Epiphone model closest to Gibson quality?

[rollypolly]

I just sold my Gibson Melody Maker. I used to have a Les Paul Special. Needless to say I love Gibson electrics but so far they’ve been too small and heavy. I’m thinking I’d like a hollowbody Gibson but they’re just a bit out of my price range right now.

So that brings me to my question - is there an Epiphone model that gets close to Gibson in feel, tone, and playability? The IBG series seems like the ticket, but I’d like to hear from real world experiences. Has anyone here owned a IBG model and are happy with it? Or would an Eastman be a better alternative ?

[rmp]

when you say Hollow body, you want no center block right?

Have you thought about Heritage archtops?

You know who these guys are right? (The company that was born out of the continuation of producing guitars from the Kalamazoo plant when Gibson left to setup shop in Nashville)

I think they're probably as close as you'll get,, but they may be priced to a point where there's not a lot of variance in the cost.

The IBGs from what I've read can be hit or miss, you'd probably want to be able to test drive em. I'm not sure any of the IBGs are Hollow bodies as well now that I think about it...

No experience on Eastman, but it seems the guys who have them, LOVE them.

I have a Sheraton Pro II, a pretty good affordable option for a 335 style guitar Aka: Semi-Hollow. My ES-135 (Also has a center block) however is superior in every way.

Speaking of which, you could check around for a decent used ES-135 or ES-137 if a Semi Hollow is of any interest. I think I paid like a grand for my ES-135 new in 2000
I added a Bigsby unit to that replacing the trapeze tailpiece, and that guitar came to life with out that cheesy stock tail piece

Also have you thought about Gretsch Electromatic's? nothing like a gibson feel or sound of course, but these are nice guitars for the money

[Steve DeRosa]

Originally Posted by rmp

...have you thought about Gretsch Electromatics? Nothing like a Gibson feel or sound of course, but these are nice guitars for the money...

If you're looking for a full-hollow body the 5400-Series is what you're after, and if you need professional quality at intermediate/step-up prices seek out one of the post-2013 Korean-built versions with the '70s Baldwin-style blacktop Filter'Trons. While I've heard good things about the most recent Chinese production - compared to the first examples from a couple years ago it appears one or two of the family members went over and kicked some heavy-duty kiester (FYI they wisely decided to go back to the purpose-built FT-5E Filter'Tron pickup - I understand they got a lot of flak from would-be owners looking for true-Gretsch looks/tone) - IME the Korean E-Matics are in a class by themselves: I own an original Brooklyn-built '64 Double Annie and a MIJ double-cut White Falcon, played several hundred Gretsch instruments from all eras over the last 60+ years (for this ex-Brooklyn boy they were our hometown brand), and don't say it lightly when I say that they exceed all but the very best vintage stuff, leave little if anything that really counts on the table vis-a-vis the current Professional Series (at 3-4 times the price), and are some of the finest instruments ever to wear the Gretsch brand - the fact that excellent-condition examples can (with a few notable exceptions) still be had for under $1K is just icing on the cake...

[rmp]

yea Steve, you're right the MIK are the ones to seek if they can be had.

My 5422TG is from when they were still coming out of Korea.

The 5422tg I have is stellar. Plays and sounds really good.

can't say much about the PUPs as I've never laid hands on a MIJ model.
A friend of mine has one, I think it's a country gent of sorts,

someday, we'll probably hook up for a side by side.

[rollypolly]

It doesn’t matter whether it has a center block or fully hollow. I already have a full hollow Ibanez jazz box so I’m leaning towards a smaller semi hollow.

Gretsch do look good, and so do Ibanez, but I guess I’m leaning towards Epiphone and possibly Eastman because they seem to be closer to Gibson in design and feel, and maybe the finish. I’d really prefer a nitro finish. The thick poly on my Ibanez is what I dislike the most.

Anyone have experience with the Wildcat? Looks like it could be cool.

[Steve DeRosa]

Originally Posted by rollypolly

It doesn’t matter whether it has a center block or fully hollow...I guess I’m leaning towards Epiphone and possibly Eastman because they seem to be closer to Gibson in design and feel, and maybe the finish. I’d really prefer a nitro finish. The thick poly on my Ibanez is what I dislike the most.

Anyone have experience with the Wildcat? Looks like it could be cool.

I do - I was considering one back when they first came out - and unless they've upped their game with the current Uptown Cat (the original P-90 Wildcat seems to have been discontinued a while ago) you might want to take a hard pass. First off, construction is exactly what you would expect on a lower-line Chinese guitar from the early-2010's: the poly finish you don't like, and a "Slim Taper" neck that's anything but (in fact being a chunky, cheeky, hard-D profile best suited to the hand anatomy of a chimpanzee); it's also deceptively heavy for its size - I've played some full-size semis that are lighter - so if weight/size are determining factors you might be better-served with the late-model Casino Coupe (a thinline hollow, 7/8-size version of the iconic Rubber Soul-era Beatle guitar) or their take on the Gibson ES-339...

TMK the real winners among the current-issue Epis are their "new-stalgia" line: Coronet/Wilshire/Crestwood solids, a redesigned Casino, period-accurate Riviera and Sheraton reissues (with Kalamazoo-style mini-buckers), a revamped 17" Broadway (similarly priced to the upline Ibanez AF-Series big-bodies), and the Zephyr Deluxe Regent (modeled after a mildly-modified circa-1953 example and the only survivor of the long-rumored, stillborn line of acoustic and electric New York-style archtops). As I understand these are targeted directly at the intermediate-priced Gretsch Electromatic 5400/5600-Series and Guild Newark St. lines of vintage-styled instruments, and produced to a level of fit/finish not seen in the Epiphone brand for nearly two decades - reviews I've seen so far have been favorable and, if they are in fact what they say they are, a new Casino/Riviera/Sheraton might be an option well worth exploring...

[rollypolly]

My apologies, when I wrote Wildkat I meant the Casino. Not sure how the Casino varied over the years but the mid 2000 to current models look like good quality. But again I have no first hand experience.

[Jeff Scott]

Originally Posted by rollypolly

Epiphone model closest to Gibson quality?

Something from the 1930s-mid 1950s.

[Puddleglum]

Originally Posted by Steve DeRosa

If you're looking for a full-hollow body the 5400-Series is what you're after, and if you need professional quality at intermediate/step-up prices seek out one of the post-2013 Korean-built versions with the '70s Baldwin-style blacktop Filter'Trons. While I've heard good things about the most recent Chinese production - compared to the first examples from a couple years ago it appears one or two of the family members went over and kicked some heavy-duty kiester (FYI they wisely decided to go back to the purpose-built FT-5E Filter'Tron pickup - I understand they got a lot of flak from would-be owners looking for true-Gretsch looks/tone) - IME the Korean E-Matics are in a class by themselves: I own an original Brooklyn-built '64 Double Annie and a MIJ double-cut White Falcon, played several hundred Gretsch instruments from all eras over the last 60+ years (for this ex-Brooklyn boy they were our hometown brand), and don't say it lightly when I say that they exceed all but the very best vintage stuff, leave little if anything that really counts on the table vis-a-vis the current Professional Series (at 3-4 times the price), and are some of the finest instruments ever to wear the Gretsch brand - the fact that excellent-condition examples can (with a few notable exceptions) still be had for under $1K is just icing on the cake...

I enjoy your zeal and knowledge of all-things Gretsch. But I do wonder: how does one know when one has encountered a "post-2013 Korean" guitar? To my knowledge the years are not stamped on them? Is there an easy way to tell at a glance?

[mike o]

Check it out. My review on post 18
https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/...=662311&page=2

[GoPappy]

Originally Posted by Puddleglum

I enjoy your zeal and knowledge of all-things Gretsch. But I do wonder: how does one know when one has encountered a "post-2013 Korean" guitar? To my knowledge the years are not stamped on them? Is there an easy way to tell at a glance?

All of the Korean models I've ever seen have the serial number printed on the back of the headstock. Go to the link below to learn how to decode the serial number. The serial number is usually (but not always) a combination of a letter and a series of numbers. Epiphone has used a maddening array of serial number formats from 5 digits up to, I think, 11 digits. Some with, and some without, a factory code.

https://guitarinsite.nl/epiphone-serial-number-lookup/

[Puddleglum]

Originally Posted by GoPappy

All of the Korean models I've ever seen have the serial number printed on the back of the headstock. Go to the link below to learn how to decode the serial number. The serial number is usually (but not always) a combination of a letter and a series of numbers. Epiphone has used a maddening array of serial number formats from 5 digits up to, I think, 11 digits. Some with, and some without, a factory code.

https://guitarinsite.nl/epiphone-serial-number-lookup/

That link is for Epi, not Gretsch.

[BoneDigger]

Having owned quite a few Epiphones, and still owning an IBG 335 and an IBG 339, I think they can be quite good. Not Gibson quality, but certainly not bad. I did change the pups in both, as that's just what I do, but the stock ones were not bad. What I will say is that with these guitars there is a bit of variability. I played several IBG 335s that did nothing for me. Then I found the one that really felt "alive" and it's one of my favorite instruments. Same with the 339. You have to search for the one that works for you.

[Beachrunner]

I have to agree about the older Korean Epiphones.

My '96 MIK Epi Les Paul Standard Plus Top is pretty darn good. Up there with a made in USA LP? No, but pretty close...

[Steve DeRosa]

Originally Posted by Puddleglum

...how does one know when one has encountered a "post-2013 Korean" guitar? To my knowledge the years are not stamped on them? Is there an easy way to tell at a glance?

• Pre-2013 5000-Series Korean Electromatic hollowbodes/semis have the first-issue Broad'Tron pickups, visually identical to those on nearly all of the current Indonesian Streamliners (with one notable - and welcome - exception, see below);
• Post-2013 Korean 5400/5600-Series E-Matics are stamped on the headstock with a manufacturer code (generally KS) followed by the serial number, below which appears "Made in Korea" - these come equipped with either '70s-style Baldwin-era "blacktop" Filter'Trons, Super Hi-lo'Trons (based on a modified blacktop Filter'Tron platform, and fully humbucking unlike the Brooklyn-style single-coil originals currently used on the '60 Double Annie and '62 Chet Atkins Tennessean reissues - my favorite of the "modern" true-Gretsch designs BTW), or both as on the G5620T-CB (a short-lived near-deadringer for the similarly short-lived '64-66 cats'-eye 6117):
  
  
  
• Chinese-built 5400-Series instruments have a similar stamp (usually with the prefix CYG and "Made in China"), with the most recent ones now sporting the proprietary FT-5E blacktop Filter'Trons - unfortunately the 5600-Series semis still uses the Broad'Tron, this time in an oversize blacktop case/trim ring that makes it appear almost identical to a true-Gretsch design (quick way to tell side-by-side is that the FT-5E is smaller - plugged in there's no mistake);
• If you want to get in on the action on a budget, the limited-edition Streamliner Rally G2604T (a quasi-reissue of an obscure circa-1967 design) is equipped with the aforementioned Super Hi-lo'Trons - FYI there appears to be a certain amount of interest among Gretsch lovers already (Sweetwater is selling demos - usually priced at 10-15% off published price - for the same price as new) so you might want to look into it while the getting is good and prices are still low; available in three colors, the two-tone yellow/copper is most period-authentic (and as a result seems to be the hardest to find) - here's some pics: