Epiphone VS Gibson

[OLD GUITAR PLAYER]

It was a special day to visit the factory and guys that G&L .. almost a pilgrimage in a funny way..
I grew up on Fender’s and played a musicman sterling bass for a while.. so to hold and play the prototype bass was a pretty special moment..

I’ve also got that amp set up in your photo (HD150 I think) but with black logo badges.. I seemed to have gravitated to U Leo’s inventions without really knowing it..
and I concur with your sentiments in regards to U Leo’s build quality..

On a side note: Leo was very hard of hearing (and he refused to wear hearing aids).
So that amp was usually dimed! I usually wore earplugs, and I wasn't the only one.
As I recall, that was a Musicman twin setting on a bass reflex cab with a 15" Altec.

 

[MarcB]

Leo

A fascinating man.. couldn’t play guitar, deaf, only one eye but owned a speed boat lol..
..a design genius..

the fact that you met and knew him is phenomenal.. I salute you.

 

[gmann]

It takes some getting used too but I have grown to like it on my Casino

Well it’s correct for a Casino.

 

[OLD GUITAR PLAYER]

A fascinating man.. couldn’t play guitar, deaf, only one eye but owned a speed boat lol..
..a design genius..

the fact that you met and knew him is phenomenal.. I salute you.

You are very kind...
Actually, Forrest White introduced me to Leo in 1979. Forrest had been VP at Fender Pre-CBS (1955-65),
and the person instrumental in converting Fender Instruments from a boutique shop, into a real factory.
Forrest had already crafted large factories for several corporations, prior to Fender. Actually, Forrest had
been modernizing Rohr Aircraft in Riverside, when Leo decided to bring him to modernize his plant. At the
time I met Leo, Forrest was the VP at MusicMan (prior to the Ernie & Sterling Ball purchasing it). However,
I'd first met Forrest back in 1972, when I was the Guitar Teacher at McFarlins Music, in Riverside.

 

[LeonC]

I haven't owned a modern, foreign-made Epiphone. I own a US-made (Kalamazoo) Epiphone but I'm sure that's not what this thread is about.

Having read the anecdotal stuff here and in many other forums, it seems like the best conclusions one can draw are:

1) Caveat emptor.
2) Play it before your purchase it.

You may find a very decent deal or a piece of junk; ordering a brand new one or buying one over the net, sight unseen (and more importantly, unplayed) is a risky proposition.

 

[OLD GUITAR PLAYER]

I haven't owned a modern, foreign-made Epiphone. I own a US-made (Kalamazoo) Epiphone but I'm sure that's not what this thread is about.

Having read the anecdotal stuff here and in many other forums, it seems like the best conclusions one can draw are:

1) Caveat emptor.
2) Play it before your purchase it.

You may find a very decent deal or a piece of junk; ordering a brand new one or buying one over the net, sight unseen (and more importantly, unplayed) is a risky proposition.

Going back to 1968, I can confirm this is the truth. Play it first, before you buy!
But, if you have to buy ONLINE try to use someone like Sweetwater, because you
can see pictures of it ahead of time, and pick the exact guitar your want. Plus, you
know several tech's will have already handled your guitar, and they will even set-it-up
to your exact personal preferences, for a very reasonable fee. As I learned the hard way,
most Online retailers (like SA, GC & MF) ship directly from the factory, and never even
open the factory box! Live and learn...

 

[pdfiddler]

I bought a inspired by Gibson 335 ice tea and weighing 7.10lbs it is a great guitar. So I bought another one weighing 7.11lbs it's raspberry burst flame top and it's fantastic. I'm happy.

 

[OLD GUITAR PLAYER]

I bought a inspired by Gibson 335 ice tea and weighing 7.10lbs it is a great guitar. So I bought another one weighing 7.11lbs it's raspberry burst flame top and it's fantastic. I'm happy.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with a guitar manufactured outside of the USA!
Epiphones can be great instruments, you just have to find a good one, that you like.

I was a studio and touring musician for a long long time, and right now 6 of my 7
current instruments were NOT originally manufactured in the USA (Gasp!!!). Yes,
they may have all been modified/upgraded to be the best they can be, but they
are all professional quality instruments I use as tools on a daily basis. In fact, the
best "crafted" guitar I currently own (by a wide margin) is my hand-made Alvarez
Hybrid Classical, manufactured in China.