Epiphone Les Paul Studio Review - How Close to Gibson is It?

The Epiphone Les Paul Studio is a extremely good beginner-level instrument at a competitive price.

Gibson's best-selling guitar is on a regular basis the Les Paul Studio, which is understandable, since it permits its owner some of the features of the more pricey Gibson Les Paul at a much more inexpensive cost.

Nevertheless, at over $1,000, the Les Paul Studio is still out of the price range for many people, especially younger players. The Epiphone Les Paul Studio is an attempt to bring the feel of the Gibson model to a more inexpensive level.

Features

The Epiphone Studio model features a mahogany body and set mahogany neck with rosewood fretboard. Chrome hardware is standard equipment, as is a tune-o-matic bridge and stop tailpiece. Pickups consist of two open-coil Alnico Classic humbuckers.

Performance

With a list price of less than $400, it's certainly much more inexpensive than the Gibson equivalent. But what about the guitar itself?

We were delighted to see that the instrument has a set neck rather than a bolt-on, which is what you ordinarily see with guitars in this price range. That's not a bad thing, since many good instruments (i.e. Fenders) have bolt-on necks, but having a Gibson with a bolt-on would seem just plain weird. Regarding the wood, it uses mahogany for both the neck and body and has a carved top.

With respect to the guitar's other features, it has a rosewood fretboard, chrome hardware, a tune-o-matic bridge, and stopbar tailpiece. Electronically, the Epiphone has two Alnico Classic open-coil humbuckers.

Given the cost, we found this instrument to be a strong beginner instrument. However, you might have to budget for some modest upgrades.

The action was very nice. Some buzzes were present here and there, though, because of some high frets (not uncommon).

The instrument's selector switch and volume pots were a bit scratchy, but not too bad. The humbucking pickups supplied some truly nice blues and rock tones.

Nonetheless, those are relatively bargain-priced fixes and minor complaints. When you realize that the price of a new Epiphone Les Paul Studio is around $350 and that a used one goes for around $200, it's difficult to complain.

The Bottom Line

All in all, the Epiphone Les Paul Studio is a extremely good beginner-level instrument at a competitive price. It would make a fine first instrument or even practice instrument for a more experienced player.

Name of Gear: Epiphone Les Paul Studio

List Price: $606.00

Manufacturer Info: The Epiphone Company; epiphone.com

Pros: Good value; nice guitar for the price

Cons:Noisy pots and pickup selector; a few high frets

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The Epiphone Riviera - Classic Hollowbody Styling and Tone But Overlooked by the Beatles

The Epiphone Riviera helped reinvent Epiphone in the 1960s, after the faltering company's founder passed on and was aquired by guitar giant Gibson. This semi-hollowbody guitar with double cutaways and humbucking pickups was introduced in 1962, and was a departure from Epiphones other models to date.

Then President of Gibson, Ted McCarty, saw the opportunity to leverage Epiphone as a second Gibson brand, instead of the lesser idea of using Epiphone to produce acoustic Gibson basses.

The slightly smaller "mini-humbuckers" on the Epiphone Riviera were actually an attempt to keep the guitar on a lesser tier than it's big brother, the Gibson ES-335. Instead of the traditional PAF Humbucker tone, the mini-humbucker produced slightly lower output.

The Riviera has been overshadowed in the vintage market by the Casino model. While you could argue that both models are quite similar in design and tone, the Casino had one irrefutable advantage: The Beatles.

While the Fab Four would have been happy with the Riviera, it just happened that they (especially John Lennon) favored the Casino. Countless chance choices have shaped the fate of many guitars over the years, and such is life.

The Riviera has the standard Gibson pickup configuration: two humbuckers, neck and bridge, each with independent volume and tone knobs. This classic setup can also be found on the Les Paul, Flying V, SG, and plenty of others.

Top players of this guitar include Otis Rush, The Edge, and Nick Valesi of The Strokes, who has his own Signature Riviera, the P-94.

This is an excellent guitar for jangly rock sounds and excels capturing a vintage tone. This is no one trick pony though, as this axe is comfortable playing rock and country music as well.

The original is no longer in production, nor is the Epiphone Elite version of the Rivera, but these days you can find both on auction sites like eBay. Expect to pay a few hundred dollars for a reissue, and $5,000 or more for an original.

For a retro look and sound that you just don't see too often, the Epiphone Riviera is a great choice.

For a closer look at the Epiphone Riviera, including videos and more articles, check out My Guitar Guide

Top Epiphone Budget Guitars For Starters

A huge part of selecting a guitar when you are shopping for a brand new guitar will depend on your skill range. Gibson guitars are high end guitars, yet especially costly. More costly than the average beginner musician may wish to spend. One piece of information you might not realize is that Gibson has quite a few completely different brand names underneath their belt, including an incredible beginning electric guitar brand, Epiphone.

Epiphone Guitars look, sound, and feel similar to their costlier Gibson brothers. Why do they cost much less? First, Epiphones are built offshore where labor prices are low, whereas Gibson are built in Nashville, TN. Subsequently, Epiphone Les Pauls are manufactured from common mahogany varieties; Gibson guitars use unusual Honduran mahogany wood. Gibson also uses an intensive finish process; Epiphone employs a cheaper catalyzed finish.

Since Epiphones are built overseas, doesn't essentially mean they're low quality. For example, Les Paul pickups are crafted to Epiphone's exacting specification. They're double- dipped in wax and tested by Epiphone engineers at every step of development. It is this attention-to-detail which sets Epiphone apart. And it's these precise details that provide the incredibly rich, creamy sound which makes this guitar a favourite of rock, jazz, and blues guitarists. Epiphone's loyalty to music is reflected by a limited lifetime warranty on all of its models, no matter price.

Listed below are my personal suggestions for the best Epiphone guitars for beginners:

Epiphone Les Paul Special II -

One of the affordable Gibson guitars, the Epiphone Les Paul Special II is nice for newcomers for many factors. For one, it's inexpensive. You can get the Les Paul Special II for under $200 with no trouble, which is affordable. Not only is this guitar inexpensive, it surely is super versatile as well. Whether you are want to be a metal god or just wish to jam with some friends, this guitar will work for you. With a mahogany wood neck and a rosewood fretboard, this guitar not only sounds good, but is gorgeous too.

Epiphone Les Paul 100 -

The Epiphone Les Paul 100 is the electric guitar you will want, if you're beginning to get serious about your music. The mahogany body with maple top provides traditional solid, heavy sound whereas the bolt-on mahogany neck and rosewood fretboard are easy to perform. Features 700T/650R open-coil humbucker pickups and chrome hardware. The Epiphone Les Paul 100 guitar features classic Les Paul design and tone. This truly is a great axe for all ranges of guitar playing. It might be a bit more expensive than the other electric guitars in this article ($299). However it's worth it as you can use it all through your axe playing profession.

Epiphone G-310 SG -

The G-310 is a bit more costly than the previous 2 guitars, but not by a lot. Between $199 and $250, this axe is still groovy for novices but doesn't sacrifice as much in features. What the G-310 does better over the earlier two electric guitars is that it handles both warm and harsh distortion nicely. Just like the previous electric guitars, the G-310 has a mahogany wood neck and rosewood fretboard, so you're surely getting a high quality Gibson guitar with any of the three choices.

Epiphone SG Special -

Another electric guitar below $200, Gibson's Epiphone SG-Special guitar is a excellent beginner axe. This axe is a replica of the original Gibson legendary SG, so it is a classic guitar. The SG-Special is a standard rock guitar, so there aren't any unusual bells and whistles, but it surely does boast 2 open-coil humbuckers, a rosewood fretboard like the Les Paul Special II, and a beautiful tone for such an inexpensive guitar. A great aspect of the Epiphone SG-Special is that it is available in numerous different colors, so whatever your character there is a guitar for you.

I'd be comfortable with recommend any of these Epiphone guitars to a beginner, though I would recommend spending a few extra bucks and get the G-310 SG or Epiphone Les Paul 100. Starting out you might not notice the difference, but you will quickly grow out of the other two electric guitars and wish you had the flexibility of the G-310 SG or Les paul 100.

The resources that I used to write this article is from the Five Best Selling Guitars. Another resource that I used to help draw my conclusion was a YouTube video titled: Epiphone Vs. Gibson.

Please visit my personal website at Hardon4Guitars.com.

Epiphone Flying VeeWee Bullseye Zakk Pakk Electric Guitar Value Pack

If you are just learning to play guitar and want to have a professional quality amp and guitar, then you should definitely consider the Epiphone Flying VeeWee Bullseye Zakk Pakk. This set includes an electric guitar, an amplifier, a gig case, the cords needed for connecting the amp and guitar, and three guitar pics from the Zakk Wylde signature line.

The Whole Package The Epiphone Flying VeeWee Bullseye Zakk Pakk is designed by Zakk Wylde, who is one of the best guitar players in the music industry. The guitar is an electric guitar that is half the size of the typical guitar, making this package perfect for kids and beginners just learning to play. The flying V design is extremely popular, and this package also has a flying V electric guitar with a custom bullseye design. No electric guitarist would be able to play without an amp, so the package also contains a Marshall brand micro full stack.

The Epiphone Flying VeeWee Bullseye Zakk Pakk electric guitar value pack is a great bargain. The flying V electric guitar is made from mahogany, with rosewood fingerboard. The hardware is all made from nickel, and the guitar features 21 medium-jumbo frets. There is also a signature Epiphone 700T humbuckler pickup on the guitar. The amplifier is a Marshall MS-4ZW micro stack system that can produce a clear rock sound, but that is also small enough to play during practice at home.

Using The Bullseye Zakk Pakk The Epiphone Flying VeeWee Bullseye Zakk Pakk electric guitar value pack is an awesome starter set for kids, and makes a perfect gift for anyone who is interested in learning to play the electric guitar. The smaller size is just right for kid's hands, since there is the need to wrap your fingers around the neck to hit the right chords. The retail value of this bargain pack is only around three hundred dollars, so it is really an affordable option, as well as being built on some of the most trusted names in the music industry.

The high quality components are sure to be well-received when you buy the Epiphone Flying VeeWee Bullseye Zakk Pakk electric guitar value pack for a child in your family. This set isn't just for kids, though, there are plenty of adults who love the Epiphone and Marshall combo. The sound is amazing, and the quality of this set can't be beat.

Gear-Vault is one of the most respectable guitar review websites on the entire internet. Read their professional and comprehensive guitar and amplifiers reviews before you buy your next guitar or piece of musical equipment. Looking for a guitar amplifier? Check out the Epiphone Les Paul PeeWee.

If you found this article helpful and want to learn more about Zakk Wylde guitars, check out the Zakk Wylde Flying V

The Epiphone Les Paul Guitar - Does it Live Up to the Legend?

The question of whether to buy an Epiphone Les Paul guitar is hotly debated when guitar players gather round the campfire. Cheap guitars in general have the same reputation as cheap cars but with the Epiphone Les Paul models you might be able to score yourself an excellent instrument.

Way back in the late nineteenth century, Turkish instrument maker, Anastasios Stathopoulos learned his craft making stringed instruments. He brought his expertise with him in the 1903 when he moved his family to The United States Of America. The company prospered in their new homeland and the American fascination with the banjo meant an opportunity to extend their skills to this new instrument. The name Epiphone, derived from the name of Anastasios' son, Epamimondas, came into being in 1928 when the company began making guitars. In 1957 the factory was taken over by the Gibson company.

The Les Paul guitar is a solid body electric guitar made by Gibson in the early nineteen fifties and named after the popular guitarist and inventor of his own solid body guitar, Les Paul. Les Paul's design for a solid body guitar had been originally turned down by Gibson but in the face of the popularity of the electric guitar, Gibson designed their own version incorporating some suggestions by Les Paul and using his endorsement to draw public attention to their new product.

The Epiphone Les Paul guitars are versions of the original Gibson models but they are made from cheaper materials in factories in countries like Korea where labor is not as expensive. They also lack some of the fancy detailing that can be found on the Gibson factory model guitars, the fretboard inlays being markedly lower quality. In all their are around twenty Les Paul model guitars made by the Epiphone company.

Their is quite alot of debate about whether the Epiphone Les Paul guitars are as good as the original Gibson models. Many guitar players think that in general the Epiphone tone is not as good as the Gibson and some feel that the Epiphone necks are less player friendly than the originals.

Of course quality standards vary from factory to factory with many stories emerging from guitar buyers about inferior building and flaws in the headstocks, fretboards and other details. However some guitar players have said they were pleasantly surprised when trying out Epiphone guitars. The Epiphone version of the Les Paul Standard guitar, although much lighter than the original has been reported to have a very responsive action and a sound almost identical to an original Les Paul.

The Epiphone Standard is built entirely to the Gibson factory specifications using more separate bits of mahogany than the Gibson but with no noticeable difference in sound quality. Some guitar players even report that they can find no difference between the pickups used in the Epiphone Standard and the Gibson Standard. The machine heads are a little more jerky to use than the Gibson's but they keep the guitar tuned.

If you like the Gibson Les Paul Custom guitars, you will be pleasantly surprised to know that the Epiphone Custom guitars look almost the same as the Gibsons with very similar inlays. If you like the Bigsby tailpiece, you can even get it in an Epiphone.

Do you want to learn to play the guitar? Learn How To Play A Guitar For Free is a constantly updated blog which contains all the resources you need for: learning to play solo guitar, how to learn guitar chords, how to learn to read and play easy acoustic guitar tabs, finding a free online guitar tuner, looking for free guitar lessons online, and how to learn guitar scales.

Epiphone Sale Price - Buy An Electric Guitar But Are You Paying Too Much?

You want to buy an Epiphone electric guitar? But hang on. It's one thing to chose the model that suits you and your style of guitar playing best but it's also important to get it at the cheapest sale price, in stock and preferably with free shipping. But where do you find the best Epiphone sale price?

There's just too much choice but in the end you have to settle on just one guitar. Whether you have your eyes set on the Epiphone Les Paul Standard, a Limited Edition Epiphone or a Custom model you can be sure you will get a quality build, great looks and that special sound. Just make sure you also get your guitar at a discount price.

The cheap price of the Epiphone Les Paul Special II makes it a popular guitar for beginners but it's also a good choice for more advanced guitarists. This best selling guitar features a mahogany body and a dot inlay 22-fret rosewood fingerboard. A variety of colors are available including black, white, wine red, cheery sunburst heritage and vintage sunburst.

I bought an Epiphone SG Special five years ago when I first started learning to play and although I've since bought another couple of guitars I still find myself coming back to my old Epiphone. It so durable it could last forever.

Epiphone prices can be as much as $3000 for some models. It amazes me the people can afford prices like that. I certainly can't. That's more than my car's worth. It's almost more than my house is worth too!

Luckily there are other Epiphone models selling from little over 100 dollars which are great value for money so it pays to check out the best Epiphone sale deals and special offers before you buy that new guitar. For the best prices on Epiphone Les Paul electric guitars with details of free shipping and in stock information check out Keepers Music.

The Epiphone Casino Guitar Story

Epiphone is one of the leading companies known for their musical instruments. It was bought by Gibson after the Second World War in 1950 and is still working under the roof of Gibson as a sister company. Epiphone is producing one of the leading electric, bass and acoustic guitars, as well as other accessories. One of the classic productions of Epiphone is Epiphone Casino, which is a semi-acoustic guitar.

Epiphone Casino is based on the Gibson ES-330 and is a masterpiece that was being used by John Lennon as well as Noel Gallagher. The great affection of these legends for Epiphone Casino has caused a lot of musicians to move their attention towards it and this is now a masterpiece that a lot of musicians want to own so they can create the best music ever.

The Epiphone Casino is a semi hollow guitar and it looks a lot like the Epiphone Sheraton. One of the most remarkable aspects of Epiphone Casino is that it has a very light weight and Epiphone Casino is also known for its crisp, more trebly sound. This guitar has two Gibson P90 pickups that give it an ideal rhythm.

The Epiphone Casino has an adjustable bridge, which allows it to be adjusted very low and with the help of the small screws on the bridge, the intonation can be set quite easily. Another very remarkable feature of neck is that it is thinner than other guitars and it helps the musician to get their hand around it very easily and can maneuver their fingers really fast.

The Beatles singer, songwriter, guitarist, bassist Paul McCartney became the proud owner of Casino in the year (1964) and used it to create his songs "Drive My Car" in 1965 and "Taxman" in 1966. Two years later, the two great legends, John Lennon and George Harrison acquired their Epiphone Casinos. George Harrison used Epiphone Casino as his main instrument till the time he was with Beatles.

Epiphone Casino has different versions and the Epiphone Casino Arch top has two P90 pickups and has chrome hardware. The scale is about 27.75 inches and the width of the nut is about 1.68 inch. The Epiphone Casino has a set neck joint and the neck material is of Mahogany. The fingerboard is Rosewood/Parallelogram with a laminated Maple body material and has an entire natural finish.

There have been different versions of Epiphone Casino that have come about with the passage of time. These include the regular Epiphone Casino Arch top series, which is made in Korea. The Epiphone Elitist Casino is made in Japan. The Epiphone John Lennon Casino is made in US. The Epiphone John Lennon Casino has been based on the changes that John Lennon had recommended.

With this long history of Epiphone Casino, it has been played on by a number of legends that include Paul McCartney, Noel Gallagher, John Lennon, George Harrison and a lot of other legends. Along with them, a few bands that use this art piece include the Interpol, Oasis, Asteroid No. 4, as well as The Boo Radleys.

For further information please visit http://www.guitarampkeyboard.com

Epiphone 335 Buying Guide - How to Buy an Epiphone 335 Guitar

From its invention in 1958 by the Gibson Guitar Corporation, the Epiphone 335 has become the semi-acoustic guitar of choice for blues, jazz, and rock musicians alike.

Listed below are some tips to understanding the specifications of the Epiphone 335--as well as guidelines for finding your personal version of this great-sounding guitar.

The Sound

The Gibson Epiphone 335 guitar produces a warm sound and less feedback as opposed to its competitors, that are made possible by a body that is neither hollow nor solid. In general, the more hollow the shape of a guitar, the more feedback. The solid wood that runs through the center of the 335 is what makes it possible for the magic to take place.

However, because the body is still essentially hollow, it has not lost its characteristic dark tone from a sound point of view. The same goes for the natural non amplified volume of the instrument--giving it a very even and consistent overall sound.

The Look

How these precise specifications were met has been made possible through a long term of experimenting with various guitar shapes and sizes. The Epiphone 335 would evolve from preceding products to hold its ground eventually in the music market. It is relatively easy to notice at the time it is being used.

Apart from the arched top, it bears hollow wings on each side, and additionally, it has two sound holes over the hollow chambers. Certainly, Epiphone 335 is made of wood: in most cases, the body is made of maple, the neck is from mahogany, and the fingerboard rosewood.

How to Buy

When buying the Gibson Epiphone ES-335, it is vital to understand the pricing difference triggered by cosmetic or non-cosmetic editions. (As an example, an ebony fret board will likely add to the cost.)

On top of that, do not imagine the price to be any cheaper than say $30,000 if one's sights are set on a 1960 or earlier generation. Surprisingly, a brand new ES-335 is generally in the under $3,000 range.

Certainly the most budget friendly is the Epiphone 335, which can be acquired for a few hundred dollars. For best results, seek out the advice of a guitar connoisseur, and as a rule of thumb be able to differentiate between cosmetic and sound-changing features.

Learn more about Epiphone 335 guitar. Stop by http://epiphone-acoustic-electric-guitar.com/ to find out how to get the best deals on this famous acoustic guitar.

Epiphone EJ200CE Buyer's Guide - How to Purchase an Epiphone EJ200ce Guitar

Epiphone takes its famous guitar reputation to another level with the Epiphone EJ200CE cutaway acoustic electric guitar. The guitar is based on Gibson's flagship Hummingbird series and enhances overall flexibility and playability with addition of the cutaway & electronics.

If you are seeking a wonderful sounding acoustic electric guitar and are considering buying an Epiphone EJ200CE, here are some points about this great musical instrument and suggestions for purchasing one without emptying your wallet.

Epiphone Sound Magic

The Epiphone EJ200CE is constructed with the sound which has made the series well-known: a great, clean ambient acoustic sound.

What makes this instrument's sound special is the almost perfect sound on higher registers with deep, resonant tones from the lower registers even if played with no amplification.

The guitar then takes this sound and reproduces it perfectly when amplified. Epiphone have achieved this with their eSonic2 system and 'NanoFlex' pickup, which is equipped with seven sensitive sensors which amplify string vibrations and resonance from guitar body.

So string bends and slides aren't lost in amplification, making it ideal as a lead or rhythm instrument.

Vintage meets Modern

The guitar features exquisite structure and design. The guitar has a jumbo Maple body, that is amazingly light-weight, and a solid Spruce top.

The fretboard is Rosewood with nicely designed crown inlay, Maple neck and features body, neck and headstock binding. Epiphone have retained a significant feature from the Hummingbird: the ornate, floral pick guard design and included the Epiphone mustache bridge.

The class of this guitar is seen in gold hardware, that sets perfectly against the Natural, Black or Vintage Sunburst finishes.

How to get

The Epihone is created as a low priced guitar although sound, building and playability make this the ideal choice for starters or specialists as well.

Before purchasing, make sure to play it with and without amplification to make sure that the quality of sound is excellent. You need to make sure that string intonation is correct.

Check out the guitar finish against a light for blemishes or tiny scratches. When you're satisfied with the sound, intonation, amplification and design, one last check out the balance of the guitar and you might make sure that your musical instrument is a great choice, that will last you for years in the future.

Good luck with your guitar search.

Looking to find the best deal on an Epiphone ej200ce guitar, then visit http://epiphone-acoustic-electric-guitar.com/ to find the best advice on locating a great deal on this awesome-sounding guitar.

The Many Epiphone Les Paul Models

Want to know all the models available right now in the Epiphone Les Paul line of guitars? Get ready because there are quite a few of them. I'll give you a bit of the low down on the specs, price and review. Let's dive right in, shall we?

Les Paul 100

This is one excellent affordable guitar featuring a bolt-on mahogany neck, and the body is a bit slimmer carved top than usual for more comfort while playing. It also features Alnico V humbucker pickups, chrome hardware, maple top, stopbar tailpiece, available left handed and dot inlays. It comes in ebony, heritage cherry sunburst, and vintage sunburst finishes. These guitars will run you at around $250 to $300 online.

Les Paul 1956 Goldtop

Unfortunately, this one has been discontinued but they surely can still be found either at your local shop (left over stock), or online at places like eBay. These come equipped with the classic p90 soapbar pickups and the gold top finish. You are looking at around $400 to $500 for one of these fine electric guitars.

Les Paul Black Beauty 3

They say, once you go black, you'll never go back. I'm sure they were talking about the Black Beauty 3 by Epiphone. This thing has 3 Alnico Classic humbuckers! 3! Gold hardware too. Just a really classy looking workhorse of a guitar built especially for rock. These sell anywhere from $500 to $700 online.

Les Paul Custom and Custom Plus

Some people have been known to call these the tuxedo LP. You can either choose from an alpine white finish or ebony. it features everything that most other Epiphone Les Pauls are known for - mahogany neck, rosewood fingerboard and more. It's also got some excellent styling with the gold hardware and bindings on the body. $500 or so should get you rigged up with one of these.

There's also the discontinued custom plus that gives you everything that the Custom has and adds some sweet finish options like heritage cherry or vintage sunburst.

Les Paul Special II

At around $200, this has to be one of the most affordable Epiphone Les Paul options. These guitars feature an open coil pickup design from Alnico V and a tune-o-matic bridge. There is quite a large number of finish options as well including ebony, white, heritage cherry sunburst, wine red, vintage sunburst. It also comes in left handed models and there is a player pack and performance pack as well giving beginners everything they need.

Les Paul Standard, Standard Plain Top, Standard Plus Top

The Standard line of guitars has three different options for the top. The standard solid body, plain top and plus top. These all have roughly the same features with differences in the finishes available. The plain top features a maple top and the plus top has a flamed maple top. $300 - $400 should bring one of these babies home to you.

Les Paul Studio

Just like a regular Gibson Studio, you've got a solid mahogany body and open coil humbuckers. They are available in alpine white, arctic blue, worn brown or cherry. There are also limited edition Chameleon versions (which are now discontinued) that feature color shifting finishes that actually almost change color depending on the light you are looking at them in. Find them online for around $300.

Les Paul Ultra and Ultra II

The first thing you will notice about the Ultra and Ultra II is the difference in weight from other models of Les Paul. The mahogany body is actually chambered to allow for a bit more of an acoustic vibe with the instrument. They have a sweet quilted maple top as well. The Ultra II combines all of this with the NanoMag low impedance pickup that is actually installed right in the fingerboard for great electric acoustic tones. You'll probably be looking at around $800 for one of these.

If you want to find more great information about the Epiphone line of guitars, click here and everything about Epiphone guitars you need to know is there.

Epiphone Guitars - A Good Alternative to Gibson? Read the Top 4 Differences and Decide For Yourself

Epiphone Guitars or Gibson Guitars? Musicians will argue this until the end of time, so let's just focus on a few facts so you can decide for yourself.

First, a bit of background:

Epiphone and Gibson are very popular guitar makers. Epiphone was Gibson's biggest competitor until 1957, when Gibson purchased the faltering Epiphone. At that point, Gibson licensed many of its most popular models to be made by Epiphone, and by doing so was able to penetrate a whole new tier in the guitar marketplace.

So, what's all the fuss about? Why is a Gibson Les Paul $2,000 and an Epiphone Les Paul $500?

Let's take a look at the differences:

1. Where They're Made. Epiphone guitars are primarily manufactured in China. This of course makes huge cost cuts possible, but also makes quality control a bit more difficult. Gibson guitars are always made in the USA, and Gibson strives to have actual musicians making these guitars whenever possible. To some this may make no difference, but if you have an eye for workmanship you will notice a difference in craftsmanship.

2. Quality of Components. Epiphones are going to have lesser quality pickups and tuning keys. While the tuners don't have much of an effect on tone, it can be annoying to have to tune often because of inferior tuning keys. The higher quality pickups on Gibson guitars may be a nuance missed by non-musicians or beginners, but you can bet that not too many Platinum records were recorded using an Epiphone. Countless classic records have been recorded using Gibsons.

3. Headstock. To the untrained eye, An Epiphone and a Gibson may look identical. The key aesthetic giveaway is that the "open book" styling of the top of the headstock is cut off on a Epiphone. Of course, it also says "Epiphone" on the headstock, but this subtle difference is enough to signal the difference between "pro" and "entry-level." Having a Gibson is a statement that you've spent a lot of money on a guitar, and in some cases is a musician's status symbol.

4. Finishing Touches. Gibson guitars sport a Nitrocellulose lacquer finish, while Epiphones have a Polyurethane finish. The Nitrocellulose finish allows the wood to age well and allow some air and moisture to pass through the finish. This brings out different sound characteristics as the instrument gets older. It also has to be applied in multiple layers with sanding in between, and is much more labor intensive.

An Epiphone's polyurethane finish needs only to be sprayed on in one or two coats, so it takes less work and time. This finish also restricts the air and moisture transfer to the wood that reduces the (often desireable) effects of aging.

The effect of each type of finish on tone is debatable, but an Epiphone's finish is obviously cheaper and faster to apply.

Is there a happy medium between an Epiphone and a Gibson?

Yes. Here are some suggestions if you can't decide which guitar to invest in:

*Many guitar players opt to buy a used Gibson to bring down the cost. A guitar that's a little beat up has some "soul," which isn't always a bad thing.

*Alternately, some online retailers offer to spread the cost equally over 5 months with no interest or credit card needed. You can buy a really nice, brand new $2,000 guitar for $400 per month without having to open a new line of credit.

*A final idea that works well is to buy an Epiphone and replace the pickups and tuning keys. This way you improve the two biggest shortcomings of the Epiphone while keeping costs down. If this is your first time attempting this, please hire a professional to do the job!

My Guitar Guide dives into all things Gibson, with a Special Section on Epiphone Guitars

Epiphone G-400 Review - A Worthy SG Replacement?

If you want an inexpensive instrument that can cover a lot of sonic ground, you can't go wrong with the G-400.

Although it may not have as much weight (figuratively speaking) as the iconic Fender Stratocaster or the Gibson Les Paul, the Gibson SG is still a noticeable part of rock and roll history, as Angus Young can attest.

Everyone from Eric Clapton to Tony Iommi has adopted the Gibson SG for its piercing sound. Since not everyone can afford the $1,200 street price for a Gibson, however, their sister company Epiphone makes an affordable SG model, the G-400.

Since the Epiphone G-400 is plainly more inexpensive, we have to discover how well it "stacks up" to its big brother, the Gibson SG.

Features

The Epiphone G-400 is built with a mahogany body and set mahogany neck. It features two Alnico V humbuckers, a rosewood fretboard with trapezoid inlays, chrome hardware, and a tune-o-matic bridge and stop tailpiece.

Performance

We have zero niggles with respect to the cherry finish, which is just plain beautiful and looks fantastic on the instrument's mahogany body. The SG shape itself is perfect. If it weren't for the name on the headstock, the instrument would be a dead ringer for a Gibson SG.

The mother-of-pearl inlays are wonderfully done, though we did discover some small traces of glue residue near the edges. Similarly, we noticed some minute traces of glue holding the neck joint in place, but these squabbles aside, we determined the construction quality to be really well done.

The instrument's intonation was easy to set and was very good, though we wish the bridge saddles weren't as cutting as they are. The instrument held its tuning very well, even after some pretty radical bending.

The instrument plays well, suitable for pretty much any style of music. We did notice a a couple of buzzes and rattles here and there, but we did set the action fairly low, and we didn't observe any of these sounds through an amplifier.

I'm of the belief that a good electric guitar has to sound superb unplugged, and the G-400 doesn't let down in this domain either. It's vibrant, resonant, and offers substantial sustain, stunning given the guitar's low weight.

The guitar's acoustic tones were, pardon the pun, "amplified" when we plugged into our test amplifier, a Dr. Z MAZ-18 NR. The pickups of the G-400 offered very balanced tones, useful for numerous distinct styles.

We auditioned the pickups in all three toggle settings and found the tones useful in all settings using both clean and distorted amp/pedal sounds. When we really went for a metal sound (using a Visual Sound Jekyll and Hyde pedal), we thought the instrument was a bit muddy sounding, but's not really a criticism, considering how toppingly warm this guitar is overall.

So, if you wish to play this instrument in a Judas Priest tribute band, you'll probably want to put in some hotter pickups with a bit more treble bite.

The Bottom Line

There's not much more to say. The Epiphone G-400 is a splendid guitar at a superb price. If you want an inexpensive instrument that can cover a lot of sonic ground, you can't go wrong with the G-400.

Name of Gear: Epiphone G-400

List Price: $606.00

Manufacturer Info: The Epiphone Company; epiphone.com

Pros: Solid value; good playability; sweet rock and blues sounds

Cons: Bridge saddles need work; a little glue residue

If you are searching for the lowest available price on a used or new Epiphone G-400, then you need to search no more! Ray's Guitar Shop offers the lowest prices on all used and new guitars (acoustic and electric) available anywhere online. If you're searching for cheap electric guitars, then look no further than Ray's Guitar Shop!

4 Reasons to Buy an Epiphone Guitar

Buying a guitar is a big decision for anyone. It is possible that you have stumbled upon this article because you are preparing to embark on a lifelong journey with guitar music and you want to pick the right instrument. Maybe you are a collector seeking to build your collection. Maybe you are a parent who is contemplating buying your child his or her first instrument. No matter how you came to this article you should know that it pays to do your research and it is my hope that this article will help you get started.

Please remember that these are only my opinions. I have no affiliation with Epiphone. I am just a fan of their guitars. If you take my advice, be aware that you are doing so at your own risk and do not complain to me if you don't like your new guitar. A thorough research process is the best way to make sure you find the best guitar for you. Because you are reading this article, I think you probably already know that. Without further ado... 4 Reasons to buy an Epiphone guitar.

1. Archtops. If you are a jazz guitarist or if you just like the sound of archtop guitars then look no further than an Epiphone archtop guitar. Before WWII, Epiphone was known as the premier producer of archtop guitars. After the war, Epiphone encountered hard times and was absorbed by one of their fiercest competitors, Gibson. Now a subsidiary of Gibson, Epiphone still produces some of the highest quality archtop guitars under their name.

2. Price. Since it is a subsidiary of Gibson, Epiphone offers many guitars that are very similar to or exact copies of Gibson guitars for a much lower price.

3. Gibson. Being a subsidiary of Gibson means that Epiphone guitars bring the same quality standard that all of Gibson's guitars offer.

4. The Beatles, Ace Frehley of Kiss, The Edgy of U2, Joe Pass, and Keith Richards all use Epiphone guitars. If they are good enough for them, they are probably good enough for you!

I hope that this article successfully explained why I would recommend that you buy an Epiphone guitar. If you want to buy an Epiphone, I encourage you to surf the web for great deals. Epiphone is not notorious for making overpriced guitars and I bet you can find some great deals if you look around. Thanks for reading and best of luck with your guitar playing!

My name is Ryan Gloman and I have a passion for guitar and a passion for sharing information.

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Noel Gallagher Epiphone Supernova Guitar

There is nothing better than a guitar that covets the guitar players personal name and brand name of one of the greatest bands or artists. Custom unique signature models are a very important part of any guitar designers product range and allows more credibility and influence from the famous musicians of yesteryear and today that play and recommend their instrument. They are also an important part of the overall marketing process of the guitar manufacturer - but it is a perfect way of selling more products. Made in Korea, the Epiphone Supernova electric guitar is the personal signature guitar from Noel Gallagher from the pop band Oasis - one of the biggest, influential, controversial and best rock bands of the past twenty years.  Oasis are known for songs such as Wonderwall and Shakermaker and their brand of Brit Pop and guitar rock still stands the ravages of time and is still accessible and relevant to today's upcoming stars. Noel is the songwriting brains that backs Oasis, whist his brother Liam is the controversial lead singer, always in the eye of the paparazzi and definitely famous for his loud personality, being rude and out of this world celebrity credentials. Although Oasis are more mature now and not as quite as popular, they are still releasing great albums under the genius of Noel - who has said he plans to release a solo album in the near future.

The 95 Epiphone Supernova is a custom-made version of the Sheraton, another one of Epiphone's popular guitars. However, the Supernova you can buy today is not the same version as the type used by Gallagher though.  The original instrument played by Noel is now displayed in the O2 arena in England as part of the British Music Experience exhibition. For the promotion of the Oasis album, Whats The Story Morning Glory, Oasis were pictured posing with a specially made Epiphone Sheraton painted with the Union Jack. Designed to copy that guitar, the public version of this guitar features a a different shape, style and several minor alterations such as featuring different models of pick ups, Alnico 57s rather than mini humbucker pickups which can be found on the original.

The Epiphone Supernova is not made any longer but was designed in several different colors including the infamous signature union jack model requested by Noel Gallagher. The others were blue to represent the Manchester City Football Club that the band champions, Cherry Red and a rare Ebony Black model. The Supernova features large parallelogram fret markers, a slim, long scale neck, a rose wood fretboard, a vintage tremolo, a laminated and hollow body which makes it light to use and better to play. The pick guard has Noels signature on and features the Epiphone logo. The Epiphone Supernova produces clear sounds that are suitable for blues or rock. Although it sounds a little like a more pricy Gibson guitar, the Epiphone Supernova will deliver the results you need. The build quality is also excellent and should be without any issues. It is overall, an excellent guitar and well worth spending your money on - especially if you also enjoy Noel Gallagher and Oasis!

If you want to learn more about the Epiphone Supernova or any other electric guitar used by the rock gods of today and yesteryear, come over to the Buy A Rock Guitar website. You can find information on the classics such as the Fender Stratocaster to the more obscure such as the Goya Rangemaster used by Jimi Hendrix.

Epiphone Casino Review - Vintage Class

If you need a particular, versatile instrument for blues, rock, or jazz, the Epiphone Casino is a sure thing.

It's effortless to think that guitar makers like Fender and Gibson have always been the top-selling musical instruments they are now, but that's in reality not the case. Believe it or not, for many years Epiphone really dominated the electric guitar universe, thanks mainly to a group of young musicians from Liverpool (the Beatles, in case you don't know your music history really well).

George and John were not the only guitarists who could be seen playing Epiphone Casinos. The Casino's fresh, dynamic tones could be found in tons of concerts and recordings. Though it's improbable you'll be able to pick up a real 1960's Casino, you can grab a current reissue model that is worth a look. Here are just a few of the details of the current model.

Features

Regarding its construction, the top, sides, and back are all made of a laminated maple. The neck is mahogany and the fingerboard is rosewood and has 22 frets on a 24 3/4" scale. The nut is a comfortable 1.68." The Casino boasts 2 Alnico V P-90 vintage-style pickups with a trademark tune-o-matic bridge and trapeze tailpiece. Parallelogram inlays and body-neck binding with chrome hardware complete the cosmetic adornments.

Performance

As you test a new Epiphone Casino, you'll in all probability observe at least a couple of things. First things first. The Casino is very lightweight, owing to its semi-hollow design. If you're used to playing a Les Paul, the Casino feels like a feather by comparison.

The second thing you'll likely notice is the sound itself. "Crisp" is probably the best adjective I can use to describe it. It doesn't have the usual Gibson or Fender tone, but that's not a bad thing. It's unique, its own animal.

We were really satisfied with the tones we got from the Epiphone Casino. It can get some outstanding clean or classic rock tones, but don't anticipate any "Iron Maiden" licks to sound authentic. The P90 pickups have some great tones, even if they're not hum-cancelling (but they're not really noisy anyway).

When we first played the Casino, we discovered it needed a fast setup. After we adjusted the bridge and neck, the Casino played very well. The neck especially is really comfortable.

If you're blessed enough to buy a new Epiphone Casino, don't be astounded if you start rattling off some of your favored Beatles' tunes. We played our Epiphone through a new Vox AC-15 and were very encouraged with the warm, rich sounds we got.

The Bottom Line

Since the street cost is only around $599 (much less if you can find it used), it's difficult to find grounds not to pick up an Epiphone Casino today. If you need a particular, versatile instrument for blues, rock, or jazz, the Epiphone Casino is a sure thing.

Name of Gear: Epiphone Casino

List Price: $1,042.00

Manufacturer Info: The Epiphone Company; epiphone.com

Pros: Classic blues and rock sound; visually appealing; light; good bargain

Cons: Weak factory setup

If you are searching for the best available price on an Epiphone Casino, then you need to search no further. Ray's Guitar Shop has the best prices on all acoustic and electric guitars, including the Epiphone Casino. You won't find any better prices on the Internet anywhere. If you're searching for cheap electric guitars, then look no further than Ray's Guitar Shop!

Epiphone Electric Guitars - A Rock Star That Still Rocks on Today

Epiphone electric guitars have a long and noble heritage. In the late 1920's, they introduced their first line of guitars, following in Gibson's footsteps, but featuring unusual body shapes and other design changes. Six years later Epiphone introduced a guitar with a slightly wider body. Actually, it was just wide enough to provide some sense of modesty to the naked woman model that was posing with the guitar.

A few years later, Epiphone was surpassed by Gibson and in the late 1950's was ultimately acquired by Gibson. Overshadowed by Gibson's reputation at this point, Epiphone recreated their classics, developed a line of guitars that were budget versions of the Gibson and began developing their own line of electric guitars.

In 1956 their model, the Emperor, led the way in sales and marketing development. Epiphone was perfectly positioned for the growing interest in folk music, although in the 60s it again fell behind Gibson and was no longer perceived as leading Gibson in development.

Where is Epiphone today? Epiphone has been busy, playing the rebel to Gibson's version of a mature matron. They've become all things to all musicians. Epiphone has continued to introduce diversity in its product lines, manufacture and market faithful reproductions of past models and manufacturing authentic Gibson guitars.

If you're interesting in the Epiphone electric guitars and the company that manufactures them, do some research on the Internet. Find a music store that carries them and try one or two out.

Always remember their unique name - Epiphone. A rock star that still rocks on today.

Want to Learn More about Epiphone Electric Guitars?

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Epiphone Texan Buying Guide - How to Buy an Epiphone Texan Guitar

The Epiphone Texan is a wonderful sounding guitar made in the advanced Jumbo style. This classic, acoustic flattop instrument is a great option to consider when purchasing a guitar if you are seeking big sound and huge features at a price which will not bust your budget.

Here, we'll take a look at how the guitar sounds, how it appears, and what a person should look for while considering a purchase.

How It Sounds

The Epiphone Texan has an exclusive, enjoyable sound that sets it aside from a lot of guitars. Due to its distinguished sound, numerous musicians like Paul McCartney and Peter Frampton have selected this instrument above other kinds.

Currently, it has been re-popularized by mixing accurate string and body tone with greater percussion. The new Epiphone is claimed to sound like an acoustic guitar with a connected microphone, meaning that it produces excellent natural sound which has a little serious boost to it.

How it Looks

This dreadnought, contrary to most, features a bigger lower bout and a smaller upper bout with a less defined waist than normal. The original, together with a lot of replications which are available nowadays, was made of a solid Spruce top and solid Mahogany back & rims.

The neck, also made from solid Mahogany, is topped with a rosewood fingerboard which displays the original parallelogram inlays. (This guitar's ease and comfort of paying is offered by its SlimTaper neck that's hand-fitted and glued to the body.)

How to Purchase

What should you seek out when it comes to purchasing an Epiphone Texan? As with numerous guitars, it's significant to consider your individual tastes as to style and color.

Although most of the Epiphones are made in very similar way, there's variety among their colors, and it's up to the purchaser to determine which he likes. Secondly, if purchasing second hand, it's very necessary to determine the instrument's quality of tone and sound.

Many used guitars do not offer the same quality of sound that the originals do, therefore it is important to test it before purchasing.

As we've seen, the Epiphone Texan is an original, high quality guitar that displays good sound and quality design. You will not be sorry if you purchase one. Best of luck with your purchases.

Want to find out more about buying an Epiphone Texan, then visit http://epiphone-acoustic-electric-guitar.com/ for more info on how to find a great deal on the best guitar ever.

Epiphone Les Paul Standard Plus - A Review

Not unlike the Fender Stratocaster, the Gibson Les Paul has become a guitar symbol, preferred by guitarists in such different styles as rock, metal, blues, jazz, and country. From Ace Frehley to Zakk Wylde, the fans of the Les Paul are all over the globe. For us ordinary humans, there's usually one serious downside to purchasing a Gibson Les Paul. They don't come cheap! The average typical price of a new model is well over $2,000, which is hardly small change. What's a Les Paul lover to do?

Enter the Epiphone Les Paul Standard Plus!

Aside from its signature Epiphone headstock, an Epiphone Les Paul is a Korean-made guitar that plays, feels, and looks like a "real" Gibson LP without the prohibitive price tag. It even bears the signature of the late, great Les Paul on the headstock. So how does it stack up?

We reviewed a transparent Blue Les Paul Standard Plus Top, and I have to note that the instrument has one of the most gorgeous tops I've played in this price range. The figuring is absolutely beautiful, and is gloriously complimented by its creme-colored binding and chrome hardware. Appearance-wise, the Epiphone LP Standard Plus Top is simply a beautiful guitar.

Having used a Gibson LP Standard for some time, I was interested to take note of how the Epiphone LP would stack up, and I have to say that I was tremendously impressed. The slim-tapered neck reminds me of the 1960 Gibson LP Standard neck and in many respects was much faster than my Gibson LP Standard with a 50's style neck. The rosewood fretboard felt great and the frets were smooth and nicely polished all in all, but not quite as pristine as my Gibson LP. Be that as it may, the fretwork is still very good, especially given the instrument's low price.

The alnico classic pickups convey the classic LP bite out of the bridge pickup and a smooth and round tone from the neck pickup. I almost always swap pickups out of my stock guitars and would likely do the same here. I think a Seymour Duncan JB and Jazz would sound perfect in this electric guitar, but the replacement would be more of a preference than a necessity. These pickups sound solid and might just be what you're looking for without the need for new pickups. They did tend to squeal a bit at high volumes, but not annoyingly so.

The give and take in a model such as this guitar aren't easily apparent. Epiphone saves some costs by having a veneer flame top glued to non-flamed maple. Likewise, where Gibson LP Standard bodies are made from a single mahogany slab, the Epiphone mahogany body is laminated, just like the neck. Nevertheless, these cost-cutting decisions allow the guitar to weigh even less than their Gibson siblings. For the cost you pay, the Epiphone Les Paul Standard Plus Top is a beautiful sounding and nicely playable LP for a small fraction of the price of the Gibson model.

Visit Ray's Guitar Shop where you can read more reviews and purchase your own Epiphone Les Paul Standard Plus at the best possible price! if you're searching for cheap electric guitars, then look no further than Ray's Guitar Shop!

Why Buy a Gibson Guitar?

Orville Gibson, the founder of Gibson Guitars, was born 1856 in Chateaugay, New York. His reputation grew from building mandolins into the legendary world famous company of today. Gibson led the way in innovations that are copied by many but surpassed by nobody.

The high standards he set while making his first mandolin are cherished by today's generation of luthiers. While the guitar bodies and necks are cut and shaped by machine in the rough mill, the remaining processes are lovingly carried out by skilled and experienced craftsmen and women by hand.

Along side the quality and attention to detail Gibson has always been at the forefront of innovation, the "humbucker" pickup being amongst their best known. Another innovation from Gibson is the angled headstock. Every Gibson headstock is carved out of the same piece of mahogany as the neck then fitted with Gibson's traditional wing blocks which is far superior to merely being glued on to the neck.

From the raw rosewood, maple or mahogany to the labor-intensive nitrocellulose finish, no part of the process is skimped in the quest for perfection. The world famous hand-crafted mother of pearl Gibson logo is an example of the attention to detail. Each one is inlaid into a pressed fiber-head veneer that is then glued to the face of the mahogany headstock. A thin coat of lacquer finishes the process.

Rosewood is the choice for the fingerboards, the resilience of this dense and durable wood making each chord and note unparalleled clarity and bite. The fret wire on Gibson guitars are a combination of nickel and silver alloy specifically designed for long life and superior wear. The result of all this painstaking professionalism is a guitar that is loved, cherished and respected by the world's top musicians whatever their style and genre.

Gibson Guitars are recognized as the leader in the market. They have stood the test of time due to their innovative and dedicated passion for detail in production. Guitar players who demand and appreciate excellence, subtle tones and playability love Gibson guitars.

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The Gibson SG 61: A Classic Electric Guitar and How to Get the Best Price

All guitar players are musicians and understand the value of a good guitar. This doesn't matter if you play the traditional acoustic guitar, an electric guitar, or both. For those who play the electric guitar, one of the best brands in the industry is Gibson. All of the guitars made by Gibson are extremely well-made and have been given personal attention to every detail. If you are looking for a new electric guitar, you won't go wrong with this brand, but if you're serious about finding the right guitar - get the Gibson SG 61.

Why the Gibson SG 61?

This guitar is made of a beautiful solid mahogany body. The mahogany used for the Gibson SG 61 has been put through extensive testing to ensure that the guitar's tone and sound isn't compromised due to poor wood quality.

In addition to the high-quality and beautifully finished mahogany wood body, the Gibson SG 61 boasts two '57 classic pickups to enhance the quality of the sound produced by this instrument. You will also fall in love with the guitar's highly distinguished trapezoid inlays, as well as, the unique slim tapered neck found on all SG models.

The Gibson SG 61 is a guitar that will blow you away the minute you begin to play it. Not only does it look and feel amazing, but it also produces the high-quality rich sounds that every electric guitar player seeks. You will not be disappointed when you purchase this guitar. In fact, it will probably exceed your expectations.

Tips for Finding the Best Price

As with everything, the phrase "you get what you pay for" applies to electric guitar. However, this doesn't necessarily mean you have to pay "top dollar" for the Gibson SG 61. You just need to take a little time and do your research before you purchase it. Many people make the mistake of buying the first one they see. Don't do this. Go to the guitar shop and play this model first and make a note of the price...then go on-line. Many on-line retailers will sell the guitar for less than local music stores will - and some will even ship it for free. So, while the guitar will tempt you to buy it right away after you play it, wait and buy it on-line. You're sure to save money this way!

There is an on-line retailer out there that offers an amazing deal on the Gibson SG 61. In fact, they offer this instrument for more than one third off the regular retail price. They also offer free shipping and have an excellent reputation. Find out more at the Gibson SG 61 blog.