People have complaining about how expensive these are, but honestly, it’s crazy that these things are only $1300. Epiphone really knocked it out of the park.
V's and Explorers have never been my thing. Then again, I never liked Firebirds until you guys showed up on UA-cam with the beautiful green giveaway. Now I love them. I think this was very smart of Gibson/Epiphone. People who always wanted one of these are finally going to be able to get one. Quite a few changes in format in this video. I like it. You guys never stop working. Well done. Keep it up, Zach and John.
Yeah I was never a fan of Vs or explorers. Now I have them both a prophecy v and ghosthorse explorer. I love them both they have a striking presence unique sound. The prophecy v in particular are awesome light weight and have a killer sound. The ghosthorse is unique also Brendon talked about the wood he chose for the wood it screams and such a unique sounding guitar.
I think it would be cool to compare to the lower priced versions. There are upgrades on these, but I keep hearing people who now have both saying they prefer the lower cost models. Your opinion would be super valuable. I’ve also heard people saying the same thing about the sticky finish. I wonder why they didn’t go for full gloss. Seems like an odd decision to go for a semi-gloss. Tyvm!
@@leifpaul I have a 2021/22 X and Z types, they are both excellent instruments, light weight (6lbs. 6oz.), resonant, hardware and electronics flawless. They are resonant acoustically, and sound great amplified. I don't see any of these for sale anymore, just 2017-2019 on Reverb, not the 2020-2022 models I'm referring to. They are 1958 spec with black-guards (my preference). I need to get cases for both of them - they are keepers!!
Great review! I got both (couldn’t resist as I have wanted a Korina V and Explorer for a long time but no way could/would give $10k for the Gibson CS versions). These are pricey for Epiphones for sure, but you do get a lot of bang for the buck compared to a regular Epi V or Explorer. They feel great and sound spectacular… really impressed. Oh, and BTW, these aren’t labeled “gloss”. They are labeled “aged natural”… which is just a fancy term for… satin. So when buying one (or both 😁) do not expect them to be gloss at all. As far as neck the stickiness you experienced… weird! Both of mine (V and Explorer) are super smooth and slick. No stickiness *at all*. Way less sticky than any of my Gibson necks, TBH. Like I said, weird. As for the 50s necks and “playability”… 50s necks aren’t for everyone, for sure. But they aren’t even that big compared to some other 58 profile necks (like you’ll find on many R8s, for example-especially R8s from a few years ago before Gibson kinda dialed back the R8 neck chunkiness a bit). They do have larger shoulders than, say, a 59 profile. But that’s indicative of them being 58 necks. If someone is a slim 60s neck player though, yeah, expect them to be outside your comfort zone. However, if you (like me) prefer fat necks, then the neck profiles on these are especially nice.
I just got the Flying V in the other day…and so far I love it…I’m more of a Les Paul guy but had to add the V in my personal collection…the V does take sometime getting used to as far as playability but it’s so light and fun to play. Awesome review!
At this price point, I still don't fully understand why they aren't using Rosewood. Like is it banned in China? I remember looking into it a bit and I don't remember getting a solid answer. Other import brands such as PRS SE and Harley Benton are using Rosewood so why not Epiphone?
I tried these at the Guitar Center a few days ago. I must say, I was surprised by how much I liked the V for blues, it was wonderful. The Explorer didn’t wow me as much, but at least it stayed in my lap when I was playing it. But my vote goes to the V. Now, what they would sound like for metal, I couldn’t say.
Love your videos… I can say this.. I had a Gibson 76 reissue explorer..traded it .. missed it so I got this Epiphone.. and it’s fantastic.. sounds as good if not better than the Gibson, I prefer the chunkier neck.. Gibson was thinner.. so much lighter.. mine is 7lbs 3ounces..Stays in tune really well.. great midrange cut… I love it.. more than the gibby
Fantastic Demo...great tones !!! I have one question...why so much more than the '59 Les Paul Epi ? I think these should sell @$999. Thanks for sharing these with us.
A great question, and I agree! The 1959 LP, and 1961 SG, are both $899 and those include basically the same features - burstbuckers, hard case etc. I hope they don't increase the prices on those. Thanks for watching!
The huge thing I always try to keep in mind with Epiphone or any imported guitar is that they aren’t making these overseas to make them more affordable to the buyer. Do you think we are the first thing they think about?No, it’s volume production for the highest yield profit, and if more people are enticed into buying, the more profitable imported guitars are. I also keep in mind where they are being made, in countries that would just as happily make us inexpensive guitars to line their pockets as they would be dropping a bomb on us. Good old Gibson has had their troubles, but I’ll still buy my Gibsons, just not the ten thousand dollar ones! Lol
I bought the black pickguard version flying V last week. I had a back-bowed neck right out of the box....simple fix. I put new strings on it, peeled the protective plastic, adjusted the bridge, and gave it a good wipe down. It holds tune very well and sounds good. I didn't feel like it has a 1958 neck...I thought mine was rather thin and my neck is smooth. One thing I will say that I don't think anyone has mentioned yet...it has really small fret wire! The fret wire is my only real complaint thus far! It's not the Gibson Custom Shop version I wanted but it's nice nonetheless. BTW, the case is amazing!!! ❤
I have the Explorer and the neck is smooth as glass and i actually love the profile even though my main guitar is a 60s Les Paul. First time my wife heard the Explorer she told me to sell all my other guitars as it makes a beautiful sound even with an idiot like me. Price was steep but you mostly get what you paid
I’m not loving the finish on these for the price, I think they both look a little cheap TBH (I think the older Epi Amos Korina V looks much nicer and sounds as good if not better, plus it was much cheaper new)…despite less traditional specs, I’d be paying the extra $700 for the Gibson versions in this instance. I think the most impressive higher end Epi lately is the recent red Bonamassa ‘62 ES-335 which is a whole lot of guitar for the $$ and compares favorably to much pricier Gibsons. Thanks for the demo! ✌️
But you’re not comparing it with the $10K Korina Gibson versions. I’ve personally compared the two and the similarities are scary similar. You’re comparing apples to oranges….
Having just bought the Flying V from this series, and having owned an older Epiphone Korina Flying V, along with a Korina "Poppa Chubby" flying V, I'm amazed and very pleased that the new V is MUCH lighter! And I just despise That thick, ultra glossy, polyurethane finish. It's shiny, but it smothers the resonance. I also swapped a gold Burstbucker 1 & 2 set I had in a 335 with gold hardware, Bigsby, etc for the BB2 & BB3 that were included.
I usually agree with you , but I think 15+ pts for a sticky neck is harsh. Especially when it's such an easy fix. I got the explorer, and in my opinion its slightly better than my veil of bees. I just knew you were gonna love that neck. Great Job as usual and props to Zach as well.
Thank you! For my grading system, there's three categories and 125 total points a guitar can earn based on Playability, Sound, and Value. There are sub categories within those three - everything from pickups to materials to if it has a case etc. It's not just the sticky neck, but other factors like high price that knock it down a bit. A guitar that is flawless and overpriced will not get an A, if that makes sense. I will do a better job explaining, thanks for watching!
You have to score them as delivered or it becomes impossible. Yes, you could easily sand the neck to improve it, but it's a slippery slope if you start judging things on how easy they are to fix. "We got this lousy guitar, it was really terrible, but the awful pups are easy to replace, the sharp fret ends are easy to sand, the scratchy pots are easy to replace, the broken output jack is an easy fix, so after applying the 'is it an easy fix' rule, we're giving it 98/100". Trying to devise impartial and consistent scoring criteria to compare items is hard. Resisting the urge to bend rules with special cases is harder. It's all just a bit of fun, it's not a perfect science.
I think the long neck tennon and the string through body design with the V will give a really sweet resonance after a few years playing..Its a really smallm pitty they did not use nitrocellulose for sealing the paint.
I bought the V and I can say that its defiantly worth the price, its priced correctly for all you get and you'll spend less time and money upgrading a $500 Epiphone and it still wont be a true Korina V. I've always had my trusty old Gibsons and Fenders so I've never really bothered with Epiphones because I've had the Gibsons I've always (well, almost all of them) wanted. I am a lefty and these are impossible to find in a lefty, the older ones were really cheap feeling and crappy sounding and unstable so I stayed away from them. This is a different story, I am amazed by the quality, fit and finish of this guitar. Out of the box it needed nothing changed out other than a cleaning, just tune it up and go. I did have to oil up the fretboard and I did put my favorite strings on it and since then I haven't put it down. I ordered a 2nd one because I know that I will be playing this all over the place and the lefty's seem to disappear very quickly and are never made again. The pickups are awesome, I am partial to BB's so this was a big selling point for me. It is solid and stable feeling not like some of the Epi's I've played in the past . The stickiness of the neck he was talking about was quickly fixed with a cleaning and waxing, It's smooth as silk now. I can be picky but I gave this time to settle in, at 1st I gave it a C+, after having it for the last 2 weeks and running it through its paces Ill give it an B+. For a lefty looking for a 58' V this is a godsend, it is impossible to find a decent lefty Korina V at a great price! It doesn't feel like a typical cleaply made Chineese guitar, being made in China which was a huge turn off to me at first but playing it for the past few weeks changed my mind. Another turn off for me is the scarf joint at the headstock, scarf joints in the neck are a pet peeve of mine. Im just used to the Gibsons solid construction, but I got over it pretty quickly because its solid and I soon enough forgot it was even there. All and all I would definitely recommend it especially if you are a lefty and don't want to spend $5K+ on a Banker or Hamer or $7.5K on a Custom Shop and wait a year.
The pickups do sound very bright here - on Dylan Talks Tone, he said his Explorer sounded very dark, which I guess just goes to show that what you plug into makes a huge difference …
Best demo of these guitars due to intelligent breakdowns and the fact that you played both guitars CLEAN to Dirty. Everyone else seems to think you should only play it through a dirty amp and with Adam saying everybody else is a bunch of idiots. Well meaning idiots but nonetheless, they don’t know how to do a serious analysis of a guitar. Thank you very much.
Last year 1958 spec (black guards) V and X guitars were selling for $599USD new from ZZ/American Music Supply - shipped. So I bought one of each, and had my mind blown by their quality and light weight (6lbs. 6oz.). Gibson pickups may be better, but these sound great, and the hardware is solid. They are very resonant, and sound wonderful unplugged.
Agree on the extra "magic" of the Explorer. I don't know what it is, but every time I play my Gibson Explorers, there's something supernatural about them. I thought both of those guitars are beautiful in terms of colors and look, but I thought they both sounded kind of "mid-rangey". You were using the same amp and pedal that you always do too, so it had to be the pickups.
I have heard that steel wool a couple times or so can smooth out stickiness on a neck. I think my favorite Epiphone V, is still the prophecy. However, the Korina is sharp as can be.
I bought the Explorer. Personally I like the finish it doesn't feel sticky to me but I guess everyone is different. I I also upgraded mine further with a set of Custombuckers which I was going to put in another guitar but put them in the Epi instead and it sounds even better now with those pickups in it. I also put another strap button on the back and that was better for me. Good review. Cheers from the UK.
You nailed it on the finish. It's the reason I don't already have both of these. I've had the 59. I've had the Joe B Lazarus. I've had two JJN Gold Glories. This finish is terrible and for the premium that we're paying, these need to shine. Everything else is great. And if the neck on these is anything like the Gold Glory, it's a winner. Best neck I ever played. They do the high gloss on the Slash LPs. I don't know why they insist on this stupid matte finish.
*sorry for my English. Great video & review, very nice playing ! thank you very much indeed, Sir. The Epi Explorer is a big & beautiful bold attacking sound, it is a pure Rock guitar, I'm sure. And Epiphone Flying V it's nothing but Rock n Roll & Blues Rock machine with a bit "airy sparkling single coil" vibe. If you don't mind, (just wondering) I want to ask you about the strings-through-body construction on the Flying V, is it true theEpiphone 1958 F-V have a bit better/longer airy sustain than the Epiphone 1958 Explorer ?
I got the v with the black pick guard the other day. I don't agree with the those that don't like the finish. Mine came in perfect. I don't get the sticky feel on the finish and have no issues going up and down the neck. I will say that the neck is seriously chunky. I have really big hands so it fits me perfectly. If you have small hands, this may not be the v you are looking for.
Seems silly expensive for what it is - the Epiphone '59 Les Paul Custom Shop collaboration debuted at $699 with Gibson BB2 & BB3 pickups, premium Gibsony electronics and essentially the same features as these so I'm not sure why these cost nearly twice as much. $699 is about what I would consider Fair Market Value for one of these. I would also tone it down by putting a BB1 in neck and moving the BB2 to bridge as I did with the Epi' '59 Les Paul ($999 new last I checked), probably upgrade the tail hardware to Faber, & add locking tuners from Grover or Gotoh. With those mods/upgrades and a buffed-out finish I am really happy with the Epi' '59 for a total budget of ~ $1000, and do not pine for a Gibson Les Paul (I've played many :o)
I love these, particularly the V. But I hope they don't sell! The whole point of Epiphone is the price. Let's not encourage Epiphone to fleece us like everyone else has been doing. Next thing you know, the 59 LP and 61 Sg will go up to 1400. Epiphone has gotten better but not better enough to justify spending Gibson money on one. WE are the market; We set the price. Wait it out. *edit: I give them an F because of price. It's uncalled-for. Let the market cool, then jump, and Epiphone will see the sales spike and hopefully stay in their lane.
@@Zoso981 Coming from the guy who has spent a week in this very comments section trolling about tonewood and burstbuckers because he bought one of these things. It’s not a personal insult to you if I think it’s overpriced and out of their wheelhouse. It’s a pretty popular opinion; nobody is calling you a fool, so take a deep breath.
$1,000 is where these should be. That covers the case and pickups which is a big value but Epiphone does not pay retail and you have to remember to subtract the cost of the epi pickups that would come with it otherwise. So even a grand is pushing it.
John you talked very little of the quality and if caes were included or I just messed U saying but I would like to have More info on case, also liked the choice of tunes but needed more info on more info on tunners nut, but hard to squess it in there, I know. But my money would go a explorer. But I would have to go through it with a good 🤘🤠.
Thanks for a good review of these 2 guitars. I like the idea of a 6.5 pound guitar. But not a big fat neck. I was looking at the Flying V as an easier access up the neck than a Les Paul single cut. So some of the thinner necked ( and cheaper ) Vs might be better.
@@PlayandTradeGuitars Thanks i will ! i'm just a little bit worried becaue this is the first time that i buy a guitar on internet without trying it first but i figured guys like you do it so often i'd be in bad luck if there was anything wrong with mine !
What’s with all the griping about the price? $1299 is a steal for these. It’s 2024, $1299 is a mid priced guitar. I see people saying “$1299 for the name Epiphone on the headstock?” I get that not everyone has that extra cash lying around, least of all me, but these are not overpriced, I’d even say they’re exactly where I expected them before I even saw the price.
I just bought the ebony epiphone flying v from zzounds. I used the play as you pay option and I’m paying $49 a month. I was going to get the korina but i would have had to be in a waiting list and i really wanted a flying v soon as possible. It came the next day. I love it! Epiphone is really trying to put out quality gear these days. I buy EVERYTHING from zzounds. By paying monthly im building up the gear i always wanted but couldn’t afford. I love zzound! Lol i know this sounds like an ad for them but it’s not, I’m just a guy with a limited budget that loves to play guitar.
Nice looking and sounding guitars. Can we assume that Epiphone have made these guitars out of solid Korina and not laminated? If so, even with the nice upgrades the present pricing model is way out of touch with reality. Make these guitars avaible from between £$€600 - £$€800 and they will sell like hot cakes. They are look great but the present retail pricing model would make me go look for a second hand genuine Gibson. Thanks for the demo👏
The “collaboration with Gibson custom shop” is a marketing gimmick so that really doesn’t hold any value. The pickups are great, I have the ‘61 Les Paul SG and really enjoy those humbuckers. But for $1299, there’s not enough “upgrades” for the asking price. These shouldn’t be any higher than the ‘59 Les Paul or the ‘’61 SG. Seems like these are a test to see how high they can price their “Gibson custom collaboration” guitars before they get pushback from players.
The V isn't just a metal guitar. Joe Bonamassa plays blues rock and smooth Jazz on it. Other blues artists have played the flying V like Billy Gibbons and the godfather of Stevie Ray Vaughn and many others.
Great review, thx! I am sure these are great guitars but they are really pushing the prices. I have the Epi LP 59 standard and the LP SG 61, same upgrades but a lot cheaper. And for me, an Explorer and Flying V are metal guitars, i prefer them from other brands like LTD and Jackson. Lighter, more ergonomical and higher output pickups. I also want some variety in the collection, not only Epiphones and Squiers..
Have you seen the quality lately? Or are you going on everyone else's dated opinions that Epiphone is budget quality junk...they've come a long ways..guess you should start saving up for that Gibson name on the headstock...don't get me wrong..I love gibson.i own 2. But I got a 2020 es 339 inspired by Gibson line and it's absolutely top notch...for 550+ a hard case I have about 750 in it...worth every penny
@@ericwarrington6650 yes I’ve seen their “quality”. And I’m still not spending that much coin on an Epiphone. And yes I’m probably never going to own a Gibson but just because the Gibson is too expensive to purchase doesn’t mean you overpay for the Epiphone.
@@doc_matter those aren’t korina. These are made from actual korina, the old ones were mahogany. I’ve had both of the old 58 v’s and explorers. Gibson doesn’t offer korina atm other than the Murphy lab custom shops that were 20K
Im sorry I went thru two bootleg Epicrap Les Pauls, I gotta real 1 now along with a Yamaha, theres only like a 10lb difference, Im about to turn this pos 1 I got and get something better toward store credit, if u want bootleg guitars that come with garbage everything stock trash thats got 5yr old pick-ups be my guest.
People have complaining about how expensive these are, but honestly, it’s crazy that these things are only $1300. Epiphone really knocked it out of the park.
V's and Explorers have never been my thing. Then again, I never liked Firebirds until you guys showed up on UA-cam with the beautiful green giveaway. Now I love them. I think this was very smart of Gibson/Epiphone. People who always wanted one of these are finally going to be able to get one.
Quite a few changes in format in this video. I like it. You guys never stop working. Well done. Keep it up, Zach and John.
Yeah I was never a fan of Vs or explorers. Now I have them both a prophecy v and ghosthorse explorer.
I love them both they have a striking presence unique sound. The prophecy v in particular are awesome light weight and have a killer sound. The ghosthorse is unique also Brendon talked about the wood he chose for the wood it screams and such a unique sounding guitar.
@@SionynJones That GhostHorse is definitely cool and unique. Gotta love Metalocalypse.
I like the slight format change with the “retrospective” reviews, and scores. The dual/complimentary playing was a nice touch!
I think it would be cool to compare to the lower priced versions. There are upgrades on these, but I keep hearing people who now have both saying they prefer the lower cost models. Your opinion would be super valuable.
I’ve also heard people saying the same thing about the sticky finish. I wonder why they didn’t go for full gloss. Seems like an odd decision to go for a semi-gloss.
Tyvm!
because it's historically accurate. It's more expensive to do a satin finish in poly.
i had the older low cost korina explorer ...it was quite frankly shite ..these new ones are superior .
@@leifpaul I have a 2021/22 X and Z types, they are both excellent instruments, light weight (6lbs. 6oz.), resonant, hardware and electronics flawless. They are resonant acoustically, and sound great amplified. I don't see any of these for sale anymore, just 2017-2019 on Reverb, not the 2020-2022 models I'm referring to. They are 1958 spec with black-guards (my preference). I need to get cases for both of them - they are keepers!!
Great review! I got both (couldn’t resist as I have wanted a Korina V and Explorer for a long time but no way could/would give $10k for the Gibson CS versions). These are pricey for Epiphones for sure, but you do get a lot of bang for the buck compared to a regular Epi V or Explorer. They feel great and sound spectacular… really impressed.
Oh, and BTW, these aren’t labeled “gloss”. They are labeled “aged natural”… which is just a fancy term for… satin. So when buying one (or both 😁) do not expect them to be gloss at all.
As far as neck the stickiness you experienced… weird! Both of mine (V and Explorer) are super smooth and slick. No stickiness *at all*. Way less sticky than any of my Gibson necks, TBH. Like I said, weird.
As for the 50s necks and “playability”… 50s necks aren’t for everyone, for sure. But they aren’t even that big compared to some other 58 profile necks (like you’ll find on many R8s, for example-especially R8s from a few years ago before Gibson kinda dialed back the R8 neck chunkiness a bit). They do have larger shoulders than, say, a 59 profile. But that’s indicative of them being 58 necks. If someone is a slim 60s neck player though, yeah, expect them to be outside your comfort zone. However, if you (like me) prefer fat necks, then the neck profiles on these are especially nice.
I just got the Flying V in the other day…and so far I love it…I’m more of a Les Paul guy but had to add the V in my personal collection…the V does take sometime getting used to as far as playability but it’s so light and fun to play. Awesome review!
How much does your weigh? Hoping they are lightweight
They average AT about 6 to 7 lbs
At this price point, I still don't fully understand why they aren't using Rosewood. Like is it banned in China? I remember looking into it a bit and I don't remember getting a solid answer. Other import brands such as PRS SE and Harley Benton are using Rosewood so why not Epiphone?
I agree, I will say PRS SE rosewood puts them to shame in that regard. Thanks for watching!
Rosewood is getting to be rare and harder to get now days,and cost more.
That Explorer is calling my name!
New Epiphones are getting better and better...
I tried these at the Guitar Center a few days ago. I must say, I was surprised by how much I liked the V for blues, it was wonderful. The Explorer didn’t wow me as much, but at least it stayed in my lap when I was playing it. But my vote goes to the V. Now, what they would sound like for metal, I couldn’t say.
Love your videos… I can say this.. I had a Gibson 76 reissue explorer..traded it .. missed it so I got this Epiphone.. and it’s fantastic.. sounds as good if not better than the Gibson, I prefer the chunkier neck.. Gibson was thinner.. so much lighter.. mine is 7lbs 3ounces..Stays in tune really well.. great midrange cut… I love it.. more than the gibby
At these price points why not use ebony fretboard? They have access to it.
Fantastic Demo...great tones !!! I have one question...why so much more than the '59 Les Paul Epi ? I think these should sell @$999.
Thanks for sharing these with us.
A great question, and I agree! The 1959 LP, and 1961 SG, are both $899 and those include basically the same features - burstbuckers, hard case etc. I hope they don't increase the prices on those. Thanks for watching!
@@PlayandTradeGuitars meanwhile prices in my local grocery store jumped 30-40% in the last month
Do they have scarf joints and heel blocks?
The huge thing I always try to keep in mind with Epiphone or any imported guitar is that they aren’t making these overseas to make them more affordable to the buyer. Do you think we are the first thing they think about?No, it’s volume production for the highest yield profit, and if more people are enticed into buying, the more profitable imported guitars are. I also keep in mind where they are being made, in countries that would just as happily make us inexpensive guitars to line their pockets as they would be dropping a bomb on us. Good old Gibson has had their troubles, but I’ll still buy my Gibsons, just not the ten thousand dollar ones! Lol
I bought the black pickguard version flying V last week. I had a back-bowed neck right out of the box....simple fix. I put new strings on it, peeled the protective plastic, adjusted the bridge, and gave it a good wipe down. It holds tune very well and sounds good. I didn't feel like it has a 1958 neck...I thought mine was rather thin and my neck is smooth. One thing I will say that I don't think anyone has mentioned yet...it has really small fret wire! The fret wire is my only real complaint thus far! It's not the Gibson Custom Shop version I wanted but it's nice nonetheless. BTW, the case is amazing!!! ❤
I have the Explorer and the neck is smooth as glass and i actually love the profile even though my main guitar is a 60s Les Paul. First time my wife heard the Explorer she told me to sell all my other guitars as it makes a beautiful sound even with an idiot like me. Price was steep but you mostly get what you paid
I’m not loving the finish on these for the price, I think they both look a little cheap TBH (I think the older Epi Amos Korina V looks much nicer and sounds as good if not better, plus it was much cheaper new)…despite less traditional specs, I’d be paying the extra $700 for the Gibson versions in this instance. I think the most impressive higher end Epi lately is the recent red Bonamassa ‘62 ES-335 which is a whole lot of guitar for the $$ and compares favorably to much pricier Gibsons. Thanks for the demo! ✌️
But you’re not comparing it with the $10K Korina Gibson versions. I’ve personally compared the two and the similarities are scary similar. You’re comparing apples to oranges….
Having just bought the Flying V from this series, and having owned an older Epiphone Korina Flying V, along with a Korina "Poppa Chubby" flying V, I'm amazed and very pleased that the new V is MUCH lighter! And I just despise That thick, ultra glossy, polyurethane finish. It's shiny, but it smothers the resonance. I also swapped a gold Burstbucker 1 & 2 set I had in a 335 with gold hardware, Bigsby, etc for the BB2 & BB3 that were included.
Great to see these guitars are also available as lefties.
I usually agree with you , but I think 15+ pts for a sticky neck is harsh. Especially when it's such an easy fix. I got the explorer, and in my opinion its slightly better than my veil of bees. I just knew you were gonna love that neck. Great Job as usual and props to Zach as well.
Thank you! For my grading system, there's three categories and 125 total points a guitar can earn based on Playability, Sound, and Value. There are sub categories within those three - everything from pickups to materials to if it has a case etc. It's not just the sticky neck, but other factors like high price that knock it down a bit. A guitar that is flawless and overpriced will not get an A, if that makes sense. I will do a better job explaining, thanks for watching!
You have to score them as delivered or it becomes impossible. Yes, you could easily sand the neck to improve it, but it's a slippery slope if you start judging things on how easy they are to fix. "We got this lousy guitar, it was really terrible, but the awful pups are easy to replace, the sharp fret ends are easy to sand, the scratchy pots are easy to replace, the broken output jack is an easy fix, so after applying the 'is it an easy fix' rule, we're giving it 98/100".
Trying to devise impartial and consistent scoring criteria to compare items is hard. Resisting the urge to bend rules with special cases is harder. It's all just a bit of fun, it's not a perfect science.
I prefer my Veil of Bees over my new Korina Explorer, but only by a small margin. Both are GREAT guitars and worth every penny.
Excellent review. It’s worth noting that the V body is a 2 piece solid Korina. No veneer like previous offerings.
I think the long neck tennon and the string through body design with the V will give a really sweet resonance after a few years playing..Its a really smallm pitty they did not use nitrocellulose for sealing the paint.
I love the Flying V. You will never be as cool as Albert King but you can pretend with the Flying V.
I bought the V and I can say that its defiantly worth the price, its priced correctly for all you get and you'll spend less time and money upgrading a $500 Epiphone and it still wont be a true Korina V. I've always had my trusty old Gibsons and Fenders so I've never really bothered with Epiphones because I've had the Gibsons I've always (well, almost all of them) wanted. I am a lefty and these are impossible to find in a lefty, the older ones were really cheap feeling and crappy sounding and unstable so I stayed away from them. This is a different story, I am amazed by the quality, fit and finish of this guitar. Out of the box it needed nothing changed out other than a cleaning, just tune it up and go. I did have to oil up the fretboard and I did put my favorite strings on it and since then I haven't put it down. I ordered a 2nd one because I know that I will be playing this all over the place and the lefty's seem to disappear very quickly and are never made again. The pickups are awesome, I am partial to BB's so this was a big selling point for me. It is solid and stable feeling not like some of the Epi's I've played in the past . The stickiness of the neck he was talking about was quickly fixed with a cleaning and waxing, It's smooth as silk now. I can be picky but I gave this time to settle in, at 1st I gave it a C+, after having it for the last 2 weeks and running it through its paces Ill give it an B+. For a lefty looking for a 58' V this is a godsend, it is impossible to find a decent lefty Korina V at a great price! It doesn't feel like a typical cleaply made Chineese guitar, being made in China which was a huge turn off to me at first but playing it for the past few weeks changed my mind. Another turn off for me is the scarf joint at the headstock, scarf joints in the neck are a pet peeve of mine. Im just used to the Gibsons solid construction, but I got over it pretty quickly because its solid and I soon enough forgot it was even there. All and all I would definitely recommend it especially if you are a lefty and don't want to spend $5K+ on a Banker or Hamer or $7.5K on a Custom Shop and wait a year.
The pickups do sound very bright here - on Dylan Talks Tone, he said his Explorer sounded very dark, which I guess just goes to show that what you plug into makes a huge difference …
@@adamwatson6916 It’s the same Epiphone model.
Best demo of these guitars due to intelligent breakdowns and the fact that you played both guitars CLEAN to Dirty. Everyone else seems to think you should only play it through a dirty amp and with Adam saying everybody else is a bunch of idiots. Well meaning idiots but nonetheless, they don’t know how to do a serious analysis of a guitar. Thank you very much.
Last year 1958 spec (black guards) V and X guitars were selling for $599USD new from ZZ/American Music Supply - shipped. So I bought one of each, and had my mind blown by their quality and light weight (6lbs. 6oz.). Gibson pickups may be better, but these sound great, and the hardware is solid. They are very resonant, and sound wonderful unplugged.
Agree on the extra "magic" of the Explorer. I don't know what it is, but every time I play my Gibson Explorers, there's something supernatural about them. I thought both of those guitars are beautiful in terms of colors and look, but I thought they both sounded kind of "mid-rangey". You were using the same amp and pedal that you always do too, so it had to be the pickups.
The price point is a bit high for me as I would prefer a used Gibson that's not Korina. Just me. Rock on!
I have heard that steel wool a couple times or so can smooth out stickiness on a neck. I think my favorite Epiphone V, is still the prophecy. However, the Korina is sharp as can be.
Yeah you can buy nice Dunlop set (for cheep to polish frets)
A scouring pad used for washing up will work equally well and is slightly less abrasive
I bought the Explorer. Personally I like the finish it doesn't feel sticky to me but I guess everyone is different. I I also upgraded mine further with a set of Custombuckers which I was going to put in another guitar but put them in the Epi instead and it sounds even better now with those pickups in it. I also put another strap button on the back and that was better for me. Good review. Cheers from the UK.
Man I want a Gibson explorer 70s so bad but going for an Epiphone is tempting
You nailed it on the finish. It's the reason I don't already have both of these. I've had the 59. I've had the Joe B Lazarus. I've had two JJN Gold Glories. This finish is terrible and for the premium that we're paying, these need to shine. Everything else is great. And if the neck on these is anything like the Gold Glory, it's a winner. Best neck I ever played. They do the high gloss on the Slash LPs. I don't know why they insist on this stupid matte finish.
I want the v but there are to many with headstock breaks
Yo Zach its Connor from guitar center lol sweet video dude🔥🔥
Thanks for watching man! Good to meet you
*sorry for my English. Great video & review, very nice playing ! thank you very much indeed, Sir. The Epi Explorer is a big & beautiful bold attacking sound, it is a pure Rock guitar, I'm sure. And Epiphone Flying V it's nothing but Rock n Roll & Blues Rock machine with a bit "airy sparkling single coil" vibe. If you don't mind, (just wondering) I want to ask you about the strings-through-body construction on the Flying V, is it true theEpiphone 1958 F-V have a bit better/longer airy sustain than the Epiphone 1958 Explorer ?
What are the size of the frets on the V? Someone told me they are smaller than normal.
I got the v with the black pick guard the other day. I don't agree with the those that don't like the finish. Mine came in perfect. I don't get the sticky feel on the finish and have no issues going up and down the neck. I will say that the neck is seriously chunky. I have really big hands so it fits me perfectly. If you have small hands, this may not be the v you are looking for.
How much does your weigh? Hoping they are light.
I don't have an exact weight but it is really light compared to my Les Paul
Nothing's cooler than a cheap flying V....instantly you are a rockstar.
Seems silly expensive for what it is - the Epiphone '59 Les Paul Custom Shop collaboration debuted at $699 with Gibson BB2 & BB3 pickups, premium Gibsony electronics and essentially the same features as these so I'm not sure why these cost nearly twice as much. $699 is about what I would consider Fair Market Value for one of these. I would also tone it down by putting a BB1 in neck and moving the BB2 to bridge as I did with the Epi' '59 Les Paul ($999 new last I checked), probably upgrade the tail hardware to Faber, & add locking tuners from Grover or Gotoh. With those mods/upgrades and a buffed-out finish I am really happy with the Epi' '59 for a total budget of ~ $1000, and do not pine for a Gibson Les Paul (I've played many :o)
I love these, particularly the V. But I hope they don't sell! The whole point of Epiphone is the price. Let's not encourage Epiphone to fleece us like everyone else has been doing. Next thing you know, the 59 LP and 61 Sg will go up to 1400. Epiphone has gotten better but not better enough to justify spending Gibson money on one. WE are the market; We set the price. Wait it out. *edit: I give them an F because of price. It's uncalled-for. Let the market cool, then jump, and Epiphone will see the sales spike and hopefully stay in their lane.
Pick one: 1 Cheap & Adequate or 2. Expensive & High Quality . You can't have both.
@@IndyRockStar Epiphone takes up one of those lanes; Gibson takes the other. That’s my whole point.
$1299 isn't expensive for a high quality, 2- piece Korina Explorer with a hard case. It just happens to be made by Epiphone.
@@Zoso981 Coming from the guy who has spent a week in this very comments section trolling about tonewood and burstbuckers because he bought one of these things. It’s not a personal insult to you if I think it’s overpriced and out of their wheelhouse. It’s a pretty popular opinion; nobody is calling you a fool, so take a deep breath.
@CraigFlowersMusic I didn't take it as an insult. I just don't understand people's outdated opinions of Epiphone. And I'm breathing just fine, thanks.
Cool factor overdose with the bloody *V*
Though they do kinda sound bright
cool video. Regarding the Explorer, Does the neck feel heavy? is there any neck dive when standing up?
$1,000 is where these should be. That covers the case and pickups which is a big value but Epiphone does not pay retail and you have to remember to subtract the cost of the epi pickups that would come with it otherwise. So even a grand is pushing it.
Then don't buy one...simple
@aspkkr: It’s a quality product and totally worth the price. Every cent. I notice a lot of entitlement among these moaners..
John you talked very little of the quality and if caes were included or I just messed U saying but I would like to have More info on case, also liked the choice of tunes but needed more info on more info on tunners nut, but hard to squess it in there, I know.
But my money would go a explorer. But I would have to go through it with a good 🤘🤠.
Nice video. I had questions about the neck profile. Thanks again.
I’ve been waiting for an epiphone version of the explorer 58 Korina like this forever and I’ve got mine ordered!
How do you like it? Waiting for one to show up to me in a couple days
Thanks for a good review of these 2 guitars. I like the idea of a 6.5 pound guitar. But not a big fat neck. I was looking at the Flying V as an easier access up the neck than a Les Paul single cut. So some of the thinner necked ( and cheaper ) Vs might be better.
hey man very nice playing, just ordered the xplorer version, can't wait !
Nice!! Thank you and enjoy the guitar
@@PlayandTradeGuitars Thanks i will ! i'm just a little bit worried becaue this is the first time that i buy a guitar on internet without trying it first but i figured guys like you do it so often i'd be in bad luck if there was anything wrong with mine !
Great review, thanks guys!
What’s with all the griping about the price? $1299 is a steal for these. It’s 2024, $1299 is a mid priced guitar. I see people saying “$1299 for the name Epiphone on the headstock?” I get that not everyone has that extra cash lying around, least of all me, but these are not overpriced, I’d even say they’re exactly where I expected them before I even saw the price.
beauty axe's and tones . cheers .
I just bought the ebony epiphone flying v from zzounds. I used the play as you pay option and I’m paying $49 a month. I was going to get the korina but i would have had to be in a waiting list and i really wanted a flying v soon as possible. It came the next day. I love it! Epiphone is really trying to put out quality gear these days. I buy EVERYTHING from zzounds. By paying monthly im building up the gear i always wanted but couldn’t afford. I love zzound! Lol i know this sounds like an ad for them but it’s not, I’m just a guy with a limited budget that loves to play guitar.
I do the same, but I buy cheap guitars anyways ZZ just makes it easier to sneak by the wife
Pleasantly surprised by my Explorer . . Sounds ridiculouly good and is very well done
Nice looking and sounding guitars. Can we assume that Epiphone have made these guitars out of solid Korina and not laminated?
If so, even with the nice upgrades the present pricing model is way out of touch with reality. Make these guitars avaible from between £$€600 - £$€800 and they will sell like hot cakes. They are look great but the present retail pricing model would make me go look for a second hand genuine Gibson. Thanks for the demo👏
The main question is, would you be satisfied if you bought it for your collection
best guitar i own so far (Explorer)
Is it worth buying the 1958 korina explorer or is it all hype
Unlike another channel, l never have to fast forward the playing demos here.
The “collaboration with Gibson custom shop” is a marketing gimmick so that really doesn’t hold any value.
The pickups are great, I have the ‘61 Les Paul SG and really enjoy those humbuckers.
But for $1299, there’s not enough “upgrades” for the asking price.
These shouldn’t be any higher than the ‘59 Les Paul or the ‘’61 SG.
Seems like these are a test to see how high they can price their “Gibson custom collaboration” guitars before they get pushback from players.
They do sound bright
What about upgrading with nitrocellulose …it would give the guitars breath and more tone
The V isn't just a metal guitar. Joe Bonamassa plays blues rock and smooth Jazz on it. Other blues artists have played the flying V like Billy Gibbons and the godfather of Stevie Ray Vaughn and many others.
How in the world can you mention SRV without Albert King!?
Nice demo. I agree with V. Explorer, not so much.
I like the explorer it's easier to play sitting down it rest on your knee the V not so good but looks better on the wall
I'd be interested in seeing a review comparing the current Gibson Explorer vs Epiphone Korina Explorer.
Great review, thx! I am sure these are great guitars but they are really pushing the prices. I have the Epi LP 59 standard and the LP SG 61, same upgrades but a lot cheaper. And for me, an Explorer and Flying V are metal guitars, i prefer them from other brands like LTD and Jackson. Lighter, more ergonomical and higher output pickups. I also want some variety in the collection, not only Epiphones and Squiers..
I own one of each.
I love them both but would be interested if the Explorer offered the whammy bar. Thank you!
👍🏻Guitars from 🪐
LOL LOL LOL 😂 There’s no way I’m spending 13, 14 hundred dollars 💵 on an Epiphone. Sorry Epiphone it ain’t happening. Have a good day.
Have you seen the quality lately? Or are you going on everyone else's dated opinions that Epiphone is budget quality junk...they've come a long ways..guess you should start saving up for that Gibson name on the headstock...don't get me wrong..I love gibson.i own 2. But I got a 2020 es 339 inspired by Gibson line and it's absolutely top notch...for 550+ a hard case I have about 750 in it...worth every penny
@@ericwarrington6650 yes I’ve seen their “quality”. And I’m still not spending that much coin on an Epiphone. And yes I’m probably never going to own a Gibson but just because the Gibson is too expensive to purchase doesn’t mean you overpay for the Epiphone.
@@thetownspeople6486 well the average korina epiphone is still available for 599
You should hear my Jerry Cantrell . I think you might change your mind if you played a Jerry Cantrell
@@doc_matter those aren’t korina.
These are made from actual korina, the old ones were mahogany. I’ve had both of the old 58 v’s and explorers.
Gibson doesn’t offer korina atm other than the Murphy lab custom shops that were 20K
Both guitars sound like they are under a wet blanket.
Im sorry I went thru two bootleg Epicrap Les Pauls, I gotta real 1 now along with a Yamaha, theres only like a 10lb difference, Im about to turn this pos 1 I got and get something better toward store credit, if u want bootleg guitars that come with garbage everything stock trash thats got 5yr old pick-ups be my guest.