Epiphone Guitars

[Stealth Prawn]

So I'm buying a new guitar on Friday and my local music store happens to have an Epiphone Wilshire. I like the look, and I can definitely afford it, but I have a concern. Everywhere I look on the internet says it's been discontinued. Could it be a knock off? A vintage model? I'm not sure, and I'd like an opinion.

On another note, for Epiphones in general- are they bad quality? I have had friends say that they are 'The Squire of Gibson,` but I've never had one anyways, so I wouldn't know. Can anyone offer their input on what style of guitar I should get?

[InTransit]

I have an Epiphone Dot 335 and I prefer to most of the Gibsons I've played. There's nothing wrong with them quality wise. In terms of the 335's the only real difference, apart from the brand name and price tag is that the Epiphones have a dirtier, heavier sound to them. It's all a matter of taste and what kind of sound you want from them. A lot of popular, professional musicians still use Epiphones because they are made very well and tive what sound they want.

But that being said, I've personally never seen a Wilshire before. I just googled image'd it to make sure I knew which one you were going for. If you like the sound of it though, I see no reason why not to get one, though considering i've never seen one and that it's been discontinued it wouldn't be a very popular type of guitar. The music store probably still has it because they can't sell it, or it's leftover stock. I bought my epi just after it'd been discontinued too so I had to search the city trying to find a store with one.

[Stealth Prawn]

Actually, it just got that guitar a week or so ago.

Anyways, I really like the shape and sound of that guitar, so if I see nothing else by next Friday I'll pick it up. I've already given it a play test, and on an amp like mine is sounds great.

[InTransit]

Ok, just did a bit of research on it, the reason why you wouldn't be able to find stuff is because it's a re-issue of a 60's model, except it's made a lot cheaper and with standard parts so actually this has been done pretty cheaply. If you can get it pretty cheap, and are using it as kind of a starter guitar go for it. The only thing I've heard bad about it is that you can't get some parts for it, like the scrachplate & tone knobs. And the pick-ups are cheap but if you have a good amp, the pickups don't matter too much. Be careful with the neck too because it's quite thin if you bash it around too much it could get warped.

[Derelict]

I don't like Epiphones, personally. Even my $250 Cort has a clearer sound than most Epiphones. Keep in mind, though, that most of the music I play is fairly acoustic sounding metal and a clear sound is what I'm looking for. Generally, they're well priced for the quality you get, but the only one I bought a few years ago I ended up selling to a friend because I didn't really like it. My favorite guitar will always be the Gibson SG. It's just such a good guitar for barely $700.

[Pelican Man]

On another note, for Epiphones in general- are they bad quality? I have had friends say that they are 'The Squire of Gibson,` but I've never had one anyways, so I wouldn't know. Can anyone offer their input on what style of guitar I should get?

Generally, that's true. But, just because of that fact doesn't mean you need to write them off completely; if you like how it sounds and feel the price is decent, go for it.

Play around with it, and a couple of other guitars that you have played through your amp/amps at school/etc for a comparison, and see if you like the tone of it, and like the shape of the neck, etc. Your hands and fingers should feel comfortable, and you should be able to riff up quite easily if the guitar is suited to you.

But yeah, most important is to play it acoustic, then through an amp, making sure to fiddle with the levels on it, and the levels on the amp if the guys at the store will let you, and then playing a guitar you already know through the same amp, with the same levels as a comparison.

[Stealth Prawn]

Thanks for the advice, everyone. No, I don't intend to use it as a starter guitar, but I do like it. Of course I'll look at other guitars as well, but this guitar was pretty nice and the research I did on it piqued my interest. I'll update you later if I buy it, or if I buy something else.

[The_Solipsist]

If you like the Epiphone, buy it.

Gibson's are huge ripoffs comparatively, as you can simply change out the pickups and get just as good of a tone for less than half the price.

[notafan]

I used to have an Epiphone Les Paul and I loved it, but then I played a Gibson and that's when I stopped liking Epiphone...

[InTransit]

Thanks for the advice, everyone. No, I don't intend to use it as a starter guitar, but I do like it. Of course I'll look at other guitars as well, but this guitar was pretty nice and the research I did on it piqued my interest. I'll update you later if I buy it, or if I buy something else.
Make sure when you're researching that you research the reissue and not the original. They are two COMPLETELY different guitars.

I used to have an Epiphone Les Paul and I loved it, but then I played a Gibson and that's when I stopped liking Epiphone...

I had that reaction with the Les Pauls, but the completely opposite reaction with the hollowbodies (335's and Rivieras). I actually prefer the feel and the sound of the epiphone hollow bodies because they're not so sterile and have more character than the Gibsons.

[Fluzz]

I don't like Epiphones, personally. Even my $250 Cort has a clearer sound than most Epiphones. Keep in mind, though, that most of the music I play is fairly acoustic sounding metal and a clear sound is what I'm looking for. Generally, they're well priced for the quality you get, but the only one I bought a few years ago I ended up selling to a friend because I didn't really like it. My favorite guitar will always be the Gibson SG. It's just such a good guitar for barely $700.

Barely 700? shit man we're missing out up here in Canada, you'd be lucky to get it for around 800. Of course they go up to 2000 and shit but what guitar doesn't.

[Commodity]

Barely 700? shit man we're missing out up here in Canada, you'd be lucky to get it for around 800. Of course they go up to 2000 and shit but what guitar doesn't.

I think he means the Faded SG, not standard. I have a Standard (it just so happens that I got it used for $800), and it completely DESTROYS any Epiphone or Faded in terms of feel, quality, and sound. Of course, these things can be pretty subjective, but theres such a huge jump that just takes it to the next level.

Back on topic: If it really is the reissue, make sure to look for some reviews. For example, the Gibson SG 61' reissue is great, but there are always badly reissued guitars. Maybe check the serial number, because it's always good to get all the information you can get, especially for resale or anything else.

[Derelict]

My point was for less than $700 you get a really nice sounding guitar, and it's not even what a real guitarist would consider great. Pretty good, in my opinion.

[Stealth Prawn]

Well, seeing as how some douche knocked over my shitty Squire Strat, I'm going to have to buy a new guitar anyways. It was sitting upright leaned against the wall and someone knocked it over, and it landed on the head. Cleanly sheared from machine head to machine head. That's why you don't buy Squires.

So is that the kind of durability that would come with an Epi? Would it at least survive falling over?

[InTransit]

Dude I have knocked my epiphone around sooooo fucking much and it's still in mint condition. I've put a dent in the wall by accidentally swinging the headstock into it and not even scratched my epi.

BUT keep in mind the one you want has a thin neck so it's going to be slightly more delicate than mine.

[Commodity]

So is that the kind of durability that would come with an Epi? Would it at least survive falling over?

Most, if not all, Squiers are made of agathis. Agathis is a shit wood, durability and tone-wise. The Wilshire is probably mahogany, maybe alder, but either way it would be way stronger than any Squier. And yes, it should survive falling over.

[TheFerret]

Well, seeing as how some douche knocked over my shitty Squire Strat, I'm going to have to buy a new guitar anyways. It was sitting upright leaned against the wall and someone knocked it over, and it landed on the head. Cleanly sheared from machine head to machine head. That's why you don't buy Squires.

So is that the kind of durability that would come with an Epi? Would it at least survive falling over?

That's why I never leave my guitar against a wall. Its either in my hands, on the stand, or in a bag.

[troydtroy]

in my opinion, epiphones are the best basses you can get these days, the feel, the durability and sound quality are the best in the buissiness and very hard to beat so go epiphone!!!

[Commodity]

in my opinion, epiphones are the best basses you can get these days, the feel, the durability and sound quality are the best in the buissiness and very hard to beat so go epiphone!!!

He's after a guitar, not a bass.

[Thrashed]

I don't generally recommend Epiphone, personally I hate them.
But; if you like the tone, feel, weight and it's good looking to you..
And I'm going to burn in guitar hell for saying this, buy it.
Or rather, go for Vintage. They have much better build quality, and are cheaper than Epiphone and sound generally the same. Or you could buy an ESP, a Jackson or an Ibanez. I tend to stick with the better brands myself (Y)

[Kevinonfire]

I've bought an Epiphone SG-310 a couple of years ago, and it sounds great for the price. It's my second favorite guitar, next to my '93 Gibson Explorer.

I'd say go for it. I've tried a couple of Ibanez, Epiphone and Fenders before buying my Epi, and it was clearly the best one I've played.

[troydtroy]

He's after a guitar, not a bass.


My bad, sorry for that.

[Stealth Prawn]

So I bought the Wilshire. Best guitar I've played in a long long time. The neck is so smooth and sound is amazing. I love it.

[Bayview05]

My friend got an Epiphone Les Paul Special 2 for $169, it sounds great for the money.

[Britney Spears]

The truth about Epiphones is that there is no stereotypical quality of Epiphone. The reason people think they are bad is because they have a huge price range and they sell a lot of cheap guitars (which aren't necessarily bad, but they aren't good) and people just pick up that assumption. Every single guitar is different. I played fifty Tele's before I found the one I took home three years ago. If it sounds nice and play nice and you think the woodwork is somewhat decent, who cares what's written on the headstock?

[Stealth Prawn]

Oh shit, explosm. I'm having a crisis.

The amp jack on my Wilshire got loose and when I pulled the patch cord loose to inspect, the piece of metal fell out. I fixed this on my strat but there is no panel in the back for this guitar. How do I open up my Wilshire?

Edit- Never mind, I stuck plyers in, opened them wide to 'reverse grip' the jack, and got the metal pieces on tight.