the blue version was the closest affordable version to Dave Grohl's DG-335 back in 2021 so that's what my daughter wanted more than anything. She still really loves it.
Es345 models have split parallogram inlays on the fretboard. Es355s have big block inlays. Es335s have either small block inlays or dot inlays. Love the channel Mike!
You're lucky. Hidden somewhere in the releases this year, Epiphone actually came out with a proper 345 (varitone et al, just not stereo). It's the EI-345VCHGH3. Not the CS-line, somewhere in the middle between that and the standard series.
I have this Epiphone ES-355 for about 6 months now and the sound is really amazing. With a proper setup this guitar has a beautiful sound and is definitely worth the investment. Thanks for bringing up these points in the video. Specially with the new Epiphones inspired by Gibson coming out I can't justify spending $2500+ on a Gibson.
I prefer the Kalamazoo headstock. People can appreciate Epiphone for being itself rather than trying to pretend to be Gibson. Ain’t no shame in it - it’s a great guitar, after all. When we all collectively accept that the headstock shape and brand doesn’t matter so long as the guitar is awesome, people will stop having their “nose up in the air” that it’s not a Gibson. Making Epiphone awesome is in our own hands and wallets!
I disagree, the Gibson models need to have the Gibson headstocks. The original Epiphone models should have the Epiphone headstocks. Plus, the Epiphone name on the open book headstock shape looks amazing.
@@Ottophil I think the headstock preference is reasonable, the Gibson logo though, that's the company using strong marketing and psychology on you, brother.
While I’m not a huge fan of Gibson and there overpriced products, I’m not a fan of the Kalamazoo headstock for Epiphone, it just looks off to me and I personally am not a fan. I prefer the Gibson headstock, I think they look a lot better then Epiphones old headstocks. Guitar looks also matter to certain people as well. While not everyone cares, guitar looks does matter for people because it could make someone want to play just by its aesthetics and feel alone. I purchased a Gretsch semi-hollow as my first guitar and I still love to pick it up and play it just by how it looks and feels and I personally love Gretschs headstocks. I have no interests with Epiphones with a kalamazoo headstock because I personally don’t like how they look. That’s my opinion and that’s different for everyone. Why are you writing this as if you’re proving something? It’s your own preference and opinion and it varies for people and guitars.
Seeing the production value on this channel over time has been WILD mans has a whole UA-camR CAMERA now, and background music and jump cuts with different camera angles and all that professional production type beat gotta respect the come-up 💸💸🙏🙏🤝🤝™️™️🔌🔌🤺🤺💢💢💯💯🔥🔥👑👑🤨🤨🗣🗣⚠️🚨📢🍝🍚🪐👀👀💸💸💸
I’ve played and gig with a 2009 epi dot exclusively. It’s of course modified and I stripped the top off to restrain with 7 coats of nitro. It sounds great and it fights me always, which adds to the enjoyment when great tones are coaxed from it. Btw Bonamassa was in Wichita, KS this afternoon buying several strata from a local shop. Always cool to see.
I have a friend who's dad has 355. He had a recording studio and owns a 355 the he says was owned by BB King. I used to pick around on it in High School, which is crazy that he would even let me touch it. Saw him last week, and he still has the guitar along with so many other rare ones.
I'm enjoying my Epiphone 59 Tobacco Burst Les Paul! Had to bring it back to Long and Mcquade for a free setup as there was a problem with some of the solder joints in the electronics. Now it rocks!
Me too. I put a set of Seymour Duncan Hotrodded pickups, coil split pots, keystone tuning buttons, roller bridge, treble bleed circuit and tp6 tailpiece.
I have an Epiphone hollow body Joe Pass Emperor II that was made in Korea in 1992. Lovely instrument. The model has been discontinued. Great prices still on Reverb. You all should check out Joe Pass. A great jazz artist. He was untouchable.
I have this guitar too and agree that it is a fantastic guitar, and not just "for the price". Love the slightly smaller body compared to the traditional jazz box. I am not a jazz guy and seldom play mine, but I just can't bring myself to sell it because it won't fetch a high price and it is just an amazing playing guitar (again, not just "for the price").
@@cozy_mellow_mood In high school, I heard Wes’ A Day in the Life and it lit the spark of a lifetime love of jazz guitar. I had a teacher here in LA who had taken lessons with Joe Pass. Another local great from the day was Laurindo Almeida. His album with The Girl from Ipanema was a favorite. And of course, Getz/Gilberto. I mention all these influences just so somebody younger reading these comments, or even Mike, might have a few artists to listen to who are … well, transformative. While I’m at it, a personal favorite now is Herb Ellis … he made a great album called Texas Swings that has an amazing rhythm guitarist on it … Willie Nelson!
I have this guitar and it's really nice, especially for the $. Surprisingly comfortable neck (fret ends needed some work) and a surprisingly loud and sweet unamplified sound.
Great video Mike, you can notice the BTTF guitar was a ES-345 also by the type of inlays. The 335 includes dots or little blocks only! Greetings from MX!
I play a Gibson Blues Hawk with a varitone switch. Two p90s and a fender scale length. It’s been one of my main guitars for 30 years. Lots of folks don’t get what that switch is up to, but I love it. I can go from bass heavy hollow body tones to treble pushing tele tones in a flip of a literal switch. If I had to have just one guitar that would be it. You need to do a video on the varitone
Many years ago I went to Denmark Street in London in search of a vintage Gibson Semi-Hollow. After visiting most stores on the street and playing a handful of awesome sounding guitars I was torn on what model to get.. I went for a coffee and weighed up my options before going out and visiting the last few shops I hadn't been into yet. The final shop I went into didn't have any 'vintage' semi-hollows but the sales guy told me he had something special out the back that I may be interested in for a fraction of the price. When he returned he was holding a guitar I wasn't too familiar with but noticed it was indeed an Epiphone, Semi-Hollow and had a beautiful natural finish which I hadnt seen on this model guitar before. He plugged it into an original Fender '59 Bassman and started to give me a demo of what was one of the most amazing sonic experiences I had heard up until that moment. After a few minutes he handed it over for me to try and from the very first note it I knew it was indeed something special. Something about the way it felt, the way it sounded and the way it played resonated through my body and there was no way I could leave it after such experience. I paid £400 and the rest is history.. The guitar in question? An Epiphone Sheraton from 1994 made in South Korea (Samick factory) in a beautiful Natural Maple finish. If you want to hear her sing (not the same finish): ua-cam.com/video/rkq0YM42FRc/v-deo.html
I recently A B’d my 2022 custom shop 1959 Gibson ES-355 with my dad’s Epiphone Shearton 1997 made in Korea. The Epiphone is awesome and holds right up. My parents preferred the Epi sound with a blind listening test! 😊
I swear to my maker, Back To The Future is why I play guitar and why I tried my hardest to skateboard as a youth! The skating, well hmm... the playing guitar bit, well that I stuck with and have for all these years! I will always give thanks to this film and MJF for the guitar bug :) That opening scene when he goes to Doc's workshop and cranks that giant speaker (I never questioned the absurdity of the speakers size as a kid, it just = loud), great episode by the way and I really dig your approach and the views you offer. Big fan here!
@@KieraQ0323 it really is. I put a humbucker sized p90 in the neck and a Seymour Duncan hum-bucker in the bridge with a coil tap. Hand carved bone nut and graphtech tuners plus a total electronic upgrade. Im super excited to get to play it.
I always wanted a 355, and a couple of years ago I was lucky enough to find exactly what I wanted. A 1979 tobacco sunburst 355, in great condition with a maple neck, so pretty much immune to the classic headstock break, with a maestro term and stereo wiring. Love it!
@@georgeminhinnick-vu3izmy friend’s Epi LP Modern Figured was flawless out of the box too - including the nut. I think most of the nut and QC complaints stem from instruments that are pre 2020. This is the first time I’ve heard a nut complaint in a very long time.
Perhaps I’ve just been unlucky, mine were all bought 2023 onwards. All sharp cut when fretting the first fret on the high E side, easily resolved with a bit of filing, but my current V needs a complete set up as the first fret buzzes out across the neck
The absolute killer Epiphone is my singer's Bob Marley One Love which we bought somewhere in 2007 brand new. It's a Korean limited edition custom shop. The best Gibson sound you can possibly imagine
I love Epi’s and prefer them over a Gibson knowing I saved a ton of money. The Dot was my first Epi as well. I played every guitar in the shop and was blown away with the Dot and its price. When I see someone play an Epi I see a grounded human being, when I see someone with a Gibson I see a person who is more concerned about image. Can’t go wrong with Epi’s. Mike you should check out the Gretsch Streamliners. Incredible guitars for the price. Those are my two go to brands. Gretsch and Epi’s. Great video Mike!! As always 👌
I bought an unbranded, red, closeout, 335-style semi-hollow from Guitar Fetish a few years back and that started my obsession with semi-hollow guitars. Now I own too many more. 🤣
I bought the Joe B Epiphone ES355 when they were released a few years back and like all us guitar geeks I completely modified it. It was one of my go too’s but after I Gibsonized it(is that even a word?) I have not picked up another guitar since and I have 14 others! I’m fortunate that our local guitar guy was a former Gibson guitar builder and he used all the best parts, NOS Licensed Bigsby with the Vibromate CTS pots(push pull)and wiring(60’s Jimmy Page) roller bridge and nut and locking tuners. The best part, Joe B PAF pickups from an early signature Les Paul. With the push/pull pots on all 4 it gives you more options than a varitone would have. It’s like having my dream guitar for about $2100 altogether. Great review! And you’ll be surprised how often you are going to want to get out the semi hollow body now.
I"ve had an Epi Dot for over 20 years (made in South Korea before they moved to production to China) and it's a phenomenal guitar. I bought a Gibson 335 last year and the differences are negligible. I'm primarily a Telecaster player but switching to the body shape of the 335 never bothered me, probably because I play acoustic a lot. I love your channel.
I bought the 150th Anniversary Sheraton, which is an original Epiphone design, and the USA Mini-buckers are killer, and they have become my favorite pickup, between the full HB and the P-90, with the crispness of the P-90 and the fullness of the HB without the muddiness that a full HB can have when tone is dialed down. I also have an Epiphone Sheraton II, another great semi-hollow, as well as a Strat. Between these three, my guitar sounds are well covered.
That Epiphone ES-355 is the my favorite guitar I’ve ever owned and I own Fender Custom Shop, Gibsons, other boutique guitars. I put some of my fav pickups in it (the Custombuckers are already fantastic) and it just SINGS. It feels amazing, plays effortless and looks incredible. Gibson 335s I’ve played don’t touch it. It’s wild
Great video... as always. I too am a preferred Strat player but recently bought a Gold Top Epiphone 335 from Musicians Friend Stupid Deal Of The Day for $399... It has the coil tapping Humbuckers and I gotta say that I really love playing this thing... so much so that I also bought a Gibson flat top Les Paul, TV Yellow with P-90's... this thing is a beast..
Hey Mike, love your vids, you are deffo one of us players! I bought a 2010 Dot in 2015 for 175 GBP Pounds. Guy who toured was going back to acoustic, it was a cool crissie prez!!! It is still my go to for deep, dreamy, bluesy tones and my daughter already has her dabs on it when I shuffle off this mortal coil. Please keep up the good work 👍
I have one of the First Gibson inspired by lines. It’s the 60s less 2020 model. It still has the upper phone headstock, but it’s an amazing guitar. The shape of the headstock doesn’t change how it plays or sounds.
For the past several years, my main axe has been an Epiphone ES-335 Pro. I found my sound as a player on that guitar, and I swear that thing has never let me down. It just plays so dang good.
My favorite Epiphone I’ve ever played was the Adam Jones custom silver burst. The neck was so good. I’m hoping they do a gold top in this higher spec configuration with a proper 50s neck. Great video. Thanks man.
I don't have a ES 335 or 355 which im sure you know is how much they did cost upon hitting the market, ie $335 . But you asked about how we feel or felt about EPIPHONE guitars, I have been blessed enough to purchase 5 different models from Sweetwater and the EPIPHONE brand , they are 3 LP models, the 60s Standard, The 59 Reissue Standard, The Mondern and the Firebird and the SG Classic in Worn Cherry with P 90s. All I can say is every one of them have been flawless in design, performance and appearance. So needless to say I'm quite a fan of the brand. Each one is uniquely different and true to there characteristics. I really like your insight and inquisitive mind and approach. Thx for the revelation about MJ Fox ( aka Marty ) and the 355 time stamp catch.
I bought an Epi Es355 last week - the ebony Shinichi Ubukata mode with chrome HW and licensed Bigsby. Still has Gibson Classic 57 pickups, Switchcraft and CTS harness and a very nice hard case. They are heavily discounted at some outlets in the UK, from £1229 to £799. If that wasn’t cheap enough, I traded an unloved MIM 50s strat in and parted with £400. It’s nuts how good this Epi is. The varitone choke and Bigsby add a fair bit of heft, so it’s 9lbs plus. That’s the only drawback. Fabulous guitar that makes me want to play, for less than a third of Gibson money. Joy :)
I have an Epiphone IBG Les Paul Custom in ebony, and I upgraded the heck out of it, Seymour Duncans, Kluson Locking tulips tuners and knobs that match the murphy labs LPC. Have a golden Bigsby with Vibramate for good measure as well. Spec wise, its basically on the level of the new Epiphone IGC line, w the only differences really being the lack of real mother of pearl inlays and the open book headstock. While I'm sure I'm that one day I'll purchase one of my dream guitars (Gibson LPC or Duesenberg Starplayer TV Phonic), my current one plays like a beaut and I love her to no end
I have the IBG ES-335 Figured Blueberry Burst when they first came out for $599 . New pots and a set of Seymour Duncan Antiquity’s ! I prefer the Kalamazoo style headstock over the Gibson headstock when it comes to Epiphone .
I have a 2021 les inspired by Gibson in silver burst and it’s been a lovely guitar the last few years. All my epiphones are les paul custom including a Gibson les Paul custom.
Eastman, IMO, is the best “bang for your buck” guitar company. My two antique varnish guitars (SS22 and T59v) from them would be $5,000 guitars from Gibson
I also love my Made In China Eastman. I love my Epi’s, MIM Fender, made in Indonesia PRS and my made (I think in Korea) G&L Tribute. I also love my made in USA guitars too. I guess I just love all of my guitars!
Maybe 2 years ago, I bought an Epiphone 335, Inspired by Gibson with Bigsby licenced. After a good set-up, it's a wonderful guitar and my favorite now. Also had an Epi Les Paul Gold top 50's inspired by Gibson with is also very nice. Your 355 you got is also very nice and I will be very tempted if I hadn't had the 335. The line of the 2024 Epiphone "high end" had beautiful model like the Les Paul Custom but will wait but I think I would be tempted if they released a Les Paul Custom or Gold top with P-90 in the future. A little thing that I want to tell you is that your 355 had Gibson Custom Shop humbuckers and not their Epiphone counterpart that I had on mine. The Custom Shop humbuckers are at least $400 each when sold separately. So, otherwise you didn't like the sound, I think you should keep them. A very nice video and what a beautiful guitar! Me too, it's because of "Back to the future" that I want one and also for Justin Hayward of the Moody Blues, an influence on me who also played one! 😎
Hi Mike, love the vids! I am a Manc born guy (pronounced MANK) meaning I am originally from Manchester, England, same as Noel Gallagher. Live a few miles out now in the country. Great to see you play an Oasis track. I like Oasis but my real musical heritage (being a child of the 60s ) is of the British blues boom such as Clapton/Beck/Page/Green etc and I started playing age 11(1966) and that all led me back to a love of the true US blues including BB, T-Bone Walker , Albert King, and far too many others to mention. On then to R&B and the soul of Tamla and Stax etc......But as well as the great Brit guitarists that we have/had, there is only one who I adored since I was 11 (still do ) and it has to be Jimi !!!! We claimed him as our own (😇) and always will.😁 The guitar joins so many people together no matter who we are ! Keep up the vids, well done ....or as Noel and I would say.."sorted our kid !!!" 🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🤘🤘🤘🤘
Ive got an epiphone 345 with 57 classics. It really is more of a larger sounding les paul lol. Ive also got a 60s tribute les paul, and man, it was my first guitar bought with my own money. Bought it off of an older gentleman i went to church with. He set it up so well with small mods, and it is still just the guitar with the most mojo out of all.
This guy is how I imagine most of us sound at a party when someone asks us a simple question like, “so what do you love most about playing the guitar?”. Jokes aside, a fab video and glad I stumbled across your channel!
Great video, learned a lot and I must say you were born for this! Favorite Epi is a Les Paul Jr that I’ve modified and fixed a broken neck. It’s got scars but I love it!
Love Noel Gallagher and he loves his semi hollows… his first main one was an epiphone riviera in burgandy that he played at some his famous 1995 gigs before switching to a epiphone sheraton in 96’
I like my Epiphone SG. I found it on Craig's List and got it for a great price. So I didn't feel bad about using it to learn how to replace the nut, pickups, pots and switch, tuners, bridge and proceed to wear the frets down to the point it needs a level and crown - which I don't feel bad about learning how to do.
Made to look absolutely stunning, loaded with USA electronics & Custom Buckers, and a HSC; it's an absolute win/best in show. I'm aiming to get one of these and when I do, everyone back up cause I'm going play an E minor.
I’ve owned an Epi Dot and a Hamer Echotone, which was another 335 style thing made in Korea. I just didn’t click with either of them. The Echotone had a monster of a neck, fatter and thicker than any Gibson or Epiphone anything that I’ve ever played. I love the looks of the 335 type guitars, and I still think I’d love to give a Casino a try. I’ve owned several Epiphones over the years, and I’m sure I’ll have others in the future. I have a cheap G-310 SG which I’ve made into a project guitar, having upgraded nearly everything on; and an equally cheap EB-0 SG style bass, which I’ve done the same to. I also have a EJ-200 acoustic that I love the looks of, but the newer Inspired by Gibson J-200s look to be way nicer than mine.
Back in the 70s Lous music land my local shop in Stratford Ct only sold Epiphone because they were cheaper, and you were looked down upon in the Garage band circuit if you had one. I own a dot from the 90s now and absolutely love it the pickups are creamy sounding. More so than some Gibsons i have owned. Very nice guitar
For me it's how the guitar plays and feels in the hand. Im fortunate to own several custom shop Fender/Gibson models and a few standards some i've passed on because despite the custom shop background they simply do not play well.
Just purchased and received my 335 style D’angelico excel dc tour in wine red. I love the supro bolt bucker humbuckers with the ebony fret board. Best thing I was able to buy it when the marked them down from just under 1500 after tax to 771 after tax. It’s my semi hollow it its been a lot of fun to play so far.
Congrats on a most excellent guitar purchase! That's the only guitar I can think of off the top of my head that I want, but don't already have. Just packed with top notch specs for the cost. If I hadn't already committed to the 2 AJ sigs. A "The Berserker" Custom Art version, and a '79 Les Paul Custom Silverburst, Inspired by Gibson Customshop edition. I'd have surely bought one already. I'm probably gonna hold out for an Epiphone LP goldtop with a tunomatic and Gibson P90's. That's my holy grail vintage guitar. Epiphone has yet to make a LP model with genuine Gibson P90's and tunomatic bridge with stopbar tailpiece. If that new Bonamassa sig had Gibson pickups in it and goldtop? I'd pay $1299 with the Gibson headstock and hardcase all day. Peace!
Epiphone Exclusive Shinichi Ubukata ES-355 Custom is more correct that the inspired by Gibson custom. And its got the Trini Lopez diamond "F" holes it needs the gibson open book headstock though. You should check it out.
I bought an Epiphone Joe Bonamassa ES 335 reissue .Even though it is great value for money , plays well ETC. It is not as refined and as easy to play as my Gibson 1999 LTD ES 335 with ebony fretboard made for the Millennium of which I bought new over twenty years ago . One thing you didn't mention was the ebony fret board on the ES 355 which in my opinion makes for a brighter tone than rosewood or pau ferro . My JB inspired ES335 is still a nice guitar in it's own right . Great video by the way !
I think the problem with Epiphone pricing guitars at this amount, means they’re competing with brands like Eastwood which are generally much better instruments
I was lucky, purchased an Epi LP standard used for £150 and put Seymour Duncan Jazz pick ups in it. It’s the best sounding guitar I’ve ever played and plays like butter with a pro set up. The stock pick ups of this generation were known to be muddy, a pick up upgrade is a must. I’ve also got a fat hollow body Rally jazz guitar that was made in an Epiphone Factory, so essentially it’s an Epi. Great guitar, lovely creamy tone.
Great tone from Epi ES 355 and the Tone Pros amp. I have a 1997 Heritage H335 and haven't played it much later. I think I am going to pull it out tomorrow and give a strum or two.
I enjoy my Gibson inspired 355 Epiphone. There were some imperfections in the finish on the headstock and the neck pickups needs adjusting, but I got mine for under $1100 and I couldn’t be happier. The tone, fretboard, lighter than my LPs. I’m just waiting for them to release a gold top with p90s. I know it’s coming.
I was wondering when you’d talk about these. I have one of the LP customs and I love it. For a fraction of the price, you get a just as good version with Gibson electronics. I mean, the custom buckets alone cost 500
I have an Epiphone IBG Hummingbird 12 string and love it. Although I have a Gibson Southern Jumbo acoustic, I am now saving for the Epi IBG Hummingbird 6 string.
Thanks Mike that was great. I have a 335 and Les Paul for well over 40 years and love them. However, I also have 4 Epi’s which are great! The new Firebird is superb, as well as the 56 Gold Top w/P90’s, Broadway and 58 Korina Explorer. Dollar for dollar the Epi’s can hold their own against a lot of the higher end and more pricey brands.
Hi Mike, my EPI is a Sheraton ll. I bought it because if I had spent the money.on the Gibson equivalent, I would have lost my happy home and probably my two vest friends. That being said, I really like my Sheraton. It gets the nice woody type tones, plays nice and with a little graphite on the nut tuning is no problem. So I give my EPI a big thumbs up.
My daughter has played an Epiphone ES-339 for about three years now and it's a fantastic guitar. She's got a MIM HSS Stratocaster and a Martin 000-Jr CE as her three main guitars, and the 339 is the favorite. I've got an Epiphone LP Modern because it's so much lighter than the Gibson versions - both in weight and in price. They're fantastic guitars.
I can't decide between my Inspired by Gibson Metallic Scarlet Red Epiphone Muse SG and my Inspired by Gibson 1960's Epiphone Maple Fade Standard Les Paul. My Muse SG was a floor model which I picked up for $399 CDN during the pandemic and now they are going for $699+ CDN. My Epi Standard LP I got brand new after playing about 30 or so guitars until I found the one that tickled my ears and bought in 2018 in Edmonton Canada on a trip for $780+ tax which now is selling for close to a $1000 CDN. While visiting Guitar Center in Michigan and Ohio I noticed that the Maple Fade LP was no where to be found making it a rarer guitar than the other Epi Standard LP Inspired by Gibson guitars. I also noticed that the Epi Inspired by Gibson Muse Guitars are not in the shops either. I must have been in the right place at the right time to pick up my Epiphones.
I have an import 2023 sunburst casino, which I swapped out the pickups on (Lolar black cover p90s), fitted with new switchgear and wiring, and re-fretted with stainless steel. It's awesome and cost me less than a third of USA model. I own guitars worth 6 grand and this plays and sounds just as good.
I really really like my epiphone Sheraton 2 and couldn’t imagine paying full price for a real 335 when for a fraction of the price you can get something just as good.
I have an Epiphone ES-339 and I love it. It has the coil tap for each pickup and it sounds great and is a joy to play.
Ayy me too
I have an Epi 339 in the P90 Pro version and it’s a cool axe
@ i have that exact same one with 4 volume knobs I have my amp plug in on the side though instead of the front I saw a couple like that
the blue version was the closest affordable version to Dave Grohl's DG-335 back in 2021 so that's what my daughter wanted more than anything. She still really loves it.
@@robsterTN Same here. It's a solid axe.
Squier has also been reissuing old, lesser known fender models.
IIIIIIIIIII LOVE the trend, personally.
BIG win for guitarrists in general.
Es345 models have split parallogram inlays on the fretboard. Es355s have big block inlays. Es335s have either small block inlays or dot inlays. Love the channel Mike!
You're lucky. Hidden somewhere in the releases this year, Epiphone actually came out with a proper 345 (varitone et al, just not stereo). It's the EI-345VCHGH3. Not the CS-line, somewhere in the middle between that and the standard series.
I only saw a bunch get released in the UK
I have this Epiphone ES-355 for about 6 months now and the sound is really amazing. With a proper setup this guitar has a beautiful sound and is definitely worth the investment. Thanks for bringing up these points in the video. Specially with the new Epiphones inspired by Gibson coming out I can't justify spending $2500+ on a Gibson.
I picked up a Marty Schwartz model but damn I wish I’d known this one existed. Would have grabbed it for sure.
I prefer the Kalamazoo headstock. People can appreciate Epiphone for being itself rather than trying to pretend to be Gibson. Ain’t no shame in it - it’s a great guitar, after all. When we all collectively accept that the headstock shape and brand doesn’t matter so long as the guitar is awesome, people will stop having their “nose up in the air” that it’s not a Gibson. Making Epiphone awesome is in our own hands and wallets!
I disagree, the Gibson models need to have the Gibson headstocks. The original Epiphone models should have the Epiphone headstocks. Plus, the Epiphone name on the open book headstock shape looks amazing.
I prefer the gibson headstock, with the gibson logo, not made in china either.
So the headstock shape and brand do mean something to some people
@@Ottophil I think the headstock preference is reasonable, the Gibson logo though, that's the company using strong marketing and psychology on you, brother.
@@rockhaze bingo
While I’m not a huge fan of Gibson and there overpriced products, I’m not a fan of the Kalamazoo headstock for Epiphone, it just looks off to me and I personally am not a fan.
I prefer the Gibson headstock, I think they look a lot better then Epiphones old headstocks.
Guitar looks also matter to certain people as well. While not everyone cares, guitar looks does matter for people because it could make someone want to play just by its aesthetics and feel alone.
I purchased a Gretsch semi-hollow as my first guitar and I still love to pick it up and play it just by how it looks and feels and I personally love Gretschs headstocks.
I have no interests with Epiphones with a kalamazoo headstock because I personally don’t like how they look.
That’s my opinion and that’s different for everyone.
Why are you writing this as if you’re proving something? It’s your own preference and opinion and it varies for people and guitars.
Seeing the production value on this channel over time has been WILD
mans has a whole UA-camR CAMERA now, and background music and jump cuts with different camera angles and all that
professional production type beat
gotta respect the come-up 💸💸🙏🙏🤝🤝™️™️🔌🔌🤺🤺💢💢💯💯🔥🔥👑👑🤨🤨🗣🗣⚠️🚨📢🍝🍚🪐👀👀💸💸💸
I’ve played and gig with a 2009 epi dot exclusively. It’s of course modified and I stripped the top off to restrain with 7 coats of nitro. It sounds great and it fights me always, which adds to the enjoyment when great tones are coaxed from it. Btw Bonamassa was in Wichita, KS this afternoon buying several strata from a local shop. Always cool to see.
Man I used to have one of them when I was younger. Had a lot of issues so I sold it. Spewing I didn't get it repaired instead
I have a friend who's dad has 355. He had a recording studio and owns a 355 the he says was owned by BB King. I used to pick around on it in High School, which is crazy that he would even let me touch it. Saw him last week, and he still has the guitar along with so many other rare ones.
I'm enjoying my Epiphone 59 Tobacco Burst Les Paul! Had to bring it back to Long and Mcquade for a free setup as there was a problem with some of the solder joints in the electronics. Now it rocks!
Brooo, i really love your vids
The cinematography is crazy
I love your content
Got myself an Epi Les Paul Costum Koa and I love it. The looks great, the sound is fantastic, the overall feel is great 🎸🔥
Have the same one, love it
Me too. I put a set of Seymour Duncan Hotrodded pickups, coil split pots, keystone tuning buttons, roller bridge, treble bleed circuit and tp6 tailpiece.
I have an Epiphone hollow body Joe Pass Emperor II that was made in Korea in 1992. Lovely instrument. The model has been discontinued. Great prices still on Reverb. You all should check out Joe Pass. A great jazz artist. He was untouchable.
I have this guitar too and agree that it is a fantastic guitar, and not just "for the price". Love the slightly smaller body compared to the traditional jazz box. I am not a jazz guy and seldom play mine, but I just can't bring myself to sell it because it won't fetch a high price and it is just an amazing playing guitar (again, not just "for the price").
Joe Pass is great! Wes Montgomery is too and probably my favorite.
@@cozy_mellow_mood In high school, I heard Wes’ A Day in the Life and it lit the spark of a lifetime love of jazz guitar. I had a teacher here in LA who had taken lessons with Joe Pass. Another local great from the day was Laurindo Almeida. His album with The Girl from Ipanema was a favorite. And of course, Getz/Gilberto. I mention all these influences just so somebody younger reading these comments, or even Mike, might have a few artists to listen to who are … well, transformative. While I’m at it, a personal favorite now is Herb Ellis … he made a great album called Texas Swings that has an amazing rhythm guitarist on it … Willie Nelson!
I have this guitar and it's really nice, especially for the $. Surprisingly comfortable neck (fret ends needed some work) and a surprisingly loud and sweet unamplified sound.
Great video Mike, you can notice the BTTF guitar was a ES-345 also by the type of inlays.
The 335 includes dots or little blocks only!
Greetings from MX!
I play a Gibson Blues Hawk with a varitone switch. Two p90s and a fender scale length. It’s been one of my main guitars for 30 years. Lots of folks don’t get what that switch is up to, but I love it. I can go from bass heavy hollow body tones to treble pushing tele tones in a flip of a literal switch. If I had to have just one guitar that would be it. You need to do a video on the varitone
Many years ago I went to Denmark Street in London in search of a vintage Gibson Semi-Hollow. After visiting most stores on the street and playing a handful of awesome sounding guitars I was torn on what model to get.. I went for a coffee and weighed up my options before going out and visiting the last few shops I hadn't been into yet. The final shop I went into didn't have any 'vintage' semi-hollows but the sales guy told me he had something special out the back that I may be interested in for a fraction of the price. When he returned he was holding a guitar I wasn't too familiar with but noticed it was indeed an Epiphone, Semi-Hollow and had a beautiful natural finish which I hadnt seen on this model guitar before. He plugged it into an original Fender '59 Bassman and started to give me a demo of what was one of the most amazing sonic experiences I had heard up until that moment. After a few minutes he handed it over for me to try and from the very first note it I knew it was indeed something special. Something about the way it felt, the way it sounded and the way it played resonated through my body and there was no way I could leave it after such experience. I paid £400 and the rest is history..
The guitar in question? An Epiphone Sheraton from 1994 made in South Korea (Samick factory) in a beautiful Natural Maple finish.
If you want to hear her sing (not the same finish): ua-cam.com/video/rkq0YM42FRc/v-deo.html
I recently A B’d my 2022 custom shop 1959 Gibson ES-355 with my dad’s Epiphone Shearton 1997 made in Korea. The Epiphone is awesome and holds right up. My parents preferred the Epi sound with a blind listening test! 😊
3:48 cigarettes and alcohol could keep me alive for days man, i can't get enough of it
I swear to my maker, Back To The Future is why I play guitar and why I tried my hardest to skateboard as a youth! The skating, well hmm... the playing guitar bit, well that I stuck with and have for all these years! I will always give thanks to this film and MJF for the guitar bug :) That opening scene when he goes to Doc's workshop and cranks that giant speaker (I never questioned the absurdity of the speakers size as a kid, it just = loud), great episode by the way and I really dig your approach and the views you offer. Big fan here!
My favorite Epiphone is a Les Paul Special II. It’s my first electric guitar and I’m upgrading it right now.
Same bro. Same
It's a good guitar. Has all of the essentials. You don't even need that second tone knob because you can raise/lower the pickups.
@@KieraQ0323 it really is. I put a humbucker sized p90 in the neck and a Seymour Duncan hum-bucker in the bridge with a coil tap. Hand carved bone nut and graphtech tuners plus a total electronic upgrade. Im super excited to get to play it.
Same. I was playing mine today.
Ditto
Epiphone Sheraton II PRO. It is a spectacular guitar for the price.
I always wanted a 355, and a couple of years ago I was lucky enough to find exactly what I wanted. A 1979 tobacco sunburst 355, in great condition with a maple neck, so pretty much immune to the classic headstock break, with a maestro term and stereo wiring. Love it!
New epiphones ALWAYS have a sharp poorly cut nut, but once taken to a good tech to sort out, are wicked instruments!
Mine is cut just fine from factory since 2020.
No my experience from buying an SG, Crestwood, and Flying V, but glad you got a good one! 🤟
@@georgeminhinnick-vu3izmy friend’s Epi LP Modern Figured was flawless out of the box too - including the nut. I think most of the nut and QC complaints stem from instruments that are pre 2020. This is the first time I’ve heard a nut complaint in a very long time.
Perhaps I’ve just been unlucky, mine were all bought 2023 onwards. All sharp cut when fretting the first fret on the high E side, easily resolved with a bit of filing, but my current V needs a complete set up as the first fret buzzes out across the neck
You're crazy. It's a Teflon nut
The absolute killer Epiphone is my singer's Bob Marley One Love which we bought somewhere in 2007 brand new. It's a Korean limited edition custom shop. The best Gibson sound you can possibly imagine
I really enjoyed your playing Mike! A nice demonstration of the clean and crunchy tones, also just nice music.
I love Epi’s and prefer them over a Gibson knowing I saved a ton of money. The Dot was my first Epi as well. I played every guitar in the shop and was blown away with the Dot and its price. When I see someone play an Epi I see a grounded human being, when I see someone with a Gibson I see a person who is more concerned about image. Can’t go wrong with Epi’s. Mike you should check out the Gretsch Streamliners. Incredible guitars for the price. Those are my two go to brands. Gretsch and Epi’s. Great video Mike!! As always 👌
I bought an unbranded, red, closeout, 335-style semi-hollow from Guitar Fetish a few years back and that started my obsession with semi-hollow guitars. Now I own too many more. 🤣
I bought the Joe B Epiphone ES355 when they were released a few years back and like all us guitar geeks I completely modified it. It was one of my go too’s but after I Gibsonized it(is that even a word?) I have not picked up another guitar since and I have 14 others! I’m fortunate that our local guitar guy was a former Gibson guitar builder and he used all the best parts, NOS Licensed Bigsby with the Vibromate CTS pots(push pull)and wiring(60’s Jimmy Page) roller bridge and nut and locking tuners. The best part, Joe B PAF pickups from an early signature Les Paul. With the push/pull pots on all 4 it gives you more options than a varitone would have. It’s like having my dream guitar for about $2100 altogether. Great review! And you’ll be surprised how often you are going to want to get out the semi hollow body now.
I"ve had an Epi Dot for over 20 years (made in South Korea before they moved to production to China) and it's a phenomenal guitar. I bought a Gibson 335 last year and the differences are negligible. I'm primarily a Telecaster player but switching to the body shape of the 335 never bothered me, probably because I play acoustic a lot.
I love your channel.
I bought the 150th Anniversary Sheraton, which is an original Epiphone design, and the USA Mini-buckers are killer, and they have become my favorite pickup, between the full HB and the P-90, with the crispness of the P-90 and the fullness of the HB without the muddiness that a full HB can have when tone is dialed down. I also have an Epiphone Sheraton II, another great semi-hollow, as well as a Strat. Between these three, my guitar sounds are well covered.
That Epiphone ES-355 is the my favorite guitar I’ve ever owned and I own Fender Custom Shop, Gibsons, other boutique guitars. I put some of my fav pickups in it (the Custombuckers are already fantastic) and it just SINGS. It feels amazing, plays effortless and looks incredible.
Gibson 335s I’ve played don’t touch it. It’s wild
Agreed. Hasn’t left the living room since it arrived last month
Great video... as always. I too am a preferred Strat player but recently bought a Gold Top Epiphone 335 from Musicians Friend Stupid Deal Of The Day for $399... It has the coil tapping Humbuckers and I gotta say that I really love playing this thing... so much so that I also bought a Gibson flat top Les Paul, TV Yellow with P-90's... this thing is a beast..
I bought an Epiphone ES339 in Pelham blue and it’s been a great guitar after I set it up to my personal preference set up
Hey Mike, love your vids, you are deffo one of us players! I bought a 2010 Dot in 2015 for 175 GBP Pounds. Guy who toured was going back to acoustic, it was a cool crissie prez!!! It is still my go to for deep, dreamy, bluesy tones and my daughter already has her dabs on it when I shuffle off this mortal coil. Please keep up the good work 👍
That amp sounds amazing.
I have one of the First Gibson inspired by lines.
It’s the 60s less 2020 model.
It still has the upper phone headstock, but it’s an amazing guitar. The shape of the headstock doesn’t change how it plays or sounds.
I got the Alex Lifeson Les Paul Epiphone and installed Fishman pickups, and it sounds amazing. It's hard to imagine a Gibson being any better.
I've had an Epi ES-335 Pro for about 7 yrs now and i Absolutely love it, such a versatile guitar.
For the past several years, my main axe has been an Epiphone ES-335 Pro. I found my sound as a player on that guitar, and I swear that thing has never let me down. It just plays so dang good.
My favorite Epiphone I’ve ever played was the Adam Jones custom silver burst. The neck was so good. I’m hoping they do a gold top in this higher spec configuration with a proper 50s neck. Great video. Thanks man.
I don't have a ES 335 or 355 which im sure you know is how much they did cost upon hitting the market, ie $335 . But you asked about how we feel or felt about EPIPHONE guitars, I have been blessed enough to purchase 5 different models from Sweetwater and the EPIPHONE brand , they are 3 LP models, the 60s Standard, The 59 Reissue Standard, The Mondern and the Firebird and the SG Classic in Worn Cherry with P 90s. All I can say is every one of them have been flawless in design, performance and appearance. So needless to say I'm quite a fan of the brand. Each one is uniquely different and true to there characteristics. I really like your insight and inquisitive mind and approach. Thx for the revelation about MJ Fox ( aka Marty ) and the 355 time stamp catch.
I bought an Epi Es355 last week - the ebony Shinichi Ubukata mode with chrome HW and licensed Bigsby. Still has Gibson Classic 57 pickups, Switchcraft and CTS harness and a very nice hard case.
They are heavily discounted at some outlets in the UK, from £1229 to £799. If that wasn’t cheap enough, I traded an unloved MIM 50s strat in and parted with £400. It’s nuts how good this Epi is. The varitone choke and Bigsby add a fair bit of heft, so it’s 9lbs plus. That’s the only drawback. Fabulous guitar that makes me want to play, for less than a third of Gibson money. Joy :)
I have an Epiphone IBG Les Paul Custom in ebony, and I upgraded the heck out of it, Seymour Duncans, Kluson Locking tulips tuners and knobs that match the murphy labs LPC. Have a golden Bigsby with Vibramate for good measure as well.
Spec wise, its basically on the level of the new Epiphone IGC line, w the only differences really being the lack of real mother of pearl inlays and the open book headstock.
While I'm sure I'm that one day I'll purchase one of my dream guitars (Gibson LPC or Duesenberg Starplayer TV Phonic), my current one plays like a beaut and I love her to no end
I have the IBG ES-335 Figured Blueberry Burst when they first came out for $599 . New pots and a set of Seymour Duncan Antiquity’s ! I prefer the Kalamazoo style headstock over the Gibson headstock when it comes to Epiphone .
I have an Epiphone Dot 335 and a Gibson Les Paul Studio. Love them both equally.
I have a 2021 les inspired by Gibson in silver burst and it’s been a lovely guitar the last few years. All my epiphones are les paul custom including a Gibson les Paul custom.
When Gibson players discover Epiphone, we smile. When we discover Eastman, we jump for joy!
I LOVE EASTMAN SOOOOOO MUCHHH
Eastman, IMO, is the best “bang for your buck” guitar company. My two antique varnish guitars (SS22 and T59v) from them would be $5,000 guitars from Gibson
I also love my Made In China Eastman. I love my Epi’s, MIM Fender, made in Indonesia PRS and my made (I think in Korea) G&L Tribute. I also love my made in USA guitars too. I guess I just love all of my guitars!
Maybe 2 years ago, I bought an Epiphone 335, Inspired by Gibson with Bigsby licenced. After a good set-up, it's a wonderful guitar and my favorite now. Also had an Epi Les Paul Gold top 50's inspired by Gibson with is also very nice. Your 355 you got is also very nice and I will be very tempted if I hadn't had the 335. The line of the 2024 Epiphone "high end" had beautiful model like the Les Paul Custom but will wait but I think I would be tempted if they released a Les Paul Custom or Gold top with P-90 in the future. A little thing that I want to tell you is that your 355 had Gibson Custom Shop humbuckers and not their Epiphone counterpart that I had on mine. The Custom Shop humbuckers are at least $400 each when sold separately. So, otherwise you didn't like the sound, I think you should keep them. A very nice video and what a beautiful guitar! Me too, it's because of "Back to the future" that I want one and also for Justin Hayward of the Moody Blues, an influence on me who also played one! 😎
I play A Grote "Dot" copy I bought during the Big P. Look into it, fine instrument.
Hi Mike, love the vids! I am a Manc born guy (pronounced MANK) meaning I am originally from Manchester, England, same as Noel Gallagher. Live a few miles out now in the country. Great to see you play an Oasis track. I like Oasis but my real musical heritage (being a child of the 60s ) is of the British blues boom such as Clapton/Beck/Page/Green etc and I started playing age 11(1966) and that all led me back to a love of the true US blues including BB, T-Bone Walker , Albert King, and far too many others to mention. On then to R&B and the soul of Tamla and Stax etc......But as well as the great Brit guitarists that we have/had, there is only one who I adored since I was 11 (still do ) and it has to be Jimi !!!! We claimed him as our own (😇) and always will.😁 The guitar joins so many people together no matter who we are ! Keep up the vids, well done ....or as Noel and I would say.."sorted our kid !!!" 🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🤘🤘🤘🤘
Ive got an epiphone 345 with 57 classics. It really is more of a larger sounding les paul lol. Ive also got a 60s tribute les paul, and man, it was my first guitar bought with my own money. Bought it off of an older gentleman i went to church with. He set it up so well with small mods, and it is still just the guitar with the most mojo out of all.
I love my ES 345 / walnut finish Gibson that I bought slightly used in 1981 and the "V" dial is great!
This guy is how I imagine most of us sound at a party when someone asks us a simple question like, “so what do you love most about playing the guitar?”. Jokes aside, a fab video and glad I stumbled across your channel!
Bought an Epiphone Alex Lifeson Les Paul custom loving it so far it’s really amazing!
Great video, learned a lot and I must say you were born for this! Favorite Epi is a Les Paul Jr that I’ve modified and fixed a broken neck. It’s got scars but I love it!
Love Noel Gallagher and he loves his semi hollows… his first main one was an epiphone riviera in burgandy that he played at some his famous 1995 gigs before switching to a epiphone sheraton in 96’
I recently played an epiphone 339.inspired... Really plays well. Tuning stability was great. All around for a 3rd of the cost.
I like my Epiphone SG. I found it on Craig's List and got it for a great price. So I didn't feel bad about using it to learn how to replace the nut, pickups, pots and switch, tuners, bridge and proceed to wear the frets down to the point it needs a level and crown - which I don't feel bad about learning how to do.
Made to look absolutely stunning, loaded with USA electronics & Custom Buckers, and a HSC; it's an absolute win/best in show.
I'm aiming to get one of these and when I do, everyone back up cause I'm going play an E minor.
I've had my Epiphone Casino with a Bigsby tailpiece for over 20 years and it's still my all-time favorite to play.
I’ve owned an Epi Dot and a Hamer Echotone, which was another 335 style thing made in Korea. I just didn’t click with either of them. The Echotone had a monster of a neck, fatter and thicker than any Gibson or Epiphone anything that I’ve ever played. I love the looks of the 335 type guitars, and I still think I’d love to give a Casino a try. I’ve owned several Epiphones over the years, and I’m sure I’ll have others in the future. I have a cheap G-310 SG which I’ve made into a project guitar, having upgraded nearly everything on; and an equally cheap EB-0 SG style bass, which I’ve done the same to. I also have a EJ-200 acoustic that I love the looks of, but the newer Inspired by Gibson J-200s look to be way nicer than mine.
Back in the 70s Lous music land my local shop in Stratford Ct only sold Epiphone because they were cheaper, and you were looked down upon in the Garage band circuit if you had one. I own a dot from the 90s now and absolutely love it the pickups are creamy sounding. More so than some Gibsons i have owned. Very nice guitar
My favorite Epiphone guitar is between three. The Epiphone ET-290, The Epiphone Elistist Les Paul Custom, and The Epiphone Es-125
For me it's how the guitar plays and feels in the hand. Im fortunate to own several custom shop Fender/Gibson models and a few standards some i've passed on because despite the custom shop background they simply do not play well.
I just got the epiphone J180 and it’s beautiful. The ‘Inspired by Gibson’ line is amazing.
The ultimate lesson in rock n roll. The best instruments don’t break the bank.
Just purchased and received my 335 style D’angelico excel dc tour in wine red. I love the supro bolt bucker humbuckers with the ebony fret board. Best thing I was able to buy it when the marked them down from just under 1500 after tax to 771 after tax.
It’s my semi hollow it its been a lot of fun to play so far.
Congrats on a most excellent guitar purchase! That's the only guitar I can think of off the top of my head that I want, but don't already have. Just packed with top notch specs for the cost. If I hadn't already committed to the 2 AJ sigs. A "The Berserker" Custom Art version, and a '79 Les Paul Custom Silverburst, Inspired by Gibson Customshop edition. I'd have surely bought one already.
I'm probably gonna hold out for an Epiphone LP goldtop with a tunomatic and Gibson P90's. That's my holy grail vintage guitar. Epiphone has yet to make a LP model with genuine Gibson P90's and tunomatic bridge with stopbar tailpiece. If that new Bonamassa sig had Gibson pickups in it and goldtop? I'd pay $1299 with the Gibson headstock and hardcase all day.
Peace!
Epiphone Exclusive Shinichi Ubukata ES-355 Custom is more correct that the inspired by Gibson custom. And its got the Trini Lopez diamond "F" holes it needs the gibson open book headstock though. You should check it out.
I bought an Epiphone Joe Bonamassa ES 335 reissue .Even though it is great value for money , plays well ETC. It is not as refined and as easy to play as my Gibson 1999 LTD ES 335 with ebony fretboard made for the Millennium of which I bought new over twenty years ago . One thing you didn't mention was the ebony fret board on the ES 355 which in my opinion makes for a brighter tone than rosewood or pau ferro . My JB inspired ES335 is still a nice guitar in it's own right . Great video by the way !
I think the problem with Epiphone pricing guitars at this amount, means they’re competing with brands like Eastwood which are generally much better instruments
I was lucky, purchased an Epi LP standard used for £150 and put Seymour Duncan Jazz pick ups in it. It’s the best sounding guitar I’ve ever played and plays like butter with a pro set up. The stock pick ups of this generation were known to be muddy, a pick up upgrade is a must. I’ve also got a fat hollow body Rally jazz guitar that was made in an Epiphone Factory, so essentially it’s an Epi. Great guitar, lovely creamy tone.
Great tone from Epi ES 355 and the Tone Pros amp. I have a 1997 Heritage H335 and haven't played it much later. I think I am going to pull it out tomorrow and give a strum or two.
The Tone King Gremlin is such a great amp. Run an EQ pedal into it like a Wampler Equator and the tones are endless
I've been super impressed by all the Epiphone 'Inspired by Gibson' range I've had a chance to play so far.
I've been playing my thinline tele lately. I'm loving it
I enjoy my Gibson inspired 355 Epiphone. There were some imperfections in the finish on the headstock and the neck pickups needs adjusting, but I got mine for under $1100 and I couldn’t be happier. The tone, fretboard, lighter than my LPs.
I’m just waiting for them to release a gold top with p90s. I know it’s coming.
i loved your story telling with this video, great job!
I was wondering when you’d talk about these. I have one of the LP customs and I love it. For a fraction of the price, you get a just as good version with Gibson electronics. I mean, the custom buckets alone cost 500
The fact that the Epiphone ES355 come back with Custom Buckers is pretty nice value plus a case.
I have an Epiphone IBG Hummingbird 12 string and love it. Although I have a Gibson Southern Jumbo acoustic, I am now saving for the Epi IBG Hummingbird 6 string.
Thanks Mike that was great. I have a 335 and Les Paul for well over 40 years and love them. However, I also have 4 Epi’s which are great! The new Firebird is superb, as well as the 56 Gold Top w/P90’s, Broadway and 58 Korina Explorer. Dollar for dollar the Epi’s can hold their own against a lot of the higher end and more pricey brands.
Two of my favorite guitars are a 2015 Epiphone Masterbilt DR-500MCE and a 2013 Epiphone Les Paul Plustop Pro both plek'd by Sweetwater.
Great video. The production quality is fantastic.
It's all about the Ibanez Roadstar on that opening scene.
Hi Mike, my EPI is a Sheraton ll. I bought it because if I had spent the money.on the Gibson equivalent, I would have lost my happy home and probably my two vest friends. That being said, I really like my Sheraton. It gets the nice woody type tones, plays nice and with a little graphite on the nut tuning is no problem. So I give my EPI a big thumbs up.
Wish I could play guitar, sat front row the other night at ZZ TOP, that Billy Gibbons is damn good man.
It’s acoustic but I have an epiphone dove and I didn’t know I could love a guitar this much
Great tone! I like the inspired series, I got the 63 Firebird I over the summer.
My daughter has played an Epiphone ES-339 for about three years now and it's a fantastic guitar. She's got a MIM HSS Stratocaster and a Martin 000-Jr CE as her three main guitars, and the 339 is the favorite. I've got an Epiphone LP Modern because it's so much lighter than the Gibson versions - both in weight and in price. They're fantastic guitars.
It's actually the opposite when mainly Gibson players discover Gibson Custom Shop. It's a completely different game.. oh my!
I can't decide between my Inspired by Gibson Metallic Scarlet Red Epiphone Muse SG and my Inspired by Gibson 1960's Epiphone Maple Fade Standard Les Paul. My Muse SG was a floor model which I picked up for $399 CDN during the pandemic and now they are going for $699+ CDN. My Epi Standard LP I got brand new after playing about 30 or so guitars until I found the one that tickled my ears and bought in 2018 in Edmonton Canada on a trip for $780+ tax which now is selling for close to a $1000 CDN. While visiting Guitar Center in Michigan and Ohio I noticed that the Maple Fade LP was no where to be found making it a rarer guitar than the other Epi Standard LP Inspired by Gibson guitars. I also noticed that the Epi Inspired by Gibson Muse Guitars are not in the shops either. I must have been in the right place at the right time to pick up my Epiphones.
I own a Gibson ES-335, my les paul, SG, Les Paul Jr are Epiphones, I love all my guitars but the 335 has such great tone
It's crazy that most popular guitars today were created and produced by guitar companies in OC California 65-70 years ago!
I have an import 2023 sunburst casino, which I swapped out the pickups on (Lolar black cover p90s), fitted with new switchgear and wiring, and re-fretted with stainless steel. It's awesome and cost me less than a third of USA model. I own guitars worth 6 grand and this plays and sounds just as good.
7:20 - 22 oofers, had to listen to that a couple of times to hear what you said.
I’ve got a 335 dot studio. Kind of a blues machine. Love its simplicity and tone. Easy to play. But needs to be tuned often
Fantastic show Mike, well done!
I really really like my epiphone Sheraton 2 and couldn’t imagine paying full price for a real 335 when for a fraction of the price you can get something just as good.
I have an Epiphone Les Paul Custom KOA and I love it.
Very well done my friend. I've enjoyed this video immensely.