More “Inspired by Gibson Custom Shop” Epiphones…

robgilmo

stickyfiddle said:

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..??

It depends on what you are trying to calculate, you cannot simply say it costs this because inflation is that in comparison to what something cost years ago, its not just inflation that has changed.
I have seen the prices of things lately, not everything has doubled in price, and anything that has in my view is questionable. 

SteveRobinson

The price has got nothing (well not much) to do with inflation and everything to do with market positioning. 

Very few can afford a £4K or whatever Gibson Les Paul so these provide something very similar for a lot less money.

dazzajl

Seems that Gibson have decided that they can’t/don’t want to compete at the lower end of the market with Epiphone. And that is probably wise, they simply won’t win in a race to the bottom and even if they could, that’s not really winning. 

So trying to build value into the brand and ‘win’ the middle ground market is the only option left. And whether us old farts like it or not, the £1k to £1.4K bracket is middle ground now. They are at least offering the upgrades they can to try and justify the climb. How much the market will let charge will be seen soon enough. I think the folks that are predicting a 20% drop are about right. 

Offset

OilCityPickups said:

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.  

Precisely.  Which is why one will never darken my door :-)

rlw

Apropos the price, these are shipped in a container from China to the USA and Europe.

Shipping costs had already doubled in the last two years.  I know you can get a lot in a container but think about it.

Costs had virtually doubled in the period up to November and then....

Shipping costs have risen by more than 300% since November amid the disruption caused to freight in the Red Sea from attacks, according to fresh data.

The most widely used measure of freight cost, the Shanghai Containerised Freight Index (SCFI), hit $3,101 (£2,429) per container from $2,871 (£2,249) last Friday, according to data given to Sky News by global logistics company DSV.

It meant that the SCFI, which measures the average cost of a 20ft-long container being shipped from Shanghai to Europe, was 310% up on the level seen at the start of November.

Brio

`ooooh! Shit just got real.

DrBob

ALR said:

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

Didn’t they try that a few years ago with the Baldwin brand ?

DaiB

ALR said:

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

Underrated comment

Pete.R

rlw said:

Apropos the price, these are shipped in a container from China to the USA and Europe.

Shipping costs had already doubled in the last two years.  I know you can get a lot in a container but think about it.

Costs had virtually doubled in the period up to November and then....

Shipping costs have risen by more than 300% since November amid the disruption caused to freight in the Red Sea from attacks, according to fresh data.

The most widely used measure of freight cost, the Shanghai Containerised Freight Index (SCFI), hit $3,101 (£2,429) per container from $2,871 (£2,249) last Friday, according to data given to Sky News by global logistics company DSV.

It meant that the SCFI, which measures the average cost of a 20ft-long container being shipped from Shanghai to Europe, was 310% up on the level seen at the start of November.

according to thomann: more than 1500 guitars fit into one container

Now do the math......

so the shipping went up from $0,70 to $2,0 / each guitar

Revolutions

A premium Epiphone that’s less than half the price of its Gibson counterpart feels like something that will sell well. It’s been done before with mij Epiphone/Orville of course, although Japanese factories had far better reputations.

Will Gibson will cut back on the tribute models? Absolute bargains to be had 2nd hand there.

Talking of 2nd hand, plenty of LP standards can be got for £1500 these days, incl ones from early 2000s. A lot of guitar for that money imo.

strtdv

I'd be interested to see if this is Gibson getting rid of "low end" Gibsons so they can focus their attention on £4k+ reissues, which per guitar are probably vastly more profitable than £900 tributes etc.

£1300 is USA Fender territory, and not that far off a used Les Paul Standard, so it'll be interesting to see if the market accepts it.

stonevibe

I'd probably buy a new ESP LTD and get a better guitar for the money rather than pay for an Epiphone with an open-book headstock design.

Or buy a used Gibson for less. 

Either of these two options makes more sense to my wallet. 

robgilmo

It looks like Epiphone are phazing out their cheper models, no more standards, only a small few in the 500 quid bracket, specials etc being their cheap guitars now.

BobHillman

So perhaps they will reintroduce the "Kalamazoo" brand to cover the lower cost end of the market.

stonevibe

BobHillman said:

So perhaps they will reintroduce the "Kalamazoo" brand to cover the lower cost end of the market.

New budget line 'Authentic' brand name range is coming 

OilCityPickups

This ...

 is currently just a tenner more than  ... this 



Which is why Epiphone probably need to ditch the cheap end of their range ... 

chrisj1602

Official video up…

https://youtu.be/SUqSbOfSzI0?si=oPyH9CfkYYVCHTq4

Les Paul 59 & Custom, SG Custom, 355 and also J45, J200 and a J180!

NCo

chrisj1602 said:

Official video up…

https://youtu.be/SUqSbOfSzI0?si=oPyH9CfkYYVCHTq4

Les Paul 59 & Custom, SG Custom, 355 and also J45, J200 and a J180!

That person is so damn cheesy, I wouldn't buy anything off him.

For that money, I expect a full nitro finish, and a real maple cap instead of a veneer.

LessPaul

It does seem crazy paying in excess of a grand for an Epiphone, but to be  fair they have upped their game with these higher end inspired models. 

I have one of the 58 korina V’s, fit and finish is flawless, real korina , Gibson burstbucker pickups, CTS / Switchcraft / Mallory electrics, retro hardcase. 

 A fraction of the price for a Gibson custom shop one’ where all your  basically getting is a prettier grained Korina’ finished in nitro’ rosewood board and a Gibson logo on the headstock? Not sure wether that warrants several thousands of pounds more tbh??

https://i.imgur.com/lUgvS4b.jpeg

I do like the look of that  new 63 SG custom, it  looks ace!

I bought one of the earlier  inspired SG custom two pickup/ black models, solely to re create the three pickup custom albeit the vibrola and white pickguard.

https://i.imgur.com/e5QKYXF.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/b91JBPq.jpg

Gerz6558

Always wanted epiphone to do another es 355. Now it's here I'm not 100% sold. Price is obviously one factor, but not sure I am a fan of those fake VOS looks they do on epiphone. Something about the them looks off, and I'm not too keen on the shade of red they've done (based on that one YouTube video anyway).

Still open to being persuaded by the likely avalanche of YouTube videos incoming.