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GMC Forum _ GEAR & PRODUCTION _ Plz Help Me! Ibanez Vs Epiphone
Posted by: Stormblast82 Apr 22 2008, 08:47 PM
Ok guys im gonna buy a new guitar and i have looked at 5 different guitars and i really need your opinions.
Im a beginner and the music i like to play is common things like Guns N roses, Metallica almost everything that covers
rock/hardrock/metal and even some rockblues...
The guitars ive looked at is Ibanez Rg420EG-SBK
http://www.thomann.de/se/ibanez_rg420eg_sbk.htm
The second guitar is Ibanez Rg370DX-BK or Rg350
http://www.thomann.de/se/ibanez_rg370dxbk.htm
The third guitar is Ibanez Rg08LTD JPB
http://www.thomann.de/se/ibanez_rg08ltd_jpb.htm
The fourth guitar is an Epiphone LP Black Beauty
http://www.thomann.de/se/epiphone_les_paul_black_beauty.htm
The last guitar is also an Epiphone LP Custom Elitist EB or Slash Les Paul
http://www.thomann.de/se/epiphone_lpcustom_elite.htm
I would really like to hear what you think is the best guitar of them and also things like is the guitar well
balanced, comfortable to have in the knee, string height (i like them near the freet) and sound
Ive also like the Gibson les paul studio but isnt that guitar very heavy?
And a bonus question, should i change the pickups to other, in that case, which one?
So please help me cause i cant try all of them in a store but i have played a epiphone Sg ( nice but rather cheap) and a Ibanez S series and i loved that guitar.. So hit me with hard facts now..
Thanks///
Posted by: Hisham Al-Sanea Apr 22 2008, 08:53 PM
go to epiphone lespaul
Posted by: ActiveX Apr 22 2008, 08:53 PM
I don't know about the others, but I've got the RG 370DX, and I love it. I have other guitars, but I play this one the most. I just find it very comfortable and easy to play.
Posted by: Zizi Top Apr 22 2008, 08:56 PM
i vote for Ibanez 
the first one is pretty good, and the second one too, i don't like the last ibanez
i have an ibanez RG prestige 1570MRB and i love the neck, actually i like the whole guitar ( i changed my mics with active EMG 81/s/85)
Posted by: ZakkWylde Apr 22 2008, 08:56 PM
The Slash Epiphone is on Gibson level, perfectly fabricated high quality and great humbuckers.
Posted by: audiopaal Apr 22 2008, 08:58 PM
I'd get the Epiphone LP Custom Elitist, in my mind that's the safest bet
I've tried a Epiphone LP Custom (not elitist though) and that was awesome, so the elitist should be even better making it awesomesome, can't go wrong there if you aske me
But again, it's a personal preference, so I'll advice you to try out an LP and a Ibanez to see what you like most while playing and what suits your style.. and then make your decision!
edit: The Gibson LP Studio is just a few euros more expensive than the Epiphone Elitist, check it out at: http://www.thomann.de/se/gibson_les_paul_studio_black.htm
Now that's your best bet 
That's an absolutely killer guitar!
Posted by: uberIbanez Apr 22 2008, 08:59 PM
i would go with an one of the ibanezes
Posted by: Man0waR Apr 22 2008, 09:21 PM
I have the 370dx and have played an Epiphone LesPaul [prolly not that exact one] pretty often when I used to meet up with a friend. I like them both for sound , the LesPaul is slightly warmer and MOAR sustain as I can tell.
But my 370dx ... I don't know if I can say anything bad about it at its price. I have yet to find a more comfortable neck than these Ibanez thingies wonderful for beginners and a blast for advanced players. Obviousely enough great to shred. I have my strings set VERY low on my 370dx and after you mess around a bit with the guitar it seems to stay completely in tune, perfectly straight and comfortable. [first set of strings were a bitch , always detuned and such, but the guitar being new seemed NoT to help with that].
If you go all the way to being a pro guitarist, other than changing strings and pickups to your heart's desire, I don't think you'll realistically need another guitar for shred & metal, unless you're in a big band and you WANT the very best possible.
Wall of text made short : the ibanez's will surely be a bit more comfortable and easy to play, less heavy than the lespaul, the lespaul will surely give out a bit more sustain and a warmer tone for the sweet stuff. But everywhere you look ppl will tell you RG's will shred and divebomb into metal and lespaul will scream for juicy solos.
The best advice I can give you is : if you're horny about all the metal - capability, don't worry that the ibanez might not be versatile enough for anything else .... in the worst case you could switch the neck pickup into something serious and there you .... and if ur worried the lespaul will only put out juicy slow solos, set your strings low enough, and possibly a bridge pickup change will also do the trick for the metal
nvm I just saw the prices you were talking about
apply all of the above to Ibanez PRESTIGE vs. GIBSON LesPaul [studio or otherwise , new century, BFG or whatever's in the price range].
Posted by: Danilo Capezzuto Apr 23 2008, 11:04 AM
Just go and try those guitars. What is good for one can be bad for you. The epiphone looks great, the ibanez too...
Posted by: Fran Apr 23 2008, 12:45 PM
I think the Epi Les Paul Custom Black looks better than that Black beauty model, it has 2 humbuckers instead of three, and might be more comfortable to play unless you really need the versatility of 3 humbuckers.
The Epi LP Elitist is pretty close in price to a Gibson Lp Studio, so if you are willing to spend so much on an epiphone maybe you should consider a Gibson LP Studio.
Good luck whatever you choose!
Posted by: muntahunta Apr 23 2008, 12:53 PM
dont go for the black beuty! i know 3 humbuckers can be thought of as an advantage but i played the black beuty and it sounded horrible! and thats coming from a les paul maniac!
Posted by: MickeM Apr 23 2008, 01:00 PM
IMO the Epiphone beats the mid price ibanez for character and sound. If comparing Epiphone and Gibson there are Epi guitars that are up there with these double-the-price-Gibsons.
I've got both a low end Ibanez, FM320 and an Epiphone LP. The Ibanez sounds flat and boring, no character or soul and the stock pickups sound like a bee swarm and the quality opf the hardware is so so while the Epiphone LP has everything you'd want from a rock n roll guitar, with stock pickups mounted. And it has 22 frets which is a big plus if you concider tone to be important. I'll change to more expensive locking tuners some day though.
Take the tube up to Fridhemsplan and try a few Epiphone LP's out at Musikborsen until you find one you like. I don't think ordering from thomann etc is a very good idea. Sure, you'll save a buck or two but if there's a problem you have to finace the return cost yourself, and sending a guitar to germany isn't that cheap.
Posted by: Harlequin Apr 23 2008, 01:41 PM
Take the Epiphone Elitist Les Paul, they are really aweseome guitars. I bought an Elitist Standard Plus one year ago and I still think: It's a perfect guitar. Great tone and a very good quality.
And you can really hear and see the differences between the normal Epiphones and the Elitist Series, I have an Epiphone Les Paul Custom, too.
Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Apr 23 2008, 02:22 PM
If you want to play stuff in the style of GNR & Metallica you should go for a les paul. Epiphone has great guitars and Gibson Les Paul studio is also very good. It's isn't as heavy as the Gibson standard or the custom models but it's heavier than epiphone. I use a Gib Les Paul studio when I play live and don't suffer it.
I also have an Ibanez RG 520. It's a very good guitar and its sound is amazing too but if you like to sound like Slash you need a Les Paul.
gabriel.-
Posted by: Stormblast82 Apr 23 2008, 07:52 PM
Ok thanks guys, it seems like the epiphone is more popular, and you gotta love the shape of an Les Paul.
But almost everyone i have talked with says that is much easier to play on an ibanez due to the "fast" neck,
les paul is much thicker over the neck?
I dont have demands that i should play fast as Michael Angelo, i rather have the feeling that Slash, Hammet and Vai has for example. I think that the Les Paul is well balanced in your knee and and gives a great feeling and tone but one cool thing for the Ibanez is the Edge 3, floyd rose thats awesome. 
But its fun to here from people that has or have played both guitars, all my friend is just into metal thats why they love Ibanez.
But is it really so hard compared to an Ibanez to play fast on a Gibson/Epiphone neck??
Thanks alot guys
Posted by: ZakkWylde Apr 23 2008, 08:09 PM
You can play equally fast on a les paul neck as you would on a Ibanez Wizard Neck. It just feels easier on a paper thin unpainted neck than on a baseballbat-like painted neck. Look at Zakk Wylde and his Les Pauls and tell me you can not play fast on a Les Paul^^
Posted by: Stormblast82 Apr 24 2008, 08:03 PM
yeah thats true, you can play fast on that one 
Im almost certain that i will buy a epiphone Slash signature model ( they give you a copy of his hat and sunglases to just for fun)..
But it says that the slash model has a longer neck than the other models, has anyone tried that? i hate when the neck get to long, anyway it that model, zakk wylde's or a regular white or black custom model...
Just for fun, why is it easier to play on a non painted neck than a painted one?? just imaginaton
Posted by: botoxfox Apr 24 2008, 08:16 PM
Painted/clearcoated necks have a sticky feel to them (which will get worse if you sweat alot), that can make it a bit uncomfortable for hand movement around the neck. You might actually like the sticky feel of course. I however hate it, so if I ever again get myself a guitar with a painted neck, I will give it a bit of ye olde sand paper treatment.
Posted by: Stormblast82 Apr 26 2008, 02:07 PM
Ahh i want to thanks all the guys here for there tip etc, i have finally get a new guitar and its a Epiphone Les Paul custom black.
Will say that its a total blast to play on and the sounds is amazing for that price, havent anything bad to say of this guitar but i think i will change the pickups to seymor duncan al pro 2?? the that Slash uses.
Anyway i will see if i can show some pictures..
I bought it used from a guy that have had it for 6 months, it was only a paint scratch below the volume button but it was really nothing, and he had lower the string height to, but due to the scratch i bought it for only 400 us dollars, which i think is really good, a new in Sweden will go for about i think 1400 us dollars..
Posted by: Marshmall0wz Apr 26 2008, 05:27 PM
EDIT: New they are usually like......$500 actually.
GOOD BUY
Posted by: Stormblast82 Apr 26 2008, 06:59 PM
GOOD BUY
Ehh actually you can check this out http://www.4sound.se/ProductDetails.aspx?m=4&i=50&s=0&articleId=413726
so before you say anything, check out that i DONT live in USA, so the price in swedish kronor is that!!!!!
And the model you are talking about is the standard model not the custom model, get fact before saying stuff..
And if you order it from europe it cost about 600 euros, and thats the cheapest price... the euro stands in 9.95 kronor
Posted by: ZakkWylde Apr 26 2008, 07:11 PM
Good buy! Get yourself new pickups and you have a semi pro guitar.
Posted by: Stormblast82 Apr 26 2008, 07:20 PM
why does everyone just keep saying good buy??
I havent said that i have a killer guitar, i just said that i got a good guitar for a cheap price ( in sweden)
and i said that i was going to chane the pickups to seymor duncan.
Im a beginner so this guitar is really good for me and the design is a killer i think, the next guitar im gonna get is a Epiphone zakk wylde model or a slash signature.
But for now im happy with this... 
Posted by: ZakkWylde Apr 26 2008, 07:24 PM
There is not a big diffrence between the custom epiphone and epiphone signature series. The Zakk or Slash Epiphone are custom epiphones with diffrent pickups and a few minor cosmetic changes like paintjob. Buying one of those as your next guitar would be like buying the same guitar once again in red...
The next step with a diffrence in quality and tone would be gibson standard Les Pauls.
Posted by: Stormblast82 Apr 26 2008, 07:31 PM
The next step with a diffrence in quality and tone would be gibson standard Les Pauls.
actually i have looked at the gibson les paul studio model but i dont know.. The reason for the zakk model is that the neck isnt painted and thats nice to have against the hand.. If you dont want to use car wax on the neck
But i would agree with u and go for an gibson, im thinking a white les paul studio, but for now this is more than ican handle
Posted by: stratman33 Apr 26 2008, 11:20 PM
The Epi LP Elitist is pretty close in price to a Gibson Lp Studio, so if you are willing to spend so much on an epiphone maybe you should consider a Gibson LP Studio.
Good luck whatever you choose!
ya,thats what i thought to
Posted by: Student of Vai May 1 2008, 03:32 AM
I have an Ibanez RG370DX and I love it! It is the easiest playing guitar I have ever picked up. I don't want to put it down.
It stays in tune really well and the stock pickups sound good. I have had two different friends of mine that play Jackson soloists pick up my guitar, play it for about 20 minutes and go out an buy an Ibanez. One of the guy even has active EMG 81/85s in his Jackson and was astonished that he could get pinch harmonics easier out of the stock Ibanez pickups. I would definitely go play the Ibanez and see if you like it as much as I do.
Posted by: stratman33 May 1 2008, 03:41 AM
It stays in tune really well and the stock pickups sound good. I have had two different friends of mine that play Jackson soloists pick up my guitar, play it for about 20 minutes and go out an buy an Ibanez. One of the guy even has active EMG 81/85s in his Jackson and was astonished that he could get pinch harmonics easier out of the stock Ibanez pickups. I would definitely go play the Ibanez and see if you like it as much as I do.
yeah ive played the RG350DX, and that thing was a beast.i liked pretty much everything about the guitar.
Posted by: Marshmall0wz May 1 2008, 03:52 AM
so before you say anything, check out that i DONT live in USA, so the price in swedish kronor is that!!!!!
And the model you are talking about is the standard model not the custom model, get fact before saying stuff..
And if you order it from europe it cost about 600 euros, and thats the cheapest price... the euro stands in 9.95 kronor
Oh i'm sry! In america the custom's are only 500 dollar units. But i understand because i used to live in Australia
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