Metropoulos Forum

I was at Guitar center today picking up some cables and I started to look at some Gibson & epiphone guitars. I saw about 5 or 6 Gibson SG's and a few Les Paul supremes. I then looked at a few Epiphone Sg's and Les paul's. I could not believe how much better the epiphone tops looked than the Gibsons. I mean the Epi's had beautiful AAAA tiger stripe tops on them. The "Top of the line" les paul Supreme top looked like crap next to the Epi. If epiphone can put this wood on a top at 1/5th the price how come Gibson can't?? I own all Gibson's so I'm not bashing, but this was like a joke!!!! O.K I feel better now....

Flynman wrote:I was at Guitar center today picking up some cables and I started to look at some Gibson & epiphone guitars. I saw about 5 or 6 Gibson SG's and a few Les Paul supremes. I then looked at a few Epiphone Sg's and Les paul's. I could not believe how much better the epiphone tops looked than the Gibsons. I mean the Epi's had beautiful AAAA tiger stripe tops on them. The "Top of the line" les paul Supreme top looked like crap next to the Epi. If epiphone can put this wood on a top at 1/5th the price how come Gibson can't?? I own all Gibson's so I'm not bashing, but this was like a joke!!!! O.K I feel better now....

I dont think the Epi tops are solid wood like Gibsons. I believe they are veneers.

Well that Epi SG looked like a solid piece of mahogany wood (actually laminated layers)and top is thin veneer maple and the gibson looked like a solid piece of Sh** I think it was an Epiphone G-400 model.

Flynman wrote:Well that Epi SG looked like a solid piece of mahogany wood (actually laminated layers)and top is thin veneer maple and the gibson looked like a solid piece of Sh** I think it was an Epiphone G-400 model.

If you've played them side by side, you already know which is the real piece of shit. Actually, I should take that back... the Epi's are really not pieces of shit, but they dont compare in any sense of playability to a Gibson. Im not saying Gibsons arent overpriced, cause they are... I have a lot of them myself, but there is a reason those Epi's cost $399. There was a comparo between a '59 reissue Gibson LP and a "flame top" Epi LP recently in Guitar Player mag, and the Gibson won hands down. BIG difference in quality.

The Epi's are not bad guitars for the price, but they are not in the same league as the Gibsons. I don't really give a shit about the AAAA flamed maple top. The Gibsons are far superior in sound, playability, and quality of construction.

My wife has a real thing about Epiphones. She won't let one in the house. She caught me playing an Epi in GC once and I thought she was going to have a stroke.
That's how I got to buy my LP. I told her I was going to get an Epi LP. Next day she insisted that I buy that Gibson.

Mike

The Epi can be made into a pretty nice axe if you have the time and skills to do it. I had to take a buddy's that he mail ordered, and do a complete fret dress, neck adjustment and new nut to get it playing like a real guitar. Now I just need to convince him that the stock pickups suck nuts and he'll be sounding far better.

Bad Kitty wrote:My wife has a real thing about Epiphones. She won't let one in the house. She caught me playing an Epi in GC once and I thought she was going to have a stroke.
That's how I got to buy my LP. I told her I was going to get an Epi LP. Next day she insisted that I buy that Gibson.

Mike

Wow! Let me know what you've put in your wife's drinks... I'd like to give some to my wife.

wdelaney72 wrote:

Bad Kitty wrote:My wife has a real thing about Epiphones. She won't let one in the house. She caught me playing an Epi in GC once and I thought she was going to have a stroke.
That's how I got to buy my LP. I told her I was going to get an Epi LP. Next day she insisted that I buy that Gibson.

Mike

Wow! Let me know what you've put in your wife's drinks... I'd like to give some to my wife.

My wife has the same mind frame as Bad Kitty's wife, but probably for a different reason... she KNOWS that if I buy something to "save money" (like a cheaper version of a higher quality item) that ultimately Ill end up selling the cheaper item, and get the higher quality item anyway, so she figures its just saving a couple of steps (and some money) in my G.A.S. syndrome. I completely agree with her logic!! /

Well I guess the sad truth is, I was looking for a really nice Gibson Les Paul with a killer top and didn't see anything I really liked. Plus the fact that my wife accidently let me leave the house with my new GC credit card!!

Flynman wrote:Well I guess the sad truth is, I was looking for a really nice Gibson Les Paul with a killer top and didn't see anything I really liked. Plus the fact that my wife accidently let me leave the house with my new GC credit card!!

I need a MetroAmp credit card...

Flynman wrote:Well I guess the sad truth is, I was looking for a really nice Gibson Les Paul with a killer top and didn't see anything I really liked. Plus the fact that my wife accidently let me leave the house with my new GC credit card!!

Have you checked 30th St. Guitars in Manhattan? The last time I stopped in there Matt had an absolutely jaw dropping '59 reissue that would definitely qualify as a killer top. Wicked 3D, foot deep flame on every square inch of the top. BUT... its also wickedly priced, I think around $5500.00. Sounds stupid expensive, but it literally is the best flame top Ive ever seen in person.
I think Gibson used to grade their tops as plain, figured, flame, and killer tops. In all their infinite wisdom, they didnt put that designation anywhere on the guitar, they just left it up to the dealer to tell you what it was. Apparently, this particular guitar is a legit killer top, for whatever thats worth. /

Actually I'll be in Manhattan today! I'll try and stop by there. Not sure if I want to spend 5 G's but I'll take a look.

K

I like plaintops ...

so the killer top makes it play better?