We have arrived at the time where there are $1700 Epiphones.

[@JDStone20]

Sorry to hear about your health issues, after you get to 35 years old, it is all downhill after that, sorry to say. I was diagnosed with high blood pressure a few years ago, and this is on top of chronic health issues i have had for most of my life that got to were I couldn't go to college or work anymore when I was 22 yo (I now just turned 50), and the high blood pressure along with the medicine for it, made me short and ill tempered, I am usually pretty mellow, so I am not happy because I am just not myself, so I have had to figure out ways to keep my stress low, along with that it make the chance that I'll have a migraine a lot higher. Hopefully you will find a way to deal with your health issues, and may you have a speedy recovery!

[@IanNorsworthy]

Great stream as ever, and looking forward to seeing/hearing more of the chats!!

[@AudiomoMusic]

Let me know when you'd like to come back for a visit yourself!

[@IanNorsworthy]

@@AudiomoMusic oh 100% - as soon as possible tbh - always love a chat and catch up :)

[@DrTomoculus]

I saw the title of this video and said "it's not just me then!". I saw the price tag on those Firebirds and thought, jeez Epiphone. You seem to be doing everything right, or at least everything I've bought made by you has been really good. For a good price. I don't feel ripped off. I can deal with tuning issues, and just found the more you play the instrument, the better it stays in tune. I don't know. If you don't play it, it gets used to being "out." If you keep playing it, it gets accustomed to being "in". It's a theory, I ain't got science behind me. But that's a lot of money for an Epiphone. I'd expect that from Gibson. And I also agree with different guitars make you play differently. ABSOLUTELY. I have an Epiphone Nighthawk that makes me play VERY differently than I do other guitars. Part of that reason is because it's so easy to slide up and down the frets on this guitar. As far as its niche, or where it belongs, is hard to say. It's a "Les Paul" that's a "Strato-Telecaster." But I have been playing so differently on this guitar since purchasing it. And as I am primarily a Bass player, I feel the Nighthawk is actually teaching me how to play guitar. Super lightweight too. I don't know if your channel has ever reviewed a Nighthawk, I'll check. They are very interesting guitars, and I aim to make it my main guitar. Dave Davies of The Kinks swears by Nighthawks. I figure he of all people has to know what he's talking about. Sorry to hear about your troubles. I do hope you recover from that soon.

[@trevor4533]

I'm sure the previous IbG korinas, Greenys and AJs are selling well enough, but to the point of pricing a non signature Firebird V more than those? ...I dunno. With the Indian Laurel still being used, the cynic in me believes they're trying to gauge the market to see just how much people are willing so spend before their breaking point. Will definitely be interesting to see what kinda sales numbers they bring, that's for sure.

[@AudiomoMusic]

I agree, they're just testing the waters to see how deep customers will go into their pockets and I believe they're surprised they've gone as far as they have already.

[@jamesmgreen15]

Epiphone: What the market will bear pricing is a risk to the company as well. If their research is great then great for them but it can get people looking elsewhere. If they NEED that pricing and got anything wrong it can also work against them. Time will tell but personally, I would be VERY unlikely to pay US$1700 for a Firebird from Epi........ IF I picked it up and it BLEW me away I might, so there is always that......

[@AudiomoMusic]

I can only think of a quote from a movie I love - "Never underestimate the predictability of stupidity". People will buy a lot of these at this price, I'm sure of it.

[@belmontbutty4143]

Agreed about a boycott, Jim. Sounds a bit silly. Epiphone produce some very good affordable guitars that respond well to modding (if that is a thing for an inanimate object). For the majority the beef is that the pricing on some models puts these guitars in the zone of a Gibson. But Epiphone and Gibson are two different animals within the same corporation, and there is no reason why Epiphone should not offer higher end models in their catalogue. It's then up to the consumer whether the name on the headstock is more important than the appointments on an individual model of guitar. But on that subject, one last thing: I do think for 1700US that they could use rosewood boards. In the UK, they are selling the Vintera ii with rosewood for around 1,000UK. Great stream (on catch up), all the best.

[@AudiomoMusic]

The pricing is what it is and at the end of the day, people can get mad all they want but boycotting or complaining won't change it. If other people are happy to pay for it then that's all any company worries about.

[@danthedem]

I'd be interested in the Firebird I if they had better colors (either the red or a sunburst). I like the idea of a Firebird I, but not crazy about the weirdo colors they issued them with.

[@brncrw]

Bummer about your hernia. I'm dealing with a bad back and a pulled hamstring. 5 weeks until my soccer season starts. Let's get healthy and back to doing the things we love.

[@RamirezFlores]

The 2020 Firebirds have Epiphone ProBucker FB720 pickups in them. They’re the closest to the vintage firebird pickups, which uses Alnico 2 magnet rails. The mini humbuckers aren’t the firebird pickups you’re looking for. Best part? The 2020 Epi Firebird is a neck through design too. For $650 new? It’s a no brainer Also can vouch for Franklin Guitar Works. Good people and great to deal with 👍

[@AudiomoMusic]

I'd like to try one of those 2020 birds, the price is a lot more inviting than this new crazy pills pricing from Gibson.

[@cageliner]

It sucks to have an injury that can't be taken care of in a timely manner. I was a delivery driver for 42 years and getting a hernia was on my mind now and then. I'm fortunate that it never happened. I fixed an 1978 knee injury that came back to haunt me in the early 2000s by riding a bicycle 4 miles to work for three months. I didn't have a car for a while so the bike was a necessity. Don't ride a bike to fix your hernia, it won't work ;-) A Chinese Epi Firebird is a well made guitar, but rosewood isn't rare or restricted (except Brazilian) Other than the fret board, they are made the same way as a Gibson with a 9-ply neck through with mahogany wings. I wish I'd bought a Firebird T in 2017. I looked at one, didn't buy it. I like the Heather Poly Firebird I, but not at $1859 CAD. The Epi Firebird V is only $100 less than a new Gibson V or Explorer.

[@marcsullivan7987]

The 2020 sunburst (or drab green) is $650 and it’s awesome, and a really good value

[@AudiomoMusic]

Comparatively to these I'd agree, great value.

[@sublyme2157]

Dude, after watching your Cory Wong strat video, I bought the Daphne Blue version from Franklin Guitar Works :) You had me at Ultra!

[@AudiomoMusic]

It's everything I wanted the ultra to be to begin with - proper pickups, vintage bridge, great colors haha let me know what you think abotu it and at the price you paid it's a no brainer

[@MiguelMakesMusic]

cheers from tgp dude!

[@AudiomoMusic]

Hah! Recognize the name good seeing you here

[@Mandobird1]

Insane, when I picked up the guitar again back in 2012, Epiphones were like $100! 🤪

[@oceantree5000]

The cheap ones were (and still, more or less, are): my Korean-made Sheraton II cost $699 in 2001. They cost the same now, but are no longer made in Korea, and don’t come with hard shell cases.

[@Siggy_Sour]

same here i wont pay over 400 unless its japanese or USA

[@AudiomoMusic]

glad im not the only one

[@carpathus]

I'm such a crappy player, expensive guitar or cheap guitar, I still sound like you know what. So I'll work on my chops vs chasing expensive gear. Cheers!

[@ldfox11]

I paid about 1400.00 when I brought my 59 Epi from Sweetwater with the Plek service. I’ll never do that again. I will never pay over 800 for a Epiphone again. I’ll buy a used Firebird before paying 1700.00

[@ldfox11]

When I had Tinnitus, I Used a little Hydrogen Peroxide in my ear with my head tilted. After a few treatments, it went away.

[@losthwy]

The tinnitus AND YOUR HEARING TOO! 🤦🏾

[@ldfox11]

@@losthwyIt helped my hearing a little. I'm 67

[@losthwy]

Yeah, don't put BLEACH in your ears!@@ldfox11