• From: BELGIUM
  • Registered: 2007-01-27
  • Posts: 3,403

Topic: hallucination or not about EPIPHONE

As most of you know I surf a lot to see what's going on in guitar world.
A question about the good old EPIPHONE LP Standard or Custom:
- Am I dreaming or did the retail price is at least 50% higher than 2 years ago.
I know that they were really affordable guitars, not to cheap, but not to expensive. The retail price, in a real guitar store is now often between 600$ - 900$, almost twice the price than in 2007.
In online stores you pay 350$-600$.
IS THIS CORRECT, and if so, (I read more and more good critics), an Epiphone today starts more and more living on it's own, meaning that the GIBSON link is becoming smaller, a few years ago it was like a cheap Gibson, but today it is more and more a brand on his own.
I really don't know if this is an understatement so is there someone who agrees or disagrees.

[color=blue]- GITAARDOCPHIL SAIS: TO CONQUER DEAD, YOU HAVE TO DIE[/color]   AND [color=blue] we are born to die[/color]
- MY GUITAR PLAYS EVERY STYLE = BLUES, ROCK, METAL, so I NEED TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY IT.
[color=blue]Civilization began the first time an angry person cast a word instead of a rock.[/color]

gitaardocphil's Website

  • From: Frederick, MD
  • Registered: 2006-12-28
  • Posts: 851

Re: hallucination or not about EPIPHONE

Eventually Epiphone and Gibson will be neck and neck and then their market will shrivel up completely.

Fender will take it's rightful spot at the top.


Dm

"Talent instantly recognizes genius,
but mediocrity knows nothing more than itself."

-Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle

Detman101's Website

  • Registered: 2007-03-24
  • Posts: 1,108

Re: hallucination or not about EPIPHONE

They did go up. They used to be a decent value but no longer. Quality as I understand it is not what it once was. I'm not sure why music vendors think raising prices is smart business. I know costs are increasing but someone should let them know there is a global recession going on.

I used to be disgusted; now I try to be amused.
Elvis Costello
  • From: Anchorage
  • Registered: 2006-03-04
  • Posts: 82

Re: hallucination or not about EPIPHONE

FYI . . . all the Fender guitars went up in price also . . .

  • From: BELGIUM
  • Registered: 2007-01-27
  • Posts: 3,403

Re: hallucination or not about EPIPHONE

Agree Drake, but the situation with Fender is different. They have:
1) FENDER STRATOCASTER OR TELECASTER MADE IN AMERICA (MIA)
2) FENDER STRATOCASTER AND TELECASTER MIM (Made in Mexico), and THIS CATEGORY IS GETTING HIGHER IN PRICE.
3) SQUIER STRATOCASTER AND TELECASTER, the price is maybe higher than 2 years ago.

So, I am not the only one who noticed that the EPIPHONE LES PAUL category is starting to become more a "quality" brand. Due to my condition I have time, time and time to look what is going on in GUITARLAND.
Go and visit an online music store, and see for yourselves. Another important thing is, when reading the comments, that at least 75% writes that the difference between a GIBSON LP versus an EPIPHONE LP, is not that big anymore.
ATTENTION! In an online store their prices are a lot cheaper then in a regular music store.
Here a link and see for yourselves what I try to tell.
http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/navi … amp;rpp=60

LOOK AT THE REGULAR RETAIL PRICES: 500$ = 830$ in a regular store.
These guitars are still affordable, but the price is going up very fast.

[color=blue]- GITAARDOCPHIL SAIS: TO CONQUER DEAD, YOU HAVE TO DIE[/color]   AND [color=blue] we are born to die[/color]
- MY GUITAR PLAYS EVERY STYLE = BLUES, ROCK, METAL, so I NEED TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY IT.
[color=blue]Civilization began the first time an angry person cast a word instead of a rock.[/color]

gitaardocphil's Website

  • Registered: 2007-01-29
  • Posts: 533

Re: hallucination or not about EPIPHONE

I've really been disappointed in Gibson and Ephiphone lately...seems that the bottom line is profit. Gibson has great products but are way overpriced and Ephiphone is not only overpriced but their quality seems to be falling too! Also in the Gibson products are the Flatiron Mandolins formerly built by Luthier Bruce Weber and crew...superb mandos! Then Weber left and went to Montana and founded Sound To Earth and is still building fine Weber Mandolins and other acoustic instruments...meanwhile Gibson is now having Flatiron Mandolins built in China and are not even close to the standards set by Bruce Weber...

Middleaged Redneck sorta guy who refuses to grow up...passion for music, especially Southern Rock but like bout everything cept Gangsta/Hip Hop. Collect guitars, mandolins, and love to ride Harleys.
  • From: BELGIUM
  • Registered: 2007-01-27
  • Posts: 3,403

Re: hallucination or not about EPIPHONE

Jay, I am more a PRS MAN

[color=blue]- GITAARDOCPHIL SAIS: TO CONQUER DEAD, YOU HAVE TO DIE[/color]   AND [color=blue] we are born to die[/color]
- MY GUITAR PLAYS EVERY STYLE = BLUES, ROCK, METAL, so I NEED TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY IT.
[color=blue]Civilization began the first time an angry person cast a word instead of a rock.[/color]

gitaardocphil's Website

  • From: Bellevue, WA
  • Registered: 2006-06-15
  • Posts: 3,336

Re: hallucination or not about EPIPHONE

The bottom line of any business is always profit.  Were it not for profit, there would be no guitars.

Epiphone is trying to break away from the perception that it is the "cheap Gibson."  They have a ton of new models out, and are really pushing their gear on touring artists.  That means their price points go up.

Someday we'll win this thing...

[url=http://www.aclosesecond.com]www.aclosesecond.com[/url]

jerome.oneil's Website