Tratocaster
Strat-O-Master
Can't say enough good things about this guitar. Punches well above it's weight for the price paid, fit and finish are fantastic. Set-up from the factory is actually playable (needs nut slots adjusted and a basic setup like any other off the rack production guitar), and the pickups actually sound really good (with the caveat that the coil taps suck). I'm used to Epi's of the past that have had super hot, unusable pickups. These are different and sound fantastic. I'm an edge of breakup, low to moderate OD type of player and have no plans to change anything on the guitar. So far this guitar pairs great with a Barber Gain Changer.
I think these are some sort of special run in these colors (black, Inverness green, gold and wine red) for Musician's Friend/Guitar center. They have split coil hum buckers, a treble bleed circuit and say "Inspired by Gibson" on the label inside the f-hole. Musician's Friend had the inverness green on sale for $399 for yesterday's SDOTD, and Guitar Center has them on sale now for $499.99, and just marked down the red to $449.99. I was tempted to get the inverness green, but doesn't really suit my style and went for the gold. I bought mine online and picked it up in the store earlier today. Guy went to the back and brought out the guitar, unopened, new in the box. Took it out and made sure it looked good and played it next to a floor model they had in the same color. preferred the one I was handed in the box and went on my way. Been playing it all day. Intended on putting on some D'Addario EXL110's and giving it a proper set-up today, but that will have to wait because I've been having too much fun playing it.
I'll say it again...this guitar punches quite a bit above it's weight. Of course it may not be as refined as a Gibson, but it gets you most of the way there for a fraction of the price. I've been toying with the idea of getting a Gibson with humbuckers since regretfully selling off my SG's a few years ago to pay for grad school (was determined to graduate without any student loan debt). Was looking at several differnt SG's and a bunch of different Les Pauls (including an R8). Came to the conclusion that I really didn't want to shell out that kind of money for anything new, and used prices right now are just out of control, so I decided to give the Epiphone a shot. I have no regrets. This isn't the Epi's of years past where the f-holes are crude and the finish is thick and glopped on with crappy pickups and dental floss thin wire and switches that crap out a month later. The neck profile is full and the fretboard looks great. It's the perfect compliment to my Strats and Teles.
If you're on the fence about one of these I'd say just go for it.
I think these are some sort of special run in these colors (black, Inverness green, gold and wine red) for Musician's Friend/Guitar center. They have split coil hum buckers, a treble bleed circuit and say "Inspired by Gibson" on the label inside the f-hole. Musician's Friend had the inverness green on sale for $399 for yesterday's SDOTD, and Guitar Center has them on sale now for $499.99, and just marked down the red to $449.99. I was tempted to get the inverness green, but doesn't really suit my style and went for the gold. I bought mine online and picked it up in the store earlier today. Guy went to the back and brought out the guitar, unopened, new in the box. Took it out and made sure it looked good and played it next to a floor model they had in the same color. preferred the one I was handed in the box and went on my way. Been playing it all day. Intended on putting on some D'Addario EXL110's and giving it a proper set-up today, but that will have to wait because I've been having too much fun playing it.
I'll say it again...this guitar punches quite a bit above it's weight. Of course it may not be as refined as a Gibson, but it gets you most of the way there for a fraction of the price. I've been toying with the idea of getting a Gibson with humbuckers since regretfully selling off my SG's a few years ago to pay for grad school (was determined to graduate without any student loan debt). Was looking at several differnt SG's and a bunch of different Les Pauls (including an R8). Came to the conclusion that I really didn't want to shell out that kind of money for anything new, and used prices right now are just out of control, so I decided to give the Epiphone a shot. I have no regrets. This isn't the Epi's of years past where the f-holes are crude and the finish is thick and glopped on with crappy pickups and dental floss thin wire and switches that crap out a month later. The neck profile is full and the fretboard looks great. It's the perfect compliment to my Strats and Teles.
If you're on the fence about one of these I'd say just go for it.
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