More “Inspired by Gibson Custom Shop” Epiphones…

chrisj1602

https://www.musicstore.com/en_GB/GBP/Epiphone-1959-Les-Paul-Standard-Factory-Burst/art-GIT0061613-000

https://www.musicstore.com/en_GB/GBP/Epiphone-Les-Paul-Custom-Ebony/art-GIT0061612-000

https://www.musicstore.com/en_GB/GBP/Epiphone-1963-Les-Paul-SG-Custom-with-Maestro-Vibrola-Classic-White/art-GIT0061615-000

rlw

I think they look good and not a bad price but I'm sure someone will be along soon to say that the QC is crap, that the Chinese can't make guitars, the fretboard should be rosewood and the prices are a joke.

Esoterick

rlw said:

I think they look good and not a bad price but I'm sure someone will be along soon to say that the QC is crap, that the Chinese can't make guitars, the fretboard should be rosewood and the prices are a joke.

I'm mainly curious if these are meant to be better or worse than Gibson Tributes given they are the same price.

Also the Tribute I owned had terrible QC and the QC checklist looked like it had been ticked as an afterthought once everything had been "checked" and it was ready to be boxed up.

timmypix

rlw said:

I think they look good and not a bad price but I'm sure someone will be along soon to say that the QC is crap, that the Chinese can't make guitars, the fretboard should be rosewood and the prices are a joke.

No one's disputing the Chinese factories can make great guitars.

What's baffling me is that these are coming out of the same factory that's been making nearly identical Epiphones for literally half the price for 10 years, so how can they justify doubling the price just by removing the scarf joints and changing the headstock?

OilCityPickups

I think the very clear strategy is that Epiphone is going to be the 'everyman's Gibson' ... that Gibson don't really want to be 'doing' with lower priced models. 

timmypix said:

rlw said:

I think they look good and not a bad price but I'm sure someone will be along soon to say that the QC is crap, that the Chinese can't make guitars, the fretboard should be rosewood and the prices are a joke.

No one's disputing the Chinese factories can make great guitars.

What's baffling me is that these are coming out of the same factory that's been making nearly identical Epiphones for literally half the price for 10 years, so how can they justify doubling the price just by removing the scarf joints and changing the headstock?

And prices have nothing to do with what you get for them ... they are to do with what you are willing to pay for what you want.  

robgilmo

OilCityPickups said:

I think the very clear strategy is that Epiphone is going to be the 'everyman's Gibson' ... that Gibson don't really want to be 'doing' with lower priced models. 

timmypix said:

rlw said:

I think they look good and not a bad price but I'm sure someone will be along soon to say that the QC is crap, that the Chinese can't make guitars, the fretboard should be rosewood and the prices are a joke.

No one's disputing the Chinese factories can make great guitars.

What's baffling me is that these are coming out of the same factory that's been making nearly identical Epiphones for literally half the price for 10 years, so how can they justify doubling the price just by removing the scarf joints and changing the headstock?

And prices have nothing to do with what you get for them ... they are to do with what you are willing to pay for what you want.  

Epiphone already were everymans gibson, they seem to be pricing themselves out of that station.

thermionic

The guitars that are derived from the original “1959” Epiphones have two-piece backs rather than a veneered butcher’s block. When I bought mine for £749 I think - the (arguably) better wood, Gibson Probuckers, decent switch/jack that wouldn’t need to be replaced, along with a decent hard case seemed good value compared to the Standards which were around £500 at the time. However, this one for £1200…

stickyfiddle

They'll be 1k within 6 months, which is probably fair. These have the proper headstock and seem to be built right, so people will pay for that. 

People need to understand that mass inflation across the board has happened, which is a de facto devaluation of western currencies. That's nothing to do with Epiphone or Gibson. But either way, when you consider a multi-piece body, naff headstock LP Custom was 450 when I was working a Saturday job in a guitar shop 20+ years ago I don't think these even look particularly expensive. 

The Custom would be my pick. I'd have a white one  

TTBZ

The Custom would be tempting at around a grand, if the neck profile is a proper C shape and they dress the frets properly on it. Then again something MIJ would probably be a similar price (I'm guessing, haven't looked at prices in a while) and probably a better guitar.

Daiganzen

if they were sub 1K then maybe, i do see an inflation in Guitar Prices. But this is silly and its about margins. How much does it cost to get a guitar made in china ? how much to ship it to its destination country? This is about making a quick buck as Gibson have gone through multiple bankruptcies 

OilCityPickups

stickyfiddle said:

They'll be 1k within 6 months, which is probably fair. These have the proper headstock and seem to be built right, so people will pay for that. 

People need to understand that mass inflation across the board has happened, which is a de facto devaluation of western currencies. That's nothing to do with Epiphone or Gibson. But either way, when you consider a multi-piece body, naff headstock LP Custom was 450 when I was working a Saturday job in a guitar shop 20+ years ago I don't think these even look particularly expensive. 

The Custom would be my pick. I'd have a white one  

Using the Bank of England inflation calculator a £450 Epi in 2004 would cost £777.59 today. 

stickyfiddle

OilCityPickups said:

stickyfiddle said:

They'll be 1k within 6 months, which is probably fair. These have the proper headstock and seem to be built right, so people will pay for that. 

People need to understand that mass inflation across the board has happened, which is a de facto devaluation of western currencies. That's nothing to do with Epiphone or Gibson. But either way, when you consider a multi-piece body, naff headstock LP Custom was 450 when I was working a Saturday job in a guitar shop 20+ years ago I don't think these even look particularly expensive. 

The Custom would be my pick. I'd have a white one  

Using the Bank of England inflation calculator a £450 Epi in 2004 would cost £777.59 today. 

So accounting for a hardcase, miles better pickups (same as USA Custom?), better wiring, better wood, and the right headstock it's about right around 1k? 

I'd also note that the BofE inflation calc uses UK CPI as its basis, which excludes various elements related to cost of housing, which is hilarious. But I don't want to turn every thread into economics...  

thermionic

stickyfiddle said:

These have the proper headstock and seem to be built right, so people will pay for that. 

Er… it says “Epiphone” on it.

If I had £1200 to spend on a Les Paul now, I would save up for another three months and look for a used Gibson.

Pete.R

timmypix said:

What's baffling me is that these are coming out of the same factory that's been making nearly identical Epiphones for literally half the price for 10 years, so how can they justify doubling the price just by removing the scarf joints and changing the headstock?

Yep, they are going into 'MiJ-territory' on the prices

Many of my Fujigen made guitars were less €€€

True €piphans need to pay for the correct headstock-shape.....

prowla

rlw said:

I think they look good and not a bad price but I'm sure someone will be along soon to say that the QC is crap, that the Chinese can't make guitars, the fretboard should be rosewood and the prices are a joke.

I'm struggling with the idea of £1200 for an Epi.

stonevibe

Cesar teased a few of these already on his Instagram this week 

floeighty2

If anyone wants a £1200 quid SG I have a in new condition one in the classifieds haha

robgilmo

stickyfiddle said:

OilCityPickups said:

stickyfiddle said:

They'll be 1k within 6 months, which is probably fair. These have the proper headstock and seem to be built right, so people will pay for that. 

People need to understand that mass inflation across the board has happened, which is a de facto devaluation of western currencies. That's nothing to do with Epiphone or Gibson. But either way, when you consider a multi-piece body, naff headstock LP Custom was 450 when I was working a Saturday job in a guitar shop 20+ years ago I don't think these even look particularly expensive. 

The Custom would be my pick. I'd have a white one  

Using the Bank of England inflation calculator a £450 Epi in 2004 would cost £777.59 today. 

So accounting for a hardcase, miles better pickups (same as USA Custom?), better wiring, better wood, and the right headstock it's about right around 1k? 

I'd also note that the BofE inflation calc uses UK CPI as its basis, which excludes various elements related to cost of housing, which is hilarious. But I don't want to turn every thread into economics...  

Accounting for automated production, cheaper availability of materials, cheaper transport costs, wages not increasing with inflation across the board, modern manufacturing techniques etc, you cannot rely on inflation alone to make an accurate conclusion of cost.

soma1975

timmypix said:

rlw said:

I think they look good and not a bad price but I'm sure someone will be along soon to say that the QC is crap, that the Chinese can't make guitars, the fretboard should be rosewood and the prices are a joke.

No one's disputing the Chinese factories can make great guitars.

What's baffling me is that these are coming out of the same factory that's been making nearly identical Epiphones for literally half the price for 10 years, so how can they justify doubling the price just by removing the scarf joints and changing the headstock?

You should see the different prices for a bottle of single malt made of the same ingredients in the same distillery. 

ALR

Epiphone need a budget brand for people who can’t afford the real thing

stickyfiddle

robgilmo said:

stickyfiddle said:

OilCityPickups said:

stickyfiddle said:

They'll be 1k within 6 months, which is probably fair. These have the proper headstock and seem to be built right, so people will pay for that. 

People need to understand that mass inflation across the board has happened, which is a de facto devaluation of western currencies. That's nothing to do with Epiphone or Gibson. But either way, when you consider a multi-piece body, naff headstock LP Custom was 450 when I was working a Saturday job in a guitar shop 20+ years ago I don't think these even look particularly expensive. 

The Custom would be my pick. I'd have a white one  

Using the Bank of England inflation calculator a £450 Epi in 2004 would cost £777.59 today. 

So accounting for a hardcase, miles better pickups (same as USA Custom?), better wiring, better wood, and the right headstock it's about right around 1k? 

I'd also note that the BofE inflation calc uses UK CPI as its basis, which excludes various elements related to cost of housing, which is hilarious. But I don't want to turn every thread into economics...  

Accounting for automated production, cheaper availability of materials, cheaper transport costs, wages not increasing with inflation across the board, modern manufacturing techniques etc, you cannot rely on inflation alone to make an accurate conclusion of cost.

Except that isn’t how economics work. Also have you seen the prices of *everything* lately..??