@@BlockDefenderand that's business 101. Nothing is ever worth what it costs to build and market of course, there has to be profit in the items so the company can 1. Survive and 2. Continue to make products to sell and that cycle goes on. Now the profit margin can vary from product to product and sometimes it may be quite big, but at the end of the day something is worth what the buyer is willing to pay. If someone pays $1300 for this flying V then you can say that's what it's worth.
It still is. This problem is people are paying the prices they are setting. If we would all just say no and not buy this stuff at crazy prices they would drop the prices, but unfortunately everyone has $50,000.00 credit cards so they dont care and will pay whatever.
You’ve got the right idea (and that applies to this specific guitar, any other guitar, or any other item out there for that matter). Companies keep raising their prices because people are still buying what they are selling. If we refuse to pay the inflated prices those prices will come down (case in point the recent discount on PRS SE models, and the constant discounts Fender is offering on slow selling models).
The prices won’t change thanks to the way the economy has become after the kungflu everything is hyper inflated… I’m an business owner and I’ve seen product in my industry go up 60% over the last 2 years
I own Gibson Vs and Edwards Vs, and I got one of these right away when they came out - I'm very impressed. Everything on it is excellent. The color is amazing and the fact they made the roundhead headstock absolutely makes the guitar. I couldn't care less about Kirk Hammett or his endorsement, I just love the guitar they made. Plays great.
I'm a fan of the headstock too and the neck angle at the body. The new 80s style headstock is completely inaccurate to the 85, Gibson blew it... I don't like the super pointy HS at all.. I'd like this epi but definitely refuse to pay that price,... How does it sound and feel to you? I have had the chance to test one.
You’re really trying hard to convince yourself and us that these higher prices for Epiphone are worth it. I’m really starting to wonder what the motive is… not so sure you’re non-biased in your reviews of these new signature models by Gibson and Epiphone.
I just paid $1,300 for a 2021 used Gibson Flying V with the mahogany body, rosewood fretboard, burtsbucker pickups and original hardshell case with all the case candy. These Epiphone prices are insane! Why would I think even for a heartbeat that I would dish out that kind of money just because someone’s rock idol has his name attached?! Evidently Gibson has found the magic hook, line and sinker to mesmerize and catch a whole lot of people. Brilliant marketing strategy to reel people in to buying at double the price what they should actually be.
@@mattiheidi21 Gibson did three-piece necks for quite some time during the 70s and early 80s. Known as the Norlin era. Many of these necks included maple construction instead of mahogany, and the famed "volute" on the back of the headstock. These are the Pauls that don't break, and the sound is legendary. The vast majority of ESP/LTD guitars share these features.
They're not selling because they're way too expensive for what you get. You can get a Solar V with Fishman pickups, stainless steel frets, ebony fingerboard, locking tuners and an evertune with a gig bag for well below one of these.
The purple color started with Lars’ purple drum kit color - called “Deep Purple”. Named after his favorite band. Then the other guys got purple guitars (the baritone, etc).
I think Hetfield has always liked purple, and he had his purple LP Custom in 2008. But Lars getting a purple sparkle drum kit started everyone else on a purple kick in 2017/18. Even Rob Trujillo has a purple and black Warwick now lol.
I’m honestly more excited about this than the Greeny. My biggest hang up is the laurel fretboard. At that price I’d expect ebony or real rosewood. Also for a Metallica style guitar the new ESP EC1000 CTM is way better value. It’s $1400 but made in Korea, binding, full thickness body, Fishman pickups, ebony fretboard and stainless steel frets.
From what I’ve seen, the Laurel fretboards look just fine when properly maintained. They tend to look atrocious when dry, though. I think that’s why most of them photograph really poorly since the pictures are taken when they get to the store, with the fretboard dry as hell.
ESP is just superior to Gibson (never mind Epiphone lmfao) overall. It’s virtually comparing a pro level quality guitar against a Chinese mediocre copy.
I had a laurel Epiphone and it looked much improved after conditioning for about a day but it would dry out so fast and return to a horrible dry uneven look uneven, not a fan of them at all@@luistijerina
Regarding the seams in the wood you were looking for. I questioned them about the construction of the bodies and what I noticed was that they told me they use multiple pieces of mahogany to make the body and I noticed it in the V and I noticed it in my Adam Jones art series That rather than taking a couple pieces of mahogany side-by-side they take 1/4-1/2 inch layers of mahogany and it looks like they pancake them together using four or five pieces to make the body and then put the maple cap on top. but on the V I noticed The same lines are inside route where you can see what looks like the description I’m giving. Similar to 70s construction but not the same. They do it in layers like pancake construction, but used many more layers than two. On my Adam Jones less Paul I saw at least four 1/ 12:45 half inch thick layer. If anyone can show me different, please do but in mine, you can see each different level where the next piece starts in the last one ends.
1200$? i bought a dean flying v for 80$ and it by far surpassed my expectations has abalone dots on a amazing quality rosewood fret board, plus it has that cool dean headstock. yeah i think i got lucky on this one probably, if i had money to throw away ide buy a used and abused Gibson so yeah..lol im not a huge Indian laurel fret board fan boy, i much prefer rosewood. im not sure who is going to buy these for the price wen shopping around could get you a better guitar at a better price?
I cant stand that board, looks the exact same as the epiphone special range. This could be a $300 guitar at first glance and you wouldnt tell the difference
Crazy. They use it on the $800 LP Customs which are great guitars. And you don’t feel bad about upgrading parts on them. I’d feel screwed if I paid that Flying V price and had to upgrade anything.
I have a few Squiers with Laurel fretboards, it’s WAY better than Pao Ferro in terms of look and feel. Just got my first 5-string bass with a Jatoba fretboard, doesn’t feel or look much different from Rosewood, so I’m happy.
I don't know WTH they did to it, but the Indian Laurel fretboard on my Epiphone 1959 Les Paul feels like some kind of cross between ebony and rosewood...I love it. Not all Indian Laurel boards are like that, but I think some of these more expensive Epiphones have a great feel to them.
Laurel is superior in looks and espacially feel under the fingers to pau fero. Pau fero is too dense and somewhat very dry feeling. And it does not oil at all, well because of a density.
Fret buzz bothers my soul. I hate it so much. If the player is playing in tune and in tone but there is fret buzz that's a design, construction, or finish issue that should be considered a defect.
As far as the _appearance_ of Indian laurel goes, I think people forget how pale the rosewood on old Epiphones could be. I still have a G400 from the Unsung factory and the fretboard on it is lighter than the laurel boards on the 1959 and Slash LPs I bought recently. It's also been a while since Epiphone offered this later style of Flying V, their Vs are almost always based on or derived from the 1958 style. Having said all that, it is a lot for a Made in China guitar, so as much as I want one I'll probably try to get a discount, or wait for used examples to show up.
I’ve never been a fan of 58 style Vs or Explorers so to have more of the 67/79 style Vs is awesome. I’ve always wanted his black V however I’m a sucker for purple so this is right up my alley.
Just got one of the Epiphone power player LPs for my daughter to start learning on and was really impressed. You should do a video on some of the small scale beginner guitars so guys like me have an idea of what ones are decent. I put sone left over Gibson pickups in it and would like to upgrade the tuners and wiring at sone point but was pleasantly surprised at how well it played out of the boc
"They didn't skimp anywhere" is all relative. You can buy a firefly V with a gorgeous flame maple veneer, blue green burst finish, stainless steel frets, and maybe even locking tuners for around $300. Sure, no Gibson pickups or kirk hammet signature, but arguably a better spec'd guitar that imo looms better for $1,000 less.
@@jameshughes6049 I'd bet in a blind shootout you wouldn't hear a difference. Even so, troglys logic, you could buy the epi, sell the pickups for $200, sell the case for $100, and now you have paid $1,000 for the epiphone without the premium extras. Buy the firefly, buy $200 Gibson pickups, a $100 epiphone case, and now you have all of the premium features on the epiphone, plus stainless steel frets, plus locking tuners, plus (imo) a nicer finish for $600. So, $600 for an ultra premium firefly, or $1,000 for a stripped down epiphone. Shrug.
Man, I’m not upset that an Epiphone Kirk Hammett V costs $1300. I’m upset that an Epiphone Kirk Hammett V costs $1300 and comes with a laurel fretboard. Real mother of Pearl inlays but couldn’t be bothered to put rosewood on there? If they put laurel on the DG-335 we riot
I'm probably going to get a hate for this comment; however, I feel like well established reviewers like yourself should not say things like "they could sell it for even more they ask" as this pretty much gives guitar companies green light to continue rising their prices without rising the quality of their products.
Seems like they're using "signatures" to normalize overall prices going up for imports for the time Gibson becomes a made in USA custom only company and everything else will be cheap poly imports sold at formerly (well close to) made in USA Gibson prices. Other companies do this. Not saying it's going to happen next year, but seems like everything points to this, even the Gibson headstock shape on the Chinese "Greeny". Yes, in the future everything not Custom Shop will be a "Chibson" 😑
Since dam COVID, everything has gone up in price...so I never expected to pay $1500 (AUD) for an Epiphone V, then I found the prophecy V....and it's worth the price.... compared to the lowest priced Gibson, with QC issues.
EMG's and a Gibby truss rod cover .. get your Kirk on. That bridge looks like it could chew up your hand though. Might need to put a band-aid on it. ;)
I got it. I like it. Poly feels like plastic but that’s to be expected. Sounds great and feels really good. Love the looks. I got a discount through guitar center.
So ive always classed epiphone and a mexican fender as the par level of affordable instrument. Im 40 years old , so i remember mexicans and epiphones being around the £400 to £500 price point 20 to 25 years ago, but the guitars they were making werent specced like this... so taking inflation into account, the hard case, and the spec sheet , its a win from me !! Well done epi
I love this guitar and I'll likely end up with this at some point in the near future. I have a Brandon Small Epiphone Ghost House Explorer, and it's once of my favorite guitars to play. It's basically a Gibson with Epiphone stickers, just like this one.
The Alex Lifeson LP must be pretty good. I've heard he plays them and actually have gifted some to other guitarists. And they've raved about them. Having watched this review I'd say for the price specs and a case this is a fair deal.
Seen some other videos of the purple v where they have absolutely terrible fit and finish, glue on the fretboard, scratch plate cut badly and dirty frets, not great for £1300
I wish people would stop comparing used and new prices. This isn’t a limited edition model afaik and the used prices for these will very likely be lower.
@@KevinTheMetalheadI get buying one of these used if that's your price range. But if you were in the market for a brand new one of these at this price, why wouldn't you just buy a used Gibson?
Thanks for the info about IGC - I couldn't find that anywhere when I looked. And thanks for the peek at the components. I'll definitely be conditioning my fretboard when mine shows up too - that looks so good.
I played one at the shop when they were first released and I felt it played well and was priced reasonably. Gibson is slowly rebranding Epiphone to a mid-tier guitar. It’s got for the most part Gibson parts and a case, what more do people want? Wait til the Epiphone Grohl DG-335 comes out, will be priced at these levels….
@@robotjeansdont think so. Gibson dropped tribute series of their guitars and priced these Epiphones in the same range. Somewhat similar to what Fender did with their standard series - Squier classic vibes are sitting somewhat in the similar price range where mexican standards used to be. Simple money making policy. If you are not ready to put your money into USA made guitars, you can always have an option to chose the entry models… or do you, really? :) Considering that eastern made guitars have way bigger market share (in quantity) it is real milking cow for the company.
Honestly my only issue with this guitar is that the pickups aren’t high output enough, here in Australia these things retail for over $2000 and if I’m spending that much on a guitar spending more money on aftermarket pickups is something I really don’t wanna have to do, honestly just wish Epiphone did a 70’s V on the same level and for the same price as their ‘58 V, then I could get one and mod it for less than the price of one of these
A year or year and a half or so Kirk was photographed playing this purple V but it read “Gibson”. I know a few RUclipsrs covered it; because they, like me, wished it would come out.
I just found my screen shots of it. It was from a shot around Feb. 13, 2022. He posted the picture on his Twitter for “FlyingVFriday” and credited it to Jeff Yeager.
Wouldn’t have a problem with these Epiphone prices if they had rosewood. Laurel looks and feels too cheap for an instrument at this price point and nobody is going to do an aftermarket upgrade on a fretboards. Give me rosewood with Epiphone pups and hardware and they might get back on my radar. But guessing they don’t need my money anyway.
Respectfully as a player rather than a collector, unless someone can identify any specific mods KH made, this is effectively an Epiphone copy of a standard Gibson V KH owns/owned. I have a 2012 Gibson V in white I bought new for £800 at my local music shop. It has exactly the same layout, though a more pointy headstock. Mine has an ebony fretboard, though I’m not that sniffy about such. I won’t be selling mine before hell freezes over. I get that maybe people like the signature and the colour, but I’d suggest my factory standard is as good, if not a better guitar than this and accounting for inflation, my £800 represents better value than this. Even with KH signature. Mine also has a Gibson hard case with ice white fur…
Increasing prices is fine, but I'm left wondering what happens with all of that extra money. Do the workers in China at least get a raise out of it or is it just profit profit profit?
I mean if this was even $1100 I wouldn't be that upset, but charging the same price as one of the Korina V reissues (which have gold hardware and an unusual wood in addition to the USA components) is frankly absurd. Especially because all their $499 and up Epis use USA pots and switches anyway, so that isn't exactly a compelling argument for charging the same as a high end Mexican Fender that uses actual rosewood and custom pickups. Hell I wouldn't even be that upset if they DID charge this high price point but started using rosewood or ebony on these Custom Shop style guitars. At least then the only real difference would be the name on the head stock.
(Just My Opinion, Don't Yell at Me) - If the price scares you, I'll just say that this is a good purchase because the alternatives if you want a classic GOOD flying V are also, pretty expensive. And your more than likely getting a used one, that could have problems and such. Guitar Center had this exact one on sale, and I swung by and picked it up. Just wait for it to go on sale and bite the bullet if you really want it, get a few $100 dollars off.
I think if this had another manufacturer on the headstock without the Gibson association but still a KH signature people would be raving about what a stunning value high spec signature it was and shouldn't Gibson learn from this company. It is damned by association. I think they should have revived the Orville by Gibson name for these higher end Epiphone models esp the Greeny. Then everyone would be saying they were a great revival. My thoughts we are judging based on name, ownership and historical context.
@@KekmanForTheRestOfTheWorld But if Cites had not rewritten annotation 15 in 2019 you'd have no rosewood on any musical instrument, and sooner or later they're likely to return annotation 15 to its original wording banning all rosewood I assume why many manufacturers having had to migrate to new species and suppliers have remained with them. I've played laurel fretboards and frankly and see hardly any difference on feel to rosewood. The quality of the luthiery is fast more important to me than the wood used.
@@Furtheronmusic i am not a die hard rosewood/ebony guy either, i just find laurel particular ugly most of the times. i would honestly prefer a composite material like Eko uses on their guitars. i think i would even be happy, if they just painted the laural black. it is not about the type of wood me but the look. also it is about the price., laurel is a cheapo wood used for cheap guitar. in the price range given with this guitar they could have used ebony or rosewood. it is perfectly legal to use as of now, so why not use it? the only reason would be to safe money and get rid off the crappy laurel stash they have. finally, you can get the same guitar with 'proper' or 'better' woods from probably 1000 companies for a third of the cost.
Honestly, considering you'd be paying $1099 for the 6-string Matt Heafy Origins (which I think is fairly priced), I don't think the price on the V is that crazy. Do I feel like the greeny is pushing the limits? Yeah. But I don't think the V is too bad. Also, as someone who isn't a huge V fan...I actually really kind of dig this V in the purple.
the specs on heafy's model are far superior... locking tuners, fishman pickups, split coil on both and 2 voicings, hard case, easy access to the neck... like, is easily the best specs/price ratio guitar between 800-1300 by far.
Well built guitar but over priced in my opinion just like most of the guitars nowadays with an artist signature on it. He has used it live a few times but I think only to promote the sale of it. Hope you get the Adam Jones Gibson v, some strange features on that one. Also I see Dave Mustaine promoting his new Explorer.
Gonna put EMGs in mine and sell those pups lol. But honestly, I’m probably gonna put an H4 and H3 because changing a battery for a V with the 67 pickgaurd with active pickups is a bitch unless you got the battery thing in the back lol
Hey trogley, I was at both Detroit shows for Metallica this run, he had a purple V that was signed by someone, but in the concert photos on there website, you can see it’s got an epiphone truss rod cover, now could that just be that’s what they put on a USA custom just for brand sales as part of the whole exchange with the multiple KH guitars that have come out? Maybe. Who’s to say.
With the custom shop version and now Epiphone version it does beg the question will there be a Gibson USA version? The Greeny Les Paul got a couple of CS editions, a Gibson USA, and Epiphone. So why not?
I had always wanted a flying V and I ended up getting one of these and I honestly absolutely love it. Gota day it feels kinda crazy to have a guitar that's has a Trogly episode.
If you’re not worried about the name on the headstock, may I point out you can buy a brand new, Japanese built and arguably better quality than Gibson, Tokai for £1500, complete with rosewood board.
I paid 1K for an epiphone Johnny A custom a few years ago, and that guitar has increase in value since then and I dont regret the purchase, but I do have a problem with the current pricing, that guitar tough has good hardware put on it, still not enough to make me shell out that amount of money, I'd rather buy a Gibson within that price range and I'd be so much better off. The only reason I bought the Johnny a custom is because there's literally no other model like that within the current epiphone or Gibson line up that is being offered, you can only get it at the custom shop, hell, not even epiphone ever acknowledges they did that, it is not even on their site anymore lulz, and it was a damn good product no longer on the market brand new
for that price they could have definitely used a better output jack instead of that cheap garbage one, if they're going to use cts pots might as well use a switchcraft jack as well instead of cheaping out
@Gordanovich02 Thank you so much! I kept thinking it was a more obscure Metallica riff and searched for days lol Edit: I was right, it was Metallica, I just somehow never came across it as I was going song by song before getting frustrated. Thank you again!
I remember when I used to think a $700 Epiphone was expensive.
I mean it is, they pay less than $100 to manufacture these
@@BlockDefenderthe cost of manufacture is only a part of the cost involved though, so you can't use just that to determine value.
@@BlockDefenderand that's business 101. Nothing is ever worth what it costs to build and market of course, there has to be profit in the items so the company can 1. Survive and 2. Continue to make products to sell and that cycle goes on. Now the profit margin can vary from product to product and sometimes it may be quite big, but at the end of the day something is worth what the buyer is willing to pay. If someone pays $1300 for this flying V then you can say that's what it's worth.
You can thank uncle Joe and his 'Con-o-nomics for that problem. Don't vote for 'Con-o-nomics kids...
It still is. This problem is people are paying the prices they are setting. If we would all just say no and not buy this stuff at crazy prices they would drop the prices, but unfortunately everyone has $50,000.00 credit cards so they dont care and will pay whatever.
I am bored of being told to ‘get used to these prices’. I’ll just not buy them. Easy.
You’ve got the right idea (and that applies to this specific guitar, any other guitar, or any other item out there for that matter). Companies keep raising their prices because people are still buying what they are selling. If we refuse to pay the inflated prices those prices will come down (case in point the recent discount on PRS SE models, and the constant discounts Fender is offering on slow selling models).
Yes let’s all REVOLT!!
@@petermussillo5657😂🤣
Absolutely 💯
The prices won’t change thanks to the way the economy has become after the kungflu everything is hyper inflated… I’m an business owner and I’ve seen product in my industry go up 60% over the last 2 years
I own Gibson Vs and Edwards Vs, and I got one of these right away when they came out - I'm very impressed. Everything on it is excellent. The color is amazing and the fact they made the roundhead headstock absolutely makes the guitar. I couldn't care less about Kirk Hammett or his endorsement, I just love the guitar they made. Plays great.
I'm a fan of the headstock too and the neck angle at the body.
The new 80s style headstock is completely inaccurate to the 85, Gibson blew it...
I don't like the super pointy HS at all..
I'd like this epi but definitely refuse to pay that price,...
How does it sound and feel to you? I have had the chance to test one.
The body looks like it is thicker than a 70/80s V,
You’re really trying hard to convince yourself and us that these higher prices for Epiphone are worth it. I’m really starting to wonder what the motive is… not so sure you’re non-biased in your reviews of these new signature models by Gibson and Epiphone.
Bingo!
I just paid $1,300 for a 2021 used Gibson Flying V with the mahogany body, rosewood fretboard, burtsbucker pickups and original hardshell case with all the case candy. These Epiphone prices are insane! Why would I think even for a heartbeat that I would dish out that kind of money just because someone’s rock idol has his name attached?! Evidently Gibson has found the magic hook, line and sinker to mesmerize and catch a whole lot of people. Brilliant marketing strategy to reel people in to buying at double the price what they should actually be.
Made in china. 😂
This is marked down for 1000 from a local shop. Tells you the real markup.
Does somebody want to tell me when exactly a one-piece neck became a premium feature?
😂😂😂
I would say for the most Japanese copies it is. And they sound much better in my opinion.
I think with Gibson you can’t really chose that, right?
@@mattiheidi21 Gibson did three-piece necks for quite some time during the 70s and early 80s. Known as the Norlin era. Many of these necks included maple construction instead of mahogany, and the famed "volute" on the back of the headstock. These are the Pauls that don't break, and the sound is legendary. The vast majority of ESP/LTD guitars share these features.
They're not selling because they're way too expensive for what you get. You can get a Solar V with Fishman pickups, stainless steel frets, ebony fingerboard, locking tuners and an evertune with a gig bag for well below one of these.
Who???
No you can’t lMFAO
But then you have to have an ugly super pointy Solar Guitar
The purple color started with Lars’ purple drum kit color - called “Deep Purple”. Named after his favorite band. Then the other guys got purple guitars (the baritone, etc).
Kirk even has purple sequin shoes he wears on stage
I've seen Kirk using a purple ESP too. Don't remember seeing a purple V but I'll definitely look into it out of curiosity lol
Purple is the color that represents transgender. Don't say you weren't warned.
Why would that be anything to worry about though?
I think Hetfield has always liked purple, and he had his purple LP Custom in 2008. But Lars getting a purple sparkle drum kit started everyone else on a purple kick in 2017/18. Even Rob Trujillo has a purple and black Warwick now lol.
I’m honestly more excited about this than the Greeny. My biggest hang up is the laurel fretboard. At that price I’d expect ebony or real rosewood. Also for a Metallica style guitar the new ESP EC1000 CTM is way better value. It’s $1400 but made in Korea, binding, full thickness body, Fishman pickups, ebony fretboard and stainless steel frets.
Anything ESP is an upgrade. 😅
From what I’ve seen, the Laurel fretboards look just fine when properly maintained. They tend to look atrocious when dry, though. I think that’s why most of them photograph really poorly since the pictures are taken when they get to the store, with the fretboard dry as hell.
I think you mean LTD EC1000 CTM. Either way still a very awesome guitar. I love my MH1000NT. And it’s in purple as well.
ESP is just superior to Gibson (never mind Epiphone lmfao) overall. It’s virtually comparing a pro level quality guitar against a Chinese mediocre copy.
I had a laurel Epiphone and it looked much improved after conditioning for about a day but it would dry out so fast and return to a horrible dry uneven look uneven, not a fan of them at all@@luistijerina
Regarding the seams in the wood you were looking for. I questioned them about the construction of the bodies and what I noticed was that they told me they use multiple pieces of mahogany to make the body and I noticed it in the V and I noticed it in my Adam Jones art series That rather than taking a couple pieces of mahogany side-by-side they take 1/4-1/2 inch layers of mahogany and it looks like they pancake them together using four or five pieces to make the body and then put the maple cap on top. but on the V I noticed The same lines are inside route where you can see what looks like the description I’m giving. Similar to 70s construction but not the same. They do it in layers like pancake construction, but used many more layers than two. On my Adam Jones less Paul I saw at least four 1/ 12:45 half inch thick layer. If anyone can show me different, please do but in mine, you can see each different level where the next piece starts in the last one ends.
That 'purple' is a lil light...
Maybe the flake in that light.
The OUIJA purple is better.
Don't care for guitars with the output on the front.
1200$? i bought a dean flying v for 80$ and it by far surpassed my expectations has abalone dots on a amazing quality rosewood fret board, plus it has that cool dean headstock. yeah i think i got lucky on this one probably, if i had money to throw away ide buy a used and abused Gibson so yeah..lol im not a huge Indian laurel fret board fan boy, i much prefer rosewood. im not sure who is going to buy these for the price wen shopping around could get you a better guitar at a better price?
If it had an ebony board, and his signature EMG's, I'd buy one. 🤷♂️
Did his 70s V have ebony? & lol can't find an emg 81/85 set *anywhere* - because that's such rare unobtainium.
I cant stand that board, looks the exact same as the epiphone special range. This could be a $300 guitar at first glance and you wouldnt tell the difference
$1300 for a Chinese guitar with a laurel fretboard. Sure, I get you need to pay Kirk Hammett but that's seriously overpriced.
I dont get why they are not using ebony. Other really cheap brands do
Crazy. They use it on the $800 LP Customs which are great guitars. And you don’t feel bad about upgrading parts on them. I’d feel screwed if I paid that Flying V price and had to upgrade anything.
They need to do a dark translucent purple. This purple is way too light colored.
Looks gay.
I have a few Squiers with Laurel fretboards, it’s WAY better than Pao Ferro in terms of look and feel. Just got my first 5-string bass with a Jatoba fretboard, doesn’t feel or look much different from Rosewood, so I’m happy.
I don't know WTH they did to it, but the Indian Laurel fretboard on my Epiphone 1959 Les Paul feels like some kind of cross between ebony and rosewood...I love it. Not all Indian Laurel boards are like that, but I think some of these more expensive Epiphones have a great feel to them.
Laurel is fine and so is pak ferro. Both have some very nice figuring.
@@roberte03915yeah epiphone definitely gardes their finger boards . I've seen some beautiful laurel boards.
Laurel is superior in looks and espacially feel under the fingers to pau fero. Pau fero is too dense and somewhat very dry feeling. And it does not oil at all, well because of a density.
Fret buzz bothers my soul. I hate it so much. If the player is playing in tune and in tone but there is fret buzz that's a design, construction, or finish issue that should be considered a defect.
As far as the _appearance_ of Indian laurel goes, I think people forget how pale the rosewood on old Epiphones could be. I still have a G400 from the Unsung factory and the fretboard on it is lighter than the laurel boards on the 1959 and Slash LPs I bought recently.
It's also been a while since Epiphone offered this later style of Flying V, their Vs are almost always based on or derived from the 1958 style.
Having said all that, it is a lot for a Made in China guitar, so as much as I want one I'll probably try to get a discount, or wait for used examples to show up.
If its made in china the price isn't justified. 😂
I’ve never been a fan of 58 style Vs or Explorers so to have more of the 67/79 style Vs is awesome. I’ve always wanted his black V however I’m a sucker for purple so this is right up my alley.
Just got one of the Epiphone power player LPs for my daughter to start learning on and was really impressed. You should do a video on some of the small scale beginner guitars so guys like me have an idea of what ones are decent. I put sone left over Gibson pickups in it and would like to upgrade the tuners and wiring at sone point but was pleasantly surprised at how well it played out of the boc
Nope. Its a lame shade of purple and the bridge pu sounds like crap. Fail.
"They didn't skimp anywhere" is all relative. You can buy a firefly V with a gorgeous flame maple veneer, blue green burst finish, stainless steel frets, and maybe even locking tuners for around $300. Sure, no Gibson pickups or kirk hammet signature, but arguably a better spec'd guitar that imo looms better for $1,000 less.
Firefly electronics can't even begin to compare to Gibson, c'mon.
@@jameshughes6049 I'd bet in a blind shootout you wouldn't hear a difference. Even so, troglys logic, you could buy the epi, sell the pickups for $200, sell the case for $100, and now you have paid $1,000 for the epiphone without the premium extras. Buy the firefly, buy $200 Gibson pickups, a $100 epiphone case, and now you have all of the premium features on the epiphone, plus stainless steel frets, plus locking tuners, plus (imo) a nicer finish for $600. So, $600 for an ultra premium firefly, or $1,000 for a stripped down epiphone. Shrug.
@@jameshughes6049 so you would pay 1000$ for a set of 200$ pickups?
so you replace those as well for a fraction of the cost. big deal.@@jameshughes6049
Whatever happened to Fender Friday? looks as if it turned into Epiphone Friday.
Man, I’m not upset that an Epiphone Kirk Hammett V costs $1300. I’m upset that an Epiphone Kirk Hammett V costs $1300 and comes with a laurel fretboard. Real mother of Pearl inlays but couldn’t be bothered to put rosewood on there? If they put laurel on the DG-335 we riot
I just complain about the ugly looking Indian Laurel fretboard, it's not that hard to change the spec
I'm probably going to get a hate for this comment; however, I feel like well established reviewers like yourself should not say things like "they could sell it for even more they ask" as this pretty much gives guitar companies green light to continue rising their prices without rising the quality of their products.
Seems like they're using "signatures" to normalize overall prices going up for imports for the time Gibson becomes a made in USA custom only company and everything else will be cheap poly imports sold at formerly (well close to) made in USA Gibson prices. Other companies do this. Not saying it's going to happen next year, but seems like everything points to this, even the Gibson headstock shape on the Chinese "Greeny". Yes, in the future everything not Custom Shop will be a "Chibson" 😑
Probably made in the same factories. 😂
Since dam COVID, everything has gone up in price...so I never expected to pay $1500 (AUD) for an Epiphone V, then I found the prophecy V....and it's worth the price.... compared to the lowest priced Gibson, with QC issues.
This guitar has RTL vibes with the color & is badass! As of right now, Sweetwater has them back ordered! I’m getting the purple one! 🎸
EMG's and a Gibby truss rod cover .. get your Kirk on.
That bridge looks like it could chew up your hand though.
Might need to put a band-aid on it. ;)
He never used emg’s on his Gibsons, Always the stock pickups from what I recall.
Nice guitar, i think its priced correctly with the case and all the gibson electronics and pickups
I got it. I like it. Poly feels like plastic but that’s to be expected. Sounds great and feels really good. Love the looks. I got a discount through guitar center.
Hey Trogly, Kirk played that Gibson Flying V in Purple Metallic finish during the Met40 event at Chase Center, 2nd night, on Seek and Destroy.
Badass intel, I attended that night \m/ cheers P.S. this axe is really tempting! >.
So ive always classed epiphone and a mexican fender as the par level of affordable instrument. Im 40 years old , so i remember mexicans and epiphones being around the £400 to £500 price point 20 to 25 years ago, but the guitars they were making werent specced like this... so taking inflation into account, the hard case, and the spec sheet , its a win from me !! Well done epi
I love this guitar and I'll likely end up with this at some point in the near future. I have a Brandon Small Epiphone Ghost House Explorer, and it's once of my favorite guitars to play. It's basically a Gibson with Epiphone stickers, just like this one.
So the $15k price tag is just for the woodwork for the most part? If I was after a Krk styled V I'd definitely be going for the Epi model.
The Alex Lifeson LP must be pretty good. I've heard he plays them and actually have gifted some to other guitarists. And they've raved about them. Having watched this review I'd say for the price specs and a case this is a fair deal.
Who has more signature guitars, Kirk or Joe B?
I'm going to go with "Les Paul".
Slash
JB is the better player
@@johnfoskey7855eh they’re both awful
Seen some other videos of the purple v where they have absolutely terrible fit and finish, glue on the fretboard, scratch plate cut badly and dirty frets, not great for £1300
Insane, unjustifiable price point. You can literally buy a used Gibson V for this money all day long. Heck I got one from the demo shop for $200 less.
I wish people would stop comparing used and new prices. This isn’t a limited edition model afaik and the used prices for these will very likely be lower.
Ya but does it make you Squirt, Dammit?!
@@KevinTheMetalheadI get buying one of these used if that's your price range. But if you were in the market for a brand new one of these at this price, why wouldn't you just buy a used Gibson?
Thanks for the info about IGC - I couldn't find that anywhere when I looked. And thanks for the peek at the components. I'll definitely be conditioning my fretboard when mine shows up too - that looks so good.
I played one at the shop when they were first released and I felt it played well and was priced reasonably. Gibson is slowly rebranding Epiphone to a mid-tier guitar. It’s got for the most part Gibson parts and a case, what more do people want? Wait til the Epiphone Grohl DG-335 comes out, will be priced at these levels….
This makes me wonder if they're planning a new lower tier line in the future.
@@robotjeans Perhaps Kramer will have more Gibson style guitars?
@@robotjeansdont think so. Gibson dropped tribute series of their guitars and priced these Epiphones in the same range. Somewhat similar to what Fender did with their standard series - Squier classic vibes are sitting somewhat in the similar price range where mexican standards used to be. Simple money making policy. If you are not ready to put your money into USA made guitars, you can always have an option to chose the entry models… or do you, really? :) Considering that eastern made guitars have way bigger market share (in quantity) it is real milking cow for the company.
Prince tribute purple?
Honestly my only issue with this guitar is that the pickups aren’t high output enough, here in Australia these things retail for over $2000 and if I’m spending that much on a guitar spending more money on aftermarket pickups is something I really don’t wanna have to do, honestly just wish Epiphone did a 70’s V on the same level and for the same price as their ‘58 V, then I could get one and mod it for less than the price of one of these
Lavender. Cheap perfume. Strictly for red light district gigs.
A year or year and a half or so Kirk was photographed playing this purple V but it read “Gibson”. I know a few RUclipsrs covered it; because they, like me, wished it would come out.
I just found my screen shots of it. It was from a shot around Feb. 13, 2022. He posted the picture on his Twitter for “FlyingVFriday” and credited it to Jeff Yeager.
Wouldn’t have a problem with these Epiphone prices if they had rosewood. Laurel looks and feels too cheap for an instrument at this price point and nobody is going to do an aftermarket upgrade on a fretboards. Give me rosewood with Epiphone pups and hardware and they might get back on my radar. But guessing they don’t need my money anyway.
I'm strongly considering the black flying v
Respectfully as a player rather than a collector, unless someone can identify any specific mods KH made, this is effectively an Epiphone copy of a standard Gibson V KH owns/owned.
I have a 2012 Gibson V in white I bought new for £800 at my local music shop. It has exactly the same layout, though a more pointy headstock. Mine has an ebony fretboard, though I’m not that sniffy about such.
I won’t be selling mine before hell freezes over. I get that maybe people like the signature and the colour, but I’d suggest my factory standard is as good, if not a better guitar than this and accounting for inflation, my £800 represents better value than this. Even with KH signature. Mine also has a Gibson hard case with ice white fur…
I saw the neck is a rounded c profile?. Is it the same as a les paul 50's c profile?
Increasing prices is fine, but I'm left wondering what happens with all of that extra money. Do the workers in China at least get a raise out of it or is it just profit profit profit?
Extra money? You ever heard of inflation? Like everything else, prices for raw materials has gone up
I don't like the feel of the laurel fretboard on my Epi LP. It's very porous and scratchy. This one looks extremely good though.
No thanks …
I mean if this was even $1100 I wouldn't be that upset, but charging the same price as one of the Korina V reissues (which have gold hardware and an unusual wood in addition to the USA components) is frankly absurd. Especially because all their $499 and up Epis use USA pots and switches anyway, so that isn't exactly a compelling argument for charging the same as a high end Mexican Fender that uses actual rosewood and custom pickups.
Hell I wouldn't even be that upset if they DID charge this high price point but started using rosewood or ebony on these Custom Shop style guitars. At least then the only real difference would be the name on the head stock.
(Just My Opinion, Don't Yell at Me) - If the price scares you, I'll just say that this is a good purchase because the alternatives if you want a classic GOOD flying V are also, pretty expensive. And your more than likely getting a used one, that could have problems and such. Guitar Center had this exact one on sale, and I swung by and picked it up. Just wait for it to go on sale and bite the bullet if you really want it, get a few $100 dollars off.
I think if this had another manufacturer on the headstock without the Gibson association but still a KH signature people would be raving about what a stunning value high spec signature it was and shouldn't Gibson learn from this company.
It is damned by association.
I think they should have revived the Orville by Gibson name for these higher end Epiphone models esp the Greeny. Then everyone would be saying they were a great revival.
My thoughts we are judging based on name, ownership and historical context.
in this particular case i am mainly judging based on fretboard material
@@KekmanForTheRestOfTheWorld
But if Cites had not rewritten annotation 15 in 2019 you'd have no rosewood on any musical instrument, and sooner or later they're likely to return annotation 15 to its original wording banning all rosewood I assume why many manufacturers having had to migrate to new species and suppliers have remained with them.
I've played laurel fretboards and frankly and see hardly any difference on feel to rosewood. The quality of the luthiery is fast more important to me than the wood used.
@@Furtheronmusic i am not a die hard rosewood/ebony guy either, i just find laurel particular ugly most of the times. i would honestly prefer a composite material like Eko uses on their guitars.
i think i would even be happy, if they just painted the laural black. it is not about the type of wood me but the look.
also it is about the price., laurel is a cheapo wood used for cheap guitar. in the price range given with this guitar they could have used ebony or rosewood. it is perfectly legal to use as of now, so why not use it? the only reason would be to safe money and get rid off the crappy laurel stash they have.
finally, you can get the same guitar with 'proper' or 'better' woods from probably 1000 companies for a third of the cost.
Nope, not worth the price. Guitars are overpriced right now. They will go down in price. I’ll wait
I got the epi 61 les paul sg , it came with burstbuckers and all gibson electronics, $1500 aussie . Fantastic guitar.
Honestly, considering you'd be paying $1099 for the 6-string Matt Heafy Origins (which I think is fairly priced), I don't think the price on the V is that crazy. Do I feel like the greeny is pushing the limits? Yeah. But I don't think the V is too bad. Also, as someone who isn't a huge V fan...I actually really kind of dig this V in the purple.
the specs on heafy's model are far superior... locking tuners, fishman pickups, split coil on both and 2 voicings, hard case, easy access to the neck... like, is easily the best specs/price ratio guitar between 800-1300 by far.
@@CarlosSaulRodriguezA Can't say I disagree with you on any of those points. It's why I want to get my hands on one of them as soon as I can 😅
Well built guitar but over priced in my opinion just like most of the guitars nowadays with an artist signature on it. He has used it live a few times but I think only to promote the sale of it. Hope you get the Adam Jones Gibson v, some strange features on that one. Also I see Dave Mustaine promoting his new Explorer.
I just bought a custom Gibson the binding looks more like a studio Gibson.
Did they make such animal.
Mines is a 2018.
Gonna put EMGs in mine and sell those pups lol. But honestly, I’m probably gonna put an H4 and H3 because changing a battery for a V with the 67 pickgaurd with active pickups is a bitch unless you got the battery thing in the back lol
Hey trogley, I was at both Detroit shows for Metallica this run, he had a purple V that was signed by someone, but in the concert photos on there website, you can see it’s got an epiphone truss rod cover, now could that just be that’s what they put on a USA custom just for brand sales as part of the whole exchange with the multiple KH guitars that have come out? Maybe. Who’s to say.
The purple is gorgeous
I love the specs on these new Epiphone Vs but man I wish they came in white
Now that's how a V case should be made. I recently bought his LTD V and the case is enormous
Indian Laurel for over $1,000? That's nuts.
Why Laurel costs the same or more as Rosewood now and looks better
All the neck positions sound perfect when playing the clean MetallicA riffs.
Not selling I wonder why lol
Seems a great guitar, aside from the laurel fretboard it can keep up with my Gibson Flying V that was 1200 euro in 92...
The knobs on mine were all out of wack, so sent it back.
Anyone know the song at 12:55
With the custom shop version and now Epiphone version it does beg the question will there be a Gibson USA version? The Greeny Les Paul got a couple of CS editions, a Gibson USA, and Epiphone. So why not?
They made a USA version in 1979.
"handcrafted in China"🤣🤣🤣
I had always wanted a flying V and I ended up getting one of these and I honestly absolutely love it. Gota day it feels kinda crazy to have a guitar that's has a Trogly episode.
Those pickups sound awesome
If you’re not worried about the name on the headstock, may I point out you can buy a brand new, Japanese built and arguably better quality than Gibson, Tokai for £1500, complete with rosewood board.
Dots... always dots... plus it's ugly that's way people do no like it with that price. Its an $ 800 gee-tar.
I paid 1K for an epiphone Johnny A custom a few years ago, and that guitar has increase in value since then and I dont regret the purchase, but I do have a problem with the current pricing, that guitar tough has good hardware put on it, still not enough to make me shell out that amount of money, I'd rather buy a Gibson within that price range and I'd be so much better off. The only reason I bought the Johnny a custom is because there's literally no other model like that within the current epiphone or Gibson line up that is being offered, you can only get it at the custom shop, hell, not even epiphone ever acknowledges they did that, it is not even on their site anymore lulz, and it was a damn good product no longer on the market brand new
Hotter pickups in the bridge would have been nice.
Lovely guitars thoughts worth the money to high spec
for that price they could have definitely used a better output jack instead of that cheap garbage one, if they're going to use cts pots might as well use a switchcraft jack as well instead of cheaping out
Vex gears has a kit if you want a v but don’t want to give your arm or leg
I just bought the purple one , and I love it , it’s very true to a 70’s V , thanks Epiphone 🎸😊
I want one
I would want it to be a darker shade of purple.
For that price itnshould come with a wah
The Brent Hinds Custom V was also expensive
It's 1524 Euros over here (1660 Dollars) and by the way, there is an Epi Richie Faulkner V on Reverb for 2500 Euros.
heafy's origins is cheaper and better than both
Epi Richie Faulkner V was 900 euro on release day and this guitar ways better in all aspects than Hammett V
Nope, for less you can buy way better guitars.
You could pick up a Gibson V for that kind of money
Oh yeah, that reminds me of all the times i ever Kirk playing a purple V...
A hardshell case for a V isn't cheap.
About 200 bucks. I had to buy a few. Ugh.
"Handcrafted" yeah, if you believe that, you also believe you can hear bass on and justice for all.
15,000 dollars,..Custom Shop,... ABSOLUTELY LUDACRIS....!!!!!!
I wish that guitar just in my dreams}
Not usually a fretboard snob, but that one looks horrible. They could have used Richlite.
Can anyone tell me what that song is he started off with? I've been trying to find it for days. It's stuck in my head and I know I've heard it before.
The first riff he plays is Welcome Home (Sanitarium).
@Gordanovich02 Thank you so much! I kept thinking it was a more obscure Metallica riff and searched for days lol
Edit: I was right, it was Metallica, I just somehow never came across it as I was going song by song before getting frustrated. Thank you again!
It does sound good
He played a purple sparkle V Gibson at the 40th anniversary shows