This Is The WORST Value Guitar On the Market
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- čas přidán 4. 07. 2024
- Epiphone Joe Bonamassa 1963 SG Custom Guitar is the worst value on the guitar market today. Here's why.
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0:00 the guitar
1:27 the good
4:25 the issue
5:10 sg vs cheaper sg
6:23 Price talk
8:26 what to buy - Hudba
Guys, my point isn’t that the guitar is made in China. At least skip to “the issue” section and listen to my argument
I got that from you. I’m personally opposed to financing China myself so epiphone is out of the question. I did buy a prs hollowbody because I assumed it was made in Indonesia. They can make good stuff but they’re really good at making cheap junk.
Lets be real, China DOES NOT have good quality control. Dont let people like Glen Fricker accuse you of racism because you dont want to spend $1000+ on a guitar from a country with actual slave labor and poor QC.
For $1500 you can get AMAZING pro level guitars from well reputed manufacturers.
Sorry not buying a Chinese guitar when a well reputed Indonesian, Japanese, USA, or Mexican guitar costs the same
Also pretty much all of epiphones signature models, pretty much everything you said here applies, across the board you can get a nearly identical guitar for half the price. People pay for them I guess.
@@buckbreaker5185 thank you!
@@buckbreaker5185 Absolutely
I can’t believe an epiphone sg is as expensive as a Gibson sg was 5 years ago.
Welcome to hell. :(
For the money, I'd just buy a used gibson...resale will be more stable anyway even if it doesn't turn out to be a keeper
It's a fierce industry
Don't buy em the price will come down
I guess you don’t understand inflation???
Shout to all of Andre's subscriber who not only have a sense of humor but also don't fall into the bullshits of guitar companies.
what are the bullshits
@@andrudin950 Buying vintage and unpractical gear.
After 13 years away from guitar.... Im coming back to a world gone MAD
Epiphone is a luxury brand now. And just like Gibson they are now a terrible choice at the price.
Same here. Been away 15 years, last year I came back to a whole different world. My last guitar was an upper end Epiphone SG. Decided to give Harley Bentons a try. Never heard of them before but saw one I liked, had great reviews. Bought it, it arrived perfect. Bought another one. Together they cost less than an Epiphone. And I like them more than my old Epiphone. Couldn't be more happier.
PS: get yourself an audio interface. Plugins are awesome now
They've become like shoes -- all about looks and pop-culture, tons to choose from, all pretty similar and made in the same factories overseas. Like shoes, you're better off trying them on in the store, but unlike shoes you should ask for a deal, 20% off isn't hard to get, anything less than 10% isn't worth it.
@wendigo.93 that's right. or a Jackson js11
@@kellyb9432 ive scrolled shoes online. Guess what. Distressed vans for 100 bucks. I laughed so hard.
I remember one of the "draws" of the Joe Bonamosa 335 was that it came with Gibson pickups and electronics, which is what i assumed brought it around 1k. I figured this guitar also had that, but they're just standard Epiphone electronics 🤯
Garbage
Epiphone's best guitar for the price is the 59' Les Paul. The new 60s Firebirds are way too expensive and this!
I wonder why Epiphone bother to exist anyway, might as well buy a used Gibson and go to the pub with the difference
All white plastic until you get to the headstock binding that's amber looks really weird. Hate that it looks like someone stuck the headstock off another guitar on it.
Came here to say this. Can’t believe no one else is talking about it. It’s awful.
Bonamassa's original one looks like that. That's why the Epiphone version looks that way.
lol... just posted the same.
We call those potentiometer indexes (the pointy scrap metal bits), thumb bleeders...
You can tell your volume by ear, not by a number
@@user-hy6yq4uk8e Tell that to Gibson about eighty years ago.
many years ago i had those on a guitar and removed them as they snagged my sweater and cleaning cloth, just a pain in the ass really and an excuse to tag on more £$
@@manofthewest67 , you do you my brother, truth be told, I got rid of those stupid thumb bleeders too
I’m digging that Yvette Young guitar in the background
I was thinking’s that lol. Hopefully the review for that guitar comes sometime soon
Dig her up to. I'd like to see that review...in the same tone hopefully
I don’t like that the aged cream binding on the headstock doesn’t match the rest of the neck
It is weird, but Bonamassa's original one looks like that.
on most vintage guitars, the binding on the neck wont age as much as the binding on the headstock. Since the fretboard is constantly being played and cleaned it doesn't have as much time to change color
@@hussledupgamejam my '73 LP Custom would disagree with that... also, it's not dirt that makes it yellow, or the plastic getting old, it's the lacquer that turns yellow. Underneath, everything is still white.
Funny I happen to love the contrast
hi Andre, I hope you can get your hands on the Strandberg Boden Essential sometime soon. Looking forward to your thoughts on that.
Someone tells me this at least twice a day 😂. I promise I will get and review one the second they are available 😁
This reminds me, I was told by someone who said he's been a luthier for decades that part of the reason Gibson necks break so much at the headstock is because they're made from one piece of wood. Apparently because the grain runs along the whole neck, when it takes a hit, the easiest part to give is obviously the angled bit. Though I don't know if they still make all of their guitars that way.
So, apparently it's not because of the angle so much as it is the construction. I wouldn't know, but I've heard a lot of people say that a repaired headstock (which is to say, a glued-on one in any case) is more durable. I'm fairly sure Epiphones use a glued-on headstock, though, so it's probably not broken because of that (unless Joe Bonamassa insisted it's made wholesale).
What's dumb is from what I understand the only advantage to making it without a joint is that it USED to be cheaper or easier.
I've heard this as well, but I don't think it's the whole story. Other guitar companies also use one piece necks and don't have anywhere near the reputation that Gibson has for broken headstocks. It must be something about the design that is causing the weakness.
I suspect that it's the lack of a volute combining with where and how the headstock angles to create a very thin section in the wood. But that's just the speculation of an internet rando, so it's worth about what you paid for it.
The cheaper one 100% had a scarf joint. The JB on has Gibson style construction with an actual one piece neck according to the specs and launch video. It has no glued on heal piece and no scarf joint.
That's about truss rod access hole first and foremost.
Then it's about HEAVY tuning machines on the headstock.
And the grain runout plays big part as well.
The headstock angle is 17%. If it falls backwards it will almost certainly break. This also helps cause the notorious tuning issues. Other manufacturers have a less severe angle.
A scarf joint, or not using such a angle to the headstock (take fender as an example) makes for a much more durable product.
But Gibson is all about doing things as close to the original way as possible. The volute was a good idea that came from the 70’s. But people didn’t like it, so they did away with it. Gibson has backed themselves into a corner. The only people that can really afford them are the people that only want 50’s/60’s reissues. Any time they try something new, it has bombed hard.
And Joe Bonamassa is also big into vintage guitars. So stuff bearing his name is going to be as close to vintage correct as they can realistically get… for better or for worse.
2 different color binding? Who thought that would be a good idea? Joe?
My thoughts exactly! The headstock looks like it was dunked in coffee, while the rest of the guitar was left clean🤣 Very weird design choice, indeed.
Gibson and Epiphone are guitar companies that I've always wanted to love. I really like both the SG and LP shapes, and my favorite guitar of all time is my Schecter USA solo II (which is basically an American made LP but from Schecter). Unfortunately Gibson and Epiphone seem to constantly have these QC issues and are consistently overpriced.
I also second the Solo II, it's such an awesome guitar. I just wish it had 24 frets
I got a solo-6 and love it a ton
@@UnitedEffect I have the copper one that's listed as being a Sweetwater exclusive (though I got it second hand on reverb for like half the price), and it's really fantastic. Sounds incredible and has some of the best fret work I've ever seen.
How did it break? Did you breath next to it?
Is that the Yvette Young Ibanez on YOUR right?Also,love the white on.looks kinda like the other but a lil sleeker.What brand is the white one? Thank you.
I couldn’t agree more. Also to further put into context, the $600 epiphone you cite was $400 what seems like no time ago. Because I have a lefty I got second hand for $200 with a case (non original).
The Epi SG's you speak of all had multi piece bodies and necks. All of them. The collaboration CS instruments all have 2 piece body and 1 piece neck. This is the formula used in Nashville. Also the woods used are premium, not what's used in the Standard epi facility. There is obviously cost associated with these practices.
@@andrewhouse3246 Gibson uses multi piece bodies for just about every guitar they make, even USA. What’s your point? I agree this line of guitar they’ve been doing lately with the Gibson headstock coming out of china is still the worst value in the market.
I couldn’t agree more, Andrè. When I saw the price, I immediately started comparing to the $599 SG you mentioned and reviewed. I also feel the same way about the new DG-335. You can buy an Epiphone Modern 335 for $699 (often less with dealer discounts) with a massive value for the specs. Even if you’d add a hard shell case, the Gibson pickups, and artist royalties, it should still be able to cost under $1000 no matter the model. The math adds up! I’m trying to understand why some of these Epiphone prices are well north of $1000 when they offer similar or better models for less than $1000. I wish someone at Gibson would give an honest explanation with proof.
Epiphones are great guitars, minus your broken headstock . . . but there are so many options out there from other brands that give way more bang for the buck with incredible craftsmanship, QC, features, parts, electronics, tonal options, etc. In many cases, you could have TWO incredible guitars for the same money you’d spend on a Epiphone costing $1200-$1500+, whether it’s from Epiphone’s own lineup or even another brand altogether.
Is that an Ibanez Yvette Young's signature guitar the YY10 in the background? Love the orange cream sickle version. Great Video as always Dr.
Why did the headstock break?
Hearing feedback on the SG while also being very distracted by the guitar on the background. Is that an Yvette Young signature? Is there a video coming up for that one?
Not a fair comparison - You barely mentioned the Bonamassa having a solid wood body vs. cheap veneer, which is a WAY bigger deal than the knob pointers (which you kept bringing up) That ugly veneer is a "no deal" for me on the cheap one.
Also the ebony fretboard on Bonamassa's is far superior to the Indian Laurel.
A fairer, more apples to apples comparison would be to a real Gibson SG
omg you have a slime green YY 10. I want to try that guitar out so much, but no one within 500 miles has one.
Are you teasing a Yvette young signature model review??👀
Just bought an epi Les Paul it sounds alright but the frets are so sharp how do I fix this
Take it to a Luthier and ask them to File down the Fret tangs.
Run a fine nail file over the edges.
André, I’m sorry your headstock snapped.
These days I consider anything close to a grand a “cheap guitar”. There are some fantastic choices near this price point. (DGT SE, Ibanez AZ2204NW and “my” Bonamassa SG Custom)
I own this same guitar. I purchased mine online via Guitar Center as an “open box/demo” model for $1100. It arrived unscathed. I’ve been playing it now since last December. I’ve been enchanted with it.
What made ME buy it was Joe’s demo. I was comparing the time stamp from the original Gibson playing examples on each pickup to those of the Epiphone. They seemed VERY close to one another to me. I’ve been especially impressed with the “in phase” middle position. (Strat neck on steroids and hum free?)
I was gambling when I bought it. I’m still glad I did. Only thing I’d probably replace would be the pickup switch if it fails... Also at barely 8lbs I grab it way more often than the LP custom.
Your’s will be bulletproof once the headstock is healed.
Best of luck. I think you’ll dig it once it’s playable.
Great video! It's insane that you can find used USA PRS CE24 for maybe $200 more.
Music Man, some USA Schecters, and Kiesel are all around that same price too. Godin and older Carvins are significantly cheaper and are still really high quality American instruments.
Hope to see you cover the Strandberg Boden Essential soon!
Yes I will
I think the two piece body/one piece neck accounts for more of the cost than you're letting on. I can't exactly take one of the $600 guitars and get it modded to have less mismatched pieces of wood. I certainly don't know any techs that's gonna do a fretboard swap, a pickup route, a magical body wood reduction, and remove that hideous veneer for $2-300 dollars and then throw in free new MOP inlays, and the custom neck joint.
What I like the most about that model is that except for the tailpiece, it looks like the SG Wayne Kramer is pictured playing on the cover of KOTJ. Apparently a borrowed guitar on which that beautifully not quite in tune E of Ramblin' Rose was played.
I got a similar epiphone 63 reissue style custom for ~$1000 CAD less than the Joe Bonamassa version. The one I got is a dealer exclusive so it's not available everywhere like the Joe Bonamassa version. But it's pretty close to the same thing!
Leilani Kilgore used one last year on tour and was her number one guitar at the Sturgis show. But she is friends with Joe B and probably got one of the 'good ones'.
Are the pickups the same or do the Bonamassa model gets an upgrade such as the greenie one with original PAF?
I usually dislike Epiphone because of the dark sound pickups while the rest is pretty much equal to Gibson standars nowdays, it's just that people see the different headstock rather than everything else.
This reminds me around 2017/2018 there was a famous photo roaming around the internet of a homemade headless SG. After being a mystery for a long time, they found out that the headstock always broke off every time they fixed it so they just made it headless. Then a youtuber managed to get their hands on it and reviewed it.
The funny thing is, it was sold on reverb for $1,499. Not only was it only $100 more, but it entirely removed the breaking headstock and neck-dive problems. And it's an authentic gibson.
How do I buy this broken guitar for half price?
Hyped for the review of this Talman on the back!
I definitely recommend you to try a Vola guitar if you have the opportunity,
I have a Vola Mrm for month and it's by far the best guitar I ever own, for 1300€ you have mij, stainless steel, gotoh... And the finishes are perfect
Doesn't this model come with Gibson USA pups?
OK...let's not minimize the difference between an ebony fretboard (as seen on the Bonamassa SG) and an Indian Laurel fretboard (as seen on the $600 SG). Let's not minimize the difference in a solid mahoganay body (as seen on the Bonamassa SG) and a mahogany body with a veneer of "better" mahogany glues to the top of the body (as seen on the $600 SG. Let's not minimize the difference in top quality CTS pots and Switchcraft witches and jacks (as seen on the Bonamassa SG) and the much inferior bargain pots and switches as used on the $600 SG. Add to that the fact that the Bonamassa SG comes with a quality hard case and the $600 SG doesn't even come with a gig bag!! Let's also consider that the Bonamassa SG will likely hold its resale value considerably better than the $600 SG. All of this, to ME, adds up to the Bonamassa SG being well worth the additional cost
Clearly, the difference in price from the normal SG is due to the “fragile” stamp on the case. I read somewhere that when you put that on your box, package handlers go out of their way to treat it rougher than usual. I guess that’s how it guarantees the neck break!
The headstock break is a feature that makes it "feel" like an authentic Gibson. 🤣
Andre, those "triangle pointers" sre lovelessly called "Thumb bleeders" for a very predictable reason. Most Gibson players I know take them off until they sell them. Some don't even bother putting them back on. I typically very carefully wrap them in a soft cloth padding, then wrap then in Saran Wrap to keep the moisture out. Then I very carefully store them in the wastebasket before I get poked by them !
ZZ Top rig rundown. Billy's guitar tech disabled the Vibrola it is just there for looks, because the tech said it was crap.
Are we getting a Yvette Young signature Ibanez review soon????!!!!!
I hope so
Yep. And a chords lesson
It's an authorized by Gibson Chibson. So by Gibson lifestyle logic pricing A $899 Joe B guitar is now $1300. For the record the lower buck LP's and this Joe B Custom are made by the same hands, using the same materials and running down the same assembly lines and setup by the same Chinese workers. Also of note Gibson USA uses Chinese imported woods so the grade selections and species between the 2 brands is also very much same. Its up too you though if that is a good or bad thing.
I have no issue paying $1,400 for a guitar made in China when it's an Eastman. Paying for $1,400 for an Epiphone is still a tough price.
That was a good review you’re absolutely right the guitar looks stunning… my favorite way to collect Epiphone guitars is to go for the customs the SG and Les Paul’s as well as some of the signature models.
I've put the metal indicators on many of my guitars (even Fender types) simply because I like to know exactly where my settings are. I've never cut my thumb on one.
Ida know. I so appreciate this video,it leaves a lot to ponder. We bought a new 2018 basic model USA Gibson Les Paul,faded cherry. Great QC from Gibson,other than a VERY dry neck. Later we purchased an Epi Custom Les Paul with the newly "Gibsonified" headstock re-do. We added the exact same 490T-USA pups in the Chinese import. After 2 weeks in the studio,playing through every amp,pedal,cab we own,blah blah blah...The Chinese guitar beat the Gibson by every metric. A weird experience,but sad to say we fell in love with a Chinese neck,and sold the Gibson. The QC on the Epiphone Custom,black w gold hardware,was perfect out of the box. That guitar was $800 plus pup upgrade w Switchcraft 3-way. ANYTHING over that pricepoint is silly...a ripoff. The signature artist needs to get their cut,thus a $900 guitar for $1,300+. No!
2 pc body is a huge upgrade. one a tech cant install and you cant upgrade. reason i got the tony iommi sg for the same reason..
Bummer about the headstock break! I have 4 Gibson SGs, and never spent more than $1200 new for any of them with a case. The most recent one was purchased in 2019. As for the Epiphone with Vibrola SG, I have one of the cheaper ones. Since I don't like the looks of the veneer on the top and back, I opted for an Olive Drab Green one from zZounds. I actually like the color of it.
The guitar market is so dang weird. There's so much choice of cheaper/cheap-ish guitars that are completely stacked with awesome parts, but then in spite of that certain brands (ahem, Gibson-related) are completely stripping theirs. I can't help but feel they're just taking the gamble and lazily expect that it will sell because it comes with the J.B. nametag attached to it....
The little metal scraps on the knobs are called thumb bleeders and I hope you don't find out why
Could you review the Joe Bonamassa Lazarus Les Paul from Epiphone? I'm seriously debating between that and a PRS SE 594 as my next guitar. The Gibson electronics make me more interested in the Epiphone that I usually would be with the brand in general and I've been loving all your reviews I've seen so far.
Thank you! I wish I could help but that isn’t in the works. But I’ll be showing other epiphone guitars
Thumb bleeders are a nice addition. They are on all Gibson models stock as far as I know. You are correct. the 61 R with 2 pick ups and vibrola is the way to go in you want this. the nylon saddles are not an expensive uprgrade and gotoh vintage style locking tuners are not that expensive either. The switch and jack plate should replaced on the 61 R also if you intend to gig with it.
The ebony fretboard alone is a $400 dollars upgrade on a regular epiphone
1:08
"Oh no he just talks and doesn't actually play the guitar!" 😂😂
Why watch Andre Fludd, if not for the meticulous attention to detail?
Honestly tho, I really love your playing, the smooth legato and the phrasing. Its so beautiful.
Does the Bonamassa have Gibson pickups or cheap Chinese / Epiphone pickups?
If the headstock just split apart while being played, that sounds like either a flawed piece of wood or a hard hit during shipping; either way a defect that the company should replace under warranty. If they decline, does Andre plan to have it repaired? Me, I've never had a headstock break with any of the six Gibsons (5 Les Pauls, one ES-345) I've owned over fifty years.....
Dang, all that aside you still have a broken guitar. Are you able to return it? Or are they working with you to repair it? ☹️😓🤘🏻❤️
I'm pretty sure it says fragile on the box because Joe's touring cases for his expensive guitars will have that on his boxes. I would also hazard a guess that the guitar headstock did not break because of physical damage whilst in the box it looks like a poorly glued scarf joint and has just come away after being shipped.
Speaking of Gibson making just pickups…I recently bought a Gibson pickup, 490t, brand new, to put it in one of my guitars. You know what? It arrived with pole pieces in DIFFERENT SIZES across it, some smaller and some bigger, and what else? It worked for like two days, and it died. I thought I must have wired it badly, but no, multimeter showed no resistance on it…just dead. So no, they don’t even make pickups right anymore 😂
I really loved the look of this guitar, and I’m an sg fanatic, so I bought one. Honestly, I didn’t like it. I pride myself on my guitar set ups and this thing wouldn’t dial in. Definitely needed a fret job. I’m sure it would’ve played great after but I didn’t want to pay the money to have that done… Epiphone should’ve done that. Also, some Gibson burst buckers would’ve been nice since they’re just throwing custom buckers in Epiphones now…. In the end, I traded this guitar+ $600 for a 76 reissue Gibson explorer that’s been sitting in my local pawn shop for the last 5 years and it’s the best playing Gibson I’ve ever had… listed for the same price as this Epiphone at my local pawn shop lol. My logic is if you’re going to spend 1k+ on an Epiphone, you might as well consider your options because you can DEF find something better at that price point. The triple pickup customs are very cool looking tho and this one was particularly pretty.
Fisher Price tremolo bar.
Love it.. your presentation is unplaya........ err... impeccable.
Nice Dr. Fludd. When are we gonna get The Archtop Experiment lol.
Man…that would be the most expensive experiment possible. But I’m still hopeful for it happening one day. But until then, I have “jazz on a jazzmaster” coming.
@andrefludd well maybe something more low-key like a shootout between PRS se hollowbody and a Dangelico Excel would be cool. Show exactly what someone can get from a sub 2k jazz guitar.
I have this guitar and I love it, we all buy with our eyes first. Then if our hands agree we know we are sold if we have enough cash to buy it. The only sg I’ve seen that I like more now is the new Gibson SG Supreme in the fire burst finish. And have you seen the price tag that Gibson put on those???
At the end of the day, if you find a guitar you love, I’m happy for you! I just think this should sell for 1,000.
I'm just wondering, made in China, if I get a $200 Firefly and fix it up will it match this? I mean how could can it be?
I can't imagine why Epiphone scarfs their headstocks onto the BACK of the neck. So much extra strength lost by not sandwiching it between the neck and the fretboard. I guess they gotta find a way to still allow it to achieve those authentic Gibson headstock breaks.
The Bonamassa SG also has an Ebony fingerboard over the rosewood/laurel found on the standard models!
Joe Bonamassa is a selfproclaimed cashcow. He has this gift shop where you can buy a Joa Bonamassa garden gnome. I was kinda expecting that this guitar is a bad deal. In fact, the garden gnome would be the better cash/value buy.
How does his name carry so much weight? I've never heard any of his music, all I know is that he's a collector and has a lot of Gibson ad Epiphone signatures.
He's one of the biggest names in the Blues Rock world, so if you don't listen to that, you wouldn't know. He also has the backing of the music industry media at-large, so there's that too! Hard to miss his name being thrown around unless you avoid that as well! \m/@@domoniquebrooks816
Would love to see your take on a Vox Bobcat
white neck binding (and other plastic) with aged/orange headstock binding looks really off...
The little metal knob indicators are called Thumb bleeders.
in 2022 I bought the Lazarus Les Paul for 936 Euro. This SG costs about 1,500 Euro. It's ridiculous. And the Lazarus has Gibson Burstbuckers in it.
I tell you what: I have got an Epiphone 60s Standard SG and I put the Burstbuckers in there (Lazarus now has Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates PUs). It is so much better now. The Probuckers really aren't that good. Than you for this honest video.
Well Epi's have definitely gone off the deep end as far as pricing. Honestly I don't know of anyone who actually uses the Vibrola, I think for most people it's just an aesthetic thing. Like a Rolls Royce hood ornament- looks great, serves no actual functional purposes. Useless unless you own a company that sells tuners.....
It is nice to see an honest review!
You could buy a used Gibson of the same construction for close to that. What a waste of money
Always thought Pickguards and Pickup rings look really strange together btw
that's what I was thinking. I have the olive green inspired by Gibson version. This Bonamassa edition seemed like a bit of an extreme mark up. I don't care for triple pick ups either...
The Joe B. also has a one-piece neck. Not mentioned in your video.
Is the neck really broken on that? I'm confused.
Yes
@@andrefludd did it come broken or did you drop it? Gotta send that back if it arrived like that
I don't think you will have much use of the thumb bleeders(triangle things) after you get use to playing the guitar. Those waffle back tuners are an inspiration for what to eat for breakfast.
Me, and Intellectual, who mostly enjoys talking instead of playing (for the most part, I do like your playing but I like the in depth nature of this channel as well :p)
Also I’d love to get your thoughts on the prophecy SG, I think that would be a good redemption for the shit that you got here
The remaining price difference is big Joe’s commission. I believe the Gibson people call the little triangle markers “thumb bleeders”
ESP LTD and Epiphone have priced me out of their products. Right now its really down to Ibanez Genesis for 999.99 as long as its still made in japan.
The "aged cream binding" on the headstock makes ZERO sense when the neck binding, nut, saddles, Vibrola lever, switch-tip, and pickguard are all in-your-face PURE white. The headstock binding is "NOT a feature" in my universe. It's more like factory fuckup.
Have you ever tried Charvel guitars? I got a DK24 HH mexican made for 900 bucks and it's a dream guitar, plays better and have better features than my fender american strat.
A lot of people hate that little indicator by the knobs because it can hurt your hand if you're careless. I like them though.
Wait...so it snapped after tuning? It didn't arrive broken? Damn that's poor.
I bought some 1990s epiphones one sg one les paul they needed work on did the work myself i just seen a 1275 doubleneck used for 744 but ima get a kit doubleneck sg and it will be as good as the epiphone ive been working on guitars for years it helps when something simple like some upgrades cost you 400$
A while ago I bought the least expensive Epiphone I could find - a LP Special w/P90 pickups, bolt-on neck, cheap tuners, wrap-around bridge. on sale for $159. Now its one of my favorite guitars. Go figure.
Yes but will the blues dads who soil their jorts over Joe Bonamassa listen to your logic and reason?
Tariffs, certification, and import tax for the ebony is my guess for a large portion of the upcharge. That's why Gibson turned to rosewood for nearly all production models around 10 years ago. And Gibson is probably trying to get some of those legal fees back from the federal raid of their factory in Tennessee.
I thought Epiphone used a scarf jointed neck to head stock to eliminate, or at least alleviate, the issue of head stock cracking. If this signature model has a one piece neck, (no scarf), it's actually a feature being sold as an "upgrade", that is literally a drawback. I have 2 EJ-200 SCEs, and the standard, ($400 at the time) SG, and all of their necks are intact. And yes, even with the scarf joint neck, my SG maintains the traditional Gibson neck dive.
I've NEVER, and I mean NEVER experienced ANY head stock cracks or breaks from ANY of my SG models, either Gibson or Epiphones when restringing or tuning. Also I've only experienced the dreaded neck dive ONCE, and that was from an Epiphone 400 Custom with P-90 pickups. I also think, at the price you're basically paying more for Joe Bossa Nova's name instead of the guitar itself. Over 25 years ago, I bought a three pick up Epiphone SG Custom on close out. They had just discontinued them, and my supplier was getting rid of them at about $500.00 (U.S.) Remember we're talking about the economy 25 years ago. Mine has three volumes and one tone knob. No Vibrola stop tail piece, no whammy bar. I don't play it much anymore, but I still love it, and will bring it out if I'm looking for a certain sound, but it stays in the house now, due to it's rarity. (They should bring that model back, but I fear the price will be rather high if they did) Also, like many others, I wish you HAD played the Joe Bossa Nova model you held. I would've loved to hear how it sounds.
I would consider the IYV version for $200. It's made in Vietnam and very solid. With the extra $1200 I would get a PLEK setup and some good hardware and whatever else.
I bought a Les Paul two years ago. I spent more than two hours at the store, of which the first half was just to identify 4 LPs (out of maybe 50) that did not have any visible defects.
Once I got those 4, the other half of the time was actually playing them.
I'm not part of the anti-Gibson wagon, but I am not blind either. If you are considering buying a Gibson or Epiphone, don't buy online. You need to do yourself the QC that they don't bother to do.
I'm looking forward to the review of Talman in the back.
My Epiphone Wilshire costed £350 brand new. One piece mahogany neck with some figuring and a two piece mahogany body. A great alternative to a SG and leaves plenty in the budget for mods
The headstock is angled back from the neck and that becomes a lever of sorts if the guitar falls back on it by concentrating the impact force where the headstock meets the neck. And also that it is one piece of wood. Why not have a straight neck? One way to combat that at least a little would be to have what's called a volute, which is just beefing up that point with some more wood behind it. I'm not an engineer so I don't know how much wood to be put on it. Think of the rafters in your attic and the extra wood is in the triangle shape, or even the angled pieces in a cantilevered bridge. I guess that Gibson won't change their ways out of stubborness. It can't cost that much more money or time. If I ever had the money to buy a Gibson I would have a volute put on. But now that I think about it, if the expense wasn't a worry, I wouldn't buy a Gibson out of support for all the guitarists that really want one and can't afford one, just to have it break from one little accident.
1:05 No one would think this for an already broken guitar