epiphone les paul custom or gibson les paul studio?
i was thinking about getting a new guitar and i might be getting an epi les paul standard but if the shop sells it before i can get it then i will be getting either an epiphone les paul custom http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Epiphone-LeftHanded-Les-Paul-Custom-Electric-Guitar-?sku=518559#new
or a
gibson les paul studio http://www.zzounds.com/item–GIBLPSTL
and dont just say the gibson because its a gibson i want a reason why i should spend that much extra
and keep in mind im 16 so i will be paying for which ever one with the money i make working my ass off landscaping this summer
When I was your age, in 1976, I worked all summer to save up for an ES-335, then I had it modified with a hardtail bridge – total price $800. I traded it on something else when I was in college, which was a big mistake, because today, that GIbson would cost me $3000+ to replace USED, if I could find one.
I also have a '72 SG-Standard I bought used in 1979 for $200. that guitar is worth $2000 today.
I also have a 1971 LG-O acoustic – the most inexpensive guitar Gibson made , my parents bought it for me as a 'starter' for around $200. That instrument is worth $500 today .
I also had a Gold Top Les Paul… paid $400, and I won't tell you what that is worth today — I was a fool to trade it, put it that way.
OTOH, an Epiphone you pay $500 or whatever for today will still be worth $500 20 yrs from now in those dollars – in other words it won't appreciate very much, if at all. Why? Because they're mass-produced offshore. There are only a couple of Epis that anyone wants today – the John Lennon blonde "Casino" for instance – but that was a US-made epiphone.
Ironically, the Epi Les Paul is probably the better of the two instruments new, today. They're as good as the equiv. Gibson Les Paul for a fraction of the price. But unfortunately if you want something that will hold its value or appreciate over time – buy the Gibson.
I also had a great Ibanez Jazz guitar that I traded… it was better than any of the Gibsons.. a stunning flamed maple archtop.. but I got less for it than I paid when i traded it.
Moral of the story… Gibsons hold their value and/or increase over time. Even the ones nobody wants (Marauders, L6-S, etc) you can get your money back…and if they become popular for some reason… watch out. Epiphones, Ibanez, Yamaha… all great guitars, but very few will appreciate very much in value, if at all.
The same is true of Fender stuff. "Real" Fender goes up — TexMex/Squire/etc doesn't. I have a G and L (Leo Fender's next company) F-100 that is an incredible guitar… and it's not worth a penny more than I paid for it 25 yrs ago. Why? Because people want "real" Strats – period. The GandL is technically 20 miles ahead of any strat, and yet it's worth a fraction of the price today. Why? Because nobody famous plays them. They're an oddity. In order for an Epi Les Paul to take off in value, two things would have to happen— several great players would have to start playing them… and the supply would have to decrease. Nothing that they make 500,000 of is going to increase in value no matter how good it is. A 'real' Les Paul where they make 1500 or even 15,000… yes.
I have a better idea – go to a good local guitar store that services the players in your area. You might find a killer trade-in a hot local player just traded (Like the 335 or the Gold top I foolishly traded in). Don't just consider new instruments, I never buy brand new anymore. I like the idea that another good player had a guitar and actually gigged with it – it gives it soul.
Hope that helps.
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When I was your age, in 1976, I worked all summer to save up for an ES-335, then I had it modified with a hardtail bridge – total price $800. I traded it on something else when I was in college, which was a big mistake, because today, that GIbson would cost me $3000+ to replace USED, if I could find one.
I also have a '72 SG-Standard I bought used in 1979 for $200. that guitar is worth $2000 today.
I also have a 1971 LG-O acoustic – the most inexpensive guitar Gibson made , my parents bought it for me as a 'starter' for around $200. That instrument is worth $500 today .
I also had a Gold Top Les Paul… paid $400, and I won't tell you what that is worth today — I was a fool to trade it, put it that way.
OTOH, an Epiphone you pay $500 or whatever for today will still be worth $500 20 yrs from now in those dollars – in other words it won't appreciate very much, if at all. Why? Because they're mass-produced offshore. There are only a couple of Epis that anyone wants today – the John Lennon blonde "Casino" for instance – but that was a US-made epiphone.
Ironically, the Epi Les Paul is probably the better of the two instruments new, today. They're as good as the equiv. Gibson Les Paul for a fraction of the price. But unfortunately if you want something that will hold its value or appreciate over time – buy the Gibson.
I also had a great Ibanez Jazz guitar that I traded… it was better than any of the Gibsons.. a stunning flamed maple archtop.. but I got less for it than I paid when i traded it.
Moral of the story… Gibsons hold their value and/or increase over time. Even the ones nobody wants (Marauders, L6-S, etc) you can get your money back…and if they become popular for some reason… watch out. Epiphones, Ibanez, Yamaha… all great guitars, but very few will appreciate very much in value, if at all.
The same is true of Fender stuff. "Real" Fender goes up — TexMex/Squire/etc doesn't. I have a G and L (Leo Fender's next company) F-100 that is an incredible guitar… and it's not worth a penny more than I paid for it 25 yrs ago. Why? Because people want "real" Strats – period. The GandL is technically 20 miles ahead of any strat, and yet it's worth a fraction of the price today. Why? Because nobody famous plays them. They're an oddity. In order for an Epi Les Paul to take off in value, two things would have to happen— several great players would have to start playing them… and the supply would have to decrease. Nothing that they make 500,000 of is going to increase in value no matter how good it is. A 'real' Les Paul where they make 1500 or even 15,000… yes.
I have a better idea – go to a good local guitar store that services the players in your area. You might find a killer trade-in a hot local player just traded (Like the 335 or the Gold top I foolishly traded in). Don't just consider new instruments, I never buy brand new anymore. I like the idea that another good player had a guitar and actually gigged with it – it gives it soul.
Hope that helps.
References :
experience.
The Les Paul studio can take a beating and still sound great. Probably the toughest professional guitar out there. Sounds good from clean to mean. You'll end up keeping it for years. Everyone I know that has bought one, still has it. I think it's worth the extra money. Better solid wood, not laminated. Enjoy.
References :
guitar-for-real.com