Guitar Copies...

Jammer

I have been playing about 8months, and prefer to play acoustic guitar, but one can't take to the stage without a few tricks on an electric guitar, and up to now i have been messing around on an Encore guitar, which suited me to begin with but i want to get a better guitar.

I'm gonna starting jamming with a mates half formed band and want to have decent gear to play with, although im a student (great excuse) so i havent a wad load of cash. I want to spend €400 max on a new guitar.

I am attracted to the Gibson copies (Epiphone) as they look nice. Ive been reading reviews online and have seen mixed responses. All im looking for is a guitar that will sound okay through a loud amp and look cool too. I only want to play light to medium rock, no heavy stuff.

Ive been looking at the ESP Ltd M50 and Ibanez GSA60 too, any opinions? any other guitars i should check out?

Oeneus

The best Gibson copies I've ever played with for a long period of time are the ones made by a company called "Vintage". I think the official website for this make is http://www.jhs.co.uk

But these are much more reliable than Epiphones. One of my guitars is an Epiphone and I'm not too happy with it to be honest.

Or if you've got a bit more cash, or you find a pretty good deal, look out for some copies made by Tokai. Tokai are pretty much spot on in terms of quality at a fraction of the price of Gibson's.

Doctor J

Just go into guitar shops, if possible, and try out everything you can. You may like the look of a particular guitar but it may not suit your playing style. Most Encores are based on Fender designs, so start off by tryoing out strats and telecasters, see how they feel, then try out Epiphones, see if you like the feel of them. Their designs are quite different. Once you know they knid of guitar which suits you, you can explore the different models based on a particular design. Personally, if you're spending €400 I'd steer you towards buying second hand - grab yerself a copy of Buy & Sell

musician.ie

I second Oeneus's call on those vintage axes. They make a huge selection. They feel and play better than the low end Epiphones ( Les Paul Special II for example ). More weight, better sustain, nicer pickups. Don't know where you're based, but Jeffers music in Cork has the whole range. I'm not sure who carries them in Dublin. The Tokais are yummy too....

I would stringly suggest you play one of these before you buy anything else. And like Doctor J says play every axe you can get your hands on. Decide whether you prefer single coil or humbucker pickups or a mix of both, try a few semi solids. Even if that flying V looks hilarious to you, strap it on and belt out a few chords before you dismiss it.

If you are buying secondhand, caveat emptor. Check the tuning up and down the neck, Plug it into an amp and listen for probs with the wiring.

Jammer

i dont really want to buy second hand, mainly because i wouldnt really know what to look for to make sure the guitar is in good shape..how would one hear wiring problems? it may sound stupid to you guys but i dont know!

Doctor J

I've spent part of this morning soldering a mates Ephiphone back together. Cheaper guitars use cheaper material, cheaper electronics, etc. You will have wiring troubles eventually. If you buy 2nd hand, just make sure the neck is straight (look down along the neck), play it to see if it feels ok, and plug it in, turn the knobs up and down, listen for scratchy noises (pots on the way out), flick every switch, etc. Loosen the strings and tune it back up again, see how well it says in pitch.

Just because a guitar is new, it doesn't mean there won't be something wrong with it. This is a 1 year old Epiphone I have here, crap pots and crap wires. They suck.

disgruntled

Id avoid the low end epiphones they suck and Doctor J is right about the electronics. Dont be mislead the gibson name on them. Although having said that I have a epi lp std and never had any trouble with it, well yet anyway. It dosent compare to my gibson but it playes ok and you could do a lot worse. Try out as many guitar as you can find before you make up your mind.

You should really look at buying secondhand, youll get more for your money. Try and drag a friend along that knows a bit about guitars or you could try the shops around town and see if got in any as trade ins. If you really want to buy new have a look at Thomann I think they have mex fenders for that kinda money.

Speedway

I was in the same boat as you,i still have an old Encore acoustic at home.I bought an Epiphone Les paul studio for around €550.It's almost as good as a real gibson.If you want to play alternative rock with an edge it's perfect.it can hit nearly any sound you need.If you want to play any bluesy stuff it's perfect and any very heavy stuff sounds great too.It can jump out of tune a bit but its only a minor problem.overall i love the guitar and can't stop playing it.it's a perfect step up.
My last electric before that was a Cort X-2.good for very bass heavy stuff but TERRIBLE for any clean,easy listening stuff.very nicely built guitar but if you're considering any clean easy listening/acoustic counds stay well away from them.

for progression from acoustic to electric gibson/epiphone are the way to go

Eoin Madsen

Originally posted by Speedway
I bought an Epiphone Les paul studio for around €550.It's almost as good as a real gibson.

That is insane. It may be that an epiphone suits your style the best of what you can afford - but don't for a second believe that it's anything but a beginner's band guitar. The same goes for the Mex Fender stuff. I bought a Mex Strat years ago as my first electric. It suited me great at the time, and it sounded better than any Squier and most Epiphones. I would even recommend it to you if you're starting off. But on retrospect: it's a ****ing **** guitar that should never curse a studio or stage!

fitz

Originally posted by Speedway
I bought an Epiphone Les paul studio for around €550.It's almost as good as a real gibson.

No it's not.

You're talking absolute pants there...there's a huge difference in standard.
Epiphones are muck.

Eoin Madsen

Exactly. At the end of the day you more or less get what you pay for. Though I reckon the relationship between cost and quality is exponentially proportional.

Pardon my asterisksism above... but oh how I loathe that guitar.

Doctor J

If yer gonna buy a copy be imaginative. For example:

Ash body in a jazz bass style and a G&L neck with ebony fretboard - winging it's way to Doctor J for a grand total of €326

feylya

Yeah, any chance I can borrow that bass some time?....

Sauron

lol, my friend had an Epiphone, and I was sorta mock-slagging him about it being just a phoney compared to a Gibson.......an epiphony that is :rolleyes:

not that I know much about guitars..:dunno:

Doctor J

Originally posted by feylya
Yeah, any chance I can borrow that bass some time?....

Dude, let me play it first

Sauron, you say you may not know much about guitars but judging your post, I'd say you know plenty ww)

oneofakind32

maybe you should check out www.musicstore.de. They have J&D Les paul coppies for €166 (blot on neck)€222 (Set Neck). Dont know if there any good but the price is right

Doctor J

They're not any good