I totally get the attachment Dave. My parents bought me a $200 Yamaha acoustic for my 13th birthday back in ‘77. It was stolen about 5 yrs ago and I still get worked up when I think about it. Also, I regret every guitar/amp/pedal I sold when I was younger. Never again
I will never sell my last guitar last gun or last Harley I feel ya with all the regret. I also had a 1970 Rodgers drum kit that I traded a old fender contemporary for. I wish I had either of those back. Tried tracking down my old Strat with no luck. Maybe one day I’ll see it again. My drum kit is still out their somewhere as well. Living with regret sucks. Also had a 88 BC Rich Warlock I sold to guitar center in the 90s for a Marshall cab and head. Don’t have those either. Man I was dumb.
Along my way I lost a Peavey Bandit 112 in 2001 that I bought new in 1997. Last year I found one just like it on CL so I had to buy it. It sounds as good as I remember and it's good to have an old friend back
That is some very impressive improvisation Dave, 5 minutes in and you have defined the urgency and expressive range of electric guitar already! You are a hell of a good player mate.
Just watching the intro - I started watching in early 2018 when id not long started playing thinking I will never be able to play like this man, now 5 solid years in on the guitar and I still think exactly the same haha.
Don’t say that mate. I thought the same I couldn’t get past playing basic chords and didn’t know any pentatonics. Now I feel like I’m quite close to Dave which isn’t me bragging or being big headed I’m just proud of how far I’ve came. I never learned apart from just playing myself. It’s true what Dave says. Music does really tell you what to play. Just keep at it
Keep at it bud don't bite off more than you can chew the smallest rewards keep u motivated to play pick the easiest song you want to play and play it till it sounds great, that involves set up and tuning etc I'm lucky I played the album British steel for a year till I could somewhat pull it off so I was lucky I had that album most guys would've been sick of those songs by the second month lol
Hi Dave and all your adoring fans. This video really hit home on the power of a guitar to summon memories. I had to sell a guitar that was not worth a massive amount money-wise but I soon realised after it had gone that it meant a great deal to me personally. It was the guitar that had really rejuvenated my playing during lockdowns. The guy I sold it to was extremely kind in selling it back to me. Your video was the key to realising there is more to a guitar than its outward sel. So thank you, Maestro.
I still own my Encore "hotrod" strat that my parents got me for my 18th birthday, it has traveled the world with me. I sold my Fenders and Gibsons but that, that I never could. The neck is horrible, the bridge will wound you pretty much any time you mute but by all that is metal, the ceramic humbucker in it screams. It's some super cheap uncovered humbucker but there is just something magic about the tone. Sentiment + tone = priceless. It's not a guitar, it's a repository of memories. My first gig, jamming with my brother till 4am and trying to record music on my 486 with out of time midi drums (because the PC was bollocks). In it's wood, metal and plastic lies a life, a life I have shared with it for over 20 years. It was my first guitar, the first time I practiced till my fingers bled. It's worth so much more than I can put into words.
Neck profile is simply another preference. Depending on the style of music and the previous guitars and the way that he frets chords, a player is probably going to prefer something different to you. "Different strokes for different folks!" In my case, I began my guitar journey by playing a steel string acoustic. Then I discovered Andres Segovia and bought a nylon string classical, with a very wide, very flat neck. I have large hands and fingers, so I appreciated the wide finger board with widely spaced strings so that I did not muffle the open strings. As far as electric, I too wanted a Gibson Les Paul, in part, because of its wider neck. However, I was NOT going to pay $5,000.00 USD for a damned guitar! 🙄 So, I bought a Fender Telecaster H/S for 20% of the cost of the Gibson. I LOVED that guitar, except for the little "broomstick" C-shaped neck. This neck is great for your average "rock guitar" player, who wraps his hand around the neck, sometimes even sneaking his thumb over onto the finger board to fret a note. But for me, a classically trained guitarist, I am most comfortable, and my fingers can cover much more of the fretboard with my thumb resting on the flat of the back of the neck. 😎
Nothing can replace the bond and memories you have with an instrument. The bond becomes stronger the more you work on the guitar without a luthier. I have an incredible Oswald Strat (thanks to Dave), but I equally love my first ever electric, a Yamaha Pacifica. I've personally crowned / leveled frets, rolled fingerboard and changed every single piece of hardware. The work and experience alone makes it equal to my Oswald ❤️🎶🎸
Very cool video, bro. My first Les Paul was a 1994 Korean made standard in cherry sunburst and I got it for about 250 dollars with a hard case. Really hated the microphonic pickups and swapped them for a set of SD SH-6 and now it's one of my favorite guitars even after I got a real Gibson and many Fenders!! Korean Epi's deserve some love I think!!
The mid-90s were a major turning point for korean quality, most of the 80s ones were crap by comparison, and I've played my share of both...either way there's much room for improvement regarding hardware/electronics, but the build quality started getting much more consistent from the 90s on
@@jasondorsey7110 The squier ii strats from Korea are really tight. 92-94ish. We had a few in the store i used to work in. I bought the white one that was missing some parts. Was less cuz missing stuff, bridge was broken. They gave it to me for $65. The black minty ones were about $200. WAY more now... Like the pickups and pots. No worries, threw some monsters in there. The JB that is single coil sized in the bridge with a coil tap. I started with Fender Noiseless, but they were kinda wimpy sounding. Ended up with texas specials that our tech had in his drawer. The bridge was weird. Tech had a Lefty Mim strat trem in a drawer. He said I could have it, but install was like 2 hours, he'd only charge me for one. This dude knows how to get that kind of bridge to handle a lot more whammying without going out of tune. More springs for the win. Total, it cost like 300. I sold it for $1,500 because this guy had to have it... it was nice. he was rich. he wasn't going to say no, that was as far as he would go. I wish i didn't sell it... The tech and store manager loved me because I got rid of two problems of theirs with one move. This jerk kept buying guitars and playing them for just less than the 30 days policy. Seven, eight guitars over $2,000. Then he'd return. Usually pretty scratched up. Tech had this awesome one that he made in a case. It looked like Fire. Had a Floyd Rose. The real one, not the jackson crap this guy kept trying and hating. He came in and I showed it to him. Was $2,500. He played it and loved it. We said because of the fragile nature of the cutout, he couldnt return it. He agreed. Tech was glad to sell it so he could fund another one. he still hooks me up like crazy but i havent really played much for a while
It's kind of like Ed Van Halen, he bought old beater guitars and fixed them up to play how he wanted them to. Back in those days, Gibson and Fender guitars were more inexpensive than the crazy prices they want today.
I have a 2001 korean les paul similar to yours, had it for over 10 years and had the same issues with the tone, so i changed the pickups and electronics and the bridge and now its sounds unreal, absolutely screams 👌👌
+1 I have a 1997 Korean Gold Top, and I've upgraded the pickups, pots, switches, tailpiece/tuneomatic, nut and tuners. And boom, it's more than alive! Maybe more pleasure to get with your beloved guitar! I can't get rid of my first guitars, and i alsmost regret any gear i've sold in the past because i was just as happy as you were when i got these...
This neck is a beehive. It needs either a straightening (ski jump, not easy) or a good fret levelling (easy). In the latter case, the guitar can be saved with just a little work. Dull pick-ups could be replaced cheaply now but before doing that I would check the pot values. If they are not 500K (Gibson is known to use lower values, maybe Epiphone did that too once), they need to be and the tone pots ought to be replaced with no-load pots so they act as disconnected when on 10. All this would brighten the sound. One further cheap mod is to rewire it so only one set of volume/tone controls is used for both pick-ups. It would only affect the middle position, of course, but suppress the halving of the pot values that effectively takes place when connecting both sets of controls in parallel (which further dulls out the middle position sound).
Gibson was using 300k pots in all their USA guitars until around 2014/2015 or so and when they went back to 500k they were purchasing 500k pots with a very wide tolerance range . Some were as high as 560k and some as low as 420k . Which is probably why you would get some guitars with 57 classic pickups that were muddy and then the next guitar with the same pickups would by very bright and harsh . I would imagine Epi was using 300k as well and very cheap ones at that . Those early 2000s Epis also had no maple caps and I find les Paul's without Maple caps to be extra stodgy or Muffled sounding with alot if low mids .
100% understand. And by the way, it sounded fantastic when you played it! Sentimental value is so much more important than actual value! Your parents worked hard to get you a gift they knew was important for you. They could have spent that money on all kinds of other projects they had in mind. But instead, they shared this experience to get you something that has obviously made a great impact on your life. That's what families do! BTW, I had a Les Paul Modern USA $2999. and a Les Paul Modern Epiphone $549 Guitar. Ended up selling my USA model because even though it was a slightly better guitar, it was not enough better to justify the $$$ difference for me. Thank you for sharing your story and keep playing your Epi LP as it sounded great to my ears!
My Mum and Dad bought me a Hohner Arbor edition Les Paul from GAK in Brighton when I was about 12 years old. I'd coo'd over it months earlier as I was Les Paul obsessed thanks to Gary Moore and Slash. Xmas morning was an absolute shock, I never expected it and it's still with me. I've got many, 'better' and more expensive guitars but that one the one I'd run back into a burning building to rescue! Great story many of can relate to 😀👍
What a lovely story, I have an Admira classical that my mum bought me when she had no spare cash. It is crap and priceless. Thanks little old lady, you are still the best.
Dave, check the truss rod, on that guitar, and make sure it is positively engaged. I’ve had experience with guitars that were lifeless and dull sounding, because there was zero tension on the truss rod. One quick turn of the wrench, to engage the truss rod nut, brought them back to life. Since you haven’t done much setup work to it, it may be loose. Give it a check.
I was gonna mention this too, it seems to be just about ready to fret out almost everywhere on the neck. A truss rod adjustment (as well as a complete setup) may turn it around for you, at least enough to get it knocked off the worst guitar list
@@barryengle12666 That is an excellent suggestion, unless the neck is 'active' you are not going to extract all the tone the guitar is capable of delivering-I had a similar problem with my Epiphone 2004 335, despite this being a 'custom shop' & 'special edition' model, once I had adjusted the truss rod it came alive.
Thanks for the story, Dave. Your logic feels similar to the reasons for keeping my cheap Ibanez acoustic. Bought it from a work colleague,for £50 in 2014, and it plays/sounds like a cheap acoustic, despite my best efforts to set it up properly and buying nicer strings etc; durign the first lockdown I finally grew sufficiently frustrated with it that, when restrictions eased that summer, I bought a Guild which makes me very happy. However, that Ibanez got me back into playing after a 20+ year hiatus, I learned a lot from it (mostly bad habits), took it to my first ever jamming session with friends, and that makes me very fond of the guitar, even if I have no urge to play it just now. If it wasn't for the Ibanez, I wouldn't have bought my first bass (or the second one . . .), or a decent electric guitar. I'd happily donate it to a friend or a friend's kid if they wanted to learn, but have no interest in selling it.
I can understand why it means so much to you. I have an Edwards LP that I'll be giving my son soon. I hope that he values that guitar 1/4 of what you value this epiphone.
My Epiphone Les Paul was made at the Unsung plant in Korea in 1997. It came with an Epiphone branded Bigsby. I've never adjusted the neck. It has Gotoh pickups from a Tokai ES-100, Gotoh locking tuners with green buttons, PIO tone caps, Gibson pots and pickup switch and roller saddles from Guitarfetish. And somehow apart from worn frets, it has no scratches, dings or anything. And it's a keeper.
In know exactly how you feel. I still have my first acoustic guitar that my parents bought for me in 1972. It's a Yamaha folk guitar. It is completely unplayable at the point. The first 5 frets are almost worn down to the fretboard. The bridge is lifting from the body and the pickguard is falling off. But, I will never part from it. Too much emotional and sentimental value. Too many wonderful memories. I also still have my first electric guitar that I bought in 1978. It's a Epiphone Wilshire. It is still playable. Great video!
Hey Dave, Love this video. I have a 2003 LP Classic Plus and have the same attachment to it as you do to yours. I'd worked up from Westfield > Vintage and then bought my Epi when I was made permanent at my job in 2003. To me it felt like my first 'real' guitar as it was that much closer to a Gibson than anything before it. She is called Queenie and we celebrate 20 years together this August > she's had a set of Epi Slash pups for a while, but is going to get a new set of pups and fresh electronics/nut as a spritz later this year. She's happiest with a set of D'Addario 10-52 XL Regarding your guitar; it was made at the Samick Plant, Korea in September, 2002 Production Number: 12445
Top stuff and totally relatable. I've a Hohner MXJ my parents bought me as my first guitar. I'll never sell it.....again. Sold it to a school mate at 16, then bumped into him 20+ years later and ended up buying it back. It's made from layers and layers of tone wood and has a similar sounding, massive and flat D shaped neck. I never truly appreciated at the time what a massive thing it was at that my parents, who weren't from musical families, recognised what a great gift it would be.
In 2007 I purchased the first Epiphone release of the Slash signature LP. It has the highly flamed Plus top, the Slash neck profile with the long tennon & the Slash signature Seymour Duncan pick up's as stock standard.. I got really lucky as it plays & feels incredible.. I actually prefer it over my 2012 Gibson LP
I sold my first guitar from age 5, my first electric LP copy received at Christmas at age 14, my first Stratocaster, first 12 string Ovation, first nylon classical guitar, bought at age 20, and a Chapman Stick. They weren't all sold at once, but all were special. Selling them gave me a feeling of loss at the moment; but not long afterward I felt good about all of those sales. I got money and was rid of things that were taking space in my life and not being used. Do I wish I had any of them now? No. I've had similar feelings of relief when selling cars and other things. For a while I lived in a minivan. I had to get rid of a 10' X 16' storage unit full of items. I sold many things, gave away a few things, and brought most of the things to the dump. When all the things were gone, I felt tremendous relief and freedom to not be attached to all of those things. Now I own two guitars. One of them arrived today. Which is one too many. I also own one ukulele and bongos. I don't want to own multiple guitars. I play the one I like most all of the time. Why have two when I only play one? If I were a professional guitarist there would be at least two. Backup instruments and amps are required when it is one's job. If I were performing the music of other people, even more guitars might be needed to recreate tones, if that were really required. At least one acoustic guitar would be owned. I've heard Eric Johnson play Cliffs of Dover on a 335 and his Stratocaster. I liked both performances. It's not the instrument that makes the performance. It is the quality of the performance that makes a show great, not the instruments used. Knowing that is why I don't feel the need to have many guitars taking up space in my life. Sell the things that you don't use. Get some money for them and enjoy the greater mental clarity from having less possessions. Record your guitars on video and audio. Take some photographs. Then let them go. Let somebody else use them all of the time as their favorite guitars.
Don't know why, but I'd love to see Dave recreate the watch scene from Pulp Fiction. I reckon he could do a good Christopher Walken.. Anyway, yeah, I've never got on with Epiphone guitars. My LP-styles are from Burny, Gordon Smith, D'Angelico and Gretsch. I'm happy not having a Gibbo/Epi brand.
Yo Dave, have you set up the intonation? All I'm hearing is that the thing isn't intonated and the E string length is really long there (the saddle is wayy far back). If you sort that out, you might find it's a little less crappy, tone-wise. It's funny though, I understand exactly what you mean about the sentimental value some guitars hold. I did similar with my Ibanez RG370DX. It's not a great guitar but it does play well. The humbuckers are wank, the floyd-rose is a nightmare and even with a locking nut, the damn thing simply will not stay in tune. However, I bought it in 2004 with the money my Grandma gave me for my 18th birthday. So it's very special to me and in-fact, I think I'm going to change the pick-ups and add a coil-split because, why not? It might as well sound good recorded. On the other hand I have an Epiphone Les Paul Custom Pro, which I bought as an adult with over-time money and a little help from my Dad in about 2017. I'm not keen. I think I'm just a strat person. Anyway, I'm trying to sell it, but it's such a beautiful looking instrument, I feel quite attached to it. We're a funny species, aren't we? That we can pack-bond with musical instruments is just wacky.
Hey brother, a good luthier (or a Plek job) could turn that guitar into a great player. It sounds like you're buzzing out frets, which is wrecking your sustain and acoustic qualities. A fret level, trussrod adjustment and a bit of tweaking could change it dramatically, adding sustain and improving its acoustic characteristics. A good luthier could even change the neck profile for you, depending on how much you're willing to spend, but a proper fret job and setup is a cost well within reason, that might put a big ol' smile on your face.
My brother bought me a Gibson Les Paul Studio back in 2004 when he was in stationed 29 palms Cali before he went to Iraq. I’ve had it since then I play it daily and I would never part with it for a million dollars. I also have a fishing pole my other brother gave me he since passed away I wouldn’t get rid of that rod if my life depended on it. Sentimental value and memories u can’t get back means more to me than any amount of money. I’ve owned tons of guitars since my brother gave me my Gibson. This on I would never let go of and would pry have a heart attack if it broke on me!!!
Have you replaced the nut on that guitar Dave sir ???? Just wondering if it sounds dead because the nut was cut for higher or lower Guage strings ??????? Screw Gibsons man all my guitars I've made from cheapies I sold all my expensive guitars but one
My first guitar was a Squier JV Strat. I never play it anymore. The pickups are too low output. The neck is too narrow. It has a Kahler. It's not bad, but it's my least favorite to play. But it will be buried with me. It looks like brownie and was my only guitar for 30+ years, and I'd sell all the rest before it. And even if I can no longer play, it stays.
fantastic,bloody intro, just wow! i think you have achieved what the truly great musicians do,playing from the heart,soul,cosmos,ect. wherever it comes from. i can tell watching you dave that it feels great when you connect with your instrument,and it seems like you always connect with it! when i play ,if i play for an hour,say,it takes me about a half hour before i start to "feel' it,and i seem to wear out pretty quickly,of course im 53! any ways, what im trying to say is i think youve reached a high level of playing,keep up the great work,spreading the joy of music to others,i wish i lived in the uk so i could see your band!
Question: As important for sentimental reason as this guitar is to you, why not give it a upgrade to what would make this a show piece, a concert ready Dave approved blues machine. I'd rebuild this beauty, ( I do like the Cherry Sunburst as I have one and its great to look at along with its brother Epiphones & one Gibson LP classic I've collected) LOL, how about a Go Fund Dave's Epiphone Fund - 😃
I bought one a few years ago. It sounded great, but the fretboard rattles were unbelievable. I tried every trick in my (limited) book, to little avail. I ended up giving it away.
I have 2. One, a cheap PRS SE that I got used. I didn't love it for the longest time. As I progressed in my playing and improved my setup and electronics, I grew to love it. She's like the little girl next door....it took a little growing up together to see her beauty. What really did it was a combo of my improved skill and new pickups that jived with my little tube amp
Intro sounded great, so it's a shame to hear this story. I agree about Epi's these days. They seem disproportionately pricy now, although some do love them still. This is one reason I went for a Michael Kelly for an LP-style instrument in the end - that and the fact it had no pick-guard. Btw, regarding the pickups, did you ever try removing the covers to see if that helped with the muffling/dullness? And yes, you would of course keep it given the attached memories and meaning. I'm sure most of us can relate.
I’m just going through your videos dave and I agree with what your saying. Sometimes guitars we have don’t carry a tune but they carry memories so that makes them priceless. Keep the videos coming dave 👍🏻
That guitar is a symbol of your love for the instrument. That can be very inspirational when you see it, pick it up and play it! I part exchanged my first guitar (a Jedson tele in the 70's) and wish I hadn't. I have got several guitars that I have made from scratch (copy of a Martin 000 16m, a variant of an LP junior and a 3 string bass) that fill this role for me now. Thanks for sharing Dave!
Took over my friends 2001 Korean LP. Also in cherryburst. He used it a lot. Also on stage. I did a full refret with stainless frets because of heavy fretwear. It is not dull in sound (accoustic) and it wasn’t before the refret. I discovered it has a magogany cap under the flame veneer. So basically full mahogany guitar. Put in some classic 57 and 57+ from my 2013 tribute lp and love it. Still has original electronics in it. Swapped bridge tuners also. Had the guitar in my house for a while when he wanted to sell it. Do like the neck so I told him id take it. I won’t sell it. Good memories jamming together.
I can understand exactly what you are talking about, memories are precious in our lives, and that guitar can never be replaced by anything Thank you for the great jam and video, Dave. ✌✌✌✌🤘✌✌✌✌👍
My second guitar ever is a very similar story. It’s an Epi LP100 from 1996. Not a great guitar by any stretch, but it’s the first guitar I chose and I’m he memories of trying to play music with my mates is with that guitar. I couldn’t sell it. Hopefully one of my kids will play it one day and have just as much fun.
Ive a white epiphone les paul my parents got me for christmas 2007. Put emg pickups in it at one point Same as you i never gelled with it. Toying with the idea of getting rid of it but im not sure. Its not worth anything so not worth the hassle of selling it. Might donate it. Might keep it. Not sure.
If your parents are still around you should have them watch this and take a engraver pencil to write their names or message on the back or front even. I engraved my name an phone number on my Ibanez Radius...wanted a Satriani chrome but in 89? 90? can't remember there were none and the ruby red radius was pretty close...have now idea where it is now. I wonder if refretting or pleking the neck would make it a bit more into the rotation.
You really bring out the appreciation for a bad guitar. I have something like this that my parents bought me that I refuse to get rid of to. My old BC Rich Warlock starter guitar. It still sits in my closet for the sentimental value.
A few suggestions to improve the tone on that guitar: Use a 0.047uF cap in series with the neck pickup hot lead, this cuts the muddiness giving boutique hand-wound clarity. Keep the pickup low like you have it. Adjust the screw poles in a Strat Stagger pattern. .. Rotate the bridge pickup so the screw poles are on the north side and crosses where P90s cross the strings and raise the screw poles 3/16ths inch (gives a beefy P90 tone). Then rebalance your pickup heights for equal volume neck vs bridge. I do the second mod on all my HH guitars now and the first on an as-needed basis to fix muddiness and tone. .. You can also push the tone, and fix the other reliability issues, by pulling the whole wiring harness (leave the pickups) and building new with Bourns/CTS pots (select actual measured higher kohm end of specs pots for brighter), Switchcraft switch and jack. .. I have a 2003 Epiphone Special Junior with a single bridge H that was the first I rotated the bridge pickup as noted above and I played that more than the G's I had for years because it sounded so good. Then I started modding the other HHs in the fleet that way and now they all get that tone, but that guitar is still fun to play from time to time. I became a better player on that Junior because there were fewer distraction.
Killer rambling solo Dave ⚡🎸⚡🎸🌊🐬🌈 What a great example of how music comes from within and not from the brand of instrument that you play. The connection to the instrument can spark the inspiration though. Keep up the great work 👍
When you showed how it sounds acoustically it reminded me of my Harley Benton Double Cut Junior guitar. The quality and craftmanship of it is ok but it doesn't sound good to me. Acoustically it has no bass, little low mids and a lot of treble. Sustain is ok but it's just very bright and the character of the brightness shows through my amplifiers. I think about selling it but I could only get 150 euros out of it. I can't really get anything better for that I think. I mean it doesn't weigh much, feels fine and has a solid setup. Sounds like a guitar. Maybe I'll put it in a different tuning or so
The first "proper" guitar I got in 2010 was a Gibson USA 61R SG I kept it for about 8 years modding it trying to make it better and more of what I wanted but I gave up in the end when I discovered PRS and sold it. I don't really regret it either because I ended up with better guitars. I had over 10 Gibson's in about 8 years but sold them all and now I am happy with 5 PRS, 2 Fenders and an Ibanez Joe Satriani. Note I am not a Dr or dentist.... If it does not work for me I don't think I would keep it unless someone close got it for me
I probably came into Epi's at just the right time. Epiphone has a very curious learning curve. The first Epi I ever picked up was in 1972 when I was 14 and I got to try out a Casino...and I was floored by it. Didn't try another until 2009 when I bought a Epi SG Custom Pro for €340. Overall, they went from great quality as competitors to Gibson, then as a Gibson subsidiary went low quality or medium quality...but with people buying them, modding them in place of buying higher priced Gibbys and other cheaper guitar manufacturers picking up on that and making Epi quality guitars for cheaper I think at some point their Gibson overlords picked up on it and decided to up their game with Epiphone. Epis' weak point (when comparing with Gibson) was always their lower quality components while having decent basic wood. Now they use better components but they're asking a ridiculous amount for it. The new ones are good though, and still a good affordable alternative to Gibsons. But....meanwhile there are lots of up and comers who are also offering Gibson/Epiphone quality gear...for less.
Good story on your side :) My 1st guitar was a POS Encore B&W / Panda Les Paul style. It sucked rocks. I took it around the world to duty stations in the Army. I have pictures of it when I was in my 30's..don't know when it finally went to it's final reward. I had real guitars by then but GD that thing was God awful. I hated, HATED, LP style guitars until this year when I got a LP style PRS 245 and Soapbar II. The PTSD from that thing was that/soooo bad. Best Regards and Best Wishes!
Totally with you on Epiphone pickups. I bought an Epiphone SG Special in a super rare finish for shits and grins last year. It FEELS like my lovely black Gibson SG that I've had for ages... the neck is darn close... but the bridge pickup is muddy as all hell when distorted, plus a few minor QC issues. Maybe I was just spoiled rotten by having a Gibson SG all these years. Part of me wants to mod the hell out that Epiphone and have a second killer SG, but the other part of me wants to just hang on to it and resell it later due to the super rare finish.
Kinda like Marshall. They have priced me out. I have been looking at Harley Benton's SC 550 II. They offer different pickups too depending on which one you like. These I can afford. I still only have one good amp. My Boss Katana Mk2. 2x12 100wat. As your recommendation. Still love it.
As a child, every time we went to the mall, everyone knew where to find me! In the music shop located in the Ohio Valley mall, (Gerreros music- the spelling might be wrong.) In 1991 as I picked out the best looking guitar in my opinion as a 11 year old child & played it ever time we went to the mall. One day my father walked in to retrieve me & he purchased the guitar & its original case! A 1986 Westone Spectrum LX (198mbk) it played so perfectly! It resignated so much that it tickled my throat & caused me to cough alot when I was really getting down! In 2013 a family member stole my Dads house where I kept all my important things! The house was willed to me! 22 guitars, 5 amps, umpteen pedals, one of the 1st five Steinway & Son's pianos made- after the passing of their father when Steinway became Steinway & Son's. They all shipped inside the same truck together in the late 1890's. I saved all my life & so did my father! The money, along with everything we owned, due to fraud! I'd do most anything to have my original Westy back!!! You slayed that Epi!!! Your one hell of a picker bro!
Oh God do I LOVE a Cherry Sunburst! Perhaps there's no accounting for taste? I've now got a 2020 Epi Custom, Tuxedo Black, ebony fretboard, AMAZEBALLS tuners, oh man I wish I had these tuners on every guitar I own! But I hate the black. Urgh. Half of my guitars are black, all two of them, and I can't stand the way they look. Both used, and both the best deals that I could get at the time. Strangely enough, they both sound like pianos, the Epi Custom like a grand piano, so the black IS somehow fitting. Still, I'm fighting such a strong desire to cover the Epi in bright vinyl stickers, break that dower, formal blackness. But when I die I want my wife to be able to resell my gear easily, and for profit, so I resist, but it is literally getting painful, the urge.
My first (non-shared) guitar I got was a Rocktile Warhead, basically a knockoff Warlock, which my dad got me as a GCSE reward in 2018. Its pickups were rubbish, frets garbage, and I grew to hate the neck profile. Plus I've managed to split the body into 2 and glued it back unevenly. Even though it's retired, I could never throw it away, since I used it to learn my favourite Slipknot songs on. Plus I'll still use it to learn tech stuff on.
I have that exact CherryBurst Epiphone Les Paul guitar. I installed Wagner Fillmore pickups, Bournes pots, SwitchCraft switch and jack, a better Tuneamatic bridge, tailpiece and a Tusc nut. Tuners are stock. I wired it "50s style" and added a treble bleed on the pots. I personally love the guitar now. I have twelve guitars and this one is my "go-to".
i MUCH prefer todays Epiphone over Gibson. mainly, the price for what you get. i think Gibsons are good and all, but i think they are HUGELY overpriced for what you get. i think most of the price is for the name alone, these days. i will say that older epiphone wasnt great. they used to be "cheap feeling" but these days, they are SOOOO much better than they used to be and they feel good now. again, they used to be not good, but now, its possible that an Epiphone could "blow your mind" with what they do these days. maybe. i cannot justify spending the money on an actual Gibson. i just cant because Epiphone is pretty good these days and cost a FRACTION of the price. for instance, my Epiphone ES-335 Trad Pro sounds and plays just as good as my friends nearly $4,000 Gibson ES-335.... i have no scratchy frets and even if i did, i would just polish them smooth during a string change. has no sharp fret ends or anything, the pickups sound great and acoustically, my epiphone ES-335 Trad Pro sounds just like the Gibson ES-335... again tho, older Epiphone was not very good, felt cheap and didnt sound very good either. these days are MUCH different. especially with the "Inspired by Gibson" lineup...
Our guitar jouney is pretty similar, I started with a Squier Strat and got the Epi Les Paul in 2005. I had a massive Slash phase and played it very much, but then barely touched it. About 1,5 years ago, I modded it massively - i replaced the entire electronics with high quality parts and swapped the crap pickups with Seymour Duncan Seth Lovers. The guitar sounds pretty good now I have to say. The neck does still feel a little weird though. I still like it and still play it when I feel like playing a Les Paul.
I love your enthusiasm for playing and the quality of your videos is always stellar mate. Please never stop! I also have kept my first ever guitar that my parents bought me. It's a Blueridge acoustic guitar, and although I've played dreadnoughts that sound better, I know I will have it for the rest of my life. How much you love an instrument and the emotional connection you make with it really matters. I feel like when I play it, I'm calling back to my younger days
I’ve got one in Honeyburst from 2007. I gutted it and brought it up with all the good stuff. SD 59’s, Bone nut, Gibson Deluse (Kluson style) tuners, PIO Caps, Gold Speed Dials, sanded the neck down some on the Poly finish. Just thinking would love to see and hear you play it just so I could say it’s been played by a master. Cheers. Mate.
I also have an early 2000s (maybe 2002) made in china EPI LP Custom...frets needed leveling...took it to a great tech shop w/plek and came out to be one of my best LPs. (including several Gibsons). Polished, level, neck adjusted for my low action preference just made it a dream guitar.
I'll always regret selling my cherry red Epiphone Les Paul Studio from about 2003... I bought it used and it had been really thrashed about by whoever had owned it previously. Covered in scratches and with a big dent in the neck. I think because it was in such beaten up condition I didn't really mind being rough on it. One night I was arsing about throwing it up in the air, spinning it and catching it, when I finally misjudged it, one of the plastic tulips broke off and the machine head shaft buried itself into my arm. There was blood everywhere, still got the scar. Rock 'n' Roll... 🤣 I think not long after that I bought my first Fender Strat, around 2006, and the Les Paul didn't get played much from then on. I still remember the night I sold it, a bloke came and collected it in the pouring rain and carried it off on his shoulder letting it get soaked. Just in that moment I regretted letting it go...
I have a white Ibanez ART100. My second guitar as well. I badly modded it and the fretboard is starting to come off the neck. Never getting rid of it, too many good memories.
Nice.Definitely humbucker playing. A wide relief of over saturated droning unarticulated melodic sweetness. I used to swear by Les Pauls. It depends on your direction. Strats are the pinnacle of expertise. Actually reminds me alot of Mike McCready. Listen to the lead he played in Buffalo for Black, in 2003.
First of all, great intro! My first electric was a Hohner Les paul I got for my 15th birthday. I bought a Gibson Les Paul custom SG three pickups gold hardware ivory color that turned yellow over the years for $550 in 1989 when I was 18. Been my main ever since. Back in the early 2000s I bought an Epiphone Les Paul for around $300 on sale. I bought it to try to stop beating on my Gibson. It didn't have the sound or feel of the Gibson and barley played it. I do wish I still had mine, but it was stolen from the other guitarists house who was in my band.
Really good explanation - I think most of us have guitars that are not 'right' but we have an attachment to. Now my advice... mod it and get some tools to set it up; that's a pretty inexpensive way to get it better. There is no way this guitar should be harmonically lacking! I have a feeling it is choking out, pickup magnets could be simply too strong and sucking the sustain? I'd re-wire it and put new pots, caps and pickups & socket in there Dave. Don't pay some else to do it... have fun and do it yourself. Regarding the neck feel - yea, if the profile is all wrong that's a bitch... but if you get the frets polished (easy to do) and deal with any fret sprout, then it may well feel 100% better. At 300 notes it is not an expensiv guitar to experiment with (but I am aware Grimsby is not rolling in cash - I'm a Hull lad!).... to give you an idea, I just built a Fender strat (Fender body and neck) and put in all top quality hardware.The cost was around 2k! BUT it plays and looks like a custom shop job - I'm not bothered about resale... just that I wouldn't willingly spend 5k on an official custom shop Fender. So, how did I afford it as a retired old git? I took a year to buy the parts and build up the guitar of my dreams. I am now working through my 'collection' with the knowledge I gained. I do hope you get this guitar sorted, because I have heard some beauties... and I don't think you should look at them as the 'poor man's Gibson' - I think as a brand they have been long established. So, we know 'tone wood' is bollocks, it's not down to the materials, so it must be something obvious...'scientific' even. I bet I could make it better... though now living in the Azores, or I'd offer to pop over. :) Good luck!
Funny thing about guitars. You can take two guitars. Built by the same guy, (or guys), on the same line, at the same time, same everything. And they will feel. and sound different. AND....one will play and sound like crap to one guy, and be the holy grail for someone else. Thats why ive always said...when you go guitar shopping for your "ONE" guitar..PLAY AS MANY AS YOU CAN. dont get hung up on color, brand, model, etc... One guitar will choose you.
1995 Strat my late dad bought me in 1996 when he over heard me practicing on a cheap acoustic at the age of 13... That guitar still has loads of life and influenced my daughter to play and now she is well on her way as the lead guitarist for a musical school. The guitar is mounted to my wall and forever a part of me and my dad and now myself and my daughter. It is only something guitar players would understand... Peace and Love from Boston! Happy Easter Dave :)
Man, my brother got a cheap acoustic from an outdoor market in Mexico in the '80's. I got in trouble many times for "borrowing" it. I was fascinated and wanted to figure it out. Sadly, I never got a guitar until I was in my 30's. I lament the 20+ years that I wasn't learning and playing. Your dad is the man!
Always makes me sad when people have there first and second guitars. Me I have been on off with playing until about 10 years ago. I bought many guitars non of which is still have. Which annoys me as I’d love to have them to look back in. I dont even know what my first was
