I totally get the attachment Dave. My parents bought me a $200 Yamaha acoustic for my 13th birthday back in ‘77. It was stolen about 5 yrs ago and I still get worked up when I think about it. Also, I regret every guitar/amp/pedal I sold when I was younger. Never again
I will never sell my last guitar last gun or last Harley I feel ya with all the regret. I also had a 1970 Rodgers drum kit that I traded a old fender contemporary for. I wish I had either of those back. Tried tracking down my old Strat with no luck. Maybe one day I’ll see it again. My drum kit is still out their somewhere as well. Living with regret sucks. Also had a 88 BC Rich Warlock I sold to guitar center in the 90s for a Marshall cab and head. Don’t have those either. Man I was dumb.
Along my way I lost a Peavey Bandit 112 in 2001 that I bought new in 1997. Last year I found one just like it on CL so I had to buy it. It sounds as good as I remember and it's good to have an old friend back
Just watching the intro - I started watching in early 2018 when id not long started playing thinking I will never be able to play like this man, now 5 solid years in on the guitar and I still think exactly the same haha.
Don’t say that mate. I thought the same I couldn’t get past playing basic chords and didn’t know any pentatonics. Now I feel like I’m quite close to Dave which isn’t me bragging or being big headed I’m just proud of how far I’ve came. I never learned apart from just playing myself. It’s true what Dave says. Music does really tell you what to play. Just keep at it
Keep at it bud don't bite off more than you can chew the smallest rewards keep u motivated to play pick the easiest song you want to play and play it till it sounds great, that involves set up and tuning etc I'm lucky I played the album British steel for a year till I could somewhat pull it off so I was lucky I had that album most guys would've been sick of those songs by the second month lol
That is some very impressive improvisation Dave, 5 minutes in and you have defined the urgency and expressive range of electric guitar already! You are a hell of a good player mate.
I still own my Encore "hotrod" strat that my parents got me for my 18th birthday, it has traveled the world with me. I sold my Fenders and Gibsons but that, that I never could. The neck is horrible, the bridge will wound you pretty much any time you mute but by all that is metal, the ceramic humbucker in it screams. It's some super cheap uncovered humbucker but there is just something magic about the tone. Sentiment + tone = priceless. It's not a guitar, it's a repository of memories. My first gig, jamming with my brother till 4am and trying to record music on my 486 with out of time midi drums (because the PC was bollocks). In it's wood, metal and plastic lies a life, a life I have shared with it for over 20 years. It was my first guitar, the first time I practiced till my fingers bled. It's worth so much more than I can put into words.
Hi Dave and all your adoring fans. This video really hit home on the power of a guitar to summon memories. I had to sell a guitar that was not worth a massive amount money-wise but I soon realised after it had gone that it meant a great deal to me personally. It was the guitar that had really rejuvenated my playing during lockdowns. The guy I sold it to was extremely kind in selling it back to me. Your video was the key to realising there is more to a guitar than its outward sel. So thank you, Maestro.
Dave, check the truss rod, on that guitar, and make sure it is positively engaged. I’ve had experience with guitars that were lifeless and dull sounding, because there was zero tension on the truss rod. One quick turn of the wrench, to engage the truss rod nut, brought them back to life. Since you haven’t done much setup work to it, it may be loose. Give it a check.
I was gonna mention this too, it seems to be just about ready to fret out almost everywhere on the neck. A truss rod adjustment (as well as a complete setup) may turn it around for you, at least enough to get it knocked off the worst guitar list
@@barryengle12666 That is an excellent suggestion, unless the neck is 'active' you are not going to extract all the tone the guitar is capable of delivering-I had a similar problem with my Epiphone 2004 335, despite this being a 'custom shop' & 'special edition' model, once I had adjusted the truss rod it came alive.
Nothing can replace the bond and memories you have with an instrument. The bond becomes stronger the more you work on the guitar without a luthier. I have an incredible Oswald Strat (thanks to Dave), but I equally love my first ever electric, a Yamaha Pacifica. I've personally crowned / leveled frets, rolled fingerboard and changed every single piece of hardware. The work and experience alone makes it equal to my Oswald ❤️🎶🎸
It's kind of like Ed Van Halen, he bought old beater guitars and fixed them up to play how he wanted them to. Back in those days, Gibson and Fender guitars were more inexpensive than the crazy prices they want today.
What a lovely story, I have an Admira classical that my mum bought me when she had no spare cash. It is crap and priceless. Thanks little old lady, you are still the best.
Neck profile is simply another preference. Depending on the style of music and the previous guitars and the way that he frets chords, a player is probably going to prefer something different to you. "Different strokes for different folks!" In my case, I began my guitar journey by playing a steel string acoustic. Then I discovered Andres Segovia and bought a nylon string classical, with a very wide, very flat neck. I have large hands and fingers, so I appreciated the wide finger board with widely spaced strings so that I did not muffle the open strings. As far as electric, I too wanted a Gibson Les Paul, in part, because of its wider neck. However, I was NOT going to pay $5,000.00 USD for a damned guitar! 🙄 So, I bought a Fender Telecaster H/S for 20% of the cost of the Gibson. I LOVED that guitar, except for the little "broomstick" C-shaped neck. This neck is great for your average "rock guitar" player, who wraps his hand around the neck, sometimes even sneaking his thumb over onto the finger board to fret a note. But for me, a classically trained guitarist, I am most comfortable, and my fingers can cover much more of the fretboard with my thumb resting on the flat of the back of the neck. 😎
My Mum and Dad bought me a Hohner Arbor edition Les Paul from GAK in Brighton when I was about 12 years old. I'd coo'd over it months earlier as I was Les Paul obsessed thanks to Gary Moore and Slash. Xmas morning was an absolute shock, I never expected it and it's still with me. I've got many, 'better' and more expensive guitars but that one the one I'd run back into a burning building to rescue! Great story many of can relate to 😀👍
I have a 2001 korean les paul similar to yours, had it for over 10 years and had the same issues with the tone, so i changed the pickups and electronics and the bridge and now its sounds unreal, absolutely screams 👌👌
+1 I have a 1997 Korean Gold Top, and I've upgraded the pickups, pots, switches, tailpiece/tuneomatic, nut and tuners. And boom, it's more than alive! Maybe more pleasure to get with your beloved guitar! I can't get rid of my first guitars, and i alsmost regret any gear i've sold in the past because i was just as happy as you were when i got these...
Very cool video, bro. My first Les Paul was a 1994 Korean made standard in cherry sunburst and I got it for about 250 dollars with a hard case. Really hated the microphonic pickups and swapped them for a set of SD SH-6 and now it's one of my favorite guitars even after I got a real Gibson and many Fenders!! Korean Epi's deserve some love I think!!
The mid-90s were a major turning point for korean quality, most of the 80s ones were crap by comparison, and I've played my share of both...either way there's much room for improvement regarding hardware/electronics, but the build quality started getting much more consistent from the 90s on
@@jasondorsey7110 The squier ii strats from Korea are really tight. 92-94ish. We had a few in the store i used to work in. I bought the white one that was missing some parts. Was less cuz missing stuff, bridge was broken. They gave it to me for $65. The black minty ones were about $200. WAY more now... Like the pickups and pots. No worries, threw some monsters in there. The JB that is single coil sized in the bridge with a coil tap. I started with Fender Noiseless, but they were kinda wimpy sounding. Ended up with texas specials that our tech had in his drawer. The bridge was weird. Tech had a Lefty Mim strat trem in a drawer. He said I could have it, but install was like 2 hours, he'd only charge me for one. This dude knows how to get that kind of bridge to handle a lot more whammying without going out of tune. More springs for the win. Total, it cost like 300. I sold it for $1,500 because this guy had to have it... it was nice. he was rich. he wasn't going to say no, that was as far as he would go. I wish i didn't sell it... The tech and store manager loved me because I got rid of two problems of theirs with one move. This jerk kept buying guitars and playing them for just less than the 30 days policy. Seven, eight guitars over $2,000. Then he'd return. Usually pretty scratched up. Tech had this awesome one that he made in a case. It looked like Fire. Had a Floyd Rose. The real one, not the jackson crap this guy kept trying and hating. He came in and I showed it to him. Was $2,500. He played it and loved it. We said because of the fragile nature of the cutout, he couldnt return it. He agreed. Tech was glad to sell it so he could fund another one. he still hooks me up like crazy but i havent really played much for a while
100% understand. And by the way, it sounded fantastic when you played it! Sentimental value is so much more important than actual value! Your parents worked hard to get you a gift they knew was important for you. They could have spent that money on all kinds of other projects they had in mind. But instead, they shared this experience to get you something that has obviously made a great impact on your life. That's what families do! BTW, I had a Les Paul Modern USA $2999. and a Les Paul Modern Epiphone $549 Guitar. Ended up selling my USA model because even though it was a slightly better guitar, it was not enough better to justify the $$$ difference for me. Thank you for sharing your story and keep playing your Epi LP as it sounded great to my ears!
This neck is a beehive. It needs either a straightening (ski jump, not easy) or a good fret levelling (easy). In the latter case, the guitar can be saved with just a little work. Dull pick-ups could be replaced cheaply now but before doing that I would check the pot values. If they are not 500K (Gibson is known to use lower values, maybe Epiphone did that too once), they need to be and the tone pots ought to be replaced with no-load pots so they act as disconnected when on 10. All this would brighten the sound. One further cheap mod is to rewire it so only one set of volume/tone controls is used for both pick-ups. It would only affect the middle position, of course, but suppress the halving of the pot values that effectively takes place when connecting both sets of controls in parallel (which further dulls out the middle position sound).
Gibson was using 300k pots in all their USA guitars until around 2014/2015 or so and when they went back to 500k they were purchasing 500k pots with a very wide tolerance range . Some were as high as 560k and some as low as 420k . Which is probably why you would get some guitars with 57 classic pickups that were muddy and then the next guitar with the same pickups would by very bright and harsh . I would imagine Epi was using 300k as well and very cheap ones at that . Those early 2000s Epis also had no maple caps and I find les Paul's without Maple caps to be extra stodgy or Muffled sounding with alot if low mids .
My Epiphone Les Paul was made at the Unsung plant in Korea in 1997. It came with an Epiphone branded Bigsby. I've never adjusted the neck. It has Gotoh pickups from a Tokai ES-100, Gotoh locking tuners with green buttons, PIO tone caps, Gibson pots and pickup switch and roller saddles from Guitarfetish. And somehow apart from worn frets, it has no scratches, dings or anything. And it's a keeper.
fantastic,bloody intro, just wow! i think you have achieved what the truly great musicians do,playing from the heart,soul,cosmos,ect. wherever it comes from. i can tell watching you dave that it feels great when you connect with your instrument,and it seems like you always connect with it! when i play ,if i play for an hour,say,it takes me about a half hour before i start to "feel' it,and i seem to wear out pretty quickly,of course im 53! any ways, what im trying to say is i think youve reached a high level of playing,keep up the great work,spreading the joy of music to others,i wish i lived in the uk so i could see your band!
Thanks for the story, Dave. Your logic feels similar to the reasons for keeping my cheap Ibanez acoustic. Bought it from a work colleague,for £50 in 2014, and it plays/sounds like a cheap acoustic, despite my best efforts to set it up properly and buying nicer strings etc; durign the first lockdown I finally grew sufficiently frustrated with it that, when restrictions eased that summer, I bought a Guild which makes me very happy. However, that Ibanez got me back into playing after a 20+ year hiatus, I learned a lot from it (mostly bad habits), took it to my first ever jamming session with friends, and that makes me very fond of the guitar, even if I have no urge to play it just now. If it wasn't for the Ibanez, I wouldn't have bought my first bass (or the second one . . .), or a decent electric guitar. I'd happily donate it to a friend or a friend's kid if they wanted to learn, but have no interest in selling it.
I sold my first guitar from age 5, my first electric LP copy received at Christmas at age 14, my first Stratocaster, first 12 string Ovation, first nylon classical guitar, bought at age 20, and a Chapman Stick. They weren't all sold at once, but all were special. Selling them gave me a feeling of loss at the moment; but not long afterward I felt good about all of those sales. I got money and was rid of things that were taking space in my life and not being used. Do I wish I had any of them now? No. I've had similar feelings of relief when selling cars and other things. For a while I lived in a minivan. I had to get rid of a 10' X 16' storage unit full of items. I sold many things, gave away a few things, and brought most of the things to the dump. When all the things were gone, I felt tremendous relief and freedom to not be attached to all of those things. Now I own two guitars. One of them arrived today. Which is one too many. I also own one ukulele and bongos. I don't want to own multiple guitars. I play the one I like most all of the time. Why have two when I only play one? If I were a professional guitarist there would be at least two. Backup instruments and amps are required when it is one's job. If I were performing the music of other people, even more guitars might be needed to recreate tones, if that were really required. At least one acoustic guitar would be owned. I've heard Eric Johnson play Cliffs of Dover on a 335 and his Stratocaster. I liked both performances. It's not the instrument that makes the performance. It is the quality of the performance that makes a show great, not the instruments used. Knowing that is why I don't feel the need to have many guitars taking up space in my life. Sell the things that you don't use. Get some money for them and enjoy the greater mental clarity from having less possessions. Record your guitars on video and audio. Take some photographs. Then let them go. Let somebody else use them all of the time as their favorite guitars.
In know exactly how you feel. I still have my first acoustic guitar that my parents bought for me in 1972. It's a Yamaha folk guitar. It is completely unplayable at the point. The first 5 frets are almost worn down to the fretboard. The bridge is lifting from the body and the pickguard is falling off. But, I will never part from it. Too much emotional and sentimental value. Too many wonderful memories. I also still have my first electric guitar that I bought in 1978. It's a Epiphone Wilshire. It is still playable. Great video!
That guitar is a symbol of your love for the instrument. That can be very inspirational when you see it, pick it up and play it! I part exchanged my first guitar (a Jedson tele in the 70's) and wish I hadn't. I have got several guitars that I have made from scratch (copy of a Martin 000 16m, a variant of an LP junior and a 3 string bass) that fill this role for me now. Thanks for sharing Dave!
Top stuff and totally relatable. I've a Hohner MXJ my parents bought me as my first guitar. I'll never sell it.....again. Sold it to a school mate at 16, then bumped into him 20+ years later and ended up buying it back. It's made from layers and layers of tone wood and has a similar sounding, massive and flat D shaped neck. I never truly appreciated at the time what a massive thing it was at that my parents, who weren't from musical families, recognised what a great gift it would be.
I can understand exactly what you are talking about, memories are precious in our lives, and that guitar can never be replaced by anything Thank you for the great jam and video, Dave. ✌✌✌✌🤘✌✌✌✌👍
I’m just going through your videos dave and I agree with what your saying. Sometimes guitars we have don’t carry a tune but they carry memories so that makes them priceless. Keep the videos coming dave 👍🏻
I can understand why it means so much to you. I have an Edwards LP that I'll be giving my son soon. I hope that he values that guitar 1/4 of what you value this epiphone.
I do second that, I had a £1300 Japanese tokai love rock once and the epi 50s standard I now have is much better, it shouldn't be mind. Maybe the tokai was just a dud, it looked amazing, the workmanship was outstanding but something was always off with how it sounded.
That Intro Dave was Awesome!!!! I totally get what your saying about sentimental value, it doesn’t matter what the items are, as long as they mean something to you, that’s all that matters👍
I have 2. One, a cheap PRS SE that I got used. I didn't love it for the longest time. As I progressed in my playing and improved my setup and electronics, I grew to love it. She's like the little girl next door....it took a little growing up together to see her beauty. What really did it was a combo of my improved skill and new pickups that jived with my little tube amp
In 2007 I purchased the first Epiphone release of the Slash signature LP. It has the highly flamed Plus top, the Slash neck profile with the long tennon & the Slash signature Seymour Duncan pick up's as stock standard.. I got really lucky as it plays & feels incredible.. I actually prefer it over my 2012 Gibson LP
Hey Dave, Love this video. I have a 2003 LP Classic Plus and have the same attachment to it as you do to yours. I'd worked up from Westfield > Vintage and then bought my Epi when I was made permanent at my job in 2003. To me it felt like my first 'real' guitar as it was that much closer to a Gibson than anything before it. She is called Queenie and we celebrate 20 years together this August > she's had a set of Epi Slash pups for a while, but is going to get a new set of pups and fresh electronics/nut as a spritz later this year. She's happiest with a set of D'Addario 10-52 XL Regarding your guitar; it was made at the Samick Plant, Korea in September, 2002 Production Number: 12445
Hey Dave, excellent video as always! Man this brought back some memories of the exact same guitar I owned in the same finish, it was also weirdly my second guitar, sadly it was sold back in 2012. Now I am wishing I had kept it! Thanks for sharing.
1995 Strat my late dad bought me in 1996 when he over heard me practicing on a cheap acoustic at the age of 13... That guitar still has loads of life and influenced my daughter to play and now she is well on her way as the lead guitarist for a musical school. The guitar is mounted to my wall and forever a part of me and my dad and now myself and my daughter. It is only something guitar players would understand... Peace and Love from Boston! Happy Easter Dave :)
Man, my brother got a cheap acoustic from an outdoor market in Mexico in the '80's. I got in trouble many times for "borrowing" it. I was fascinated and wanted to figure it out. Sadly, I never got a guitar until I was in my 30's. I lament the 20+ years that I wasn't learning and playing. Your dad is the man!
What a wonderful video. All made perfect sense and quite touching too. I have an unbreakable bond with one of my guitars. 2002 was a significant year for me as it was when I first left the Isle of Wight (Small place off of the south coast of England that is permanently stuck in 1952). Maybe a made in 2002 guitar collection is on the cards for you…
Took over my friends 2001 Korean LP. Also in cherryburst. He used it a lot. Also on stage. I did a full refret with stainless frets because of heavy fretwear. It is not dull in sound (accoustic) and it wasn’t before the refret. I discovered it has a magogany cap under the flame veneer. So basically full mahogany guitar. Put in some classic 57 and 57+ from my 2013 tribute lp and love it. Still has original electronics in it. Swapped bridge tuners also. Had the guitar in my house for a while when he wanted to sell it. Do like the neck so I told him id take it. I won’t sell it. Good memories jamming together.
Very Cool, Thankyou. My first guitar an early 1980's Hondo "Fame" (with the Fender F, lol). Amazing one piece neck/fretboard with stainless frets, have recently got out of storage after 20 years, re-strung it and it works, has intonation issues that I struggle to correct so sounds slightly out of tune at times, but still love it, The neck/fretboard is SO amazing it makes me forget any other issues. Cheers
Hello Dave! Your playing gives vivid life to every dull piece of wood! Again outstanding!👏🏼🔥 And as soon as I heard it unplugged, the dull, lifeless sound reminded me on my first guitar: a 2014 black beauty Harley Benton LP style. But with a brass nut (self cast, compensated) and with a roller bridge, she sounds much better now. So, I suggest to try a roller bridge or a bridge with brass saddles, and maybe a light (aluminium) tailpiece. Does not cost much, but worth a try. Cheers
I have the black one same year made in Korea. To me is an amazing guitar and on the same fence as you. So much story with me after 20 years Playing it I think I manage to tweak my playing to make the guitar sound better than it sounds. Can’t explain what I mean but I love mine and it beat up coz it’s such a work horse 😊🤘🏻
My second guitar ever is a very similar story. It’s an Epi LP100 from 1996. Not a great guitar by any stretch, but it’s the first guitar I chose and I’m he memories of trying to play music with my mates is with that guitar. I couldn’t sell it. Hopefully one of my kids will play it one day and have just as much fun.
Dave your "first guitar" story reminds me of Vivian Campbell's, he ordered a gold top from his local shop, (to mimic Mark Bolan's guitar) but it never came in, ended up buying a wine red LP and immediately painted it black. He recorded the Holy Diver album with it and still has the guitar to this day.
I have a very similar story and absolutely understand. My first guitar was a Squier strat but my first GOOD guitar was a 2005 Epiphone Les Paul like yours. It was a gift from my parents and my most cherished and prized possession. Played it as my #1 for many years and have lots of memories with it. Though I own nicer Gibsons now, the Epiphone will never be sold and still gets played today more than 15 years later. I’m planning to mod it.
Our guitar jouney is pretty similar, I started with a Squier Strat and got the Epi Les Paul in 2005. I had a massive Slash phase and played it very much, but then barely touched it. About 1,5 years ago, I modded it massively - i replaced the entire electronics with high quality parts and swapped the crap pickups with Seymour Duncan Seth Lovers. The guitar sounds pretty good now I have to say. The neck does still feel a little weird though. I still like it and still play it when I feel like playing a Les Paul.
My parents never bought me a guitar but when one of brothers moved out of the house, he left a Decca electric guitar and a small amp behind. I took it of the wall and my dad took me to a local music shop for strings, a set up, and new tubes for the amp. I wish I still had it but another brother got his hand on it years later and stripped it down. I never saw it again but I did get a nice acoustic out of the deal which I still have.
I have one of those that i bought in 2005,and it was used when i purchased it,it's probably one of my favorite guitars that i have,great video Dave!!!!!!!!!
I love your enthusiasm for playing and the quality of your videos is always stellar mate. Please never stop! I also have kept my first ever guitar that my parents bought me. It's a Blueridge acoustic guitar, and although I've played dreadnoughts that sound better, I know I will have it for the rest of my life. How much you love an instrument and the emotional connection you make with it really matters. I feel like when I play it, I'm calling back to my younger days
Great story. Thanks for sharing. I'm a very sentimental person but I'm not sentimental about my first guitar. In fact, my first 4 guitars were all pieces of junk but I learned on them and then was lucky enough to score a Gibson Les Paul Custom a few years later (back when you could find affordable used ones) - so that's the one that's been by my side ever since. I've been through dozens of guitars over the years and I don't currently have any that I don't like - be it an Epiphone, Gibson, Fender or PRS - because I just can't afford to dedicate storage space to something that I don't like. Anyway, here's hoping you score a Gibson someday (if you want one) but even if you don't - you sound great on whichever guitar you play.
Interesting to hear all your stories with the guitar! My two SGs are both very sentimental to me. My Gibson SG Faded was my very first guitar and I bought an Epiphone SG as a backup to take to college with me when I started. I'm just a home player so don't necessarily have a lot of cool stories with them, but they were the two I started out on so I don't see ever being able to get rid of them. The Gibson especially still has my favorite neck on any guitar (though I've grown to prefer thicker-bodied guitars like Les Pauls and 339s/335s). I don't really care for playing the Epiphone, but can't see selling it due to the sentimental value. Also, while 3 out of 4 of my guitars are Epiphones (and the last one is a Gibson!), so I clearly like Epiphones quite a bit, I have noticed a range in quality when I occasionally demo them at guitar stores. Some of the gloss-finished Les Pauls especially have very chunky necks with quite sticky gloss that I don't care for, and the action is sometimes so low that it muffles the strings. If you ever get the chance, I'd recommend trying some of Epiphones worn satin Les Pauls like the Les Paul Traditional Pro (which I have though I'm not sure if they are sold outside of the US at Guitar Center) or the Les Paul Classic Worn. I think they do a really good job with the worn satin finishes (which I've always had a soft spot for, I think due to my Gibson SGs finish being similar), and most of those I've played are really good. I have noticed I prefer more medium neck dimensions. An Epiphone Dot I had and some of the Les Pauls I've played in stores have really large necks which I don't care for, while Gretsch's semihollows typically have thin necks, which I prefer over the really thick necks but which I still haven't overly bonded with. I noticed my Gibson SG and Epiphone ES-339 Pro had very similar neck feels (and the gloss on the 339 is one of the best glosses I've played), while my Les Paul's neck was thicker with a narrower fretboard. I believe the SG and 339 have C-shaped necks and the Les Paul a D-shaped neck. While I like them both and sometimes the narrower fretboard helps with some parts, I tend to prefer the slightly wider fretboard and slightly thinner necks on my 339 and SG. Probably going back to the SG being my first guitar. I think since it was a pretty high quality guitar, it ingrained preferences like the neck shape and satin feel into me.
I have an '89 Korean Epiphone Les Paul that I've brought up here before. I've owned it for 25+ years, and I have a mixed relationship with mine as well. Briefly, it was my only guitar for years and years, and it quickly became unplayable due to fret wear. I only got it refretted in 2018. Mine always sounded dull as well. To try to improve the sound, I pulled all of the wax out of the pickups, which helped a bit. Then, I tried unscrewing all the pole pieces. This meant that the pickups were a bit more like P90s, and overall, I preferred the sound. I'd recommend trying that to anyone who's considering throwing out a set of pickups. In addition to the pickups themselves, I felt the pickup covers always rattled and that those vibrations dulled the sound. I also had the bridge replaced with the refret as that had become rattly. A couple of months ago, I replaced the pickups with Wilkinson PAF style ones, so I'm getting to know the guitar again. I like it so far, but it still seems to lack high end. My next improvement will be to replace the electronics. Like you, I've got a sentimental attachment to it as it's been with me through some tough times.
These performance pieces are truly EPIC and inspiring. A window into an artist's soul. He bares it all for the whole world to feel and see in his own privacy. I think that's amazing.
I've had les Paul standards by epiphone. If they are set up right and the frets glued in properly and the fret edges sorted the nut files properly. They transform into really usable and excellent guitars. Just need a lot of fettling with . Once they are sorted properly they are actually a really lovely instrument.
Intro sounded great, so it's a shame to hear this story. I agree about Epi's these days. They seem disproportionately pricy now, although some do love them still. This is one reason I went for a Michael Kelly for an LP-style instrument in the end - that and the fact it had no pick-guard. Btw, regarding the pickups, did you ever try removing the covers to see if that helped with the muffling/dullness? And yes, you would of course keep it given the attached memories and meaning. I'm sure most of us can relate.
Great video.I still got Ibanez rg370dx my late father bought me some 20 years ago.I stopped playing it long time ago as I dont play heavy metal anymore.But It has a lot of sentimental value and its always around.Thinking about modding it in future so I could play it more.
Totally with you on Epiphone pickups. I bought an Epiphone SG Special in a super rare finish for shits and grins last year. It FEELS like my lovely black Gibson SG that I've had for ages... the neck is darn close... but the bridge pickup is muddy as all hell when distorted, plus a few minor QC issues. Maybe I was just spoiled rotten by having a Gibson SG all these years. Part of me wants to mod the hell out that Epiphone and have a second killer SG, but the other part of me wants to just hang on to it and resell it later due to the super rare finish.
Your song at the beginning sounded really cool. I like it I had a similar problem with the same kind of football (american, not your football) looking jack on my Ibanez. It was always coming loose and the wires had to be re-soldered a few times. The tech that fixed it gave me two suggestion. Together, they help massively. I"ve only had to tighten the screws minimally since. One is a right angle shaped cable (probably called a Lead where you are). It's smaller vertically and there's less to bump. Rightangle cables are awesome- point it towards the strap button and wrap it around. That holds everything better and makes it really tough to knock out. The other is to put a bit force on the jack while you are unplugging and pull out the cable at the metal, not the cord. Just a little opposite pressure holding it down helps. If you can get a finger over each screw, it's not going anywhere. Good luck! You have illustrated why les pauls are known for tuning stability issues. I see many epiphones that stay in tune better than gibsons because the angle isn't as extreme.
You really bring out the appreciation for a bad guitar. I have something like this that my parents bought me that I refuse to get rid of to. My old BC Rich Warlock starter guitar. It still sits in my closet for the sentimental value.
The intro was some of the most authentic, soulful guitar playing I've heard in quite some time. As unsolicited advice: put some good pickups in that Epi, and if that doesn't help you vibe with guitar, get it a fret job and set up by someone great at it. (It probably could benefit from slight neck relief of truss rod. There is a fine line between playable and optimal.) I only chime in about such because it would be so much better if you could love playing that guitar as much as you like the guitar in general. Happy rocking!
I totally understand your point of view when you say about sentimental value. I still have my first accoustic and first electric guitar. Accoustic (Kay K100) is absolutely unplayable now, but it hangs on the wall an will be with me 'till the end, because I got it from my father. I have a bit similar story with my first electric. As a teenager I went to music store with my mom and she bought me Defil Tosca (Polish guitar) and overdrive pedal. And this guitar is still with me and I still play it from time to time. My parrents passed some time ago and it is impossible for me to get rid of these guitars now. One unplayable, one not too good, but they are not just guitars, they are great memories.
When you showed how it sounds acoustically it reminded me of my Harley Benton Double Cut Junior guitar. The quality and craftmanship of it is ok but it doesn't sound good to me. Acoustically it has no bass, little low mids and a lot of treble. Sustain is ok but it's just very bright and the character of the brightness shows through my amplifiers. I think about selling it but I could only get 150 euros out of it. I can't really get anything better for that I think. I mean it doesn't weigh much, feels fine and has a solid setup. Sounds like a guitar. Maybe I'll put it in a different tuning or so
Nice! My second guitar was (is) a peavey reactor (tele) and I still have it. Got it for $99 in 2005, now the run $400-500. Nice, guitar, on par believe it or not with my USA Strat and USA made (Leo Fender on the headstock) 1986 G&L ASAT.
i also have a 2002 cherrtburst epi LP. once i had the pots, wire harness, jack replaced, threw in a decent set of p/u's, sanded the neck down it became a pretty good guitar. and yer still around 500 all said and done. and yeah i put grovers on mine too
I bought the same guitar the other day second hand, think it's '05 but otherwise identical. I'm also a fan of the hardware placement, I'd need to top wrap my Gibson if I wanted the tailpiece as close to the body without the strings touching the bridge. I still often play the Squier Strat I started with in the mid 90's despite having 'better' guitars, the pickup selector got snapped in half about 20 years ago and only position four has worked ever since but I've never considered retiring it.
Pretty much identical story for me. My first ever electric was a squire strat whatever the metal one was called without a scratchplatch and hss. After playing for a while i desperately wanted a les paul and bought the then brand new epi LP100 in 93. Its got gibson stamped in basic font on the truss rod cover. I will never part with it, its got dings and stickers etc on , but most importantly it has engrained in it so many happy memories of my youth, and it confirmed that i was fully in the LP shape fan club.
Just on first listen to this weeks episode of visiting "Dave's House of Guitars", the drama I hear in the space and size of what I'm hearing is rather Epic. Ascending and soaring, riffing and ripping it out of thin air, it's truly astonishing hearing this - I'm at 04:45 into this journey and honestly I wish of mine would be to have the ability - OR if I was given the chance to play this as it's here today only once and never again EVER - I'd take the opportunity - Like a first kiss or a hole in one, a home run or a first goal, the rest just are not ever the same. Usually I say a bunch of sarcastic hopefully amusing comments as we have a lot of serious folks here, so I took up the shield for humor and a bit of nonsense. But not today, so often Capt. Gravy here hits another Grand Slam of sonic perfection. "He's always making 🗽American comments like Grand Slams and home runs, soon enough it's going to be 426 Hemi Engines and Major League Baseball or the NHL". Sorry people from everywhere else, these our most often comparisons used for quick comments. Stopping now, so everyone now has to get up and go to the fridge for some ice cream 🍨🍧🍦 - Ta ta - ☕🫖ohhh look the kettle's on the boil - "Sally, BISQCUITS" as always, Thank you Dave - 🎸✌🤘🎸👍👏🎸
I still have mine it was my first guitar 🎸 mine is a heritage cherry burst custom a few years ago I felt the same about mine as you did I was at guitar fest in Birmingham in 2008 and got talking to a couple of people who were very helpful and interesting there advice was change pickups also electronic’s and pots also capacitors so I took the advice and that guitar sounds awesome and I still play it every week 🎸
Good story on your side :) My 1st guitar was a POS Encore B&W / Panda Les Paul style. It sucked rocks. I took it around the world to duty stations in the Army. I have pictures of it when I was in my 30's..don't know when it finally went to it's final reward. I had real guitars by then but GD that thing was God awful. I hated, HATED, LP style guitars until this year when I got a LP style PRS 245 and Soapbar II. The PTSD from that thing was that/soooo bad. Best Regards and Best Wishes!
I can really appreciate that sentimentality trumps practical considerations. I have a couple of instruments that are surplus to requirements, but I couldn't ever see myself getting rid of them, because they evoke memories I wish to keep.
My second guitar, which was also a LP style guitar, was purchased in 1995. It was Cruise branded, so made in Indonesia. It was worth about $250, and after spending about $400 in upgrades, it was worth about $250. White with chrome hardware and black plastic, looked like a LP studio standard, with binding around the body I don’t have it anymore, but my current LP helps me to forget!
I had a 1999 Epiphone standard that I bought used in 2001 and the nut had been changed for a tusk or bone nut, it also had Grover tuners on it although at the time I didnt know if they were stock or had been changed and it sounded great, the neck was nicely worn and was a C shape and although not a baseball bat it was wide, but I like wide (ish) necks ,my mate used to always pick that guitar up and play it whenever he visited and he eventually saved the money up to buy one but when we went to Electro Music in Doncaster to try some they were all very much like how yours sounded, dead, no life in the tone, he also tried a couple of Gretch Jets out and ended up buying one of them about a month later after travelling to Sheffield to try a couple of Epiphone LP's out and they were the same, I am certain the nut played a very large part in the tone of my Epiphone, that guitar was my backup for gigs and it got nicked at a gig, they left a Gibson and nicked the Epiphone so whoever nicked it did not know anything about the value of guitars.
Great video. I am the same with my second bass I brought. Just to say In the early 2010s I brought from Amazon Les Paul copy and a Jazz bass copy, both arrived damaged and I got my money back. The Les Paulc the electrics was bad to not work and the bass the neck was so bent the truss rod was bent and both would not stay in tune. So a few months later got an Ibanez bass. Which after a rebuild is still going strong today. Then got another rubbish Les Paul copy, That never kept tune. So now I have an Epiphone Les Paul gold top and Fender bass and strat. Plus the Ibanez.
My absolute favorite all things guitar channel. Please investigate the mighty Gibson SG. I was a die-hard Fender Strat devotee and decided to expand my experience to the Gibson solid body offerings. They are truly incredible instruments. Still love my Strats but Gibson has really stepped up recently.
For a guitar that's dull and doesn't feel good, the sentimental tone sure sounded amazing in that intro! 🙌
I totally get the attachment Dave. My parents bought me a $200 Yamaha acoustic for my 13th birthday back in ‘77. It was stolen about 5 yrs ago and I still get worked up when I think about it. Also, I regret every guitar/amp/pedal I sold when I was younger. Never again
I will never sell my last guitar last gun or last Harley I feel ya with all the regret. I also had a 1970 Rodgers drum kit that I traded a old fender contemporary for. I wish I had either of those back. Tried tracking down my old Strat with no luck. Maybe one day I’ll see it again. My drum kit is still out their somewhere as well. Living with regret sucks. Also had a 88 BC Rich Warlock I sold to guitar center in the 90s for a Marshall cab and head. Don’t have those either. Man I was dumb.
I feel for you Andrew. Been there!
Along my way I lost a Peavey Bandit 112 in 2001 that I bought new in 1997. Last year I found one just like it on CL so I had to buy it. It sounds as good as I remember and it's good to have an old friend back
I'm only 3 minutes and 45 seconds in and I had to pause and say wow that's one hell of a sick jam. It's really built.
Why pause? Did you need to get to a mirror so you wouldn't feel weird when talking to yourself? 🤔 I'm confused.
Just watching the intro - I started watching in early 2018 when id not long started playing thinking I will never be able to play like this man, now 5 solid years in on the guitar and I still think exactly the same haha.
I know where you are coming from mate. I might be crap but I enjoy myself so who cares ;)
Don’t say that mate. I thought the same I couldn’t get past playing basic chords and didn’t know any pentatonics. Now I feel like I’m quite close to Dave which isn’t me bragging or being big headed I’m just proud of how far I’ve came. I never learned apart from just playing myself. It’s true what Dave says. Music does really tell you what to play. Just keep at it
@Random Internet Man thanks for sharing that's encouraging!!
Also you might have the best name on CZcams
Never Quit! Trust me on that one. Few things bring as much joy as music even if you’re just smashing some barre chords through a distorted amp! 🤟🎸
Keep at it bud don't bite off more than you can chew the smallest rewards keep u motivated to play pick the easiest song you want to play and play it till it sounds great, that involves set up and tuning etc I'm lucky I played the album British steel for a year till I could somewhat pull it off so I was lucky I had that album most guys would've been sick of those songs by the second month lol
That is some very impressive improvisation Dave, 5 minutes in and you have defined the urgency and expressive range of electric guitar already! You are a hell of a good player mate.
I still own my Encore "hotrod" strat that my parents got me for my 18th birthday, it has traveled the world with me. I sold my Fenders and Gibsons but that, that I never could. The neck is horrible, the bridge will wound you pretty much any time you mute but by all that is metal, the ceramic humbucker in it screams. It's some super cheap uncovered humbucker but there is just something magic about the tone. Sentiment + tone = priceless.
It's not a guitar, it's a repository of memories. My first gig, jamming with my brother till 4am and trying to record music on my 486 with out of time midi drums (because the PC was bollocks). In it's wood, metal and plastic lies a life, a life I have shared with it for over 20 years. It was my first guitar, the first time I practiced till my fingers bled. It's worth so much more than I can put into words.
I had one around 1989 and wish i still had it. The humbucker pickup was amazing.
In the end memories are everything we have and everything we leave.
Hi Dave and all your adoring fans. This video really hit home on the power of a guitar to summon memories. I had to sell a guitar that was not worth a massive amount money-wise but I soon realised after it had gone that it meant a great deal to me personally. It was the guitar that had really rejuvenated my playing during lockdowns. The guy I sold it to was extremely kind in selling it back to me. Your video was the key to realising there is more to a guitar than its outward sel. So thank you, Maestro.
Dave, check the truss rod, on that guitar, and make sure it is positively engaged. I’ve had experience with guitars that were lifeless and dull sounding, because there was zero tension on the truss rod. One quick turn of the wrench, to engage the truss rod nut, brought them back to life. Since you haven’t done much setup work to it, it may be loose. Give it a check.
I was gonna mention this too, it seems to be just about ready to fret out almost everywhere on the neck. A truss rod adjustment (as well as a complete setup) may turn it around for you, at least enough to get it knocked off the worst guitar list
@@barryengle12666 That is an excellent suggestion, unless the neck is 'active' you are not going to extract all the tone the guitar is capable of delivering-I had a similar problem with my Epiphone 2004 335, despite this being a 'custom shop' & 'special edition' model, once I had adjusted the truss rod it came alive.
I could listen to you talk about your guitar obsession all day. Don’t ever change Dave you wonderful soul.
Nothing can replace the bond and memories you have with an instrument. The bond becomes stronger the more you work on the guitar without a luthier. I have an incredible Oswald Strat (thanks to Dave), but I equally love my first ever electric, a Yamaha Pacifica. I've personally crowned / leveled frets, rolled fingerboard and changed every single piece of hardware. The work and experience alone makes it equal to my Oswald ❤️🎶🎸
Dave is a fantastic guitar player NO MATTER what guitar.
Dude's got it.
It's kind of like Ed Van Halen, he bought old beater guitars and fixed them up to play how he wanted them to. Back in those days, Gibson and Fender guitars were more inexpensive than the crazy prices they want today.
Your guitar playing is off the charts and DRIPPING of emotion! I could learn so much from you!
What a lovely story, I have an Admira classical that my mum bought me when she had no spare cash. It is crap and priceless. Thanks little old lady, you are still the best.
Neck profile is simply another preference. Depending on the style of music and the previous guitars and the way that he frets chords, a player is probably going to prefer something different to you.
"Different strokes for different folks!"
In my case, I began my guitar journey by playing a steel string acoustic. Then I discovered Andres Segovia and bought a nylon string classical, with a very wide, very flat neck.
I have large hands and fingers, so I appreciated the wide finger board with widely spaced strings so that I did not muffle the open strings.
As far as electric, I too wanted a Gibson Les Paul, in part, because of its wider neck. However, I was NOT going to pay $5,000.00 USD for a damned guitar! 🙄
So, I bought a Fender Telecaster H/S for 20% of the cost of the Gibson. I LOVED that guitar, except for the little "broomstick" C-shaped neck.
This neck is great for your average "rock guitar" player, who wraps his hand around the neck, sometimes even sneaking his thumb over onto the finger board to fret a note. But for me, a classically trained guitarist, I am most comfortable, and my fingers can cover much more of the fretboard with my thumb resting on the flat of the back of the neck. 😎
Just another cool jam dave. The soul you get into your playing is just incredible 🎸🔥
My Mum and Dad bought me a Hohner Arbor edition Les Paul from GAK in Brighton when I was about 12 years old.
I'd coo'd over it months earlier as I was Les Paul obsessed thanks to Gary Moore and Slash. Xmas morning was an absolute shock, I never expected it and it's still with me. I've got many, 'better' and more expensive guitars but that one the one I'd run back into a burning building to rescue!
Great story many of can relate to 😀👍
I have a 2001 korean les paul similar to yours, had it for over 10 years and had the same issues with the tone, so i changed the pickups and electronics and the bridge and now its sounds unreal, absolutely screams 👌👌
+1 I have a 1997 Korean Gold Top, and I've upgraded the pickups, pots, switches, tailpiece/tuneomatic, nut and tuners. And boom, it's more than alive! Maybe more pleasure to get with your beloved guitar! I can't get rid of my first guitars, and i alsmost regret any gear i've sold in the past because i was just as happy as you were when i got these...
Very cool video, bro. My first Les Paul was a 1994 Korean made standard in cherry sunburst and I got it for about 250 dollars with a hard case. Really hated the microphonic pickups and swapped them for a set of SD SH-6 and now it's one of my favorite guitars even after I got a real Gibson and many Fenders!! Korean Epi's deserve some love I think!!
The mid-90s were a major turning point for korean quality, most of the 80s ones were crap by comparison, and I've played my share of both...either way there's much room for improvement regarding hardware/electronics, but the build quality started getting much more consistent from the 90s on
@@jasondorsey7110 The squier ii strats from Korea are really tight. 92-94ish. We had a few in the store i used to work in. I bought the white one that was missing some parts. Was less cuz missing stuff, bridge was broken. They gave it to me for $65. The black minty ones were about $200. WAY more now... Like the pickups and pots. No worries, threw some monsters in there. The JB that is single coil sized in the bridge with a coil tap. I started with Fender Noiseless, but they were kinda wimpy sounding. Ended up with texas specials that our tech had in his drawer.
The bridge was weird. Tech had a Lefty Mim strat trem in a drawer. He said I could have it, but install was like 2 hours, he'd only charge me for one. This dude knows how to get that kind of bridge to handle a lot more whammying without going out of tune. More springs for the win. Total, it cost like 300. I sold it for $1,500 because this guy had to have it... it was nice. he was rich. he wasn't going to say no, that was as far as he would go. I wish i didn't sell it...
The tech and store manager loved me because I got rid of two problems of theirs with one move. This jerk kept buying guitars and playing them for just less than the 30 days policy. Seven, eight guitars over $2,000. Then he'd return. Usually pretty scratched up. Tech had this awesome one that he made in a case. It looked like Fire. Had a Floyd Rose. The real one, not the jackson crap this guy kept trying and hating.
He came in and I showed it to him. Was $2,500. He played it and loved it. We said because of the fragile nature of the cutout, he couldnt return it. He agreed. Tech was glad to sell it so he could fund another one. he still hooks me up like crazy but i havent really played much for a while
Out-freaking-standing intro jam! ALL the feels with that one, keep up the great work, love the channel.
100% understand. And by the way, it sounded fantastic when you played it! Sentimental value is so much more important than actual value! Your parents worked hard to get you a gift they knew was important for you. They could have spent that money on all kinds of other projects they had in mind. But instead, they shared this experience to get you something that has obviously made a great impact on your life. That's what families do! BTW, I had a Les Paul Modern USA $2999. and a Les Paul Modern Epiphone $549 Guitar. Ended up selling my USA model because even though it was a slightly better guitar, it was not enough better to justify the $$$ difference for me. Thank you for sharing your story and keep playing your Epi LP as it sounded great to my ears!
This neck is a beehive. It needs either a straightening (ski jump, not easy) or a good fret levelling (easy). In the latter case, the guitar can be saved with just a little work.
Dull pick-ups could be replaced cheaply now but before doing that I would check the pot values. If they are not 500K (Gibson is known to use lower values, maybe Epiphone did that too once), they need to be and the tone pots ought to be replaced with no-load pots so they act as disconnected when on 10. All this would brighten the sound. One further cheap mod is to rewire it so only one set of volume/tone controls is used for both pick-ups. It would only affect the middle position, of course, but suppress the halving of the pot values that effectively takes place when connecting both sets of controls in parallel (which further dulls out the middle position sound).
Gibson was using 300k pots in all their USA guitars until around 2014/2015 or so and when they went back to 500k they were purchasing 500k pots with a very wide tolerance range . Some were as high as 560k and some as low as 420k . Which is probably why you would get some guitars with 57 classic pickups that were muddy and then the next guitar with the same pickups would by very bright and harsh .
I would imagine Epi was using 300k as well and very cheap ones at that .
Those early 2000s Epis also had no maple caps and I find les Paul's without Maple caps to be extra stodgy or Muffled sounding with alot if low mids .
i absolutely love your jams and the emotion you put into them.
Awesome video Dave, especially part when you talk about your memories! Thank you so much!
My Epiphone Les Paul was made at the Unsung plant in Korea in 1997. It came with an Epiphone branded Bigsby. I've never adjusted the neck. It has Gotoh pickups from a Tokai ES-100, Gotoh locking tuners with green buttons, PIO tone caps, Gibson pots and pickup switch and roller saddles from Guitarfetish. And somehow apart from worn frets, it has no scratches, dings or anything. And it's a keeper.
I have one from that era mik I love it mine feels as good as any expensive one I've ever played it still has all its original stuff works great
Love that reverb sound at 4.30 !!
fantastic,bloody intro, just wow! i think you have achieved what the truly great musicians do,playing from the heart,soul,cosmos,ect. wherever it comes from. i can tell watching you dave that it feels great when you connect with your instrument,and it seems like you always connect with it! when i play ,if i play for an hour,say,it takes me about a half hour before i start to "feel' it,and i seem to wear out pretty quickly,of course im 53! any ways, what im trying to say is i think youve reached a high level of playing,keep up the great work,spreading the joy of music to others,i wish i lived in the uk so i could see your band!
My ex-wife made me throw out the guitar my parents bought me because it was unplayable... In hindsight, I wish I'd ignored her... 😢
Don't see how a wife can make you do anything it's just beyond me what is she gonna do, leave well by b..ch!
Thanks Sir Dave for another good, informative video. i think that it's so cool that your mum & dad took you to the music store & bought you a guitar.
Thanks for the story, Dave.
Your logic feels similar to the reasons for keeping my cheap Ibanez acoustic. Bought it from a work colleague,for £50 in 2014, and it plays/sounds like a cheap acoustic, despite my best efforts to set it up properly and buying nicer strings etc; durign the first lockdown I finally grew sufficiently frustrated with it that, when restrictions eased that summer, I bought a Guild which makes me very happy. However, that Ibanez got me back into playing after a 20+ year hiatus, I learned a lot from it (mostly bad habits), took it to my first ever jamming session with friends, and that makes me very fond of the guitar, even if I have no urge to play it just now. If it wasn't for the Ibanez, I wouldn't have bought my first bass (or the second one . . .), or a decent electric guitar. I'd happily donate it to a friend or a friend's kid if they wanted to learn, but have no interest in selling it.
Thank you for your loving personal guitar story. Memories of your parents are the best reason to keep this guitar forever.
I sold my first guitar from age 5, my first electric LP copy received at Christmas at age 14, my first Stratocaster, first 12 string Ovation, first nylon classical guitar, bought at age 20, and a Chapman Stick. They weren't all sold at once, but all were special. Selling them gave me a feeling of loss at the moment; but not long afterward I felt good about all of those sales. I got money and was rid of things that were taking space in my life and not being used.
Do I wish I had any of them now? No. I've had similar feelings of relief when selling cars and other things. For a while I lived in a minivan. I had to get rid of a 10' X 16' storage unit full of items. I sold many things, gave away a few things, and brought most of the things to the dump. When all the things were gone, I felt tremendous relief and freedom to not be attached to all of those things.
Now I own two guitars. One of them arrived today. Which is one too many. I also own one ukulele and bongos. I don't want to own multiple guitars. I play the one I like most all of the time. Why have two when I only play one? If I were a professional guitarist there would be at least two. Backup instruments and amps are required when it is one's job. If I were performing the music of other people, even more guitars might be needed to recreate tones, if that were really required. At least one acoustic guitar would be owned.
I've heard Eric Johnson play Cliffs of Dover on a 335 and his Stratocaster. I liked both performances. It's not the instrument that makes the performance. It is the quality of the performance that makes a show great, not the instruments used. Knowing that is why I don't feel the need to have many guitars taking up space in my life.
Sell the things that you don't use. Get some money for them and enjoy the greater mental clarity from having less possessions. Record your guitars on video and audio. Take some photographs. Then let them go. Let somebody else use them all of the time as their favorite guitars.
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 fantastic playing. You are getting better and better. About time Andertons do a 'sounds like Dave Simpson'
In know exactly how you feel. I still have my first acoustic guitar that my parents bought for me in 1972. It's a Yamaha folk guitar. It is completely unplayable at the point. The first 5 frets are almost worn down to the fretboard. The bridge is lifting from the body and the pickguard is falling off. But, I will never part from it. Too much emotional and sentimental value. Too many wonderful memories. I also still have my first electric guitar that I bought in 1978. It's a Epiphone Wilshire. It is still playable. Great video!
That guitar is a symbol of your love for the instrument. That can be very inspirational when you see it, pick it up and play it! I part exchanged my first guitar (a Jedson tele in the 70's) and wish I hadn't. I have got several guitars that I have made from scratch (copy of a Martin 000 16m, a variant of an LP junior and a 3 string bass) that fill this role for me now. Thanks for sharing Dave!
Top stuff and totally relatable. I've a Hohner MXJ my parents bought me as my first guitar. I'll never sell it.....again. Sold it to a school mate at 16, then bumped into him 20+ years later and ended up buying it back. It's made from layers and layers of tone wood and has a similar sounding, massive and flat D shaped neck.
I never truly appreciated at the time what a massive thing it was at that my parents, who weren't from musical families, recognised what a great gift it would be.
I can understand exactly what you are talking about, memories are precious in our lives, and that guitar can never be replaced by anything Thank you for the great jam and video, Dave. ✌✌✌✌🤘✌✌✌✌👍
I’m just going through your videos dave and I agree with what your saying. Sometimes guitars we have don’t carry a tune but they carry memories so that makes them priceless. Keep the videos coming dave 👍🏻
I really love and appreciate what you had to say about your guitar. It's been through many personal and cherished moments in your life. Cheers, man!
I can understand why it means so much to you. I have an Edwards LP that I'll be giving my son soon. I hope that he values that guitar 1/4 of what you value this epiphone.
Thank you for sharing another bit of yourself in the playing and your story. I don't know you, Dave but thank you, this was very personal 💕💕
I do second that, I had a £1300 Japanese tokai love rock once and the epi 50s standard I now have is much better, it shouldn't be mind. Maybe the tokai was just a dud, it looked amazing, the workmanship was outstanding but something was always off with how it sounded.
Great info. I love honest criticism. Very reassuring, so few guitars are perfect. Thanks
That Intro Dave was Awesome!!!!
I totally get what your saying about sentimental value, it doesn’t matter what the items are, as long as they mean something to you, that’s all that matters👍
Man, that is beautiful story, Dave. I wish I can find a guitar I love at least a tenth of how much you love this one.
I have 2. One, a cheap PRS SE that I got used. I didn't love it for the longest time. As I progressed in my playing and improved my setup and electronics, I grew to love it. She's like the little girl next door....it took a little growing up together to see her beauty.
What really did it was a combo of my improved skill and new pickups that jived with my little tube amp
In 2007 I purchased the first Epiphone release of the Slash signature LP. It has the highly flamed Plus top, the Slash neck profile with the long tennon & the Slash signature Seymour Duncan pick up's as stock standard.. I got really lucky as it plays & feels incredible.. I actually prefer it over my 2012 Gibson LP
Hey Dave,
Love this video. I have a 2003 LP Classic Plus and have the same attachment to it as you do to yours.
I'd worked up from Westfield > Vintage and then bought my Epi when I was made permanent at my job in 2003.
To me it felt like my first 'real' guitar as it was that much closer to a Gibson than anything before it. She is called Queenie and we celebrate 20 years together this August > she's had a set of Epi Slash pups for a while, but is going to get a new set of pups and fresh electronics/nut as a spritz later this year.
She's happiest with a set of D'Addario 10-52 XL
Regarding your guitar; it was made at the
Samick Plant, Korea in September, 2002
Production Number: 12445
What would make an absolute fantastic video is you at Crimson recarving that neck profile and doing the electronics.
Truly awesome playing!👍👏 puts me in mind of Neil Young's guitar jams on Like A Hurricane.
Always blown away Dave. You are an inspiration. Thaky you my brother!
Hey Dave, excellent video as always! Man this brought back some memories of the exact same guitar I owned in the same finish, it was also weirdly my second guitar, sadly it was sold back in 2012. Now I am wishing I had kept it! Thanks for sharing.
1995 Strat my late dad bought me in 1996 when he over heard me practicing on a cheap acoustic at the age of 13... That guitar still has loads of life and influenced my daughter to play and now she is well on her way as the lead guitarist for a musical school. The guitar is mounted to my wall and forever a part of me and my dad and now myself and my daughter. It is only something guitar players would understand... Peace and Love from Boston! Happy Easter Dave :)
Man, my brother got a cheap acoustic from an outdoor market in Mexico in the '80's. I got in trouble many times for "borrowing" it. I was fascinated and wanted to figure it out.
Sadly, I never got a guitar until I was in my 30's. I lament the 20+ years that I wasn't learning and playing.
Your dad is the man!
What a wonderful video. All made perfect sense and quite touching too. I have an unbreakable bond with one of my guitars. 2002 was a significant year for me as it was when I first left the Isle of Wight (Small place off of the south coast of England that is permanently stuck in 1952). Maybe a made in 2002 guitar collection is on the cards for you…
Took over my friends 2001 Korean LP. Also in cherryburst. He used it a lot. Also on stage.
I did a full refret with stainless frets because of heavy fretwear. It is not dull in sound (accoustic) and it wasn’t before the refret.
I discovered it has a magogany cap under the flame veneer. So basically full mahogany guitar.
Put in some classic 57 and 57+ from my 2013 tribute lp and love it. Still has original electronics in it. Swapped bridge tuners also.
Had the guitar in my house for a while when he wanted to sell it. Do like the neck so I told him id take it.
I won’t sell it. Good memories jamming together.
Very Cool, Thankyou. My first guitar an early 1980's Hondo "Fame" (with the Fender F, lol). Amazing one piece neck/fretboard with stainless frets, have recently got out of storage after 20 years, re-strung it and it works, has intonation issues that I struggle to correct so sounds slightly out of tune at times, but still love it, The neck/fretboard is SO amazing it makes me forget any other issues. Cheers
Hello Dave!
Your playing gives vivid life to every dull piece of wood! Again outstanding!👏🏼🔥
And as soon as I heard it unplugged, the dull, lifeless sound reminded me on my first guitar: a 2014 black beauty Harley Benton LP style. But with a brass nut (self cast, compensated) and with a roller bridge, she sounds much better now.
So, I suggest to try a roller bridge or a bridge with brass saddles, and maybe a light (aluminium) tailpiece. Does not cost much, but worth a try.
Cheers
Hi Dave,I own a 2011 epiphone traditional pro, love it, I stuck gibson classic 57 and 57+ pickups in it, sounds mint
cheers
Matt
I have the black one same year made in Korea. To me is an amazing guitar and on the same fence as you. So much story with me after 20 years Playing it I think I manage to tweak my playing to make the guitar sound better than it sounds. Can’t explain what I mean but I love mine and it beat up coz it’s such a work horse 😊🤘🏻
02:14 Officially blown away now, awesome intro Dave! 👌❤️
Sometimes the worst things bring out the best of you. What a frikking cool intro man!!
Whooohoooo!!!!🎉❤
Dave,
The newer inspired by Gibson range of Epiphone guitars are superb guitars compared with older versions.👍👌
My second guitar ever is a very similar story. It’s an Epi LP100 from 1996. Not a great guitar by any stretch, but it’s the first guitar I chose and I’m he memories of trying to play music with my mates is with that guitar. I couldn’t sell it. Hopefully one of my kids will play it one day and have just as much fun.
Dave your "first guitar" story reminds me of Vivian Campbell's, he ordered a gold top from his local shop, (to mimic Mark Bolan's guitar) but it never came in, ended up buying a wine red LP and immediately painted it black. He recorded the Holy Diver album with it and still has the guitar to this day.
You're great man...love your way of playing,the sound and feeling 👍👍👍🎸❤️
I have a very similar story and absolutely understand. My first guitar was a Squier strat but my first GOOD guitar was a 2005 Epiphone Les Paul like yours. It was a gift from my parents and my most cherished and prized possession. Played it as my #1 for many years and have lots of memories with it. Though I own nicer Gibsons now, the Epiphone will never be sold and still gets played today more than 15 years later. I’m planning to mod it.
Our guitar jouney is pretty similar, I started with a Squier Strat and got the Epi Les Paul in 2005. I had a massive Slash phase and played it very much, but then barely touched it. About 1,5 years ago, I modded it massively - i replaced the entire electronics with high quality parts and swapped the crap pickups with Seymour Duncan Seth Lovers. The guitar sounds pretty good now I have to say. The neck does still feel a little weird though. I still like it and still play it when I feel like playing a Les Paul.
My parents never bought me a guitar but when one of brothers moved out of the house, he left a Decca electric guitar and a small amp behind. I took it of the wall and my dad took me to a local music shop for strings, a set up, and new tubes for the amp. I wish I still had it but another brother got his hand on it years later and stripped it down. I never saw it again but I did get a nice acoustic out of the deal which I still have.
I have one of those that i bought in 2005,and it was used when i purchased it,it's probably one of my favorite guitars that i have,great video Dave!!!!!!!!!
I love your enthusiasm for playing and the quality of your videos is always stellar mate. Please never stop!
I also have kept my first ever guitar that my parents bought me. It's a Blueridge acoustic guitar, and although I've played dreadnoughts that sound better, I know I will have it for the rest of my life. How much you love an instrument and the emotional connection you make with it really matters. I feel like when I play it, I'm calling back to my younger days
Dude, when I list the guitarist I look up to. You are at the top of that list.
Great story. Thanks for sharing. I'm a very sentimental person but I'm not sentimental about my first guitar. In fact, my first 4 guitars were all pieces of junk but I learned on them and then was lucky enough to score a Gibson Les Paul Custom a few years later (back when you could find affordable used ones) - so that's the one that's been by my side ever since. I've been through dozens of guitars over the years and I don't currently have any that I don't like - be it an Epiphone, Gibson, Fender or PRS - because I just can't afford to dedicate storage space to something that I don't like. Anyway, here's hoping you score a Gibson someday (if you want one) but even if you don't - you sound great on whichever guitar you play.
Good Stuff Dave!!! Some Great Guitar History There.....Music Can Take You Right Back. - 👍
Interesting to hear all your stories with the guitar! My two SGs are both very sentimental to me. My Gibson SG Faded was my very first guitar and I bought an Epiphone SG as a backup to take to college with me when I started. I'm just a home player so don't necessarily have a lot of cool stories with them, but they were the two I started out on so I don't see ever being able to get rid of them. The Gibson especially still has my favorite neck on any guitar (though I've grown to prefer thicker-bodied guitars like Les Pauls and 339s/335s). I don't really care for playing the Epiphone, but can't see selling it due to the sentimental value.
Also, while 3 out of 4 of my guitars are Epiphones (and the last one is a Gibson!), so I clearly like Epiphones quite a bit, I have noticed a range in quality when I occasionally demo them at guitar stores. Some of the gloss-finished Les Pauls especially have very chunky necks with quite sticky gloss that I don't care for, and the action is sometimes so low that it muffles the strings.
If you ever get the chance, I'd recommend trying some of Epiphones worn satin Les Pauls like the Les Paul Traditional Pro (which I have though I'm not sure if they are sold outside of the US at Guitar Center) or the Les Paul Classic Worn. I think they do a really good job with the worn satin finishes (which I've always had a soft spot for, I think due to my Gibson SGs finish being similar), and most of those I've played are really good.
I have noticed I prefer more medium neck dimensions. An Epiphone Dot I had and some of the Les Pauls I've played in stores have really large necks which I don't care for, while Gretsch's semihollows typically have thin necks, which I prefer over the really thick necks but which I still haven't overly bonded with. I noticed my Gibson SG and Epiphone ES-339 Pro had very similar neck feels (and the gloss on the 339 is one of the best glosses I've played), while my Les Paul's neck was thicker with a narrower fretboard. I believe the SG and 339 have C-shaped necks and the Les Paul a D-shaped neck. While I like them both and sometimes the narrower fretboard helps with some parts, I tend to prefer the slightly wider fretboard and slightly thinner necks on my 339 and SG. Probably going back to the SG being my first guitar. I think since it was a pretty high quality guitar, it ingrained preferences like the neck shape and satin feel into me.
I have an '89 Korean Epiphone Les Paul that I've brought up here before. I've owned it for 25+ years, and I have a mixed relationship with mine as well. Briefly, it was my only guitar for years and years, and it quickly became unplayable due to fret wear. I only got it refretted in 2018.
Mine always sounded dull as well. To try to improve the sound, I pulled all of the wax out of the pickups, which helped a bit. Then, I tried unscrewing all the pole pieces. This meant that the pickups were a bit more like P90s, and overall, I preferred the sound. I'd recommend trying that to anyone who's considering throwing out a set of pickups. In addition to the pickups themselves, I felt the pickup covers always rattled and that those vibrations dulled the sound. I also had the bridge replaced with the refret as that had become rattly.
A couple of months ago, I replaced the pickups with Wilkinson PAF style ones, so I'm getting to know the guitar again. I like it so far, but it still seems to lack high end. My next improvement will be to replace the electronics. Like you, I've got a sentimental attachment to it as it's been with me through some tough times.
What’s up brother Dave?! love the channel.. sounds great!🎸
These performance pieces are truly EPIC and inspiring. A window into an artist's soul. He bares it all for the whole world to feel and see in his own privacy. I think that's amazing.
I've had les Paul standards by epiphone. If they are set up right and the frets glued in properly and the fret edges sorted the nut files properly. They transform into really usable and excellent guitars. Just need a lot of fettling with . Once they are sorted properly they are actually a really lovely instrument.
Intro sounded great, so it's a shame to hear this story. I agree about Epi's these days. They seem disproportionately pricy now, although some do love them still. This is one reason I went for a Michael Kelly for an LP-style instrument in the end - that and the fact it had no pick-guard. Btw, regarding the pickups, did you ever try removing the covers to see if that helped with the muffling/dullness? And yes, you would of course keep it given the attached memories and meaning. I'm sure most of us can relate.
Great video.I still got Ibanez rg370dx my late father bought me some 20 years ago.I stopped playing it long time ago as I dont play heavy metal anymore.But It has a lot of sentimental value and its always around.Thinking about modding it in future so I could play it more.
Totally with you on Epiphone pickups. I bought an Epiphone SG Special in a super rare finish for shits and grins last year. It FEELS like my lovely black Gibson SG that I've had for ages... the neck is darn close... but the bridge pickup is muddy as all hell when distorted, plus a few minor QC issues. Maybe I was just spoiled rotten by having a Gibson SG all these years. Part of me wants to mod the hell out that Epiphone and have a second killer SG, but the other part of me wants to just hang on to it and resell it later due to the super rare finish.
Your song at the beginning sounded really cool. I like it
I had a similar problem with the same kind of football (american, not your football) looking jack on my Ibanez. It was always coming loose and the wires had to be re-soldered a few times. The tech that fixed it gave me two suggestion. Together, they help massively. I"ve only had to tighten the screws minimally since.
One is a right angle shaped cable (probably called a Lead where you are). It's smaller vertically and there's less to bump. Rightangle cables are awesome- point it towards the strap button and wrap it around. That holds everything better and makes it really tough to knock out. The other is to put a bit force on the jack while you are unplugging and pull out the cable at the metal, not the cord. Just a little opposite pressure holding it down helps. If you can get a finger over each screw, it's not going anywhere.
Good luck!
You have illustrated why les pauls are known for tuning stability issues. I see many epiphones that stay in tune better than gibsons because the angle isn't as extreme.
You really bring out the appreciation for a bad guitar. I have something like this that my parents bought me that I refuse to get rid of to. My old BC Rich Warlock starter guitar. It still sits in my closet for the sentimental value.
The intro was some of the most authentic, soulful guitar playing I've heard in quite some time.
As unsolicited advice: put some good pickups in that Epi, and if that doesn't help you vibe with guitar, get it a fret job and set up by someone great at it. (It probably could benefit from slight neck relief of truss rod. There is a fine line between playable and optimal.) I only chime in about such because it would be so much better if you could love playing that guitar as much as you like the guitar in general.
Happy rocking!
I totally understand your point of view when you say about sentimental value. I still have my first accoustic and first electric guitar. Accoustic (Kay K100) is absolutely unplayable now, but it hangs on the wall an will be with me 'till the end, because I got it from my father. I have a bit similar story with my first electric. As a teenager I went to music store with my mom and she bought me Defil Tosca (Polish guitar) and overdrive pedal. And this guitar is still with me and I still play it from time to time. My parrents passed some time ago and it is impossible for me to get rid of these guitars now. One unplayable, one not too good, but they are not just guitars, they are great memories.
When you showed how it sounds acoustically it reminded me of my Harley Benton Double Cut Junior guitar. The quality and craftmanship of it is ok but it doesn't sound good to me. Acoustically it has no bass, little low mids and a lot of treble. Sustain is ok but it's just very bright and the character of the brightness shows through my amplifiers. I think about selling it but I could only get 150 euros out of it. I can't really get anything better for that I think. I mean it doesn't weigh much, feels fine and has a solid setup. Sounds like a guitar. Maybe I'll put it in a different tuning or so
Nice! My second guitar was (is) a peavey reactor (tele) and I still have it. Got it for $99 in 2005, now the run $400-500. Nice, guitar, on par believe it or not with my USA Strat and USA made (Leo Fender on the headstock) 1986 G&L ASAT.
i also have a 2002 cherrtburst epi LP. once i had the pots, wire harness, jack replaced, threw in a decent set of p/u's, sanded the neck down it became a pretty good guitar. and yer still around 500 all said and done. and yeah i put grovers on mine too
I bought the same guitar the other day second hand, think it's '05 but otherwise identical. I'm also a fan of the hardware placement, I'd need to top wrap my Gibson if I wanted the tailpiece as close to the body without the strings touching the bridge. I still often play the Squier Strat I started with in the mid 90's despite having 'better' guitars, the pickup selector got snapped in half about 20 years ago and only position four has worked ever since but I've never considered retiring it.
Pretty much identical story for me. My first ever electric was a squire strat whatever the metal one was called without a scratchplatch and hss. After playing for a while i desperately wanted a les paul and bought the then brand new epi LP100 in 93. Its got gibson stamped in basic font on the truss rod cover. I will never part with it, its got dings and stickers etc on , but most importantly it has engrained in it so many happy memories of my youth, and it confirmed that i was fully in the LP shape fan club.
Just on first listen to this weeks episode of visiting "Dave's House of Guitars", the drama I hear in the space and size of what I'm hearing is rather Epic. Ascending and soaring, riffing and ripping it out of thin air, it's truly astonishing hearing this - I'm at 04:45 into this journey and honestly I wish of mine would be to have the ability - OR if I was given the chance to play this as it's here today only once and never again EVER - I'd take the opportunity - Like a first kiss or a hole in one, a home run or a first goal, the rest just are not ever the same.
Usually I say a bunch of sarcastic hopefully amusing comments as we have a lot of serious folks here, so I took up the shield for humor and a bit of nonsense. But not today, so often Capt. Gravy here hits another Grand Slam of sonic perfection. "He's always making 🗽American comments like Grand Slams and home runs, soon enough it's going to be 426 Hemi Engines and Major League Baseball or the NHL". Sorry people from everywhere else, these our most often comparisons used for quick comments. Stopping now, so everyone now has to get up and go to the fridge for some ice cream 🍨🍧🍦 - Ta ta - ☕🫖ohhh look the kettle's on the boil - "Sally, BISQCUITS" as always, Thank you Dave - 🎸✌🤘🎸👍👏🎸
Great life story, and i can relate! Music touches the soul for those who truly love it.
I still have mine it was my first guitar 🎸 mine is a heritage cherry burst custom a few years ago I felt the same about mine as you did I was at guitar fest in Birmingham in 2008 and got talking to a couple of people who were very helpful and interesting there advice was change pickups also electronic’s and pots also capacitors so I took the advice and that guitar sounds awesome and I still play it every week 🎸
One thing that makes a much bigger difference than you'd expect is swapping the plastic topnut for graphtek or bone..
Good story on your side :) My 1st guitar was a POS Encore B&W / Panda Les Paul style. It sucked rocks. I took it around the world to duty stations in the Army. I have pictures of it when I was in my 30's..don't know when it finally went to it's final reward. I had real guitars by then but GD that thing was God awful. I hated, HATED, LP style guitars until this year when I got a LP style PRS 245 and Soapbar II. The PTSD from that thing was that/soooo bad.
Best Regards and Best Wishes!
I can really appreciate that sentimentality trumps practical considerations. I have a couple of instruments that are surplus to requirements, but I couldn't ever see myself getting rid of them, because they evoke memories I wish to keep.
I totally get it, I got a les pual jr from a rocksmith kit in 2015. But I still play mine on the regular. The memories build the love.
My second guitar, which was also a LP style guitar, was purchased in 1995. It was Cruise branded, so made in Indonesia. It was worth about $250, and after spending about $400 in upgrades, it was worth about $250. White with chrome hardware and black plastic, looked like a LP studio standard, with binding around the body
I don’t have it anymore, but my current LP helps me to forget!
Awe Dave my man, I needed that intro like air.😊
I had a 1999 Epiphone standard that I bought used in 2001 and the nut had been changed for a tusk or bone nut, it also had Grover tuners on it although at the time I didnt know if they were stock or had been changed and it sounded great, the neck was nicely worn and was a C shape and although not a baseball bat it was wide, but I like wide (ish) necks ,my mate used to always pick that guitar up and play it whenever he visited and he eventually saved the money up to buy one but when we went to Electro Music in Doncaster to try some they were all very much like how yours sounded, dead, no life in the tone, he also tried a couple of Gretch Jets out and ended up buying one of them about a month later after travelling to Sheffield to try a couple of Epiphone LP's out and they were the same, I am certain the nut played a very large part in the tone of my Epiphone, that guitar was my backup for gigs and it got nicked at a gig, they left a Gibson and nicked the Epiphone so whoever nicked it did not know anything about the value of guitars.
Great video. I am the same with my second bass I brought. Just to say In the early 2010s I brought from Amazon Les Paul copy and a Jazz bass copy, both arrived damaged and I got my money back. The Les Paulc the electrics was bad to not work and the bass the neck was so bent the truss rod was bent and both would not stay in tune. So a few months later got an Ibanez bass. Which after a rebuild is still going strong today. Then got another rubbish Les Paul copy, That never kept tune. So now I have an Epiphone Les Paul gold top and Fender bass and strat. Plus the Ibanez.
My absolute favorite all things guitar channel. Please investigate the mighty Gibson SG. I was a die-hard Fender Strat devotee and decided to expand my experience to the Gibson solid body offerings. They are truly incredible instruments. Still love my Strats but Gibson has really stepped up recently.