGuitarGeek]

Cool but the epiphone website lists these as having Gibson USA Firebird Mini Humbucker with Alnico 5 Magnets

[@robertdonosobuchner3129]

The Gretsch looks good... But I will try a Gretsch Jet Baritone with 29,75" scale length, with a Bigsby.🤗

[@vasotoe]

Very interesting Looper!!! Good for Ed hahaha

[@andrewhouse3246]

I paid 1299 this morning from sweetwater. This is where we buy from. Why can't you guys ? It's a screamer, just curious.

[@Releasethebats123]

Thanks for calling out Epiphone and not being a Gibson fanboy sympathizer like you know who on this platform 😅🎉

[@Werbingg]

Those epiphones better have stainless frets

[@BooBoo-mv9if]

Great video, I totally agree that the gibson is ridiculous. Keep up the good work.

[@trevor4533]

So the last time a Firebird was in Gibson's standard production line, was in 2018. It was $1849 USD. An SG Standard of the same year, retailed for $1300-1500. Currently, an SG standard goes for $1799, so if we adjust for inflation we could assume a 2024 Firebird would retail for $2249, right? Unfortunately, that's not the case. There are rumors that Gibson is bringing back the Firebird. At $3500-4000.... Starts making a whole lot of sense why the Epiphone is priced at $1699... In all reality, I believe Gibson/Epiphone are testing the water here on the prices. Even they know its ridiculous to price this thing over their signature guitars...

[@derekhand7904]

So with the fire bird I priced out how much it would cost to upgrade everything on the $660 bird and it’s the price as buying the 1,800 one. So that’s why it’s so expensive.

[@jameslanclos568]

Red Rush Looper!

[@ShredAimlessly92]

The current Epi firebird is $650 USD and has a 7-ply neck (minor difference), but the headstock is the skewed one with bad string pull angles and standard style tuners. But I had one for over a year and never had tuning issues with it. If they are trying to say the shitty vibrato, headstock and tuners, the 2 extra ply of wood, and the electronics are worth $1,200 USD extra… nah. They still have 335’s and Firebirds under $700 USD, just get those, seriously.

[@tgarder]

LIked you anecdote about Rancid, I went to see them as well like 10 years ago and they also stopped the show because they thought the mosh pit had hurt a person. I love adult, responsible punx!

[@NeungView]

1:48 - All Pickups have a P in it

[@trevor4533]

I defended the pricing on the AJ model mainly because of the lack of 70s style silverbursts being made anywhere. (Edwards, take note!) But the pricing of these Firebirds is just comical. $100 more and you're into a SG standard. Heck, $100 more than the i, and you can buy an Eastman SB55 which would absolutely mop the floors for weeks on end with that thing... Should have been $999 for the firebird i, and $1299 for the v max. Even that's pushing it.

[@tummy_fritters]

I get the shock over the Epi sticker prices, but there's no reason they can't make a guitar worth the high price. Materials and components only account for so much of the cost; the majority is labour. While I can't say I've played any of these, I would wait to hear from someone who has played one and inspected it in person before getting worked up over it.

[@andresilva8444]

I see what you mean about the Viper shape. I still feel the control area is too long, like in a Jag-Stang. And the Epi price… don’t get me started too. If it is the multilaminate neck through they claim, why is it not in a transparent finish like a burst or a cherry? the whole thing stinks!

[@astrofire68]

Would love to have the Epi Firebird V but that price equates to approx $3400 Australian. So, my dreams will remain unfulfilled for the foreseeable future. 😕

[@DaringDan]

You can get the Epiphone '59 Les Paul Standard Kit with Gibson pickups and electronics in excellent condition for less than 700 dollars. Gibson have made their new Lite Studio LP's $1999. Gibson really are moving Epiphone to the $1000-2000 range and moving Gibsons to $2000+. Asinine. An LP Studio should be like $900 max.

[@FatPandaCat-im9ec]

I'm honestly torn over the Epiphone pricing. On the one hand they've been known as a great company for budget or affordable guitars so the pricing seems to go against what their customer base knows them for. On the other hand they did start as a company with its own models known for making excellent guitars that were expensive, so maybe things like the USA Casino, the new firebird and some sig models are a throwback to the companies heritage?

[@BigJohn95]

The difference is they’re still made in the Chinese factory and have QC issues like crazy. They’re so hit or miss. If they had even moved it to a South Korea factory or a Japanese factory, I would have a way easier time justifying it. I WANT one of these guitars, but I will not pay more than $1000 for it. It’s just insane. I literally just bought a 2nd hand 2012 Gibson Les Paul traditional with a 3A flame top for $1300.

[@FatPandaCat-im9ec]

@@BigJohn95 that’s the weird thing, some of the stuff I can understand. Limited run, better factories, higher cost etc, but the way they’ve started charging higher prices for what is essentially an ordinary epi is really puzzling.

[@BigJohn95]

@@FatPandaCat-im9ec Absolutely. If I’m being completely candid, the fact that they’re throwing a laurel board on an $1800 is so infuriating that I probably won’t ever purchase one at all. If the Adam Jones custom that’s $300 cheaper can get an EBONY board then this thing should at least get rosewood.

[@mark006868]

TheGuitarGeek...In fact, the Gretsch Electromatic Chris Rocha Broadkaster Jr. does not have a ''Bigsby tremolo''...it has a Licensed Bigsby trem that is not made by Bigsby and is made in Asia by a company that pays a Licensing fee to Bigsby for the use of the name and some design features that are trademark protected...They are cheaper for a reason as you get what you pay for...and white plastic bushings are used in the cheaper Licensed version....just saying...

[@TheGuitarGeek]

Thanks for keeping me on my toes.

[@PaulCooksStuff]

There was a slim chance that I might've been almost tempted by an Epi Greenie. Til I saw the price. Hard pass. If it had been a small premium on the Epi Standard 50's or whatever, then maybe. Roll forward. Adam Jones epi. Not interested anyway, but same overpricing. I can see the same happening with Grohl, and eventually the Page series. Anything I might be almost interested in even trying and considering, priced out of consideration. Good on you for taking a stand and saying what we're all thinking.

[@supermario2100]

The sticker shock on those Firebirds is real, but buying the cheaper Firebird and upgrading it would be fairly close price-wise and you don't get the cool finish. Is it a good value or whatever? Not really, but if you want a Firebird, paying $1700 is a lot better than paying $7800.

[@trevor4533]

Or you know, just buy a second hand Gibson firebird for only a couple hundred more...

[@seansmith8713]

No one will pay those prices. Dream on Epiphone

[@ElevatedJamTracks]

Insert Mighty Boosh 'It's an outraaaaaage' gif here

[@lexgarnier]

I like your SG .. a 90s one?❤

[@TheGuitarGeek]

It is!

[@PXR5-PXR5]

Hello Andy Pandy. Damn you look happy 👍

[@mikemorgan4774]

Thank you for calling out Epiphone for their insane marketing bullshit. They are really out of touch with their customers. The Gibson garages are like Porssche dealerships, Soon they'll have doormen to weed out the less desireable guitar players. They keep raising prices with no justificatio, while other guitar manufacturers are killing them. Buy? BYE Gibson.