Epiphone guitars?

robgilmo

Whats the story on these guys? Are they like the Gibson version of Squier? Ive seen a few Korina Explorers on the bay and always fancied an Allen Collins Explorer but that's never going to happen. 

Jack_

Do you live under a rock?

robgilmo

Yeah man, pretty much.

monquixote

You can't assume everyone has our encyclopaedic knowledge of guitars.

They are more equivalent to an amalgam of Squier and Fender Mexico in terms of price and quality although this is less true than it used to be as Gibson have gone down market and Squier have gone upmarket in recent years.

robgilmo

So if you want an Epiphone its best to buy an old one? When did Gibson or even Epiphone start dropping their guitar build quality?

robgilmo

The reason I ask is I see these pop up from time to time and with a 400 quid price tag and no knowledge of these guitars its a bit of a gamble.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Epiphone-Gibson-58-Korina-Explorer-Hardcase-Warranty-/252811365851?hash=item3adcbb4ddb:g:2CoAAOSwTuJYxqXD

Jack_

monquixote said:

You can't assume everyone has our encyclopaedic knowledge of guitars.

They are more equivalent to an amalgam of Squier and Fender Mexico in terms of price and quality although this is less true than it used to be as Gibson have gone down market and Squier have gone upmarket in recent years.

Encyclopaedic would be the history of Epiphone, but their relation and position relative to Gibson...

Rob's an established member of the forum, I'm just shocked he didn't know.

Philly_Q

robgilmo said:

So if you want an Epiphone its best to buy an old one? When did Gibson or even Epiphone start dropping their guitar build quality?

I'm no expert on Epiphones, but my impression would not be that the old ones are any better than the new ones (unless you're talking about 1960s USA Epiphones, but that's something else altogether).

If anything, the Chinese/Korean Epiphones seem to be improving and providing very good value for money if you can live with the headstock shape (which isn't an issue on that Explorer).

monquixote

This subject is a big can of worms 

It's not so much that they've been dropping their build quality, but Gibson now make more "affordable" basic guitars than they used to which are a bit rough and ready.

Epiphone have moved production quite a few times. The really old ones (like the 60's casinos used by John Lennon and Paul Weller) were made in America are worth similar money to vintage Gibsons. Then there are various ones from the 70s and 80s made in Japan and Korea that also go for reasonable sums (like the ones that Oasis used to play). 

As of the 90's and on they've been decent if not spectacular far east made guitars with a lower, (but more consistent) build quality than Gibson. They always used to be limited by poor quality pickups, but some of the more recent high end Epis have Gibson pickups now. Failing that just replace them and you will have a decent giggable guitar for not much money.

Jack_

The Epiphone headstock is an abomination though, that's something we can all agree on.

jonnyburgo

I havent had a bad Epiphone, have probably had about 10 of them, all Korean or Chinese. Stock pickups arent great but as said above, a cheap set of Iron Gear or similar really bring them to life.

Jack_

Thing is, IronGear pickups are cheap, so how low a quality must Epi be building pups to that the Iron's are considered a substantial upgrade?

If IronGear can put out good quality pickups at the price they do, what excuse is there for budget guitars to have naff pickups these days?

thermionic

I've owned 2 Korean Epiphones and a Chinese one. Big difference between the two Koreans, even though both were from the Samick factory. One was light and lively but with very poor fretwork, the other was solidly-built but a bit lacking in character. My Chinese Les Paul is pretty good - Tribute Plus with better than usual construction and electrics.

That Explorer looks like it has a veneer front and back over a multi-piece body, which is par for the course for Chinese Epis.

robgilmo

It says its a solid Korina, it could still be a veneer though.
http://www.epiphone.com/Products/Designer/Ltd-Ed-Korina-Explorer.aspx

mikeyrob73

Bit pissed but owned3 korina explorer and every one has been ace would love another 

BUT my firebird is better than then all 


Ymmv or some shit 

Bridgehouse

mikeyrob73 said:

Bit pissed but owned3 korina explorer and every one has been ace would love another 

BUT my firebird is better than then all 


Ymmv or some shit 

You don't sound pissed - you sound like you usually do

Jack_

I'd heard of beer goggles, but rose-tinted beer goggles is a new one to me.

paulnb57

I recently bought a used 2013 made in China Epi 335 Dot Studio. Admittedly I bought it to modify and replaced everything...however this is the bargain basement Epi 335, the lowest spec...it was great as received, I had no issue at all with the construction or finish, OK the tuners were a bit cheap feeling but the fretwork was first class.....
I also have an Epi EB bass too and that is also vey good.......I did change the pickup, but knew I would before I bought it......

GoldenEraGuitars

Good guitars, good value imo. Although they've had good competition from Vintage and Tokai certainly give them a run for their money too. 

I had a Pelham blue 339 p90 and it was outstanding. I'd also love a Casino, imo their hollow bodies are fantastic.

underdog

Epiphone are great guitars for the most part. I have a lovely SG special, also their Les Paul tributes are brilliant, there 57 juniors cost more used than they did when they were new as they were that good.

robgilmo

How LTD do you reckon these Explorers are going to be? They arnt available yet but you can pre order them.