The Epiphone I would choose over a PRS Private Stock
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- Опубліковано 7 тра 2024
- A cheap Epiphone Les Paul and an expensive Paul Reed Smith Private Stock McCarty 594 are not comparable usually. I outline the reasons why I would make this strange choice and what we can learn about the unusual world of guitars and the real differences that ultimately matter.
Utkarsh Mohan is a Singapore based writer, musician and artist of Indian origin. Formerly in corporate senior management, he now pursues his passions and is also the owner of the Ministry of Guitar collection
You can also follow him on Instagram @ministryofguitar
Years ago I bought a brand new Ducati 900 SuperSport, it is a fantastic motorcycle, but it still can't bring back the feeling I had on my very first bike, an old Kawasaki 250 worth $500. Whether we like it or not, emotions still rule our thinking. I believe that's a good thing. Thank you for the great video.
My first project bass when I got into modding was a starcaster by fender precision bass model I picked up for $100, and I replaced everything on it right down to the paint...after making it exactly what I wanted, I like it so much I sold my actual fender precision bass, and I don't regret that in the least
Most of us don’t make a living playing guitar so the connection is what really matters. That’s why artists guitars do so well. It’s about connections, memories and emotions. If it was about practicality and being a working musicians tool, we’d all own hsh Ibanez SA’s with Floyd Roses on them. We’d all the lightest weight, most versatile with best tuning stability
I still love that PRS. A guitar to me should be something that makes you want to pick it up to play it or just admire it when you are not playing. That beautiful guitar certainly does that!
extending pickup wire is easy. you just twist the end of the pickup wire with the new wire, tin them then put some heatshrink tubing over the area you tinned (electrical tape will work as well) Cheers from Toronto 🍺🇨🇦
You enlightened me and at my age it's something I value greatly. When I was young 13 to 16 I learned and played basic bar chords using feedback in a garage band of school chums but then had an emergency and sold my only guitar at a rock festival / concert in the Appalachians as we hadn't eaten for a few days (late 60's). Of course I always regretted this and fell out of playing for the next 50 years until I retired. I decided to relearn and try again to find the pleasure I lost so long ago these last 4 years. I have succeeded to a degree but your story reminded me of the true value of playing really "any" instrument that gives you great pleasure and this understanding that it's not about collecting necessarily (even though I have been doing that a bit) but it's more about the romance as well as the practicality of owning that special guitar that fits you best. Anyway; I am grateful you decided to discuss this philosophical reason for owning and playing that which gives us all the greatest of pleasures......our sweet guitars. Cheers.
In my early years of playing and gigging, guitars came and went until someday back in '86 i was stuck broke and out of work with a Fender Mustang short scale that was just plain dead, no sustain, no tone, no nothing. Could't play gigs with that thing. As luck would have it I got a job cutting trees, moving rocks and digging holes for a gardener. I decided to live on mostly spaghetti and tap water (and the occasional alcoholic beverage) for a couple of months so I could buy a brand new Squier E-Series Strat and I couldn't 've been happier.
There were times when it collected dust because some other guitar was more exiting or did the job better for what I was doing at the moment. But I always kept coming back to it and still do. All these years later I sometimes try guessing how much money I've made playing this guitar. I must say that it was probably my most rewarding investment ever! Not to mention all the fun that came with it. And whenever I ask myself if maybe I could get a nicer looking, nicer sounding etc., etc. Strat the answer always is: No, I have a good one already. It has been with me for 38 years and never let me down.
I have a couple of other guitars now and all of them are fine instruments that get their equal share of playing at home and on stage but the one that I really can't imagine to part with is this now quite battered but still reliable piece of wood. It evokes too much memories to not get a little bit sentimental about it.
Almost everything to do with this hobby is about emotion though - how a particular instrument makes you feel.
Sure - one sounds better or is stunningly gorgeous or has superior fret dressing, more articulate pickups or a slicker neck or something else measurable and features that others would consider make it superior.
But the other dredges up a wealth of memories, it has a certain feel, a faint smell of cigarettes from that special gig that you killed at, that small nick that your best friend put in it a decade ago, the memory of day you walked into a store and picked it up (and you can even recall the face of the person that sold it to you), the special way you need to work the tuner on the g-string to get it to hold, that worn spot that your thumb sits in as you hit that power chord - sure, it's beat to heck, kind of ugly, doesn't intonate perfectly and fights you a bit when playing it - but you can never let it go as you smile whenever you even think about it.
Hi fellow Singaporean - Mr Mohan, I love your video and message as it resonates with me fully on the topic cheap vs exp guitar. I fully agree with you!!!! First, sentimental values aside, I think you have nailed it in terms of functionality of both ends, they serve the same purpose of making & playing music. The thing is that the price diff is not proportional, say in your example, does the PRS feel & sound 10x better than the Epiphone? I can confidently say in almost all cases, there are not 10x better than the cheaper one. I once read an article saying that if a guitar factory puts in the best parts and woods to build one guitar, the cost of making that (including labour) is no more than USD2000. So how does guitar giants like G, F, P demand such high price tags for their guitars? Well, it boils down to their branding and marketing, which obviously works well for them! And people buy them to feel shiok and satisfied (playing as well is another topic!!)... Secondly, I also have my first les Paul - Epiphone (MIK) which has been with me for 20 years too. It's still quite the best sounding guitars I owe so far.
That Epi sounds awesome! I would stick with it too! :) Great vid.
I spy a doggy! I would prefer the brighter Epiphone, but some songs call for a darker tone like this particular PRS. They are both fantastic and proves that you can get an amazing guitar at any price point. Don’t overlook those vintage Epiphones that so many people turn their nose to - some were shoddy at different times, but there are also loads of gems out there like this one!
Most of these older Epiphones can be made into top notch guitars with a little elbow grease and modification. I own two such guitars, in fact they're my only guitars. A 1993 and 2008 Epiphone Les Paul.
I love how you have the finest guitars money can buy, while still having a genuine appreciation for the cheaper ones.
Once again I love your perspective. Guitars have helped me realize so many things in my life and walk with My Creator and I say that without any imposition towards anyone and to answer your question. I have over 30 guitars primarily for a teaching endeavor and partly from recovering from a crippling hand condition I only recently was able to return to playing on my 52 year guitar journey I began at age 12. Keep it coming as our stories touch others, thanks for sharing yours! From Alabama to Singapore my thanks and Happy Picking!
Both of my electric guitars are upgraded Epiphone Les Pauls. A black standard made in 2008 and 1993 Korean made Cherry Burst. I basically gutted them both and upgraded all of the electronics (Seymour Duncan) and other hardware as needed. I recorded an Indy rock album at a makeshift home studio on the upgraded Black LP, which I bough from my guitar instructor new at the shop in 2011. I love these guitars and see no reason to buy a Gibson or PRS. I remember looking through the Epiphone catalogue regularly in High School when I was playing an old Yamaha strat style guitar that was gifted to me. I've been sitting on the fence about picking up a Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster or Stratocaster to round out the collection with a single coil sound as needed. Ito my mind it's better to have a few great guitars, hold onto them and play them. BTW I'll totally get a fret job on my Epiphones when the time comes for that and I love the old Epiphone headstock. Check out Noel Gallagher from Oasis playing a stock Korean LP. ua-cam.com/video/gbtDjDAq1vk/v-deo.html
That’s one of the prettiest PRS I’ve ever seen, but that Epiphone sounds fantastic and looks super cool from the years of use. You can tell when a guitar has been loved and played and it’s a good indicator that it’s a great instrument. Sure poly finishes don’t age like lacquer but your Epiphone has earned its scars and no new instrument can ever recreate its feel and sentimental value for you. I have an RG550 with I’ve had for nearly 30 years now that’ll probably always be my number one guitar no matter what else I have.
I just got a 2020 Epiphone 60's Les Paul for £449 (my main guitar is a 2012 USA Strat with changed electronics), I've been pretty blown away with it, the quality is fantastic and the standard probucker pickups are really, really nice. Completely agree, thanks for making this video. edit: That purple top on the PRS is pretty tho :D
Me too, I will choose my "first guitar", a cheap Ibanez RG over my expensive Les Paul and Fenders. "Sentimental Value" is the reason, because that guitar has become part of my life. The cheap affordable guitar that I modded and where I learned most of the songs that are the soundtrack of our lives.🔥
Always remember: these are just tools. Your learning and musical experiences are priceless!! I'm just as guilty dwelling on new gear, when I will play the same way on a new instrument after time. A new instrument is inspiring, though. After a few months, what instrument do you use the most?? That's the one!!
I'm fortunate enough to have tried many different guitars - albeit none as expensive as a PRS Private Stock or similar. It took me years to learn that: a) some guitars I connect with, others I don't and it's hard to explain why (albeit we always find ways to rationalize it) and; b) what I really love is the feeling of the strings vibrating under my fingers and a great sound coming out of the amp. As simple as that... 😛
I love this episode because beauty is in the eye of the beholder by the way I just started watching your channel about a week ago. I do like it .That being said I’ve been searching for what I will call my retirement Guitar. I don’t have a lot of money, but I will say I am in the neighborhood of $1500, I have a Marshall half stack and I have a fender acoustic now & a high end EPIPHONE LP that being said . I’ve been looking at Les Paul. I don’t know why they got rid of the binding around the outside like the EPIPHONE . I went to the Gibson garage and looked at a Jerry, Cantrell, Les Paul, and then I looked EPIPHONE LP That was $849.00 U.S . I apologize. I am from Florida in the United States the Gibson, Les Paul as far as I can tell was around $2000 and if you put the guitars back to back, which is easy to do at the Gibson garage website, you will see besides the pickups and the inlay and nut material, there’s not that much of a difference that I can tell . noticing that and then looking at all the extra BINDING AROUND THE GUITAR AND NECK IT MAKES IT VERY HARD TO COUNT FOR THAT EXTRA THOUSAND DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE PICK UPS IN THE EPIPHONE WOULD RUN $200 AT THE MOST TO CHANGE THE POTS WOULD NOT BE THAT MUCH NOT EVEN AN ARGUMENT ABOUT CERAMIC OR OIL ANYWAYS YOU CAN PICK THEM UP FOR $12.00 . so I guess what I’m trying to say is when you’re on a budget I think you can get the Guitar you want without breaking the bank.
You did make a lot of sense and what you said in the video. Especially towards the end. I really appreciate it. I wanna those that would love to have a custom shop. Or a Murphy lab, but those are way out of my price range. And I'm okay with that.
As long as it's a decent guitar.It's sunny right?And a bond with it is all that matters
Nice video. I have never had the fortune of owning anything close to a PRS Private Stock, but I do own a couple of Core and a DGT SE. I have a similar Epiphone Les Paul, which I bought at one of those Swee Lee sales when they had an outlet at Katong Shopping Centre in 2007/2008. It was Made In China. I changed the pickups to a set of Seymour Duncan JB and Jazz, and changed the wiring to 50s wiring (I think), gave it a good setup (all done by Beez). I have not found a Gibson Les Paul that plays or sounds better than this Epiphone. The only one that comes quite close is a recent purchase, which is a Tokai Love Rock from Japan.
I have a Korean 2006 Epiphone Les Paul Standard and MAN it sounds amazing, I liked it more than some new ones, Cort, Ibanez, Etc.. I like my Epi more🎉
You can solder extra wire to the end of the pickup leads and have a longer wire
great video! I just to have a nice collection of 25 guitars including Fender, Gibson , Martin customshop and vintage models. But I decided not to be a collector anymore (now down to 10, more ready to sell) . I had to make decisions, for example I had a Jimmy Page LP '95, a 59 LP RI but my favorite HB guitar was a Gibson SG. So I let the others go and I don't miss them....the opposite actually, I now play more then before. Not shopping online all the time.
I would sooo love to have my first car back. My first two cars, really.
And the dog steals the show, take that private stock! :)
That’s their job
You have put soul into your first guitar. Sadly, my first one was Chinese. When I found out its body was made out of MDF dust, I could not relate to it.
Good advice
I started on an Ibanez Xiphos years ago. A cheap Black Jackson warrior shaped thing with okay pickups ...now I have a row of Prestiges and Thru neck RGTs....and I still love the way that Xiphos sits in my lap...I play better on my cheapest guitar and I'd never sell it
I get too frustrated and unsatisfied with the sounds of Epiphones personally so I take my Epiphones swap the stock nut with a TUSQ nut and swap the stock bridge with a roller bridge and it can sound pretty good in my opinion.
Since you used cars as an example. You know what is fun as a car guy of which I am? Modifying a car to what you enjoy. I bought a Mexican Telecaster. I started playing in 1987 and my opinion of a tele was it was an old mans guitar. So I got it and played it. Then I realized those old men are pretty damn smart! So I changed the tuners, bought a loaded pickup kit from 920d customs. I changed the bridge with some Graphtech saddles and nut. I rounded and polished the frets and fret ends. I rounded the finger board. I paid 599 for the guitar. Man I had fun doing that. And I will say that is my best playing and super sounding guitar. I picked up a tele USA custom shop. Played it about 1 minute and said. Nope! Oh hey I also bought a PRS SE for 799. I am BLOWN away how good that guitar is. I am modding that too! But, but you will never get your money back! Ummmm I sell nothing guitar wise. Try this... Get a Epiphone and mod it totally. Plenty of info out there on UA-cam you can file your frets, you can wire in new PUPs. Then go play a 5k Gibson. I bet you keep that Epiphone! PS... I got a 2013 Gibson Studio Deluxe II. The finish is cracking in the middle of the body. It cost me 1299 in 2013 (US). It's the "Real thing" and it the finish is cracking.
My dad used to say "A fool in his money is soon parted". This applies big time to the guitar world. Made in the USA doesn't mean much to me. You mean to tell me other countries don't LOVE making guitars? They don't LOVE music? They don't have people that music is their life? Mexican's, Indonesians, and Chinese people just don't have the skills? I am an American born and raised. I refuse to believe we have the patent on quality. WE DON'T! I love my country but I love musicians just as much from anywhere in the world. Why wouldn't I? No politics or anything like that. Just common sense. I have not bought an American car in decades? Why? Japan makes better cars. I have owned 5 BMW's and currently own a 2023 right now. Why? I love the attention to detail. I love how it feels. It's not a status cymbal for me. Ok... I talk too much. Subbing to this channel. This channel just happened to pop on feed. I am subbing! Good topic. And I can't believe that PRS is worth 15k USD. I didn't know that was possible. Seriously... A PRS? 15k? Man... Even if I won the lottery I wouldn't seek that out. For 15k I could get a nice 2013 BMW 335i and mod it and make it super cool! I talk too much! 😀
Yeah, when I turned 40, my career was going well so I tried finding the guitars I had in my youth. The sentimental value when it comes to guitars is honestly probably the most important part. Most of us don’t rely on guitars to earn a living so the connection matters. That Tele you practically rebuilt can never be replaced and where it’s made really doesn’t matter. The time you put into it is what matters. Every manufacturer in every country and at every price point makes great guitars and junk. My favorite guitar is a green Ibanez sg copy my daughter got me for Christmas. It plays great and looks beautiful and was only 200 bucks. She just got it for me cuz it was green and a guitar lol kids right? Guitars really are like old friends. You can’t replace them or the memories.
currently looking for my first serious guitar and I'm looking at the S2 linup (specifically the double cut 594). If you have any in your collection, could you do a video seeing how they stack up against the core models? Thanks for the great vids!
I don’t have any S2s though I’ve played them. They are practically equivalent to the cores barring the cosmetic touches. The reason I didn’t have any is that I didn’t like the pickups which were SE pickups. They have rectified it now to give it the same electronics as the core so they are great buys now
thats a shame about the neck pick up having a wire that is too short on your epiphone, i admit i don't know much about installing pick ups but is there no one where you live who couldn't change out or alter it so the wire is longer and can reach the electronics? or if that isnt a possibility why not just order a new matching neck pick up with a long enough wire? unless you are fond of it with just the single pick up
Do a rank list or perhaps a tier list for all your guitars and explain why. I think that would be interesting.
Yes I have something like that in mind
good video why don't you just extend the wire on the neck pickup ??
Clearly the puppies like the purple PRS better, they have great taste!
I would definitely not prefer the first guitar I have over any other guitar that came after it. It was a terrible Cort Les Paul copy that was a bolt on, made out of plywood with fake humbuckers. Cost me $40 used off some rando in school. It's the guitar that made me hate all Les Pauls.
I'm glad that you started during our current golden age of guitar quality! Although 20 years ago, $500 is at least double that today!
I don't have a point either, other than to say thanks again for giving us something to think about!
Thanks . I think my Epiphone did have its issues but it was good enough for me to learn and to be well usable with some slight mods . I did also have a Givson acoustic, an Indian copy. Sadly it was destroyed during a night of drinking in college.
Question out of curiosity: My only Les Paul Standard is also a 2004, purchased in 2006. I really wasn't in the market for an LP but at the time, Epiphone was transitioning from manufacture in Korea to manufacture in China. IMO the Chinese made Epis quality was below that of the Korean made (this has since changed drastically). I knew that if I wanted a Les Paul I would want a Korean made and the one I have now was on sale with a $50 discount and was Korean made so I bought it. It was made in Saein, Korea at the plant which now makes Shine guitars. So my question is where was your 2004 LP Standard made??
I still own my first guitar. I'd never sell it. It is a 1978 Ibanez LP copy. Around two years ago I also refinished it and replaced the neck and so it is like a brand new guitar for me. All the work that I put in to restoring it and refinishing it has only quadrupled the sentimentality factor and uniqueness. It is an irreplaceable guitar for me.
My first electric guitar is a 1968 Gibson Les Paul Custom I bought from a friend for NZD 800 in 1973 when it was time for our band to go pro, so . . . sentimental value, of course, but despite buying any number of fine guitars over the last few decades it is still 'the one' - nothing I have tried from Gibson or anyone else since comes close 😅 Cheers! PS - actually the Eastman SB59/v does come close albeit as a 'complimentary instrument', certainly not a replacement, with the chunkier '50s style neck - probably my next purchase . . .
I really dug that melodie!!! Was it a play on "Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You"?
Inspired by both Babe I’m gonna leave you and Floyd’s Is there anybody out there
I'd like to play that myself. But I can't.
I can't look at that Epi with missing pick up
Let me know where I can get that Epi anywhere close to $150.
I have a bit of a mental block where I can't allow myself to have expensive indulgences. I feel like I've been taken advantage of if I have something expensive that doesn't really function much better than the cheaper item. Consequently I get a kick out of finding cheap-but-good stuff. Maybe it's because I grew up with no money. 🤷♂️
It’s such a superficial and shallow business model and it has been turned into a stock market. It’s the same thing as liking a singer not because of how well they sing but how they look.
If you are a regular player, the Epiphone is not going to cut it. If you are a regular player, you would not bring a 20,000 guitar to a gig either. It doesn't get clicks but the only thing that makes sense are those $2000-3000 USA made standard versions like LP, Strat, SG that's it. Get these and do NOT modify them. I have learned this the hard way so hardcore. But that doesn't get sekski clix i get it.
Why spend a lot of money on a material object if you can buy it cheap ? It makes no sence , now , if you have a shitload of money is does not matter offcourse and you can buy the expensive marketing hyped object , but the cheap version will do the same job as you said . Personally i like to go for the "middle of the road " , because mostly the object will be better made then the really cheap one and it still will not break the bank .
Epiphone is made in China. I’ll never purchase one in a thousand years.
While I play electrics now, for many years I only played acoustics.
I learned a long time ago that once you get up to the level of a Martin D18/D28 or Gibson J45/J50, you are maybe getting another 5% in benefit for the next 2-300% increase in cost. That difference is for the ego of the musician, not the audience. On stage in most situations a well set up $1000 (and often way less expensive) Yamaha, Alvarez, Takamine or import lower tier Martin or Taylor will do the job with good EQ on the board. Your own experience demonstrates trophy guitars are not needed for utility grade practice and bar gig work. Just properly set up tools.
I play out with a Takamine 1977 F400 12 string and a modern OMC16e Martin most of the time. Rarely take out the big dogs.
I bought a used Alvarez yesterday for cheap and oh my God .mm the cases have hygrometers built in? And the soundboards are incredibly high quality for the price .. it was exactly what I needed I was sleeping on Alvarez
Welcome to quickie mart, would you like to try a super gulp?