The problem with Epiphone no one tells you
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- Опубликовано: 7 фев 2025
- Utkarsh Mohan on Music #13: Epiphone guitars have been on a roll lately. But there is a big problem that has plagued the brand for years, which is never talked about openly in the guitaring press. This is something Epiphone needs to fix if we want to remain competitive with the likes of PRS SE
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Great video. Its not just the fretwork, its the material they use for the frets. And yet ESP and Schecter are able to put stainless steel frets on their similairly priced models.
That's a very good point . Now that you mention it, the fret material does also feel cheaper
The idea that an Epiphone purchaser will wear the frets out with normal use is fundamentally bat crap cra cra. This is a case of elitists creating a problem for budget guitars that does not exist.
@@benburnett8109 You'd be surprised how much dedicated guitar players spend so much time woodshedding and wearing down frets. Some of them just have the one guitar that gets worn down.
@@gsauce132able In the movies yes. In real life, no. I"ve been in guitar repair for almost 35 years. Never had to do a fret job due to "worn" frets. AND none of this changes the fact that this YT poster is just here for clicks and drama. It is likely he can't even play a 1-4-5 progression.
@@benburnett8109 What "movies" have anyone wearing frets down? Are you on crack?
The situation is easy to understand. Epiphone cuts corners in order to meet a price point. Once you understand that, and learn exactly where and how they cut those corners, some well chosen upgrades can make a massive improvement in the sound and playability of the guitar. Focus on these areas: Frets (yes they are atrocious), bridge, electronics, pickup selector switch, nut, tuners, pickups. And there may be little tweaks you notice on the way that you might want to address as well. Now for the frets, Stewmac sells something called "fret erasers" that come in different sandpaper grits. Using those to smooth the frets and a metal polish to finish the job will make a huge difference. I own 2 Epis, a 2019 ES-339 with P90s (bought new) and a 2005 SG (G400 model, bought used) that I have done these upgrades and replacements on, and they are both excellent guitars now. Are they as good as Gibsons? No, but for total investments in the neighborhood of $600 or $700 they are really nice guitars.
Like myself, most people are buying these guitars and upgrading them and still have a guitar that's way, way under what a gibson costs. Once you have learned to do fret work, these things can be awesome.
I've done that several times. It's an effective method to get a very close Gibson at half the cost, give or take.
Fully agree on the fret side. Takes me about 4 hours to remove all the sticky stuff from the fretboard and straighten and polish the frets. Depends on the material of the frets and wether any sticky stuff is ON the frets. Sometimes, it takes 3 or even 4 runs of full polish for them to stay shiny. What you can’t fix is the sticky paintjob.
As for the upgrading of the electrics: it’s only worth it if you keep that guitar forever. If you have to sell it at any point in time, KEEP THE ORIGINAL PARTS! For whatever reason, original is worth more than better. Don’t ask, people iz crazy
What’s the problem with the fretwork on epiphones? They don’t usually buzz. Maybe the ends are a little sharp. For me the epiphone finish is what I can’t get over. I absolutely hate an opaque 1/8” thick poly finish on guitars. Even the Gibson standards are way too thick, even though they’re nitro.
for the $$ they want these days theres ZERO excuse for the frets and setup to not be spot on- heck the 179 dollar baretta specials from indonesia come set up and fretwork very well done
@@Delboydunno for $500+ there shouldnr be sharp fre ends
Why buy a reasonably priced guitar with problems when you can save up and buy an expensive guitar with problems? 😂
RUclipsrs have am amazing quality of talking for many minutes and yet never moving any closer towards the point of the video
Thats called a " pat myself on the back " video.
Reasonable, knowledgeable and polite. Great video!
Thank you. Appreciate it
It would be helpful if people mention where they bought their epiphone, what region, what manufacturing year, date of purchase, etc. Just to see if there’s been any patterns on where and when the problem epiphones are popping up.
I have a Korean Epi Les Paul and a Hamer Echotone Korean model 90s I guess. In both guitars, frets have come loose. I do live in the desert of Las Vegas though I do keep my house humidified in the winter.
You can take the boy out of corporate but you can't take the corporate out of the boy! The Jacket!
Yep, and when he mentioned he is in marketing and that almost justified the poor build quality, I knew where he was going. If you're willing to pay the _artist tax_ because of a philosophical belief in marketing then you deserve what you get. That's usually the first hurdle that players need to get over in order to get a good value for their money.
Disclaimer: I come from software development background so marketing generally ruins _most_ things for me.
His mistake is going with a white tee.
forgive him, he's just Indian😎
@@yargnad Unfortunately, our entire world is run by marketing now. It's basically the world you see in Wall-E. That was the only thing Gibson improved.
The guy talks for nearly 4 minutes of a 10-minute video before he even mentions the problem. Frets, if you do it yourself will cost about 25 dollars.
Thank you - content creators take the piss
Ten minutes for paraphrasing the fact, that Epiphones have "bad fretwork" and "bad switches", but I didn't understand what exactly is the problem with the frets (I have - among other guitars - an Epiphone LP for more than 20 years).
High frets, sharp edges. The finish work was not done properly.
Uneven and dead frets. He’s absolutely right. Most are hard work until a decent luthier gets hold of them. Then they’re great.
@@m00plank90 You're saying that you're incapable of doing a little work?
@GenericUser833 the reason chinese guitars are shitty is because the money goes to the chinese communist party (ccp). Fuck a commie.
The quality can be amazing or shitty just like American guitars. Just watched a video about a chinese guitar that costs $2199. It looked kinda cheesy (dyed blue fretboard, bolt-on neck) but glen said the fit and finish was phenominal. Not for me though.
Even my Gibson's need setting up and fret work. Switches don't go bad on Gibsons? What? This is a dumb video.@GenericUser833
The root of the problem is...Epiphone is owned by Gibson.
💯
Exactly. Epi's are great, I have a few but they are Gibson authorized Chibsons.
This is why Gibson is raising Epi prices to make up for low Gibson sales. Epi's used to be more affordable but no more.
It's a push pull proposition.
That's not a problem. That is a good thing. Gibson ensures Epiphone's quality stays high for the buyers on budgets. Over the last 2 decades, Epiphone's quality has mirrored Gibson's strict design and manufacturing standards. Quality differences now are merely where they are manufactured along with some cosmetic manufacturing processes, weight, and lower cost electronics. The lower cost electronics now rival high cost competitors. I have a 300 dollar LP Studio that matches a Gibson 10 times higher in price in both visual quality and sound.
@@Gr8FriknApe We're talking about cost here. Epiphones have been made by numerous different Asian manufacturers over the years with varying results. I have a 2004 Epi LP Standard which I bought in 2006 because it was Korean made (in the Saein factory) and Epiphone had switched to being China made and in my opinion, far lower in quality (that has changed significantly). I wasn't really in the market for an LP at the time but felt if I was to get one I'd prefer the Korean made quality so bought it when it was available. I assume your LP Studio is an Epiphone. When the Gibson LP Studio premiered it was $600. What do they cost now??
I have two Epis, a 1990 Sheraton II and a budget Les Paul with a set neck, dot inlays and no binding -- some kind of Studio. Both were almost flawless. I did have to very gently file one note on one fret on the Sheraton. Otherwise, the fretwork and electronics are fine. Does Epiphone send their seconds to Singapore and reserve the better ones for the U.S. market? 😅
same here, acoustic and semi-hollow, both excellent in sound and finish
IMO it depends on when it was made. 90’s epiphones seem to hold up well. There’s a run from 2000-2015/17 where they only produced garbage. The quality has improved in recent years. I have not played a “bad” epiphone that was manufactured between 2018 and 2021.
You might laugh at the notion that Epiphone reserves the best stock for US, but I think that there is actually some truth in that for multiple brands. Can’t speak specifically to Epiphone but I have seen this happen with some brands, that save some of their best stock for either home markets or another market where they can charge a bit more of a premium.
Korean and Japanese made Epiphones are very good.
I had a 1985 Epiphone Sheraton, I miss it so much.
I have a collection of several Epiphone LP’s and SG’s custom and sig models. They are fine for what they bring. Fret ends and scratchy frets don’t phase me. My man hands natural wear and smooth these things in😂 anyway 💪. Switches and pots also don’t bother me, I’ll use the ones it comes with and fix or repair it as necessary. Tuners and other hardware are usually pretty decent.
I feel like with a lot of guitar brands recently it's been a roll of the dice as to whether the fret work will be decent. This is why when I find a guitar now that doesn't have fret buzz from uneven frets or sharp edged frets I make sure to keep hold of it because I'll know it's a keeper regardless of how much it cost.
I wouldn't want anything made by Gibson. I'd sand off the name on the headstock and paint "Fool" or " Sucker" on it. That's what I'd feel like playing their overpriced junk guitars.
Ok, luthier here. I can field this and yes, you are over target.
Both Epiphone and Squier use cheaper quality fretwire. Very soft and can never be fully smoothed.
They do this so you wear through it fast and when it comes time to refret it, you realize it’s going to cost almost the price of the guitar.
I think they hope you’ll just upgrade to the Gibson model because you’ve already gotten used to the shape.
I’ve refretted both brands and if you upgrade the fretwire to something better, you’ll be hard pressed to feel a difference. Love your channel and your insights.
Thank you for the kind words. Yes, I suspect something very similar but glad to get a professional opinion
I was very impressed with ESP especially when compared to epiphone. You’re definitely right about your experience and findings.
Schecter, too. Their Solo II IS is an outstanding take on the Les Paul. Comes equipped with excellent locking tuners, too. Ebony fretboard. Beautiful guitars. They feel just great in my hands, like a much more expensive guitar.
ESP is kinda owning Schecter so no wonder of their quality
Also, stainless steel frets…
@@spidgeb3292 I didn’t even know that they had that, I’ll need to take a look. I’m a big fan of ebony and the les Paul body style
I wont even compare Ltd with Epiphone. From my experience, esp is way above Gibson when it comes to many things. I would trade any day a lp standard over an e2 Eclipse.
I just bought a new Gold Top. So many frets were out I had to stone down the whole fret board. Now it is has a fantastic action and is a joy to play.
I recently purchased an Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Firebird with a free Plek job from Sweetwater. It is awesome.
This x100. Get the PLEK done from Sweetwater. Made a world of difference on my Epi.
Every new guitar needs a set up. This video is a joke.
Sweetwater sets em up alright!
I got one of the Les Paul moderns from Sweetwater a couple of years ago and I still love it.
And "I" saved $200 on my car insurance!!!
You live in Japan and are not playing an Orvile old Ibanez Burny Tokai etc? I live in the USA and these guitars are superb
I tried a Burny LP and it was awsesome with low action and no buzz. Felt much better than the Gibson LP custom I had in the 90's .
Also Edwards.
If this video had come out in the early 2000s I'd totally agree, but recent Inpsired By Epiphones with the Gibson burstbuckers are absolutely outstanding guitars. I think the only "problem" is that they're so good now that they've totally squeezed the law of diminishing returns for Gibsons. As with all things, there will always people that will want and are happy to pay for the name, but in terms of tone, and playability Epi's have hit an all new level oer the poast 18 months. recently. I would honestly check out the inspired range without prejudice, and I think you'll be seriously impressed.
Thanks for getting to the point finally at 4:00.
i dont know if i've just been lucky but i havent had these issues you mentioned with any of the epiphones ive had or played. I should add i have 50+ guitars in my collection and 6 or 7 are epiphones. Of the newest i have 3 of the matt heafy models. My oldest epiphone is from the mid 90s, its still all stock and frets are still all working great. That was my main gigging guitar for 10 years. But for years ive heard these complaints so there must be something to it, ive just managed to dodge the bad ones somehow.
99% of the people out there do not experience the problems that these elitists complain about. This is simply click bait material designed for views and clicks. so this guy bought a 600.00 epiphone and wants it to have fretwork from a 3k guitar built in the Heavens. Click-bait. Drama. Trust me when I tell you this............there is nothing to this. THis is a hit piece of clickbait material designed to sell "higher quality" guitars.
I agree. I borrow guitars from my friend. She has Epiphone electric and acoustics that range from $699-$899 (she paid less with dealer discounts/promos). So far, there’s been no issues. They are immaculate in every way, and punch well above their class in terms of quality, playability, and tone. I would love stainless frets, but the nickel ones really aren’t having any issues so far (and she and I both tend to dig in deep and are not gentle in the slightest, lol). I don’t know why people dog Epiphone guitars themselves - the only legit complaint these days is the pricing that’s skyrocketing especially on artist models. That’s unacceptable for guitars that aren’t much different (if at all) than the ones that are $599-$999 depending on the model when Epiphone became a budget brand since Gibson took over the company decades ago. Artists can still get paid royalties sub $1000 and Gibson will still earn a healthy profit, as will dealers. There are still artist models under $1000, so there’s no excuse. Honestly, the best electric guitar value is the Epiphone Modern line - the LP Modern Figured is an insanely high quality guitar with all kinds of tone options and amazing playability for $699 street price. I’ve also heard great things about the Emily Wolfe Sheraton. The Slash J-45 is killer for an acoustic.
Same, I think people get off on bashing a brand and comparing one guitar to a top end and expectations should be the same!, I've had several Les Paul that needed work as well I had an ESP that had wiring problems! Yeah truly tired of these " non judgemental" comparison that turn into a passive aggressive tone
The thing is, you can pick any Epiphone / Gibson and compare that with whatever you get from another brand for the same price and you'll typically get either, if not all: better finishes, better paint jobs, better frets, better bridges, better tuners, better electronics. You name it.
@@chipcaronte thats not true. i currently have a prs which is fairly expensive and 3 epiphones in the same price range and the prs is the one with issues. i collect guitars and im a luthier and lemme tell ya, no brand is safe from issues. especially if you come at the guitar with a bias, youll find a problem.
I’ve had my Epiphone 2020 classic since 2021 and it’s been a great guitar. Have had 0 issues with the frets wearing fast nor any of the electronics failing. I’ve done nothing to upgrade it in the 4 years. The only issue is the cheaper nickel hardware tarnishes quickly but that’s common on many other guitars. I play this guitar pretty hard and it’s held up well.
I've owned two LP-style Epiphones, both made since 2020. One is the '59 Les Paul collaboration with the Gibson Custom Shop, the other is the TV Yellow LP Special. Neither of them have fretwork issues - they both compare favorably to my Gibson Les Paul. The pickups and electronics are Gibson on the '59. I had planned to replace the electronics on the TV Yellow Epi' but I didn't find it necessary. I did put locking tuners on both, and Faber hardware on the '59. Neither "feels like a cheap guitar" or falls short of my expectations in any way. I've been playing for 49 years. I respectfully disagree with the thesis of this video - I think he's wrong.
Cant beat Japanese guitars. I love my ESP's and Caparison's.
I bought an Epiphone Custom Pro Koa top Les Paul a little less than 2 years ago in 2022. Right out of the box , the guitar played well and also sounds very good. The action seemed a bit stiff to me at first, prompting me to contemplate having it in the shop for a set up. After playing it for a bit , I decided not to because to me , it feels fine. The only thing I might have done is to change the volume control pots because they are not as graduated as the ones on a Gibson. I could change all of the guts and still not spend as much as I would on a Gibson. I showed it to the luthier who does my work and he was impressed with the quality in relation to the price point. Gibson USA has made their guitars virtually unreachable with price tags over $3000. If I paid that much for a guitar, of course I would be convincing myself that I've got the best guitar on the market. Since I already own a Gibson ES 135 that I paid $1000 for brand new in 1994, I couldn't justify spending over $3000 when I was looking for a Les Paul. I bought my Epi and am quite glad that I did.
@@PhilipRichard1013 I understand, hit or miss with the switches and controls. Right now mine is ok . If something fails I'll replace it with original Gibson parts or high quality aftermarket parts.
This is very quickly becoming one of my favourite guitar channels. You talk about important issues and it's clear that you're passionate about the subject matter but also give a very balanced overview of the topic. You're also a realist, and understand the reality of the guitar business - it's exhausting sometimes to hear people who either completely discount the need for budget instruments or the opposite, those who sneer at the idea that a brand or marketing can add any value to a product whatsoever. I was ready to chime in and say that it's not entirely fair to compare a Made in Japan ESP on discount to a full price Epiphone but you said everything yourself. (In saying that, it IS insane that those two instruments were even in the same ballpark and this is where I definitely lean towards the opinion that no brand name is going to add THAT much value, especially when ESP isn't exactly a no-name in the industry)
But yeah, you're 100% correct. Epiphone is 100% a pipeline to Gibson - if someone absolutely falls in love with their Epiphone then the logical step when it comes time for an upgrade is obvious. And it seems entirely logical that it's worth cutting a few percent off of the immediate profit in order for those instruments to feel great and be something that a beginner, working musician starting out or in a developing country can rely on. Otherwise they are looking at a future where less and less guitarists are growing up with Epiphone/Gibson as a brand they care about and not something they value and in 20 years the 'blues lawyers' of tomorrow aren't buying $50,000 Greenie reissues because they just don't care.
Anyway, great video. I'm excited when I see new uploads from you now.
Thank you. I really appreciate you watching and the kind words. This encourages me to put in the time to make these videos
Brother, I could have fixed the fretwork on two Epiphones in the amount of time it took you to come out and say that the problem is the fretwork 😂
But you're right. I just got an Inspired By Gibson 335 and everything is perfect except the frets are rough as sandpaper
any guitar ya get needs your own refining to adjust it for your needs that's part of the charm and fun!
Yes, this is a dumb post with no point.
I own three epiphone guitars, my best friend has one and ive dealt with several others and honestly I havent had these issues other than with the melody maker that was left in someones closet for five years, my 23 year old sg has PERFECT fret work (electronics were meh but I didnt blame epiphone for that I blamed the previous owners) my les paul that i bought brand new two years ago plays beautifully for the price I got it and every other epi ive gotten my hands on has been pretty decent I would say. If youre buying dirt cheap epiphone branded instruments youre not going to get a perfect instrument, theres very few guitar brands that do everything like that you have to think how they make instruments cheaper and how they can get away with stuff like that theres a lot of cost cutting that goes along the way.
My local music shops have told me PRS (including SE) have been top notch when delivered followed by foreign guitars like Yamaha, ESP, Ibanez, then Jackson Schecter and they said Epiphone has improved but Fender and Squire show up lose strings and not setup and one of the store’s I mentioned are big Fender strat/tele fans and are upset with the issues with Fender. One customer ordered straight from Fender shop and the guitar showed up not setup and needed neck adjustment, frets addressed. I don’t know how long term Epiphone electronics hold up now.
I go poop in the morning. You should go poop as well.
Fender has been turning out some sub par work over the last 2 to 3 even 4 yrs.. It goes like that.. up and down.. (some are getting a little better lately..).. Really, it always comes down to the individual instrument.. Does it play well..? Does it "speak to you" or not..
My Epi is a 1960 Les Paul Tribute Plus in Black Cherry a limited edition, I believe produced from 2014 - 2017? Anyway it has Gibson Classic /57 pickups, Grover Locking Tuners, Switchcraft jack plate, etc .I've had it since 2015 it's fantastic!
Spot on.. Bought a new BJA LP JR last year.. the wiring was awful and not even done correctly.. and the frets were atrocious.. needed a full level and recrown. I got it working great and it rips but it was hours and hours on the frets.
I'm not sure what you mean by fretwork not being good on Epiphone guitars. Can you elaborate?
Just to put it into context, I am a repair tech, so I see about 2,000 guitars every year, on my workbench.
I actually see many issues with Gibson fretwork. Gibson has issues with fretwork prior to the introduction of PLEK and now with PLEK-ing they have other issues.
The polishing of the frets is actually rougher on Gibson guitars, compared to Epiphone. But the frets are not always leveled on Epiphone guitars. Is that what you are referring to?
My bigger issue with Epiphone is the nut, i.e. the string slot height.
All that said, you are 100% correct about the switch. The cheap "import" switch in the Epiphone guitars can't compare to the solidly-built Switchcraft brand in a Gibson. They are like night and day, for sure.
Cheers...
Thanks for the question. I find that the higher frets on the epiphone feel like they aren't finished properly making it difficult to bend the strings without a scratchy feeling. Gibson's fretwork ain't perfect either but in a different league
i have a 2004 epi SG that i bought new. the fret edges are honestly the smoothest factory fret edges i have ever felt on a guitar. however the frets are not level and very low from the factory so that i need to refret that thing rather then just level the frets :/
For the cost of a refret you could almost buy a used current version of the SG, which are very nice!
@@pharmerdavid1432 certainly! i will resolve to refretting it myself. hopefully i can get the fret ends as nice as they were from factory.
that guitar is somewhat of a wall hanger since i got a gibson. i just sometimes pick it up for nostalgic reasons. we will see if it gets played more frequently with new frets
The switch on my PRS SE Baritone just failed last week. Not a pass to epiphone as ive had the same issues but im just putting it out there.
it can happen for sure. also I don't like SE nut material
In trogly's unboxing of the 58 Flying V he discovered that the frets were magnetic. MAGNETIC??? How!? What are they using? Steel?
I actually love the sound of stainless steel frets, a lot of import guitars have been using them I think.
There is such a thing as magnetic stainless.
Most frets are magnetic, give it a try.
@@gr6060 yeah, very cheap low grade stainless steel.
All of the post 2020 inspired by Gibson guitars are fantastic. Tour ready workhorse guitars. As long as it has the new headstock it’s going to be good. In my experience anyway.
as someone who has been playing on and off for about 25 years I think fretwork has gotten worse in general. I never had frets chew my hands up when I was younger, now I see it all the time, what the hell happened? I got a jackson two years ago that was so fucked up i got it replaced.
The cost of labor is going up, plus the labor force is getting lazier and sloppier over time because of the frustrations of the cost of living going up faster than wages.
@@RumpleStiltzkin-bu5he It's more a numbers game. There are far more guitars being produced today than ever before. That means the defect rates, even if they remained steady from 20 years ago, will result in many more duds entering the market. QC is not great on budget brands either. Couple that with the fact that many guitars are sold direct to customers, after sitting in a warehouse for months, and a local shop is NOT inspecting them and correcting for potential issues means that a good majority of those guitars make it into the hands of players without ever having been seen by a professional first.
@yargnad the professionals are supposed to be the manufacturer...
Still not an excuse. I dont care why its happening, it needs to just not happen at no extra cost.
I dont buy 9 eggs for the price of 12 because whatever egg farm issues...
yeah i got a harley benton i paid like 120 bucks for and the frets were pristine like what the hell@@RumpleStiltzkin-bu5he
@@RumpleStiltzkin-bu5he Eggs have the USDA looking out for them. Plus, eggs are eggs. They don't have a plethora of options that determine their pricing and they're sold in bulk.
There is no equivalent guitar regulatory body that ensures all guitars are held to a particular standard, no matter what the price or who's the manufacturer. I get your point, but there's a huge difference.
I have 3 high end 2021 Epiphones and no issues
I have tried maybe a dozen Epiphones in various music stores over several years. They always feel wrong on the fret board, so I have never bought one. I used to think the contour on the back of the neck was the problem.
Yep, that's the square neck shape that some of the neck shapers churn out😂 it sucks so bad that any Epiphone with that neck shape sounded great but I just couldn't stand the neck so I never got one with a square neck shape. 😊 All of my Epiphone have the classics modern Gibson neck shape that is super comfortable and super consistent with all the guitar with this neck shape !
I've just sold my Les Paul copy and I was the same, I just couldn't get on with the neck, it just felt wrong. The guitar was well made and looked great but there was just something wrong with the neck.
@@peter7624i had an epiphone eb-0 bass that I just couldn't warm up to, because of the neck, something just felt off...saved up and replaced it with a gibson sg bass, problem solved
Yes, some cheap models they say medium jumbo fret but it is medium fret. It's hard to play with medium fret at higher fretboard. For me, medium fret is for beginner to learn open chords and simple riff.
the real problem is that it says, "Epiphone" on the headstock
I agree with quality of electronics... noisy pots and on my SG one pickup is out but I put a Fishman midi on it and don't want to open it up.
Gibson Epiphone copies: incorrect body dimensions and thickness, faulty electronics, unpolished frets, lower quality woods etc. I've got a 2021 Lucille model and it's decent, I paid over a grand for it. It's my second Epiphone that I've owned but I'll never buy another Epiphone again, respectfully speaking.
you're 100% right about the 15th fret up. My main touring axe for several years is a epi les paul custom I bought in 2008. It always sucked after 15th fret.
What if I told you the top carve , binding scrape and small pin into body bridge were much more authentic to Gibson on a 2003 Epiphone Elite Lee Paul I just purchased for $1200 used?
It's widely known Epiphone elite/elitist Japanese made guitars are superior to Gibson production models, more authentic to original design (except finish).
I agree that the prices of these high-end Epiphones are totally delusional. $1700 for an Epiphone is beyond a joke. There's an endless list of guitars that are better quality in that price range.
I have an Epiphone Korina Explorer. It is I bought it in 1998(I think). I have different pots, caps, pickups. Lots of custom work. I have two questions. 1 the neck is fabulous but I believe it is a 2 piece neck but not sure. Would anyone know?
2. Is the neck worth refretting?
opinions welcome. This guitar has a unique sound and its playability is fabulous.
My 2020 Les Paul Standard has CTS pots in it, also my 2023 Epi TV Yellow Les Paul Special has CTS pots in it too.
Fretwork was ok, no fret sprout or anything, but I don't mind working on my guitars.
I love my Casino too, but you're right! The frets are not consistent especially closer to the body and my guitar suffered a problem with the bridge pickup connector too.
Ive only ever owned two Epi's... A Les Paul that just didn't make n impression on me (sold it after 6 months), and a Sheraton Pro II. I love the Sheraton, in every way, from tone to action. After having the Sheraton for about year, I spent almost two hours in a music store, playing both a Gibson 335 and a Sheraton (the 335 being one of my dream guitars), and I spent probably two-thirds of the time on the Sheraton. I just didn't connect with the 335.
This was a few years ago, so I'm open to trying again.
I can agree that you can't play an Epiphone out of the box. It generally requires a proper setup and fretwork (levelling/dressing) to unlock its potential.
well thanks
Hello, from the StateS. I'm new to your RUclips Channel 🎸🎶 Thanks for Sharing 🎸🎶🎶
Very enjoyable video and fair points. I bought an epiphone SG 61 recently and it has CTS pots etc. The switches appear solid, pro buckers are a bit weak compared to the Tim Shaw's on my 81 custom, but the fret work is not great up high. Have you ever looked at the Trev Wilkinson 'Vintage' brand? They are very usable and very reliable well.made work horses for $400 mark.
I have an Epiphone DC 90 Pro that a friend was selling with a hardshell case. I got it for $400
and I like it a lot. It plays very smooth, but there may be a glitch in the pickup switch. I tend to
just use the bridge pickup but sometimes I would prefer to have them both on, so the center position of the switch. It could be there's a problem with the neck humbucker but
I don't know.
I think Epiphone are inconsistent but if you got a good one. Great
Take it to a good guitar tech or to a luthier, if you don’t know how to fix it. Trust me, it’s money well spent.
Ive an epip lp ive had no issues with the frets and no issues with the electrics. Maybe its the area your buying in.
Very good points! Will they listen? We can hope.
I bought an Epi Dot years ago, and it was a beautiful looking guitar, but MAN was it terrible to play. It had terrible fretwork, crappy electrical work, dull-ass pickups, a rattly bridge (super loose saddles), etc.
I wish I had kept it and upgraded the parts, because it probably would've turned out to be a pretty great guitar, but I just couldn't be bothered at the time.
yeah i had that exact experience with the Casino
Agreed with the band fret work and electronics. Also I have found the Epiphone stock pickups to not good. Can't put my finger on exactly what it is, but they just sound bad. Lacking a clarity you find in similarly price guitars.
I own 2 pro les Paul's, one a standard the other a custom. Both were built in Korea over 20 years ago and they both play and sound great! Have only had to replace the tone pots and the capacitor in the standard. Not bad for the amount of play they have seen over the years! Great guitars.🎸
Korean-made Epiphones are fantastic. I have a 2012 Black Beauty that got a recent upgrade. Looks, plays and sounds great. The only problem is, at 10+ lbs, it feels a lot heavier now that I’m almost 63. 😎
I've had this problem with a couple of Epiphones before but I learned to level frets and work on guitar electronics so doesn't bother me that much. The last 2 Epis ive bought are a 2020 and a 2023 and they have no issues.
I have a 2019 Epi Standard Pro Plus Top with Probuckers, I love it. Made in China.. The toggle switch was having static so I took it out and adjusted the tension of the contact. If your LP is 20 years old was it made in Indonesia? Korea? Great video dude.
Honestly I'm really happy to hear this! I've loved Gibsons and own two really nice American made Gibsons, a J-200 and an S-1. I've always wanted to get a Les Paul and an SG but never really liked the Epiphone versions of these guitars.
I was recently looking to buy a semi hollow body guitar and everyone told me I should buy an Epiphone ES335. I went to Guitar Center and tried one out, side by side with a Gretsch G5622t and to me there was no comparison. I loved the Gretsch and didn't like playing the ES335 at all. It just seemed like a bad version of a Gibson. I'm anxiously awaiting the delivery of the Sapphire Blue Gretsch I pre-ordered.
I was at a vintage guitar show a couple of months ago and played an old Epiphone ES335 with a patched together broken neck and really liked it. I'd much rather have that one than the new one I played at Guitar Center.
The difference came completely into view when my cousin gave me an Affinity Squier Strat a couple of years ago. That guitar is a really nice instrument that quickly became my favorite, goto solid body. It was really good from the factory and made me want to put a bunch of money into upgrading it to perfection.
I got a Plek setup on it. I put in a Freeway switch 10 position pickup selector blade switch. I added a treble bleed pot to replace one of the tone pots. I gave it locking tuners too. I wouldn't have done that though, if I hadn't loved playing it first.
A lot of people that talk big about Epihpine being better than Gibson have simply never played them side by side. The Epiphones do feel like a cheap version of a Gibson. Just the overall feel is much more plastic and cheap feeling. I still like Epiphone but is ridiculous these days how people boast that they’re better then a Gibson
@@allstopblue5717 Gibsons are better IF you get a good one, Epiphone seems to have better quality control lately? Some say Gibson is improving.
I only have one epi: a Dot Deluxe. I have not experienced the issues you describe with it. Thanks for your video.
Amen! Been wanting an Explorer Prophecy but not with fret issues for almost 1000$I have heard worse problems with truss rods lately. There are quite a few Epiphones I would be very interested in, but the QC issues are things I doin't want to deal with. For the money I would be very upset if I bought a new Guitar and fret or anyt other issues affecting Playability or sound.
Great video 100% agree. I bought a new Emily Wolf which is great and the switch never worked correctly.
Thanks
Long story short, it was the fret work and electronics you were not impressed with. I get that. For what it's worth, I like the probuckers. I drop them in FireFly guitars since they are like 200 bucks new and have ball fret ends. Sick finishes too.
The only problem I've had that is common to every Epiphone I've ever played is, the pots are completely non-linear. They're either on or off.
the 59 fixed that, granted when it came out it was the most expensive Les Paul from Epi.
I am impressed. Yes, The electronics need to be replaced, and the tuners, and the frets need work, but for USD$50, I got my moneys worth. Please do a review of the PRS and the G-1275. ( you did the G-1275, and I am watching it now. )
Did you ever try a Epiphone Prophecy?
I bought an
SG G-400 in 2007. The fretwork was really good. Ten years after the plug jack failed, so I did some soldering. Not a bad a deal at all, still rocks
Yeah there is no doubt the problems can be solved by someone handy
I had a SG that in my opinion made that thing scream, later played a Gibson SG, and thought for the price Epiphone nailed it. No regrets.
I have an SG that is great. The only problem I had with it was the 3 way switch was scratchy when I didn't play it for a while. I sprayed it and it was fine. just lucky I guess.
You're not wrong about their cheap switches. My epi prophecy V and Les Paul both had the switch go, after little playing. Never had that problem with another guitar (and PRS SEs are really quality guitars).
You are correct about the high fret work being shoddy. On 3 of the 4 Epiphones I bought new, beyond the 15th fret any bent note would get choked due to unlevel frets. Some leveling and re-crowning remedied this. All 3 of them are 'Artist' models. I've never had an issue with fretwork on any Gibson I've owned.
Love your channel man, I’ve owned several epiphones and agree with the QC issues. I had two LP standards that I basically ripped apart and replace all the electronics, hardware and had to do full blown fret jobs on each Epi I owned. I loved them… eventually but I also learned how to do setups, fret leveling, soldering etc just to get it playable for gigs. New players don’t know how to do all of that and it’s a usually a big ask especially for the price point that Epiphone has been charging recently. I agree that there are other quality brands selling guitars at similar or cheaper prices putting out a quality product.
I am saving for a used Gibson Les Paul or a LTD eclipse which one would you say stays in tune better??
One that has a bone but, graphite bridge saddles, 18:1 ratio tuning peg, IMHO.
Youre 100% correct about everything i heard you say.
Thanks. Appreciate the kind words
@ministryofguitar i dont get to say them often, so youre welcome.
The prices of import guitars is out of fricken control.
Sure you'd expect the frets to be done correctly but it's a simple fix. Not really a problem. And you can find really great switches that are really inexpensive. I don't see any problems here.
Dude... pretty much all the new epiphones if it's not in their beginner model line come standard with CTS electronics and very high quality craftsmanship for the dollar. The 1959 model you mentioned as well as the other higher end epiphones come standard with Gibson USA pickups.
I own two epiphones as well as a PRS se custom 24 and two Fenders and I've never had any issues out of my epiphones.... and one was built in 2005.
That's a lot of bitching for nothing, they don't give a fuck what you think ,,😅😅😅
I have an Epiphone Les Paul Custom. I had the PLEK done to it and it is smooth, soooo smooth.
I had gone to a Guitar store and checked one out and the fret were harsh and I did not like it. The PLEK did add $299 but it made the fret great.
I went into this video not sure what you were going to talk about specifically but I had a hunch it was going to be about the frets on the Epiphones lol. I am actually a drummer who plays guitar and have always owned Fenders or Squiers. I recently bought a 2020 Epi Les Paul Custom brand new w/ the ebony fretboard from Sweetwater which did their "55 point inspection" and the frets were horrible on it. Within a few days of playing it I noticed I was getting metal shavings coming off the frets when I would do bends.. esp in the 12th fret "pentatonic box" region like you stated. You could actually see where I was mostly playing on the neck because certain frets were rounded then around the 12th fret they were completely flat and pitted. This was my first time ever owning a Epiphone and was not aware that this is an actual problem with Epiphones frets. I was told this when I brought to my local luthier to get it refretted. Im not even a gigging musician either, or a player who digs in hard when playing. I am a bedroom player who plays maybe 3+ hours or more a day esp during the pandemic I was playing a lot more. I bought the les paul brand new and I think it was around 800$? Its not the most expensive guitar but for that type of money I never wouldve thought the frets would wear out that fast. Within 6 months of playing the frets were already done. Im not even sure how long frets should last, but I still have my very first Squier strat I got back in 02 brand new for like 250$ that Ive played thousands of hours on and played countless shows on in high school and I've never had to change the frets.. and that is a entry level cheap squier lol.
Great video! You hit it on the head. What I've Bern saying about both Gibson and Epiphone. In my opinion, if you are paying over $600 (USD) for a guitar, the frets and electronics should be flawless. Schecter and ESP/LTD have proven you can have excellent quality at even less than $600.
The fret material makes a world of difference. My now 14 year old shecter has great frets as they are stainless but electronics gave out. I have a Yamaha pacifica from a year after the shecter purchase that the frets are worn to buzz but the electronics held up. Its always a gamble until time shows whether the premium price is worth the rig. As with any long time player its what feels right to you, whether its price all the way down to materials. Oh also im now an Ibanez player so test the waters it never hurts.
came to your channel since you had a video about your experience with richlite fretboards and had to sub bc you discuss a lot of guitar topics 😊
Thanks a lot . Appreciate the support
All epiphone or Gibson epiphone, i ve played on even a copy one (understanding ) you have to blow the pick up treble knob sometimes to get a sound if it gets blocked or muted .
My very first Epiphone guitar was a Casino 1963 what was i thinking when i sold that guitar never seen one again, but you my friend hit the nail on the head i have 3 right now 1 is a 2022 SG Muse bad fret work sounds great but bad fret work,#2 i have a 2010 SG 61 vershion again Fret work bad, last ly my 2000 epiphone LP 100 bad switch needs fret work o and my 2022 MUSE i had to do switch cleaning on it all the time,,,, my SG Muse is a go to guitar right now i can not beleave the sound of it thank you for your review
I would expect some fretwork to be necessary on almost all new guitars below a certain price point. And in 16 or 17 years of doing set ups and repairs I've seen a few high end guitars which have needed something doing. If I couldn't do it myself I'd factor in the cost of a set up into the budget for a guitar. It's one way the factories keep costs down. Set ups and fret dressing is time consuming and hence expensive. And it's the single most important thing in whether or not you'll enjoy the guitar.
Imformative video.
I bought my first Epiphone a couple of years ago. A Korina Explorer Bass. Long story short, I absolutely love this bass. When I first received the bass, it did have some issues with the upper frets as well. Electronics seemed OK.
The first thing was to set up the neck and dress the frets along with new strings. Perhaps I was lucky.
But I continued to replace the hardware by changing the crappie tuners and bridge with Grovers and a Leo Quann Badass iii bridge all in gold to match. It's now beautiful and such an inspiring joy to play.
I suppose that it could be hit or miss. But statistically, if there are more misses than hits, then there's always room for improved quality.
Yup and sadly in my experience, mostly misses
Would you say an LTD Eclipse 1000 would it stay in tune??
Two years ago i bought a Sire L7. After playing it for about an hour, both my Epiphone LPs went up for sale. Same experience you had except the L7 was $700 USD. There are great alternatives that don’t break the bank if you seek a bit.
I like this video a lot and you make all of the best points. This is what I was trying to explain to my wife when I replaced the 1999 Epiphone Les Paul Standard quilt top in blue I got as a teen from Mars Music (that just aged me) that she loved so much. She loved the look and sound of that guitar but I had to fix literally everything on it from tuners and replaced nut to a new input jack after the original failed 1 year from purchase. It finally “died” when the first 8 frets were ground flat and I could only solo on it and even those frets were getting ground down badly as well by 2008. Most repairs were done within 3 years of ownership. In 2014 after years of not playing it, I replaced it with a Gibson Les Paul Standard and I now want to replace that Gibson with an ESP Eclipse 😆 Epiphone has had these issues for a very long time. They are hard to keep long term and this really needs to be corrected. I have several guitars made from 1987-1995 that have minimal to virtually no fretwear. I burned my Epiphone’s frets after a few years
just get your Gibson re-fretted
@@JohnnyMegabyteCanada The Gibson replaced the Epiphone that needed a fret job. The Gibson is doing just fine!
Great channel. I enjoy your videos 👍
Agreed, I have a Edwards by ESP Gold Top LP I picked up in Japan that is flawless in fit & finish and electronics. It was under $900. I have two Epi LPs a Korean made from the 90’s and a 1959 from 2022. I think they are both great guitars but both needed TLC in the frets and the former needed a new toggle switch and pickups. The new 1959’s go for $799 and up and have good electronics and pickups, but should not need fret work at that price point.
I'm so glad I found this video, I personally have been a Fender and Squire fan and yes Ibanez too. But I always loved my uncle's Gibson Les Paul, I'd never be able to afford one or at least not till I was his age anyway. So I made the call to purchase an Epiphone Les Paul Custom inspired by Gibson. I figured it is the closest I will probably ever go to getting a Gibson, unless I hit the lottery or something. Long story short I've had it for 2 weeks now and well it's beautiful, but the frets are sharp as hell. And it's not just the 15 string area either. The 3rd fret, the 8+9th fret and then the 15 and on. They all were a nightmare. I am uesto opening up my new guitar and playing a song or two. Not this time as I pulled it out of the box and managed to cut my hand on the frets. I've debated returning it as I was so mad. I paid more for that Epiphone than I've paid for all the Squire guitars I've got. And in fairness Epiphone and Squire are sister companies to better brands, but I open the Squire guitars and they are player ready out of the box. I know the 2 bigger brands are very different but that being said I expected a Gibson sister company to be better quality control that Fenders sister company Squire. In any event I opted to keep it as the restocking fee and shipping fee to return really makes it not feasible to me. So I have a guy I know who works on guitars coming over next week to fix all my fret markers and to do a once over and set up on this guitar so it will be playable and okay. But the quality issues will make it to where I will pass on the SG I was looking at. I'll stick to my other brands that have better quality control. And who knows maybe one day many years from now maybe I will get the Gibson SG to hopefully bypass the quality problems with Epiphone. Again thank you for doing this video.
Great video. You are 110% correct! I got the 59 Les Paul with the Gibson burstbuckers. It had to go to the luthier to fix the fretwork. It now plays perfect but it was costly. However it is currently a better guitar than the Gibson Les Paul tribute at the same price. Sounds wise it is more Les Paul then the PRS SE DGT and having tried the DGT, I found an issue with the tone pods, instead of being a smooth transition it almost jumps in levels, whereas the 59 Epiphone is much more smooth. With the burst buckers on the Epi you can go from clean to roar crunch just using the tone pods if coupled with a good tube amp. In my books this is how a Les Paul should behave. All in all I just did not get the "Les Paul" feel with the PRS. Out of the box the build quality is much better but, it's just not a Les Paul, it's different.
I agree, they should invest a bit in that very important thing, dragging your hand across rough fret ends is not conducive to being free and creative. You are opening your hand too much trying to ride above them. It's fatiguing in all kinds of ways. Thing is, is 20$ worth of work at the factory going to be 100$ on the price tag. I'm sure there is a formula. Pots and switches had been fine IMhO
I have had four Epi's, 335Dot, Lp and two SG's and this second SG is the final Guitar of my life. I knew when I bought it that the frets were going to have to be done, it will be a few years long project as you can't FK up. But they also have a advantage over most Guitars I have owned, lots of fret after the strings end, almost like they intended for the User to do that Modification or Final Step.
Just go Slow and every time it's just a little better. 🍁
I've played a 1990 Gibson Les Paul Studio for over 30 years now.... It's not the best model but it's great in my opinion.... Along the way I've bought multiple Epiphone Les Pauls as a backup on stage. BUT, every Epi LP I've played felt like I was about to break it. It felt flimsy and like I was going to break it or something. It also didn't have the output of my LP Studio. So I quit buying the Epiphone Les Pauls and tried to Epiphone SG models. Same thing. They felt flimsy and the neck didn't feel like a Gibson SG. The neck on a Gibson SG is flat down by the heal of the neck. The Epi SG felt fat all the way down. And you are correct about the switches, etc.... they are cheap, not inexpensive, I mean CHEAP......
I'd have to agree with some of the comments. I have ALWAYS upgraded electrics on my Epiphone collection. Have not had issues with last few, but if I were to buy another I'd focus on factory id "23" which denotes the Samick factory in Korea.