Are the New Epiphones Overpriced? A Follow Up | Real Guitar Talk
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- Опубликовано: 20 апр 2024
- #epiphone #epiphoneguitars
Are the new Epiphone Gibson Custom guitars overpriced? They're great guitars, but I think they are. What do you think? A follow up to my last Real Guitar Talk video. These guitars include an Epiphone Les Paul, SG Custom, ES-335 and acoustic.
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Firebird V. Forgive me, numbers are hard. But check out my gear recommendations! www.jackfossett.com/gear-recommendations
Gibson came out with the S series in 2017 which did use foreign parts and poplar bodies but assembled in usa, but the guitar community dogged on them instead of appreciating them as solid modding platforms for a reasonable price
The cost of EVERYTHING is OUT OF CONTROL. Something needs to give. Excellent Video
Yeah, you give, your money.
And the fact that Epiphone is using Indian Laurel when even cheaper, less prestigious brands use rosewood is a slap in the face.
They have to unload all that crap indian laural because they were B slapped by the corrupt obummer's federal goons that raided Gibson USA because they crushed the scuzzy demoncrat union goons that tried to take over Gibson. Gibson was shell shocked and to scared to sue the federal govt for the ban on rosewood. Anybody that had a pair and a brain knew it was all BS about the shortage of Rosewoood that is used for musical instruments! It accounts for 1 or 2% if I remember correctly. I all came it it was a govt BS lie and why it was reversed.
I bought the current low end Epiphone SG 61 with the bolt on neck, and it has a rosewood fretboard.
They also use cheesy fret wire so the frets wear out in a year, when brands less than half the price (cf Firefly) use stainless steel, with beautifully rounded ends and almost perfect fretwork overall.
I have an Epi SG from several years ago, and I don't even know how many scraps were glued together to make the body, including the tacky looking veneer front and back.
I'm getting sick of Epiphone and what I perceive to be a growing arrogance and disdain for their customers.
Besides, aren't we enriching a communist country (and an aggressive enemy) by buying from them? I never hear anybody mention that.
Gibson probably bought too much laurel stock so they just put them on all epiphones at the moment. Not entirely sure, though.
the es 355 and sg custom have ebony fingerboards.
I wish people would get this upset over the insane increase cost of food, gas, insurance, labor, electricity, medical care, etc
The problem is that the classic Epiphone models that Jack mentions, the hollow-bodies, wouldn't sell. They were designed for the pre-R&R era. A problem with the new line of Epiphones is that you will have to be prepared to take a bath should you wish to resell it. And let's be honest, guitarists are buying and selling guitars All the time. For that reason alone, I'd rather pay more for a like-new used Gibson, than pay for a brand new Epiphone.
Exactly what I have been saying about the resale value of epis. Better off buying a used Gibson or just buy a new one. Also agree about the epi hollow bodies. Those are a gone by era like the big band era, never coming back like how rock n roll is a gone by era that died 30 years ago. A great jazz guitarist is going to buy a high end gibson or an ibanez George Benson sig model type hollow body.
The thing about that is that Gibsons don’t give you that good of a return investment either. People think that if you buy a $3k guitar and get $1500 maybe $1600 for it then you’re getting a good return on your investment but that’s almost half of what you paid for it. Assuming one buys one of these $1400 epis, they will also take a hit but selling it at $900 or even $800, which is the same percentage roughly, won’t be as bad as half of $3k. I’ve seen used Gibsons for sale at $2400, $2100 and they sit there for months. They have to lower it to $1900 and they take an offer for $1700/$1600 in order to move the instrument. So this cash back seems more of an illusion than reality.
@@itslikethesamebutdifferent8020 First of all, average joe slubs shouldnt be buying guitars as an investment. You should be buying it because you have a passion to play guitar and make music and get enjoyment. You can buy an Italian made sports car for 500k and as soon as you drive it off the lot its worth 450k. You arent going to see a return on a gibson for 10 years. Its always been that way for USA production Gibsons. Epis is a 40 to 50% hit if you sell one used right away and it goes to 60% the longer you wait. Epis will never go up in value.
If you turn around and dump a Gibson you will take a 20 to 25% hit. Stop crying about it. Its what happens with all used goods.
Dont buy anything as an investment if you cant afford to and if you will have to seel it to pay your bills. Use ya heads! People of average means shouldnt buy guitars and cars as investments period! Unless, you can hang on to for 10 to 30 years. ha
@@itslikethesamebutdifferent8020 Your right. When you look at Reverb as an example, what people are asking for even Gibsons are not what they are selling for or even market value. People think just by what the person is asking for is what it sells for. If you scroll down the page you can see the selling history. Most people overlook that. If it's a Gibson Signature they hold more value. I seen custom shops take a bath. Bottom line I buy a guitar to keep it and play it lol. The people that piss on Epiphone are just complaining without even playing one in my opinion.
@@johnsmith-ug5tp i don’t buy guitars as investments but it seems a lot of people do these days and perhaps your comment is more directed at them. I also don’t look at the company name, i’m more of the physical aspects of the guitar rather than who makes it.
Once they're mine. Usually stay mine.
Have the new SG, V and Firebird V and don't see a single cogent argument against ownership of these instruments because they're for my playing and their listening.
Prestige and privilege as augmented through the currency of guitars and advertised by a negatively framed social media seem to be functional centers of expression for the entitled.
Comment of the day.
I agree with literally every point Jack made. He is a man of the people, a voice for the opressed that still manages to keep it classy.
While I appreciate it, thats a bit much. Let's lower the standard so I don't disappoint anyone.
Excellent points. They roped me in with this latest drop for a day and then I came to my senses.
Firstly, the resell value on epiphones is horrible, a 40 to 50% loss, even on a mint condition one that is less than a year old.
Secondly, at these epi prices, ya better off buying a used Gibson LP Standard or SG for 2,500 that is far superior and you wont take a bath if you sell it. Hell, or just buy a new one. It's the real deal and made in America.
Problem as one of these guitar channels mentioned is that you can post a Gibson, mint, 1yr old for say $2500 good luck cos it’s not going to sell, it doesn’t even sell at $2100. What you ask for it isn’t necessarily what people will pay for it. You will have to lower the price to like $1700 even $1600 to sell it. Now if you paid $3k for a Gibson and had to sell it for $1700, that’s a huge loss, that’s not a good return on your instrument.
@@itslikethesamebutdifferent8020Read what was said above, buy to play not to invest also mentioned above takes afew years to get higher value.
You can also look at this another way: we all know what's going on with rosewood. The fact that the situation has now improved does not change the need to focus on different and new tonewoods. We cannot continue the way we have been doing for the past decades. As beautiful as I think rosewood is, I am very committed to nature and the future, there are plenty of alternatives that we just have to get used to. Laurel is one of them. I therefore respect the choice of some luthiers not to immediately go back to rosewood.
As of today Jack at the time of this video. The sg special is 1599 and the standard is 1799..The special is way overpriced..It should be 999.00..I've said it before...Gibson have lost there minds..And forget about acoustics..You have to get a mortgage to get a J-200..Just my opinion..Great video as always
Oh wow is it? I missed that… I thought I saw it priced cheaper when I searched but maybe I stumbled on a used one. Yeah, that’s pricey.
Yep, Gibson are definitely overpriced for what they are... the one big draw card when buying Gibson is the fact that they hold their value. If you buy one "used," you can usually sell it for the same price you paid (providing you don't destroy it).
I don't think I'll ever buy a new Gibson again, but I bought a used LP Special recently for less than an Epiphone LP standard, and for the price I paid I'll likely make money if I sell it.
The standard was on sale for 1599.99 last week. I had my card in my hand ready to buy, i paused and looked at the specs , thank goodness i did because it has the same crap circuit board pots that the tribute had.
One issue I have is Gibson keeps using the term " in collaboration with the custom shop " yet no one knows exactly what that collaboration is or ifit even exists. One very popular RUclips channel claims it to being a phone call at most. If Gibson/Epiphone would disclose the actual involvement of the Gibson custom shop I think it would go a long way cause right now some people are running around claiming these guitars to be either part of or from the Gibson custom shop and that is definitely NOT the case! Some people are buying these thinking they're from the custom shop and they're not.
Its just another marketing lie 😊
Absolutely fantastic have a wonderful day Jack also today is my friends birthday ❤❤❤❤❤❤😊😊😊😊😊😊
Solid video. I agree with your points. I’ve played some of these Epis and they’re really good, but the price is too high IMO
Gibson is backed into a corner with the Gibson brand as far as making affordable guitars. First they have to use genuine Honduran mahogany. That's a separating feature for them from everyone else. Not that they are the only ones, but they are the only ones who do it exclusively. At least among their perceived peers. Second they have to do Nitro finishes. The second is pretty major as far as pricing goes. Way more labor intensive and the time, especially the time means you can't make as many guitars as quickly as when you use poly finishes. Then there's the hand scraping the binding and some other things that Gibson customers expect. Also Gibsons MUST be made in the USA. Fenders, Gretches, PRS, etc... can outsource to other countries, even have their guitars made by third parties, and still put Fender or PRS, Gretsch... on the headstock. So if they want to cut out any of these processes from their guitars to fill in lower price points their only option is to have them be Epiphone models.
And it's also very basic profit building to raise your ASP (average selling price). It's simple math, without increasing your costs you can either sell more, cut the cost of manufacturing, or raise your prices. At least they are attempting to increase the quality of the product as they increase price. And we know since 2020 costs for manufacturers have gone up a lot. These models also get a QC inspection at Gibson USA. Something that PRS does and seems to make everyone OK with the fact they are PRS in name only when they are made by Cort, for example. And let's not forget there are still the standard, much cheaper, Epiphone range. They still make $200 SGs.
I got of those inspired by Gibson 335 guitars. Its ok, and that's all. I just bought a JV 60's Strat. It's ok, but that's about it. I have a Squire Classic vibe 60's Jazz bass. Its ok, but thats about it. All of my American gear is just much more nicer than any of my foreign made stuff, except for the Yamaha Revstar. That thing is pretty bad ass.
agreed....i played a ton of the jvs epis on and on...reverend..etc. any cheap american I played killed em. real talk
Bingo. I got caught up in the YT nonsense of buying inferior south of the border and overseas guitars and amps. All I have now is American made Les Pauls, fender strats and teles and Made in America Fenders and Marshalls. I'm done dicking around with inferior and uninspiring crapola!
@@johnsmith-ug5tpWhats your opinion on the MIM Fenders and the Ventera 2 ?
@@deshawn4077 Not good I bought a brand new 2021 MIM 70s vintera deluxe tele. The freaking frets were sticking out from both sides of the neck, and the saddle plate was crooked! The humbucker pickups were MUD! I went through 3 vintera 50s modified teles. MAJOR QC issues. Nut sluts were cut so bad the strings were popping out from string trees and sliding off the high e string frets, one 50s tele bridge plate was mounted crooked, Knobs bent to the side. Plate switch tight on low positions and the high position loose and slipping out.
Online guitar customer service told me, we see this a lot with MIM they will ship out whole lots of defective guitars and they just dont care. He apologized. I actually loved the neck and the tone of the pickups, but after 3 in a row of utter bleep I gave up.
2 new MIM player strats I bought had the same bleep! Sharp fret ends, bad pots, bridge pu cutting out, nut sluts too deep, and or too far apart. The strat the bridge was so bad the high e string kept falling off the frets!!! So when I hear you tuber demo guys praise the MIM strats in teles I call BS! I only buy MIA Gibson and Fenders now.
I agree with everything you said regarding pricing and quality and craftsmanship in general - that being said I have one of the new epiphone LPs with the custom buckers, and it plays and sounds better than all 3 of my recent gibson standards, and not far off from my custom shops.
If you’re going to make high end shyt in china why not make it here? The whole point of MIC is it’s cheaper. Well, if it’s no longer cheaper, build them here. A Gibson SG Standard is $1799.99. Tbh, paying more than 700 for a new epiphone is stupid.
Because the wages in the US would increase them even more. I'm assuming that the new Epiphones they're making in China are pricier because they are putting in more man-hours than the more affordable models, which is the reason for the higher prices.
I don't know the actual hours, but if they're putting in twice the time to build them, that could account for the higher price.
The Chinese are capable of making anything to as high (or higher) standard as anything made in the US.
They do make it in the US but lemme ask you this, i just checked the price on one guitar: the Gibson les paul custom SG which is the white one with three pickups and a tremolo bar. The price? $7199. The Epiphone version of it is $1499. You are most definitely welcomed to buying the Gibson if you truly want to support made in the US stuff. You’re also comparing a Gibson SG standard with what is supposed to be a custom inspired epiphone complete with custom buckers and specs so ideally you should be comparing Gibson custom with epiphone custom cos the epiphone SG standard is $499, i know cos i just checked the website.
@@itslikethesamebutdifferent8020 Its not the same guitar.
@@deshawn4077 yes it is the same model, look for yourself. Why do you think it says inspired by Gibson custom?
@@itslikethesamebutdifferent8020 Its not the same, think what inspired means
I purchased an Epiphone double neck color white for $999.00 with out a case. Sounds and plays just like the Gibson double neck that sells for $7,999.00. I compared it with a slash black double neck. The guitars weighed with in 1/2 OZ or each other. Played and sounded pretty much identical. You could not tell from one to another playability and sound. The quality is excellent
I agree with your take on all of this.
I have officially finished my guitar collection, and I got out just before the price leap. I bought a Lefty Gibson Explorer and a P-90 SG Special for about £1350 each in the past 3 years, and now I’m seeing similar Epiphone models for not much less. We know inflation has affected all products, but they are now at a price I would not be willing to pay.
But as I said, I have a complete guitar collection I’m happy with.
5 years ago you could get a Gibson Firebird for less than the new Epiphone. Inflation is bad, but it’s not that
Yes!
The elitist line picked up where the Orville subsidiary left off, and were very good compared to the standard offerings...and you could get an elitist eb-3 bass that was a shortscale with dot fret markers just like the old gibsons, while the standard epiphone eb-3 is a neckdiving longscale
They dumped the tribute series and introduced these China high profit guitars … 👎🏻.. I really dislike the paint they use on the epi guitars
Yes I was looking at a LP tribute down the line now they are gone😢
Great video 100% agree with your thoughts. I have ver1 of the 59 LP inspired by GCS, just wanted to see what the hype was about.. I paid £500 for it on Ebay, advertised as opened never played which was about correct. For that money it's a great guitar. Sounds amazing with sustain all week. But and there's a big but, needed a lot of fretwork, the truss rod needed adjustment and frankly playing it, it felt a bit cheap. I've got a Gibson LP standard and although maybe the sustain on the Epiphone was better, everything else felt like a cheap guitar, which at £500 it was ...cheap I mean. I can't see me paying more than £700 for any of these other new Epiphones, but guess if you just wanted something pretty to hang on the wall and you had plenty of spare cash then you'd not go far wrong with the Firebird V lol. I also own an Epiphone Korean made LP custom which plays well and has lasted and feels better built than the 59 and a really old Wildkat again Korean made, which is a great guitar once pickups were replaced with some lower output P90s. As many people have said, for me I'd rather buy one quality guitar than 1.5/2 of these new Epiphones.
I've just played the new Epiphone LP 1959 with the Custombuckers from the USA Custom Shop sounds and plays great. It's less than half the price of USA Standards.
I bought a used 1999 Korean Epiphone SG400 recently for a good price and it gave me a good perspective on these new Epiphone models. My Korean epiphone is decent! And it's clear that what Epiphone is doing with the new models is to as you say, raise the perceived value of the instruments in the SAME way that Fender did with progressively bringing up prices on their MIM and Squier models. I think what is needed in the market is more options for Gibson style, set neck guitars from other brands.
I'm hoping that brands like Sire can start releasing SGs, LP Juniors, and maybe a 339 in addition to their les paul-like model and their 335. We need good options and more diversified options for these styles of guitars at the lower end. Think about what happened with Fender-style instruments where there was this huge proliferation of the low to mid range price bracket with good specs (think of all the Indonesian and Chinese Fender-styles with roasted maple necks, stainless steel frets, cool finishes, etc).
The same thing needs to happen for traditional Gibson style guitars. Might be a bit more difficult because obviously making bolt-on necks and strat and tele bodies streamlines production and the gibson-style stuff might require more tooling and complexity. But I really hope that we will be able to pick up a Sire/Soloking/Bacchus Universal/EART Wilshire in pelham blue or a 339 in burgundy mist or a double cut junior in shell pink. This by the way, is already somewhat happening in Japan where Japanese brands like Grassroots/Burny/Blitz/Photogenic find their own ways to outsource production and get these styles in for a better price. Given that Gibson and Fender are these lifestyle behemoth companies, I think we should really just look to other brands to get classic-style guitars from.
Were Elitist a Japan only guitar or was it ever sold in the US?
They were sold here, just made in Japan.
When Sire makes Gibson-inspired things that look so good and play and sound so well for $700, those high price Epiphones look like neither a bargain, nor properly priced for its value.
Despite Epiphone being a value-based brand for the last 30 years or so, with these new high price models, that’s no longer a consistent truth across the brand lineup.
I have no problem with an Epiphone name on the headstock. I have a few. I just don’t see myself paying $300-$500 more for one than I think I should be paying, and as a percentage of total cost of a guitar, that’s a lot of up charge.
Rather than spend the money on a “high end” Chinese guitar I hunted around for a pre-owned Gibson Les Paul and found a beauty. They’re out there if you’re patient and look, plus Gibson’s don’t depreciate.
Well done, I think you have this sorted out……I think 😵💫
The problem with Gibson/Epiphone is that in the internet age, the prestige of name brands matter less and there are competitors making better guitars at better price points.
For example, the LTD Phoenix has modern specs like stainless steel frets, locking tuners, push/pull pots, and name brand hardware all for $500 less less than the Epiphone.
I've always said since the transition if Epiphone isn't careful the affordable Chinese guitars are going to over take in sales and quality
I only have 1 Epiphone and it’s the one I would sell or trade in first. They are just way overpriced. I do have 5 classic vibes and am pleased with them all. Value for price is good. I now have 5 firefly guitars as well and I play my fist more than my mim fender strat.
I own an Epiphone "Elite" EB3 made in S Korea. Excellent model.
I do want to say I just purchased a LP Tribute. It's a workhorse for me and I love the guitar. Ran me about 1300 which for a Gibson LP, not bad.
The Tribute series is awesome and everything Gibson should be doing for a more affordable electric. There were a few years in the middle where the quality was kind of suspect, but overall those have been great.
Regarding the "Elitist" name. I believe (if I'm remembering correctly) the line was originally called the "Elite Series", but there was some sort of trademark issue with the name and this it was (unfortunately) renamed "Elitist".
With the specs and features and the playability I don't think they are. Since the "Inspired by Gibson range" they have upped their game dramatically but I do feel they should still focus on the $400 to $800 market.
Gibson on the headstock but made in china. That would be jumping the shark in some kind of way for sure, for me anyway. Im super loyal to Gibson but that would be it for me.
While I basically agree with your stance that these should have been "import Gibsons" if they were going to charge more based upon a marketing angle, I'm coming to it from a different perspective: see I'm a lefty. That means that a lot of the stuff that guitar collectors really covet is off the table for me. There are no 59 Les Pauls in lefty, or if there are they're in a museum somewhere. So, from my vantage point, I have always had to look for the best examples I could find from the mass produced stuff. This has quite often led to going "Off Brand" and replica type stuff. However, where I do connect with most players is that all I really want is something I find playable, with a good sound and something, anything visually kinda "cool". So, literally yesterday I happened to see a 2022 player Stratocaster in Capri Orange at my local Guitar Center. I paid less than 500 for it. Birdseye maple neck, alnico 5 pickups, and, even if you don't like the color, you have to admit that it's eye catching. So, for a market of guys like me? a 1300 Epiphone is stupid, when I can get a Fender at less than half the price, that ticks all my boxes. Now, if I absolutely, positively had to have a "real" Firebird, I could go on Reverb and pick up a near mint Gibson Firebird for about the same money as the new Epiphone. But, I wouldn't do either, because, again, lefty. So, if they're aiming for the collector mentality, they lose, if they're going for the player mentality they lose. So, yeah, I agree- they're overpriced, because any which way you go, there are better options. I mean, I haven't even gone into other aspects of the real world- like all the competing import brands where you can get the looks pretty dead on, and with some work, the sounds as well. I don't know who these are really for?
I just couldn't justify the price on the new Firebirds. Man, they look great, though. However, I did decide to try the currently $649 model, and I'm so glad I did! It sounds and plays amazing for $1,050 less 😝
And honestly, if you throw some boutique pickups in there (that you can often order to your specs for less than the “Custombuckers” - look up Singletone Pickups or Righteous Sound pickups) it will sound even better than the high end ones.
Clever marketing is in play. I’m sure the new Epiphones are great. The idea of this release is to encourage consumers to buy a more expensive Epiphone now and then an even more expensive Gibson later. At the end of the day, it all about a customers LTV (Long Term Value) - how can we keep customers spending with us
I just got the new ES-355… y’all keep complaining via videos and b*tching in the comments and I’ll keep playing this incredible guitar. I ordered the thing so, of course, I thought it would be a great guitar. I was wrong - it’s an INCREDIBLE guitar. I would have paid $2k for this thing. It excels in every aspect - playability, aesthetics, feel, tone, pickups, and so on.
It’s just an incredible guitar that puts plenty of Gibsons that I’ve owned to shame.
I think that you might be missing part of the point here. When you have companies like Eastman taking these designs, in many instances improving on them, then offering them for a third of what the Gibson model costs, well, changes have to be made. You can buy an Eastman E1D with all solid wood for the price that Epiphone sells its mostly laminate acoustics for. At some point, they have to up their game or forever get left behind. Squire has done this and so has Epiphone. I dont see these models as diectly competing with a $3,500 Les Paul or a $6,000 SJ200. They are competing more with Asian brands that are knocking the socks off American brands in this price range. Right now you have Martins with bindings coming loose (not putting them down as I own a D35 and a D18), and Gibson has had its share of QC issues too. To buy a very nice guitar in the "middle" prices is nice! So, I agree with what you say to some extent, but this isnt necessarily an Epiphone vs Gibson thing.
The best one in the line, best value, is the 355. It’s specs are by far the most desirable
I would like a production Usa Firebird
I've got an ''inspired by'' j45 and I will say they definitely cut corners on fret material, because I killed these frets in about 9 months. I'm about to refret it with stainless steel. Would have liked to use evo, but Jescar stopped making them!!!
That’s been the issue with mine. I gig with it and have got fret wear really quickly. It’s still ok, playability wise but a little disappointing
@@GraemeCampbellMusic Yeah, I kind of expect 3 years out of nickel frets. If I wasn't able to refret it myself I'd be in a tough spot right now
Man, I walked out of tje local guitar store with a Slash goldtop that continues to blow me away every time I get it out. Not that I am a big Slash fan, just because it is such an awesome Les Paul. It is the best Ive ever played.
Slash is one guy I would totally trust to have a great signature model, and not accept something subpar in his name.
@@JackFossett exactly.
3 k New Zealand for a epi , no thanks
The ES355 is almost reasonably priced. Buy a new Sheraton for 800 bucks, add the $500 Custombuckers and you pretty much get up to the $1300 price that the 355 is selling for.
One of my bandmates bought the new $1300 Dave Grohl model. I give it a mixed review. It had a badly cut nut that needed immediate replacement (they weren’t straight so we couldn’t just use a file) and the frets were scratchy and unpolished like you would expect from a $150 squier. The pickups sounded dull imo but could just be the height. Once he paid to have a pro tech fix these issues and give it a good setup it’s unquestionably a nice guitar. I consider them overpriced by at least $300-$400. Compared to two Korean-made Reverends I bought which live in the same new price range, the Reverends were significantly better.
Hmm. I'm not sure what you're saying. At 11:50, you say "why not get this or why not get that?" As a normal guy who has wanted a Gibson ES-335 for a very long time, and just haven't been able to justify a $3500-$4000 payout for Gibson ( $4000! Now THAT'S overpriced!), I instead bought : a Hagstrom Viking Deluxe ( from Stockholm), a new Epiphone Sheraton Pro 2, a Sire H7 ( a have an S7 and love it), an Ibanez Artcore Semi-hollow, an Epiphone Marty Schwartz 335, a couple of HB 35+ Harley Bentons, and a variety of inexpensive Amazon 335's, all in the search for something close to the Gibson 335 I wanted, but at a substantial savings. The Marty Schwartz is damn close to a Gibson ES-335, though still not the same. But it is awesome in its own way - I'm keeping that till it's cremated with me. All the others have been sold to make way for each other. I have also kept a $159 Redid ES-335 copy I got from Amazon. I love the guitar, and am putting Seymour Duncan Model 59, 4 wire pups, and a CTS / Mallory harness in it for $400. In this instance, I know the guitar will not 'retain the value of the stuff I put in it', but between the looks, the way it plays, and the quality of the Seymour Duncans and harness, I know that for a grand total of under $600, that I'll have the closest thing to a 335 I can get without spending the big bucks. So I just wanted to say - you can buy cheapo versions of the IBG Epiphone line of guitars, and lose thousands like I did trying to find a budget ES-335 you like, or you can buy the Epiphone 59 Reissue 355, and get something DAMN close to the $7000 Gibson ES-355.
Or, you can do your own research and build your own guitar out of outstanding parts - for you and you alone. I don't find the $1300 for the ES-355 expensive at all. F-150s are selling for $70k - and you think $1300 for an Epiphone is too much? I think your name might be Rip Van Winkle, and you slept through the price increases of the last 10 years.
Just bought a brand new Epi ES-339 Inspired. LGS going out of business after 35 years, so I got 25% off - $441 out the door. I love it - Grover Rotomatics, CTS pots, great pickups. The Indian Laurel fretboard is dark enough and similar enough to rosewood that I'm OK with it. Much better looking than the red Pau Ferro on Fender Player series. Both of these are fine for fretboards, IMHO, and have long been marketed as exotic fretboard wood by the likes of Suhr and Sadowsky. I also own American made guitars (Fender, Martin, PRS), a Squier, and a Chinese Yamaha. The Chinese people are capitalist at heart, and have no control over their Communist government. The artisans who work in the guitar factories are able to feed their families thanks to companies like Eastman, Loar and Gibson/Epiphone. If you're an old blues rocker like me who wants to dabble a little in jazz, these ES Epi's are perfect.
I've been spoiled by sub-$1,000 Epiphone and can't bring myself to pay as much if not more for an Epiphone than a Fender Japan. An Epiphone approaching the price of a Gibson SG kills the thrill.
Gibson is a company that can change lead into Gold 🤷♀️
People are going to have their opinions either way.
Personally I own the new LP custom in white and 2 Gibson SGs. A Standard (large guard) and a 61 maestro. The 61 is my baby so I'm biased towards it, however there was nothing about the other Standard (that has the same pickups) that screamed it was a higher quality guitar or worth more than the Epiphone (place of origin aside).
The LP feels, play and sounds like you'd expect a good proper LP custom to. For me the neck profile is much better than the Kalamazoo model. Not of fan of that flat slim taper D that epiphone loves to use. The medium C on the new one is pretty perfect for me.
Ebony fret board 1 PC neck and 2 PC top. And those real mother of pearl inlays really pop. If you want a Gibson LP Custom and don't want to pay 4-6 grand this was a no Brainer for me at 1299$. Dream guitar acquired. My main D Standard axe along my 61 Standard (C Standard).
Gibson and Epiphone get killed my Schecter and LTD in the 1k-2k range . These seem to be aimed at getting into that market.
Idk people can think what they like. Happy with mine
These will sell for the same reason there’s an upgrade parts market….people think they’re getting a Gibson for less. New Epi or and upgraded old Epi. Pros and cons for both, and you’ll never get your money back if you sell.
Everything is overpriced but if I’m gonna buy a guitar I’m gonna save up and get a custom shop or a boutique like a Novo .. I love my Novo .. just save up and get the big guy that you know you will keep forever
What I can tell you is my Epiphone Firebird V with that thick neck is incredible - worth 1800 - never had anything like it despite my Gibson / Gibson Custom guitars I have. Pull the trigger 🥃
And got it in Cherry…..❤
Those MIJ Elitist Epiphone Casinos go for about three grand on the used market today!
Yeah - the used guitar market has become something of a price gouge in and of itself, but thats a different video topic.
When I unload a bunch of guitars at GC, the Epi Broadway instantly flies out the door first.
I got a 2019 Classic for £1000 second hand . Great condition , same pickups as a 60s Standard and even with weight relief it’s 9lb 4oz . There are more out there and the first run Epiphone 59 Les Pauls and Firebird are great guitars for the money way less expensive than the new ones . Gibson seem to have dropped in and out with Les Paul Studio and Tribute models over the past few years but they won’t produce them now if they put their weight and sales drive on the new expensive Epiphones . I disagree that guitars are too expensive in general as there are great guitars around for less than £500 like PRS SE line , Sire S3/S7 /H7 etc Squier and Yamaha Revstar . Ibanez have some fantastic budget guitars such as the RG 421 EX , played a second hand one and it blew me away . It will be interesting to see what the prices of the newer Epiphones drop to second hand , people will take a real hit on these I’d imagine.
I wish that if they are going to charge these prices, they would at least have a nitro cellulose finish instead of the poly
☝️ that’s a big one. Especially considering finish is so much of what goes into a higher end instrument and a significant part of what ultimately drives up prices.
Discourage the trend by not buying Epiphone. They will have to listen.
Lemon Burst 59 Epi is $750 at time of writing. That is a hell of a deal by today’s standards.
Different model. I’m talking about the Epi/Gibson Custom models. I actually love the one you’re talking about, they’re great guitars and reasonably priced. The LP in the custom line is $1299
A $700 to $800 Firebird 1 with those specs would have been high priced, but justifiable. $1300 is outrageous.
Yeah they are very overpriced😮
@@michaelblaney4461 Really ticks me off to, because that green Firebird I is right up my alley. I just refuse to pay that.
@@bricktop201 I know , the new high priced Epiphones really are not made any better then their former highest tier guitars . But they may have Gibson pickups , The cost to manufacture the Gibson pickups and some hardware does not merit the almost double price increases.
@@michaelblaney4461 Exactly. On the other hand, I just picked up a new Worn Casino. Best $500 I’ve spent in a long damned time.
Thats exactly it - Epiphone has become its own worst enemy. For people who couldn't afford Gibsons, one of the solaces was that the Epiphone equivalent really played and sounded great, and really punched above their weight. You could say "maybe the Gibson is still better, but not $2k better" -- having played the custom Epiphone Firebirds, they're truly great guitars. But not over $1k better than Epiphone's IBG line.
What they do is now what ESP did with LTD. LTD is even more expensive as ESP was in the beginning. Simple as that.
in 1983 an LP Standard was $999 which is about $3200 in todays money .And that did not have a flame top
The 80s were a rough decade for the big brands - hence the rise of PRS
Jack,
Ignore our personal feelings about Epiphone vs. Gibson. If a guitar is over-priced, you'll find a few things
1) Sales won't meet expectations
2) The guitars won't hold their value in the used market
3) Competing brands will put more effort into making lower-priced models which customers perceive as an alternative to the over-priced one.
The problem with all these factors is we can't really tell at the time whether a given guitar is actually over-priced.
Another issue you're bringing into this is what I'll call Epiphone's "self-awareness". What is the brand's image of itself? What is their direction? At present, I'll have to say there is no self-awareness at all! Epiphone is simply the cheap foreign version of Gibson. When Gibson decides it'll have an Epiphone model made, they consider how cheaply it can be made, how can the quality be high enough that customers will be tempted and how to maximize Gibson's profit on the venture. There is no such thing as "Epiphone IP". When Gibson swallowed them up, the outlook was "all your IP are belong to us".
If Epiphone were to be self-aware to have a vision of itself, it would need at a minimum a design center and probably a custom shop based in the US. Folks staffing that office would need to be versed in Epiphone's rich history and be dedicated to preserving it and turning it into a brand seen as authentic by guitarists. I'm thinking something like the reputation that D'Angelico now has. To make this work, the Epiphone people would have to be free to pursue the models they want to make, except for not making Gibson knockoffs. Consequently, Gibson would have to be in charge of its own Chinese or Indonesian production and put "Gibson" on the headstick.
Based on Gibson's history (I'm not bashing, just observing), it seems Gibson will never do such a thing. If the purchase of Epiphone were more like that of Mesa Boogie, the outcome would be very different.
Not worth it at $1300-1600 brand new, especially the indian laurel board ones. I regularly see used Gibson Les Paul Classics and standards for $1600. The Epiphones also don’t hold their value at all. I bought the $1300 Epiphone Bonamassa ES-335 and couldn’t get more than $700 selling it used in mint condition. If you buy one brand new plan to hold on to it for a while. If you regularly buy, sell & trade just buy a used Gibson which will hold it’s value way better.
I recently bought a new Epi LP 50' for 390 euros!!!and I don't envy Gibson LP Studio anything and it cost me 5 times less!!!... I think that Made in USA or Made in Germany is no reason to cost 5 times more!!!.... many people talk about "the woods" but I only see that people who speak, no one who refers to a scientific study of the impact of thewood in the sound of a guitar that works by electromagnetic impulses....
To the people complaining about the prices: if you like them, just wait until these guitars hit the used market and you'll save a few bucks ;) plus you'll help a brother (or sister) out.
I feel like Gibson has nothing to offer for playing/gigging musicians and has had no innovations for decades . It's not fun to gig with a super expensive guitar too, the whole gig you'll be worried to get a scratch or for it to be stolen instead of having fun. Ten years ago you saw a lot of people playing Gibsons live now I almost never see one. I see plenty of fenders which I think is doing a much better job quality wise and with releasing new models
I paid $1099 CAN for my Fender Player Mustang P90 new and felt I was quite foolish to spend that on a very basic Fender model
The major makers are price gouging beyond inflation
I guess i'm one of the odd ones that thinks Epiphone is doing a better job to get closer to what the Gibsons are selling for. The Standard SG Gibson is $1799. Epiphone fills in that void. You don't have to spend $1200-
1500 if you don't want to they still have all the other models for less. Every company is making product overseas now. If Gibson/Epiphone fails to do that they will miss out on sales. Fender, PRS, Jackson and many others have their partner companies overseas or Mexico. I don't care about the re-sale value if I like the guitar. All companies don't have a great re-sale value, including Gibson. I have seen even Custom Shop models at market value. That is not what we paid for it. What a person asks for is not what it sells for in most cases, its the selling history that counts. Play it, make sure you like it. Don't buy it if you think you can sell it at a good return. New is never the value of a vintage.
The fact that you say they are over priced proves you don't really know what you are talking about !I thought you would say you were wrong... because the reviews are great... I got the new ES IBGC and it is great !
I think prices for all guitar gear is getting way out of hand. Prices have significantly increased over the last few years at an unprecedented rate.
Thank the DEMONCRAT commies.
when the economy is in the crapper, and you sell luxury items because like it or not guitar is a luxury nonessential, especially if you own one or more already. They are out of their minds, these big names can't read the room let alone the economy. you don't charge more for less when you can buy way more for way less from other great less known companies.. these big names are deleting themselves. because, while I could not afford to buy a 2000$ guitar or amp or expensive tube repairs etc. I did buy 3 Harley Benton guitars and two positive grid sparks .I completely modded two of the three guitars including new pickups all around, On one a kingtone tone shaper switch,, plus a 6-way highway switch giving it out of phase, and fantastic Iron Gear extra wound tele pickups on one, and another has blues engine pickups, two push-pulls, a coil split and out of phase. both full setup and all the extras. plus it was all done by my local guitar luthier and I'm still a little below 2000$im getting ready to put new iron gear pickups in the third one and I might be at the two-grand mark then. I have guitars and amps with effects I could only dream of owning they do amazing things and play better than any big brand I have played. the guitars have inspired me to retake lessons and play jazz which is a much better use of money if you really think of it. now at 51 years old, I have a guitar rigg that I could have only dreamed a wet dream of having as a teen and it cost me very little in the end.
The greeny and AJ are overpriced. The new 59’s? When you consider custombuckers and true MOP inlays the up charge is reasonable.
I mentioned the Custombuckers in the video. I don’t see those as anything more than an excuse to price gouge.
Overpriced? I would say no from Gibson's margin view. They have to keep up with their projected annual forecasts! To me, yes they are overpriced. Gibson needs to include in the Epiphone line: gig bags up to a certain tier then hardshell case on the upper traditional models! Reimagine the line with an open book headstock, nitro on all models and roll back the prices then I will consider MAYBE an Epiphone! Till then...skip on the entire Epiphone import line!
They seem to be selling like hotcakes. I plan on buying two of them.
Good for you - hope you enjoy them
They are way too expensive and I won't buy one. For that money I would buy a Reverend or an Eastman.
I’ll save you the time: YES
Sold out since the 1st week...lol...
They're great guitars at fair prices.
Yes, then no.
Jack you should be running Gibson
They can’t afford me.
Just be patient til you find a good second hand Gibson - spend a little more than an Epiphone and get the real thing.
They changed the headstock but the guitars are still just okay. I still don't think they are worth the price and can't stand the Epiphone necks
To be honest, I don't like the look of the headstocks. Thats totally subjective so I didn't mention it in the video, but I think the copied Gibson headstocks just makes them look more like cheap knockoffs. I actually very much like the "almost" Gibson headstocks they're doing on the Inspired By Gibson models at the lower price point - they look sleek, better than the old Epi ones, and a nice nod to Gibson but still uniquely Epiphone.
Gibson was first on scene for blues, jazz, country, western, rock, reggae, etc. Guitars made over there are no.t part of that history
Heritage is making better guitars than Gibson and for a bit less cost. Epiphone is what it is and the quality is much better than it used to be. Gibson seems to be going totally upper end leaving the working musician in the dust. Keep in mind Gibson owns Epiphone so they are no longer competitors.
Its the gibsons that are overpriced 😂
It's a shame you are so mad, I just dont get it..great guitars at good prices..I think your mad at Gibson. Which is strange too..I'm trying not to laugh...trying.
Yes, they are overpriced. Thankfully there is Sire.
For those prices these guitars should be made in Japan. Maybe Korea.
There would be no question if the guitar was made in Japan the pricing would be right. It still would be profitable if made in korea
Players LOVE the Peerless factory Epiphone guitars, they've become something of a cult classic. If Epiphone made these in Korea, I think they'd have much less opposition to the price.
Guitars in general are over priced
☝️ agreed.
Some are, and some aren't.
The manufacturers have to earn a living, too.
@InjectBleach-em9tg
So, you'll do your job for no pay, or invest your money into something and expect no return?
InjectBleach-em9tg Communist! Do you work for nothing?
@InjectBleach-em9tg
So, you'd be happy working for no pay or investing your money for a "zero" return?
Are they paying the people in china the same wages as in America? Because that is supposed to be part of the cost incurred. Also I think what people arent understanding is that specs aside it just leaves a bad taste in your mouth to put out that kind of money for MIC.
They wouldn't be, but I think the Chinese workers must be putting in more hours when making these new Epi's. There's nothing wrong with their ability to make higher end guitars (or anything, actually). The Chinese are just as capable as anyone.
Want an awesome guitar made in North America? Godin
☝️
Import guitars? You're on the World Wide Web here and not in the US.
No I assure you I haven’t become a digital entity. Despite Meta’s attempts, I’m still a real live person in an actual place.
I’m not a naive 18-year old undergraduate who just discovered communism, but this is how capitalism works in practice
Nobody is getting it.........come on, say it with me - THEY. ARE. NOT. THE. SAME. GUITARS. It's a different line! Built quite differently. THE CHEAP ONES ARE STILL AVAILABLE! You're getting more for the money than the PRS SE, which, remember, is made in Indonesia.
Ironically, everyone is getting it. Many of us just disagree. Writing it in caps with extra punctuation doesn't change anything.
@@JackFossett Why is everyone complaining that Epiphone is raising their prices through the roof when, for example, the regular LP Custom is still being made and is the same price it was? Why is everybody talking about it like it's the same guitar? It goes so much deeper than the headstock shape. For example why is nobody acknowledging the pricier Epi SGs have real wood bodies instead of the usual scrap wood with veneers? At $1300 the "Inspired" LP Custom, for what you get, has no choice but to be made in China or Indonesia. It's 100% a better guitar, in a price point that had nothing in it. The days of less expensive guitars coming from Japan are gone with Motley Crue's hair.
@@deanallen927 not everyone is doing that. I don’t agree with your assessment of people’s responses. The point has always been that these are too expensive for what they are, not what another model is.
@@JackFossett But isn't that exactly why people say this is over priced, because of "another model" they're used to seeing at $799? I just don't see the problem with filling a vacant price point, and doing it with a hands-down better guitar, by the way, still at roughly 1/4 the price of a Gibson. I've sat through about five videos on this subject, and while I appreciate that yours covers more dimensions than the others, and I agree perception of what a guitar should cost coming from "that country" is definitely a thing, me included, one should still always look at what you get for your money. With real MOP instead of plastic, two piece body instead of the 4 or 5 (of my Cantrell), one piece neck and the Gibson pickups, combine all that with the LP Custom bling, you could only get this at $1300 with Asian construction, and I don't see how one is a better deal than the other.
Overpriced for made in China guitars, real cost, I guess with labour and everything about $200?