Epiphone LP Goldtop P-90's vs. Gibson '56 reissue GT

[Johnkenn]

So - obviously the Gibson is the better quality guitar, but I'm talking about purely from a sound standpoint. I played both (plus the '57 with the HB's) at the Gibson showcase today, and I honestly, I'm not sure if I was able to be an impartial judge...I'm just going to be using this for home studio stuff, so I'm not sure my ego requires the Gibson. To my ears the Gibsons did sound better, but are they really $2500 better sounding? I guess I'm asking a question only I can answer, but I was hoping some of you might be able to give me some helpful info to push me one way or the other....Anyone?

[Digibear]

Buy the Gibson! You'll kick yourself otherwise. We just did this comparison today for some clients. The clarity and tone of the Gibson is just miles better. After all the time and effort you spent on your vocal mic, don't cheap out on the guitar.

BTW, if you're after P-90s, we just played an amazing SG with P-90s.

[chrispick]

Maybe this could serve as compromise?

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/LPCAHBNH/

[Johnkenn]

Great Call! But it sure ain't as pretty as the Goldtop, is it...

I think I've talked myself into the Gibson...might be selling a Relic'd Tele with Texas Specials for this thing...like my mic, I really just want ONE badass guitar tone...and I really seem to be leaning to the humbuckers (probably even over the P-90's.) I really grew up loving Fenders, but I am lusting after this LP right now...

Guitar Gallery | Sweetwater.com

[FFTT]

When buying a Gibson, be prepared to try many before you find THE ONE!
Gibson's quality control is all over the place.



Another guitar you should consider seriously is the Collings, not only for sound
but for exceptional build quality.
http://www.collingsguitars.com/electrics.htm

The Collings 290 and City Limits Deluxe are definitely on my radar.
City Limits Deluxe in Root Beer- Gorgeous!

290 in black with white grainfill-Cool!


Grosh also builds exceptional set necks, so if you find a store that carries either
do yourself a favor and try them.

[indravayu]

Originally Posted by Johnkenn

So - obviously the Gibson is the better quality guitar, but I'm talking about purely from a sound standpoint. I played both (plus the '57 with the HB's) at the Gibson showcase today, and I honestly, I'm not sure if I was able to be an impartial judge...I'm just going to be using this for home studio stuff, so I'm not sure my ego requires the Gibson. To my ears the Gibsons did sound better, but are they really $2500 better sounding? I guess I'm asking a question only I can answer, but I was hoping some of you might be able to give me some helpful info to push me one way or the other....Anyone?

If you can find one, consider getting a MIJ Tokai Love Rock Goldtop - every bit as good as a $2500 Gibson for much, much less money. I have one, myself, and it's a fantastic guitar.

- Chris

[dewey decibel]

Originally Posted by Johnkenn

So - obviously the Gibson is the better quality guitar, but I'm talking about purely from a sound standpoint. I played both (plus the '57 with the HB's) at the Gibson showcase today, and I honestly, I'm not sure if I was able to be an impartial judge...I'm just going to be using this for home studio stuff, so I'm not sure my ego requires the Gibson. To my ears the Gibsons did sound better, but are they really $2500 better sounding? I guess I'm asking a question only I can answer, but I was hoping some of you might be able to give me some helpful info to push me one way or the other....Anyone?

It doen't work like that- one isn't $2500 better than the other. I can tell you that if you really want the Gibson you won't be happy till you get it, for better or for worse.

Originally Posted by indravayu

If you can find one, consider getting a MIJ Tokai Love Rock Goldtop - every bit as good as a $2500 Gibson for much, much less money. I have one, myself, and it's a fantastic guitar.

- Chris

+1. Also check out Edwards (made by ESP). I wouldn't buy an Epi LP as there's just too many other options.

[Johnkenn]

Originally Posted by dewey decibel

It doen't work like that- one isn't $2500 better than the other. I can tell you that if you really want the Gibson you won't be happy till you get it, for better or for worse.

Damn...you're right...Just like a Vintech isn't a Neve (although BAE basically is), and a Wunder CM7 isn't a U47 (ok, yeah it kinda is...) Alright - pro audio is a bad analogy, but I TOTALLY know myself and I know what you're saying is very true...

[Mike P]

Originally Posted by Johnkenn

So - obviously the Gibson is the better quality guitar, but I'm talking about purely from a sound standpoint. I played both (plus the '57 with the HB's) at the Gibson showcase today, and I honestly, I'm not sure if I was able to be an impartial judge...I'm just going to be using this for home studio stuff, so I'm not sure my ego requires the Gibson. To my ears the Gibsons did sound better, but are they really $2500 better sounding? I guess I'm asking a question only I can answer, but I was hoping some of you might be able to give me some helpful info to push me one way or the other....Anyone?

If the frets are nice, wood is wood. If the guitar is mahogany and maple (and I'm not sure because many of the Epi's are mahogany/alder), buy the Epi and replace the pickups with original Gibson P-90 pickups and have a bone nut cut for it. The guitar will sound great and I'd be extremely surprised if you could hear any audible difference between the two guitars once they've been recorded.

Epiphone makes extremely high quality guitars (the Elitist series is every bit as good as Gibson/Nashville, many times better).

This obsession that people have with spending 3k, 4k or 5k for strings and wood (not too mention the country of origin) is something I cannot fathom. Your assembly line, mass produced Gibson guitar will NOT be worth 500k in the 30 years simple because of the sheer volume of guitars produced in the past 20 years. These guitars aren't unique like those built in the 50's (many of which are unplayable due to the manufacturing process).

If it feels good and sounds great acoustically (i.e. without plugging in), buy and replace the parts as I listed. You won't regret it.

And you'll have money to spare.

[dewey decibel]

Originally Posted by Johnkenn

Damn...you're right...Just like a Vintech isn't a Neve (although BAE basically is), and a Wunder CM7 isn't a U47 (ok, yeah it kinda is...) Alright - pro audio is a bad analogy, but I TOTALLY know myself and I know what you're saying is very true...

That's the point- you have to realize what you truly want. Sometimes it takes buying something you think you do to get to that point.

The comparison of the CM7 to the U47 is actually a good one. If you think about it, all guitars are clones- Fender reissues and Gibson reissues are not much different than a Tokai or Edwards clone. What I mean is these current Fenders or Gibsons aren't being made in the same plants with the same machines as the old ones. And they're using somewhat different materials and construction methods. So even though they have the licensed name they're still just a replica in some ways. That's why the Japanese clones of the '70 and '80s are sold so well- they're closer to the vintage guitars than what Fender ad Gibson were making at the time.

So you get to a point where what you want changes- if you're really after a '56 goldtop but can't afford a real one, you might get closer in terms of sound and feel through a vendor other than Gibson, just like a clone of a U47 might be closer to a vintage one than the current U47. As far as the look or what it says on the headstock, that's another thing. And there's nothing wrong with wanting a guitar because it looks cool- IMO a guitar has to look cool otherwise I'm not into.

[barryjohns]

I played an Epiphone Les Paul Custom that played very good and stayed in tune after some serious playing on it. It was at GC, so I thought I'd take it home and play with it for a few days to see what I thought. The guitar played as good as my Gibson Les Paul, the tone was not there, but I really liked the way it felt. So I decided to keep it and then put Duncan Pearly Gates in it. WOW. I was so impressed that I bought an Epiphone Les Paul Standard and put Burstbucker Pro's in it, WOW. It's not quite there, but for the cost, pretty amazing. I play them as much as my real "Gibson Les Paul". You can do no wrong by buying the Epihone's. Actually the build quality is more consistent on them than true Gibsons.

It's kind of like the whole Plugin vs. Hardware debate, the plug will get you there 90%, so is it worth spending 4 times the cost to get 10%. You be the judge.

[indravayu]

Originally Posted by dewey decibel

It doen't work like that- one isn't $2500 better than the other. I can tell you that if you really want the Gibson you won't be happy till you get it, for better or for worse.




+1. Also check out Edwards (made by ESP). I wouldn't buy an Epi LP as there's just too many other options.

Totally - I have an Edwards, too, and can highly recommend them.


- Chris

[RockDog]

hmmm which one plays better? or sounds better? ive tryed many les paul custom's and the first 4 i took home ''im lucky enough to take em home an try them thru my own amps'' werent the best but the 5th one i took home was awesome in sound an playability so it really comes down to try as many as you can they ALL sound and play slightly different even some epiphones sound great id say 1 out of 5 gibson guitars are awesome and 1 out of 10 epiphones are great

[Johnkenn]

I ended up with a '56 VOS Goldtop...which I sold after a week. I just ultimately wasn't into the P90's...I have a killer Tele with Texas Specials in it that was similar to the P90's but to my ears, sounded better. I ultimately ended up with a KILLER Historic SG VOS...

http://www.music123.com/Gibson-Custo...49447.Music123

Awesome sound and playability, and I love the Maestro tremolo...

[kafka]

I'll give the advice I always give on this subject. Play both, and if you can't tell or justify the difference to yourself, buy the cheaper one. If it's the right instrument, the extra $$ are worth it. If it's the wrong instrument, a discount won't make it the right one.

That said, I recently played a couple of Epiphones side-by-side with some of my Gibsons. Well, my Gibsons are pro instruments, properly set up, and are just the right tools for the job. I haven't played a replacement yet. However, one Epi really stood out as a great little guitar. The other Epi, which was more expensive, felt like a piece of cardboard. I will leave it as an exercise to the reader to go out and try out some guitars for themselves.